Hell no.

You give the paper back to Mikko and laugh slightly. “You’re not actually wanting to go to this, are you?”

Mikko's usual fair cheeks turn pink. “Of course not.”

Gwendolion perks up from behind. “That’s not what you said when you saw the poster.”

Mikko blinks and snaps around. “You be quiet!”

Arabella takes the paper and scans over it. Her amber eyes read the text and enjoyed the effort of the pumpkins and the dead. “I think it would be cute to dress up for a party, not a mission.”

Hearing the possible support from Arabella, Mikko chirps. “I was thinking the same thing!”

You and Gwendolion share a glance before you both roll your eyes. You fish out a cigarette pack from your breast pocket, go towards the outdoor patio overlooking Elko, and begin puffing out relaxing clouds of nicotine that drags smoothly over your nerves. You sigh, looking down at Elko with all its working lights and open shops still. You glance at your watch and realize it’s only 6:30 pm.

“When is it?” You ask, looking at the three foxes behind you.

Arabella looks at the paper again and says it’s happening on Halloween night, giving you about four days to prepare.

“How badly do you want to go?” You follow with.

Arabella looks at Mikko. “We would like to see it.”

“I couldn’t care less about it,” Gwendolion says. “I’m not going if you guys are.”

“Scared?” Mikko giggles.

Gwendolion doesn’t get flustered or annoyed. Instead, she just shakes her head. “It sounds stupid.”

“Why are you acting like such a brat?” Arabella snaps, but you step back inside, cigarette between your fingers.

“All of you, knock it off. If Gwen doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t have to. I’d like to have someone stay at the suite to make sure no unwanted visitors come in anyway.” You say.

Arabella smirks. “You’re awfully full of yourself if you think you already have enemies in town. We’ve only been here for a week.”

“I probably have a couple of enemies that got here before we did,” you sigh. “I helped a courier a few years back that made some waves down in Vegas.”

Arabella blinks. “What was their name?”

“Uh, they went by Six.”

“Six?” Arabella asks.

“Yeah, but that’s another story. What do you guys want to dress up as?”

“We should all match!” Mikko happily suggests.

Arabella clears her throat. “Remember that suit we made you a few months back?”

You nod. “The new field gray one?”

“Yes,” she smiles. “I know you didn’t like it because it was a little more…Germanic, but it’s a lot dressier than anything else you own. So you could pretend to be a general or something?”

“I’m sure my buddies with my first PS job would have loved to see you Europeanize their American uniforms, by the way.” You look where the suitcases are, vaguely remembering the time all of the foxes showed you the repair job they did on one of your old uniforms.

“The red piping looked cool and made it look much more…official!” Mikko chimes.

“Except you want to blend in with—“ you’re getting sidetracked and didn’t want to. “What about you two? What do you want to dress up as?”

“Well…” Arabella grabs her shirt by the hems and shifts. “I don’t know. How could we match you?”

Gwendolion steps in suddenly. “There’s a costume store somewhere in town.”

Arabella takes the cigarette from your fingers and snuffs it out in an empty bowl. “You shouldn’t smoke in here.”

“Whatever,” you push through and meet Gwendolion. “Where at?”

“Like, the first or second shop in the shopping center,” she says. “Are you going tonight?”

“Was it busy when you were last there?”

She shakes her head. “Not really.”

Mikko frowns. “If you’re going, I’m staying with Gwen. I’m tired.”

You look at Arabella, and she shoots you a friendly wink. “I’ll get us something to make sure it works out.”

“Just us then,” you ask. “You and me?”

“Looks like it!”

…

…

What surprised you the most was how BUSY it was. You would have to ask Gwendolion what she thought was and wasn’t busy because you had to go shoulder-to-shoulder with some of these people.

Arabella stuck close, occasionally holding your hand, so she didn't get lost or separated during some of those tighter moments. But. Gwendolion was at least correct about the Halloween store. It was one of the first shops.

When you enter, you’re pleasantly surprised to find it alarmingly sparse. Two girls behind the counter have black hair, dark makeup, and red pleated skirts paired with fishnets.

They look to be in their late teens, perhaps 16 or 17. “Hello,” one of them says, greeting you and Arabella.

“Hello!” Arabella replies.

“Do you like, need help finding anything…or?” The other one asks.

Arabella looks at you and then clears her throat. “Do you have anything army-like uniforms for girls?”

“Oh yeah, totally. Right over here.”

When the clerk introduces you to the “adult” costumes, you are presented with the usual slutty nurse outfits, hot cops, whore inmates, and sexy witches. Arabella becomes a little embarrassed with the display of erotica but keeps her voice level when she looks at the clerk and thanks her. The clerk works her best guest-servicing smile before saying, “you are welcome,” and walking away.

Alone, she clears her throat. “So…?”

Your mouth becomes lop-sided as your eyes study the costume pieces.