Freya was stunned. In less than three seconds, just from one knock on the head by Louis, the kid had somehow learned how to secretly and politely sabotage people. Was this okay? She turned stiffly to look at Louis. Louis, appearing totally unaware, even patted Aiden’s head with what seemed like approval.
Wait a minute–was this really okay? That little gremlin obviously knew what he was doing. Now the poor “hero” would be judged and looked down on by others without a word of protest. Aiden had done it on purpose!
Aiden patted Freya’s hand and said seriously, “Don’t worry, Freya. I’m a good kid who’s kind to my classmates.”
Oh please. I actually worried you’d get hurt. Silly me!
“Should we go to the haunted house?” came a cheerful suggestion nearby–and of course, that little devil had to chime in too.
“Wait, aren’t you scared?” Freya’s voice trembled slightly. A haunted house? Wasn’t that a bit much? Did anyone bother to ask if I wanted to go?
“I’m not scared at all. Haunted houses are fake. I just want to see how realistic they can make it.” Aiden was brimming with excitement, eyes glowing as he looked up at Freya and tugged on her arm. “Come on, Freya, let’s go! Let’s go, let’s go!”
Freya glanced toward Louis, hoping he might talk some sense into the little monster. But Louis didn’t object in the slightest. “Let’s go, then.”
What can I say? He really dotes on his nephew.
Well, she’d never been to a haunted house before. Maybe, probably, possibly, hopefully—it wouldn’t be that scary? She looked around at the people coming out, most of them laughing and chatting. That helped calm her nerves–just a little.
At the haunted house line, there was an amusing variety of reactions. Some parents looked super excited while their kids seemed full of dread. Some couples had clingy girlfriends squealing about being scared while the boyfriends thumped their chests and promised to protect them. Then there were groups of girls hyping each other up, insisting it wasn’t that scary.
Freya kept mentally repeating one mantra: No matter what I see, it’s all fake. Just
Freya was stunned. In less than three seconds, just from one knock on the head by Louis, the kid had somehow learned how to secretly and politely sabotage people. Was this okay? She turned stiffly to look at Louis. Louis, appearing totally unaware, even patted Aiden’s head with what seemed like approval.
Wait a minute–was this really okay? That little gremlin obviously knew what he was doing. Now the poor “hero” would be judged and looked down on by others without a word of protest. Aiden had done it on purpose!
Aiden patted Freya’s hand and said seriously, “Don’t worry, Freya. I’m a good kid who’s kind to my classmates.”
Oh please. I actually worried you’d get hurt. Silly me!
“Should we go to the haunted house?” came a cheerful suggestion nearby–and of course, that little devil had to chime in too.
“Wait, aren’t you scared?” Freya’s voice trembled slightly. A haunted house? Wasn’t that a bit much? Did anyone bother to ask if I wanted to go?
“I’m not scared at all. Haunted houses are fake. I just want to see how realistic they can make it.” Aiden was brimming with excitement, eyes glowing as he looked up at Freya and tugged on her arm. “Come on, Freya, let’s go! Let’s go, let’s go!”
Freya glanced toward Louis, hoping he might talk some sense into the little monster. But Louis didn’t object in the slightest. “Let’s go, then.”
What can I say? He really dotes on his nephew.
Well, she’d never been to a haunted house before. Maybe, probably, possibly, hopefully—it wouldn’t be that scary? She looked around at the people coming out, most of them laughing and chatting. That helped calm her nerves–just a little.
At the haunted house line, there was an amusing variety of reactions. Some parents looked super excited while their kids seemed full of dread. Some couples had clingy girlfriends squealing about being scared while the boyfriends thumped their chests and promised to protect them. Then there were groups of girls hyping each other up, insisting it wasn’t that scary.
Freya kept mentally repeating one mantra: No matter what I see, it’s all fake. Just people in costumes. If it gets too much, I’ll just tear their makeup off. No big deal.
The line moved slowly, but eventually, some people ahead of them chickened out, and it was finally their turn.
As they were about to enter, one of the staff kindly reminded Freya and Louis, “This might be a bit scary inside. Please watch the child’s emotional reaction. If there’s a problem, just call out to stop. We’ll immediately change the music and come get you.”
Okay, that helped calm her down a bit. They finally stepped inside.
The door closed behind them, and the temperature immediately dropped. Freya shivered and reached over to touch Aiden’s arm. “You okay? Are you cold? You won’t catch a cold, will you?”
“I’m fine. Not really cold,” Aiden reassured her with a little pat, signaling that she didn’t need to be so tense.
This haunted house was themed like a hospital. The setup mimicked a hospital interior, complete with bloodstained walls and rusty pipes scattered around. Every now and then, creepy sound effects played in the background. Just as Freya started to let her guard down a bit, her nerves jumped right back up. Okay, fine–this was kind of scary.
Almost instinctively, she reached out to grab the hand next to her–without realizing that, from the moment they’d entered, Louis and Aiden had already positioned themselves on either side of her, one adult and one child flanking her protectively.
The line moved slowly, but eventually, some people ahead of them chickened out, and it was finally their turn.
As they were about to enter, one of the staff kindly reminded Freya and Louis, “This might be a bit scary inside. Please watch the child’s emotional reaction. If there’s a problem, just call out to stop. We’ll immediately change the music and come get you.”
Okay, that helped calm her down a bit. They finally stepped inside.
The door closed behind them, and the temperature immediately dropped. Freya shivered and reached over to touch Aiden’s arm. “You okay? Are you cold? You won’t catch a cold, will you?”
“I’m fine. Not really cold,” Aiden reassured her with a little pat, signaling that she didn’t need to be so tense.
This haunted house was themed like a hospital. The setup mimicked a hospital interior, complete with bloodstained walls and rusty pipes scattered around. Every now and then, creepy sound effects played in the background. Just as Freya started to let her guard down a bit, her nerves jumped right back up. Okay, fine–this was kind of scary.
Almost instinctively, she reached out to grab the hand next to her–without realizing that, from the moment they’d entered, Louis and Aiden had already positioned themselves on either side of her, one adult and one child flanking her protectively.
