Halloween

October was approaching, and with it, Halloween decorations were starting to appear. A Halloween party was planned at Tracy's house. Although the invitation extended to everyone in the class and some other people from school, Renee wasn't particularly excited. With just over a week to go until October 31st, she was on a break alone in the Fellows of the Hammer's shed, forming a shield attached to a gauntlet. That's when the shed door opened, revealing a familiar face.

"Tracy!" Renee said. "Unusual, I haven't seen you since... well... since the trouble in the woods."

Tracy hesitated a little before entering.

"Can we talk, Renee?" she said a little awkwardly. The redhead nodded.

"You've been through... a lot because of me. And I know I never felt bad about it. Actually, the situation with that weirdo in the woods happened because we thought you were going swimming in the lake and we wanted to get your clothes."

Renee frowned.

"It's... strange that you're coming here to tell me this."

"It's just that I... found it strange that you came to help me much more than the **** with which you did it. As far as I know, you had no reason to help me and, honestly, I don't think I want to hear the reason yet. I just... wanted you to come to my Halloween party. No tricks or games, I just want you to show up. It's a way of apologizing by giving you a good time."

Renee didn't answer immediately. She thought for a moment and then said calmly, "Thank you, Tracy. I'll consider it carefully. I'll confirm by the end of the week, okay?"

Tracy nodded shyly. "Maybe. I'll wait, I hope you accept. I... I'm going... good work... see you later..." She left awkwardly, clearly not very used to making such a gesture.

"You don't seem very inclined to go." Moradin said inside Renee's mind.

"It seems like a setup." The redhead replied silently, returning to her work.

"Maybe." The god replied. "But maybe not. And if it is a setup, what will she do? She never does anything besides try to undress you, which I'll tell you right now won't happen while I'm with you."

It could be. Renee really missed a relaxed meeting with her classmates without the constant fear of humiliation. She even liked the idea of ​​getting a good costume and going out to eat some snacks and chat, she knew that many people from the club would be there so she wouldn't feel out of place, but something else crossed her thoughts.

"And what about the Brutal Pick? We've been searching all night and still haven't found it. Are we going to waste an entire night searching just to be at a Halloween party eating candy, chatting, and watching bad horror movies?"

"Renee, listen carefully, I really appreciate your effort, but I don't intend to keep you stuck in this every night. You've done more for me than you realize. I don't think it'll be so terrible if you have one night free from a drama that could involve the future of the world," Moradin said. "And besides... I know you know that many boys still hope this will be a good opportunity to embarrass you. I think it would be a good opportunity to get back at them, without any great malice, just... a little lesson. What do you think?"

Renee gave a restrained smile at the idea.

"I think it's good that you know what you're doing, Morah (Moradin's nickname), don't put some poor wretches in the same situations I was in or you'll have to erase their traces from the internet like you did with me."

"I'll do my best," said the god of storms. "But no promises about that."