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"Shit" Jen tried to do a U-turn and had to wait for another group of costume-clad pedestrians

I called Cody He picked up ihosts yet," I said "Easties on bikes are on the move for home turf, Townies behind thee? Brandon Cassopolis is with the up

At a bend in the road, over the river we caught one last gliht as they pedaled furiously across the bridge, bent low over their handlebars, legs pu The Easties made it across and scattered into their own territory seconds before Cody arrived to pull the cruiser sideways across the street, strobe lights flashing red and blue

Jen swore again, pounding the steering wheel with both hands I winced "I’ht they were headed back into town"

She glanced atfro Carrie-at-the-prom manner "It’s not your fault, Daise He shouldn’t be out here in the first place"

The convertible top was down and the backwash of evening air over my skin made the fine hairs onfelt wrong It shouldn’t be this warm in October It should be cool and crisp, the scent of wood s in the air Not this And I couldn’t shake the feeling that so

"No one should," I said to Jen "Not tonight"

Forty-six

Cody had succeeded in rounding up four Townies Two had gotten away, as well as all of the Easties The only inforive us was their next rendezvous point in East Pemkowet

"Sorry about your brother," Cody said to Jen "I came as quickly as I could"

"I know"

While Cody dealt with the Townies, we cruised around East Peed bike hooligans No dice Even the Townies’ rendezvous point behind the storage shed at Tanner’s Landing was deserted, abandoned after their friends were caught No one knows hiding places like twelve-year-old boys do After half an hour, we gave up and drove back across the bridge to rejoin the others, eating cold pizza and watching the number of trick-or-treaters dwindle

Ten htfall, Bethany called her sister back and promised to look out for Brandon That was considerably ined just a few short weeks ago

Otherwise, nothing continued to happen

By nine o’clock, it was quiet on the hill If the dead aiting for an audience toto happen elsewhere Technically, that could mean any bar in town, but my money was on the adult parade in East Pereed Like I said, this cooes all-in for the holiday It oes, for three hundred and sixty-four days of the year, ordinary mundane mortals play second fiddle to the eldritch On Halloween, they set out to join them, which is why the adult parade has become such a massive spectacle And this year, it seemed the parade participants were deterainst whatever spectacle the dead ht offer

Back in East Pemkoe staked out a position on the front stoop of the State Fare point to see over the crowds already beginning to throng the sidewalk The other members of the coven joined us, and, to my considerable relief, Cody and Lurine also showed up: the for a fabulous mask of feathers and an e out of a Venetian nized," I whispered to Lurine

She ruffled my hair "Just a precaution, cupcake I trust your little coven here, but if I should have to shift for any reasonwell, better to be safe"

"Good thinking"

Stefan came to take up a post at the foot of the stoop, pale and somber, his broadsword strapped to his back Jen elbowed s "Hel’s liaison" Stefan inclined his head to me "One of the Outcast is in place on every corner In the event of trouble, I’ve bidden the as discipline allows"

"Thank you" It was hard not to think about the fact that he’d kissed ht away "I appreciate it"