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[center]a [@metanoia] [@LovelyComplex] and [@Aces Away] collaboration featuring [color=dc143c]Mordechai[/color] and [color=ff7f50]Danny[/color] [color=dc143c]Bo[/color][color=ff7f50]az[/color], [color=fe6f5e]Penelope James[/color], and [color=e62020]Jade Taylor[/color][/center]
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Walking on the sidewalk of Carlisle Avenue, with headphones on, over a mustard-colored knitted beanie, Penelope James found herself in a fever dream, as she made her way through the crowd in contemplative silence. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpmawc8gAjY]Before You Go[/url] by Lewis Capaldi blasted in her ears as the night came to life. Halloween gave people permission to make-believe and be a kid again, or a monster. Whether they gained an inner sense of joy in masks and costumes or they simply wanted to indulge in all the candy and spooky themed desserts, the community of Edenridge thrived on nights like this. 

This night was livelier than usual. At least on this street, the people she glided past had suspended disbelief and chose to spend time with their ghosts, in ignorant bliss, as if they never died. A sister in a fairy costume prancing beside her dead brother, who died the day of the shooting. A mother holding back her tears and gathering all four of her children, half deceased, to take a picture together. Two ghost lovers, Penelope was pretty sure they were in the Acapella group, embraced each other tightly. She even saw some folks in fashion that were decades old, perhaps they were ancestors.  

It was weird and oddly… beautiful, in a sad kind of way. Poppy was sure not everyone was as accepting as these individuals were, as they crossed the border of North and South. For example, she, herself, wasn’t ready to talk to [i]her[/i] ghost. However, she understood where their heart was. No one knew how long this happenstance would last and they didn’t want to waste any time. Admirable, really, how they can bury all their hurt to enjoy the moment. 

If only it was that easy for her…

After slipping into a hole in the chain gate surrounding the track, a hole that was made years ago, Poppy left the fever dream behind where the dead and living celebrated Halloween together, and took the shortcut to the park. A shortcut that led to an area she shared with Mordechai, Danny, Jade, and... Charlie.  Through the track, climbing over the bordering gate, and entering the surrounding dark wood, Poppy took out her flashlight and walked a path less traveled, especially as of late. A barely noticeable hiking trail now covered by nature. 

When she reached a tree marked with initials of lovers, instead of following the happy trail that led to a lovers’ den for teens, she walked off the path and let her memory take her to the next destination. When she arrived at an open area in the wood, a small circle clearing with the best moonlight, she saw the Boaz brothers sitting by the black oak tree on the makeshift camping ground they made to cloud and stargaze. Aside from an unused campfire, the only other noteworthy thing was a rustic mailbox that likely had books inside it that they hadn’t touched for years. Mordechai had his phone light on and both him and his little brother looked up at the starry sky.

After putting her headphones around her neck and turning off her music, she watched the two boys turn to her (likely hearing her rustling). Waving the flashlight, she announced her arrival, [color=fe6f5e]“Hey.”[/color] Strolling onward, she apologized,  [color=fe6f5e]“Sorry for making you two wait, I was having… a time. No, no need to get up, I’m coming to you.”[/color] As soon as she entered their bubble, she crouched down and opened her arms, offering Danny a hug, [color=fe6f5e]“It’s good to see you, Danny.”[/color] It seemed at least for now, or at least for Danny, Poppy was embracing the odd phenomena of ghosts owning the night.     

Danny happily returned the hug, squeezing her tight before pulling back and grinning at her. Mordechai watched the exchange from his own spot, soaking up every moment of seeing his brother that he could. 

They'd been there a while longer in their near-silence until Poppy had arrived, the emotions from their last conversation draining even the lifeless brother of energy. Danny had quietly pointed out the constellations visible through the clearing while Mordechai worked on [i]not[/i] shutting down emotionally before Pops could even get there. Now, though, she was here with them once more.

[color=ff7f50]"Poppy!"[/color] Danny cheered, still hugging her like he was a little kid instead of the two of them being the same height. Danny had been on his way through a growth spurt, already shooting up a couple inches the summer before the shooting. [color=ff7f50]"Did'ja come alone?"[/color] He asked confusedly, looking around. [color=ff7f50]"What happened ta Ch- ta whoever visited ya?"[/color]

Mordechai eyed his brother as he actively searched for other ghosts, meeting Poppy's eyes with his own question about the specter that [i]everyone[/i] knew would appear to her first, maybe exclusively.

[color=fe6f5e]“He’s… seeking answers.”[/color] Penelope gave a weak smile, her gaze shifting between brothers, before clearing her throat, [color=fe6f5e]“I’m sure he’ll show up when the time is right.”[/color] And when that happens, maybe she’ll be ready to talk to him. 

Shifting the subject, she stared at Danny, running her hands through his hair.  [color=fe6f5e]“You haven’t changed much.”[/color] Danny rolled his eyes good naturedly in response. One thing she realized about ghosts were, their touch is only possible if you deem it so. Consent and power of will. If you don’t want to be touched, you can reject them, like she did with Charlie not so long ago - walking right through him. 

Staring at the boy that was like a little brother to her, Poppy could feel the nostalgia grow heavy in her chest, like it was only yesterday. Like it was only yesterday when she last saw him walking into the main building, as she made her way to the gymnasium. Usually, she would’ve gone with him to get some breakfast but… she was asked to wait in the gym. 

How strange this all felt. 

Was this a blessing or a curse? 

[color=fe6f5e]“How’s it to be back? Even if it’s just for a little while.”[/color] 

[color=ff7f50]"It's...watery?"[/color] Danny answered, tilting his head into her fingers a bit more. Mordechai looked at him questioningly so he continued. [color=ff7f50]"Like this- I r'member what this felt like when you an' Decky used ta do it but I can't feel it now. The only thing I really feel is the pull ta go ta someone, like I did with Decky when this started, everythin' else is just memory."[/color]

[color=dc143c]"So no cold or hot? No pressure?"[/color] Mordechai asked, shuffling closer to them and crossing his legs. Danny shook his head.

[color=ff7f50]"Nothin' at all, but that don't mean I don't want the contact."[/color] The younger boy admitted, settling himself between the two and snuggling up to them both. [color=ff7f50]"But seein' y'all? Hearin' 'bout your life, Decky, 'bout your kids an' friends? It's a gift that's gonna bring me a lotta peace."[/color] Mordechai sniffed and tilted his head to rest against Danny's while the boy practically glowed in contentment. [color=ff7f50]"I think we all deserve a lil' peace."[/color]

As much as Penelope wanted to drop her defenses, she was still on edge from seeing multiple dead people. The rational part in her brain couldn’t turn off. In addition to that, she had this gut feeling that something like this shouldn’t have happened, messing with the natural world so unnaturally… something bad was bound to happen. 

Something bad always happened in Edenridge. 

While the brothers enjoyed each other’s presence, Penelope was quick to hear something come from the wood. Without any hesitation, she pulled out her father’s gun, adjusted her position for better aim, and took it out of safety, [color=fe6f5e]“Who’s there?”[/color] It’s been awhile since Danny saw Poppy last and rarely did he see this side of her. The most prominent memories he would have of her is when she babysat and read to him, not this girl with a gun who carried so much weight on her shoulders. 

The eerie darkness lended itself to the blonde as she almost snickered whilst in the darkness. [color=e62020]“Now I know you’re not aiming that at me, PB&J,”[/color] Jade smirked as her figure became more than a silhouette her black-on-black costume made her out to be. She came with a cigarette pressed between her lips and she took it up between her right index and middle fingers, blowing the smoke out. 

As Jade went closer to her soul sister, there was a moment where they exchanged a glance. Jade was happy to see her (though she could have done without the gun). Southside life, huh? But what made the blonde take a double take was who she saw beside Decky. Either she was seeing things like she had been all night or she saw Danny right there in the flesh. 

[color=e62020]“There’s no way…”[/color] She heard herself say as her steps were slow but she was getting closer and closer to Danny. She went right past Poppy and found herself looking directly at the boy she believed to be dead. She got a bit close to the boy and really found herself studying his face for an uncomfortable few seconds. [color=e62020]“It really is you, isn’t it?”[/color]

With a sigh of relief, Penelope put the gun back into safety. Standing up, she gave Jade her moment with Danny as she surveyed the area. 

[color=ff7f50]"'S really me, J,"[/color] Danny replied, reaching out to tap her nose with his finger as proof. [color=ff7f50]"We're all back, just for a little bit."[/color] He looked at his other older sister. While he spent a lot more time with Poppy, Danny still loved Jade just as much as he did all of his older 'siblings', and he was happy to get to see her, knowing she suffered just as much as the others. He held his arms open in an invitation for a hug, not wanting to push her with the bombshell of his presence already having dropped.

[color=dc143c]"He woke me up in a den an' freaked me the fuck out,"[/color] Decky explained, glancing at Poppy and deciding that bringing up Charlie was her choice. [color=dc143c]"Creed's dad an' both'a Jokes' parents are back. I haven't heard anythin' from Sonny, but a few other Serpents are seein' old crewmates an' family."[/color] 

There was a moment where Jade felt herself hesitate. Not out of some reservation that she had that this was real. The fact that Danny talked back to a very specific question she asked put any of those thoughts to rest, yet she wasn’t quick to hug him. She didn’t know why she recoiled her arms close to her chest. Maybe it was the overwhelming amount of emotion flowing through her heart and soul and that if Danny was back, did that mean…

[color=e62020][i]Charlie..[/i][/color] The thought of his name and face and things she left unsaid, she was about to let it all show.

So she embraced Danny in a comforting hug. 

And for a moment, the reality of him being a ghost was almost taking shape. As she went to wrap her arms around him, she felt not only hers go through his, but his go through hers. And for a moment, she hoarsely murmured: [color=e62020]”no..”[/color], like she didn’t want it to just be like how ghosts were in the movies. She didn’t want him to go through her like a wall. 

Then by some miracle of whatever fuckery was happening tonight, Jade could feel him. He didn’t feel like a ghost and she was smiling. And she shed some tears as she hugged Danny tighter like she needed it more than she was initially letting on. Danny held back just as tight, burying his face in her shoulder to cover the fear he had gained at almost falling through her, of being lost twice.

Mordechai continued his silent observations while he allowed the two their moment, his head tilted to the side. Everything and everyone in Edenridge had a habit of reverting to their base selves, and without the people that helped push them forward, they'd all been stagnant for years. This ghost thing was confusing, most definitely a blessing and curse all muddled together, but it might just finally give all the living residents thier second wind. He could get behind that.

When they'd had a proper amount of time attached to their hug, he finally spoke up. [color=dc143c]"Not that we ain't all happy ta see ya or nothin', [i]Boychik,[/i]"[/color] he started, running a hand through his hair which had doubled in length since Danny's lifetime. [color=dc143c]"But if we've got [i]everyone[/i] back, don't that include...y'know, the serial killers and enemies too? There's been a lot over the years."[/color]

[color=ff7f50]"I mean, I don't know everyone that's ever been buried in Edenridge,"[/color] Danny replied, biting his lip and looking up in thought. [color=ff7f50]"but yeah; there's a good chance it ain't gonna be sunshine and rainbows for everyone t'night."[/color]

[color=fe6f5e]“Yeah, we should get going.”[/color] Poppy didn’t hesitate in replying, ready to take on the night by storm. [color=fe6f5e]“The sooner we find answers, the better.”[/color] Already, she switched her gun out with a flashlight, before deeply sighing, [color=fe6f5e]“The dead are back and that ain’t right. As much as I love seeing faces of the past, it hurts. Like a bitch. And I can only imagine the balance of nature, well, it’s fucked. Now come on, we don’t have all night.”[/color] 

That last statement had more weight than any of them realized. While the night was young, time was ticking and they were being watched.