The Resistance Kids and the Haunted House, Part 6

Rey was glad everything was going so well. They'd managed to get most of the decorations up with a minimum of fuss. Finn did insist he saw something gold walking around on the upstairs landing, but that might have been the late-afternoon sun flashing on the chandelier as they dusted it. Any spooky sounds the house made were drowned out by Kaydel's record player spinning Russ Morgan's version of “Cruising Down the River.”

It was just starting to get a little stormy as the guests arrived. Rey didn't have a chance to do much of anything other than hand out drinks and snacks for a while, then hold onto Baby's leash so Jess could dance. She'd never seen such an array of costumes. Kay's friend Pamich had somehow managed to get a WAC uniform off her older sister. Pamich and Kay brought in most of the kids from the neighborhood, who were dressed as everything from Frankenstein to Bugs Bunny to the Bowery Boys from the goofy “B” movies.

Officer Statura, the older Asian cop who worked their beat, dropped by. Leia gave him a hug and introduced him to the kids. “I've known him for a long time.” She smiled. “I gave him one of his first jobs in the police commissioner's office when he came to America.”

“Just making sure everything is all right.” His smile was tight-lipped. “It's Halloween. I know they've discouraged kids from pulling too many pranks in the neighborhood in the last decade or so, but damage can and does happen.”

“It'll be fine.” Leia sipped her punch. “The kids all seem to be having a good time. Even Hank's behaving himself.” She gave him a small smile. “As least, as well as he ever did.”

Hank popped over, finishing off a cat-shaped sugar cookie. “Hey there, Officer. Did someone steal the pumpkin off a porch?”

Leia smacked his arm. “That's not even funny tonight, Hank. You know how hard these kids work on their jack-o-lanterns. Remember how Ben used to throw himself into making his?”

Hank chuckled. “And somehow, the smile always came out crooked. And I'd have to help him with the nose. He couldn't get the triangle straight.”

“And he'd insist on putting the candle in himself, even when I told him he was too young.” Leia laughed. “He was always stubborn.”

“Look where he got it from.” Hank gave her a sugary kiss on her cheek.

“If anything goes wrong, I'll be outside, keeping an eye on all the ghouls and goblins out tonight, at least until the rain starts.” The officer tipped his hat at Leia. “You have a good night, Mrs. Solo.” He nodded at Hank. “Mr. Solo.”

Finn nudged Rey as Hank pulled Leia gently into his arms. Rey had been paging through the scrapbook they were looking at a few days before. “We've gotta put on something more romantic than 'Riders In the Sky.' I like Vaughn Monroe as much as the next guy, but we don't need spooky right now. We need declarations of love.”

“Right.” Rey picked out Jess' cast album from South Pacific, the hottest show on Broadway. They'd listened to it so much, she knew just where to put the needle. After a few tense minutes, Enzio Pinza's warm baritone finally boomed “Some Enchanted Evening.” She tucked the scrapbook into her pocket, to finish reading later.

Leia sighed as she leaned into her husband's warm, safe arms. “You know, no matter how much we fought, I always hated watching you leave.”

“That's why I did it.” Hank kissed her on top of her head. “So you'd miss me.”

“I did miss you.” The small woman sighed as the music swelled. “You don't know how many times I wanted to go down to the garage, just to say 'hi,' but...”

“What's past is past. You're here now.” He pulled her head into his chest. “You know, the scariest thing about tonight was the thought you might have turned me down. I thought I'd never see you again. I love you, Leia.”

She gave him a tiny smile. “I know.” For a moment, it was as if the rest of the world didn't exist. It was just them, Enzio Pinza, and their feelings for each other.

Finn pulled Rey onto the scuffed dance floor as they watched the elder couple dance. “See?” He grinned. “Easy as pumpkin pie. I'll bet they'll be making out in the nearest closet before the end of the night!”

Rey grinned. “Five dollars says they'll be making out in a closet before the end of the song.”

“You're on.” Finn wasn't a great dancer, but he could move well enough. It wasn't easy. The dance floor was pretty full. He could see Snap with Kaydel and Jess with a boy dressed as a vampire and Pamich with some friend of Poe's. “I wish we could find Poe. I'm really nervous about him. Something bad happened to him. I know it.”

“We'll tell Officer Statura about him being missing as soon as we're done with this dance.” She somehow managed to blush under her green makeup. “You know, you're...not bad, really. At dancing. At a lot of things.”

Now Finn was blushing. “I'm not? Really?”

Once Rey finally said it, it was like the dam burst. “You're amazing with cars. You picked that lock earlier like it was nothing. You're...you're the sweetest, nicest boy I ever met. I don't care who you used to be with. You were never meant to be with the First Order Gang. You were meant to be here, with us, on the Bowery.”

“Wow, Rey.” Finn's grin lit up the whole living room. “You...you really...do you really...I mean...” Snap had to smack Finn on the back as he passed with Kaydel to get him talking straight. “Do you really think that?”

Rey nodded, feeling almost shy. “Yeah.”

Finn could see Hank and Leia out of the corner of his eye. Leia was leaning on Hank's shoulder. He grinned and gave Finn a thumbs up. Finn nodded at Rey and gave Hank the same.

“I'm glad he finally told that girl he's crazy about her.” Hank smirked. “He's been mooning over her ever since I hired him. Can't say I blame him. She's a cute kid, and a real genius with mechanics. I haven't had anyone this good with carburetors in years.”

“I think most of these kids will be all right. Even Poe, when we find him. Shara and Kes would be so proud of how he turned out.” She let Hank stroke her thick braid. “I just wish Ben was here, too.”

“We'll find him, Leia. He'll turn up when he's ready.” He'd barely noticed that the record had already moved onto the boisterous chorus number “Bloody Mary.” He looked down into his wife's eyes. “Leia...I didn't think you wanted me home...I thought you blamed me for what happened with Ben and Luke, and everything...”

Leia's velvet brown eyes twinkled merrily. “All I want right now is for you to kiss me.”

Finn couldn't help stopping to nudge Rey. “Look!” He could see Hank and Leia smooching out of the corner of his eye. “They'll be in the closet before you know it.”

“I think they're adorable.” She smiled mischievously at him. “Speaking of the closet...”

She had just reached up to give him a kiss when the a loud thunder crack shook the house. The lights flickered twice, then died. Some kids screamed as a second peal of thunder roared overhead.

“Don't anybody move!” Hank moved over to where he'd last seen Rey and Finn. “Did you kids bring any flashlights?”

“No.” Rey shrugged. “We didn't think we'd need them.”

“I have a flashlight in my truck.” Hank turned to his wife. “We're going to run out really fast to the Falcon.”

“In that mess?” Leia indicated the sheets of rain splashing on the window. “Oh no. No one's going out in that! There's got to be candles or flashlights around here somewhere.”

Baby had been sniffing around by the fireplace. She'd never seen anything like it before. A part of the room that had fire in it...and no one got hurt! Besides, it smelled funny. She felt wind coming out from behind it. A draft, her humans would have called it. It made the fire flicker and dance. She'd just nosed into a crack in the wall when the flames seemingly rose half-way up the chimney!

She did not like this at all! She smelled humans who weren't her humans. She smelled dust, and old, dead things. She scurried over to Rey, her second-favorite human in all the world besides Poe, and barked at her as loudly as she could.

Rey leaned over and scratched her ears. “What is it, girl? You smell something?”

Finn saw the ghosts first. “N...no...” His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open in horror. “Rey, look! It's them! From the scrapbook!”

There were screams from the room as two figures seemingly emerged from the flames. The taller one had wavy gold hair and a scar over his right eye. His left side sported a suit and cravat from the last century. The left side, however, was a nightmare. His face was bright red and covered in puckers and blisters, as if he'd shoved his head into the fireplace. The suit was in rags, burned off completely over some parts. The “woman” with him was a tiny thing, with long brown curls, a ruffly yellow high-necked blouse, and a tan skirt.

“Yoouuu,” moaned the man, “are trespassing on my prooopperrty! You must go awayyy!”

“Or we'll make you like usss.” The “woman” lifted her skinny arm. “This home belongs to Andrew Waller and his family!”

“I'm a member of his family!” Leia rolled her eyes and stepped up to them. “And I don't believe in ghosts.”

Hank nodded. “Something screwy's going on here.”

Baby continued to bark. She tugged at the “woman's” skirt. It finally tore, revealing a young man's boxers and oxfords underneath.

“That's what I thought.” Rey grabbed the wig off the smaller one. “Dopey Mitaka.”

Snap grabbed “Andrew's” arm. “Tommy Thanisson,” he growled. “Members of the First Order Gang.”

Another figure emerged from behind the fireplace. “I am going to burrrnnn youuuu, just like I burrned my beeeeest friend,” the man in the brown wool suit moaned.

Jess saw the red hair under the moth-eaten bowler hat right away. “Knock it off, Hux. We know it's you. We'd know that carrot top of yours anywhere.” She knocked the hat off, revealing the familiar shiny, gingery locks and annoyed brown eyes.

“I can't believe the lot of you!” Leia glared at them. “I know about half your parents. Rest assured, they'll all be hearing about this.” She turned to Hux. “Especially yours. What would Mayor Bristol Hux say if he knew his only son was running around with gangs?”

“He wouldn't care.” Hux turned up his nose. “He never cares about what I do. He's only interested in running his city.”

Charles grabbed the red-haired boy's collar. “I think it's time you all went home.”

“In this weather?” Mitaka jumped as a smaller purr of thunder broke over the house. “We'd get soaked!”

Baby barked again as the thunder roared and lightning lit up the room. A figure emerged onto the landing. Finn had never seen anything like it. It appeared to be a cheap imitation of the same outfit Darren Veder wore in the painting on the wall. He even had a black breathing mask like his, his scalp ragged and wrinkled.

“Leave this place,” it rasped. One long, black finger pointed at the group. “You have dared defy Daren Veder, the greatest leader ever seen in this city. I am the man who brought down the Imperial Mob and the Black Sun Syndicate. I am the terror that drove the Rebel Gang out of town. Fear me! You must all fear me! I will kill you all...”

“Benjamin Bail Solo, knock it the hell off!” Hank was already stomping upstairs. Charles, Rey, and Finn followed. “I know it's you. I helped you make that damn Veder costume when you were twelve!”

“Dadddd!” whined a much less intimidating voice under the mask. “You ruined my entrance!”

Rey put her hands on her hips. “You're ruining our bloody party!”

“No, I'm not.” They could almost hear the smirk under the mask. “I'm making it a lot more interesting. Besides, I told you. You shouldn't be here.”

“These kids have every right to be here.” Hank and the kids reached the landing. Leia and the others watched from below, too surprised to move. The storm continued outside, the wind shrieking against the roof, the rain coming down in buckets. “You, on the other hand, should be going home. Your mother and I have been worried sick about you.”

“Oh yeah?” “Kylo Ren” snorted. “It's not like you ever noticed me. You were always busy with the garage and racing and Charles. Mother was always busy with work. You don't care about anyone but yourselves!”

“How could you say that?” Rey started towards him. “Hank's been nothing but good to us!”

“Yeah, to you. To you, and to every kid in the Bowery.” His dark brown eyes, much colder than his mother's, bored into his father's. “Every kid but his own.” The think lips managed a smirk at Rey. “You're not bad-looking, for a British doll. You ought to join our gang. I could teach you things you'd never dreamed possible. It would be a lot more interesting than hanging around with a dried up old man and a traitor.”

Finn had to hold Rey back, while Hank took Finn's shoulder. “I don't need you for a teacher!” Rey put up a fist. “I wouldn't send a black cat to be taught by you!”

“Ben, take that damn mask off.” The older man took a step closer. “Unless you were knocked into a fire lately, you don't need it.”

Rey had no idea what she'd see when Kylo...when Ben pulled off the mask. She was not expecting a fairly decent-looking fellow with a long jaw, soft, pale skin, and the thickest, waviest black hair. She couldn't help feeling a little jealous when she noticed he had no hint of helmet-hair.

“Come home, son.” Hank put out his hand. “Come home. I want it. Your mother wants it. We'll figure something out, find you a better school. You can work with me in the garage again.”

“What, and just spend the whole afternoon arguing with you?” Ben rolled his eyes. “Dad, I hate cars! I hate fixing things! I'm not interested in that. Professor Snoke has these amazing theories about mind control that could revolutionize the science community...”

“Professor Snoke is a quack and a fraud. The entire NYPD knows it, son.” He took Ben's hand. Rey, Finn, and Charles all held their breath. “Just come home. Come back to us.”

“No, Dad. Not this time.” Rey let out a screech when Ben slammed his fist into his father's jaw. Hank crashed into the railing. No one expected the splintered railing to give way. Hank barreled right through it, crashing onto the couch below.

Finn lunged for Ben, his own fists flying. Ben got him with a gloved hand straight in the gut. The younger man collapsed to his knees, his breath gone in one big whoosh.

Rey let out a growl that many of the party guests mistook for thunder. The tiny young woman tackled the taller boy as hard as she possibly could. They went tumbling to the remains of the oriental rug. “You ass!” She pummeled Ben, her sharp fists raining down like the storm outside. Ben put up his hands to shield the worst of her blows. “How could you? How could you hit your own father? How could you hit Finn?”

“He deserved it!” Ben whined. “He was never there! All I wanted was his and Mother's attention!”

Rey grabbed him by his shoulders, shaking him like a rag doll. “Hitting him in the face is not the way to get anyone's attention! This is an old house. You'll be lucky if he didn't break his neck. You're a bloody fool is what you are!”

Charles and Kaydel were tending to Hank, after Leia and Snap helped him off the remains of the couch. “I'll take care of him, Leia.” Charles waved her away when she ran over. “You and the kids separate those two young ones upstairs. Rey has every intention of turning your son into a bloody pulp. Finn could probably use some medical attention, too.”

“Ben!” Leia hurried up the stairs. Most of the party followed her, including Jess, Kaydel, and the remaining First Order Gang.

Hank was starting to come to. “What happened?” He rubbed his bruised eye, wincing at the pain.

“You got a good sock in the face from that whelp of yours, then went over the railing.” Charles gently ran a cigar-like finger over Hank's eye. He let out a whimper that matched his son's upstairs. “I think you and Ben are both going to need ice. I will see if there's any in icebox in kitchen.”

“Thanks, buddy.” Hank leaned against the fireplace, putting his hat down on the mantel. The storm continued outside, the thunder still roaring. “Damn,” he muttered. “Is that the thunder, or is my head?” He wished he had a good, frozen steak. His head was throbbing, and his back was sore as hell. “Charles, where is that...”

A bony hand popped out from behind the fireplace and grabbed hold of his mouth, cutting off his shocked cries. Another reached for his arm. Skeletal fingers clutched what looked like a thick needle between its fingers.

“Don't worry, Mr. Solo,” it whispered. The fingers pushed up the sleeve on his jacket and shirt, ignoring his dazed struggles. “This is just a light sedative. You'll barely feel it. Your son told me you'd be just right for my mental experiments.” The raspy voice sounded like an echo of death. “When you awaken, that strong mind of yours will be under my control.”

Those words were the last thing Hank remembered before the needle jabbed into his bare arm and he blacked out.