My ivy grows

Kai’s own head felt like it could explode with the pain but he used his energy to focus on his new friend. He wanted to hold himself together for her. He could feel her hand gripping tightly to his arm and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her up. He almost grunted, feeling the burning in his muscles. “No, not without you. Us wolves, we stick together. There’s… an emergency barn not far. We can make it. I believe in you.”

Hazel took hold of his arms. He was as warm as she was, but her skin still felt like it was burning. “Barn...” She pulled a face. She was used to running free during a transformation; but it was better then nothing. “Ok... we will try to make it to the barn. Do you have your car?” 

Kai licked his lip, he felt like his head was going to explode, though he tried his best to hold it together for her. “I don’t know,” he breathed, feeling like his body was burning. His skin was too hot. “You have to. We have to get away from here. You can’t let go here.”

Hazel sobbed, holding her head in her hands. She hadn’t felt anything as intense since she had been back with her family. She tried to pull herself up, her arm tightly on Kai’s. She barely knew the wolf beside her but they had a common goal... don’t turn in front of humans. “I don’t know how long i can hold on. You should go ahead. Warn the others...” 

Kai wiped at his brow, he felt warm… even more so than his normal temperature, though his focus was on the girl. He ran to her, his own breathing heavy. “Hazel… Hazel… talk to me. Stay with me. Fight…” His own voice was breathless, struggling. “Fight with me.”

Hazel held her head in her hands, running a hand through her hair before her dark eyes settled on Kai. “I can’t make it.” She growled, her instincts her building.”What’s happening to us?” 

@hollowstarters​

a continuation from here.

she cannot deny the weakest of smiles from forming while hazel responds to her question. “i’m sorry.. i tend to think out loud, but i guess i’m abit tired. “ she pauses for a moment before speaking again with a gentler smile “is everything okay?”

Hazel shrugged “What is okay?” She laughed cryptically. In reality, things were far from it. She’d come to Holloway searching for answers and so far she’d found nothing except a cheesy Halloween event and a whole lot of nothing. “Ah, I guess Holloway wasn’t everything i thought it was going to be. Have you always lived here?” 

“No, Miss Hazel, you do not,” he laughed, offering the girl a smile. He knew she could take care of herself just as much as he could. “Oh, is that what you’re calling me? Is a wolf not allowed to be afraid? Ah, that was great. I love catty.” 

“Miss Hazel?” She pulled a face, rolling her eyes at the man. “Not the ones i’ve met. Last time i checked we were the big bad wolves in the woods.” She nodded her head towards the forest. “Catty? I see what you did there.”

“The real demons are fine, actors not so much,” she joked, nudging her as they walked. “But I get you, that was scary,” Joey laughed, pretending to jump. “I am not saying dumb no, more brave and daring. I accept that, you can haunt me.”

Hazel put an arm around the girl. “I’ll protect you. And i think i’d be a helpful ghost. You’d be glad to have me. Anyone would be lucky to be haunted by me.”

He realised that it was a girl, not just a girl, but no great and evil monster that had been lurking in the shadows. So instead of staying where he was William took a step back. “I am not here to hurt you”, he raised both hands, magic slowly dying down, “But yes, magic it is.” There was no reason to lie to someone with such sharp senses, wolf he supposed.

“My name’s William Cassidy, I am with the Museum here in Holloway”, he gave her a smile, hoping it was reassuring, “You can see my staff ID, if you want?” He had no idea why the wolves were at the Goal, no mention of anything planned by the packs - neither by his superiors at the museum nor by the coven - so he tried his best to appear friendly, while staying alert. “Now it’s your turn though, who are you?”

Hazel remained tense, she wasn’t going to let her guard down to a magic user she didn’t know. “My name is Hazel.” She wasn’t about to give anymore information that the man could use to track her. “But if we’re taking it in turns... why are you here?”

The woman’s demeanor had indicated to Zoie just about everything she needed to know- it wasn’t likely she’d be stopping to purchase anything. The saving grace, however, came in the fact that unless someone specifically wanted to step into the bakery, everything on her table tonight was free. After all, wasn’t that the spirit of Halloween? At least, what it seemed to have become in modern times. The giving of free sweets in exchange for a look at amazing (though sometimes not) costumes, the majority of which were draped on or sewn around children. At Hazel’s question, Zoie couldn’t help but to laugh, shrugging her shoulders slightly. “Not this time around, no. Unfortunately not. Though, it wasn’t for lack of trying, let me tell you. I just couldn’t find a Vamp generous enough to let go of a couple of pounds for the greater good.” The joke came, and she couldn’t stop herself from making a face. “Bad joke, I know. Good thing I’m not a comedian, huh? So, pick your potion, what’ll it be? And yes, one of each is absolutely an acceptable answer. I really do not want to have to take any of this home tonight.”

Hazel chuckled, picking up one of the cupcakes and holding it up. “I’ll take one, I’m always here for good theming.” She laughed, taking out her purse. “Vampires these days ay? Just not as generous as they used to be.” She winked at the witch, giving her a cheeky grin. “I don’t know, beautiful and hilarious. You have all the making of one. “Maybe I’ll leave you my address you can ship it all to me when you’re done.”

“do you ever feel like you had no say in what you want?”

“At least three times a day.” The werewolf pouted. “But i don’t often need to tell someone about it. Are you doing okay?” 

“Creepy ruins are real, there is no scary actor ready to pounce” She moved her hands, being animated as she spoke. She flashed them towards the girl, pretending that she was jumping out at her. “You think i’m dumb enough to fall for a dare?” She paused. “I absolutely am. But if i die, i’m coming back to haunt you.” 

Zoie plastered a smile on her face, gesturing to the table she’d set up and decorated meticulously for Holloway’s annual Scarefield festival. Creating and decorating the additional treats and samples to set out during the events had taken it out of her, though as always she managed to ensure her pure exhaustion wasn’t obvious as she passed out her treats. “Happy Halloween!” She called to a passerby, waving as her smile brightened. “Would you care for a spider-doughnut? Or, some scream cheese squares? I also have some vampire cupcakes, and ghoulish mini-muffins, if you’d prefer. I have sugar-free and gluten-free alternatives as well!”

Hazel wasn’t that interested in whatever the person was selling; she wasn’t into stopping and getting those leaflets from strangers and then having to pretend to be polite. But when she heard the list of treats, her mind changed completely. She took out one headphone, glancing at the treats. “Did you say vampire cupcakes? Please tell me they don’t contain real vampire.” She joked. 

“I mean it, if you want to go chat him up, I’ll be your wing man… or protector. Whichever one you end up needing,” he laughed. “Oh, you’re calling me a wimp?” Kai grinned. “Oh I’m not? Maybe I should work on my material. They definitely do, thick and hairy. Some sharp teeth too.”

“Do i look like i need protecting?” She raised a brow, puffing her chest up. “I am calling you a bit scaredy wolf. Now you’re just describing some of the girls i went to high school with.” 

“I literally, I literally died. I think my heart stopped. Did it stop?” he laughed, putting his hand over his chest. He let out another laugh. “Hey, I do not scream like a girl. It is very manly. I am very manly.” He stuck his tongue out. “I am fine. Chill. Didn’t scream at all.”

“No i think you’re still breathing for now on.” She moved into the food queue as he spoke. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but when i think manly... i don’t think of you.” She pointed to the drink on the board as the bar tender asked. “You screamed a lot. Especially at the part with chainsaws.”

“I love Halloween. I am that girl. I have a drink, the vibes are eerie. I am having fun. I am here for it all. Come in the maze with me?” she grinned. “I’m only a little tipsy, I swear.” Her excitement was bubbling. She could feel the magic around her. “Have you been on any rides yet?”

“I think the answer to that depends on how you are with the mazes. Coward or not?” She raised a brow. “What is even in that drink?” She took a sniff from where she was standing. “God no. If i die it’s not going to be in a funfair on Holloway.”

“I’m not going to lie. I think I just crapped myself. I crapped my pants. Ghosts. People jumping out… they picked on me. I swear. Feel my heart. Feel it,” he rambled, his words coming out fast as he told the other. “I need a drink” He let out a laugh. “God, it was scary.”

Hazel was still laughing, clapping her hands as he rambled. “I am dying. You died. They picked on you cause you scream like a girl.” She leant against the food booth, still laughing. “I’m pretty sure it’s made for children. Are you okay?”

He hated Hollow Goal. He despised this place even. As if the memory of the tragedy, the magic that still lingered in the air, and all that desperation seeped into his bones whenever he got close to the ruins. William took a deep breath, throwing shut the door of his car and then started his descend towards the ruins. Night was already falling and up above the first few stars blinked to life. It was cold, like it had been the last few days, and so he wrapped his coat a little tighter around his frame. 

This was a terrible idea, but a necessary thing. Deep down he told himself that all would be good this year, like all the years prior. It was simply his grandmother’s old tales of the Hollow Goal and the unspeakable horrors that once had taken place here that now left him so shaken. But if the new archivist and her tiny Ghost Tour were to come by Hollow Goal as a final stop, like planned, he needed to make sure. The magic was hopefully still calm, collected, ancient. 

He was only a few steps from the old stones away as a sudden movement to his left made him stop. The light from the street lamps painted circles onto the ground and William peaked into the darkness behind. “Who’s there?”, he called out, “I ain’t in the mood for a Halloween scare” He fisted his right hand together, calling for the magic that slept within his heart for preparation.

Hazel came stumbling out of the shadows with as much tact as a werewolf could give. Her hands touched the stone cold walls as she descended down the steps. It felt... odd. She wasn’t from Holloway and knew nothing of the ruins or the old Gaol. Tales of what had happened in the building hadn’t tainted her mind and yet she just felt the darkness every time her foot came in contact with the concrete floor. She paused as she heard a voice, a shiver down her spine... she’d been at the Scarefest. How had she got there?

“I... you smell of magic, stay where you are. Who are you?”