Nighttime Frights

The news of Father Oleander’s death sent shockwaves throughout Burrowgatory. All Sinner’s Day was a day of grandiose overindulgence and hedonistic revelry, one that many Succubuns looked forward to every year. Now, as the chill remained in the air, sinking beneath the fur of its usually warm denizens, it seemed that no one was in any mood to celebrate or think of any upcoming festivities. Murmurs of the mysterious deaths and disappearances lingered from dusk to dawn as many no longer felt safe to wander alone at night. The cautionary warnings from the police department only seemed to further the fears around Burrowgatory to the point that if fog lingered in the daytime, there was naught a soul in sight.

On a cool fall evening, Marmalade gazed outside a storefront window at the now empty streets. Any buns they saw pass were often huddled in groups of three or more, glancing to and fro as they made their way down the sidewalk. There were also patrol officers, mostly in pairs, standing at various street corners and on the lookout for otherwise suspicious activity. Their mismatch gazed focused on a particular street corner too long, watching as the lamppost above began to rapidly flicker out until dead, sending the buns beneath scurrying away from such a foreboding sign.

“Hektor,” Marmalade called out in their usual airy voice. The pearl white bun wandered over to Greed bun who seemed to be reorganizing things from behind his counter. “I’ll be heading home now. It’s getting quite late and you have to close up shop soon, right? I don’t want to linger and have someone think you’re open later than you are.”

The storekeeper grunted, lifting a couple boxes in his doll form to put aside as he stared down the bun with a sharply raised eyebrow. “It’s already late, Marmalade. You heard the warnings, you shouldn’t be going home alone.” Hektor argued, arms crossed as he slips through the divider of the counter, squatting to be closer to the small bun.

Marmalade couldn’t argue this but they doubt they could just ask their littermate to come pick them up. Coronis, despite his penchant for getting into trouble, was responsible enough that if he were out and about, he would surely be with a group of people. If he were home, there was no way he’d go out just to come pick them up seeing as they were halfway across town. They continue to ponder their situation before they feel a pair of sturdy hands wrap around them, pulling them up and into their arms. When the Glutton bun looked up, they saw that Hektor had picked them up and shifted them into one arm while the shifted around in his pockets to grab his keys.

“Jinx, don’t wait up. I’ll lock the door anyway, ‘kay?” He called out to the only other bun here before heading towards the door. He switched off the lights of the store before turning around to lock the shop up. Once done, he holds Marmalade carefully into his arms and then back to them. “Just gimme directions and I’ll get you home safe.”

Touched by his kindness, Marmalade’s tail began to swish behind them even as their serene expression remained unchanged. They nodded and soon gave directions on how to get to their small cottage, out in a secluded neighborhood away from most occupied housing districts. The scenery was most fitting for someone like Marmalade; at night, the shadows seemed to play tricks with the hazy lamplight of the cobblestone sidewalks. This part of Burrowgatory was a lot older, a bit more traditional compared to the modern homes and condos of the city center. Still, even here, it didn’t seem there was anyone really out unless they had to be. Buns that saw Hektor coming crossed the other street or hurried along down a different alley just to avoid him. The Greed bun kept going where he was told and soon enough, they arrived to Marmalade’s quaint cottage, a brown gate serving as a barrier between the street and their home.

Hektor took Marmalade to the door before gently placing them onto the ground, glancing around the oddly well-kept front yard. “We made it. Wasn’t too bad was it?” He asked with a wry smile.

Marmalade chuckled and shook their head. “Not at all…we even made it faster than I usually do on my own, thank you.”

They both stood at the doorway for a few moments before Marmalade continued. “Well…you shouldn’t head back alone. I mean, I doubt anything would happen to you given how everyone else seemed to give us space on the way here…but could I at least offer you some snacks before you go back? When was the last time you ate?”

The Greed bun averted his gaze before he gave a nod and followed Marmalade inside their home. “Okay, just a little bit and then I’ll head back.” He promised. They smiled in return and closed the door behind their companion, comforted by the fact they could always have someone to rely on when things were dangerous.