[ Chapter IV (4): "THE NORMAL NORMIE TOWN OF CRACKCLAW POINT, GAS STATION PITSTOP, AND THE DISPARITY OF WEALTH" ]
[ "Mrs. Quinn, am I seeing this correctly?" ]
[ "Sadly, yes." ]
Mikhael with his goggles toggled could be seen glancing at the bronze colored statue in the middle of the supposed normal Normie Town that they stopped by.
Statues aren't the problem, he has seen many physically, or even through the internet. No, instead what worries him is the fact that the said town has a statue of a burning lady in it, on a stake, screaming; both in agony and despair written in her face. [ "What a weird place." ]
Shaking his head in disbelief, he wonders if this was based on a real life individual that was burnt. Perhaps a real witch, like Mrs. Quinn for example. Perhaps not even a real witch, but instead a Normie burnt due to reasons unknown.
Curious, he glanced at the plaque below the said sizable statue, reading the following contents etched into it:
[ THE LADY IN GREEN ]
[ KNOWN IN THE 1823 AS A WITCH WHO HARMS AND KIDNAPS CHILDREN, SHE WAS PERSONALLY HANDLED BY THE TOWNS PEOPLE AND WAS PROMPTLY BURNT THERE AFTER. THE STATUE IS BUILT AS A DETERANCE AND A REMINDER TO NOT TRUST STRANGERS ]
[ "Truly, a weird place to be in." ]
Mikhael gave the statue one last look, before then promptly turning his shoes around, regrouping with Klaus and the others. Mrs. Quinn who's behind him glanced at the statue one last time before following.
He watched personally as Klaus tried to drag the Ghost Horses, which thanks to a spell, turned back into beautiful black maine Horses. Like they were previously, when they were alive and not dead.
Klaus and Quinn did this for safety, and of course to hide the fact that Ghost Horses truly does exist. Something-something that Normie Society had thought of as fiction, stories. As at the moment they are passing by a Normie Town, not one run by Outcasts.
[ "How's the experience, young Lord." ]
[ "Frightening." ] He glanced back at the statue of the burning lady, whom he feels somewhat of pity. He merely hopes that the said children mentioned we're alright.
On the other hand, Klaus who's unfamiliar with the 21st century culture asides from those shown in olden movies and dramas, could be seen staring at the glowing lights all-around the neighbourhood. [ "Yes, I agree, my Lord." ]
Quinn who is both adept on the culture of witches, and the 21st century as a whole. Especially because she goes out, traveling the world for events and socialization, unlike Klaus, she didn't find the thought of christmas lights hanging all-around as "frightening."
[ "I have no idea what the both of you are thinking," ] She smiled, broom in hand as she waves at a jogger running nearby; who looks at them confused. [ "The town looks perfectly normal in my eyes." ]
[ "Speaking of eyes, I'll cover mine if I were you." ] She reminded both of the Vampires, but the younger one was already wearing his heavily tinted goggles; so he merely gave a thumbs up in response.
The other one, Klaus, older of the two and more prone to burns from the said Sun, quickly fidgeted and grabbed his sunglasses from his coat's pockets, wearing it.
As at the moment, the lovely Sun— the bane to all Vampires, could be seen rising up from where it came from. Bringing a smile to the lone Witch of the group's face, who's not naturally nocturnal like the other two.
[ -----| SCENE BREAK |----- ]
[ "My Lord," ]
[ "Yeah, what's up?" ]
[ "You do know that sweets are bad for your long-term health, don't you?" ]
In hearing that, Mikhael glanced at the sweets in his hand; an assortment of them, in packs, some sour, some are actually chocolate in disguise, and all surely unhealthy for his young body. [ "But they taste great...!" ]
[ "No, buts." ] He felt disgruntled when the pack of candies in his hand decreased little by little, finally stopping to none, all instead replaced by biscuits and a hotdog on a bun.
[ "You are a child, ser, you cannot eat candies all the time. Think of your body." ] Frowning, he remembers the other times that they stopped by other towns.
And surely, everything that he bought includes candies, chocolates, and sweets with no exceptions other than drinks— the cola kind. [ "Damn it..." ]
His enthusiasm having worned off, he reluctantly went to the line, just right behind Mrs. Quinn who's having her items scanned by the register. The worker of the said convenience store eyeing them in confusion and intrigued all the while.
[ "Costume party?" ]
[ "Costume party, yes." ]
Mrs. Quinn who's dressed as a witch, broom in hand, a hat and all replied with a smile. She understands that other than the explanation of costume party, then nothing else would be sufficient enough for Normies.
Even if she could, then how would she explain the weird behaviours, odd features, and weird clothes that Mikhael and Klaus have. She can't say to the Normie that the two behind her are actual real life Vampires.
Especially because there's a law in the Outcast Society against that, even if she could, how will she and the others survive the incoming onslaught of Normies with pitchfork on hand, wanting their head.
She could very easily, she has a flying broom after all. But she doesn't want to possibly bring her young Lord to danger, so she prompted and went ahead with the easiest lie. Which is costume party. [ "This too, please." ]
The worker, who's young and is probably full of curiosity, didn't begin to ask more questions. Like for example, the fact that they're having a costume party, Halloween themed, in the middle of December— a few days before Christmas. But hey, who is she to judge?
She scanned the items that the small goggle wearing child placed, all the while humming a tone to herself, a song from a movie she saw. But sadly, due to her not being great at whistling, it came out sounding like a dying bird.
Mikhael looked up at her, one brows raised, confused. Which made her promptly cough in her hand, before then finally rushing the scanning. [ "T-that'll be 23.13$" ]
He then glanced besides him, at the treasurer slash, money holder of the family. At Mrs. Quinn who's already reaching out for her wallet, a fat wallet which is filled with many cards and stacks of bills.
This caused the eyes of the cashier to widen, Mikhael too when he first witnessed this a year ago. But now, he is desensitized, in realizing how rich he really was that is. The jewelry used as paperweight by him cost more than a family of 4 house and lot, that should be enough.
[ "Sweetheart, you can keep the change." ]
Too stunned to speak, the cashier instead kept nodding in robot-like motion, her mouth agape as the 100$ bill was somewhat forcefully handed to her stiff hand by Mikhael.
Glancing down at the benjamin franklin on her hand, she was able to have a glimpse of the smiling face of one very pale kid; accidentally noticing his little fangs, an oddity. [ "She doesn't carry coins, sorry." ]
Apologizing, Mikhael then went ahead and grabbed the plastic bags in the counter. The said things containing his biscuits, a hotdog, cat food, and some plastic bottles of water. No cola though, a shame. [ "Thanks...!" ]
Running out the store, he alongside his sidekicks went back to their parked carriage which now has some onlookers looking at it in curiosity— this includes the occasional joggers, a lady walking his dog, and the police.
[ "What are they doing here?" ] He wondered in seeing the latter, especially because the last time a police officer was near their carriage, it wasn't a great sight.
Man tried impounding their carriage including the horses, reasons unknown, before then getting kicked in the chest in accidentally touching a bad spot on one of the horses.
That was merely hours ago, now that said man doesn't remember a thing about the incident, having been bewitched by Klaus through the use of his hypnotic eyes. Something Mikhael hasn't unlocked yet.
[ "This ride yours?" ]
[ "Yes, officer." ]
[ "Great, you need to come with us." ]
At the moment, there is no state law in Massachusetts that bans tamed horses, or even carriages to park at the side of the road. In other states, yes. But not in Massachusetts.
He also doesn't like how the officers look at them in hostility, something he had witnessed plenty of times growing up, as an orphan and loner that is. About to argue, he was stopped by the hands of Mrs. Quinn.
[ "Before you drag our friend, can you tell us why?" ]
[ "Forgive me ma'am, we can't." ]
[ "You will." ] Though she's shorter than the officer, she could still be seen looking down at the the said man. As she then subtly uses magic to manipulate his thoughts.
Forcing the said officer to answer her questions, or do anything that she likes as long as it doesn't cross a certain emotional border— something that varies from person to person. Something which the hypnosis of Vampires can fight against much better.
But seemingly it is not needed, as the said officer who still has his natural ego: having still act as his usual self, having not thought of anything as weird, having not act like nothing is weird, began to answer.
[ "At the moment, ma'am, children are starting to go missing." ] He answered with a smug grin, [ "Has been happening for a week now, 7 missing at the moment." ]
[ "Why does this concern us?" ]
[ "Because there is no lead of the perpetrator, no clues on how it happened." ] He paused, lips shaking slightly before then continuing. [ "And because the mayor's daughter is one of those missing." ]
What...?
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[ FUN FACT: The Normie Society knows that the Outcast Society exists, they know that Vampires, Werewolves, and other supernatural creatures exist. They just don't acknowledge it openly, instead viewing them as weird. This fact is hilarious especially because the Outcast Society is poor at hiding their supernatural gifts, at this point, it's an open secret that monsters truly do exist. ]
[ 09/20/2025 ]
[ 09/21/2025 ]