Sasha let out a bloodcurdling scream that did not match the severity of the situation.

Sometimes, when you’re cooking, your creation doesn’t come out the way you wanted.

Sometimes, when you try to make cinnamon rolls, the dough becomes possessed and you have to beat it with a meat tenderizer.

“IT’S TOUCHING MEEE!!!”

Sasha flapped her arm madly, trying to dislodge the sticky dough that splattered onto her hand. Goliath was trying valiantly to calm her down, but to no avail.

He smashed the tenderizer on another lump that was trying to escape. The dough made a hilarious squelching sound and wriggled, before all the fight left it and it sagged to the table in defeat. With yeast doughs especially, you had to let them know who was boss.

Sensing weakness, it did not cooperate for Sasha, who had grabbed a fistful of dough that was trying to climb up her arm. It stretched and tore where her claws dug into it, but it would not let go.

Goliath growled at it, showing his teeth. To let it know its destiny to be a delectable pastry was inevitable.

It skittered off Sasha’s arm immediately.

“Oh sure, it listens to you.” She muttered.

Goliath huffed, glaring at the dough until it plopped into the center of the table where it belonged. Of course it listened to him. He was the head chef in this kitchen. He would not be intimidated by stubborn dough.

“Maybe you should finish making them.” Sasha said gloomily, eyeing her forearm for traces of misbehaving dough.

“No way! You’re doing great so far. Better than me when I first tried this recipe. All my dough escaped.”

“That’s… a slightly frightening thought.”

“Just remember.” Goliath held up the meat tenderizer. “Always have this within reach.”

For some reason, Sasha did not look encouraged.

~

Sasha sat as far away from the oven as possible, shooting it dirty looks every so often. She was understandably skeptical of some of the ingredients in Goliath’s kitchen.

“I’ve never cooked anything like this for Sky.”

Her daughter was perfectly content with cookies.

Plain old, boring cookies that did not gain sentience and try to escape.

Goliath loved simplicity, but if he never challenged himself, he would never strive to improve. This was a challenge he sort of regretted taking.

He would almost rather be stuck with the ghosts.

Yes, it turns out spirits doomed to wander the living world were very demanding.

And they demanded cinnamon rolls.

How could a ghost even eat? Goliath did not question it.

He did not mind making ordinary cinnamon rolls. He had made them many times. But the ghosts had a, ah, special recipe.

The first time he tried it, he realized it would be beneficial to have backup. And Sasha became the unwilling backup.

The best way to solidify your friendship was to perform an exorcism.

If they baked enough treats for the ghosts, maybe he’d be left alone. Or he’d be stuck for all of eternity with the little devils gnawing on his furniture.

“Do I even want to know what this is?” Sasha said, holding up the glass jar the ghosts had given him.

The contents had the consistency of jam, but it was a vivid green.

And glowing.

“Am I going to get superpowers if I touch this?”

“You’re already super strong. And you can breathe fire, and fly.” Goliath said.

“I was hoping for laser eyes.”

~

The recipe was the same as an average cinnamon roll recipe.

It just involved stirring some of the “jam” which may or may not have contained souls, into the dough.

Once they rolled the dough out, they spread more on top, along with the cinnamon-sugar, before rolling it up.

Well, Goliath did that part. Sasha anxiously watched him, ready to pounce if the dough acted up. He cut them into slices and put them in the pan to let them rise. The pan rattled occasionally, but neither of them dared peek under the towel to look.

Sasha’s tail flicked back and forth nervously.

“Are they ready to cook yet?”

“It’s only been five minutes.”

~

While the rolls were in the oven, (finally) they began to make the icing. There was a small amount of jam left to mix with the powdered sugar. It created a brilliant green icing that no food dye could achieve. Goliath would admit it looked beautiful.

“I dare you to taste it.” Sasha taunted him.

They had made it this far without tasting it, too scared to attempt, only trusting that the ghosts knew the recipe was good. Goliath stuck a talon into the bowl. Neon icing dripped off his claw.

“We’ll see who gets superpowers now.” He said, and took a taste.

Sasha held her breath, eyes comically wide. She was poised, ready to catch him if he fell over. He took a while to respond, drawing out the suspense.

“Please say something.” She pleaded.

“It tastes like vanilla. Maybe a hint of almond.”

“WHAT?!”

~

“W-we hope they turned out the way you like.” Sasha said, as bravely as she could muster facing a horde of faceless ghosts with humanoid forms and glowing eyes.

She shot Goliath a side glance, clearly saying you owe me for this.

The ghosts chattered, eyeing the plate of cinnamon rolls greedily.

“Yummy.”

“Hungry, so hungry.”

“My favorite.”

“Food. Need food.”

Sasha clutched his wrist in a bone-crushing grip. Her red scales were still dusted with flour. The ghosts swarmed over the plate. There had to be at least a dozen of them, it was hard to tell with their translucent forms. They reached for the rolls with greedy hands. Good thing there was a double batch of rolls.

The ghosts chomped through the entire batch within seconds in a frenzy of loud chewing noises. When the food was gone, they all turned to him and Sasha.

He definitely did not make a squeaking noise like a mouse.

Sasha’s jaw was hanging open with surprise.

“Delicious.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you.”

“Goodbye.”

The ghosts whispered.

They vanished from sight, their glowing eyes fading. They didn’t even leave any crumbs behind. Sasha released her grip on his arm and finally breathed out.

“Whoa, for a moment there I thought we were next.”

~

“I’m never making cinnamon rolls ever again. I will always think of this experience. Look what you’ve done to me.” Sasha rested her chin on the counter, staring at the wall.

“All right. We’ll stick with nice, normal baked goods from now on.” Goliath agreed.

“But I hope that got rid of your ghost problem for a while.” She said.

“They just appeared out of nowhere one day! They scared me half to death. I almost dropped my quiche!”

Sasha’s stomach grumbled.

“…do you have any left? Cooking for wandering spirits sure works up an appetite.”

Goliath opened the fridge.

He closed the door and opened it again.

“I don’t believe this.”

Those little thieves.

“What’s wrong?” Sasha raised her head.

“THEY ATE MY QUICHE TOO!”