Happy Valley.
As the sky gradually darkened, Happy Valley at night carried an even deeper layer of mystery. Overnight, the theme of the entire place seemed to shift. Under the neon lights, spiders, vampires passing by, zombies, and all sorts of monsters stood together in strange, imperfect harmony.
"Yoooo!! THIS!! This is exactly the FEELING I wanted!" May Miller shouted excitedly.
May was dressed in a devil cloak, devil makeup, and even wore two little demon horns. Her entire look was red-toned and wicked, and she looked delightfully sinister.
Chloe Frost hid behind Riley Palmer, clinging onto her carefully. She stared pale-faced at all the ghosts and monsters around them.
May, being extremely self-aware of Chloe's fear level, dressed Chloe up as a small deer. Two fluffy antlers and a tiny tail behind her actually matched Chloe almost too perfectly.
May nodded with satisfaction at her own creation.
She knew Chloe's courage level extremely well so she had purposely chosen a harmless deer set for her. Innocent round eyes, a tiny cute nose, a blush on her cheeks, some irregular freckles May was truly proud of her masterpiece.
Then May looked to the side.
Two fluffy ears. Round tail. Big bright eyes.
A PERFECT Bunny Cop stood directly in front of her.
"Riley, you and the bunny theme are like a perfect match."
May shot Riley a big thumbs up.
Riley looked around awkwardly, constantly scanning her surroundings, clearly uncomfortable.
"Excuse me… could we take a picture together?"A girl dressed as a fluffy little lamb suddenly tapped Riley on the shoulder.
Riley jumped from the sudden touch.
"Uh… s-sure…" she answered slowly after recovering.
May naturally took the phone from her to help them take the picture.
"See? I told you. Very cute."
May rubbed Riley's bunny ears as she spoke.
Not far away, under the shadow of a tree… a few monster silhouettes quietly stood watching.
"Adrian, is that the future sister-in-law? So cute."Caleb Montgomery quietly peeked from behind the tree.
Standing behind him, Leonard Sterling watched Caleb praising others, and there was a silent ripple of emotion in Leonard's heart.
"Cute, huh?" There was a slight forced tone in his voice.
Caleb didn't notice at all and just kept praising.
"She's VERY cute. You, ice-cold emotionless statue… don't understand beauty."
Leonard glanced sideways at Caleb without much expression.
"Let's go. Adrian, we should go over."
Caleb strode out first in big confident steps toward the girls.
Caleb, with his chainsaw-prop head, tapped the extremely timid Chloe on the shoulder.
Chloe froze on the spot instantly and gripped Riley's hand desperately tighter.
"R-Riley… I think… someone tapped me…"
Riley casually looked back, her relaxed expression slowly disappearing…
Her words froze halfway.
"Riley?" May asked suspiciously, turning back with her.
"AH!" May was startled so badly she stepped backwards immediately.
Chloe barely peeked back for one second, froze then instantly speed-walked forward with stiff steps.
"Chloe!! Chloe!!" May quickly chased after her.
"Hi… Bunny Cop beauty?" Caleb awkwardly greeted what remained of the scene.
Riley still froze stiffly she looked at the chainsaw prop… then the tall zombie behind him holding a huge club.
Completely stiff. Her mouth moved on its own
"This bag is yours. My figure is average anyway. Please go find someone else. I beg you. Just spare me."
Caleb burst out laughing.
"Adrian, your little neighbor is… seriously adorable."
Caleb looked back at Adrian Carter.
Adrian Carter had already switched positions with Caleb when Riley opened her eyes again.
"Little neighbor?"Adrian leaned down slightly, looking at her.
Riley heard that familiar voice, slowly lifted her eyes and a perfectly sculpted, authoritative face came into view.Those fox-like eyes blinked at her… fluffy fox ears on his head looked incredibly soft to touch.
Adrian tilted his head slightly, studying the stunned little Bunny Cop in front of him.
"Riley Palmer?"
Riley snapped back to reality. "Ah, yeah." She shook her head quickly.
"It's you."
Caleb stood off to the side, secretly using Leonard Sterling's phone to snap a picture of their close posture.
"PERFECT MATCH.""One Bunny Cop… one Fox Trickster.""You two are literally made to be a pair. Right, Leonard?"
Leonard glanced at them lightly."…Mm."
"That's enough," Adrian spoke calmly.
Caleb put the phone away, then dragged Leonard away with him.
"Leonard, come on. Let's go take pictures somewhere else."
Leonard let himself be pulled off, still a little confused at Caleb's enthusiasm.
Caleb waved his hand toward Adrian as they walked, signaling him to hurry up and not ruin the moment.
Adrian stared at them, speechless for a second… then shifted his gaze downward at the small girl beside him, she was anxiously dialing her phone.
"What's wrong?"
Riley's voice carried clear worry.
"I got separated from my friends…"
"Why aren't they picking up…"
Her short legs kept pacing little circles near him.
Adrian stood quietly next to her, patient.
"Let me help you look inside?" he offered.
Riley hesitated. "I don't feel right making you do that… you still have your friends to hang out with."
Adrian motioned behind him.
"Pretty sure I was abandoned."
Riley looked at his fox tail her eyes sparkled instantly.
"…Okay."
The two wandered aimlessly into the crowd.
Riley stood on tiptoe curiously, trying to look at something further ahead.
"Hold still."
Adrian's voice brushed her ear.
The next second, Adrian lifted her neatly onto his shoulder, so she could see above the crowd.
"What do you see?"
Just as he spoke...
"You! Little girl up there!"
Someone inside the crowd pointed at Riley.
Riley blinked, confused, pointing at herself.
Adrian looked at the crowd curiously and slowly set her back down.
People parted to form a pathway for them.
Riley and Adrian walked forward awkwardly as dozens of eyes stared at them.
"Congratulations, you two have been selected to participate in tonight's challenge! Please listen carefully to the rules."
"Soon, our staff will hand you two large cups of beer."
"Among them, one is real beer, and one is non-alcoholic butter beer."
"As long as you both finish within the time limit, the giant plush behind me is yours."
Adrian's brows tightened slightly.Beer meant alcohol… and he wasn't sure which one would be real.
He was about to decline.But seeing Riley's bright sparkling eyes staring at the giant plush, he shut his mouth.
"Adrian… let's try it?"Riley tugged the corner of his clothes, looking up at him.
Adrian lost himself for a moment in her eyes.
"…Alright."
"We'll do it."
Riley instantly looked toward the mascot, thrilled.
The staff placed two huge cups of beer in front of them.
"You ready?"
Riley and Adrian both gave a thumbs up.
"Challenge begins! Three minutes!"
Adrian took a sip, then glanced toward Riley with worry.Hers was the real beer.
She nearly couldn't handle it. Adrian reached over, holding her hand instinctively.
He expected her to push him away, but maybe the alcohol was already taking effect, because Riley interlocked their fingers instead.
Adrian froze for a second, then hurriedly finished his butter beer.His eyes stayed on her with deep worry.
"Don't force yourself," he whispered near her ear.
Riley pressed his hand back, telling him not to worry.
"Ten seconds left! Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four!"
Riley slammed the bell.
Her steps wobbled slightly.
"Congratulations! You succeeded!"
The mascot handed a giant plush nearly as tall as Riley herself to Adrian.
"Let's take a picture together!"
Adrian was about to reject, but Riley grabbed him first.
"Sure!"
Her face was flushed like a heated little bunny. She leaned closer beside him and made a peace sign.
Click.
The freshly printed photo slid out of the instant camera.
Adrian took the photo and the sight of Riley leaning on his shoulder without guard made the corner of his lips curve upward unconsciously.
She steps turned unsteady, Adrian helped support her onto a chair.
He crouched down on one knee, watching her hazy expression.
"Riley Palmer?"
She blinked at him slowly, head swaying. "Mmh."
Adrian gently cupped her cheek.
"Hey, Bunny Cop… you still know who I am?"
Riley smiled, leaned sideways a little, eyes curved like crescents.
"Of course. You're… the little fox."
She looped her arms loosely around his neck and whispered near his ear.
"My little fox."
Adrian's ears turned bright red as he froze for a moment.
A sudden whistle cut through the air...
Whoosh—Boom!
Brilliant fireworks exploded above them.
Adrian gently patted the little girl leaning on his shoulder.
"Riley… look. Fireworks."
"…Riley?"
He looked down. The girl in his arms had fallen completely silent, already asleep.
Adrian let out a helpless, soft laugh.
"Alright… let's go home."
He lifted her onto his back, holding her legs securely with one hand, and the giant plush in the other. He didn't complain once. He simply walked quietly, letting the rhythm of the fireworks match the quiet rhythm of his heart.
He placed Riley carefully into the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and looked at her lips for a moment.His heart skipped, he placed a hand against his chest, forcing himself to breathe out, calming whatever flame had surged up inside him.
He closed the door gently and stood outside for a few seconds, letting the cold air settle him.
Then he got into the car and drove away from Happy Valley.
Buzz Buzz—
[Adrian, where did you go?] Caleb texted.
Adrian glanced at the message while waiting at a red light.
[Heading back.]
He looked at the girl sleeping beside him, restless in her sleep.He took off his jacket and draped it gently over her body.
Riley subconsciously leaned into the warmth, nuzzling into the jacket.
Adrian turned the heater on slightly.
Outside their apartment complex.
Adrian carried her all the way back, standing at the entrance of their two apartments. He hesitated for a second, then asked softly.
"Riley? Riley?"
She turned her head slightly. "mmh…"and immediately fell back asleep again.
Adrian smiled helplessly.
"You chose this."
Beep beep beep.The lock to his place opened.
He placed her onto his bed gently.
Just as he turned around. Riley suddenly reached out and grabbed onto his fox tail prop.
"Mmm… so fluffy… so cute…"
His face flushed instantly.He grabbed the bottle of water on his nightstand and downed it in one go, but it still didn't cool the rising heat in his chest.
He loosened his tie slowly, trying to breathe.
"Riley… let go, okay?"
His shirt was slightly open, and Riley sat up groggily, her gaze lingering on him, dazed, unfiltered, affectionate in a way that was almost dangerous.
Her fingers brushed lightly against him with soft curiosity and innocent interest.
Adrian stood still, frozen by her closeness, his hand covering his mouth, his face growing even redder.
The atmosphere between them shifted, their distance shrinking naturally without anyone intentionally forcing it.
He leaned in slightly.
"Riley… you still know who I am?"
Riley's arms wrapped loosely around his neck.
"You're… Adrian Carter."
He stared at her for a long moment, his gaze deepening uncertainty mixed with desire and fear of crossing a line that might change everything between them.
Just as he hesitated, Riley leaned forward and pressed a soft, brief kiss on his lips.
A small smile followed on her face.
That one small kiss, broke the restraint holding him back.
His heart surged, and the night slowly swept both of them into the kind of closeness that no longer needed words.
Later...when everything had quieted again.
Adrian gently wrapped his arms around the girl beside him, kissed her forehead lightly, and whispered...
"This time… you're not running away anymore."