Happy Halloween everyone! As has become tradition here is a spooky (but mostly sweet) bonus chapter for this story.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Robin asked, unable to hide his skepticism.

Smack dab in between stylish modern townhouses and utilitarian apartment complexes, an old Victorian building dwelled. By the entrance, stood statues of what looked like screaming gargoyles, making visitors know that they weren't welcome. The windows were unnaturally dark as if a supernatural black fog lurked inside, and the ornate towers seemed to reach into the clouds above, from where a light drizzle fell.

"That's what the map shows," Tyler shoved his phone in Robin's face. It did indeed look like the pin on the map, marking their goal, was positioned right in front of them.

"Are you sure you're not holding the phone upside down again?" Robin remembered their quest to find a fancy gay bar with supposedly incredible fruit drinks a few weeks ago. Tyler had assured him the place was just around the corner for three hours. At least they had stumbled upon a secluded gazebo to make out in during their barless trek.

"I never make the same mistake twice," Tyler declared confidently.

"Why would a cake shop be located here?" Robin's gaze darted to one of the towers, which was surrounded by black entities. Perhaps birds or bats. While Robin was fearful of both, he still preferred them to more sinister alternatives.

"I don't know," Tyler groaned, shoving his phone in his pocket to put on rainbow-patterned mittens. "Maybe they're short on money." He gave Robin a playful pat on the back. "Come on, we need to be the first ones there to win the cake!"

The allure of cake was what had led them to the haunted-looking house. A social media post that morning that announced the Great Pumpkin Cake Race had caught Tyler's attention. The coveted prize was, of course, a delicious cake. Robin had been unable to say no when his boyfriend asked for assistance in solving riddles to figure out the coordinates of the secret cake shop where their sweet reward would be waiting. At this point, they had dedicated the better part of their Saturday to the task.

Robin threw a suspicious look toward the building. Was that a white shadowy figure in the window? "Is it really worth going in there..." he mumbled. "Just for cake, I mean?"

"It's not just any cake, Robby!" Tyler draped himself across Robin's back like a backpack. He placed a wet kiss, which almost turned into ice in the chilly fall air, on Robin's cheek. "It's a TikTok cake! It has like ten million views."

Elaborate cakes that imitated everyday items were Tyler's newest obsession, following on the heels of binging every season of The Great British Bakeoff and watching YouTube videos of the creation of life-size chocolate sculptures. Many were the occasions when Tyler should be studying but Robin instead found him admiring cakes that looked like sneakers or car tires. Robin had also on a quite frequent basis been woken up with the words: "Robby, look at this cake!"

"So what is this cake supposed to look like then?"

"A carved pumpkin!" Tyler let go of Robin to gesture in the air, demonstrating the size of the pumpkin cake. "But it's filled with butternut pumpkin cake with pumpkin spice latte frosting! And there's these like tiny candy spiders embedded in the cake itself. It looks super cool!"

Robin didn't know if butternut pumpkin cake with pumpkin spice latte frosting and tiny candy spiders was tasty or not. He was more of a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting kind of guy. But if this cake was what Tyler wanted then Robin would make sure Tyler got it.

"Let's find you that cake then." Robin found Tyler's hand, figuring that with him by his side, he could brave any ghosts. A quick peck on the cheek confirmed it was the right choice.

"It will be perfect for tomorrow's party," Tyler mused while they walked through the rickety gates, which squeaked eerily as they opened. "Since it's the first time we're hosting for Halloween, we need to show we're up to the task."

Perhaps spending almost the whole day before the party in an endless search for cake was not the smartest choice if they wanted to achieve this, considering they hadn't bought any food or decorations yet.

"Are you sure you won't eat it before then?" Robin asked, knowing his boyfriend all too well.

"I would never!" Tyler replied, with feigned outrage.

Robin gave him a skeptical look.

"Okay, I would maybe eat a little..." Tyler admitted. "But I would just get a piece from the back, so it would still look cool to put out on display."

Tyler kept blathering about which pieces of the cake he could taste without it being noticeable but the words faded out as Robin saw a movement in the garden, which was filled with high grass, leafless trees, and flat stones that looked a bit close to gravestones for comfort. He stopped in his tracks.

"What's the matter, Robby?" Tyler asked, having also been brought to a halt since their hands were interlaced.

"There's... something over there." Robin pointed in the direction of the porch, where he'd seen a dark shadow slither underneath.

Tyler gazed in the direction of Robin's finger. "I can't see anything but it was probably just a cat." He took a step back to stand beside Robin, leaning his head on his shoulder to sneak a kiss. "You worry too much, cutie. Just relax, soon we'll have our cake and can get out of here."

Robin nodded, wanting to show his boyfriend that he was brave and unbothered, even though he was quite sure cats didn't slither. It had looked more like a giant black snake made of evil. With a steadfast grip on Tyler's hand, Robin started to climb the stairs that led to the entrance. Every step creaked more than the previous one. For a moment. Robin feared that the wood would cave in, causing them to fall into another sinister dimension.

Miraculously, the boards held and the couple reached the impressive double doors. Tyler grabbed the ornate metal handle, pulling it open with surprising ease. "After you, cutie," he said, chivalrously holding it open.

A strange smell was in the air: dampness mixed with faint sweet floral notes that seemed out of place in the October cold. Robin hesitated in the doorway. But he couldn't bail on Tyler now. If there were ghosts in there, well, then he would just have to vanquish them. Turning to Tyler, who beamed hopefully--probably imagining the cake at the finishing line--Robin felt prepared for ghostbusting, if necessary.

Their steps echoed ominously against bare walls. A thick layer of dust permeated the air. The place appeared as if no one had stepped inside for decades. A dark stain on the floor brought back Robin's fear. "Is-is that... blood," he stuttered, making sure he stood in front of Tyler if some kind of danger emerged from the shadows.

Peaking over Robin's shoulder, Tyler inspected the splotch. "It's probably just chocolate or something," he suggested. "They may have carried cakes through here and some frosting dropped on the floor."

Robin wondered why there were no footsteps in the dust if people had walked through with cakes but he didn't want to burst his boyfriend's cake-shaped bubble. Instead, he began traversing the rickety stairs to the second floor, making sure Tyler was a step behind him as they walked. Suddenly, nausea welled up in Robin's stomach, making him reach for the banister to keep his balance. Were the stairs swaying? It felt like walking on one of those trick stairs in a fun house.

"Are the stairs... moving?" he whispered to Tyler. The spooky environment compelled him to keep his voice down so whatever may be crawling inside the walls wouldn't hear.

"They do feel a bit unsteady," Tyler admitted, kicking lightly on the step in front of him to check its stability. "But I figured it was just my leg." He looked down toward his left leg, where he used a below-the-knee leg prosthetic. "I'm sure it's just... the wind," Tyler said, but his eyes betrayed another truth; he too, was starting to feel uneasy about their spooky surroundings.

While Robin wanted to take Tyler's hand and run far away, he also didn't want to give up on Tyler's dream of cake. So he decided to keep on going. "You're probably right," he agreed. "It's just the wind."

Keeping a firm grip on both the banister and Tyler's hand, Robin continued up the stairs. On the second floor, the light was even dimmer. The windows appeared darkened by some kind of sooth, allowing no light inside. After his eyes had adapted, Robin could make out a huge hall, overran with cobwebs and dust. Perhaps it was once a ballroom or auditorium. But now, broken chairs lay scattered on the floor and a once-magnificent chandelier had crash-landed on the parquet, creating a crater in the dark wood. On the furthest end of the room, a giant staircase--fit for the debutantes of olden days--spread out.

Before Robin could take in the scene, a sound from downstairs rattled the whole building. It wasn't a scream, roar, or growl but rather a mix of all of those things. It sounded like it was not of this world.

It sounded like it was out to get them.

Tyler acted before Robin, relying on his excellent reflexes from track training. He sprinted across the ballroom, pulling his not-as-athletic boyfriend with him. Tackling a fallen chair to the side, he created a hiding spot for both of them underneath a table.

"Get behind me," Tyler mumbled as they shuffled into the snug space. Once he was assured that Robin was safe, he peeked out between chair legs and cobwebs. "I don't see anything," he whispered. "But I think something might be down there."

Robin crawled up next to his boyfriend, putting a protective arm across his back. "We should be safe here." He hoped he was right.

Tyler nodded but he didn't seem fully assured. "How do we get out of here though?" he asked, having seemingly forgotten about the cake at the finish line. "If whatever is making that noise is down there, I mean?"

Trying to think of an answer--because that was his role in their relationship: Tyler was the idea man while Robin was the man with a plan--Robin looked around the dusty room. "Maybe... that way?" He pointed toward the cascading stairs, which led toward giant double doors. For all he knew, the devil himself may reside there, but it could also lead to... an outside patio with a fire escape that could rescue them from this hell house. Although continuing upward to get outside did sound counter-intuitive, Robin did like the idea of getting further away from whatever had made the otherworldly sound.

"Good idea, cutie," Tyler replied, fear still persistent in his eyes.

Before they could enact their plan, the noise reverberated through the house once again: "GRAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."

It was closer now. It must be right outside the windows of the second floor. Robin turned toward the blackened glass, to his horror observing the contours of something on the outside. Something big with wings. Something impossibly scary.

"Run!" Tyler screamed while Robin sat frozen in fear. As he rose, Tyler pressed his soft lips against Robin's, rattling him out of his paralysis. "Love you. Now come on, cutie."

Encouraged by his boyfriend's firm grip, Robin left the previously safe nest to sprint up the rickety stairs. But with only a few steps left, their escape came to a halt as Tyler's hand fell out of Robin's.

"Just run, Robby!" Tyler yelled, having stumbled during their hasty escape. "I'll be right behind."

There was no way Robin would do that. What was even the point of running without Tyler?

With noise intensifying from outside and flapping shadows of wings playing on the walls, Robin walked back toward the danger to crouch by his boyfriend's side. "What's the matter?" he asked, noticing that Tyler was fiddling with his pant leg.

"I think the socket has come loose," Tyler noted with panic in his voice. "But I can't fix that now. I need to adjust the sleeve underneath." As Tyler rolled up his pant leg it became clear that his residual leg wasn't suctioned into the cup of the prosthetic anymore. Which was an issue when it came to running, walking, or any kind of movement.

The noise from downstairs grew louder. It sounded like some kind of monster would jump out of the shadows and eat them at any moment.

"Come on," Robin said, putting his arm around Tyler's back. "I can help you the rest of the way. We'll be safe up there and we can look at your leg." He hoped he was right. Because if another monster lurked up there, there was nowhere left to run.

While supporting his boyfriend, who cautiously approached each step, Robin slowly but surely made his way to the double doors. He reached out his hand to open it. The knob didn't budge. It refused to allow them passage. Robin wiggled it back and forth in his grip, hoping to make it change its mind. And suddenly, with a satisfying click, it gave in.

Relieved but still terrified, the boys tumbled through the doors, finding themselves standing in a... cake shop?

The walls were painted pastel pink with gold accents and adorned with glossy prints of pastries: cupcakes with copious amounts of frosting, birthday cakes with colorful layers, and sandwiches with melting ice cream oozing out. A bar counter lined the shopping window and small round tables were scattered through the space. In a glass case stood row after row of mouth-watering creations, with cherries on top and whipped cream falling off the sides.

"Where did you come from?" A pink-haired man asked from the counter. He sported a well-trimmed beard and had gemstones glittering in both ears.

"Do-down there," Tyler pointed toward the stairs. While gazing around the sparkling surroundings, he took a deep breath, inhaling cake fumes to calm himself. "We're here for the scavenger hunt." Tyler limped toward the counter. It seemed he once again had regained his singular focus on cake.

"I figured." The man by the register, whose name tag said Noah, smiled. "I just thought you would come from there." He pointed toward a glass door that exited to a busy shopping street. "We don't really use the basement entrance."

Starting to find his bearings again, Robin looked out the window to realize the building was placed on a slope, allowing for entrance both from the first and third floors.

"The whole downstairs part is being remodeled into an event venue," Noah explained, fiddling with his spiral mustache. "For weddings and stuff like that. Then we can easily cater from here. Perfect for a cake shop! It won't be ready for quite a while though since no one has maintained it for years."

"Weddings you say..." Tyler looked toward the stairs to the ballroom. "Good to know, for the future, I mean." He flashed a smile toward Robin, whose heart did a loop in his chest. Was Tyler thinking of their future wedding?

"They're currently fixing the windows," Noah continued explaining. "It can get a bit noisy but since the shop hasn't officially opened yet--the race is part of the pre-promotion campaign--it's not too much of a bother."

Slowly, pieces started to come together in Robin's mind. The slithering entity in the grass outside could easily have been a water hose, the stairs may have swayed as scaffolding was put up, the sound of the monster may have been a high-pressure washer, and the winged creature looming outside the windows had perhaps been shadows of window cleaners who ran their scrapes against the dirty glass.

"So are we first?" Tyler asked impatiently, having seemingly already forgotten their torturous trek. "Do we win the cake?"

"Well, you escaped the confetti." Noah pointed toward a bucket fastened above the main door. "But I suppose first through any door goes! You are our official Pumpkin Cake Race Winners!" To salute their victory, he blew a party whistle.

"We won! Robby, we won!" Tyler bounced in place while also embracing Robin. "Argh!" he grumbled as his leg gave in on him, bending inward. He had seemingly forgotten the socket problem.

Robin caught his boyfriend just in time, steadying him by the hips. "You good?" he asked, placing a kiss on Tyler's forehead.

"I'm super," Tyler assured him. "I may have to sit down and fix this soon though."

Noah cleared his throat. "Anyway, I got some prizes for you." While Noah rummaged behind the counter, Robin led his boyfriend to a nearby chair.

"First there is this." Noah handed Robin a big box filled with party decorations, all in the same pink and gold that adorned the entire shop. "It's our own brand that we're about to release."

It seemed the issue of decorations for the Halloween party tomorrow was solved. It would be a very glossy Halloween.

"And then there is this." Having put down the first box, Robin was handed another, heavier box. He looked down to see dozens of trays filled with glittering cookies and sparkling cupcakes.

That solved the dilemma of what to serve their guests at the coming party, unless Tyler got to the sweet treats before then, of course.

"And last, but not least, we have the main prize." Noah turned to the fridge behind him and emerged with a platter on which a giant orange pumpkin with a wide smile was perched.

"Wow..." Tyler looked in amazement at the creation. His smile was as wide as the pumpkin's and as sweet as the frosting inside it. "Look at that cake, Robby! It's just like on TikTok!"

The End