Chapter 124: Creeper's Finale- 1

The stage, which had earlier hosted several performances, was suddenly interrupted as the host spoke in a mysterious tone, announcing the main event of the festival.

Behind her, three individuals stood, seemingly engaged in a tense conversation.

After receiving a signal from the host, a fat man with a long beard stepped forward, holding a glass fishbowl shaped like a pumpkin, filled with numerous cards.

"Now, it's time to choose the Chosen Ones! The grand prize… is BARNABETT HOUSE!"

A smirk appeared on the host's face as she gestured to the woman standing beside the fat man, urging her to draw a card from the bowl to select the lucky winners who would experience the grand prize.

As she made the announcement, the screen behind her displayed an eerie image of an old house, enhanced by special effects that gave it a haunted appearance.

The event name flickered in bold, ghostly letters across the screen.

With that, the selection process began.

Shake~ Shake~

The fat man reached into the glass bowl, pulled out a single card, and adjusted his spectacles to read the number.

"Number 514!"

he announced loudly, holding up the card for the audience to see.

"OHHH!"

"BOOO!"

A mix of cheers and disappointment erupted from the crowd—some clapped and encouraged the lucky winner, while others booed playfully, frustrated that they hadn't been chosen.

"Oh my God! It's me… but how is this possible? I never—"

Laine stared at the matching number on her card in shock.

She hadn't even entered her name for the Creeper-themed escape house! Before she could voice her confusion, Chase cut her off mid-sentence.

"All right, baby! 514 is us!"

Grinning excitedly, Chase shot his hand into the air and shouted toward the event organizers, claiming their unexpected win.

Clap~ Clap~

The audience responded with cheers and applause, encouraging the couple to take the stage.

Laine hesitated, her words catching in her throat as she turned to Chase.

He looked as excited as a kid on Christmas morning.

With a sigh, she swallowed her doubts and let him pull her along toward the stage.

Meanwhile, Jojo's eyes narrowed as he exchanged a glance with Klaus, who was positioned near the couple.

"It's her. She's the one the Creeper is after,"

Alice murmured discreetly, her voice barely audible as she pulled Jojo closer.

Her sharp gaze never left Laine and Chase, who were now following the host backstage.

Jojo gave a small nod in response before subtly signaling Klaus again, confirming their suspicions.

Klaus's expression darkened slightly, but he nodded in understanding.

Without a word, he slipped into the shadows, quietly following the couple.

Backstage, he observed as a small film crew—assembled by the event organizers—set up cameras to record the couple's experience inside the Creeper-themed escape house, making them the first participants of the night.

Little did they know, they weren't just entering an attraction.

They were walking straight into a trap.

Both Laine and Chase were mingling with the crew, but one could tell Laine was burning with jealousy.

Across from her, Carrie was openly flirting with Chase, laughing at his jokes and playfully touching his arm.

Chase, who was completely oblivious, continued chatting excitedly with her, discussing his expectations for the Creeper-themed escape house.

Thud~

While Klaus stood near the entrance, keeping an eye on the crew, someone suddenly bumped into him.

"____"

"Sorry, man! I'm in a hurry..."

A tall, lean man with a camera in one hand smiled apologetically, adjusting his grip on the equipment.

Noticing the camera, Klaus immediately understood—this was the influencer the crew had been waiting for.

A dangerous idea flickered through his mind.

Glare~

With a subtle smirk, Klaus compelled the influencer, his voice smooth and commanding.

"You're exhausted. Go to your room and get some rest."

The light in the influencer's eyes dimmed, his expression turning vacant.

Without hesitation, he handed over the camera to Klaus and started walking away, leaving the tent in a dazed state.

Sigh~

"Who would've thought I'd end up as a cameraman?"

Klaus muttered, examining the camera in his hand before casually making his way toward the crew, seamlessly blending in.

Outside, Jojo and the others regrouped at the edge of the crowd, discussing their next move. They had finally identified the girl Creeper was after.

Meanwhile, the stage crew was busy preparing for the next event—a DJ performance.

Workers moved frantically, setting up lighting rigs and sound equipment.

"I just got word from Klaus—he's infiltrated the crew, disguised as the influencer,"

Freya informed the group, her expression neutral.

Pfft~

Jojo couldn't hold back his laughter, and a moment later, Elijah joined in, clearly amused by their brother's latest stunt.

The idea of Klaus pretending to be an influencer—holding a camera, engaging with an audience, and attempting to create content—was just too ridiculous.

"Since Freya can track Klaus in case we lose sight of the van, let's follow them,"

Jojo said, shaking his head with an amused smirk before his expression turned serious once more.

He had no doubt.

The van was heading straight for Creeper's hideout—where his true body was waiting.

BOOM!

Just as they were about to leave the Horror Hound Festival, a loud crash echoed through the venue.

"____"

"____"

"____"

The lights flickered violently before shutting off completely.

For a brief moment, silence fell over the festival.

People glanced around in confusion, wondering why the DJ had suddenly stopped playing.

Cough~

"Everybody! It's time for the electrifying beat!"

The DJ's voice boomed through the speakers as he switched to backup power, flooding the area with flashing neon lights and blasting a new song.

The crowd quickly forgot the disruption, throwing their hands up and dancing as if nothing had happened.

But for Jojo and his group, it was a different story.

They had heard the crash clearly, their enhanced hearing picking up the disturbance even over the loud music.

James, still a newbie, winced in discomfort, his senses overwhelmed by the blaring bass and flashing lights.

Jojo's gaze darkened.

"Let's go."

Without hesitation, he hurried toward the source of the noise, determined to uncover what had caused the explosion.

Something wasn't right.

And he had a bad feeling about it.

When they arrived, they saw it—the same old rusted truck that the Creeper used.

But this time, it had crashed into a signal tower and a nearby transformer, sparks still flickering from the damaged metal.

"Holy shit… it's him."

Darry's breath hitched as he stared at the all-too-familiar vehicle.

He would never forget that truck, no matter how many years passed.

Click~

A clicking sound echoed through the tense silence.

"____"

The door of the damaged truck creaked open.

And then—the Creeper stepped out.

But the moment its predatory eyes locked onto Jojo, it froze.

For the first time, the monster hesitated.

"Oh my god..."

Addison staggered backward, her face pale with fear.

She had seen the Creeper before—when it attacked the school bus—but this was different.

Up close, the grotesque details of its face, the inhuman hunger in its eyes, made her shudder.

"____"

But Gaylen was different.

She didn't flinch.

Instead, her gaze burned with hatred.

This thing—this monster—was the reason her son was dead.

The cause of so much suffering.

She wanted nothing more than to tear it apart, to make it suffer the way she had.

Without wasting time, the Creeper lunged, yanking open the truck's door and reaching for the massive hammer inside.

Puff~

But it never got the chance.

With a burst of hellfire, Jojo transformed.

The Ghost Rider stood where Jojo had been—his body wreathed in flames of vengeance, his skull burning like a beacon of death.

Thud~

In a flash, he closed the distance, slamming the truck door shut with a brutal kick—trapping the Creeper's hand inside.

AHHHHH~

The Creeper let out a piercing shriek, its fingers crushed between the rusted metal.

With burning eyes, it snarled in rage, swinging its free elbow toward the Ghost Rider's flaming skull.

Thud~

But Ghost Rider was faster.

He blocked the strike effortlessly and slammed the Creeper's head into the truck with brute force.

Screech!

He didn't stop there.

He dragged the Creeper's face across the jagged rusted metal, the sharp edges tearing through its flesh as it thrashed in pain.

"DIE."

RAAAAAAA~

With a furious roar, Ghost Rider grabbed the Creeper's head, forcing it onto its knees.

The hellfire in his hands flared—its searing heat consuming the monster's face.

AHHHH~

The Creeper screamed as its flesh burned away, its body twitching violently before finally collapsing—lifeless.

Its head crumbled into ashes.

RAAAA~

Ghost Rider threw his head back and unleashed a blast of hellfire, incinerating the Creeper's puppet body until nothing remained but smoldering embers.

Puff~

With a final burst of black smoke, the flames died down, and Jojo returned to his human form.

There was no time to celebrate.

They still had a bigger mission.

Without hesitation, the group rushed back to their car, following the fading tire tracks left behind by the van—the one heading straight for the horror-themed escape house.

The place where Creeper's true form was waiting.

And this time, they were going to end it.

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************

(Author's POV)

(A/N): 

Thanks for reading the chapter!

Please give a review and power stone!!!