Halloween Event (Pt. 3): Watching From The Sidelines

--- Maya ---

“Let’s um, let’s do the people watching… thing.” (That shouldn’t be too hard.)

“Alright, then let’s just, let’s just find someplace a little… out of the way and we can do that.” Vi promised her while rubbing Maya’s shoulder as she glanced around the room.

“Come on, there’s some stairs up to back platform over this way.” Tommy told them, while gesturing for them to follow. “It’s opposite of the platform they use for the bands and there should be a few quieter spaces since everyone wants to be close to the bands or on the main floor.”

Both of them followed after their brother who clearly had a better understanding of the building’s layout than either of them. With Vi leading her through the crowd with a firm grip on her arm so that they wouldn’t be separated, and her trying to ignore just how many people were surrounding her.

“Just stay calm, and breathe. I can see the stairs he was talking about.” Vi assured her.

“Right, just… I-I knew there was going to be people here but… I was expecting like a house party not… this.” She tried to explain.

“I know.” Vi sighed as they started up the stairs. “Honestly, I probably should’ve figured this was going to be harder on you then the summer festival. I mean there are just as many people in half as much space, and that’s before we add the lights and music making everything harder for your… issues.”

She couldn’t help but grimace at that. “I hadn’t even thought about that…”

“Yeah, well… I should’ve.” Vi frowned at herself. “I should’ve realized this was going to be too much for you.”

“That’s not… I’m the one who insisted I tag along.” She tried to argue.

“Nah, if you remember it was Mamá that insisted you tag along with us or her.” Tommy cut in, as they caught up with him. “So honestly it’s neither of your faults.”

“Yes, blaming your parents for your problems, the smart thing to do.” Vi agreed with no small amount of sarcasm.

“It’s the teenage way.” Tommy nodded before gesturing towards a nearby set of stairs. “Over here is probably best if we want to avoid the crowd. They usually block this side off so there’s only one way up to the VIP area.”

“A teenage party has a VIP area?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Eh, yes and no.” Tommy answered with a so-so gesture. “It’s not really a VIP area but the handful of rich kids who pay for security pretty much claim it for themselves in exchange for hiring security to keep the crowds safe. Don’t know the whole story, just that it’s been like that for the last few years.”

“Right…” She nodded before taking a seat on the stairs.

“Well, you said you wanted to look at the costumes, right?” Vi asked her after a moment.

“Uh, yeah…” (Though that was more to do something away from the crowd.)

“In that case… let’s ignore the half of the crowd dressed as their favorite Masks.” Tommy told them as he leaned against the railing. “When there’s so many heroes in the crowd it kind of makes them uninteresting you know?”

“Yeah, at least half of these girls came here as Terraform.” She agreed, pointedly looking at her sister after spotting at least three others.

“She’s the town hero.” Vi tried to defend.

“Which is why you really should’ve expected half of these girls to come dressed like her.” Tommy pointed out, before gesturing to himself. “Why do you think I came as a villain? People are half as likely to dress as the town villains as they are the heroes, herminita.”

“Pendejo.” Vi told him before looking over the crowd for an interesting costume, before spotting one. “Ooh, what do you think that guy is supposed to be?”

Following her finger, Maya saw a monochrome teen with pale white skin and black hair, wearing a dark vest and tailcoat alongside an overconfident swagger of some kind.

“I don’t know… A vampire maybe?” She offered.

“Maybe, but there’s no blood or crosses or anything vampiric beyond the whole pale white thing.” Tommy pointed out. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for how dark his clothes are it’d be just as accurate to say the guy’s a ghost.”

“Maybe he’s just a goth?” Vi shrugged as the boy started to talk to some girl. “I mean they do have their own style that just fits this holiday.”

“Nah, that’s too boring.” She frowned, feeling something inside her head itch as she stared at the teen.

(Look at him, the guy is clearly an old black and white cartoon character.) Her inner madness told her.

Blinking, she gave the teen another once over and said, “Huh, actually he does kind of look like an old cartoon character.”

“Hmm, yeah I can see that.” Tommy nodded before checking his phone as it chimed. “Uh, the guys are looking for me. Our band is supposed to start getting ready to perform.” He turned to look at both of them with a concerned glance. “Are you two going to be alright on-

Tommy’s question was cut off by a scream from nearby, before the sound of shattering glass drew her attention to a massive fireball erupting from the VIP area. One that sent people scattering as it crashed into the ground before shifting to reveal a large man with muscles so large they seemed to be tearing his skin.

“Shit, a Deviant attack!” Vi cursed, grabbing both her and Tommy by their arms and dragging them off the stairs.

“We need to get out of here and call Sanctuary.” Tommy told them as he spun around and started pushing Maya forward. “There’s a side exit this way, it’ll be safer than risking going anywhere near that thing.”

“I-What, what are we supposed to do?” She asked, her first instinct being to (Fight this stupid pendejo for ruining our night!) while her first real thought was (No, we can’t risk dragging Vi or Tommy into a fight.)

“Just keep moving.” Vi answered a phone to her ear as both of her elder siblings hurried her towards the exit.

Glancing over her shoulder she saw something crash into the burning Deviant, forcing it back into the platform.

“Fuck!” Tommy cursed as he shouldered the door. “I don’t know if it's broken or if they barred it off, but this isn’t opening.”

“And Sanctuary’s line is fucking busy!” Vi hissed glaring at her phone.

“What about the Heroes’ Guild?” Tommy suggested.

“Give me a second.” Vi told him as she dialed their hotline.

Glancing back at the ongoing fight, her eyes darted between the waring Deviants and her elder siblings as she tried to figure out what she could do.