[ Chapter V (5): "HYPNOTIZED, THE YULE FESTIVAL, AND THE OUTCAST TOWN OF SALEM!" ]
[ "Which is why you need to come with us," ] The police officer named M. Myers, if his nameplate isn't wrong, then paused, confused about why he is talking so much to strangers he barely knows. Sighing involuntarily.
He then thought of it as nothing, the weird thoughts that were previously entering his head disappearing, before then continuing to speak. [ "For questioning, in the station. It wouldn't take long, barely would scratch your folks time." ]
While the police officer talks to the adults, Mikhael on the other hand is worried about their carriage. On the Ghost Horses that is slightly racist to Normies, about his blind cat inside the carriage, and also the Golem stuck inside the box scrambling non-stop.
[ "This doesn't relate to us, we need to go." ] And also about the other police officer looking at their carriage with a flash light, thankfully just outside at the moment. [ "I mean, we-we really-really need to go. Please?" ]
He glanced at the police officer snoozing about their carriage, about to perhaps notice the oddity of a small box moving on its own. Then he glanced at Mrs. Quinn, then at Klaus, telling them nonverbally his worries.
[ "I'm sorry kid, we are just following procedures-" ]
[ "We're just about leaving, sir." ]
[ "Understandable." ]
Mrs. Quinn used her hypnosis, which is less powerful than a Siren's, but still, is enough for her will to be carried out. As the said police officer turned around, pulling his partner away from, someone who's talking about noticing something weird inside the carriage; to no avail.
The onlookers who were curious about the random carriage, of the random people dressed to the brim, instead satisfied their curiosity enough to continue moving. They might not know this, but subtly they were manipulated by a certain witch to move along. [ "Let's go." ]
Mikhael turned to his left, at Mrs. Quinn who's twirling her magical broomstick around with a lazy expression. Making a mental checklist to study, and learn from her the art of manipulation; because in the future, he wants to do things like that. [ "I need to learn that...!" ]
[ -----| SCENE BREAK |----- ]
The carriage smelt of biscuits, and cat food, all the while rattling from inside a small box could be heard. It has been half an hour since they stopped by the small weird town of Crackclaw, at the moment Mikhael is still bothered.
Bothered by the fact that children are missing, sure, he who lives in the 21st century heard about problems and issues almost everyday; ranging from murder, kidnapping, robbery and all of that lot.
But still, he doesn't quite understand it, but hearing that 7 children went missing personally still sticks to him. To the point that he wonders, why exactly is this one so unique?
[ "I'm going crazy." ]
[ "Miao?" ] He glanced at his left, at his pet fur that scratches his clothes, asking what's the problem. Patting him, he then assured the furry. [ "No, not that kind." ]
[ "Don't worry about me, Cojo." ]
To calm down his mind, he glanced out the window. The Sun has risen to the point that the glow is enough to blind him, if not wearing his goggles, thankfully he has it on.
Opening the window, no, he isn't gonna jump. Instead he breathes in the fresh air that surrounds him; freshly made by the spiky forest below, ominous especially because he fears getting impaled into one; fact not helped that he's hundreds of feet above the air.
[ "Will we ever get there?" ] And right on cue, when he said so, the air around him seems to shift as he hears screaming and laughing seemingly all around. Confusing him greatly as he subconsciously stands straight right up. [ "Holy-!" ]
Just outside the window, the once bland scenery of dreadful forest shifted. As if having passed an invisible barrier, the outside view instead shows the opposite climate of the forest, which was humid, now snowing. [ "Unbelievable." ]
He reached out his hand to touch one, and right he was, he could feel the snow melting in his hand. Something nostalgic because growing up, in Vermont, it would usually snow. That is when the Sun is mostly blocked, rare cases when Mikhael could freely roam outside without worrying about covering his eyes. Those are his favorite days.
And at the moment, those days are playing right in front of him, causing him to smile from ear-to-ear. So without hesitation, he leaned out and tasted the snow, confirming the validity of it.
[ "Cojo, it really is snow...!" ]
[ "Mhaw!" ]
[ RATTLE! ]
On the front seat of the carriage, Klaus and Quinn could be seen also admiring the snow. But they are less so focused on it, more so focused on searching for a certain sight just below them. [ "There it is." ]
In seeing it, Klaus without the hint of hesitation, steered the Ghost Horses to go down, down, down. Which the obedient Ghost Horses obeyed. [ "Young Lord, we're here!" ]
Mikhael without at all a sign of hesitation grabbed his feline friend who's sniffling the air, before then running out the carriage even before Klaus could open it. [ "It's a festival!" ]
He jumped out, glanced around and admired the surroundings, quickly taking in the fact that it isn't just them that were there. But thousands more of individuals, all equally unique, and so do the thousands of unique structures around. A sight truly to behold.
He glanced at his left and could see stalls all with their unique quirk: selling potions, selling props, selling pets that looked like they could easily bite off someone's head. Then at his right which is mostly populated with carnivals and festivities, all that much.
Then around him, at the people which are dressed all uniquely to Normies. Similar to him, some yes, but mostly not at all. Some look to be Vampires, some look to be Werewolves, some don't even have features at all in their face— Faceless! If his lessons with Mrs. Quinn isn't wrong.
[ "Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts, sweetie." ] Seeing his shocked expression, Mrs. Quinn, proudly introduced the sight; like a guide. She might very well be, as she goes here at the very least once a year. [ "A town which is specially built, govern, and run by Outcasts." ]
[ "Come, come, let me show you around." ] Nodding his head, he followed. Not before glancing at Klaus who's tying down the carriage, and also talking to someone about parking, most probably. Then following, as he gets his hand dragged by Mrs. Quinn.
He listens to her babble, about the history of the town, of the people, and of the many problems the said town faced. Some he already knows through reading books, most he doesn't, so he listened even more.
[ "The town was built in the year 1695, to hide from Normie sights, and overtime it became a town for all Outcast kind." ] She paused, sidestepping a magical flying snowball which is targeting someone, it hit. [ "Now, every year Outcasts spends their time together here. To those living in the United States at least." ]
Mikhael nodded his head, as he takes in the surroundings. The aroma of the food around made him gag involuntarily, while some made him fly in the air, metaphorically, which Mrs. Quinn noticed, so she paused her explanation to look and buy him some. [ "Oh, thanks." ]
He patiently waits beside her, eyeing the surroundings as he does. Mikhael watch with glee as other children about his age, all Outcast, play snowball fighting; albeit with a tinge bit of magic at that, as most snowballs could be seen flying on their own. [ "That looks fun...!" ]
He pats the cat in his arms using his hand, feeling Cojo purr as he does. Only ever stopping when Mrs. Quinn handed him a candy apple, one that looks to be the poison variety, as the said thing is covered by green oozing substance looking deadly. [ "Try it, it's my favorite." ]
Mikhael ate poison before, so that might reduce his stomach ache. So believing in her, the only adult that he truly believes in without any doubt, he then bit into it. The crunch was satisfying, even more so the flavor which slightly burnt his tongue; weird feeling, he never tasted it before, even though he is a self proclaimed sweet lover.
[ "This is delicious...!" ] And so he bit into it again, then again, then again. Without him realizing it, the candy apple in his hand fully disappeared, only the stick was remaining, due to it being inedible. [ "I want more!" ]
[ "Okay...?" ] Mrs. Quinn, the veteran witch knows plainly about her young master's love for sugars, chocolates, and anything that can cause diabetes. Even Klaus does, but unlike him, Quinn actually supports it.
She believes that children should be children, children should enjoy their children. So without at all caring about how much it'll cost, she smiled, pulled out her separate wallet filled with Outcast Currency and bought him more.
Unbeknownst to her, this one seemingly harmless act would bankrupt her in the long run. Having ignited a sweet tooth inside a very-very sweet starved Vampire.
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[ FUN FACT: Salem, Massachusetts is a real place known for their witch trials. But weirdly enough, 300+ was accused, 30 was found guilty but only about 25 individuals were killed due to witchcraft— 19 by hanging, 1 was pressed to death (Giley Corey) under torture, and 5 due to the harsh jail conditions. Contrary to popular beliefs, the witch trials didn't only have women in it, but also men. This series of trials ran for a year and 3 months. ]
[ 09/21/2025 ]
[ 09/22/2025 ]