Chapter 23: Busting Makes Me Feel Bad

Chapter 23: Busting Makes Me Feel Bad

I smoothed out the folds of my Ghostbusters jumpsuit, adjusting the cardboard proton pack strapped to my back as I stood in the mirror in Erica’s room.

Erica stood behind me, her eyes drinking in the sight of me like she had the thirst of someone who just popped Molly in the club, and now she was sweating. She wasn’t in a costume, but even in a simple grey hoodie, idly twirling a metal baseball bat in her hands, she exuded an aura of dominance that made my dick throb.

"It fits well," she smirked, her full lips curling into a wolfish grin.

I cleared my throat, suddenly self-conscious. "Uh, thanks. I'm not sure what you're supposed to be, though?"

Erica shrugged nonchalantly. "I don’t dress up anymore. What am I five?."

“Then why the fuck did you insist on making me dress up.” I ask.

“Because a boy in a costume is hot.” She stared at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Before I could respond, the sound of the doorbell caught our attention. Justine, Nikki, and Tara appeared at the front door, their faces a mix of excitement and mischief. My jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw Justine's costume. An elaborate recreation of Elden Ring's Igon, complete with the weird armor and a massive Bow slung across her back.

"Holy shit, Justine, that's sick!" I blurted out, momentarily forgetting my nerves.

Justine beamed, striking a heroic pose. "I knew you'd appreciate it, Jason."

I let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching my chest dramatically. "Curse you, Bayle!" I exclaimed, playing along with Justine's costume.

Justine matched my theatrics, clutching her hand. "My arms! My legs! Each lies a bloody ruin! Ah... A-Aaaaaargh! The pain... The exquisite pain!"

We both dissolved into laughter, reveling in our shared love for the game. Erica, however, wasn't amused. She glared at Justine, her lips pursed in a tight line.

"No one's gonna recognize that stupid outfit," Erica scoffed, her tone laced with disdain.

Justine met Erica's gaze defiantly, her green eyes sparkling with confidence. "I may currently be maidenless, but i promise you this costume will be a smash hit."

Before Erica could retort, she turned her attention to me. In one swift motion, she snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against her body. Her grip was possessive, almost territorial as if staking her claim on me in front of the others. Her warmth was so blissful. I imagine this is what religion felt for some.

"C'mon, let's get going," Erica commanded, her voice a low growl.

Just as Erica was about to usher us out the door, another bell echoed through the foyer. We all turned to see who the final addition to our group would be.

My breath caught in my throat as Lindsey stepped inside, clad in an exquisite Zelda costume that hugged her curves in all the right places. The rich pink and white fabric cascaded over her slender frame, accented by delicate embroidery that shimmered in the dim lighting. Even her neon hair seemed to glow, framing her delicate features in a mesmerizing halo.

‘I figured Zelda woulda been a boy in this timeline? That’s really confusing.’ I think to myself how the rules of this world seem so arbitrary.

I forced myself to tear my gaze away, praying that my feigned nonchalance would conceal the intense stares I was giving Lindsey while she wore one of the hottest cosplay I’d ever seen.

‘I wonder if Erica would wear something like that?’

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Lindsey watching me intently as if she could see straight through my feeble attempts at indifference.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

“Curseeeee you, Bayleeeeeeeeee!” Lindsey screeched at Justine as soon as she recognized her outfit.

"Hell yeah!" Justine spoke appreciatively as she gave Erica a condescending look. "That's one hell of a look yourself princess."

Lindsey offered a demure smile, but said nothing. Her silent observation made me shift uncomfortably, hyper-aware of her scrutinizing gaze.

"Huh, I'm surprised you're not three sheets to the wind already," Lindsey remarked, her eyes settling on Erica with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

Erica bristled, clearly affronted by the subtle jab at her typical alcohol-fueled antics. "Maybe I wanna stay sober for once and actually remember this shitshow," she fired back, her words clipped. She suddenly tightened her grip around my waste.

An uncomfortable tension hung in the air as the two stared each other down. Finally, Erica broke away, rolling her eyes dismissively. "Whatever, let's just get going already."

*****

The streets of Salem were utterly suffocating with people. Waves of costumed partygoers surged through every crevice, filling the air with a cacophony of laughter, shouts, and the occasional shriek. Disorienting aromas, a heady blend of stale beer, greasy food, and cloying perfumes assaulted my senses, making me feel lightheaded.

People kept eying me up and down like i was a fine steak. And it honestly made me nervous. Thank god Erica had her bat with her, which made me feel a little better.

Erica forged ahead, shoving through the masses with her trademark brashness. I struggled to keep up, zigzagging awkwardly by her side with her arm around me. The sea of bodies seemed endless, a churning vortex that threatened to sweep me away if not for Erica’s tight grip.

“Curse you Bayleee!” a now common drunken phrase being thrown Justine’s way as the night progresses.

*****

[Erica’s POV]

I stormed back to the group, my heart racing with a mixture of relief and lingering adrenaline. The neon lights of the haunted house cast eerie shadows across their faces as they laughed at some shared joke. I cleared my throat, drawing their attention.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Some random girl just screamed in Justine’s face and Justine just sat there laughing.”

‘I hate that she got one over on me with that stupid outfit. Maybe If i dress up as Malenia Jason will like me more?’ I wonder.

"False alarm, guys," I announced, trying to keep my voice steady. "Someone texted me that my mom was in the hospital, but she's fine. Se just picked up when I called her and she had no idea what i was talking about." Relief washes over me.

Their laughter died abruptly, replaced by the looks of confusion. Justine's brow furrowed, her stupid costume flapping. "That's... weird. Who would do that?"

I shrugged, pushing aside the nagging worry. "No idea. Probably just some asshole's idea of a prank." My eyes scanned our little group, a chill creeping up my spine as I realized something was off. "Where's Jason?"

The confusion on their faces deepened. Tara glanced around, her vampire fangs glinting in the pulsing lights. "Wasn't he with you?"

My stomach dropped. "No, I... I let go of him when I got the text. I thought he was with you guys. I literally only let him go for half a second.”

Nikki shook her head, her witch's hat bobbing. "We haven't seen him since you walked away.”

I turned to Lindsey, hoping her sharp eyes might have caught something the others missed. But the moment our gazes met, I knew something was wrong. Her face was pale beneath the intricate Zelda makeup, a nervous look flickering in her eyes.

"Lindsey?" I pressed, my voice low and dangerous. "Did you see what happened to Jason?"

She swallowed hard, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her costume. "I... the last I saw, you were still holding onto him.”

My blood ran cold, turning to ice in my veins. The suddenness of my panic made me feel like the loud room was silent. I spun around, desperately scanning the sea of costumed faces for any sign of Jason's Ghostbusters jumpsuit.

"Jason!" I shouted, my voice cracking with fear. "JASON!"

But my cries were swallowed by the thundering bass and drunken laughter surrounding us. The crowd seemed to press in, a suffocating mass of bodies and masks. Every unfamiliar face and every burst of laughter felt like a mockery of my growing terror.

I grabbed Justine’s shoulders, my fingers digging into the delicate fabric of her costume. "Think harder," I growled, searching her eyes for any hint of help. "You must have seen something. Where did he go?"

Justine’s lip quivered, her composure cracking under my intense scrutiny. “Erica, I really don’t know. We have to look for him right now.”

My heart pounding in my ears, I fumbled for my phone, cursing my trembling fingers as I navigated to the tracking app. A faint glimmer of hope sparked in my chest as I remembered I could locate Jason's phone. The screen flickered to life, a small blue dot pulsing mockingly close to my location.

"It's... it's right here," I muttered, confusion and dread mingling in my gut.

I spun around, eyes darting frantically across the sea of costumed revelers. The pulsing lights and fog made everything seem surreal, distorted. Then I spotted it, a table laden with Halloween punch, the surface of the blood-red liquid rippling ominously.

With shaking hands, I plunged my arm into the sticky-sweet concoction. My fingers closed around something solid, and I yanked it out, my breath catching in my throat as I recognized Jason's phone. The screen flickered weakly, moisture seeping into the cracks. It was barely functional, the last dregs of battery life fading before my eyes.

"Fuck!" I screamed, The thought of losing Jason nearly causing me to go into a Frenzy. Panic clawing at my insides, I sprinted outside, shoving past oblivious partygoers. The cool night air hit me like a slap to the face, but it did nothing to clear the fog of fear clouding my mind.

I stood there, paralyzed, as the full weight of the situation crashed over me. The streets stretched out before me, an endless maze of costumed figures and gaudy decorations. Witches cackled, zombies lurched, and princes twirled, all oblivious to my mounting desperation.

For the first time in my entire life, I felt terrifyingly small. The tough exterior I'd cultivated for so long crumbled away, leaving me raw and exposed. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the colors around me.

"Jason!" I screamed, my voice breaking. "JASON!"

But my cries were swallowed by the cacophony of the Halloween night. Music blared from every direction, punctuated by drunken laughter and the occasional shriek from a haunted house. The crowd surged around me, a relentless tide threatening to sweep me away.

I spun in a circle, searching desperately for any sign of Jason's Ghostbusters costume. But everywhere I looked, I saw only strangers’ faces, some hidden behind masks, others painted in garish makeup. Each unfamiliar visage sent a fresh wave of panic through me.

The tears spilled over. I didn't care if looked weak. All that mattered was finding Jason. My Jason. My sweet, gentle boy who trusted me to keep him safe.

“I can’t do this alone.” I decide momentarily trying to figure out my next step. “The first twenty-four hours is the most important.” I dial Jason’s mother, Emily’s number into my phone.

As it rings I praise the Goddess that I took her phone number the night we met.

“You’ve got Emily Parker.” She answered.

“Ms. Parker, It’s Erica.” My tears pour down my cheek. Laced with crushing loneliness and fear for the safety of my fated one. “I need your help. Your son was kidnapped tonight.” I will tell her everything. And we will solve this together.