everyone hail to the pumpkin song; sebaek [2/2]
Everyone Hail to the Pumpkin Song
~ part one ~
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
It’s difficult to focus on classes and house chores and international Skype calls when you know monsters are real and they live under your bed, but Baekhyun tries. He goes to school, studies hard, even if it’s just for a semester. He does his homework and helps his mother at home and he stays away from Nathan and his fight club. He doesn’t try to find the pumpkin patch again. He goes to the library and researches instead.
All Hallows’ Evening, the night of everything that is holy. Saints, maybe, or gods. But Sehun doesn’t sound like a god. He sounds like a shy boy crushing on Baekhyun from afar, leaving collages made of dead leaves on his windowsill, blowing kisses in his ear, stealing his scarf and forcing Baekhyun to run, run, run in order to catch it, and when he stops he’s in the middle of nowhere but the landscape is magical, the sky so blue it looks made of glass, the trees so bright, red, orange and yellow, they look like they’re burning up.
In the grey haze of a rainy, foggy October, Sehun finds all the colors Baekhyun needs. He can’t talk back, true, but Baekhyun is chatty enough for the both of them, and Sehun finds other ways to make his presence known.
But Baekhyun wants to see him. He wants to know how he looks like, not if he’s short or tall or thin or fat, but he wants to know whether he has dimples and freckles, if his eyes disappear when he laughs and how wide he can smile.
He thinks about it as he comes back from school, holding the umbrella in a hand and a plastic bag containing sweets in the others. (Kyungsoo kinda has a sweet tooth. Yixing probably does too, but he’d never admit it. It’s already hard enough to get him to come out and say hi when Baekhyun visits with food.)
A thunder roars behind the hill, in the direction of the field. Baekhyun only hopes it doesn’t rain the day of the Halloween party. He has a feeling Sehun will be there, but if it rains there will be no party at all, so he crosses his fingers and waits. Only another week.
Lightning flashes again, closer this time, followed by another low rumble.
Baekhyun increases his pace, wishing to be home before it starts raining even harder, but he hasn’t reached the end of the block that the entire street is lit by a third lightning, stronger than before, its thunder so strong Baekhyun can feel it shake in his gut.
He screams and takes a step backwards, even as his mind realizes he won’t be able to survive a lightning shock like this one and it’s too late to run away. Except he doesn’t die.
He finds himself staring at a white and red smiley face.
“Oh, no. Not this too.”
A clown. There’s a clown in the middle of the street. A smiling, creepy clown. Baekhyun shouldn’t even be surprised at this point. Nor scared. But somehow, they still always manage to scare him.
“Ah, the prince was right. You are easy to scare!”
“You are just unfair,” shrieks Baekhyun. Do they have some kind of bet? Is he becoming an inside joke?
“I’m good at my job, that’s different. Nice to meet you Byun Baekhyun, you can call me Zitao.”
He bows and makes a gesture, as if he’s trying to take off his hat, except he doesn’t have any and he takes off his head, offering it to Baekhyun. The gesture is together so cute and stupid Baekhyun lets out a little giggle and Zitao’s head smiles back.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
“Curiosity, maybe, and payback.”
They sit together on a bench. It’s raining, but not around Zitao, so Baekhyun makes sure he sticks as close to him as possible.
“Payback?”
“The prince is my friend and he used to tease me for my crush on one of the witches, so it’s only fair I tease him about his crush too.”
“Am I his crush?” asks Baekhyun, smiling to himself.
“Probably.”
Now Baekhyun is definitely not smiling only to himself, because Zitao looks at him and starts giggling madly.
“Oh, you’re so transparent, are you made of glass?”
“Was that supposed to be a joke or...”
Zitao frowns.“Why aren’t you laughing? If you had laughed, I could’ve used asked you if you were an egg since you would’ve been... cracking up?”
It’s so stupid Baekhyun finds himself laughing until he’s breathless.
“Oh no, you’re terrible.”
“The prince too says I’m terrible, but the other guys at the circus love me!”
“A circus?”
“The Phantom Circus! I would take you to see it but we’re still in the middle of preparations for next week’s big show. Everyone is too busy to perform for you. Well, except maybe the human cannonball.” He lowers his voice, speaking in a confidential tone. “You see, he got fired.”
Baekhyun laughs until he’s crying and the wind rages angrily.
“Oh, hear how angry he is.”
“Come on Sehunnie, don’t be a spoilsport, he’s funny.”
“Oh, but I think he’s just jealous. I can make you laugh and he can’t.”
Baekhyun wonders if Sehun is blushing at his feelings being exposed like this. He wishes he could hear his voice. Zitao can hear Sehun, so Baekhyun wonders why he can’t. Not yet.
“Don’t be impatient, your time will come. And his too.”
“Can I ask you something, before you go?”
Zitao’s painted smile widens, wicked.
“Only if you give me those,” he says, pointing to the bag of sweets. Baekhyun thinks about it and in the end empties half of the content of the bag in one of Zitao’s large pockets. “The others are for Kyungsoo,” he explains. “He’s really persuasive when he wants to.”
“He’s an asshole,” says Zitao, scrunching his nose. “Just because he’s really old, even older than the king, he does everything he wants. Tell me your question, little one, I have only until the next flash of thunder!”
“What are you guys, exactly?”
“Us?” Zitao’s smile grows even wider, but now that Baekhyun looks at him he’s not really smiling. It’s all paint. Actually, Zitao looks kinda scary. “Are you sure you really want to know? What if it shatters the little fairytale you’ve built in your head?”
His face disappear, suddenly, and Baekhyun finds himself staring at the back of his head, to an emptiness so alive and crawling and swarming and screeching it makes him feel sick.
“Don’t trust appearances. We are nightmares, Baekhyun, no more than that.”
The lightning flares and wipes out everything. When Baekhyun can see again, Zitao is gone.
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
The sky is clear, for the first time in days. It looks like Baekhyun could touch it, if he tried to stretch his hand. It looks like he’s standing on top of the world and not just on top of the school, on the roof.
“Myungsoo says you have tiny typhoons in your room.”
“And we listen to Myungsoo... since when?”
Jaehwan sighs. Baekhyun sighs. Sehun, unheard by the former but not by the latter, sighs, but at least he doesn’t create another tornado just for the sake of proving Baekhyun wrong.
“Would you believe me if I said I’m being courted by the prince of Halloween town and I keep meeting his scary but loyal subjects everywhere?”
Far, far away, in the middle of the night, Jaehwan shakes his head. Baekhyun can hear his mother tell him to go to bed on the other side of the phone.
“One day you will tell me who’s the mysterious person you’re going out with, Baekhyun-ah.”
“I’m not going out with anyone at the moment.”
“Oh, sure. I know you. When you started going out with Myungsoo you told Amber you were training to become a wizard and when you started going out with me you told the both of them you had unfinished business with the boss of a local gang. Excuse me if I don’t believe your Halloween town prince bullshit.”
Oh, the hard life of an unrepentant liar.
“What are you saying, Jaehwanie? You are the boss of a local gang.”
Jaehwan laughs. “Well, at least you haven’t lost your spirit. The last time we talked you sounded... I don’t know, maybe it was just an impression, but it sounded like you were in trouble and wouldn’t tell us. Like you were hiding something.”
Of course Jaehwan would know - only a liar can recognize another - but Baekhyun is not ready to admit he was being bullied, so he just lets the topic drop as Jaehwan suddenly curses.
“Oh, fuck, mom’s nagging. I’ll call you again next week, ok? After that party, you’ll tell me if you managed to woo your man! Don’t get in trouble...”
“Bye, Jaehwanie!”
Sehun’s impalpable fingers tickle Baekhyun’s nape. He shivers.
“Are you still jealous?” he asks to no one. “Jaehwan is just my second best friend.”
Sehun’s reply never arrives, but Baekhyun turns to the sound of the door of the roof closing. He looks around frantically, but he can’t see anyone. For a moment he believes, he hopes, it was one of Sehun’s friends, one of those monster boys from the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch.
But it’s highly unlikely, they don’t appear in bright or crowded places and they never appear during the day, the one called Chanyeol being the only exception. (But it was close to dusk and the back alley was dark and foggy.)
It it wasn’t one of the Hallows then it was a student, or a professor. But a professor would’ve stopped Baekhyun since access to the roof is forbidden, so it could’ve only been another student. That could be a problem. Baekhyun is already the strange boy who can’t speak decent English, the foreigner, the one who doesn’t fit in, he doesn’t need to be the one who talks to ghosts too.
He spends the rest of the day waiting for the ominous whispers to start, for the people tripping him in the corridors, for Nathan and his friends to corner him and call him a loser. Nothing happens in the end and he leaves the school feeling skittish and jittery
.
The rain finally stopped after a few days of merciless downpour, leaving only a strong scent of wet earth around and a trace of mud at the sides of the streets. He carefully avoids the last puddles when he finally hears the steps. He doesn’t turn back to see who’s following him, but he walks faster, trying to reach the main road. It could be the next scary fellow from the pumpkin kingdom, but it could also be Nathan, is way more scary than the average scary fellow from the pumpkin kingdom. (Not that Baekhyun would ever tell Kyungsoo that he thinks a big bully is scarier than the Monster Under The Bed.) He’s almost reached the end of the park, when a voice stops him.
“Wait, wait a moment! Byun Baekhyun, right?”
He turns and recognizes one of the students from his Biology class, Kim Chen. He only remembers his name because he’s of Korean descent, but he’s like a third or fourth generation American and the first time Baekhyun tried to greet him in Korean he just shook his head violently and looked helpless, so Baekhyun has never tried again. Until today, apparently.
“Baekhyun?”
“You know it’s me.”
“I was on the roof today.”
Baekhyun feels all the blood drain from his face. “Were you? Did you… did you see me doing something strange?”
“Like talking to yourself like a madman?” Chen winks. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me! My brother told me the Hallows were extremely chatty lately because of some human kid, but I would’ve never imagined it was you, it really surprised me!”
Two questions clash in Baekhyun’s mind for a moment.
“You know the Hallows? Wait a moment? You speak Korean?” he exclaims, realizing that he and the other boy have until now talked in Korean and not in English. Chen looks guilty, for a moment.
“You ignored me when I talked to you in Korean the first time!”
“I technically can’t speak Korean, which takes us to the answer to your first question, as in if I know the Hallows!”
“Well, it’s clear you do,” sighs Baekhyun. Then he takes a step backwards, suddenly very suspicious. “Wait a moment, do you happen to be one of them? Is that why you can speak Korean even though you’re like, ninety-five percent American? Are you waiting the right moment to swing a bat at me or to attract me in a dark well and demand my soul?”
Chen pats his back. “Do I look like a Hallow to you?”
He looks normal, in his hoodie, blue jeans and sneakers. He has a sharp face, sharper eyes and the sharpest smile, but he looks completely and totally human.
“Ehm...”
“I’m not one of them, you can trust me! But I do know many of them. It’s kind of like... a family business.”
He looks around for a moment.
“It’s still too bright here and my brother would kill me if I broke the Oath in full daylight, but if you’re free tonight we could take a walk around the hills and I could tell you stuff. Useful stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“Stuff no one has told you yet. Stuff you should know in order to meet the prince. That kind of stuff.”
They exchange numbers. Chen saves his number in Baekhyun’s phone as Jongdae. “It’s my Korean name,” he says. “People here can’t really say it right, Chen is easier for them.”
“See you tonight at midnight then.”
“I’ll pick you up!” says Jongdae, before he runs away.
Jongdae knocks at Baekhyun’s (for once mercifully closed) window at midnight. He’s riding a broom and floating a few meters from the ground. Amazing.
“I was waiting for you to text me, to be honest,” says Baekhyun as he opens the window. Of course his classmate was a fucking witch, what was he expecting.
“I thought it would’ve been faster this way. Hop aboard!”
Baekhyun looks at the broomstick warily. He’s not really sure this is a good idea. For what he knows, Jongdae could just dump him in the woods and leave him there. Then Baekhyun remembers he has four AM conversation with a monster living under his bed and tea parties with the one living under his stairs. And let’s not talk about the invitation to see a Phantom Circus show. Worrying at this point seems... preposterous.
“A family business, mh?” he says, as he carefully wraps his arms around Jongdae’s torso. He screams when they depart, but Jongdae wisely pretend he didn’t hear that.
“Yes, my grandfather married the head of the local clan of witches and even though her daughter chose to marry another Korean immigrant outside the clan her bloodline was strong enough to be passed onto me and my brother. And that also explains why I speak Korean. I never really had to study it but any language it’s easy when you can, you know, do magic!”
“What does a witch do?”
“Mostly curse people and try to gain control of the world.” He waits for Baekhyun to squirm a little before he breaks into another laugh. “Did you believe that? It’s not true, I swear. We just seek knowledge. And celebrate rites to honor the ancient gods. We’re like guardians. If we don’t placate the old spirits, they would haunt humans.”
They land in the fields, on the frozen ground, not too far from where Baekhyun had found the entrance to the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch. Jongdae leads him to the rests of a fire. “There was a clan meeting a few days ago, but they wouldn’t have appreciated me taking you here, to be honest. The Oath and everything else. Technically, my grandmother will beat me with her broom if she finds out I’ve told you our secret.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” says Baekhyun. Jongdae waves him away.
“It’s fine. I can’t lie to her, but I won’t need to for at least another week. There won’t be another meeting until the Hallows’ Eve Ride, when we’ll accompany the spirits of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch in their usual march through the city.”
And this is exactly what Baekhyun wanted. Answers.
“What are they?”
“Ancient gods, higher spirits, memories whose essence remained and became a monster. Mostly really powerful ghosts. They gather around the King of the Pumpkins, because he has the power to cheat on death, so they can continue to exist in his realm.”
“Are they dangerous?”
“Very. They can’t physically harm us, but they can frighten humans to death. Don’t ever underestimate the power of fear. I don’t think they would ever do that to you, though. Everyone dotes on the prince a lot and it’s clear he has taken a liking on you.”
Baekhyun has taken a liking on him too, but it’s not fair that Sehun knows almost everything about Baekhyun while Baekhyun knows nothing about him.
“What about the prince?”
“The prince... Lately he’s busy. He was crushing like a kid and forgot his duties, so his father had to scold him a few days ago, according to my brother. Jongdeok is the eldest son, so he’s the only one who’s allowed to visit the Kingdom.”
Jongdae pouts and murmurs something. Fire blooms between his clasped hands. He releases it and it floats mid-air between them.
Baekhyun asks him about the Hallows Jongdae knows, and about the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch, but Jongdae doesn’t say more than Baekhyun already knows. Except for one thing.
“During Halloween night all the spirits will wander free, right?”
“Right.”
“Will I be able to meet Sehun?”
“I think that’s his plan, yes. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked the boy he likes to go to a party with another person, don’t you think?”
Baekhyun blushes.
“Dress nicely. I would’ve taken you there but, you know, duty calls. Someone’s gonna watch over the wraiths of the hanged men. But I think I’m gonna be bold and asked to be assigned to the Fright.”
Baekhyun doesn’t know what the Fright is, but as soon as the word leaves Jongdae’s lips, the world becomes somewhat colder. It’s not the cold of the wind that he’s learnt to associate with Sehun. It’s a deeper, icier cold, like a shadow covering the moon. He shivers and it’s like the night is laughing at him.
Jongdae looks at him, apprehension written on his face.
“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry but I shall say no more, especially about him. He probably doesn’t want you to know anything more and I don’t have the right to go against his will. But I have a feeling you’ll know everything soon.”
He blows over the flames and they disappear. So does the incredible warmth, gone in a breath. The fields are frozen and cold around them. An owl hoots and Baekhyun sticks his hand inside the pockets of his parka, trying to keep them warm.
“Time to go, come on. Before your mom realizes you’re gone.” He shakes the broomstick a little, to get rid of the thin veil of dew that stuck there while they talked. “You’re staying at the front this time, it’ll be funny.”
It’s not funny, not really. It takes Jongdae less than two minutes to realize Baekhyun is ticklish as hell and only a little more to stick his cold hands under Baekhyun’s shirt to see how loudly exactly he can make him scream. Not funny, not really, especially when Sehun decides he’s had enough of unnecessary flirting and sends them a clear warning in the form of a strong gush of wind that almost sends them plummeting on the ground.
“If this keeps up I’ll never get to that Halloween party alive,” cries Baekhyun in the night. Jongdae laughs like he’s having the time of his life.
“Oh my, he’s usually so cold, but he really really really must like you a lot.”
They part silently at Baekhyun’s window.
“See you tomorrow Byun. And, of course, if Stiller bothers you again, just tell me! My brother will turn him into a toad or something!”
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
Simone makes a decent witch, but now that Baekhyun has seen Jongdae’s original witch gear she doesn’t really seem convincing anymore. She’s pretty, though. The black dress is short enough to make her legs appear longer and her blonde hair is curled and styled. They’re going as friends, so they didn’t plan on wearing matching outfits.
“What are you supposed to be?” she asks Baekhyun. He adjusts his black hat and smirks.
“Cheoseung saja. The Korean Grim Reaper.”
Well, an interpretation of him. He doubts the Netherworld Emissary wears black pants and sweater, plus a black cap he stole from Baekbom before leaving for the States. But somehow, he doesn’t think anyone will complain for the historical inaccuracy, except maybe Jongdae, but he won’t be at the party.
“Cool,” says Nicole. “Shall we get going?”
The place chosen for the party is a big clearing in front of an old barn surrounded by dark trees, a kind concession of old Ben Stiller, Nathan’s grandfather. When they arrive there, the clearing is already swarming with people. Everyone from school is there, plus some older boys and girls (seniors who have already graduated, supposes Baekhyun.) There’s alcohol, a lot of it, and carved pumpkins everywhere. The speakers play an electronic, syncopated music and the people jumping inside the barn makes the ground shake at the rhythm of the bass. Baekhyun wonders how he’ll be able to find Sehun among all these people.
A tall girl in a zombie nurse costume offers them some punch and Baekhyun feels drunk just by the smell of alcohol on it. He only takes a few sips before he decides it’s time to leave the paper cup on the ground.
“Wanna dance?“ he asks to Simone, because he’s nothing but a gentleman, but she shakes her head nervously. She too looks like she’s looking for someone, scanning the crowd with anxious eyes while she bites her lips. Maybe she’s just feeling uncomfortable. Everyone knows that Nathan has unresolved business with Baekhyun. It could be bad for her to be involved with him too. Baekhyun thinks it’s time to relieve her of her duties.
“I’m glad you decided to invite me, but it’s fine. You can go with your friends if you don’t want to be seen with me.”
Her eyes widen.
“It’s not like that, really. Listen, can we go somewhere less crowded for a moment? I think I need to breathe fresh air.”
He nods, unsure, and follows her through the woods behind the barn. It’s easier to think clearly as they get away from the strong base of the music, and he starts feeling antsy. It’s not like he and Simone are friends. She talks to him sometimes, to make sure he doesn’t need any help with homework, because she works part-time for the school as tutor, but this invitation seems awfully off-place.
“Simone, where are we going?”
She stops.
“Listen, I’m very sorry, ok?”
No, it’s not ok. The strident suspicion comes back, except maybe it’s too late to second guess his own decision now.
“I couldn’t really tell him no, no one tells Nathan no, ok?”
No one but Baekhyun. He turns around and, of course, Nathan is there, with his friends. Amazing. Truly amazing. He turns to glare at Simone but she’s looking at the ground, unable to meet his eyes.
“Thank you, Myers. You can go back to the party now.”
She scampers in the direction of the party without looking back. Baekhyun wonders whether she’ll be able to look at him tomorrow. He wonders whether he’ll be able to go to school tomorrow.
“Aren’t you going to run?”
Baekhyun looks at Nathan, trying to convey all his defiance and disgust. He hopes he can hide the fear, because he doesn’t want to give the bastard any satisfaction. He won’t run away this time. He would, if he could, but it’s too dark and he doesn’t know the land like he does. (This is his family land, after all.) He won’t be hunted like a rabbit.
“No?”
Michael pushes him and Baekhyun falls face down onto a bed of dried leaves. Amber would have punched back and Myungsoo would’ve never found himself in this situation because he was the popular one, the one no one could actually touch. Jaehwan would’ve been on the other side, in Nathan’s place, but he would’ve never touched Baekhyun.
But Baekhyun... What is Baekhyun to do now? Maybe Simone was right, maybe he should’ve just done what Nathan wanted since the beginning. What’s a little of humiliation in exchange for a peaceful life?
The first kick lands near his sternum, followed by one behind his back. He bites his lips because he doesn’t want them to hear him scream. The third kick hits his leg, and the fourth his back again, and then there’s nothing else.
Baekhyun opens his eyes, but all he can see is darkness. The moon, he realizes, the moon is gone and the sky is black. It’s cold.
Then, he hears the screams.
“Ssssh,” something says at his ears, “come with me. Let’s get you out of here.”
He recognizes Jongdae’s voice and he lets his friend pull him up, standing on shaky legs.
“What is happening?” he asks.
“Not here, let’s go!”
They walk in the darkness and Baekhyun is grateful for Jongdae’s solid body against his, keeping him from slipping on the wet ground.
“Why is it so dark?”
“The Fright. I should’ve stopped him, that’s my duty for tonight, but he promised he wouldn’t kill them.”
“What is the Fright, Jongdae?”
“The Fright is me.”
The voice is low, calm. Baekhyun can’t see him, it’s too dark to see him, but he can feel his presence, his aura. It’s overbearing and it’s everywhere.
“Who are you?”
“I am the thing you fear the most in the world.”
“Is that why it’s dark? You don’t want me to see you?”
Something touches his face, a hand. It’s a curious touch, but filled with longing. Baekhyun feels fear creep on his skin like it’s a living thing. But then he remembers this person, this creature, just saved him from being beaten.
“The thing I fear the most in the world was... Nathan, I think. And I think you just gave him a lesson.”
“He was right, you’re not afraid.”
“I’m afraid of bullies, are you one?”
“I am. The worst bully. I am fear itself. The Fright is my name.”
“Are you one of Sehun’s friends?”
“I’m his best friend.”
“Then I have no reason to be afraid.”
It’s not completely true. He’s scared. Not being scared in front of fear would be stupid, but he’s not alone. Jongdae is with him. The Fright, whatever his name is, helped him.
“I understand. He’s waiting for you at the Gate. Tonight is all you’ll ever get from him, are you sure you really want to go?”
“One night is better than nothing.”
“If you go and you see him, don’t you fear you’ll miss him?”
“That’s not fear, that’s another feeling.”
There’s silence. Baekhyun was bold enough to silence the Fright.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the moon reappears and the stars start peeking from the once again blue vault. The Fright looks like a lost boy under all this light, showering in silver and gold.
“I’m Jongin,” he says, looking in Baekhyun’s eyes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the moon like this,” he says. “I live in the shadows, in the dark corners, in the edge between sleep and dream, in every confused nightmare. I’m friends with everyone’s worse fear, with the monsters living under your bed, in your closet, under the stairs and in your basement. In the sewers or in behind a trashcan in a dark alley. But you’re the first human who’s ever seen me like this.”
“Well, thank you so much, and here I thought I as special,” says Jongdae under his breath.
The magic shatters and the nightmare ends. Jongin frowns and he doesn’t look like a powerful god but like a displeased child.
“Well, you’re not exactly human,” the Hallow snaps back. Jongdae scoffs and disappears without a tree, muttering something about finding his broom.
“So you’re Sehun’s best friend?” asks Baekhyun, still shaken.
“We like to run together in the night, the wind and the shiver. We don’t need a lot to have fun, just each other and someone to scare.”
“Someone needs to do it, I guess,” and Jongin nods, unsure. “Everyone has been trying to hint that you’re dangerous. Not you, specifically, I mean, all of you. The Hallows. The scary clown said you’re nightmares and even Kyungsoo warned me against trusting the Hallows too much.”
Jongin’s expression hardens. “And what do you think?”
“I think you’re scary and dangerous because it’s your duty. But under the scary appearance you are just lost kids, aren’t you?”
Jongin looks so sad, for a moment, Baekhyun wants to reach him or a hug.
“Maybe we were people a long time ago, maybe not. But we have lost the way and we didn’t know where to go, so we wandered aimlessly, until we found this kingdom. The king has given us a place to stay in exchange for our loyalty and our services. We received duties. I am the Fright and I frighten, it’s easy.” His eyes look faraway, beyond the hills. “Scaring people is not bad, but sometimes we miss someone who can treat us as people and not as monsters. Because we were, a long time ago, just that. People.”
“What did you do to them?” asks Baekhyun, suddenly remembering about Nathan and his gang.
“Don’t worry, they’re not dead. Fear can kill you, but I find so much better to keep my victims alive to feed off them for a long time,” says Jongin with a crooked smile. “They’re just sleeping now.”
“Dreaming of terrible things, I guess.” Jongdae emerges from the woods with his broomstick and lays it at his feet with care. “Don’t overdo it, alright? You promised me you wouldn’t do anything too bad. You know I’m supposed to keep you in check.”
Jongn scoffs. “Yes, yes. Of course. You know I’m only doing my job.”
“I’m only doing my job too.”
“Scaring people is my only purpose in life, after all.”
“Going out with me should be your only purpose in life,” says Jongdae, crossing his arms around his chest and looking awfully entitled.
“Weren’t you going out with a clown from the Phantom Circus though?” says Jongin with a smirk. That, at least, seems to offend Jongdae.
“That’s old! We broke up last Halloween.”
“So I’ve heard. Didn’t you dump him mercilessly?”
“Excuse me!” whines Baekhyun, tired of being ignored upon Jongdae’s return. “Now that I’ve ascertained that you are just a god with a penchant for drama, can I leave you to your witch and your bickering? It’s almost midnight.”
Jongin looks at him, a little confused.
“Why are you still here? You’re intruding on our date!”
“Because you haven’t told me where the entrance of your kingdom is,” cries Baekhyun, exasperated.
“Oh, Baekhyun, you don’t need to worry. The entrance of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is not a place, but a time. It doesn’t matter where you are, just go away and wait for midnight to come and open the gates for the Hallows. Go, go!”
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
They will remember this Halloween forever, that’s for sure. Jongin said the entrance of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is not a place, but a time, and that midnight will come and open the gates for the Hallows, but no one, not even Baekhyun, is expecting the gates to open in the middle of the Halloween party, and for a crowd of monsters to invade the clearing in front of Old Ben’s barn at the stroke of midnight.
Someone screams, no, everybody screams.
Tomorrow they will say it was the alcohol, they all drank too much and someone probably spiked the punch, there’s no other explanation, but tonight they scream when they find themselves facing werewolves, singing skeletons, smirking vampires, the shadows of murdered man and monsters of every kind and shape.
Baekhyun wonders, if he had never met Sehun, where he would be now. Running away together with all his frightened schoolmates? Questioning his mental health in front of nightmare material like mummies, creepy dolls and virgin ghosts? Nah, he would’ve probably been at home. There was no way he would’ve come here if Sehun hadn’t told him to.
He quickly ducks to avoid the branch of the Hanged Men Tree and bows respectfully when one of the hanged men says sorry, “We didn’t mean to tramp on you, little one.”
“It’s alright, can you tell me where the prince is?”
“The prince?” says the tree, in a low, deep voice. “I don’t know where the prince is, but I know where the King might be...”
“There’s no need to involve my father, I think.”
Oh, but Baekhyun knows this voice.
Sehun looks a little like the kid in Baekhyun’s kindergarten, and a little like someone Baekhyun is seeing for the first time.
The Hanged Men Tree bows and leaves to join the celebration, unnoticed. Baekhyun and Sehun are too busy to pay him any attention now that they’ve found each other.
“Your face looks familiar,” Baekhyun says.
“I’m sorry. I don’t... I don’t really have a face. I’ve never had one. I’m just a spirit of the wind.”
“I know. I... realized. All of you. Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, Yixing, Zitao... You all look like people I’ve already met, like memories. You have their names. Their faces. The way you all showed yourselves to me… is not how you really look like, right?”
“You should forgive them. They didn’t want to scare you. It doesn’t happen everyday that we meet someone who treats us... like friends, like humans, instead of being afraid of us. We wanted to show you human faces and give you human names. No one wants to be a monster.”
Sehun extends his hands for Baekhyun to take.
“You will disappear at dawn.”
“I will not. I’ll just go back to my original form. I’ll be the whisper in the darkness, the ‘who’ when you call ‘who’s there?’ But I won’t disappear and I won’t forget you.”
Baekhyun takes that hand. It’s solid, warm. It’s not the hand of a ghost or a monster. Sehun’s smile is even warmer.
“Come on,” he says, “let’s go. My entire kingdom is eavesdropping and they’ll tease me for the rest of eternity if they hear another word.”
He tugs Baekhyun at his side, taking advantage of his height to put an arm over his shoulders, and starts walking towards the city. Baekhyun sees Chanyeol dancing with a young witch in front of the bonfire and ignores his wink. Kyungsoo has finally managed to drag Yixing outside of the Shade and they’re hurrying up towards the tent of the Phantom Circus, where Zitao is ready to introduce tonight’s show.
Baekhyun would like to watch, he promised Zitao after all, but Sehun doesn’t let him stop. “You’ve already met all of them, but we, you and I, only have tonight, and I won’t share you with anyone. You’re only mine for tonight.”
Baekhyun can’t belong to Sehun, but he doesn’t say anything. For tonight, everything is allowed. Everything is fair.
Sehun knows the city like the back of his hand. Every turn, every corner. Every leaf, every speck of dust, every wisp and every fairy. Wherever he goes, the night bows to make way for the prince.
But tonight he’s not the prince, he’s just Baekhyun’s date, he laughs for the silliest things and when he smiles his eyes disappear and he claps his hands frantically.
“I’m not used to this,” he says to Baekhyun, after he calms down. “Having hands, having a face... Too many muscles. I’m so solid, but I can feel so many things.”
Baekhyun touches his face and Sehun blushes, the redness blasting in his face like the flames of the bonfire.
“I can feel so many things,” he repeats, shyly.
“Is this the first time you do something like this?” asks Baekhyun, pointing towards the city in front of them. They’ve hiked up the hill to sit on the bench behind the observatory, with the town spread in front of them. From here, they can see the high school and the old roads leading towards the countryside, towards the pumpkin patches and the empty fields ready to be ploughed. They can also see the bonfire, where the Halloween party is still going on. They can see the moon and the stars and the witches and the ghosts flying in the sky.
“It’s the first time I do something like this,” admits Sehun. “I have many friends, but it’s the first time I hold someone’s hands or listen to the sound of their laugh and wonder if I will be able to remember it forever.”
“Would you forget me?” asks Baekhyun,
“The true question is, will you remember me?” asks Sehun. “In less than three months you will come back to your home and I won’t be able to follow you there. The Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is here.”
“I could come back here to visit, next year,” says Baekhyun, but he already knows he won’t.
“It’s fine, just remember me.”
“You don’t need to ask.”
Baekhyun will remember. He will leave this place and go back home, to Myungsoo, to Jaehwan and to Amber, to his friends and his high school and his city. His home. A home Sehun can’t be part of. Baekhyun will graduate, will go to the military, find a job, maybe find someone to spend his life with. He will meet people who’ll think less of him because he likes men. He will learn how to accept punches. He will learn how to keep his mouth shut. He will learn how to fight. (He will learn to be happy.)
But every time he’ll see a slither of shadow under a bed or the ajar door of a closet, the little forgotten corners of darkness at the end of a back alley or under the stairs, the flash of claws or a scaly tails disappearing suddenly at the tiniest sound, he’ll think of this month. He’ll think of things hiding in the darkness, keeping their secret, of gods stealing screams because it’s their job and not because they want to. They’re lonely, these Hallows, and strangely melancholic. Maybe they just wanted a friend.
Baekhyun will think of Sehun at every gust of wind, for the rest of his life, the silent, shy, bratty prince of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch, who made Baekhyun fall in love without a voice and without a face.
The sky clears at east, pale violet and pink streaking the black sky. For the spirits, it’s time to go home. For Baekhyun, it’s time to say goodbye.
“Thank you for tonight, Sehunnie.”
Sehun nods with the face that, only for tonight, belonged to him.
“No, thank you. I will remember this Halloween for the longest time, Byun Baekhyun.” He takes a deep breath, like the wind collecting his strength before the most violent gust, like the calm before the storm, like the lowest point of the ebb before the turn of the tide. “There’s something else I want to ask, if you want.”
The stars blink and disappear from the sky, one after another.
Baekhyun’s reply is the softest press of his lips against Sehun’s. It’s chaste, tender, and when Baekhyun breathes he can feel the scent of autumn, of dried leaves and rain and pumpkin, ofwarm biscuits and the smoke of the fires burning wood and dried brush in the fields. He feels Sehun smile into the kiss. (For the rest of his life, he’ll wonder whether he imagined that or it really happened.)
When he opens his eyes, it’s to the first light of the day. Sehun is gone, vanished from his arms, like the supernatural creature he’s always been.
The wind rises, one last time, and says goodbye.
WebPage Visits
~ part one ~
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
It’s difficult to focus on classes and house chores and international Skype calls when you know monsters are real and they live under your bed, but Baekhyun tries. He goes to school, studies hard, even if it’s just for a semester. He does his homework and helps his mother at home and he stays away from Nathan and his fight club. He doesn’t try to find the pumpkin patch again. He goes to the library and researches instead.
All Hallows’ Evening, the night of everything that is holy. Saints, maybe, or gods. But Sehun doesn’t sound like a god. He sounds like a shy boy crushing on Baekhyun from afar, leaving collages made of dead leaves on his windowsill, blowing kisses in his ear, stealing his scarf and forcing Baekhyun to run, run, run in order to catch it, and when he stops he’s in the middle of nowhere but the landscape is magical, the sky so blue it looks made of glass, the trees so bright, red, orange and yellow, they look like they’re burning up.
In the grey haze of a rainy, foggy October, Sehun finds all the colors Baekhyun needs. He can’t talk back, true, but Baekhyun is chatty enough for the both of them, and Sehun finds other ways to make his presence known.
But Baekhyun wants to see him. He wants to know how he looks like, not if he’s short or tall or thin or fat, but he wants to know whether he has dimples and freckles, if his eyes disappear when he laughs and how wide he can smile.
He thinks about it as he comes back from school, holding the umbrella in a hand and a plastic bag containing sweets in the others. (Kyungsoo kinda has a sweet tooth. Yixing probably does too, but he’d never admit it. It’s already hard enough to get him to come out and say hi when Baekhyun visits with food.)
A thunder roars behind the hill, in the direction of the field. Baekhyun only hopes it doesn’t rain the day of the Halloween party. He has a feeling Sehun will be there, but if it rains there will be no party at all, so he crosses his fingers and waits. Only another week.
Lightning flashes again, closer this time, followed by another low rumble.
Baekhyun increases his pace, wishing to be home before it starts raining even harder, but he hasn’t reached the end of the block that the entire street is lit by a third lightning, stronger than before, its thunder so strong Baekhyun can feel it shake in his gut.
He screams and takes a step backwards, even as his mind realizes he won’t be able to survive a lightning shock like this one and it’s too late to run away. Except he doesn’t die.
He finds himself staring at a white and red smiley face.
“Oh, no. Not this too.”
A clown. There’s a clown in the middle of the street. A smiling, creepy clown. Baekhyun shouldn’t even be surprised at this point. Nor scared. But somehow, they still always manage to scare him.
“Ah, the prince was right. You are easy to scare!”
“You are just unfair,” shrieks Baekhyun. Do they have some kind of bet? Is he becoming an inside joke?
“I’m good at my job, that’s different. Nice to meet you Byun Baekhyun, you can call me Zitao.”
He bows and makes a gesture, as if he’s trying to take off his hat, except he doesn’t have any and he takes off his head, offering it to Baekhyun. The gesture is together so cute and stupid Baekhyun lets out a little giggle and Zitao’s head smiles back.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”
“Curiosity, maybe, and payback.”
They sit together on a bench. It’s raining, but not around Zitao, so Baekhyun makes sure he sticks as close to him as possible.
“Payback?”
“The prince is my friend and he used to tease me for my crush on one of the witches, so it’s only fair I tease him about his crush too.”
“Am I his crush?” asks Baekhyun, smiling to himself.
“Probably.”
Now Baekhyun is definitely not smiling only to himself, because Zitao looks at him and starts giggling madly.
“Oh, you’re so transparent, are you made of glass?”
“Was that supposed to be a joke or...”
Zitao frowns.“Why aren’t you laughing? If you had laughed, I could’ve used asked you if you were an egg since you would’ve been... cracking up?”
It’s so stupid Baekhyun finds himself laughing until he’s breathless.
“Oh no, you’re terrible.”
“The prince too says I’m terrible, but the other guys at the circus love me!”
“A circus?”
“The Phantom Circus! I would take you to see it but we’re still in the middle of preparations for next week’s big show. Everyone is too busy to perform for you. Well, except maybe the human cannonball.” He lowers his voice, speaking in a confidential tone. “You see, he got fired.”
Baekhyun laughs until he’s crying and the wind rages angrily.
“Oh, hear how angry he is.”
“Come on Sehunnie, don’t be a spoilsport, he’s funny.”
“Oh, but I think he’s just jealous. I can make you laugh and he can’t.”
Baekhyun wonders if Sehun is blushing at his feelings being exposed like this. He wishes he could hear his voice. Zitao can hear Sehun, so Baekhyun wonders why he can’t. Not yet.
“Don’t be impatient, your time will come. And his too.”
“Can I ask you something, before you go?”
Zitao’s painted smile widens, wicked.
“Only if you give me those,” he says, pointing to the bag of sweets. Baekhyun thinks about it and in the end empties half of the content of the bag in one of Zitao’s large pockets. “The others are for Kyungsoo,” he explains. “He’s really persuasive when he wants to.”
“He’s an asshole,” says Zitao, scrunching his nose. “Just because he’s really old, even older than the king, he does everything he wants. Tell me your question, little one, I have only until the next flash of thunder!”
“What are you guys, exactly?”
“Us?” Zitao’s smile grows even wider, but now that Baekhyun looks at him he’s not really smiling. It’s all paint. Actually, Zitao looks kinda scary. “Are you sure you really want to know? What if it shatters the little fairytale you’ve built in your head?”
His face disappear, suddenly, and Baekhyun finds himself staring at the back of his head, to an emptiness so alive and crawling and swarming and screeching it makes him feel sick.
“Don’t trust appearances. We are nightmares, Baekhyun, no more than that.”
The lightning flares and wipes out everything. When Baekhyun can see again, Zitao is gone.
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
The sky is clear, for the first time in days. It looks like Baekhyun could touch it, if he tried to stretch his hand. It looks like he’s standing on top of the world and not just on top of the school, on the roof.
“Myungsoo says you have tiny typhoons in your room.”
“And we listen to Myungsoo... since when?”
Jaehwan sighs. Baekhyun sighs. Sehun, unheard by the former but not by the latter, sighs, but at least he doesn’t create another tornado just for the sake of proving Baekhyun wrong.
“Would you believe me if I said I’m being courted by the prince of Halloween town and I keep meeting his scary but loyal subjects everywhere?”
Far, far away, in the middle of the night, Jaehwan shakes his head. Baekhyun can hear his mother tell him to go to bed on the other side of the phone.
“One day you will tell me who’s the mysterious person you’re going out with, Baekhyun-ah.”
“I’m not going out with anyone at the moment.”
“Oh, sure. I know you. When you started going out with Myungsoo you told Amber you were training to become a wizard and when you started going out with me you told the both of them you had unfinished business with the boss of a local gang. Excuse me if I don’t believe your Halloween town prince bullshit.”
Oh, the hard life of an unrepentant liar.
“What are you saying, Jaehwanie? You are the boss of a local gang.”
Jaehwan laughs. “Well, at least you haven’t lost your spirit. The last time we talked you sounded... I don’t know, maybe it was just an impression, but it sounded like you were in trouble and wouldn’t tell us. Like you were hiding something.”
Of course Jaehwan would know - only a liar can recognize another - but Baekhyun is not ready to admit he was being bullied, so he just lets the topic drop as Jaehwan suddenly curses.
“Oh, fuck, mom’s nagging. I’ll call you again next week, ok? After that party, you’ll tell me if you managed to woo your man! Don’t get in trouble...”
“Bye, Jaehwanie!”
Sehun’s impalpable fingers tickle Baekhyun’s nape. He shivers.
“Are you still jealous?” he asks to no one. “Jaehwan is just my second best friend.”
Sehun’s reply never arrives, but Baekhyun turns to the sound of the door of the roof closing. He looks around frantically, but he can’t see anyone. For a moment he believes, he hopes, it was one of Sehun’s friends, one of those monster boys from the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch.
But it’s highly unlikely, they don’t appear in bright or crowded places and they never appear during the day, the one called Chanyeol being the only exception. (But it was close to dusk and the back alley was dark and foggy.)
It it wasn’t one of the Hallows then it was a student, or a professor. But a professor would’ve stopped Baekhyun since access to the roof is forbidden, so it could’ve only been another student. That could be a problem. Baekhyun is already the strange boy who can’t speak decent English, the foreigner, the one who doesn’t fit in, he doesn’t need to be the one who talks to ghosts too.
He spends the rest of the day waiting for the ominous whispers to start, for the people tripping him in the corridors, for Nathan and his friends to corner him and call him a loser. Nothing happens in the end and he leaves the school feeling skittish and jittery
.
The rain finally stopped after a few days of merciless downpour, leaving only a strong scent of wet earth around and a trace of mud at the sides of the streets. He carefully avoids the last puddles when he finally hears the steps. He doesn’t turn back to see who’s following him, but he walks faster, trying to reach the main road. It could be the next scary fellow from the pumpkin kingdom, but it could also be Nathan, is way more scary than the average scary fellow from the pumpkin kingdom. (Not that Baekhyun would ever tell Kyungsoo that he thinks a big bully is scarier than the Monster Under The Bed.) He’s almost reached the end of the park, when a voice stops him.
“Wait, wait a moment! Byun Baekhyun, right?”
He turns and recognizes one of the students from his Biology class, Kim Chen. He only remembers his name because he’s of Korean descent, but he’s like a third or fourth generation American and the first time Baekhyun tried to greet him in Korean he just shook his head violently and looked helpless, so Baekhyun has never tried again. Until today, apparently.
“Baekhyun?”
“You know it’s me.”
“I was on the roof today.”
Baekhyun feels all the blood drain from his face. “Were you? Did you… did you see me doing something strange?”
“Like talking to yourself like a madman?” Chen winks. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me! My brother told me the Hallows were extremely chatty lately because of some human kid, but I would’ve never imagined it was you, it really surprised me!”
Two questions clash in Baekhyun’s mind for a moment.
“You know the Hallows? Wait a moment? You speak Korean?” he exclaims, realizing that he and the other boy have until now talked in Korean and not in English. Chen looks guilty, for a moment.
“You ignored me when I talked to you in Korean the first time!”
“I technically can’t speak Korean, which takes us to the answer to your first question, as in if I know the Hallows!”
“Well, it’s clear you do,” sighs Baekhyun. Then he takes a step backwards, suddenly very suspicious. “Wait a moment, do you happen to be one of them? Is that why you can speak Korean even though you’re like, ninety-five percent American? Are you waiting the right moment to swing a bat at me or to attract me in a dark well and demand my soul?”
Chen pats his back. “Do I look like a Hallow to you?”
He looks normal, in his hoodie, blue jeans and sneakers. He has a sharp face, sharper eyes and the sharpest smile, but he looks completely and totally human.
“Ehm...”
“I’m not one of them, you can trust me! But I do know many of them. It’s kind of like... a family business.”
He looks around for a moment.
“It’s still too bright here and my brother would kill me if I broke the Oath in full daylight, but if you’re free tonight we could take a walk around the hills and I could tell you stuff. Useful stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“Stuff no one has told you yet. Stuff you should know in order to meet the prince. That kind of stuff.”
They exchange numbers. Chen saves his number in Baekhyun’s phone as Jongdae. “It’s my Korean name,” he says. “People here can’t really say it right, Chen is easier for them.”
“See you tonight at midnight then.”
“I’ll pick you up!” says Jongdae, before he runs away.
Jongdae knocks at Baekhyun’s (for once mercifully closed) window at midnight. He’s riding a broom and floating a few meters from the ground. Amazing.
“I was waiting for you to text me, to be honest,” says Baekhyun as he opens the window. Of course his classmate was a fucking witch, what was he expecting.
“I thought it would’ve been faster this way. Hop aboard!”
Baekhyun looks at the broomstick warily. He’s not really sure this is a good idea. For what he knows, Jongdae could just dump him in the woods and leave him there. Then Baekhyun remembers he has four AM conversation with a monster living under his bed and tea parties with the one living under his stairs. And let’s not talk about the invitation to see a Phantom Circus show. Worrying at this point seems... preposterous.
“A family business, mh?” he says, as he carefully wraps his arms around Jongdae’s torso. He screams when they depart, but Jongdae wisely pretend he didn’t hear that.
“Yes, my grandfather married the head of the local clan of witches and even though her daughter chose to marry another Korean immigrant outside the clan her bloodline was strong enough to be passed onto me and my brother. And that also explains why I speak Korean. I never really had to study it but any language it’s easy when you can, you know, do magic!”
“What does a witch do?”
“Mostly curse people and try to gain control of the world.” He waits for Baekhyun to squirm a little before he breaks into another laugh. “Did you believe that? It’s not true, I swear. We just seek knowledge. And celebrate rites to honor the ancient gods. We’re like guardians. If we don’t placate the old spirits, they would haunt humans.”
They land in the fields, on the frozen ground, not too far from where Baekhyun had found the entrance to the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch. Jongdae leads him to the rests of a fire. “There was a clan meeting a few days ago, but they wouldn’t have appreciated me taking you here, to be honest. The Oath and everything else. Technically, my grandmother will beat me with her broom if she finds out I’ve told you our secret.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” says Baekhyun. Jongdae waves him away.
“It’s fine. I can’t lie to her, but I won’t need to for at least another week. There won’t be another meeting until the Hallows’ Eve Ride, when we’ll accompany the spirits of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch in their usual march through the city.”
And this is exactly what Baekhyun wanted. Answers.
“What are they?”
“Ancient gods, higher spirits, memories whose essence remained and became a monster. Mostly really powerful ghosts. They gather around the King of the Pumpkins, because he has the power to cheat on death, so they can continue to exist in his realm.”
“Are they dangerous?”
“Very. They can’t physically harm us, but they can frighten humans to death. Don’t ever underestimate the power of fear. I don’t think they would ever do that to you, though. Everyone dotes on the prince a lot and it’s clear he has taken a liking on you.”
Baekhyun has taken a liking on him too, but it’s not fair that Sehun knows almost everything about Baekhyun while Baekhyun knows nothing about him.
“What about the prince?”
“The prince... Lately he’s busy. He was crushing like a kid and forgot his duties, so his father had to scold him a few days ago, according to my brother. Jongdeok is the eldest son, so he’s the only one who’s allowed to visit the Kingdom.”
Jongdae pouts and murmurs something. Fire blooms between his clasped hands. He releases it and it floats mid-air between them.
Baekhyun asks him about the Hallows Jongdae knows, and about the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch, but Jongdae doesn’t say more than Baekhyun already knows. Except for one thing.
“During Halloween night all the spirits will wander free, right?”
“Right.”
“Will I be able to meet Sehun?”
“I think that’s his plan, yes. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked the boy he likes to go to a party with another person, don’t you think?”
Baekhyun blushes.
“Dress nicely. I would’ve taken you there but, you know, duty calls. Someone’s gonna watch over the wraiths of the hanged men. But I think I’m gonna be bold and asked to be assigned to the Fright.”
Baekhyun doesn’t know what the Fright is, but as soon as the word leaves Jongdae’s lips, the world becomes somewhat colder. It’s not the cold of the wind that he’s learnt to associate with Sehun. It’s a deeper, icier cold, like a shadow covering the moon. He shivers and it’s like the night is laughing at him.
Jongdae looks at him, apprehension written on his face.
“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry but I shall say no more, especially about him. He probably doesn’t want you to know anything more and I don’t have the right to go against his will. But I have a feeling you’ll know everything soon.”
He blows over the flames and they disappear. So does the incredible warmth, gone in a breath. The fields are frozen and cold around them. An owl hoots and Baekhyun sticks his hand inside the pockets of his parka, trying to keep them warm.
“Time to go, come on. Before your mom realizes you’re gone.” He shakes the broomstick a little, to get rid of the thin veil of dew that stuck there while they talked. “You’re staying at the front this time, it’ll be funny.”
It’s not funny, not really. It takes Jongdae less than two minutes to realize Baekhyun is ticklish as hell and only a little more to stick his cold hands under Baekhyun’s shirt to see how loudly exactly he can make him scream. Not funny, not really, especially when Sehun decides he’s had enough of unnecessary flirting and sends them a clear warning in the form of a strong gush of wind that almost sends them plummeting on the ground.
“If this keeps up I’ll never get to that Halloween party alive,” cries Baekhyun in the night. Jongdae laughs like he’s having the time of his life.
“Oh my, he’s usually so cold, but he really really really must like you a lot.”
They part silently at Baekhyun’s window.
“See you tomorrow Byun. And, of course, if Stiller bothers you again, just tell me! My brother will turn him into a toad or something!”
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
Simone makes a decent witch, but now that Baekhyun has seen Jongdae’s original witch gear she doesn’t really seem convincing anymore. She’s pretty, though. The black dress is short enough to make her legs appear longer and her blonde hair is curled and styled. They’re going as friends, so they didn’t plan on wearing matching outfits.
“What are you supposed to be?” she asks Baekhyun. He adjusts his black hat and smirks.
“Cheoseung saja. The Korean Grim Reaper.”
Well, an interpretation of him. He doubts the Netherworld Emissary wears black pants and sweater, plus a black cap he stole from Baekbom before leaving for the States. But somehow, he doesn’t think anyone will complain for the historical inaccuracy, except maybe Jongdae, but he won’t be at the party.
“Cool,” says Nicole. “Shall we get going?”
The place chosen for the party is a big clearing in front of an old barn surrounded by dark trees, a kind concession of old Ben Stiller, Nathan’s grandfather. When they arrive there, the clearing is already swarming with people. Everyone from school is there, plus some older boys and girls (seniors who have already graduated, supposes Baekhyun.) There’s alcohol, a lot of it, and carved pumpkins everywhere. The speakers play an electronic, syncopated music and the people jumping inside the barn makes the ground shake at the rhythm of the bass. Baekhyun wonders how he’ll be able to find Sehun among all these people.
A tall girl in a zombie nurse costume offers them some punch and Baekhyun feels drunk just by the smell of alcohol on it. He only takes a few sips before he decides it’s time to leave the paper cup on the ground.
“Wanna dance?“ he asks to Simone, because he’s nothing but a gentleman, but she shakes her head nervously. She too looks like she’s looking for someone, scanning the crowd with anxious eyes while she bites her lips. Maybe she’s just feeling uncomfortable. Everyone knows that Nathan has unresolved business with Baekhyun. It could be bad for her to be involved with him too. Baekhyun thinks it’s time to relieve her of her duties.
“I’m glad you decided to invite me, but it’s fine. You can go with your friends if you don’t want to be seen with me.”
Her eyes widen.
“It’s not like that, really. Listen, can we go somewhere less crowded for a moment? I think I need to breathe fresh air.”
He nods, unsure, and follows her through the woods behind the barn. It’s easier to think clearly as they get away from the strong base of the music, and he starts feeling antsy. It’s not like he and Simone are friends. She talks to him sometimes, to make sure he doesn’t need any help with homework, because she works part-time for the school as tutor, but this invitation seems awfully off-place.
“Simone, where are we going?”
She stops.
“Listen, I’m very sorry, ok?”
No, it’s not ok. The strident suspicion comes back, except maybe it’s too late to second guess his own decision now.
“I couldn’t really tell him no, no one tells Nathan no, ok?”
No one but Baekhyun. He turns around and, of course, Nathan is there, with his friends. Amazing. Truly amazing. He turns to glare at Simone but she’s looking at the ground, unable to meet his eyes.
“Thank you, Myers. You can go back to the party now.”
She scampers in the direction of the party without looking back. Baekhyun wonders whether she’ll be able to look at him tomorrow. He wonders whether he’ll be able to go to school tomorrow.
“Aren’t you going to run?”
Baekhyun looks at Nathan, trying to convey all his defiance and disgust. He hopes he can hide the fear, because he doesn’t want to give the bastard any satisfaction. He won’t run away this time. He would, if he could, but it’s too dark and he doesn’t know the land like he does. (This is his family land, after all.) He won’t be hunted like a rabbit.
“No?”
Michael pushes him and Baekhyun falls face down onto a bed of dried leaves. Amber would have punched back and Myungsoo would’ve never found himself in this situation because he was the popular one, the one no one could actually touch. Jaehwan would’ve been on the other side, in Nathan’s place, but he would’ve never touched Baekhyun.
But Baekhyun... What is Baekhyun to do now? Maybe Simone was right, maybe he should’ve just done what Nathan wanted since the beginning. What’s a little of humiliation in exchange for a peaceful life?
The first kick lands near his sternum, followed by one behind his back. He bites his lips because he doesn’t want them to hear him scream. The third kick hits his leg, and the fourth his back again, and then there’s nothing else.
Baekhyun opens his eyes, but all he can see is darkness. The moon, he realizes, the moon is gone and the sky is black. It’s cold.
Then, he hears the screams.
“Ssssh,” something says at his ears, “come with me. Let’s get you out of here.”
He recognizes Jongdae’s voice and he lets his friend pull him up, standing on shaky legs.
“What is happening?” he asks.
“Not here, let’s go!”
They walk in the darkness and Baekhyun is grateful for Jongdae’s solid body against his, keeping him from slipping on the wet ground.
“Why is it so dark?”
“The Fright. I should’ve stopped him, that’s my duty for tonight, but he promised he wouldn’t kill them.”
“What is the Fright, Jongdae?”
“The Fright is me.”
The voice is low, calm. Baekhyun can’t see him, it’s too dark to see him, but he can feel his presence, his aura. It’s overbearing and it’s everywhere.
“Who are you?”
“I am the thing you fear the most in the world.”
“Is that why it’s dark? You don’t want me to see you?”
Something touches his face, a hand. It’s a curious touch, but filled with longing. Baekhyun feels fear creep on his skin like it’s a living thing. But then he remembers this person, this creature, just saved him from being beaten.
“The thing I fear the most in the world was... Nathan, I think. And I think you just gave him a lesson.”
“He was right, you’re not afraid.”
“I’m afraid of bullies, are you one?”
“I am. The worst bully. I am fear itself. The Fright is my name.”
“Are you one of Sehun’s friends?”
“I’m his best friend.”
“Then I have no reason to be afraid.”
It’s not completely true. He’s scared. Not being scared in front of fear would be stupid, but he’s not alone. Jongdae is with him. The Fright, whatever his name is, helped him.
“I understand. He’s waiting for you at the Gate. Tonight is all you’ll ever get from him, are you sure you really want to go?”
“One night is better than nothing.”
“If you go and you see him, don’t you fear you’ll miss him?”
“That’s not fear, that’s another feeling.”
There’s silence. Baekhyun was bold enough to silence the Fright.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the moon reappears and the stars start peeking from the once again blue vault. The Fright looks like a lost boy under all this light, showering in silver and gold.
“I’m Jongin,” he says, looking in Baekhyun’s eyes. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the moon like this,” he says. “I live in the shadows, in the dark corners, in the edge between sleep and dream, in every confused nightmare. I’m friends with everyone’s worse fear, with the monsters living under your bed, in your closet, under the stairs and in your basement. In the sewers or in behind a trashcan in a dark alley. But you’re the first human who’s ever seen me like this.”
“Well, thank you so much, and here I thought I as special,” says Jongdae under his breath.
The magic shatters and the nightmare ends. Jongin frowns and he doesn’t look like a powerful god but like a displeased child.
“Well, you’re not exactly human,” the Hallow snaps back. Jongdae scoffs and disappears without a tree, muttering something about finding his broom.
“So you’re Sehun’s best friend?” asks Baekhyun, still shaken.
“We like to run together in the night, the wind and the shiver. We don’t need a lot to have fun, just each other and someone to scare.”
“Someone needs to do it, I guess,” and Jongin nods, unsure. “Everyone has been trying to hint that you’re dangerous. Not you, specifically, I mean, all of you. The Hallows. The scary clown said you’re nightmares and even Kyungsoo warned me against trusting the Hallows too much.”
Jongin’s expression hardens. “And what do you think?”
“I think you’re scary and dangerous because it’s your duty. But under the scary appearance you are just lost kids, aren’t you?”
Jongin looks so sad, for a moment, Baekhyun wants to reach him or a hug.
“Maybe we were people a long time ago, maybe not. But we have lost the way and we didn’t know where to go, so we wandered aimlessly, until we found this kingdom. The king has given us a place to stay in exchange for our loyalty and our services. We received duties. I am the Fright and I frighten, it’s easy.” His eyes look faraway, beyond the hills. “Scaring people is not bad, but sometimes we miss someone who can treat us as people and not as monsters. Because we were, a long time ago, just that. People.”
“What did you do to them?” asks Baekhyun, suddenly remembering about Nathan and his gang.
“Don’t worry, they’re not dead. Fear can kill you, but I find so much better to keep my victims alive to feed off them for a long time,” says Jongin with a crooked smile. “They’re just sleeping now.”
“Dreaming of terrible things, I guess.” Jongdae emerges from the woods with his broomstick and lays it at his feet with care. “Don’t overdo it, alright? You promised me you wouldn’t do anything too bad. You know I’m supposed to keep you in check.”
Jongn scoffs. “Yes, yes. Of course. You know I’m only doing my job.”
“I’m only doing my job too.”
“Scaring people is my only purpose in life, after all.”
“Going out with me should be your only purpose in life,” says Jongdae, crossing his arms around his chest and looking awfully entitled.
“Weren’t you going out with a clown from the Phantom Circus though?” says Jongin with a smirk. That, at least, seems to offend Jongdae.
“That’s old! We broke up last Halloween.”
“So I’ve heard. Didn’t you dump him mercilessly?”
“Excuse me!” whines Baekhyun, tired of being ignored upon Jongdae’s return. “Now that I’ve ascertained that you are just a god with a penchant for drama, can I leave you to your witch and your bickering? It’s almost midnight.”
Jongin looks at him, a little confused.
“Why are you still here? You’re intruding on our date!”
“Because you haven’t told me where the entrance of your kingdom is,” cries Baekhyun, exasperated.
“Oh, Baekhyun, you don’t need to worry. The entrance of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is not a place, but a time. It doesn’t matter where you are, just go away and wait for midnight to come and open the gates for the Hallows. Go, go!”
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
They will remember this Halloween forever, that’s for sure. Jongin said the entrance of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is not a place, but a time, and that midnight will come and open the gates for the Hallows, but no one, not even Baekhyun, is expecting the gates to open in the middle of the Halloween party, and for a crowd of monsters to invade the clearing in front of Old Ben’s barn at the stroke of midnight.
Someone screams, no, everybody screams.
Tomorrow they will say it was the alcohol, they all drank too much and someone probably spiked the punch, there’s no other explanation, but tonight they scream when they find themselves facing werewolves, singing skeletons, smirking vampires, the shadows of murdered man and monsters of every kind and shape.
Baekhyun wonders, if he had never met Sehun, where he would be now. Running away together with all his frightened schoolmates? Questioning his mental health in front of nightmare material like mummies, creepy dolls and virgin ghosts? Nah, he would’ve probably been at home. There was no way he would’ve come here if Sehun hadn’t told him to.
He quickly ducks to avoid the branch of the Hanged Men Tree and bows respectfully when one of the hanged men says sorry, “We didn’t mean to tramp on you, little one.”
“It’s alright, can you tell me where the prince is?”
“The prince?” says the tree, in a low, deep voice. “I don’t know where the prince is, but I know where the King might be...”
“There’s no need to involve my father, I think.”
Oh, but Baekhyun knows this voice.
Sehun looks a little like the kid in Baekhyun’s kindergarten, and a little like someone Baekhyun is seeing for the first time.
The Hanged Men Tree bows and leaves to join the celebration, unnoticed. Baekhyun and Sehun are too busy to pay him any attention now that they’ve found each other.
“Your face looks familiar,” Baekhyun says.
“I’m sorry. I don’t... I don’t really have a face. I’ve never had one. I’m just a spirit of the wind.”
“I know. I... realized. All of you. Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, Yixing, Zitao... You all look like people I’ve already met, like memories. You have their names. Their faces. The way you all showed yourselves to me… is not how you really look like, right?”
“You should forgive them. They didn’t want to scare you. It doesn’t happen everyday that we meet someone who treats us... like friends, like humans, instead of being afraid of us. We wanted to show you human faces and give you human names. No one wants to be a monster.”
Sehun extends his hands for Baekhyun to take.
“You will disappear at dawn.”
“I will not. I’ll just go back to my original form. I’ll be the whisper in the darkness, the ‘who’ when you call ‘who’s there?’ But I won’t disappear and I won’t forget you.”
Baekhyun takes that hand. It’s solid, warm. It’s not the hand of a ghost or a monster. Sehun’s smile is even warmer.
“Come on,” he says, “let’s go. My entire kingdom is eavesdropping and they’ll tease me for the rest of eternity if they hear another word.”
He tugs Baekhyun at his side, taking advantage of his height to put an arm over his shoulders, and starts walking towards the city. Baekhyun sees Chanyeol dancing with a young witch in front of the bonfire and ignores his wink. Kyungsoo has finally managed to drag Yixing outside of the Shade and they’re hurrying up towards the tent of the Phantom Circus, where Zitao is ready to introduce tonight’s show.
Baekhyun would like to watch, he promised Zitao after all, but Sehun doesn’t let him stop. “You’ve already met all of them, but we, you and I, only have tonight, and I won’t share you with anyone. You’re only mine for tonight.”
Baekhyun can’t belong to Sehun, but he doesn’t say anything. For tonight, everything is allowed. Everything is fair.
Sehun knows the city like the back of his hand. Every turn, every corner. Every leaf, every speck of dust, every wisp and every fairy. Wherever he goes, the night bows to make way for the prince.
But tonight he’s not the prince, he’s just Baekhyun’s date, he laughs for the silliest things and when he smiles his eyes disappear and he claps his hands frantically.
“I’m not used to this,” he says to Baekhyun, after he calms down. “Having hands, having a face... Too many muscles. I’m so solid, but I can feel so many things.”
Baekhyun touches his face and Sehun blushes, the redness blasting in his face like the flames of the bonfire.
“I can feel so many things,” he repeats, shyly.
“Is this the first time you do something like this?” asks Baekhyun, pointing towards the city in front of them. They’ve hiked up the hill to sit on the bench behind the observatory, with the town spread in front of them. From here, they can see the high school and the old roads leading towards the countryside, towards the pumpkin patches and the empty fields ready to be ploughed. They can also see the bonfire, where the Halloween party is still going on. They can see the moon and the stars and the witches and the ghosts flying in the sky.
“It’s the first time I do something like this,” admits Sehun. “I have many friends, but it’s the first time I hold someone’s hands or listen to the sound of their laugh and wonder if I will be able to remember it forever.”
“Would you forget me?” asks Baekhyun,
“The true question is, will you remember me?” asks Sehun. “In less than three months you will come back to your home and I won’t be able to follow you there. The Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch is here.”
“I could come back here to visit, next year,” says Baekhyun, but he already knows he won’t.
“It’s fine, just remember me.”
“You don’t need to ask.”
Baekhyun will remember. He will leave this place and go back home, to Myungsoo, to Jaehwan and to Amber, to his friends and his high school and his city. His home. A home Sehun can’t be part of. Baekhyun will graduate, will go to the military, find a job, maybe find someone to spend his life with. He will meet people who’ll think less of him because he likes men. He will learn how to accept punches. He will learn how to keep his mouth shut. He will learn how to fight. (He will learn to be happy.)
But every time he’ll see a slither of shadow under a bed or the ajar door of a closet, the little forgotten corners of darkness at the end of a back alley or under the stairs, the flash of claws or a scaly tails disappearing suddenly at the tiniest sound, he’ll think of this month. He’ll think of things hiding in the darkness, keeping their secret, of gods stealing screams because it’s their job and not because they want to. They’re lonely, these Hallows, and strangely melancholic. Maybe they just wanted a friend.
Baekhyun will think of Sehun at every gust of wind, for the rest of his life, the silent, shy, bratty prince of the Kingdom of the Pumpkin Patch, who made Baekhyun fall in love without a voice and without a face.
The sky clears at east, pale violet and pink streaking the black sky. For the spirits, it’s time to go home. For Baekhyun, it’s time to say goodbye.
“Thank you for tonight, Sehunnie.”
Sehun nods with the face that, only for tonight, belonged to him.
“No, thank you. I will remember this Halloween for the longest time, Byun Baekhyun.” He takes a deep breath, like the wind collecting his strength before the most violent gust, like the calm before the storm, like the lowest point of the ebb before the turn of the tide. “There’s something else I want to ask, if you want.”
The stars blink and disappear from the sky, one after another.
Baekhyun’s reply is the softest press of his lips against Sehun’s. It’s chaste, tender, and when Baekhyun breathes he can feel the scent of autumn, of dried leaves and rain and pumpkin, ofwarm biscuits and the smoke of the fires burning wood and dried brush in the fields. He feels Sehun smile into the kiss. (For the rest of his life, he’ll wonder whether he imagined that or it really happened.)
When he opens his eyes, it’s to the first light of the day. Sehun is gone, vanished from his arms, like the supernatural creature he’s always been.
The wind rises, one last time, and says goodbye.
WebPage Visits