"That's just ridiculous," Andrew said firmly, disbelief cutting through the afternoon air. A ghost capable of manipulating the physical world to that degree? Seriously? This was supposed to be a human spirit. Not Greek gods from some kid's mythology book.
12 hours earlier… 5:47 AM
I had woken early, prepping for the mission — Bluestone. One of the spots that had gone increasingly… weird. Especially after the nasty death that tainted its history.
Weirdness here wasn't normal. Not even close. Records before the Collapse hinted at odd sightings, but nothing concrete. And when the Collapse hit, things went from mundane to utterly crooked faster than a Porsche 911 GT3's RPM needle shooting skyward. Six, seven years later, the dead started mingling with the living.
Government cover-ups? They tried. Spectacularly failed. Even the old-timers noticed, without Twitter, TikTok, or whatever.
This year alone, more than fifteen cases had been investigated. That's counting the illegal ones, all ending horribly. One even earned the terrifying nickname: Highway Psycho.
From the name alone, you get the gist. Some sheep claimed it was just a serial killer using "supernatural incidents" as cover. But really? If a "person" drives a car into a bus with enough force to send it flying off a cliff, where are the shredded car parts? And the survivors? Swore they saw no vehicle until the last second. Logic: nonexistent.
But none of that compared to what they were facing now. Drunk drivers or lunatics in armored vehicles? At least that made sense.
Was he drunk? Sleepy? Maybe all three? Hah. No chance Isabella was drunk. She had the calm, older-sister vibe — until you considered the countless men she'd left in a drunken stupor.
"There must be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this," Andrew said, turning to the others.
Isabella… didn't look too good.
Mike, well… Mike was eyeing the kids suspiciously. Not entirely unreasonable. Why were the kids so calm?
The girl was calm. The boy? More resigned than anything else.
Sebastian — the boy — shook his head, a low, almost mocking laugh escaping him. Whether at the adults or the situation? Unknown. Unhelpful. But classic Seb.
Mike didn't wait. He strode over, grabbed Sebastian by the collar, and lifted him as if he weighed nothing.
"What the f*** are you doing?" he growled, confusion curdling into anger.
"Why the f*** are you touching me, you nincompoop—" Sebastian's face turned bright red, partly from fury, mostly from the strangling effect of Mike's grip.
Chloe reacted instantly. She lunged, fist extended.
Whff—Thump!
"Uhhh…!"
Her punch buried itself in Mike's stomach. He dropped Sebastian immediately. Both men gasped for air, one glaring with lethal precision, the other just groaning.
"No one touches him while we're here. Not him. Not me. Or else—"
Her foot slammed down on the his head, eyes shifting from blank to icy.
Thump!
"Uhh…!"
"You deal with me. I hate fools who resort to violence when things go sideways. You have a head — think. Not a wild beast."
The two male adults recoiled. Smart choice.
"Sorry — we wouldn't dare, even if you knew martial arts or were a girl. Umm… Bella, help?" Andrew stammered, hands flailing.
"There's no need for violence," Isabella said evenly. "You two were just… suspicious."
Chloe raised an eyebrow at Seb, a look that screamed, your turn to think, genius.
"Higher thinking moment, Seb. Who's chaotic here — the deranged Mike or the Deranged Queen?"
"And how are we to blame?" Chloe snapped, fuming. "Did we drag you into this? And don't even start with the 'two normal kids' argument. Ghosts? Spirits? Fine. But if we were ghosts — then—"
Her foot twisted harder on Mike's head.
"—how did this fool even grab him? What kind of ghost does that?" Shoulder gesturing toward Sebastian. Unfortunately, Seb was trying to warn her about… the safety of the human under her foot.
Grab—Thud!
"Fuck, Chloe!" Seb groaned, rubbing his back.
"You save me, then flip me like a pizza—ow! I won't be able to run if something shows up, you gorilla!"
Mike tried to stand but collapsed again.
"Take your legs off his head! How's a man supposed to breathe?"
Chloe paused, a flicker of self-surprise, then her glare returned to Seb.
"Was there a need to touch my chest to get my attention?"
"My—your chest? What chest? Who lied to you, your mum?" He scrambled back, beet-red, embarrassed.
Thud…!
"Wait—ow, ow, ow—!"
"I was joking… uhhh… a joke!"
Thump…!
"Oof…!"
"Who touched your chest? Does your chest include your shoulder? Uhh—f***—I turned, didn't notice!"
"Uh…! I'm sorry, okay?"
Chloe turned away, walking to a twisted tree trunk, sitting atop it like a sentinel.
"Bro, you okay?" Andrew rushed to Seb, spinning back to Mike when he remembered he needed attention too.
"Mike! You okay!?" they chorused.
Moments later… all five sat under the stars, silence hanging like an abyss.
"We have equipment to combat this thing," Andrew finally said, breaking the tension. "Whether it'll work… unknown."
They all stared.
He swallowed. "Uh… Mike, you okay now? Mind if we use it?"
Mike stood ignoring the question, He then walked to Seb, bowing slightly, embarrassed. "Sorry, kid. I let the situation cloud my judgment." Then to Chloe: "Sorry, miss, for forcing your intervention."
Straightening, he returned to Andrew.
"Take it out — am I assuming you mean the torch?"
Andrew nodded.
"Apology accepted," Seb said. "Chloe sees that too," though he shivered when her cold eyes briefly landed on him.
"Fine… okay. Though I'd like her confirmation too."
He glanced at Chloe, then back to the adults.
"I'm a divination-type geomancer. I usually sense spiritual disturbances. No detection usually means nothing's here. Today…" He laughed wryly.
"…today I learned there's another reason. The hard way."
Oh I see, didn't think they where stronger one's, Seb thought
He rubbed his forehead, eyebrows furrowing.
"My usual techniques won't work. Last resort needed. Chance of backlash though. Teacher warned me."
"Backlash?" Sebastian asked.
Chloe was still silently fuming.
"Depends on how much hate the ghost holds. People assume a max value. Worst recorded? Mental disturbance… as far as we know."
"Everyone?" Chloe asked, confused.
All three adults nodded. Andrew clarified:
"Evidence recorded on investigator forums. Everyone accesses it at some point."
Seb frowned. "Mental disturbance? Not great. If physical, I'd handle it. But…" he shook his head.
Andrew raised a hand. "Normally, fear hits if alone. But in a group, it spreads — merit-based. Impact lessens."
"Oh." Sebastian nodded, relief briefly flooding him.
He looked at Chloe. "You good with this?"
She ignored him, eyes blank. He'd asked anyway.
Group risked it — It was that or face death, starvation, or the unknown from the back of the clearing — none of the them had tried leaving through there. In fact When Seb tried, Chloe had blocked him subconsciously and when he asked why she looked at him confused, enquiring what he was asking. This had occurred more than one's. He had even tried to lead her that way but she seemed to forget what he asks her to do a second later.
He noticed: north, east, west exits fine. South — opposite entry — untouched. Subconscious avoidance. He didn't ask. Best to let them and whatever else believe he hadn't noticed.
Chloe nodded. Adults breathed relief. Andrew then produced a strange, ancient lamp.
Mike then turned back to the kids. "I'd like to ask something."
He paused, watching Chloe, still calm.
"When you entered… did either of you curse the ghost or anger it in anyway?"
Chloe shot Sebastian a hard look — I saved you once, won't again if you mess up — then answered 'honestly':
"He almost did. I stopped him."
Seb internally screamed: When in Hell's Tarnation did I curse anyone?! Truly baffling.