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That Kid From Podunk - Chapter 13 - Carnival Night of the Living Dead!
I've finally gotten a good chance at a good night's rest over the course of the past few weeks. It was kinda boring, having no adventures of epic proportions but after… that… I think I'm okay with it being a little boring. I mostly spent the time simply resting up and preparing for the Halloween Festivities with Paula.
But now… the time is here. It's a night of terror, a night of horror, a night of all things that are awesome…
I gathered my things and waved Mom goodbye as I went off for the last bit of school before the Threed Halloween Carnival could begin.
I rushed through the doors and gave a quick wave to Paula as I went to the first period and tried to get one of the worst things mankind has ever invented done. Math. Worst than the atomic bombs, more horrifying than the Chimeras, and more sinister than my Sisters on a Saturday night. (okay maybe that last part isn't true….)
After stumbling my way through that period I went on to the next, and then the next, and then the next again. God, when will this tourture end!
I eventually made it to the school lunch bell and gave a sigh of relief as I went up the stairs to talk to Loid.
"Yo! Are you as excited as I am Loid?"
Loud slowly peeked his head out of the garbage. "I don't think anyone is as excited as you are about this Ninten. What's gotten you so hyped up about this anyways?"
"Well it's a long story so how about you?"
He slowly descends back into the garbage can. "I...I don't wanna go…"
"Huh? Why."
"Too many people… what if someone tries to-"
"Hey! If anyone tried anything, I'll just beat the crap out of them."
"Beat the what out of who now?" A familiar voice called out.
I jumped a bit with the sudden entrance. "Jesus! Couldn't you warn us that you're here before you just… appear out of thin air like that?"
Paula stood idly by the door. "Sorry about that… Anyways, what are you two planning now?"
"Nothing! I was just trying to calm Loid down."
Paula gave a quick little sigh. "Okay… just going to remind you about our deal and if you bring any more trouble-"
"-We'll be thrown behind bars, yah yah yah. I got it."
Paula gave a little pout. "You could have been a little nicer about that. But now's also a good time for you two to know that this ruff is supposed to be off limits."
"Oh come on! First you put a ban on my pranks and now this too?" I turned to Loid who… wasn't really taking this well.
I turned over to him a got him out of the garbage can. "Don't worry dude. We'll just have to find a table to sit at. How hard can it be."
The cafeteria was packed today. Students were filling up every table we saw.
"Dang it, how are we gonna find a table at this rate?"
"M-maybe we can sit next to Ness?"
"Nope. Not happening."
"Why?"
"There's a problem with a capital P over there and I don't want to deal with that." I looked over at the table where the smug bastard was sitting with a shit-eating grin. I remembered this one spot I found before so I'll just go over there.
"Hey, I think I know a place. And it's a really good one too."
I walked over to that same spot that weird kid was sitting at before. He was still there, eating some kind of Omelette (seriously, what's his deal?) and I would have just moved on from this, but I'm a desperate man today. And if any movie, tv shot, or video game ever taught me some, it's that you don't mess with a desperate man.
"Hey, mind if we sit here?"
"Leave" He gives a dead off stare that frightens Loid, but not me.
"N-n-n-ninten. Let's just find another table. P-please." He looked terrified.
"Hell no! We're sitting here and thats that!" I put my stuff down and the kid gets up. He was fairly taller than me and gave an intimidating look.
"Let's get to the point. I just want to eat in peace. So can you please go away before I throw both of you into the garbage."
"Well I have nothing to lose. Bring it on."
"Ninten, what did I just say about you getting into trouble?"
"...Don't?"
"And you decided to pick a fight with Lucas."
"I guess so."
"..." she reaches for her phone.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT! I can explain!"
She puts the phone back down.
"Me and Loid were just trying to find a spot. And he wasn't letting us sit down. And then he threatened us so I just-"
Paula gave a sigh. "I'm sorry about Lucas. He can get a little… aggressive, sometimes. But he usually doesn't act like that unless he feels like he's being pushed so next time just, give him some space."
"So you're just gonna let him off when he breaks my freakin nose?" I gestured to my messed up nose.
"No-but-I… I'm not sure what to do. I'll tell the principal about this and we'll try to figure this out."
"How is it that hard to just get him in trouble?"
"Well, I wouldn't say it's hard to get him in trouble. It's harder to lay down solid punishments."
"So what, is his parents, like, super lenient or something?"
"Nope. But the school hasn't really met his parents ether."
"Then how is he going to school?"
"Well… the principal told me he usually gets these emails from an account called 'the masked man' or is visited by this person named Duster."
"So basically, we know nothing about him and can't do anything that can majorly affect him."
She slowly nodded her head and sighed. "Well, it's complicated. He can get sent into detention, get suspended, explexed, all of that. But we don't have solid contact with his guardians and it's just been painful to deal with these kinds of situations. But on the bright side he seems to listen to the staff and follow the rules."
"Sooooo, is he gonna get in trouble or-"
"I'll see what I can do."
So thanks to 'Lucas' I'm gonna have to deal with a bloody nose this Halloween. Great, just what I wanted. But I guess it won't matter much. I still have the coolest costume to wear to the festival. I went into the restroom to change as I prepared for the bus ride to Threed.
I jumped up to an empty set, waited for Loid to arrive, and then the bus was off.
"So, are you still nervous?"
He gave a little nod.
"Don't worry about it. After all, I am Batman."
"Making your voice all gruffy and stuff doesn't make you Batman."
"It's Halloween Loid. Besides, the outfits are cool!" I showed off the cape.
"...Alright…" Finally. Now we can rock and roll.
"Wait!" huh? What the hecks that?
Some kind of old gizer came up and stopped the busdriver. He was carrying some kinda shovel and was nervous.
"Sir, this is a school bus-"
"And Threed isn't a place for children to visit on a Halloween night."
The student booed at the old man but he continued to rant on and on.
"There are those who are restless…. Those who don't sit idly when it is their time…. Those who feast until there's nothing left-"
"Is this some kinda boomer rant about teenagers?" one random student asked.
"No! I'm talking about Zombies, you brain dead whippersnapper. And with that attitude, you make the zombies sound like better company."
"Zombies? Really?" I responded, but looking over to my side, Loud wasn't looking so happy.
NINTEN! This is a big deal!
Not that big of a deal…
Yes it is! Think about it. If you have psychic powers, then the living dead isn't that far fetched.
Oh pa-lease, what do dead corpses and the power of the mind have in common?
That's… a fair point…
Relax, theres nothing to worry about. It's just gonna be you, me, Paula, and Ness at a big spooky carnival. There's not gonna be any REAL zombies.
The sun has fully set it's course, it's time for a night of ghosts and ghouls, nightmares brought to life, and most of all, the highest screams you'll ever see coming from peoples mouths. Now this is what Halloween's all about. I don't get what's not to love from it? I think this might be my second favorite holiday next to Christman. And that's saying a lot considering that's the season of gifts.
I turned over and saw Loid, wearing his usual attire. Kinda sad that he doesn't have a costume, but it'll be fine.
"So, where do you wanna go first?"
"I-i don't know-"
"How about some of the games?"
"O-okay."
And luckily for me, there was the 'test your might by hitting the bell really really hard' game right next to us.
Watch this!
Oh boy….
I added a little 'oomph' to slam, if you catch the drift. The game totally broke afterwards. I turned over to the prize man.
"One big old plushy, please."
The man looked at me with horror. "Y-yy-yy-y-yes sir."
"See? This is gonna be a fun night."
"What are you doing here!"
The cold breeze blew across the graveyard. Nippolyte came here to work the night shift so he could have a break from his usual undead horde. It was oddly lonely for the old man. In some ways, the constant feeling of do or die with a pack of undead creatures seemed to be… comforting. (not in every way, of course) But he continued to sweep the grounds, clean up the place a bit. Too bad about that awful smell though…
His thoughts were interrupted when he saw a man in a large coat, standing idly at the gates. The man was unnaturally tall, but not to the heights of Leder thankfully. When thinking about the tall man, sitting back at home and ringing his little bell, it made Nippolyte smile at his fond memories. But he still had a job to do.
"BEGONE! YOU ARE IN GREAT DANGER HERE! LEAVE NOW! BEFORE THE HORDE OF THE NIGHT TAKES YOU HOLD!"
"...is this where the dead are buried?"
"YES! BUT LEAVE NOW BEFORE THEY GROW RESTLESS AND-" The strange man put a finger to his mouth, and he suddenly lost his ability to speak.
"...My mother never got the rest she needed. It was always cut short by unnecessary things…. Can you tell me if she rests here?"
Nippolyte regained his ability to speak to the man. "I have no idea who either of you are! Now LEAVE!"
The man stood still for a moment. And then a small chuckle came from his mouth. The chuckling started to grow more and more, until it reached a point of howling laughter, before it softened again.
"...So she does not rest then?"
"Leave!" Nippolyte cried out.
The man gave a calm smile. The ground began to crack and shake at the seams. "But the night is so young, Nippolyte." His voice showed no emotion.
Nippolyte struggled for breath. His vision began growing darker and foggier. He saw storms beginning to form as the ground shook. The man walked off into the distance as the dead rose again.
Ninten turned around to locate the voice. His view immediately dropped to the sight of a red-headed girl.
"Pippi?!" Why the hell was she here!? WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO BE HERE?!
"Hmph, this is great. It seems you ditched me for a nerd." She looked bitterly at the both of them.
"Ditched?!" Loud cried out.
Dude don't worry! She's just my ex
You dated?!
Yeah, shocking, I know. Let's move on now.
"Okay, what do you want?"
"Oh, nothing. Just wanted to come here, enjoy the candy, and show you my new boyfriend."
"Wait what?"
"Over here Varik!"
The kid who showed up was...something alright. He had a katana, a knife, knight armor, and a pair of shades that blended in with some black mascara. He looked like some kind of Final Fantasy reject.
"What is it honey?" His voice is all gruffy too. Did she really-
"This is my ex boyfriend. Say hi Varik~"
He gave me a death glare. "Go eat shit and die in a hole."
Congratulations Lucas! You're no longer the edgiest person I've ever met so far. I decided to flip him off because why the heck not? If I'm dealing with this edgy brat, might as well fire back with a little profanity of my own.
He gave a little "tch." like every emo ever and walked off.
"Isn't he poetic?"
"...I think I'm happy that you dumped me."
She walked off in a fit.
"...sorry you got caught in that Loid."
"I-it's alright. I just hope you won't have to deal with them too often."
I gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Chill-ax. We got the whole night to ourselves. Let's rock and roll!"
Loud shly rubbed the back of his head as we ran off to the rest of the carnival to have one crazy wild night.