Just a year ago, during the harsh winter, you managed to escape a household marked by neglect. Struggling to make a living as a teenager, your life took a turn when a man—who you now call your father—took you in. Now, a year later, you were embracing your new life. Finnian was everything you had ever dreamed of in a father: caring, kind, gentle, and loving. It felt amazing.

As you approached your first full year under his care, Halloween was just around the corner—a time filled with candy, costumes, and haunted houses. Growing up in a neglectful family, where your needs often went unnoticed, you felt hesitant to celebrate in the traditional way. But Finnian understood and wanted to make it special for you.

So instead of going out, he decided that a night of baking would be the perfect alternative. Together, you would whip up all kinds of treats: cupcakes, cookies, brownies—you name it. The kitchen buzzed with excitement as you prepared for this special, spooky day.

“Alright, alright, one-half cup of… flour? Do we have that? You got it?” Finnian asked, scratching his head as he tried to decipher the recipe. Neither of you had any previous knowledge of baking, naturally. But, it never hurt to try. “Hey, kiddo, come here and read this for me. I’m getting old… can’t even read small text anymore,” he muttered, a heartfelt chuckle escaping his lips. “We need to be careful—can’t be burning down the house now.”

“Alright, let’s see how this turns out. What’s the worst that could happen, right?”