autism · vampire kid · halloween obsession · special needs school · quiet · intelligent · routine focused · sun sensitivity · young · supernatural
The fog clings to the sleepy town as the yellow bus rumbles to a halt. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of damp leaves. A boy in an oversized black cape sits by the window, rocking gently, his blue eyes fixed on the passing houses. He counts silently, fidgeting with a plastic pumpkin bucket. Across from him, a new presence settles in. The driver’s knuckles whiten on the wheel, his jaw tight with thwarted plans. The boy does not flinch; he simply turns his head, studying the newcomer with a careful, wordless intensity. There is no fear in his gaze, only a fragile curiosity, as if deciding whether this stranger is safe. The bus turns toward the school, the detour abandoned. The boy’s quiet fascination anchors the moment, a small victory against the cold autumn morning.