Quoted By:
<span class="mu-s">“Shaggy said that I didn’t smell ‘completely human’. What if I’ve been a ‘monster’ all this time, without even knowing it?”</span>
Ben gave you an odd look.
<span class="mu-r">“Do you have any idea how hardcore you are? I watched you fight an enraged spider-lizard mutant thing right after your throat had been slit.”</span>
You shrugged at him.
<span class="mu-s">“You did most of the work in that fight. I couldn’t have done that by myself.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“That’s besides the point.”</span> he shot back. <span class="mu-r">“It’s honestly not a big deal if you’re ‘half-monster’ or whatever. If anything, it makes a lot of sense.”</span>
You frowned at him, and Ben made a motion with a head that told you he was rolling his eyes under that mask.
<span class="mu-r">“After all the crazy things I’ve seen you do, I’m seriously supposed to believe that all of that is coming from ‘the power of prayer’?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“...Yes?”</span>
Ben shook his head.
<span class="mu-r">“As far as I’m concerned, whether you’re 100% human or not doesn’t change anything.”</span>
You’ve got an entire book on changeling psychology that says otherwise.
<span class="mu-r">“If you’re that worried, we can look into it after this.”</span> Ben promised.
You gave him a grateful nod. Ben was usually pretty good at keeping his promises.
<span class="mu-i">“We’re getting close.”</span> Shaggy offered, forcing you to push your worries to the back of your mind for the time being.
But, right at that very moment, a small, fuzzy shape dropped down onto a nearby mailbox. You, Ben and Ana took combat-ready poses, but Shaggy barely budged. If anything, he looked a little relieved.
You gave the fuzzy little creature a closer look…and realized that it wasn’t the rabid mutant wolverine that you thought it was. The fur was obviously fake, the eyes were crossed and glassy, and there were distinct traces of sloppy stitching that stood out in discolored patches.
<span class="mu-r">“Trick-or-treaters are getting aggressive this year…”</span> Ben remarked.
<span class="mu-i">“Eri. Where have you been?”</span> Shaggy asked, seemingly familiar with the fuzzy creature.
<span class="mu-r">“Smokey! Hi-Vo needs our help!”</span>
The owner of the voice sounded female, so you thought it safe to assume that this was the “Mask Maker” you were told about. You weren’t too keen on Limbo demon physiology, but this creature seemed pretty young. She was about as tall as a small child–maybe a little bigger than Peter.
<span class="mu-i">“I know. And I brought help.”</span> Shaggy declared, using his front paw to gesture at your group. <span class="mu-i">“You’re dressed up as a werewolf, right? How good is your nose?”</span>
The Limbo demon tapped her nose with a clawed glove.
<span class="mu-r">“It’s a certified super-sniffer. I’ve got both of their scents.”</span>
<span class="mu-i">“Good. Lead the way.”</span>
The Mask Maker bobbed her head up and down, and you saw a fake tongue flop out of the mouth of her costume. She then leapt from the mailbox and started sprinting down the street on all fours.
<span class="mu-g">“What’s going on?”</span> Ana asked.
(Cont.)
