Hidden between groves of tall and cumbersome pine trees was Salem’s oldest and most glorious cemetery, the Skelemoanian. So grand and elaborate was the Skelemoanian that it was more than a cemetery; it was a necropolis, a city of the dead, littered with towering tombs, ornately carved mausoleums, and elaborate underground crypts. It had been built centuries earlier by Skelen Moania, an ostentatious zombie who believed that in life, death, and the afterlife, one ought never hold back. Therefore, traditional understated headstones were few and far between at the Skelemoanian. Those that did exist had been worn down by years of rain and heavy foot traffic and were now mere nubs peeping through the grass.

Shrouded in shadows both day and night, the Skelemoanian was as creepy as it was spectacular. A design flaw in Skelen Moania’s own family mausoleum had resulted in a faint but eerie whistle. Although it was merely the noise of wind passing through cracks in the marble structure, it sounded like someone whispering, or, when the wind was strong, wailing.

On the night of the fateful Homecoffin, the wind was light, creating only the faintest hiss. So feeble was the sound that it was rather annoying, like a fly buzzing in one’s ear.

The trek from campus through the dense pine forest was as uncomfortable as it was tense. Robecca, Venus, Rochelle, and you not only had to navigate through branches, birds, and a wide variety of insects while dressed in werewolf costumes (lifted from the Wolfler on the Roof production), but you had to do so without being noticed.

For if you were to be caught now, on the precipice of taking down Miss Flapper, all would truly be lost. There was no safety net to protect you or the town of Salem should you fail. Of this fact you were all painfully aware, none more so than Rochelle.

As a gargoyle, Rochelle prided herself on calm, calculated thinking that allowed her to assess every possible outcome of a scenario. This was an ability she had always relished, as she believed it kept her and those around her safe. On this night, however, Rochelle would have liked nothing more than to be lost in naive optimism, heading into battle without the consequences of failure so clear in her mind.

But alas, such naïveté was impossible. Rochelle was a gargoyle, a creature burdened with both a heavy body and a heavy mind.

Venus: Rochelle, can you try to walk a little more softly?

She was clearly worried that the gargoyle’s gait would attract attention.

Rochelle: Zut, I am trying, but tiptoeing is not something that comes naturally to gargoyles. There is a reason we are often said to have two lead feet.

Venus: Use your wings!

Y/N: They make even more noise.

From behind Venus a large cloud of steam passed by, the product of Robecca’s frazzled nerves.

Robecca: Deary me, I can’t seem to calm down. I’m like a bat on a hot tin roof back here!

Y/N: I hear singing! Quick, duck!

You pulled Robecca to the ground.

For once, you were grateful for the relentless crooning of the pumpkin heads. Dressed in their finest attire, the posse of orange-headed creatures jovially made their way through the dense woods. Once the high-pitched voices had disappeared into the night, you started to pick yourself up off the ground, but Venus grabbed your arm and shook her head. You didn’t hear anything. As a matter of fact, no one, including Venus, heard anything. She had, however, picked up the faint smell of body odor mixed with cologne and hair product.

This could mean only one thing, trolls.

Within minutes, the sound of their craggily clawed feet marching in formation could be heard and even felt. So it was hardly a surprise when a troop of ten stomped past, but it was terribly shocking to see Miss Sue Nami among them, dressed in the same navy-and-red uniform as the others. While never your friend, she had been a reliable and stable presence during their short time at Monster High, and seeing her devoid of her normal biting individuality was nothing short of disheartening.

By the time Rochelle, Venus, Robecca, and you had made it through the forest to the edge of the cemetery, you were all a frizzy-furred mess from both Robecca’s steam and the assault of tree branches you had endured. Whatever lingering illusions you held that this undertaking would be either easy or fast dissipated at the sight of the elaborate security surrounding the Skelemoanian. So impressive was the line of defense that one might have been forgiven for thinking that the King of Skeletons or some other head of state was in attendance.

The perimeter was a literal wall of trolls, each facing outward, looking for possible agitators or enemies of the Flap.

Robecca: Heavens to Betsy! However are we going to sneak past them?

Y/N: We’re covered head to toe in werewolf fur. We’re more likely to be noticed sneaking in than just walking through the main entrance. But you’re going to have to do your best to control the steam, because it’s pretty much a dead giveaway.

Rochelle: We’d better get started.

Rochelle pulled a small glass jar from her bag.

The thin gray-and-yellow snake slept peacefully in the container, totally unaware of the fate that awaited it.

Rochelle: I must admit, I feel rather guilty zombifying this creature without its permission. I don’t imagine that such behavior is condoned by the Gargoyle Code of Ethics.

Y/N: Here, hand me the vial. My code of ethics is flexiable.

You took a thin glass tube filled with green fluid and small balls of Camembert cheese from Rochelle.

Y/N: And the lighter?

You held the flame to the glass until the cheese balls had melted and the liquid was bubbling furiously.

Y/N: Let’s hope this snake has a good sense of smell.

You then slowly lowered a dropper into the reptile’s jar. Utterly uninterested, the yellow-and-gray snake did not so much as move its head.

Venus: It’s probably lactose intolerant and hates cheese!

Robecca: No, wait! Look!

The snake abruptly whipped its head back and attempted to drink from the dropper.

Having emptied the entire contents of the vial into the snake’s mouth, the four of you waited anxiously for any sign of zombification.

Rochelle: How are we supposed to tell if it’s moving slower if it’s not moving at all?

Y/N: Its skin, it’s turning dull and ashen. And look at its eyes! They’re all bloodshot.

Robecca: Should we check its pulse, just to make sure?

Y/N: I don’t think that’s necessary. It’s time. We need to move.
---------------
At exactly 11:50 PM, your quartet approached the main entrance, next to which stood a large limestone statue of Skelen Moania. Rather disturbingly, the sculpture was adorned in a floor-length pink Scaremès gown, a pair of delicately crafted wings, and a red wig in Miss Flapper’s honor.

Rochelle: What a shameful waste of couture.

Rochelle grumbled to yourself as she came upon the first group of uniform-clad trolls.

Y/N: Remember, if anyone asks, we’re Clawdeen’s cousins from the poorly groomed side of the family.

The sensation of being watched weighed heavily on each of them as they passed through the channel of trolls. Venus and Rochelle were able to control their anxiety, but Robecca could not. The ghoul suddenly felt itchy, as if her gears were battling against the oppressive werewolf costume. And though she was able to stop herself from scratching, the suppression of the urge resulted in terrible shaking. Why, it almost appeared as though the ghoul were having a seizure.

Next to you, the wisps of steam exiting Robecca’s nose intensified, growing stronger by the second. Unfortunately, the harder she tried to calm down, the tenser she became, in turn causing more steam to escape.

Troll: What in your nose?

You all stopped and Robecca immediately tried to hide behind you, whispering.

Robecca: In the name of the flea’s sneeze, I do believe I’ve ruined it all.

Troll: Call the Nami!

You looked around as more trolls began to look your way. You began to reach for your bracelet, but you were saved.

Troll: No. It normal for werewolf.

When Venus looked back at him in surprise, she recognized her friend with the red nose. He nodded and you were all allowed to pass.

Homecoffin was nothing like what you’d expected, not that any of you really knew what to expect. Instead of music and laughter, a literal wave of whispers washed over their ears. The sound was just as you had described it: akin to the hissing of a thousand snakes.

Huddled between moss-covered mausoleums and crypts, monsters were devotedly whispering in one another’s ears. The four of you wandered through the crowds, carefully avoiding eye contact for fear of being recognized.

Near the middle of the Skelemoanian, they discovered an elaborately built gold stage on which Miss Flapper stood like a queen greeting the masses. Dressed in a fabulous handcrafted black-and-gold frock, she was undeniably beautiful.

Y/N: Time check?

The gargoyle swiftly pulled out her iCoffin.

Rochelle: Three minutes and twenty-two seconds until midnight.

Y/N: Remember, as long as we do not diverge from the plan, we have at least a fifty percent chance of success.

Rochelle: I put us closer to forty-three point five percent.

Y/N: Confidence, please.

The four of you then patted one another on the backs and split in three different directions. Because of Robecca’s notorious time issues, you accompanied her. Plus, you couldn’t have left her side in the midst of all these monstrous maniacs.

Consumed with unbridled terror and spurred by a rush of adrenaline, the friends took their positions at the sides of the stage. At this point, Robecca experienced a momentary understanding of time. For as she and you watched your iCoffins, waiting for the planned moment to strike, her mind did not wander for one second.

Rochelle was first to act, at exactly 11:59:30, climbing atop a crypt and then flinging her granite body onto the stage. As expected, this deed garnered her the attention of a nearby troll. Without a second to spare, she broke into a mad dash. Though she moved at her customary slow speed, she felt fast on her feet for the first time in her life.

In reality, though, she was only an inch from being captured, when she thrust her body around Miss Flapper’s feet, anchoring the teacher to the platform.

The trolls, now in a flurry, swarmed around the four friends. Venus unleashed a sneeze attack, spraying the approaching trolls with thick orange pollen. Robecca employed a similar tactic and steamed the trolls, aiming her vapors up their noses, instantly bringing them to their knees.

Y/N: It’s time!

You quickly acted in flinging the snake around Miss Flapper’s thin ivory neck.

Robecca then quickly steamed the dainty dragon in the eye, prompting her to scream uproariously. At which point you simply dumped the teaspoon of ground Fernish Bush into Miss Flapper’s open mouth.

Miss Flapper: Attack! Traitors!

Her cries sent Fernish Bush flying everywhere.

Y/N: No! She’s losing powder!

Venus’s tightly curled vines fought Miss Flapper’s delicate but strong hands.

Rochelle held on to Miss Flapper’s thin legs, her claws accidentally shredding the bottom of the deranged dragon lady’s couture dress.

Rochelle: I feel terrible, this fabric is fangtastique!

Rochelle was mumbling to herself when she suddenly noticed the strange sound of silence.

All activity in the cemetery had ground to a halt, the monsters and trolls standing eerily still, almost frozen. While gazing dumbstruck at the crowd, Rochelle slowly let go of the now stationary Miss Flapper and stood up.

Rochelle: Regardez! Everything’s stopped.

Robecca: What does this mean?

Steam was dribbling out of both her ears.

Venus: Maybe we did something wrong.

You surveyed the mass of motionless monsters, all sporting looks of deep confusion.

Venus: Oh no! What did we do to them? Did we make it worse?

Venus' vines were quivering under the stress of the situation.

Just then a light wave of whispers began to cut through the crowd. The formerly still monsters started yawning, rubbing their eyes, and stretching.

Y/N: I think they’re waking up!

The whispering grew loud and boisterous as the bewildered crowd roused to consciousness.

Clawdeen: Where am I?

Deuce: What’s happening?

Draculaura: How did I get here?

Venus: It worked!

Venus cheered loudly, jumping up and down. Not to be outdone by a bit of jumping, Robecca flipped on her boots and soared gloriously into the air. So spectacular and daring were her aerial maneuvers that the confused monsters were momentarily distracted. For a few seconds, they weren’t wondering why their brains felt fuzzy; they were merely marveling at the great talent of one of their own.

Robecca: In the name of the bee’s knees, I do believe we’re free!

Robecca shouted joyfully before her feet once again touched the ground.

Frankie: Free from what? I don’t understand what we’re all doing here.

Frankie started rubbing her tired green forehead.

Mr. D'eath: Hey, where’s Miss Flapper? We’re supposed to be on a date.

Mr. D’eath groaned with understandable disappointment. Before Robecca, Venus, or Rochelle could answer, Cleo de Nile stormed through the crowd, seething with rage.

Cloe: Wait a minute! Is this Homecoffin? Why am I dressed in such a hideous outfit? Is this some kind of joke?

The Egyptian princess whined while looking down at her brown corduroy dress with a ferret’s face embroidered on the front.

Bloodgood: Students, let me explain.

Y/N: With all due respect, Headmistress, you can’t explain. You haven’t a clue what’s happened here.

She looked at you, only to see concern in your eyes. She took a second before she nodded.

Bloodgood: Well, I can’t say that surprises me. Perhaps we should ask Miss Sue Nami instead?

Miss Sue Nami: Ma’am, I am unfortunately incapable of remembering anything that has transpired. It’s all fuzzy and vague, like a dream I can’t quite recall.

Clawdeen: That’s weird. The last thing I can recall is Miss Flapper too.

This inadvertently setting off a chain of Miss Flapper memories among the monsters. Soon all eyes had turned to the elegant teacher, who was still standing in the middle of the makeshift stage.

Jackson: What did you do to us?!

More and more students started to grow angry and shouted at the teacher. You smiled, glad that they were now freed from their mind control. However, that joy was soon extinguished when you heard a low growl.

You looked to Miss Flapper who had her hands clenched and her nose twitching. You took a step back as Miss Flipper began to huff. Smoke escaped her nose and she began to turn towards you.

Miss Flapper: You. You.

Y/N: Uh-oh.

Miss Flapper: You should've shut up and let me whisper in your ear. I knew you would be trouble.

You and the others began to step back as Miss Flapper began to grow with a hutch. Her wings began to expand and her beautiful appearance soon began to change to that of a grotesque creature. Her claws were now larger than her hands originally were and you all watched as she rose to her full size.

Miss Flapper: You will be the first normie to die in my crusade against your kind!

She was now a full blown dragon that was the size of the dance floor. You all looked at her before Robecca leaned towards you.

Robecca: You ever slay a dragon before?

You only grinned.

Y/N: Once or twice.

You suddenly straightened your arm, dropping what looked to be a rod out from your sleeve. You then reached behind yourself and pulled something out if your pants, connecting it to the rod. You pointed the staff at Ms. Flapper, activating it to reveal that it was an ax.

Clawdeen: Hey, yo! Do you always have that on you?!

Y/N: You never know.

Miss Flapper let out a roar and immediately moved to attack. Robecca and Rochelle flew up while you and Venus stayed low and lunged forward. You ran forward as many of the students began to run to safety.

Y/N: We need to stop her from crashing everything down!

Venus: On it!

Venus placed her hands on the ground and closed her eyes. Vines suddenly began to sprout and grow from the stage, wrapping around Miss Flapper as she screamed out.

Miss Flapper: Unhand me!

She lifted her head and let out a ball of fire into the sky, narrowly missing Rochelle and Robecca. You hopped on one of the vines and began to run up it with your ax at the ready.

Y/N: Give me a boost!

Robecca flew down just as you leaped up. Robecca cupped her hands and waited for your foot to land before launching you up even more. You grinned as you flipped around before your ax slammed into Miss Flapper's scales.

Your friends cheered for you as Miss Flapper thrashed around. You pulled your ax free and quickly avoided her bite before swinging again, landing a hit onto her shoulder.

You slipped and started to fall, but Rochelle caught you. Though, maybe you would've perfered the wooden stage. Being caught by a Gargoyle wasn't exactly...soft.

Y/N: Put me back in, coach.

Rochelle threw you right back towards Miss Flapper and you managed to get another swipe in, making Miss Flapper cry out.

Miss Flapper: Enough! Please! I yield! I yield!

You landed on the stage and looked at the dragon as she slowly reverted to her original form. She shrunk down until she was on her hands and knees, her dress now ruined and her makeup was all over the place. Her hair was even in her eyes, making her look more like a homeless woman than the elegant woman everyone was used to.

She looked up as you, Rochelle, Venus, and Robecca surrounded her. You rested your ax on your shoulders, your hands draping over it, and smiled.

Y/N: Checkmate.
-----------------
Miss Sue Nami herded Sylphia Flapper, along with the rest of the students and faculty, into the Vampitheater so that Venus, Robecca, Rochelle, and you could explain the madness that had ensued in the prior weeks.

Everyone gasped at the stories, and Miss Flapper collapsed into a heap of tears, the likes of which no one had ever seen. The dainty woman shook violently as she sobbed, clearly horrified by her actions. She claimed that she too had been under a spell that had forced her to act in such horrid ways.

You quickly suggested she be arrested by the proper authorities.

In the days that followed, Monster High fell back into its normal routine, albeit with more homework. The era of whispering had left the students behind in their studies, forcing them to learn twice as much as usual just to catch up. Dr. Clamdestine, Mr. Hack, and the other teachers even took to offering study sessions on the weekends.

And following an intense debate, Headmistress Bloodgood and Miss Sue Nami decided to keep the elderly trolls on, as they were rather good at maintaining order. Plus, there was nowhere else for them to go.

In the aftermath of the disturbing occurrence, there was a sincerely heartening development: The students and faculty pulled together, determined to get their lives and their school back to normal.

But, that wasn't the only change.

Bloodgood: I think this would be the best option for you. Both of you.

You and Abbey sat at the table with Bloodgood as she explained the situation to you.

Bloodgood: My job is to protect you both. I failed.

Y/N: Yeah, but it wasn't your fault.

Abbey: Many of us were mind whispered. It could've happened to anyone.

Bloodgood: Still, your guardians expected me to keep you safe. With this new arrangement, you both will be better off and safer.

Abbey was moving into the dorms, but you were moving somewhere else. To a new home with a new family.

What family was this, you ask?

Draculaura: Roomie!

Draculaura hugged you as you stood in front of her house. Her father, the Dracula, watched you from the porch. You awkwardly smiled, unsure how you felt about this living arrangement.

Would you have to start drinking blood? Eating salads? You need meat. Meat!

Dracula: She can show you to your room.

He turned and walked back into the house. Draculaura grabbed your hand and immediately lead you inside.
-------------
Two weeks after Homecoffin, however, a DeadEx arrived for you. By this time, even Rochelle, Robecca, and Venus had all but given up on finding out who or what was behind the great monster whisper. Life as they knew it was back to normal. Until you all opened the DeadEx, that is….

They will come back to Monster High, as they have here. You must be vigilant in your watch.

—Signore Vitriola

And just like that, everything changed again. You might have won the battle, but the war was clearly not over. Now, if only you knew who you were fighting.