Sorry I know it's been ages since I posted and I feel super bad about it. :(

But it's been busy and I just can't find the right ideas at the right time.

This finally came out and I almost couldn't make it, but here it is!

Enjoy.

A guttural scream ripped through the endless night.

Her blonde hair whipped over her shoulder, eyes wide open and searching, the expression they carry is one of frantic. "Wha-"

A wave of nausea hit her, throwing her off for a second, almost overwhelming her senses. There was a horrible feeling fluttering around the roots of her heart, as if searching the perfect place to settle in and plant itself even deeper.

It was Halloween, the perfect time for monsters to disguise the cries of its victims into a part of the holiday spirit.

She turned around fully, ready to face the true horrors of... what, exactly?

All she saw was Bobby now twisting the shape of his mouth, wanting to make some changes to his strangled calls, and Matthew on the side, looking annoyed if anything.

And the whines haven't deceased either, and Annabeth was left staring in confusion at her brother screaming his lungs out.

For the brief moment she caught his eye, Bobby's cries faltered.

He blinked.

Then he continued on his full-fledged holler.

"Okay, stop. Stop. Time-out." Annabeth had to raise her voice to talk over the boy. "What is going on?"

If nothing's wrong, then why does she still taste the scent of dread?

Matthew simply gestured toward his brothers' left foot, like there's your problem, can I go suck on my lollipop now?

Annabeth squinted. She can faintly make out a vague figure splattered under Bobby's spider-man sports shoes.

"It's fresh." Bobby complained, now that he stopped screaming. His voice sounded a tiny bit hoarse from all that yelling.

"Oh gods Bobby." Annabeth had to restrain herself from face-palming accompanied by a major eyeball roll. "Be thankful it's Halloween, people are getting used to the screams, or you would have the entire neighborhood of mothers and aunts rushing out over because of a tiny unfortunate piece of dog droppings you happen to step on."

At this, Matthew cracked a tiny giggle.

"Poop." he whispered to his twin.

"Poop." Bobby agreed solemnly.

–

She was forced to cover her ears at the sound of a pair of high-pitched wails. She had to be extra-alert every year this day. Halloween is the perfect time to cover up for protests of victims.

It worsened when she realized she could recognize the agonizing cries.

Sudden movement, and in a flash, Annabeth was on her feet, tearing down when she suddenly remembered-

"Poop." Matthew giggled.

"Poop."

She slowed down only slightly (just in case), saving her strength, and let out her own exasperated calls. "I swear, Bobby, if this is about poop again I will-" her voice failed her mid-sentence.

There was a boy.

Black, black, black, his posture was not one of mortals, and a dark aura spread off him rapidly like a raging fire. He was pale, pale, like a ghost. Hair drooping black and heavy down to his shoulders. It would be easy to imagine a huge pair of ruffled wings sprouting from his back, in a death angel manner.

The twins were huddled together tightly, trembling. They seemed to forget that they were in fact, eleven("And eleven-year-olds fear nothing" proclaimed Bobby), and the boy seemed hardly older than them.

Annabeth's words caught in her throat. The boy turned, revealing the face behind the mops of black strands, eyes attacking and harsh. Cold, like an uncovered gem, precious yet cutting, lying deep deep down under endless layers of rock and stone.

"Annabeth." Matthew hissed shakily, tone warning and pleading at the same time.

She relaxed.

"It's not the best idea to go popping around randomly." she complained. "Nico."

"Annabeth." he greeted politely with a curt nod.

"Wait, Annie!" Bobby raised his hand, although both him and Matthew were still a bit unsettled. "You know the um-" Nico shot him a spare, unimpressed look. Bobby gulped. "him?" he said weakly.

"Boys, meet Nico di Angelo. Nico, the boys."

–

It was already two years after the zombie-maker 2000 incident, a.k.a Nico di Angelo.

Annabeth had to stifle the urge to grab anything at all and whack the boys upside across the head.

They've found a brand new way to spend their Halloween.,"Much much better than trick-or-treating" Matthew's eyes were sparkling.) with surprise, surprise, the son of Hades.

They stay at home now, helping from next door prepare candy for the younger kids in the neighborhood, much to their mothers' surprise. ("You sure you don't want to go trick-or-treating instead?")

No, they stay. And instead of wearing a silly witch's mask and pointy hat or anything silly like that to greet the kids ringing the doorbells, they shove out Nico di Angelo.

You can see the change of expression, see? Everyone there, the groups of kids and the chaperoning teenager would freeze at the sight of Nico. Tall, towering Nico, now fifteen years old, just the same as when the boys first met him, only rougher and with an expression even more commanding. Darkness twisting and bending, seeping over, planting fear and expanding the coldness. The expectant expression of wishing to get candy vanished, blood slowly draining from their faces.

"Um, sorry." the teen would gulp and smile meekly in attempt of keeping cool (and dignity as the oldest in the group). "This must be the wrong door."

"Is it?" Nico would then whisper in his low, melodic voice. "I did order a pack of children earlier this evening. And it is getting close to dinner time."

And after exactly three seconds, you'll find a trail of kids screaming and running away from the Chases' house, dropping candy they couldn't care less about at the moment all the way.

The boys would come out by then, and stare at the path of candy.

"Good job, man." They would give him friendly pats on the back and start collecting the fallen sweets.

Nico would give a little grunt. "As long as I get to keep the M&Ms."

Thanks to Guest who gave me this idea from a long way back. Sorry for not writing out earlier, but your review was very much appreciated. uwu

The timeline was sort of jumping, I hope you guys don't mind.

Happy Halloween!