The looming shadow that bumps in the night

PART VI

Summary:

You arrive at Almoral's mansion after receiving an invitation for a Halloween party he is hosting. While you go to visit, another Halloween party is simultaneously being hosted by the famed Count Anastasius. In the meantime, the DPF moves along with their own missions as a peculiar forecast casts a shadow on the dream world…

NOTE: This event takes place on October 31, 2024.

[10:06 PM. October 31, 2024. Northeastern rural Minnesota.]

SID: Ah, peace and quiet on a Halloween night. I highly doubt anyone will bother to show up, but at least that means less people to deal with. I can catch up on my novel and finally get around to cleaning that fridge spill.

[The entrance to Biz Mart beeps indicating a customer has walked in]

SID: (And just like that… You really had to open your mouth.) *sigh* (I suppose I should take this, but this novel was getting so good…)

[Sid sighs and places his book down and cleans his glasses. When he puts them back on, he sees someone familiar…]

SID: Hello, welcome to Biz Mart. How may I help y- Uh…

NATE?: Oh! Uh! Hello! I’m…uh… (Oh no! I didn’t think of a name! Just make something up!) I’m Nathaniel! (Close enough…)

SID: Hello…Nathaniel. Um, how may I help you?

NATHANIEL: Haha, yes! Um! Well, you see… I’m looking for… stuff… Like, specific stuff! Food? Something to drink?

SID: Yes… We sell those types of things here. Though, I have never seen you around here before… Are you a tourist?

NATHANIEL: Hahahaha, something…like that… Yeah! A tourist! I was just passing by, you know! I saw this little store and said ‘Wow! I think I’ll stop there!’

SID: I see. And, where is your car?

NATHANIEL: My what?

SID: Car? I don’t see any cars parked in the parking lot. 

NATHANIEL: Oh! Pfft, I walked here! Just happened to be taking a late night stroll!

SID: A late night stroll… in the middle of the night… on Halloween… in the middle of literal nowhere with no signs of civilization for miles?

NATHANIEL: …yes… I’m uh, sort of an explorer! I like walking and documenting the various places I go to!

SID: Hmph, well, there isn’t anything special here for you to document. Don’t bother looking around. May I interest you in a spicy chocolate bar?

NATHANIEL: Oh wow! A spicy chocolate bar! They sell those here? I love spicy food! Although… spicy chocolate bars are a strange thing to offer to anyone… It’s like you knew I love spicy food!

SID: Ah, hahaha… just a lucky guess I suppose…

NATHANIEL: Wait a second. I just realized something about you!

[Nate leans in close to Sid to get a good look]

SID: …what is it…?

NATHANIEL: You… you’re wearing a mask! That’s kind of strange! A lot of people don’t wear masks, but you do!

SID: Well, just trying to play it safe. Health protocols and all that…

NATHANIEL: You know, I have a friend who also wears a mask! Except well, he’s worn that mask for many years now and it’s not because of health safety or whatever. Don’t tell him, but I think he looks really nice with a mask! Hehe, not like you’ll ever tell him…

SID: Is that so…

NATHANIEL: Oh you’d love him! He’s really the best! He…might’ve gotten some bad reputation a few years ago, but he’s not at all what everyone else makes him out to be.

SID: What did your friend do?

NATHANIEL: Bah… he did something really benign and everyone ended up turning against him. If you ask me, he didn’t deserve any of that. After everything he’s done for me…I think he deserves to have his life turned around. He did so much for everyone and I think he deserves to be happy.

SID: Do you think he is sad?

NATHANIEL: I think he is but he tries to hide it from everyone else so they don’t worry. I just hope he knows that we all appreciate him! The few people he still has in his life and all… I hope we make him happy at least.

SID: I’m sure you all do. I…may not know him personally, but I’m sure you all make him feel like he’s still a huge part in each of your guys’ lives. And I’m sure that he will one day get his life turned around. After all, so long as he has all of you, he’s bound to be happy even if it doesn’t feel so.

NATHANIEL: You really think so?

SID: Well, this is all just a guess, but I’m sure of it.

NATHANIEL: I guess you’re right. Hehe, it’s funny… You remind me of him! The mask, the hair style- though his is black and yours is white- and the wisdom! He’s very smart and wise! You guys could be twins!

SID: Well… 

NATHANIEL: I guess I shouldn’t be taking more of your time… This was a nice talk! And the store is really something! Well, there really isn’t anything here for me to…do…

SID: As I said, there’s nothing remotely interesting here in this little remote convenience store. But if you want to take something with you to keep, may I recommend a little teddy bear here?

NATHANIEL: Woah, really? These are so cute!

SID: Yes, may I recommend the red one?

NATHANIEL: For me? For free?

SID: It compliments your hair. It’s on the house.

NATHANIEL: Wow! Thank you! I… I’ll be sure to keep this safe then.

SID: How will you…get home?

NATHANIEL: Oh uh, don’t worry about that! I got it covered, hehe. 

SID: Well…I should leave you be then. It was a pleasure to meet you, Nathaniel. I hope you get home safely.

NATHANIEL: Thank you! Maybe we’ll see each other again soon!

SID: I’m sure we will… I believe so. I hope you take care until we meet again.

NATHANIEL: Until then, Sid! Happy Halloween!

SID: Happy Halloween!

[Nate walks out of Biz Mart and into the night. Sid watches him go and looks down at the counter]

SID: (Nate?? What in the world was Nate doing at Biz Mart? And WHO in the DPF signed off on this and WHY? Something is not right.)

[The lights flicker briefly above Sid]

SID: (Something’s going to happen. I have to get back to the dream world as soon as possible. I need to get information on what Nate was doing here and then figure out what is really going on. I must hurry before it is too late.)