Archive of Our Own

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"According to previous investigators’ notes, this ghost seems to respond best to Lieutenant," Kim said, flipping through the casebook as Bug found a parking spot in front of 42 Edgefield Road.
 
Chaos, the youngest and smallest of the group, piped up from the backseat with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Are we there yet?” she whined, her voice laced with playful impatience. 
 
The others, seasoned ghost hunters, ignored her antics, too familiar with her teasing by now. As the truck came to a stop, Ren grabbed the earpieces that would allow them to stay in communication and handed them out, securing his own in place.
 
Bug opened the back of the truck, pulling out a map while the team suited up and collected their gear. "Looks like the breaker’s down in the basement," Bug noted, tracing the layout with a finger.
 
Each team member had their go-to equipment. Ren picked up a photo camera, a video camera, and an EMF reader. Bug took a thermometer, a flashlight, and the second EMF reader. Kim set up the computer, organizing the incoming data streams, while Chaos grabbed her parabolic microphone, a flashlight, and her Spirit Box, grinning at the thrill of the hunt.
 
While sweeping through the dark corners of the house, Bug stumbled upon something unsettling—a dust-covered Ouija board tucked away in the closet. His eyes narrowed as he called out to the others. “Found the cursed possession.”
 
Ren, always eager to document these findings, quickly moved over, camera in hand. “Hold up, let me get a picture,” he said, snapping a few shots as Bug knelt down by the board.
 
“Let’s see if this thing can tell us where our ghost is hiding,” Bug muttered, his fingers brushing against the planchette as he positioned it over the board. "Where are you?" he asked, the planchette sliding with a sudden jerk.
 
“L-I-V-I-N-G R-O-O-M,” Bug read aloud, feeling the air grow colder around him.
 
Suddenly, Chaos’s voice cut through the silence, her excitement breaking the tension. “I got both writing and UV evidence!” she yelled from across the house, her words echoing down the hall.
 
Bug bolted toward the living room, forgetting the most important rule—closing the board. Behind him, the air around the Ouija board seemed to hum with malevolent energy. Without warning, the board shattered with a violent crack, splinters flying across the floor.
 
Ren, who had been standing nearby, opened his mouth to call out to Bug, but the words never left his lips. His face went pale as he fell into an eerie silence, a haunted look taking over his expression.
 
As Bug inspected the evidence Chaos had gathered, a sudden

bang

echoed through the house. The door to the living room slammed shut with a force that rattled the walls. 
 
Kim’s voice crackled over the radio, tense and urgent. “We’ve got a hunt! It’s starting, get to cover—now!”
 
Without hesitation, Bug grabbed Chaos by the arm, pushing her toward the stairs. “Go! Upstairs, now!” His voice was firm, protective, the same tone he always used when things got dangerous. Chaos, though small and mischievous, didn’t argue, recognizing the seriousness of the moment. Despite her playful nature, she knew ghosts better than anyone, having grown up in a house where the supernatural was a daily occurrence.
 
They bolted up the stairs, Bug staying close behind her as they rushed toward the nearest hiding spot. But something felt wrong—off. The usual telltale signs of a ghostly hunt—the flickering lights, the heavy footsteps, the choking air—were absent. They reached the upper landing, finding themselves surrounded by an unnatural stillness. No ghost had appeared.
 
“Where is it?” Chaos whispered, her brow furrowing as she scanned the shadows. Her voice wavered slightly, confusion creeping in. Bug didn’t respond, his mind racing.
 
Then, footsteps echoed from the staircase below. At first, Bug’s relief was palpable. Ren, he thought. Safe.
 
But when Ren appeared at the top of the stairs, something was wrong.
 
His eyes—those familiar, sharp eyes—were now distant, clouded with a dull glaze. He moved slowly, almost mechanically, a cold detachment in every step. Clutched tightly in his hand was a kitchen knife, the blade gleaming in the dim light.
 
Bug’s heart sank as he realized. “Ren?” he called out cautiously, but Ren’s face remained unnervingly blank, devoid of recognition. 
 
Chaos shrank back behind Bug, her voice trembling. “That’s… not Ren.”
 
The air grew heavier, charged with something far more dangerous than a regular ghostly hunt. Bug tightened his grip on Chaos, his pulse quickening, as Ren—or whatever was controlling him—continued to advance, the knife glinting in his hand.
 
Ren stood motionless at the top of the stairs for a moment, the dull glaze in his eyes reflecting none of his usual warmth or recognition. His grip on the knife tightened as a sharp, metallic breath escaped his lips. 
 
And then, without warning, he charged.
 
Chaos gasped, stumbling backward as Bug instinctively stepped in front of her, his body tensing like a shield. “Get behind me!” he barked, his protective instincts overriding every ounce of fear surging through him. Chaos, wide-eyed, ducked behind his frame, her heart racing as her father figure squared off against their possessed teammate.
 
Ren moved with unnatural speed, the knife slashing through the air with terrifying precision. Bug barely had time to react before the blade sliced into his arm, a sharp pain tearing through him as he blocked the attack. Blood quickly soaked through his sleeve, but he didn’t flinch, his focus locked on protecting Chaos.
 
“Ren! Snap out of it!” Bug shouted, desperation creeping into his voice as he tried to reach the man beneath whatever had taken control. But Ren’s expression remained blank, lifeless, as he swung the knife again, this time aiming lower.
 
Bug blocked the blow, his body absorbing the impact as the blade glanced off his ribs. Pain shot through him, but he refused to fall. “Chaos, run! Now!” he ordered, his voice strained but commanding.
 
Chaos hesitated, her mind torn between her knowledge of ghosts and her fear for Bug’s safety. “I—I can help!” she stammered, eyes darting around for any sign of the real ghost.
 
“Go!” Bug yelled again, using every ounce of his strength to push Ren back, the knife just inches from his chest. He winced as Ren’s next attack caught him across the side, the knife tearing through fabric and skin. The searing pain made it harder to hold his ground, but he couldn’t give up—not with Chaos’s life on the line.
 
Ren, or whatever had taken over him, showed no sign of relenting. His attacks grew more relentless, the knife flashing in quick, brutal arcs, as Bug struggled to keep him at bay, each slash pushing him closer to his limit.
 
Bug gritted his teeth against the searing pain, his body weakening under the relentless assault. Ren, driven by some malevolent force, was faster and stronger than ever before. Each swing of the knife was more brutal, more desperate.
 
Chaos watched in horror, frozen for a moment as blood seeped through Bug's shirt. Her mind raced—this wasn't a typical ghost hunt. This was something far darker. She knew spirits, but this possession was different. She had to act.
 
Just as Bug blocked another wild slash, barely avoiding a fatal blow, Chaos snapped into action. "Hold on!" she cried, scrambling to her feet. 
 
Ignoring Bug's earlier order to run, Chaos tore through her bag, frantically grabbing the Spirit Box. She flipped it on, hoping to communicate with whatever had taken over Ren. The static-filled noise echoed through the room, filling the tense silence with crackling bursts of distorted sound.
 
"Who are you? What do you want?" Chaos demanded, her voice trembling but determined as she crouched behind Bug, keeping the box aimed at Ren.
 
For a moment, nothing happened. Ren’s blank eyes flickered, his body pausing for just a fraction of a second. Then, through the Spirit Box, a deep, raspy voice crackled to life.
 
“...Mine... now...”
 
The voice sent a chill down both their spines. Chaos gasped, her grip tightening on the box. The ghost, or whatever was possessing Ren, wasn’t just hunting—it wanted something more. But what?
 
With renewed focus, Chaos shouted into the box, “Let him go! You’ve taken enough!”
 
But instead of responding, Ren let out a low growl, his body jerking forward as if spurred on by the spirit’s anger. The knife lashed out again, this time aimed directly at Bug’s chest.
 
Bug, still blocking as best he could, was too exhausted to stop the blow. The knife cut through the air, gleaming with deadly intent—

And then, just as the blade was about to strike, Chaos lunged forward. In a desperate move, she shoved the Spirit Box into Ren’s chest, slamming it against him with all her strength. 
 
A surge of static exploded from the device, and Ren’s body convulsed, the ghost inside him screaming through the box. The knife clattered to the floor as Ren staggered back, clutching his head in agony.
 
Bug gasped for breath, barely able to stay on his feet, as Chaos knelt by his side. "Dad!" she whispered, using the affectionate nickname she only used in moments of fear. "Are you okay?"
 
Bug, wincing in pain but still standing, nodded weakly. “I’m fine,” he rasped, though his bloodied arm and side told a different story. “Just—stay back.”
 
Ren, still trembling from the ghost’s influence, fell to his knees, his hands twitching uncontrollably as the dark force inside him fought to stay in control. The Spirit Box continued to buzz and crackle, its frequency distorting the spirit’s grip on Ren.
 
"Ren! Fight it!" Chaos shouted, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hope. "You're stronger than this!"
 
Ren’s head jerked up, his eyes momentarily flickering with recognition. “C-Chaos…” he murmured, his voice strained, as though he were clawing his way back from some terrible darkness.
 
But before Chaos could say more, the house groaned around them, the air growing thick and oppressive. A deep rumble vibrated through the walls, signaling that the entity wasn't done yet.
 
Chaos's heart raced as she watched Ren struggle against the spirit’s grip. She could see the flickers of recognition in his eyes, but they were quickly overshadowed by the darkness. The oppressive energy in the room thickened, pulsing with a malevolent force that threatened to swallow them whole.
 
“Ren!” Bug shouted, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. He couldn’t let this continue—not when Chaos was right there, vulnerable and scared. “I won’t let you hurt her!”
 
With a surge of adrenaline, Bug lunged forward, positioning himself between Chaos and Ren. Ignoring the pain radiating from his wounds, he swung his arm with all his might, delivering a powerful strike to Ren’s jaw. The impact echoed in the tense air, and Ren’s eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
 
The moment Ren hit the ground, the oppressive energy in the room dissipated like fog under the sun. The Spirit Box sputtered, its static fading as the ghost’s hold weakened, leaving only an eerie silence behind.
 
“Kim!” Bug called out, breathless, as he turned to Chaos. “It’s over—at least for now.”
 
Chaos, still shaken, scrambled to Ren’s side, her fingers trembling as she checked for signs of life. “Is he okay? Will he wake up?” she asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.
 
“He’ll be fine,” Bug replied, though the worry in his eyes betrayed him. “We just need to make sure that thing is gone for good.”
 
Just then, Kim’s voice crackled through the radio, calm but urgent. “I’m here. What’s your status?”
 
“The hunt’s ended,” Bug replied, glancing down at Ren. “But I think it was just the beginning. We need to regroup and figure out what we’re dealing with.”
 
“Copy that. I’ll meet you upstairs,” Kim said. “Stay sharp; we might still have some residual energy in the area.”
 
Chaos nodded, feeling a sense of determination replace her fear. “We can figure this out. We’ve faced worse, right?”
 
“Exactly,” Bug replied, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settle back onto his shoulders. “Let’s make sure Ren is okay first, and then we’ll regroup with Kim. We’ll need a plan.”
 
After ensuring Ren was stable, Bug and Chaos carefully lifted him and made their way down the stairs, the eerie silence of the house pressing in around them. The atmosphere felt heavy, like the walls themselves were watching, but they pushed through, determined to get to safety.
 
As they reached the front door, Bug felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He paused for a moment, bracing himself against the wall, the chill of the wood biting into his palm. The adrenaline was fading, and with it came the harsh reality of his injuries. He glanced down at his blood-soaked arm, the wound pulsing with pain, and realized he was losing more blood than he had thought.
 
“Are you okay?” Chaos asked, concern etched on her face as she noticed him faltering.
 
“Yeah, just… a little lightheaded,” Bug replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Let’s get to Kim.”
 
They stepped outside into the cool night air, where the truck stood waiting, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Kim leaned against the vehicle, their expression shifting from concern to relief upon seeing them.
 
“What happened in there?” Kim asked, scanning Bug’s injuries with a frown. “You look worse than I thought.”
 
“We had a little run-in with Ren,” Bug said, attempting to keep his voice steady as he helped Chaos support Ren’s weight. “I had to knock him out to break the spirit’s hold.”
 
Kim nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “Good call, but we need to get you patched up. You’re losing blood.”
 
“I’m fine,” Bug insisted, though his voice was starting to waver. He tried to take a step forward but stumbled slightly, the world around him blurring for a moment. Chaos instinctively tightened her grip on him.
 
“No, you’re not,” Kim replied firmly, rushing to his side. “Let me help. Get him in the truck, Chaos.”
 
As they settled Ren into the back, Bug felt his vision narrowing, dark spots creeping in at the edges. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lightheadedness, but it clung to him like a shadow.
 
“Bug!” Chaos exclaimed, worry flooding her voice as she noticed his pallor. “You need to sit down!”
 
“I just need a minute,” he said, but the words came out faint. Kim quickly grabbed a first aid kit from the front seat and moved to his side.
 
“Sit, Bug,” they said, their tone leaving no room for argument. “You can’t help anyone if you’re unconscious.”
 
Reluctantly, Bug sank onto the edge of the truck, wincing as he pulled up his sleeve to reveal the gash on his arm. Kim set to work, cleaning the wound with swift, practiced movements.
 
Chaos watched anxiously, her mind racing with thoughts of the haunting they’d just faced. “What if it comes back?” she asked, fear creeping into her voice. “What if it takes Ren again?”
 
“We’ll deal with that,” Kim said, focusing on Bug as they wrapped his arm tightly.
 
After a few moments of tension-filled silence, Chaos took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I’m going back in,” she declared, her voice steady despite the fear fluttering in her chest. Bug opened his mouth to protest, but Kim shook their head, offering a knowing glance.
 
“Let her do this,” Kim said, finishing the last of the bandaging on Bug’s arm. “She knows what she’s doing. Just keep the radio on.”
 
With a determined nod, Chaos slipped back into the house, the door creaking ominously behind her. Bug watched her go, his heart heavy with concern.
 
As Kim worked on him, the truck’s interior was filled with the sounds of rustling bandages and the occasional crackle of the radio. Bug tried to focus on Kim's soothing presence, but his mind kept drifting back to Chaos and the darkness lurking inside the house.
 
Minutes felt like hours as they waited in tense anticipation. Finally, the door creaked open again, and Chaos stumbled out, her face pale and eyes wide with a mix of fear and resolve. She shivered uncontrollably, the chill from the house clinging to her like a second skin.
 
“It’s freezing in there!” she gasped, wrapping her arms around herself. “And it’s a demon!”
 
Bug’s breath caught in his throat. “A demon? Are you sure?”
 
Chaos nodded vigorously, her teeth chattering. “The UV, Writing and now Freezing. It all points to a demon!”
 
Kim straightened up, concern sharpening their features. “If that’s the case, we need to get out of here. We can handle ghosts, but demons are a different level of dangerous.”
 
“Right,” Bug agreed, his voice steadying despite the gravity of the situation. “Let’s get Ren and go.”
 
With their help, Bug and Chaos lifted Ren’s unconscious form, placing him carefully in the back of the truck. Kim slid into the driver’s seat, glancing back at the three of them. “You okay to drive, Bug?”
 
“I’ll manage,” he said, though he was grateful for the chance to rest. He settled into the passenger seat, exhaustion threatening to pull him under.
 
As they drove away from the haunted house, the weight of the night’s events began to lift. Chaos kept glancing back, half-expecting something to follow them, but the darkness remained behind.
 
About halfway down the road, Ren stirred, groaning softly as he blinked against the harsh light of the truck. “What… happened?” he mumbled, rubbing his temples.
 
“Welcome back,” Bug said, relief flooding him. “You were possessed by a demon, but we managed to knock you out before things got worse.”
 
Ren’s eyes widened, the memories rushing back. “Oh… right. The knife.”
 
“Yeah, and you almost took me out,” Bug added, trying to keep the mood light. “You owe me one.”
 
As they drove on, the tension began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious relief. Chaos hugged her knees to her chest, still shivering from the cold remnants of the haunted house, while Ren slowly regained his bearings.
 
“Glad to be back on your good side,” he replied, managing a faint smile despite the weight of the night’s events.
 
As the truck rumbled down the winding road, the atmosphere shifted. Bug could feel the adrenaline fading, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. Ren’s presence in the backseat was reassuring, but the events of the night weighed heavily on all of them.
 
“Just focus on the road,” Kim said, glancing at Bug. “You’ve lost a lot of blood, and I’m not taking any chances.”
 
Bug opened his mouth to protest, but the firmness in Kim’s gaze silenced him. They had always been the voice of reason in their group. “I’m fine,” he insisted, though the fatigue in his voice betrayed him. “We need to figure out how to deal with that demon.”
 
“We will,” Kim assured him, their tone calming. “But first, we need to make sure you’re okay.”
 
After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the warehouse. The imposing structure loomed in the darkness, a familiar sight that always brought a mix of comfort and urgency. They parked, and Kim quickly hopped out, helping Bug out of the truck before he could fully gather his thoughts.
 
“Ren, you stay with Chaos,” Kim instructed, their voice leaving no room for argument. “I need to get Bug into the infirmary. Now.”
 
“I can walk—” Bug started, but Kim shot him a look that silenced him.
 
“Not in your condition,” they replied firmly, guiding him toward the infirmary door. Bug felt the weight of his injuries as he stumbled slightly, but he straightened up, not wanting to show any weakness.
 
Inside the infirmary, the faint hum of fluorescent lights illuminated the small space, stocked with medical supplies and makeshift beds. Bug could already hear the rustle of bandages and the clinking of bottles, but he felt a strange mixture of reluctance and resignation.
 
“Sit,” Kim ordered, leading him to one of the beds. Bug obeyed, feeling the cool surface beneath him as he finally allowed himself to relax, the tension of the night settling in.
 
“Just check me over,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I’ll be fine in no time.”
 
Kim shook their head, already preparing supplies. “You might think you’re fine, but your body needs help. You can’t ignore blood loss.”
 
As they cleaned the wound, Bug winced at the sting of antiseptic. “I just didn’t expect things to escalate so quickly,” he murmured, reflecting on the night’s chaos. “We thought we were ready for anything, but a demon…”
 
“We’ll figure it out,” Kim reassured him, their voice steady. “We always do. But first, let’s get you patched up so you can help us.”
 
Bug felt a flicker of gratitude as he looked at Kim, their determination unwavering. “Thanks for always looking out for me.”
 
Kim smiled briefly, focused on their task. “That’s what family does.”
 
After a few tense moments filled with the sound of bandages rustling and soft murmurs, Kim finished dressing the wound and leaned back, assessing their work. “There. You’ll need to rest, but you’re going to be okay.”
 
“Now, can we talk about the possession?” Bug asked, his brow furrowing. “We can’t just ignore that.”
 
“Agreed,” Kim said, straightening up. “But first, let’s check in on Chaos and Ren. They need to know what’s going on too.”
 
In the infirmary, the atmosphere was a mix of tension and a hint of levity. Chaos sat cross-legged on the floor, a sketchpad balanced on her knees, her pencil moving rapidly as she doodled away. Her focus was intense, the lines of her drawing flowing effortlessly, capturing the emotions swirling around them—fear, determination, and a flicker of hope.
 
Ren leaned against the wall, a bag of ice pressed gingerly against his jaw where Bug had punched him. The bruise was already forming, a stark reminder of how close things had come. “You know, I didn’t think getting knocked out would be part of the job description,” he said, a smirk creeping onto his face despite the pain.
 
Chaos looked up from her doodling, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, you did look pretty possessed. I think it was a solid move on Bug’s part.” She returned to her drawing, capturing a cartoonish version of Ren with wild eyes and a kitchen knife. “You should see this. I think I captured your best angle.”
 
Ren chuckled, careful not to jostle the ice pack too much. “Great, just what I need—an artistic representation of my shame.”
 
“Hey, it’s not shame if you take it in stride!” Chaos replied, grinning. “Besides, you’re alive, and we’re all in one piece. That’s a win in my book.”
 
Ren nodded, his expression softening. “True. I guess it could have been worse.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “But about that demon… what do you think it wants?”
 
Chaos set her pencil down, her playful demeanor shifting to seriousness. “I don’t know, but I felt its presence. It was like it was feeding off the fear in the house, drawing strength from it. That’s why it got to you so quickly.”
 
“Great,” Ren said, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “So it thrives on fear? That’s such a stereotypical demon thing.”
 
Just then, Bug stepped into the room, looking a bit more composed after Kim had patched him up. “Hey, how are you two holding up?” he asked, a slight smile breaking through his fatigue.
 
“Just discussing how Ren’s new nickname should be ‘Demon Snack,’” Chaos quipped, her eyes sparkling with laughter.
 
Ren rolled his eyes but couldn’t help grinning. “Thanks, Chaos. Really helping my self-esteem here.”
 
Bug chuckled, the lighthearted banter easing some of the tension. “Good to see you both in good spirits. We’ll need that going forward.”
 
Chaos stifled a chuckle at the unintentional pun. “Heh, good spirits,” she teased, her grin wide.
 
Bug groaned, shaking his head. “Oh shush, child. You’re lucky I didn’t knock you out too,” he replied, a hint of playful exasperation in his voice.
 
Kim, standing with their arms crossed, interjected. “Now you all need to go get some sleep. It’s been a long night.”
 
“But I wasn’t possessed or attacked,” Chaos protested, her eyes sparkling with defiance. “I’m fine! I can keep going!”
 
Bug raised an eyebrow, his expression softening. “Even so, you need to rest. We all do. You’ll be better prepared for whatever comes next.”
 
With a reluctant sigh, Chaos realized there was no point in arguing. “Fine, but only because you’re both being overprotective,” she conceded, a small smile creeping back onto her face.
 
“Good,” Kim said, their tone firm but gentle. “Let’s all get some rest. We’ll figure things out in the morning.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ren didn't know what really happened. The last thing he remembered before waking up was the ouija board shattering. He definitely got some splinters from that, but he really wouldn't complain. It was the least of his worries. He did get flashes of things though. Throughout the bits he actually remembered, he seemed to be taken away to a different place, deeper in his mind. There, he stood in the blackness as a person walked up to him. The person had long brown hair, tired eyes, and held a knife. They almost looked identical to Ren. Ren blinked, then stepped forward to greet them. “Who are you?” He asked. “I’m Lt.” The person responded. “Why are you in my house?” It seemed familiar to Ren, but he couldn't place where he'd heard that before. His head was fuzzy. “I.. don't know. Am I in your house?” “You are, yes.” They confirmed. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to invade.” Lt shrugged. “You're messing things up with your presence. I'm angry.” “I'm sorry.” Ren apologized again. “I don't want to make you angry.” “Your friends are studying me. Do you like being studied?” Lt folded their arms. “No.” Ren shook his head. “I don't. Do you know why we're studying you? I.. can't seem to remember.” “The modern owners don't like my presence.” Lt frowned, and Ren had a flash of going up the stairs, something in his grip. “I didn't like them. You humans all have a weakness. Terror is one of the easily exploitable.” Okay, that was definitely not an answer. Was he on the job? “I’m not scared of you.” Ren stated. “You seem to be polite. I'm sorry I angered you.” “Not scared of me?” Lt tilted their head, and Ren nodded in response. “Why are you not scared?” “Your anger is justified. I wouldn't like it if people invaded my house and studied me.” “It's not a good feeling.” Lt said, and they seemed to tense up. Another flash shot through Ren's mind of Bug and Chaos staring at him, terror in their eyes. “What are you doing?” He asked, feeling his stomach twist. All of a sudden, his nerves were firing, like he was in a fight. But he couldn't be. He wasn't awake. Was he? “They invade my home and don't recognize me!” Lt screamed, their form shifting violently as Ren stepped back. “They have made the last mistake!” Ren's entire form suddenly felt like it was falling, and then it was numb. Even in his mind, the man couldn't move. His head spun. He got a flash of a knife going right for Bug’s heart, in his hands. No. Please. No no no no no. I didn't mean to— it's not me doing this— Bug, get out! Chaos, get out! Get OUT!— Lt screamed again, and before Ren could stop to think, it hit him. They'd barely gotten into the house, he was on the job, and they were told the ghost was dangerous. But they'd just gotten into the house. Sure, Bug had shattered the ouija board, but that didn't necessarily mean it was all determined by the breaking of a cursed object. Plus, the anger about their group simply existing in Lt’s home.. Maybe.. “Are you a demon?” He asked. Lt didn't listen though, and their eyes began to glow red, rage building up in them. Ren could see every bit of it, and he began to feel it too.  He felt angry, because Lt’s existence had only ever been being studied, watched, tracked, being an object of fear. He was frustrated, because they had been classified as a demon and that was that. Stereotyped into a box they couldn't get out of. The book was wrong, demons didn't attack for no reason. Nobody just bothered to see why. And for the first time in a while, Ren actually felt angry at himself. Not just angry. No, he was enraged.  This was his own fault. He'd gotten the job of being a ghost hunter and he had fed into and believed the stereotypes of what each ghost was like. He never saw the person they had been, never recognized these used to be people that they were dealing with, not just ghosts or spirits.  Ren had been ignorant and small-minded, and because of that, his friends were suffering the consequences. Because he hadn't taken his job as seriously as he should have, Lt was now possessing him- he was pretty sure of that- and attacking his friends. “Why me?!” He yelled in an attempt to distract Lt. “You could've chosen Bug, or- or Chaos! Why me?” At that question, Ren's chest burned, and Lt let out a cry of agony so painful that Ren regained his own sight. Chaos had just shoved a Spirit Box into his chest, the knife was on the ground, and it was flickering. His hands were pressed in fists to his head, trying to make the hurt stop.  Everything was painful, his head felt like he'd bashed it into a wall too many times. A spasm hit, and he lost control for a couple seconds then regained. The screaming stopped coming from him, and stayed inside his head. He looked up weakly as it began to subside, then saw Chaos, trembling at the sight of him. “Chaos..” He tried, but his voice was much too weak to really be efficient. Then he lost control again, sucked back into the void of his own mind. It hurt. By the stars, it hurt. Lt's screaming only got louder, then pain radiating through every bone in his body. Then it went silent.   When Ren's consciousness was regained, he had returned to the back of his mind. Lt was sitting now, quiet. Their eyes were still tired, and Ren couldn't help it. He was reminded of his younger days. The worst days. Unkempt. Uncared for. So, he walked over to Lt and sat beside them.  “You don't have to be angry.” Ren attempted. “I know how awful it feels to be that way all the time.” Lt simply looked at Ren, but he could see a spark. Familiarity. Why hadn't Lt left? “You're stuck here, aren't you?” He asked, and the demon nodded. “I possessed you. I hurt your friends. I stayed too long and formed an attachment.” “Attachment?” He raised an eyebrow. Lt sighed. “I'm stuck with you. Until you die or get rid of me. I got so angry that I just—” “—Got carried away.” Ren finished for them. He knew that feeling. “Yeah.” They lowered their head shamefully. “You can stay.” Ren decided. “I won't try to get rid of you. But, I have conditions.” Lt's head shot up. “What? After all I did?” He shrugged in reply. “I've done worse.. surprisingly.” “How?” Lt's brows furrowed, and Ren waved his hand. “Long story. Don't worry about it. My conditions are these: You don't possess me unless I'm in a dangerous situation and you can get me out of it, or I ask. If I want control back, give it back immediately. You don't hurt me, and you certainly don't hurt my friends. I can't communicate with ghosts well, but I want to do better about knowing who they were before they became spirits. I want your help with that. Can you agree to those terms?” Lt considered it, mulling it over for a couple moments. “So, we work together?” “We work together. This is still my body, though.” Ren confirmed. Lt nodded, still thinking. Ren asked another question on his mind. “Why did you pick me?” Lt glanced over and shrugged. “Well, first it was because you were the closest one in proximity to me. Then.. you just felt like me, I guess. We look practically identical, and we both have so much anger built up in us.” Ren couldn't not agree with the sentiment. He'd had issues before that resulted in very harsh consequences. It just seemed like the same type of situation with Lt. “I agree to the terms.” Lt finally decided, and they shook on it, then Lt hesitated. “Are.. are you going to tell your friends?” “..Not yet.” Ren admitted. “I'd get a hell of a scolding if I told them I'm friends with a demon.” “Friends?” Lt raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, friends. Is there something wrong with that?” “No. Friends, then.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“You need to sit this next one out,” Kim stated firmly as they finished wrapping the plaster around Bug’s arm—the same arm he had broken during their last mission. The tension in the room was palpable as Bug sat on the edge of the truck’s tailgate, glaring at the thick bandages as if sheer willpower could heal him faster.
 
“I’m fine,” Bug grumbled, shifting his weight awkwardly. “It’s just a broken arm. I can still help.”
 
“No, you can’t,” Kim replied with a calm but unyielding tone. “You’re grounded to the van this time, no exceptions.”
 
Chaos, perched on a nearby crate and swinging her legs, piped up with a teasing smile. “Come on, Bug. You can be our eyes and ears from the van! Think of it as a tactical position.”
 
Ren, adjusting his gear next to her, couldn’t help but snicker. “Yeah, think of it as you being *crucial* to the mission. The lifeline! The unsung hero of the ghost-hunting team.”
 
Bug shot them both a look, half annoyed, half amused. “I don’t need you two making this worse. It’s bad enough Kim’s got me tied to the stupid van.”
 
Kim raised an eyebrow, finishing the last loop of bandage and securing it. “You’re not tied to anything. You’ll be on comms. If something goes wrong, we need someone out here who can handle things.”
 
“You mean babysit,” Bug grumbled under his breath, crossing his good arm over his chest.
 
Ren flashed him a grin. “Hey, it’s not babysitting if we don’t get into trouble, right?”
 
“Don’t encourage Chaos,” Kim said, shooting Chaos a knowing look.
 
“Me? Never,” Chaos replied innocently, though the gleam in her eye betrayed her. She slipped on her headset and grabbed her gear—a parabolic mic and her trusty spirit box. “Don’t worry, Bug. I’ll bring back some good stories for you.”
 
“Yeah, make sure they’re extra spooky,” Ren added, giving Bug a playful nudge before securing his EMF reader and camera. “We’re hitting the attic first, by the way. Seems like the perfect place for a ghost.”
 
Bug sighed, rubbing his good hand over his face. “Just... don’t do anything stupid, okay? I don’t want to sit here and hear you scream over the radio.”
 
“We’ll be fine,” Kim assured him, handing him the comms headset. “Just keep an eye on the monitors. You’ll be able to see everything.”
 
Bug grumbled again, clearly not thrilled but knowing there was no point in arguing further. He slipped on the headset, his frustration lingering. “Fine, but the second anything goes wrong, I’m coming in.”
 
Kim shot him a knowing smile. “You’ll be the first to know.”
 
With that, Chaos and Ren gathered their equipment, ready for another dive into the haunted unknown. As they made their way towards the old mansion that loomed ominously in the distance, Bug settled into his makeshift command center in the van. Monitors flickered to life, displaying various camera feeds, the interior of the house bathed in eerie shadows.
 
“All right,” Bug muttered into the mic, watching the team disappear into the building. “Let’s get this over with.”
  
Inside the mansion, Chaos and Ren stepped into the musty foyer, the floor creaking beneath their boots. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness, and the faint scent of decay lingered.
 
“This place is definitely haunted,” Chaos whispered, glancing around with wide eyes. “It just

feels

wrong.”
 
Ren smirked. “Everything about this job feels wrong. That’s why we’re here.”
 
“Hey, I’m getting something on the EMF,” Kim’s voice came through the headset, calm but focused. “Could be in the attic, like you said, Ren.”
 
Bug’s voice crackled over the comms. “Just keep your distance. Don’t poke the ghost.”
 
Chaos grinned. “No promises.”
 
They made their way up the creaky staircase, every sound amplified in the silence of the mansion. The air grew colder as they reached the attic door, and Chaos could feel a shiver run down her spine. She exchanged a glance with Ren before pushing the door open.
 
The attic was dark, the only light coming from their flashlights. Cobwebs draped across old, forgotten furniture, and the temperature seemed to drop even further.
 
“Okay, this is creepy,” Chaos whispered, sweeping her flashlight around.
 
“Perfect place for a haunting,” Ren agreed, holding up his EMF reader as it flickered to life. “We’ve got activity.”
 
Kim’s voice crackled in their earpieces. “I’m seeing some interference on the cameras. Stay sharp.”
 
As they ventured deeper into the attic, Chaos set down her spirit box, turning it on. The static buzz filled the room, and she held her breath, waiting for something—anything—to come through.
 
A faint voice crackled through the static. “Get... out…”
 
Ren raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s inviting.”
 
Chaos smirked, leaning closer to the spirit box. “What’s your name?”
 
The box crackled again, the static broken by a single word: “Danger.”
 
“Danger?” Chaos echoed, glancing at Ren. “What does that mean?”
 
Before Ren could respond, his EMF reader spiked, and a loud bang echoed from the far corner of the attic.
 
“Uh, Bug?” Ren called through the comms, backing away from the noise. “You seeing this?”
 
Bug’s voice crackled in their ears. “I see it. Just stay calm.”
 
Chaos stepped forward, squinting through the shadows. “I think it’s—”
 
Suddenly, a gust of icy wind swept through the attic, slamming the door shut behind them. Chaos and Ren spun around, their hearts racing.
 
“Bug, the door’s stuck!” Chaos shouted, tugging at the handle.
 
“I told you not to poke the ghost!” Bug snapped back through the radio. “Hold on, I’m coming!”
 
“No, you’re not!” Kim’s voice interrupted, firm and unwavering. “Stay in the van, Bug. We’ve got this.”
 
Bug muttered something unintelligible, clearly frustrated, but stayed put as instructed.
 
Back in the attic, the temperature plummeted further, and Chaos’s breath came out in visible puffs. Ren scanned the room, his flashlight flickering ominously. “I think it’s time to leave.”
 
“No kidding,” Chaos agreed, still pulling on the door with no success. “Any ideas?”
 
“Let me try,” Ren said, stepping forward and giving the door a hard shove. But before he could open it, the spirit box crackled to life once more, a voice whispering through the static.
 
“Too... late…”
 
Chaos’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”
 
The attic suddenly felt suffocating, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the room. Ren’s face went pale as the EMF reader hit red. “We need to go. Now.”
 
Bug’s voice came through the comms, tense. “Guys, get out of there.”
 
“We’re trying!” Chaos shouted, her heart pounding in her chest.
 
With one last shove, Ren finally forced the door open, and they bolted down the stairs, the growl following them all the way to the exit. They burst through the front door, stumbling out onto the lawn, gasping for breath.
 
Bug was already outside the van, pacing. “What the hell happened?”
 
Kim crossed their arms, glaring at Bug. “You were supposed to stay in the van.”
 
“I did stay in the van,” Bug replied defensively, gesturing at the house. “Until I heard growling!”
 
Chaos leaned over, hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. "That... that wasn’t just a ghost," she panted, still shaking from the experience. "Something’s

off

about this place."
 
Ren, equally winded, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, no kidding.”
 
Bug crossed his arms, still looking annoyed. “I don’t care what it was. I told you both not to poke the ghost. You poked it anyway.”
 
Chaos shot him a look between gasps. “

We

didn’t poke anything. The ghost just decided to show up uninvited!”
 
Kim, ever the level-headed one, stepped between them. “Okay, enough,” they said, their tone leaving no room for argument. “We need to regroup and figure out what we’re dealing with before going back in.”
 
Ren stood up straight, brushing the dirt off his jeans. “You think we’re going back in?”
 
Bug gave him a skeptical look. “Of course we’re going back in. That’s literally the job.”
 
Ren sighed, wiping sweat off his forehead. “Yeah, but maybe next time we, I don’t know, take it slower?”
 
Bug snorted, but the tension in his posture relaxed. “For once, I agree with you.”
 
Kim pulled out their tablet, starting to scroll through the data. “We still have some readings to analyze. Let’s check what we caught on camera before making any rash decisions.”
 
Chaos, ever the optimist, leaned against the van and gave Bug a playful nudge. “You should be glad you didn’t have to run up those stairs.”
 
Bug just groaned, shaking his head. “You’re not helping, Chaos.”
 
Chaos grinned. “I know.”
 
As Kim studied the data, Bug glanced back at the mansion, its dark windows glaring back at them like eyes. Something about it felt different from the other hunts. More dangerous.
 
“I have a bad feeling about this one,” Bug muttered under his breath.
 
Chaos heard him and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. You’re not scared of a little ghost, are you?”
 
Bug rolled his eyes. “It’s not the ghost I’m worried about. It’s the fact that you are a magnet for trouble.”
 
Kim looked up from the tablet, their expression more serious. “He’s right Chaos, you attract trouble like no other.”
 
Chaos crossed her arms and huffed, mock offense playing on her face. “What can I say? Trouble and I have a special bond.”
 
Ren chuckled, still catching his breath. “Yeah, and one of these days, that bond is gonna get us all killed.”
 
Bug shot Ren a pointed look. “Don’t encourage her.”
 
Chaos just shrugged, unfazed. “Well, someone’s gotta keep things interesting.”
 
Kim tapped a few more times on the tablet, breaking up the banter. “Alright, jokes aside, we need to take this seriously. The energy readings are spiking all over the place. This isn’t just a ”
 
Bug nodded, his demeanor shifting into a more focused state. “So, what are we dealing with?”
 
Kim held up the tablet, showing the fluctuating graphs and charts. “It’s hard to tell for sure, but based on the patterns... we might be looking at something older, maybe even malevolent.”
 
Ren groaned, rubbing his temples. “Great. So not just a ghost, but an ancient one.”
 
Chaos’s grin faltered just a bit, but her bravado stayed intact. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to show it who’s boss, right?”
 
Bug shot her a warning glance. “We’re not going in there guns blazing. The last thing we need is to provoke it more.”
 
Chaos mimicked him, crossing her arms again. “Fine. But we can’t just sit here either.”
 
Kim nodded. “We won’t. But we need to be smart about this. Let’s regroup, come up with a plan that doesn’t involve running headlong into danger.”
 
Bug gave Chaos a look as if that last part was directed at her specifically. She pretended not to notice.
 
“Alright,” Bug said after a beat, rubbing his plastered arm. “Let’s do this the right way.”
 
Kim turned to the group. “We give it another hour, then we go back in with a proper plan. Agreed?”
 
Ren and Chaos nodded in unison, though Chaos was clearly eager to get moving. Bug, despite his reluctance to be grounded, nodded as well. “I’ll stay here, keep an eye on things from the van.”
 
Chaos smirked. “Better not fall asleep on the job, Bug.”
 
He shot her a playful glare. “Just get this done, and try not to blow anything up while you’re at it.”
 
Chaos gave a mock salute. “No promises.”
 
The hour passed with an unsettling calm hanging over the group. Kim double-checked the equipment, Ren ran through the plan one more time, and Chaos—well, she was buzzing with nervous energy, pacing back and forth by the van.
 
Bug leaned against the side of the van, watching her carefully. "Chaos, I know you're eager, but you need to stick to the plan. No messing around."
 
Chaos stopped pacing long enough to roll her eyes at him. "I get it, I get it. Stick to the plan, don’t touch anything I’m not supposed to, yada yada. You act like I don’t know what I’m doing.”
 
Bug sighed, not entirely convinced. "Just... be careful. The last thing I need is you getting yourself into trouble."
 
Kim and Ren approached, gear in hand. "Ready?" Kim asked, glancing between Chaos and Bug.
 
"As we’ll ever be," Chaos replied with a grin, strapping on her headset and flashlight. She didn’t wait for any more instructions before heading back toward the house, Kim and Ren trailing behind her.
 
Bug muttered something under his breath as he watched her go, then turned to the equipment in the van, setting up the cameras and comms. "You guys better behave in there," he said through the mic, though he wasn’t sure if it was to his team or whatever was lurking in the house.
 
Inside, Chaos’s adrenaline was pumping. She flicked on the spirit box, static crackling through the earpiece. Ren had the EMF reader, and Kim held the thermal camera, scanning the dim, dusty hallways.
 
"Alright, Chaos," Kim said in a low voice. "Remember, we’re sticking to the game plan. You handle the spirit box, Ren checks for EMF spikes, and I’ll document everything on the thermal."
 
Chaos nodded absentmindedly, her attention already drifting toward the creaky stairs leading to the attic. She felt an odd pull toward it, her curiosity getting the better of her. "You think we should check up there first? That’s where the activity spiked earlier."
 
Kim hesitated. "We will. But let’s start where we left off—downstairs in the living room. We need more readings before we—"
 
But Chaos didn’t listen. She was already halfway up the stairs, the pull too strong to ignore.
 
“Chaos!” Ren hissed, trying to keep his voice low. “What are you doing?”
 
“I just want to check something real quick. It’ll only take a second!” Chaos called over her shoulder, her feet already on the attic landing.
 
Bug’s voice crackled through the comms. “Chaos, what did I just say? Stick to the plan.”
 
Chaos ignored the growing protests, drawn into the attic as if something was waiting for her. "It’s fine, just... give me a minute."
 
She stepped into the attic, the air cold and heavy. The room was filled with old furniture covered in dusty sheets, and in the center of it all was an old mirror, cracked at the edges. Her spirit box buzzed in her hand, but she barely noticed it.
 
Suddenly, the box crackled violently, a voice coming through in harsh, disjointed whispers. "Leave… now..."
 
Chaos’s heart skipped a beat, but instead of retreating, she took a step closer to the mirror. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice shaking just slightly.
 
Bug’s voice cut through her earpiece, more urgent now. "Chaos, get out of there."
 
But she couldn’t pull herself away. Her hand reached out toward the mirror, almost as if it wasn’t under her control anymore. The second her fingers brushed the surface, a jolt of cold shot through her, and the entire attic erupted in noise. The EMF reader in Ren’s hand spiked to red, the temperature on Kim’s thermal camera plummeted, and a low growl filled the space around them.
 
“Chaos!” Ren shouted, dropping the EMF reader and running toward the stairs.
 
Before anyone could stop it, the mirror shattered with a deafening crash. Chaos stumbled back, her breath coming in short gasps as the growl grew louder, reverberating through the house. The air was thick with something malevolent, something angry.
 
"Chaos, RUN!" Bug yelled through the comms.
 
Ren grabbed her arm, yanking her back toward the stairs as the growling intensified, rattling the very walls of the house. They tore down the stairs, Chaos clutching her spirit box, her mind racing.
 
Kim was already at the front door, motioning for them to hurry. "Get out, NOW!"
 
They bolted out of the house, the door slamming shut behind them as they tumbled onto the lawn, gasping for air. Chaos collapsed onto the ground, her hands shaking as she clutched her knees.
 
Bug stormed out of the van, his face a mix of worry and frustration. "Chaos! What the hell were you thinking?"
 
“I-I don’t know,” she stammered, still reeling from the experience. “I just… I couldn’t stop. I didn’t mean to touch the mirror, it just—”
 
“You never mean to, Chaos,” Bug interrupted, his voice stern but filled with concern. “That’s the problem.”
 
Ren was still panting, glaring at her. “You almost got us all killed!”
 
Kim knelt next to her, checking her over. “Are you hurt?”
 
Chaos shook her head, though her heart was still racing. “I don’t think so.”
 
Bug took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “You’re staying grounded for the next few contracts. That’s non-negotiable.”
 
Chaos frowned, opening her mouth to protest, but Kim cut her off. “He’s right. You let your curiosity get the better of you, and it nearly cost us. You’re lucky it didn’t end worse.”
 
For once, Chaos didn’t argue. She just nodded quietly, staring at the shattered mirror still visible through the attic window.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The silence lingered in the air for a long moment as everyone tried to catch their breath. Chaos, for once, was quiet, clearly shaken by what had just happened. Bug rubbed his still-broken arm, his jaw set in frustration as he paced in front of her. “Are you hurt at all?” Bug asked, his voice softer now, though the tension was still clear. Chaos shook her head, still a bit rattled. “No, I’m fine. Just… I didn’t expect the mirror to—” “Of course you didn’t,” Bug interrupted, his frustration bubbling up again. “That’s the whole point! You don’t expect half the things you get into, Chaos, and that’s why you’re supposed to stick to the plan.” Chaos looked down, her hands gripping the edge of her jacket. “I know... I just thought—” “You didn’t think,” Ren said sharply, still breathing heavily. He had a hand on his side as if the sprint down the stairs had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit. “And now we’re dealing with whatever that thing was in there because you couldn’t wait five minutes.” Chaos flinched slightly at Ren’s words, but she couldn’t deny them, shame coated her face as she stared at the ground. “I’m sorry… I- I just wanted to help” The disappointment hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that wrapped around them like fog. Bug stopped pacing and turned to face Chaos, his expression softening but still laced with concern. “We need you to understand that this isn’t just a game, Chaos. This is real. There are consequences.” “I get it!” Chaos shot back, her voice a mix of frustration and hurt. “But I didn’t mean to put anyone in danger. I just wanted to explore!” Kim stepped in, trying to mediate the situation. “We’re not saying you can’t be involved, but you have to respect the rules we set. We do this to keep everyone safe.” “Exactly,” Ren added, crossing his arms. “Next time, think before you act.” With her heart heavy, Chaos felt the sting of tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry… I just wanted to help.” The words slipped out, barely a whisper. Bug sighed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. “We know you want to help. But right now, we need to make sure you’re safe. So just… go sit in the van for the rest of the contract.” “But—” “No buts, Chaos,” Kim interrupted, their voice firm. “You need to take a step back and cool off. We’ll handle the rest.” Reluctantly, Chaos nodded, knowing better than to argue further. She trudged toward the van, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Inside, she sank into the passenger seat, feeling the weight of their disappointment pressing down on her. As she sat there, she pulled out her sketchbook, the familiar comfort of drawing bringing her in. She started doodling absently, the pencil gliding across the page as her thoughts drifted away from the tension of the night. Each line felt like a release, and slowly, she slipped into a trance-like state, the outside world fading into the background. The sounds of the night outside became distant, muffled by her focus on the paper in front of her. She poured her energy into her drawings, losing track of time and space as the weight of the earlier confrontation slipped away.As Chaos sat in the van, lost in her drawings, Bug, Kim, and Ren regrouped outside, their breaths visible in the cool night air. The atmosphere around the haunted mansion felt charged, as if the air itself was anticipating what was to come. “We need to regroup and figure out our next move,” Kim said, glancing back at the van where Chaos had retreated. “We can’t let her setback derail us completely.” “Agreed,” Ren replied, rubbing his temples. “But we can’t go back in without a plan. That mirror could’ve been a direct link to whatever’s haunting this place.” Bug nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. “We need to figure out what that thing was and what it wants. If it’s strong enough to manifest in a mirror, it might have other ties in the house.” Kim pulled out the tablet again, scrolling through the data they had collected so far. “We should look at the recordings from the cameras, see if there’s anything unusual in the footage around the mirror.” “Good idea. Let’s set up near the front porch,” Bug suggested. “We can keep an eye on the house while we review the footage.” The three of them moved toward the van, setting up the tablet on the hood as they prepared to analyze the recordings. Kim connected the camera feed, and soon the screen flickered to life, showing grainy images of the interior of the mansion. As they scrolled through the footage, Kim pointed to a segment where Chaos had approached the mirror. “Look! Right here.” The image displayed Chaos moving closer to the reflective surface. Just as she reached for it, a shadow flickered in the corner of the frame, barely noticeable. “What was that?” Ren asked, leaning closer to the screen. “Looks like a shadow,” Bug replied, squinting at the monitor. “But it doesn’t seem to have a source. It’s almost as if it’s just… there.” “Let’s keep watching,” Kim said, fast-forwarding to the moment right before the growl erupted. “We need to see if it appears again.” As they continued to review the footage, Ren’s fingers drummed nervously against the van’s hood. “I can’t shake this feeling that we’re in over our heads.” “Yeah, well, that’s what makes it exciting, right?” Bug said, trying to lighten the mood. But even he felt the unease creeping back. Suddenly, the video froze, showing Chaos in mid-motion, her hand extended toward the mirror. In that frame, the shadow reappeared, more defined, almost resembling a face peering back at her. “Look!” Kim pointed at the screen. “It’s definitely there.” “What do you think it wants?” Ren asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Bug shook his head. “Whatever it is, it feels like it’s trying to lure her in. We can’t let that happen again. We need to find a way to close off whatever connection that mirror has to it.” After what felt like an eternity of reviewing the footage, Bug felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. He glanced over at the van, where Chaos had been sitting for too long in silence. “We should check on her,” he said, worry creeping into his voice. “I don’t like how quiet it is.” Kim nodded, sharing the same concern. “Yeah, let’s go.” Ren followed closely as they approached the van. The dim light from the interior illuminated Chaos’s focused expression, but something felt off. They opened the sliding door gently, not wanting to startle her out of whatever state she was in. Chaos sat with her sketchbook propped up against her knees, her pencil moving with an uncanny fluidity across the paper. As they peered over her shoulder, their breath caught in their throats. The drawing was strikingly vivid, and it was unmistakable: the shadow they had seen in the footage loomed behind her, its hands creeping in ominously as if ready to snatch her away. “Chaos…” Bug whispered, his heart racing as he took a step closer. “Hey, you okay?” But there was no response. She remained in her trance, the world around her fading away. It was as if she was trapped in a dream, unaware of everything happening outside her mind. “Should we touch her?” Ren asked, looking uncertain. “What if it interrupts something?” “I think we have to,” Kim said, their tone serious. “We can’t leave her like this.” As Bug reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, he hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. But the drawing was too unsettling to ignore. He gently squeezed her shoulder, and in that moment, Chaos gasped, her eyes widening in shock as if waking from a deep slumber. “What? What happened?” she stammered, blinking rapidly as she looked around, confusion etched on her face. “Chaos, you were drawing,” Bug said, nodding toward the sketchbook. “But look at this.” Chaos didn’t respond as Bug pointed to the drawing. Instead, something in her eyes shifted. Without warning, she shot up from her seat, darting past Bug, Kim, and Ren, who barely had time to register her sudden movement before she slammed the door shut behind her. “Chaos!” Bug shouted, panic rising in his chest. He rushed to the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “What the hell is she doing?” Ren shook his head, urgency in his voice. “We need to get inside! She’s in danger!” Kim turned and bolted back toward the mansion, with Bug and Ren right behind them. They raced through the front door, their hearts pounding with dread as they hurried up the staircase to the attic. “Chaos!” Bug called, his voice echoing in the empty space. “Where are you?”The attic was shrouded in shadows, the air thick with an eerie silence. It felt oppressive, the atmosphere almost choking as they stepped inside. Bug’s eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of her. Then they saw it: the shattered remnants of the mirror, shards of glass glinting ominously in the dim light. “No, no, no…” Bug whispered, dread pooling in his stomach. “What happened?” Ren breathed, taking in the scene. “Did she really—” Before he could finish, Kim spotted a figure against the far wall, just barely visible through the scattered shards of glass. “There!” they exclaimed, rushing forward. Bug and Ren followed closely, their hearts racing. As they reached her, they found Chaos sitting on the floor, her back against the wall, staring blankly at the remains of the mirror. “Chaos!” Bug knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he gently shook her shoulder. “What happened? Are you okay?” Slowly, she turned her head to meet his gaze, her expression distant and hollow. “I… I had to break it,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was the only way to stop it.” Ren crouched next to her, concern etched on his face. “Stop what? What did you see?” She blinked, seemingly lost in thought, and her eyes flickered back to the shards of glass, her breathing quickening. “It was… it was trying to get to me. I felt it, Bug. I felt it pulling at me, like it wanted to take me somewhere dark.” Kim looked around at the broken pieces, realizing the gravity of what she had done. “You broke the mirror… but what if it was a gateway?” “I don’t know,” Chaos replied, her voice trembling now. “I just knew I had to do something before it got to me.” Bug’s heart ached for her as he took in her shaken state. “You did the right thing, but you scared us half to death running off like that. We thought you were—” “I thought I could face it,” Chaos interrupted, looking up at Bug with tears in her eyes. “But it’s darker than I thought.” Ren sighed, his voice softening. “We should get you out of here. This place is not safe anymore.” As they helped Chaos to her feet, Bug couldn’t shake the feeling that the danger was far from over. They might have shattered the mirror, but the presence that lurked in the mansion was still very real, and it had its sights set on them. As they made their way back down the attic stairs, Bug kept a protective arm around Chaos, offering her the reassurance she desperately needed. Ren walked slightly ahead, his mind racing with thoughts he didn’t dare voice. Once outside, Kim called in the contract cancellation. “We’re pulling out. Too dangerous,” they reported, their voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Chaos shivered as the night air hit her, the adrenaline from their encounter finally fading. “I can’t believe I broke the mirror… What if that was the only thing holding it back?” Ren turned to her, his expression serious. “It might not be the only thing. What you saw was a Morai, we’re lucky you broke it. Those entities can manipulate shadows and prey on fear. They thrive in darkness.” Chaos blinked at him, confusion evident in her eyes. “A Morai? What does that mean?” Bug narrowed his eyes, sensing that Ren knew more than he was letting on. “You didn’t say anything about it being a Morai back there,” he pressed, concern etching his features. “How do you know?” Ren shrugged, a shadow crossing his face. “Just… something I’ve read about. They’re rare, but they’re not to be taken lightly.” He didn’t elaborate, the unspoken weight of his knowledge lingering in the air. Kim glanced between the two of them, sensing the tension. “Look, we’re done here. Let’s head back to the warehouse. We need to regroup and figure out our next steps.” As they climbed back into the van, Bug could feel the unease still clinging to them. He kept his eyes on the road, his thoughts heavy with worry for Chaos and the unknown threat they had just encountered. Once they arrived at the warehouse, Bug parked the van and turned to the others. “Let’s take a breather. We’ve had a rough night.” Ren nodded, but he still seemed distant, lost in thought. “Yeah, a break sounds good. We need to regroup and debrief everything.” Chaos fidgeted, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “Can we just… hang out? I don’t want to talk about what just happened right now.” Bug looked at her, his heart aching at the vulnerability in her voice. “Of course. Let’s just chill for a bit.”As they settled into the common area of the warehouse, the atmosphere slowly lightened. Bug made some hot chocolate for everyone, and Chaos leaned back against the couch, sketchbook in hand, drawing absentmindedly as the warmth of the drink seeped into her hands. The warehouse was quiet, the faint sounds of the night outside filtering in through the windows. A soft glow from the string lights draped across the ceiling created a cozy atmosphere, and the scent of hot chocolate lingered in the air. Bug, Ren, and Kim sprawled comfortably across the mismatched furniture while Chaos settled into a beanbag chair, her sketchbook resting on her lap. “Alright, time for a movie,” Kim announced, grabbing the remote and scrolling through their collection. “How about something lighthearted?” “Please, not another horror film,” Chaos groaned, her eyes wide with mock horror. “I need something to distract me, not give me nightmares!” “Agreed,” Ren chimed in, leaning forward with a grin. “I vote for a classic. Something we can all enjoy.” Bug smiled, amused by the playful banter. “You guys are lucky I’m feeling generous. ‘The Princess Bride’ it is!” With a few quick clicks, the film started, and laughter soon filled the room. They settled into their spots, sipping on steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Chaos, ever the mischievous one, leaned over to Bug, attempting to sneak a marshmallow from his cup. “Hey! No stealing!” Bug playfully swatted her hand away, earning a giggle from her. “Just making sure I get my fair share!” she shot back, a cheeky grin on her face. Ren chuckled and tossed a marshmallow at her. “Here, Chaos. Just don’t take any more from Bug. He looks like he could use them.” “Yeah, I definitely need marshmallows for the long night of not sleeping I have ahead of me,” Bug joked, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the smile creeping onto his face. As the movie played on, the tension from earlier began to dissolve. Chaos leaned back in her beanbag, her attention shifting from the screen to the warmth of her friends around her. She felt safe, cocooned in the camaraderie that had always been their anchor through chaos. During the peanut scene, Ren burst out laughing, his eyes sparkling with mirth. Bug joined in, and soon Chaos couldn’t help but giggle along with them. For those precious moments, it felt like nothing else mattered—the darkness they had faced earlier faded into the background, replaced by laughter and shared joy. When the credits rolled, Kim stretched and yawned. “Okay, who’s up for a late-night snack?” Chaos perked up, her eyes wide. “Can we have popcorn? And maybe some cookies?” “Popcorn and cookies? You’re on,” Kim said, a smile forming. “But only if you help me make them.” “Deal!” Chaos exclaimed, bouncing up from her chair. Bug watched her rush off with a fondness that warmed his heart. “I can’t tell if the fact that she has this much energy is a good or bad thing,” he said to Ren, who nodded in agreement. Ren chuckled, leaning back into the couch. "It's a double-edged sword." Bug sighed, though there was a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I guess it's better than sitting in silence. But still, how does she do it after everything?" From the kitchen, they could hear Chaos laughing as she rummaged through cabinets with Kim, the sounds of popcorn popping filling the room. The easy, familiar rhythm of their lives after a hunt was like clockwork. Despite the danger and chaos they faced out in the field, moments like these were what grounded them. “Hey, you want anything while we’re up?” Chaos called from the kitchen. Bug glanced at Ren, then shouted back, “Surprise us!” A few minutes later, Chaos reappeared, balancing a giant bowl of popcorn and a plate of freshly baked cookies. Kim followed, shaking their head in amusement as they carried extra snacks. “I didn’t even know we had cookie dough,” Ren commented, raising an eyebrow. “Kim’s always got a stash,” Chaos said, winking as she placed the goodies on the coffee table. “It’s their secret weapon.” Kim shrugged, sitting back down. “Everyone needs emergency cookies.” Bug laughed, grabbing a cookie with a grin, “That we do Kim, that. We. Do.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kim spins aimlessly in their desk chair, wireless headphones blocking out the sounds around them. They have a decent space, with the bed shoved into the corner allowing room for their desk and storage units. A bookshelf in one corner with textbooks and instruction manuals packed onto each shelf, in such a manner that the entirety of bookshelf space is filled. The storage bins are mostly labeled, but some are not, including a large bin of salvaged electronics parts. They already put back together the emf reader that a poltergeist had chucked against a wall… What else? When the group had gotten to that house, the three had gone in while Kim busied themself with the computer. A hunt occurred, parabolic mics survived, the camera survived, the video camera had gotten knocked down but had not broken so far it wouldn’t work, and the emf reader they just fixed…  Kim frowns. A few days back there had been a Hantu that had startled someone into knocking over the video camera. They had correctly id’ed the ghost, but even still… There were some shivers in the group as they had driven off that night. There wasn’t anything Kim could do either, and with all of the equipment failures as of late the ghost hunting has been a lot harder… Kim reaches for their laptop and creates a new browser window before they start diving into the latest in research on paranormals. There has to be something useful- as they reach almost 30 tabs, Kim’s eyes light up on seeing the title of one particular article. And as they read, a grin grows on their face. “...contains methylxanthines, which are known to promote cognitive function [3]. Various other compounds result in antioxidant, vasodilatory, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory properties [9] [1] [12] [4] [3] [7]. There are links to improved mood or antidepressant effects following consumption [2] [3] [9]. Other compounds or substances with the same or similar properties have been found to aid in mental health following exposure to paranormal electromagnetic activity…” 
This they can work with.
  The research was relatively recently purchased, meaning it is rather alone for now as not enough time has passed for any followup studies to be published. But the research trial was well constructed, and some applications have already shown some promise… There is so much potential. So when Kim wakes up to their alarm the next day after only a few hours of sleep, the excitement of a project in mind gets them out of bed quickly despite the sleep deprivation. Snatching a smoothie before scurrying back to their desk once more to get started.  To build this device they need to get the timing just right, but how to ensure it is triggered in time? Kim pauses, turning towards their bin of discarded electronics. They have a tracker somewhere in here- As they get focused on their tinkering, the world around them practically fades away. A few hours later they barely notice Chaos knocking on their door and then entering. Chaos starts talking, they absentmindedly respond, and there's some back and forth. The tracker is working, they’ll have to install that later with a signal that will be received… the receiver, that’s what they forgot! A dig through the bin and they get to work on taking apart an old phone and receiver, they may be able to reuse these parts in order to… It's only sometime after the fact that they pause as a stray thought tugs on their mind, but the silence of their room and a quick glance at the door shows Chaos had left. They can't remember what Chaos came to their room for… …then they brush the concern aside and go back to working on their project. If it was something important, they would have probably remembered.   They blearily wake up to their alarm, regretting that extra hour spent awake last night. Their brain mentally catalogs what they need to grab before they can disappear back into their room. Breakfast, silverware for eating said breakfast, and some mint gum to help stay awake. The first clue that this plan would not work is the look Chaos gives Kim as they enter the kitchen. Her eyes bored into Kim’s soul as she basically glared at them, yet said nothing. Kim carefully keeps the island between them and Chaos as they go to grab a water bottle. Maybe Chaos was upset over the conversation from last night? They really should have paid more attention- Regardless, Kim still has the project waiting for them upstairs that they really need to get back to. They grab what they can, ensuring they are ready to leave the moment Chaos finishes cooking breakfast. Chaos finishes the pancakes, setting them onto the island, and grabbing her own stack before sitting down on the couch. Her eyes are still fixed on Kim, glaring at them. Kim carefully walks for the pancake stack once Chaos is sitting down, stacking up their own plate to take back to their room. Bug walks in a moment later, his hair messed up from sleep as he grabbed his own stack next to Kim. “Morning.” “Morning!” Kim swears they can still feel Chaos’s disapproving gaze drilling into their back. As Kim turns to walk back to their room, Bug puts a hand on their shoulder, gently pushing them towards the living room with a slight smile, “No hiding away this time Kim.” Kim reluctantly walks to their doom, taking a seat on their spinnable cushioned armchair. If they have to deal with both Chaos and Bug, then they need the ability to spin during the inevitable conversation. “So, not sleeping?” Chaos states, phrased as a question yet Kim knew it was a statement. “Wanna explain that to us?” This was clearly not a request. Kim is in so much trouble- “I got distracted! I just missed an hour of sleep today.” Chaos pulls out a notebook with hand drawn images of summoning circles on it, “Night before you barely got any sleep, and before that you only got 4 hours.” Kim spins a bit in their chair out of nerves, stuffing a chunk of pancake into their mouth. There isn’t anything they can really say to Chaos’s statement- maybe that was what Chaos had come in to talk with them about yesterday.  Chaos looked up at Kim with a concerned expression, “Kim, what's going on? Why aren't you sleeping?” The usually carefree girl seemed unusually serious, looking at her friend intently, hoping for them to tell her what was going on. Kim swallows down the pancake, slowing their spinning around. “Research project. I got, well it’s an interesting- I lost track of time, and… I also really wanna get back to working on it-” Chaos looked at Kim unimpressed, “Kim do you really think we can’t tell when you aren’t telling us the full truth?” Bug nods in agreement at her words, “Yeah, c’mon Kim, spill it.” Kim shrinks into their seat a bit, but after a moment begrudgingly states, “I want it to be a secret! You’ll see it once I can get a working prototype.” Chaos continues to look at Kim expectantly, her arms crossed, foot tapping. Although that last one might not be related, she taps her feet a lot. “Secret!” Kim stuffs a pancake in their mouth and returns to spinning their chair. Ren walks into the kitchen, grabs the jug of orange juice, and chugs it directly from the gallon. After he sets it back down, he wipes his mouth with the back of his sleeve, and looks at the trio in the living room, noticing the very serious attitude, “Did somebody die? Was it Chaos?” He purposefully looked over her head, pretending not to see her. Kim notices the way Ren is avoiding looking at Chaos and grins. “Yes, yes Chaos did. RIP Chaos.” “OI!” Chaos exclaims, her questioning of Kim immediately forgotten, “I’m right here.” Ren puts a hand over his chest, a melancholy expression on his face, “Sometimes, I can still hear her voice.” Kim nods, wiping away a fake tear. “Her memory lingers in our minds, we will never forget her.” Bug chuckles, “Okay children, that’s enough teasing.” Ren looks at Bug with an exaggerated expression of horror, “How could you Bug? Our dear dear short Chaos has perished, and you think it's just teasing? Shame, shame upon you.” “HEY, I’M NOT THAT SHORT!” Chaos protests, searching for something to throw at Ren. Kim silently laughs to themself as they carefully slip out of their chair. With the others distracted, maybe they can get back to work… Bug clears his throat pointedly, “Kim, no sneaking away.” Kim narrows their eyes at Bug and very deliberately gives Chaos a throw pillow. Chaos in turn takes the pillow, and bringing her arm back to throw it, accidentally on purpose hits Bug in the face before throwing it at Ren. “Oops.” Her voice is full of insincerity. Kim mock salutes and dips out of the living room while Bug is blinded. Now if they can get that thermocouple replaced… A pillow hits Kim directly in the back of their head, Bug grinning from where he sat, being the one to throw it. With a mischievous grin Chaos bellows, a pillow in each hand, “PILLOW FIGHT!!!!” …maybe the project can wait a few minutes. Kim quickly grabs the pillow off the floor to toss it at Bug’s face.  “Tilt your head down, and pinch your nose at the base.” Kim coached Chaos, the lucky recipient of a bloody nose, courtesy of Bug. The man in question was standing off to the side, a sheepish expression on his face. “Sorry Chaos, didn’t mean to hit you that hard.” Kim gives Bug a look. They cannot be too mad though, given it is their family… …speaking of which, they have a project to get back to.  There seems to be an issue with the composition and temperature of the unit, and if they can carefully get this busted thermocouple replaced maybe it would at least be regulating the temperature correctly-  -there isn’t enough insulation, but before they can get better materials they hear the floorboards outside creak. A quick glance at the time results in them diving for their bed before the knocking sounds against their door-  -They rush out of the van before Bug finishes braking, ignoring the shouts behind them as they run through the door. Dashing upstairs, throwing their door open only to soon after face disappointment-  Kim eyes the route as the van approaches their home. They can feel everyone else watching them, even Bug when he can get a chance to glance away from the road safely. Bug grins slightly, “Good luck trying to do that again Kim, I put the child lock on.” Chaos pipes up from next to Kim, “You’re stuck with us Kimmy Wimmy! For-Ev-Er.” Kim merely hums, intently staring at the house through the window, starting to unbuckle their seatbelt. Chaos unbuckles too, and decides to mimic a gargoyle on the seats watching Kim closely. “Hey. Buckle your seatbelts.” Bug called back to them, but was promptly ignored. Ren laughs, “Bug we are right outside the garage, it's fine.” Chaos then grabbed Kim’s arm, looking at them with a grin, “Mine!” Kim doesn’t do anything about Chaos grabbing their arm. They keep watch as the van rolls into the garage, and they check the door- still locked, they are practically vibrating in place as they wait for Bug to open the door. Bug walks over to Kim’s door, and opens it, but holds a hand out to stop Kim from running away. At the same time Chaos goes koala mode, clinging onto them with a content smile on her face.  Kim does not wait a second though, launching themself out- and tackling the slightly younger man as a result, all while dragging Chaos. Ren pulls out his video camera, and starts to record, stifling his laughter at the absurd scene before him. The inventor quickly works on untangling themself from the other two, the project is waiting upstairs- Unfortunately, Chaos seems to be very firmly attached to Kim, clinging onto them determinedly. Bug groans slightly from where he fell, the tangle of limbs making it hard for him to get up. In the background Ren fails at his attempt, bursting into laughter. Kim does their best to roll out of the pile, even though it brings the koala copycat with. Struggling to get to their feet, “Chaos, Chaos let go-” “Nope. Mine.” “But- then come with, it’s time, it’s-” Kim is doing their best to start making their way to their bedroom. “It’s gotta be now-” As Chaos continues to hold onto Kim, a small pack of tarot cards fall out of her pocket, but she doesn’t seem to notice or care. “Let’s go!” “This would go faster if you run with- We gotta go-” “Nope!” Chaos climbs around Kim till she is on their back.  Bug is able to get back up after a moment, but is distracted by the tarot cards. He leans down, picking them up and with an exasperated sigh speaks, “Chaos, what have we told you about bringing home cursed objects?” Chaos lets go of Kim, looking at Bug sheepishly, “Oops… I forgot I had those.” Her head was downturned, and she twists her toe on the ground, the perfect image of an innocent child. So long as you didn’t actually know her. Kim moves faster now that the extra weight is gone, running up the staircase and bursting into their room- -and a few seconds later, emerging with steaming cups of hot chocolate. “Living room everyone!” Taking advantage of the distraction to avoid a scolding, Chaos bolts to the living room, leaping into the spinny chair, sending it flying around while she laughs. Kim quickly descends the steps behind her to distribute the 4 mugs of warm hot chocolate to everyone in the room, although they did have to wait for Chaos to stop spinning before giving her the hot chocolate. They waited till everyone had started to drink theirs, before taking a sip of their own cup. Perfectly warm, just the temperature they like. And seeing everyone’s delighted faces as they drink their own cups… 
Those sleepless nights were totally worth it…
mostly.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ren had been in his room for a very long time. Three days? Didn't seem like a lot for regular people, but when it came to his housemates, he was the most social out of all of them, always checking in on as many as he could and compiling pictures of their adventures into his scrapbook. He loved the people he lived and worked with, and he did his best to show it in quality time. But lately, it was all alone time. Ever since he'd taken Lt in as an odd form of symbiotic relationship, he'd just felt exhausted, but was unable to sleep. He became unnaturally avoidant of mirrors, and especially taking pictures in them, because the ones he did now.. well, Lt showed up. They appeared as a very vivid shadow with glowing eyes and long hair standing directly behind Ren, sure, but that was enough for Ren to stop doing that completely. He wasn’t trying to be suspicious, but he also wasn't trying to get in trouble. Bug would be furious. After all, Chaos got in a load of trouble for just bringing along cursed items back to home, imagine how many more issues he'd have for letting a demon attachment stay! If he thought Chaos’s grounding was bad… Well, Ren would never see the light of day again if someone found out. So, he took matters into his own hands and declared himself sick. It didn't take a lot of effort, just coughing every once in a while and sleeping without his humidifier, which made his nose incredibly stuffy. The lack of sleep helped too. Kim never slept when they were working on this super good hot chocolate– Ren didn't care too much, he wasn't exactly the paragon of virtue in that aspect either– so Ren felt justified in not being able to sleep. He never admitted the insomnia to anyone, though.  He wanted to, of course, but unfortunately his body was still adjusting to having two conscious beings in it, so it was working overtime. Not that it had been that long– three weeks. Weeks? It was just three days a couple of minutes ago. How could he keep up this ‘sick’ act for much longer without even more concern? Bug already knew he recovered fast, so lying about that was out of the question- unless…– anyway. He couldn't just say he didn't want to go, ghost hunting was a huge passion of his, people would see through that so easily. Kim and Chaos especially. Stars, why did he have to set himself up for potential failure so much?  Really, the lying was just an instinct, something innate that demanded he should never ever tell the truth. Not even the whole truth. He tried to stop so very much, but every sentence had deception hidden in it, cleverly crafted so it'd never be weeded out except by Ren himself. For instance, Ren had convinced Chaos his favorite color was orange because his long distance partner’s favorite color was orange. He’d told Kim he was new to hunting, despite having done it as a passion for years now, longer than any of the rest of them. Bug.. Well, he couldn't really lie to Bug. He’d know instantly what was true or false. So he didn't bother trying. Most importantly though, Ren had convinced himself that he was fine. He was fine. Nothing was wrong, everything was normal, and the universe didn't ask anything of him. Ren was just a regular guy who lived in a warehouse with his three other friends. And also was a host to a demon. So he sat on his bed and scribbled in the leather bound journal Chaos had gotten him for his birthday that past year. Little drawings of himself back when he was normal. “Goodness, you have a lot on your mind.” A voice came dryly in his head, and Ren knew it was Lt. The demon was still adjusting to being a secondary being, rather than being in control. Ren was still adjusting to being a host. “Is this whole period of feeling like death itself– uh, no offense– going to go away soon?” He asked out loud after checking four times to make sure his bedroom door was locked. “None taken,” Lt shrugged, and Ren could see them as a clear figure in the corner of his head. “And.. it depends. From what I've heard from other demons, it can last from three days to six months.” “Yay.” Ren replied monotonely, but his emphasis on certain words increased as he talked. “I'm so happy I might have a bit more than five months of no sleep whatsoever.”Lt cackled, an unfamiliar sound– especially since Lt had started out in Ren’s head with hatred and anger, directed mostly at Ren's friends, not Ren. But oh boy, he sure got a talking to after the whole trying-to-kill-his-best-friends, even when he insisted– and Chaos and Bug confirmed– it really wasn't him. Lt sure had changed after they were accepted. “You're just being a big baby about it.” They snorted, and Ren grumbled.  “Oh, I'm sorry I'm one of the pathetic little mortals who actually need rest every once in a while—— Stars, does that screaming ever go away?” “When you're calmed down, yes it does.” “You're saying that to Anxiety Central.” Lt snickered again, “Anxiety schmanxiety. My point is, it might be a while before you're back to feeling normal. Might as well take advantage of it and work on something that needs to get done.” “I would've worked on the ghost hunting, but it seems I won't be in the right headspace for it.” Ren considered, sitting down in his spinny chair. “Kim’s birthday has already passed, but I've been wanting to make them a fox hoodie.” “Good idea.” Lt congratulated, and Ren felt a little better. “You just have to go get the stuff, right? Shouldn't be too hard.” “I still feel like death itself.” Ren deadpanned, but Lt didn't give a reaction. “I'll have to ask Chaos to get the stuff for me.” “Who’s Chaos again?” The demon asked, and Ren pulled up a picture of their group on their first successful hunt, then pointed at the smallest of their team. “That's Chaos. She’s the youngest.” Lt’s eyes hardened for a moment, and the monitor glitched out before returning to normal. “The spirit box kid.”  “No bad feelings towards her.” Ren warned. It was more of an order rather than a request. “She was trying to save Bug, everything she did was justified.” “Fine.” Lt huffed, folding their arms. “No hard feelings.”  Ren relaxed. “Thanks.”   It didn't take a lot to convince Chaos to go to the fabric store for him, especially if he amped up the coughing and stuffy nose– not to mention the word gift. Ren almost felt bad about sort of lying to her about being sick, but he really did feel awful. While Chaos was off at the store- Ren thought she dragged Bug along, he set up his sewing machine and started planning out a pattern.  Chaos and Bug returned with the appropriate amount of fabric, orange and soft, some comfy lining, and a bit of pink fabric. Bug shot Ren a concerned look, but Ren had already started rushing them out of his room, shutting and locking the door behind him. He pulled on his headphones, which immediately stopped working as soon as he touched them. Ren tried to turn on music from his computer, and felt a little bit of panic when it turned to that glitched screen again. What?  “Are you doing this?” He asked Lt, who shrugged from the corner of his mind.  “It must be an effect from having me.” “Well can you quit it? I'm trying to concentrate here.” Ren said, and as soon as it left his mouth, he knew it was a half-truth. In all reality, he was trying to distract himself from what the issue really was– how he felt about the whole demon symbiote thing. “I can try toning it down for this technology, but I can assure you, it won't work for your ghost hunting equipment.” Lt’s tone was rather unsympathetic, and Ren started chewing on his tongue, a nervous habit he had. “It’s way too tuned into paranormal activity to be fooled by my efforts to conceal my abilities.” “That's great.” Ren grumbled. “Just great. How in the hell am I supposed to do my job then?” “I dunno.” Lt shrugged again, and Ren’s frustration only grew. “Thanks for the help.” He snapped. He wasn't really upset at Lt, it wasn't their fault it had turned out this way. Most of it was his own, really. Lt didn't respond, but a vague feeling told Ren that they understood the reasoning. Bug always said his anger issues would cause problems if he couldn't keep them under control. “I'm sorry for snapping.” He apologized after a second of silence. “It's not your fault. I'm just having a—” “–hard time adjusting.” Lt finished for him, and nodded. “I know.” “Thanks for understanding.” Ren sighed, sitting back in his chair as he pushed himself over to the sewing desk. After that, he decided to accept the silence and began working. It took three days for Ren to consider it good enough, and another week for Lt to think the same. Every detail had to be perfect. He never stopped working on it for all the time he spent in his room, but anytime he heard someone coming down the hall– the floorboards always creaked when someone was at his door– he'd just slip into his bed and wait until he was sure they were gone. Since the sewing machine had a horrible habit of being incredibly noisy, and Bug and Kim had the two rooms next to him, Ren settled for sewing by hand at nighttime. The third night, he got a knock on the door. After quickly checking the time– 11:41pm, not bad– he decided to go see who it was.  Bug stood there, arms crossed. Ren’s heart stopped.“Heya, Bug.” Ren tried to sound as sick as possible, but that only seemed to make it worse. “Ren, are you feeling okay? You've been stuck in here for like, four weeks. That's an entire month, if you couldn't count.” “I can't.” Ren supplied rather helpfully. “So thanks for telling me.” Bug didn't seem amused, so Ren shrank back a little, stepping further into his room. “I really think we need to take you to a doctor, Ren. This isn't normal for you, and we both know it.” Don’t lie, don't lie, don't lie. “You're right.” He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But–” “No buts.” Bug insisted, and Ren winced.  “Okay, jeez. I'll go tomorrow, it's too late to go right now.” He put his hands up in a defensive gesture, trying to ignore the screaming in his head. He needed to calm down. “Swear it.”  “I swear on the stars, I'll go to the doctor tomorrow. Is that good enough?” Holy heck, Ren, put yourself in timeout. He's just worried about you. You don't need to be snippy with him. “Alright, alright. I'll lay off. I'm just worried. This is the longest you've gone– being uh, sick, y’know?” Bug sighed, stepping inside the room and rubbing his other arm while looking at the floor.  Ren tried to force himself to relax. “Yeah, I know. Trust me, I feel it too.” “Do you think it's because of the whole.. possession thing that happened at Edgefield?” He asked, and all that relaxing Ren had been doing so well was gone in an instant. The screaming got even worse. “I don't know.” He said, forcing himself to say it at a normal pace. He always spoke a bit faster when he lied and Bug always picked up on it. “Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. It is allergy season, after all.” “Yeah, but–” Bug began, and Ren cut him off before he could continue. “It's probably just allergies I haven't taken care of yet. I'll ask when I go in tomorrow.” Bug looked at Ren, squinting slightly the way he did when he was trying to read him. Ren attempted to stand the same way he always did– how did he do that again? Feet a shoulder's width apart, shoulders slouched and always looking away from whoever he was talking to. C’mon, believe it. Believe it. It was a struggle, and it felt like hours before Bug relaxed, then turned and headed towards the door. “Alright then. Sleep well, Ren, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave Ren a wave and then headed out, closing the door behind himself. Ren let out a breath he didn't remember holding. “Quick thinking.” Lt complimented dryly, and Ren didn't reply. “I've gotta commit to it, or he'll know something's up. It's bad enough my tech isn’t working as well as usual, but if something happens at the doctor's, I'll be in a hell of a lot worse trouble.” Ren moved towards his bed and sat down. “It’ll be fine. Doctor's office equipment isn't made to detect the paranormal, your results will be fine! Very completely normal!” Lt smiled.   “Your results are very abnormal.” The doctor had said, all dressed in lab coat and glasses. Ren just smiled and nodded.  “So.. not allergies?” He asked a bit helplessly, his only excuse gone, and she shook her head. “Not at all. Something is very much wrong with your body, Ren, and I'd like to run a couple more tests to figure out what it is.” Great. “Sounds good to me.” He lied, fists clenched so tightly on his lap that his knuckles were white. “I'll have you come in tomorrow so we can run a screening, see if it's anything to do with medication. Do you take any?” “Just anxiety meds and antidepressants.” Ren answered truthfully for once. “Alright then. See, your heart rate is way higher than the average, and your blood pressure is as well. Any circumstantial changes recently?” She– the name tag on her coat said Doctor Shadow (very cool name)– pulled out a clipboard and Ren could feel his heart rate spiking. Clipboards were never good, especially not for Ren. “A fear of clipboards? Really?” Lt's voice came through and he didn't give them the dignity of a response. “Well, I mean, not really?” He answered Dr. Shadow. “We travel around a lot for work, and it's all pretty calm for me, I guess.” “What do you do for work?” She asked, and Ren shrank back a little. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his job, just.. self conscious.  “Ghost hunting.” He mumbled, and she tilted her head, her dark curls bouncing a little.  “What'd you say? I didn't quite catch that.” “Ghost hunting.” Ren sighed, ignoring the blush of embarrassment on his cheeks.  “Ah.” Dr. Shadow said, and that was all Ren needed to hear. “Anything I can do in the meantime to make the symptoms go down?” He asked, changing the subject as smoothly as sandpaper meeting a shark’s skin. Dr. Shadow took a moment to think about it, then shrugged. “Get as much rest as you can, and try to get fresh air often.” Ren nodded in reply. “Okey dokey.” He said. “I'll do just that.” He lied, like a liar. “Call us immediately if the symptoms get worse to the point you haven't been sleeping for days.” Dr. Shadow instructed, and the screaming in Ren's head just got louder. “You got it doc.” He lied again, shooting finger guns at her. She shook her head in amusement and sent him off.   When Ren got home, he just went straight to his room, shut the door, fell face-first onto his bed and screamed into his pillow. Kim, Bug, and Chaos were all out doing a contract, so he didn't have to have anyone to hear him.  Lt cackled, and Ren wanted to scream again. “Goodness, do you ever not lie?” “You try dealing with this!” He stood and threw his hands in the air. “How can I be honest when doing that only gets me into more trouble?!” “Hey, I wasn't saying I didn't like it.” Nonchalant in every word, Ren just felt even more frustrated, and the screaming just got worse.  “What the hell am I supposed to say to Bug? Oh yeah, the doctor says I'm doing terribly, I might be out of commission for the stars know how long? I need to help them out- I make a quarter of the share with my photos! I've already had enough time taken out of what would be regular, so they're all working even more to make up for it!” Ren began to pace, and he could hardly hear himself at this point, much less Lt, who seemed to be a little less eager than usual to tease Ren. “Let's just forget the whole issue about how I'm slowly losing my starsdamned mind trying to cope with this massive change of being a host for a non-human being. How about we forget for a moment that I'm still a part of the team and all I've ever seemed to do is make things harder on everyone else? How about we forget that I am letting my family down with this?! I don't even deserve to have them at this point, because I refuse to let any of them really know me. I’ve put up this mask that I'm someone I'm not, and this time, I'm not the only person that it's hurting! I'm hurting the only people who have ever cared about me!” His pacing became more frantic, more sporadic, and more panicked.  “Ren, calm down.” Lt said, but it was already too late for that. The screaming got louder, Ren's breathing became faster until it wasn't steady anymore and he was barely even able to see straight, just left stumbling around his room.  “I don't know how I managed to mess all of this up so badly, to the point I don't have a good chance at even fixing it without hurting the people I've already hurt even more!” Ren sat down on his bed and buried his head in his hands, pulling his legs up to his chest as the pounding in his head became even more painful. “Ren!” Lt shouted, and that got his attention. “Will you quit it?!” As they caught his focus, Ren looked up from his hands and began to realize something. The electronics in his room were going nuts. The lights were flashing, his computer had blue-screened, and even the sewing machine had started stitching without the pedal being pressed. That wasn't Lt’s doing. Ren was doing that. Ren was— –No. No, he would not fall right back into that spiral. This wasn't useful, it was only making things worse. Ren knew one day it'd all come back to haunt him– stars above, no puns intended– but did it have to be so soon? He took a shaky breath in through his nose and forced himself to blow it out, like he was extinguishing a candle. Then he repeated it. Again and again, until his head stopped screaming and pounding and—“Breathe. Good.” Who was talking to him? The others weren't back yet. Lt? That was Lt talking him through it, Ren realized.  “You're doing just fine. Just keep breathing.” It felt strange, Lt being so.. so.. soft? Caring? Concerned, even? “Why..?” He tried, but the words got caught in his throat.  “Ren, you may not realize it, but you haven't hurt as many people as you think you have. You've actually done more good than bad, okay?” “Okay.” He accepted it so easily. After all, Lt saw every bit of his personal life, all the mistakes he'd made, and all the stuff he'd done. Lt got to file through his past like a book, and Ren couldn't do a thing. He did agree to that. Why would Lt be lying about something like this anyway? Why was he lying about something like this? “Good job.” Lt said calmly as Ren's breathing finally steadied. “Now, focus on one thing at a time. Not the inner thoughts and feelings, outward stuff. Get the lights to stop flickering.” Ren tried it, glaring at the light bulb and willing the lights to stop flashing on and off, and to stay on. Click. The lights stopped. Then, he moved to the sewing machine. Then, his computer. Finally, it was quiet again. Lt stayed quiet, and Ren took one last deep breath. “Okay. Thanks.” “I think that doctor was right.”  “About what?” Ren asked, leaning back and relaxing. “You need fresh air.” Lt replied, and Ren could hear the smile in their voice. “Yeah. I think– I think fresh air might be nice.” He sighed, standing up and pulling on a blue hoodie, before stepping out into the hall. “Wait for the stars to come out, then you can go back inside.” Lt decided, and Ren didn't argue. He liked the stars. Focusing on one thing at a time really calmed him down, and it felt better than trying to hold all those things at once. Heading down to the garage, Ren noticed that Kim’s lanyard with the keys to the warehouse and Kim’s Lair– his affectionate name for their van– were still hanging up, but Bug’s and Chaos's were gone.  Oh no. He stared in disbelief. Please don't say— “Ren.” Lt insisted, and Ren's focus turned right back to the task at hand. He could worry about Kim hearing his whole breakdown later. He just really hoped they wouldn't tell Bug. When he finally made it to their scuffed front porch, Ren sat down and pulled his hoodie about himself, just a little tighter as he gazed up at the sky, dusk just beginning to fall.  “The bats’ll be out soon.” He muttered to Lt, no longer just himself, and began to scan the sky as it became darker and darker. No longer forever alone. No longer solitary. No longer just one, but two beings looked up at the sky that night. A guy and his demon. A demon and their guy.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Bug killed the van’s engine, the old vehicle settling into silence outside the house on Tanglewood Drive. It looked like any ordinary home—quaint, a little run-down, but not overtly menacing. The kind of place that blended into the neighborhood, concealing the fact that it was anything but normal. He glanced over at Chaos in the passenger seat. She was fiddling with something, not seeming all that concerned about what they were about to walk into. Her demeanor was more playful than nervous, her focus wandering like they were about to head to the store rather than into a haunted house. It was strange—most people would be anxious, but Chaos had always been different. Bug had learned that much by now. "Remember the plan," Bug said, breaking the silence. "We’re just here to check things out. Nothing flashy." Chaos gave him a sideways glance, an almost teasing smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, yeah, easy job, right? But if something fun happens, you won’t stop me, will you?" Bug sighed, shaking his head. It wasn’t fear he saw in her eyes—it was excitement. She had always thrived in situations that would terrify others. Even at 19, the youngest of the crew, she had this uncanny way of handling the supernatural like it was a game. A fact that rather annoyed all the older investigators at times. “Just don’t go stirring up trouble for the sake of it,” Bug said, opening his door. “We’re getting in and out.” Chaos followed him, hopping out of the van with a lightness in her step. As they approached the house, Bug felt that familiar sense of unease creeping in, though he didn’t let it show. The door creaked open with a push, and the musty smell of long-forgotten rooms hit them instantly. Chaos didn’t flinch. In fact, she seemed to relax as if stepping into a place like this was second nature. Chaos grabbed the video camera, parabolic microphone, and spirit box from the back of the van, her movements smooth and confident. Bug watched her as she slung the gear over her shoulder with ease, as if she had done this a thousand times before—which, knowing her, wasn’t too far from the truth. “Let’s make this quick,” Bug muttered, but he didn’t bother reminding her again to be careful. Chaos would do things her way, no matter what. The door groaned as they stepped inside. The air felt thick, oppressive, but Chaos moved through it like she belonged there. Without a word, she made her way straight to the basement, not even waiting for Bug to catch up. He stayed behind for a moment, scanning the ground floor, while she descended the creaky stairs into the dimly lit space below. In the basement, Chaos set the camera to night vision, adjusting it to get a clear shot of the room. It was cluttered with old, forgotten things—boxes, broken furniture, a faint chill hanging in the air. That’s when she saw it. The Ouija board lay half-buried under a pile of dust and cobwebs, waiting. Chaos didn’t hesitate. She knelt down and brushed off the grime, pulling the board free and setting it on a clear patch of floor. A mischievous grin tugged at her lips as she found the planchette resting beside it. Without a second thought, she placed her fingers lightly on the wooden piece. "Where’s your room?" she whispered to the board, her voice soft but steady. The planchette moved under her touch, slow at first but gaining momentum as it spelled out the answer. Chaos raised an eyebrow, watching the letters form with mild amusement. M-A-I-N-B-A-T-H-R-O-O-M. "Thanks," she whispered back, voice low, before quickly swiping the planchette from the board and pocketing it. Bug would probably scold her for messing with it like that, but she wasn’t worried. With that done, she turned and headed back up the stairs, her movements as quiet as a shadow. The ghost’s room was upstairs, just as the board had indicated, and as she reached the second floor, she paused just outside the door. There was a strange stillness in the air, the temperature dropping noticeably. Chaos let out a breath, her hand hovering over the door handle. A grin flashed across her face. "Let’s see what you’ve got," she murmured to the room beyond, her excitement barely contained as she pushed open the door and stepped inside.  Chaos set up the camera on a tripod in the ghost room, angling it just right to check for any signs of ghost orbs. The glow of the camera’s screen lit her face as she peered through it, her expression still one of mischievous focus. Everything felt calm—too calm, really—but she knew better than to trust that feeling in a place like this. She adjusted the parabolic microphone, picking up only faint whispers of static for now. Suddenly, the lights in the room began to flicker. Chaos looked up from the camera, her heart skipping a beat, though excitement more than fear spurred her into action. She recognized the signs immediately—this was no malfunction. A ghost was beginning to hunt. "Well, that’s not good," she muttered deadpan, her smirk faltering for the first time. The temperature in the room dropped fast. Chaos grabbed the spirit box and turned to bolt for the door, knowing she had seconds at best. She flung the door open, her footsteps quick as she rushed down the narrow hallway. But just as she rounded a corner, the air grew thick with cold, and she saw it—the ghost, standing directly in her path. A surge of dread hit her as the figure manifested, its translucent form crackling with a sinister energy. Chaos tried to stop, to change course, but it was too late. The ghost’s icy hand shot out, grabbing her by the arm. The moment it made contact, Chaos felt a deep, unbearable cold spread through her body, as if her very life was being drained away. Her knees buckled, her vision blurring as she struggled to pull free, but the ghost’s grip was unrelenting. Her breath came in short gasps, the world around her fading fast as her energy drained, slipping away. She could barely make out the sound of her own heartbeat slowing, her body growing limp as the ghost continued to siphon her strength. In one last, fleeting moment of consciousness, Chaos collapsed to the floor, her body motionless. Everything went dark.Bug had been moving through the house methodically, checking rooms and keeping his senses sharp. He could feel a change in the air, a heaviness that told him something was off. He had just finished inspecting the kitchen when he noticed the lights flickering in the ghost room, and his instincts kicked in. “Chaos?” he called, but there was no response. His heart rate picked up. She wouldn’t leave without letting him know—she knew better than that... he hoped. He rushed down the hallway, pushing through the door into the ghost room and felt his stomach drop. Chaos lay unconscious on the floor, her face pale against the dark wood. Bug’s disappointment was immediate; she’d done it again. His first instinct was to check for any visible injuries, but it was clear she was just out cold. “Dang it, Chaos,” he muttered under his breath, crouching down to lift her up. He was careful, not wanting to jostle her too much, but he could feel the icy chill radiating from her skin. “What were you thinking?” He carried her back out to the van, using his shoulder to swing the door open. Gently, he placed her in the passenger seat, making sure she was comfortable and safe before shutting the door. As he stepped back, he couldn’t shake the frustration at her recklessness, but deep down, he also knew she was just being herself. Bug took a moment to collect himself, the urgency of the situation sharpening his focus. He needed to finish investigating; if it had been that aggressive right from the start, it could be something worse than a typical haunt. He glanced back at the van, where Chaos remained, oblivious to the dangers of the world around her. With a determined sigh, he turned back to the house. “All right, let’s see what you’re hiding,” he said to himself, stepping inside. He started searching for signs of what they were dealing with. If it was a demon or a Thaye, he’d need to be on high alert. He moved cautiously, checking the corners of each room for anything unusual, his instincts heightened.

As Bug moved through the dimly lit rooms, he felt an uneasy tension in the air, his instincts screaming that something was off. He reached the ghost room again, the aura still thick with residual energy. He had left a journal on the table—a tool for recording any unusual occurrences. As he flipped through the pages, his heart raced when he noticed that the ghost had been busy. Inky black markings covered the page, intricate occult symbols swirling together in chaotic patterns. He recognized the symbols from his studies; they were often associated with dark entities, something far more sinister than just a restless spirit. "Demon," he muttered, a sense of urgency pushing him forward. It explained the aggressive nature he had sensed earlier. This wasn’t just a simple haunting. He took a photo of the writing with his camera, knowing it would be vital for the report. Moments later, he felt the temperature drop sharply. A bone-chilling cold swept through the room, wrapping around him like a shroud. Bug knew this was another sign of a demon's presence. The air felt heavy with malice, and the shadows in the corners seemed to pulse with energy. “Yeah, definitely a demon,” he confirmed to himself, his pulse quickening. He had enough evidence now—ghost writing, occult symbols, and the freezing temperatures—each point confirming what he had suspected all along. With a deep breath, Bug checked off the findings in his notebook. Then he glanced back toward the van, feeling a twinge of worry for Chaos, but he knew she’d be okay. She’d bounce back like she always did. With a final look around the room, he made sure he had everything before heading back outside. Once he reached the van, he took a moment to collect his thoughts before slipping into the driver’s seat. He started the engine, glancing at the unconscious form of Chaos. “Let’s get back home,” he said softly, shifting the van into gear. As he pulled away from the haunted house on Tanglewood Drive, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Once there, he could send off the report about their latest encounter. Driving down the quiet street, he couldn’t help but think about the next job and the adventures that awaited them. But for now, all he wanted was to get home and relax.Bug parked the van in its usual spot outside the warehouse, the familiar creak of the door echoing in the stillness as he stepped out. He made his way around to the passenger side, gently waking Chaos just enough to help her out of the vehicle. “Come on, sleepyhead,” he murmured, keeping his voice low. She stirred slightly but didn’t fully wake up, her features still pale from the encounter. He carefully lifted her, cradling her in his arms as he navigated the familiar space of the warehouse. Once inside, he headed straight for her bedroom, a cozy nook filled with her eclectic collection of ghost-hunting gear and mementos from their various investigations. He laid her gently on the bed, pulling the blanket over her to keep her warm. A soft sigh escaped her lips. With Chaos settled, he headed to the living room, where Ren and Kim were lounging on the couch, engrossed in a game on the TV. The room was filled with laughter and the cheerful glow of the screen, a stark contrast to the dark energy they had just faced. “Hey, how’d it go?” Ren asked, pausing the game as he looked up at Bug. “Not great,” Bug admitted, running a hand through his hair. “It was a demon—super aggressive. Chaos is out cold, but she’ll be fine.” Kim frowned, concern etched on her features. “Did you get everything you needed for the report?” “Yeah, I got the ghost writing and some other signs,” Bug replied, his voice steady. “I’ll send it in later. Another team will take care of it.” Ren nodded, his expression shifting back to one of casual interest. “Sounds like a typical day for us, huh? Just another demon in the neighborhood.” Bug couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, just another Tuesday.” He settled onto the couch, grateful for the distraction and the company. The warm atmosphere of the living room felt like a balm to his earlier frustrations. They resumed their game, the sounds of laughter and playful banter filling the space as Bug let himself relax. He kept one ear attuned to the hallway, ensuring Chaos was still okay, but it was nice to momentarily escape the stress of the job.
Investigation Report: Tanglewood Drive
 Date: 10/17/2024Investigators: Bug, Chaos  Location: Tanglewood DriveType of Entity: Demon Summary: So, we rolled up to another supposedly haunted house, the usual vibe of creepy and quaint. Everything seemed normal until I noticed the flickering lights as soon as I stepped inside. You know that feeling you get when you know something's off? Yeah, I had that in excess. Chaos was her usual mischievous self, diving into the investigation with all her gear. I took my time checking out the layout before she headed into the ghost room. I really should’ve known better than to let her wander off, but she thrives in this kind of environment, and I figured she’d keep her wits about her. Long story short, while I was scouting the rest of the house, I lost track of her. Next thing I know, I rush back to find her out cold on the floor after a run-in with a demon. Yep, that’s right—another demon. It drained her energy, which wasn’t surprising considering how aggressive it was from the get-go. Before I had to carry her out I managed to grab some ghost writing and saw that the demon had left some occult symbols all over the journal we had set up. A good reminder of why we check for writing! The freezing temperatures confirmed it—definitely not a friendly spirit. I checked it all off and made sure to log the findings: ghost writing, and freezing temperatures. I didn't bother checking for UV, it was a really obvious demon afterall. In conclusion, Tanglewood Drive: 0, Us: 1. Leave the demon hunting to the professionals. (AKA us) 
End of Report

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Don't worry if your glass is half full or half empty, be glad you have a glass." -Vince Gareffa

There’s a few things you need to know before you meet it.Sanelwiche’s are rare, mostly found among the paranormal and almost never documented by humans because any mortals who meet them are driven insane.They are technically a type of cursed object, but are also technically a person. When they are released from their trapped form they become a shadow made of snaerge.In this form, their only purpose is to find their splerche. Splerche is a little complicated. It’s something like the purpose of life for a Sanelwiche.They will choose a mortal being to be around and influence with their words and actions, when that person listens to one of the Sanelwiche’s commands (their splearnye), whatever they do will have the biggest impact on a Sanelwiche’s splerche.So, imagine a Sanelwiche told a mortal to eat ice cream, if the mortal did so, then perhaps the Sanelwiche would take the form of an ice cream worker, or of the ice cream itself.Unfortunately, many Sanelwiche’s do not choose humans as their mortal. Mostly animals. As humans are annoying and ask too many questions of the Sanelwiches. Sanelwiche’s are solitary creatures, reproducing and then immediately leaving their child alone. They do not interact with each other. There is no such thing as family.The closest some Sanelwiche’s get to ‘family’ is bonding with, perhaps, a ghost that shares the same paranormal space as them.On that note. Let’s go meet our Sanelwiche.—It didn’t know what the mortals were doing in its house. Its ghost was quiet, and never bothered the owners of their home. Surely, the owners of its home had not called these mortals to get rid of them?If only it could get out of this jar. Then it could talk to these mortals and convince them to not remove them. If only.The jar is small, cramped. It is uncomfortable in the jar. Once upon a time it had encompassed a whole house by itself.Now just the jar.It sighs, a white cloud forming around its jar, and fogging up its vision. Which makes it pout. Now it can’t even see the mortals! There is no entertainment in its jar, just itself.It had been with itself for far too long.A young mortal walks into its room, and it wants to say hello but cannot because it is in the jar.The mortal pulls a device off her belt and clicks a button on it. “Bug? There’s only seven cursed objects, right?”It hears a crackly response from the object, “...Yes? Why? What did you find, Chaos?”Chaos. That must be the name of the mortal. “Well, you know how when you pick up a cursed object you get this like… weird feeling?”“Yeah?”“There’s a jar here. It’s got that feeling.”The mortal(?) on the other end sighs, “I’ll be in in a second, where are you?”“The first kids bedroom, upstairs.”A click resounds through the room and the box is silent once more. It studies Chaos (presumably), a young woman, most likely. Human, too.It wonders if she is looking for the ghost.Then, another human walks in. He’s taller than Chaos. Perhaps the Bug on the other side of the box. He walks up to its jar and taps it quickly and lightly.Nothing. It wonders how it would ever get out of the jar, perhaps it cannot in this form, perhaps it is stuck until the ghost leaves. Taking it with him.Suddenly, the girl, Chaos, walks up to it and opens the jar with a bit of struggle.Its form resonates onto the girl's hand, and it is finally freed from the jar. It smiles, perhaps this girl will now help it. Now that it can talk.“Hello!”Bug jumps back, not expecting it to talk. Why not? Had it never seen a Sanelwiche before?“Uh. Hi.. little, ghost, thing?”It tilts its head, “Ghost? I am not a ghost! Why, a worse Sanelwiche would take your mind for that! We are not ghosts!”Bug cringes, “Oh, yeah, I’m sorry I was just joking. I knew you were a… uh. Sandwich.”Chaos snorts at the mispronunciation, but it just crosses its arms and ignores the mortal.Frowning, it walks up Chaos’s arm and perches on the girl’s shoulder. “I shall stay here until I find my splerche. ”The girl moves her head to stare at it, her jaw hanging a little bit. “What?” It asks impatiently.“Nothing! Nothing at all! Um. What’s your name?”It tilts its shadowy head, snaerge dripping from its body onto Chaos’s shirt. “We do not have names. But if it helps you, you may give me a name.” Chaos nods, “Seeing as the jar has a maple leaf on it… how about we call you Maple?”Maple smiles, “Yes, that will do. You may think of me as a female, as well.”The Sanelwiche turns to look around the room one last time, “Let’s go. I have been in this room for wayyyy too long.”Chaos moves to the door and the three leave the room quietly. “Say, Maple, you wouldn’t happen to know where the ghost is, would you?”“Oh, Ricky? Yeah! That shy guy was always staying away from me! I don’t know why. I think I make great conversation. He’s over in the bathroom, last I heard from him.”Bug smiles, “Thanks Maple! Chaos, why don’t you take her out to the van?”“Yes dad!”Chaos takes her to the front door, and as soon as she steps out, Maple freezes up and stops responding.The girl’s voice is muddled, and Maple can’t make out a word.Chaos steps inside again and instantly the cursed energy fills the Sanelwiche. She lets out a sigh of relief, “Don’t do that again, would you?”“Yeah, I got that.”Maple looks around, feeling out the house. “There’s a cursed object in the laundry room.”She can feel Chaos smile and walk quickly towards the laundry room, finding a ouija board on top of the dryer. Maple smiles, finding an opportunity to see her splerche. “You should play hide and seek.”Chaos smiles, “It’s like you read my mind, Maple.” She grabs the ouija board and inspects it for a few seconds, seeing if there’s any new things she needs to account for.“Woah, woah, woah. No! Let’s not do that!” Bug comes in from behind them, swiping the board from Chaos’s hands, leaving her with a big pout.Bug quickly walks out the door, but Chaos is forced to stay inside because of Maple.Maple frowns, her mortal has agreed to her splearnye, but is unable to do it because of another mortal. So, how will this work?She cannot create another splearnye as this one has already been agreed to, but it has not been done.…She must make Bug give Chaos the board back, otherwise, she will not find her splerche.“Chaos. Put me down here, go get the board back, I need to find my splerche!”She tilts her head, “What does that word mean? Splerche?”“Um. In your language, hm, your… purpose? The meaning of your life?”“...and your splerche is hide and seek on a ouija board?”Maple shakes her head, “No, if you are able to complete our splearnye, then my purpose of life will be revealed to me. That’s what our legends say, atleast.”“Has nobody ever found their splerche before?”“Not really? The sanelwiche’s do not interact with mortals much, even though we need you to find our splerches, but we also do not interact with each other. So I don’t know.” She shrugs.“Huh.”“Anyways, please go get the board! If my splerche is not fulfilled… well, I don’t know what will happen.”Chaos shrugs, setting Maple down on a nightstand. “Alright!”The girl leaves, and Maple is left alone, so she sits down and kicks her feet against the wood.“Oh come on Bug! Maple needs it!” Her voice is muffled, but Maple can hear Chaos getting closer to the house.“Not falling for that. Plus, Kim has it now.”Chaos groans.Bug waves his hand as he walks into the house, “Maple will be fine, let’s just get this ghost and leave.”The girl pouts, but picks up Maple and puts the Sanelwiche back on her shoulder. “Sorry Maple, I don’t think I can get it.”Dread pools in Maple’s gut. She doesn’t know what will happen if her splerche isn’t finished? “Are you sure?”Chaos nods, and it ends at that.They move into the bathroom, Bug setting down a sort of projector, which sends green dots all over the room. “I wish Ren was here, now I’m on picture duty.”“Well, he hasn’t been feeling that well, and I fail at picture-taking every time, so…”Bug sighs, also dropping a book down.“I’ll go get some salt, go ahead and do spirit box.”Chaos nods, shutting the door behind Bug and flicking the light off. She then pulls out a device, and pushes a switch down on it.“Are you here?”
“Are you near?”
“Where are you?”Maple blinks in confusion, does Chaos not see the ghost over in the corner? Maple waves at Ricky, just in case maybe it’s a new decoration and not actually him.He waves back.Okay… So maybe Chaos cannot see him? Weird. She didn’t know humans couldn’t see ghosts, even animals can.Suddenly a voice echoes throughout the room, she recognizes it immediately, Ricky’s.Chaos pulls out another device and speaks into that one, “We have confirmed spirit box!”The girl then drops the spirit box, as Maple has deemed it, and moves to check the temperatures.Then, just as Bug starts to come back into the room, a new voice rings out through the house itself. “Hide and Seek!” Bug’s face goes pale, as the lights start to flicker. “Kim!”Chaos starts sprinting out of the room, throwing open closet doors and shoving herself into one of them, beckoning Bug over as well.Bug jumps in just as Maple starts to hear Ricky’s footsteps.“What are we doing?” Maple asks.Chaos puts a finger to her mouth, a human gesture to ‘shut up.’ Fine then, Maple will be quiet for now.Maple waits impatiently for a few minutes as Ricky ravages through the house. Moving slowly. Bug cracks the closet door open. “Bug- what are you doing?!” Chaos exclaims quietly.“I have a theory- and incense.”The door is shut on Chaos and Maple again and then Maple hears Bug calling for the ghost.Ricky speeds up, full on sprinting at Bug.Maple smells incense as the door to the closet is opened just a bit, and then a thud.“Hunt’s over!” A voice crackles through the device on Chaos’s hip.Chaos teases the door open, slipping out through a small crack, and turning her flashlight on to see Bug on the floor.“...oh, Bug.”Chaos pulls the speaking device up to her mouth, “Bug’s down, can you help me get him in the van?”Just a bit later, Maple spots a new person come in, a fox hoodie on, messy brown hair covering their guilty looking eyes.“I’m sorry- I just overheard what Maple said over the comms, and I wanted to help.”Chaos’s eyes widen, “Oh! Speaking of which, did that work, Maple?”Maple hums, trying to poke at any new magic or abilities.Nothing comes to her, but her shapeshifting seems stronger than before… “I don’t know. I think it needs to be my splearnye to do it.”The new person’s face falls, “..and we can’t do another hide and seek, can we?”“No.”“It’s okay, Kim, you tried. Let’s just get Bug to the van and then talk about the evidence we have so far.”Kim and Chaos pick up Bug together and start to move out of the house, they leave the house and Maple feels… fine?Chaos looks over her shoulder and spots Maple, “Oops! Sorry, Maple, I forgot you can’t come ou-”“No, no, I’m fine… I guess?”Chaos looks at her with confusion, “What? How?”“I don’t know. Maybe you like… half fulfilled my splerche?” She nods at Kim, savoring the outside while she can.“Huh. So you still feel your um… calling for your splerche, but it’s physically impossible now, right?”Maple nods as the two drop Bug on a sleeping bag in the van. “I wonder…” Maple jumps off Chaos’s shoulder and falls to the ground, her body of snaerge not hurting at all from the fall.She studies Chaos for a second, and then tries to copy what she sees.Her snaerge morphs and twists, forming into what Maple imagines. She feels her field of vision grow taller, and taller. Her body feels weaker and less flexible.“Why would you humans keep this form, it feels so fragile!”Kim and Chaos stare at her, completely bewildered, “We can’t uh- we can’t do… that.”Maple blinks, “Oh.”“That… that is kriffing creepy.” Chaos says as she stares at herself.The Sanelwiche crosses her arms, “I can change my form once I see more references, but I can’t just make a form out of thin air!”Chaos shivers, “Can you at least… change your face a bit?”Maple rolls her eyes, and quickly makes a mix of Kim and Chaos’s face instead of just Chaos’s.“Better?”“Way more.”Chaos shakes her head, “Okay, back to ghost hunting. I got a spirit box, but the ghost was way too much like a revenant.”“Are you sure you didn’t mix it up for a deo?”Chaos shakes her head no.Kim taps their chin, “I’ll grab a video camera and look for ghost orbs, maybe it’s a mimic.”“Alright, I’ll check the other two.” Chaos grabs another book, and moves back into the house.She walks towards the bathroom again, and Maple follows along. At least the human’s way of movement is similar to the Sanelwiche’s, that makes it much easier. One time, Maple had taken the form of a snake, and it was so hard to move that she just went back to her regular form.Chaos picks up the thermometer, and quickly exclaims to the two that they have freezing temperatures.Maple doesn’t really know what any of this means, but she’s glad to let the experts work.The light is shut off by Kim, and they quickly start looking into… a rectangle?Video camera, maybe. They mentioned that before the trio went into the house. Maple isn’t sure, but she’ll call it that for now.“That’s… ghost orbs.”Chaos groans, “So it’s a mimic?!”“Technically without UV it could be an onryo but based on the speed during the hunt it’s got to be a mimic.”Maple looks between the two, confused, “So… what am I supposed to be doing?”Chaos grabs something off the floor and shoves it into Maple’s hands, “You can take pictures! There’s only a few left. Just make sure you take pictures of things that actually have to do with the ghost.”Maple looks over at Ricky, still standing in the corner, he shrugs, and then slaps something off of the side of the bathtub.“Ooo! Like that! Take a picture of that!”Maple fumbles with the camera, but clicks a button on it, and she hears a shutter and a click.“Perfect! Except you’re holding it upside down.”Kim flips the camera over in Maple’s hands, and then they both leave.“Uh… what?”Chaos calls over her shoulder, “You’ll be fine!”Maple turns back to Ricky, who has moved over to the door, and quickly puts his hand on it, pushing it a little.Handprints show up, green as can be, and for the first time Maple’s notices that a purple flashlight is aimed at the door.Maple snaps a picture of the handprints.“Perfect! Just two more Maple!” She hears Kim scream from the front door.The Sanelwiche looks down at the ground and takes two pictures of the two piles of salt, respectively.Nothing happens when she finishes, except for Chaos telling her good job and asking her to come back to the van, which Maple does.Just as she goes to walk through the door, it slams in her face.Maple blinks, confused. “Huh?”She tries the doorknob. It doesn’t budge.Footsteps fall into place behind her, and she turns around just as Ricky slams her into the door, his claws ripping into the wood.A shriek falls out of her newly formed mouth, “W-what- Ricky- what are you doing-”“I’m sorry, Sanelwiche, but if your splerche is half-done… you can’t live. That’s just how it works.”Those claws are pulled out of the door and move to where her svare is, the Sanelwiche equivalent of a heart.Maple looks up, betrayal flowing through her stolen eyes.“W-wait-”Ricky pulls his hand back and moves to stab his claw through it.Maple throws the nightstand next to the door at him, and then she sprints.“No point in running, Sanelwiche!”The mimicked Hantu goes as fast as his ghostly legs can take him, and Maple makes the mistake of running into the kitchen.Where Ricky had moved to.When the ghost reaches the threshold, he sprints for her.Maple turns around in horror, just in time to have her face clawed out.She screams, slamming her fist into the ghost, putting a hand over the leaking snaerge, trying to keep it in, and then she runs for that first closet Chaos had hid in.Ricky groans in annoyance, and starts running, only to not see Maple anywhere.She hears a ghostly scream, and then the door slam open.“Maple!” Chaos screams.The Sanelwiche unlocks the door to the closet, and stumbles out, squinting harshly at the flashlight in Chaos’s hand.“Maple! There you are! Come on!” The human pulls her towards the front door, and they make it out just in time.Chaos lets her lean against the wall of equipment and catch her breath. “I’ll go get our equipment, you clean up her face, please.”Kim responds by opening up a med kit. “Come sit down, Maple.”She nods, sitting down awkwardly next to the sleeping Bug.-Maple doesn’t know what to make of her new ‘home.’ She also doesn’t know what she’s supposed to… do with it?Do they want her to take the form of the home? Or do they want her to stay in this human form?They just told her that, ‘that’s the couch, sleep on it.’Not to mention, they hadn’t told her what to do with these white things on her face. If she should take them off or not, they keep her snaerge in her body, though, so she’s chosen to keep it on.Maple’s confused.Obviously, she knows what sleep is, it’s a human practice to regain energy, but Maple has never slept before. Sanelwiche’s do not have energy, they are not drained, ever.So why does she feel drained?Perhaps it’s because of her half-splerche. It’s messed up her shapeshifting so that she actually has the anatomy of the form she takes.But that’s just a theory, really.So she decides to try and sleep.One problem with that, she doesn’t actually know how to do that? She’s seen humans close their eyes to sleep, but do they have to like… flick a switch in their brain or something?Maple just lies down on the couch, and closes her eyes.Soon enough, she drifts off to sleep.-
She feels like a cup, half empty, half full.

Her splerche is impossible to get and yet attained.

It’s both agonizing and intoxicating.

Maple moves throughout her dream, excited but petrified. So many Sanelwiche’s left behind her, still searching for purpose, and so many in front who have already found it.

She tries to join those in front, but she can’t.

Agonizing.

She tries to go back, but she can’t.

An intoxicating feeling.
She’s so far ahead, she almost has her splerche, this feeling is unlike anything she’s ever felt.
But she can’t move forward.

So close but so far.

A cup half empty.

Half full?

-
Maple wakes up with energy.Which is weird, but also feels right, so she goes with it.Bug is up in the kitchen, and she takes the opportunity to say hi to him.When she does so however, he jumps and stares at her, holding out a spoon in what looks to be defence, wide-eyed. Maple cocks her head, confused.“Who- How? Chaos?”Maple crosses her arms, “Chaos even told me to change my face but you still tell me I look like her! What’s the point?”Bug calms down a little, “Maple?”She nods.“Haha, you scared me a little, I’m sorry.”Maple shrugs, choosing to slide up next to him and look into the pan he was stirring. It looks like… eggs?She starts to put her finger in it, just to make sure it’s eggs, and feels the heat come to her hand a little, but she’s put her snarge in much hotter things before.Bug slaps her hand away before she can put a finger in.“What are you doing? You could burn yourself!”Maple rolls her eyes, “My snaerge can’t burn, silly! Here look- Ow!”She pulls her finger away from the pan, tears welling up in her eyes as she shakes her finger wildly.Bug curses, pulling the pan off the hot part and turning down the stove temperature. “Dang it, Maple.”He pulls her over to the sink and places her finger under freezing cold water. Maple flinches in pain when the water hits her hand, but Bug holds her still.“Ren?!” He screams into the house.A responding ‘Yes?’ echoes back.“Can you grab some cling film?!”“Sure!”Maple pouts when she tries to pull away and Bug keeps her finger under the water. “I’ll be fine! I'll heal quickly!”“After what just happened with your so-called ‘burn-proof’ snaerge, I’m not taking any chances.”“That was an exception!” She pouts, looking at him.He rolls his eyes.Maple turns back to the cold water and sighs, wondering why human bodies are so fragile.-“So, these are some pictures of females, I got these since you told me you were fine being called a her, but I can get some pictures of men aswell if you need.”Maple takes the iPad from Kim, “No, it’s fine.”She scrolls through the photos, changing her body as she sees more and more that she likes, but can never find a hair she likes.Looking up, she sees Kim’s messy brown hair, and wonders what it’d look like if it were shoulder-length.Her hair shifts with her train of thought, and she quickly opens the camera app on the iPad to look at herself.Maple smiles with content, “I like this.”Kim grabs her arm and pulls her towards a full-length mirror, and Maple beams at her new skin.Her hair, curtain bangs, Kim informs her. Brown, sparkly eyes, her snaerge is sitting on her shoulders, waiting to be used to shift. Her face is still messed up, no matter how much she shifts it she can’t get rid of the wounds Ricky gave her, but that’s okay, she thinks they fit her new look.She doesn’t have her own clothes yet, because Kim still needs to take her ‘shopping’ but the one’s Chaos gave her have worked.Except now she’s shorter.Maple doesn’t know why she made herself shorter, maybe it’s because being at Chaos’s height was too different from normal, so she just made herself a bit shorter, but mostly it was because it felt wrong.Maybe it was because of her age.Which- of course, she doesn’t know, since Sanelwiche’s don’t have calendars or birthdays or… anything, really.You never grow up with another Sanelwiche, anyways.-Maple felt significantly better after going shopping. Her clothes fit her a lot better now rather than Chaos’s.It’s about nighttime, and the three humans go to sleep, and Maple is left alone, unable to sleep.Human anatomy definitely affects her, but not fully. She’s basically theorizing that she can probably go a few days longer than actual humans before she needs to recharge.That’s when she feels it.A ghostly presence in the house.It leaves her confused, because these people are ghost hunters, right? Why would they just have one in their house?Maybe it’s like animal rescue? They find the ghosts and then take them home?That doesn’t seem right.Maple pulls on that thread of ghostly presence, and she’s lurched in the direction of one of the only rooms she hasn’t been in yet.She walks quickly towards it, and pulls open the door quietly, trying not to wake anyone.All she finds is another human, sitting bored on his bed.“Are you… Ren?”His eyes snap to hers, terrified. Then he visibly calms down. “Uh- Yeah, you’re Maple right?”She nods, shutting the door behind her.Maple squints her eyes at him, seeing that ghostly presence swarm around him protectively.“Are you possessed?”Ren laughs confusedly, “W-w-what do you mean? I’m- I’m not-”She points her finger at his head, “I can see the ghost in there.”
“Ren, there’s literally no way you can lie your way out of this one.”
Maple nods, smiling. “Knew it.”She can see Ren visibly warring with his ghost, trying to figure out what to tell her. “Yeah. I’m possessed.”Ren puts his hand out, and Maple notices a change in his eyes, perhaps this isn’t Ren, then.“I’m Lt. What Ren is trying to say is that he doesn’t want anyone to know and he wants to ask you to keep me a secret but he doesn’t know how to ask.”Maple shrugs after pulling away from their handshake, “I can keep a secret, it’s not mine to tell, anyways.”Ren, actually Ren, smiles at her. “Thanks.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The rusted gates of Sunny Meadows Asylum groaned open as Bug, Kim, Maple, and Chaos stepped onto the overgrown path leading to the ominous structure. The asylum loomed ahead, its decaying walls and shattered windows casting long shadows in the dying light. Chaos, walking a few paces behind the others, felt a chill creep up her spine. Her throat ached, a sharp reminder of the illness she’d tried to hide. She hadn’t spoken a word since they’d arrived, the lingering sickness having stolen her voice completely, but she shrugged off any concerns. Her team didn’t know, and that was how she intended to keep it. “We’re low on equipment,” Bug muttered, shouldering the bag that held their limited gear. “Make it count.” Kim nodded, already eyeing the darkened windows as the faint echoes of wind whistled through the cracked frames. Chaos, eager to avoid any questions about her silence, quickly grabbed a Parabolic Microphone and Spirit Box, clipping them to her belt along with a headcam. She fumbled for a moment, trying to turn it on but accidentally skipped that step in her haste. Her fingers trembled slightly, though whether from the cold or her fever, she couldn’t tell. The group moved inside, their flashlights barely cutting through the thick darkness. The asylum was a labyrinth of decrepit hallways, peeling wallpaper, and the faint scent of mildew. Chaos’s breath hitched as she tried to keep up, her focus blurred as the fever tugged at her senses. “The breaker’s in the basement,” Bug said, consulting their only map. “But if it’s anything like the rest of this place, it’s probably dead.” Sure enough, after a brief check from Kim, the old electrical panel in the main hall was beyond repair. Bug’s suspicions were confirmed. “We’re in the dark,” he muttered, frustration in his voice. Before anyone could respond, Chaos, her mind foggy and eager to start investigating, headed toward the basement stairs. She didn’t say anything—couldn’t really—and descended into the cold, musty depths alone, her flashlight flickering as the shadows seemed to press in closer. The basement was a maze of old, rotting storage rooms, narrow corridors, and rusted equipment, and without her headcam recording, the rest of the team had no idea where she’d gone. The last little bit of light vanished, plunging her into complete darkness. Panic clawed at her throat, but she remained silent, her hands feeling along the damp, crumbling walls. She tried to call out for her teammates, but the effort was useless—her voice was gone, leaving her trapped in the silence. She gripped the Spirit Box tightly, hoping for some sort of communication or sign. But the static that filled the air only heightened her unease. Lost and disoriented, she wandered aimlessly through the maze-like basement, her fever worsening as cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Chaos’s footsteps echoed faintly in the pitch-black basement, her hands trailing along the grimy walls, searching for some sense of direction. The darkness pressed in from all sides, and with each passing second, the sense of isolation grew heavier. Her fever-addled mind struggled to focus as her head swam in confusion, disoriented by the shadows and the endless corridors.  But it wasn’t the darkness or the silence that began to weigh on her the most. It was the smell. At first, it was faint—just a hint of something unpleasant lingering in the damp air. But as she continued to wander deeper, the odor intensified, sickly and thick, clinging to her lungs with every breath she took.  Rot. Her stomach churned, and she raised a trembling hand to cover her nose, trying to block out the putrid stench. It was unmistakable—the sour, decaying scent of something… or someone long dead. The smell filled the air, heavy and suffocating, as if whatever was rotting was right next to her, hidden in the darkness just beyond her reach.  Chaos stumbled, her breath catching in her throat as panic started to take root. The flashlight in her hand flickered weakly, the dying beam doing little to dispel the shadows creeping closer. She cursed silently, unable to call for help, her mind racing.  The Spirit Box crackled at her side, but the familiar static felt more eerie than reassuring in this place. She hadn’t seen another person for what felt like hours—no Bug, no Kim, no Maple. Only the overwhelming sense of being utterly alone… and that smell. She felt something brush against her ankle. Chaos froze, her blood turning cold. Slowly, her eyes wide with terror, she pointed the lit up screen on her microphone towards the ground in hopes of seeing what brushed against her ankle, but all she saw were old, crumpled papers and debris littering the floor. But that didn’t ease the tightness in her chest. The smell grew stronger, thick and rancid, as though something was decaying just beneath her feet. Chaos backed away slowly, her breaths shallow, eyes darting in every direction. She couldn’t see anything—no light, no exit, no familiar landmarks—just the endless dark hallways stretching on. The fever clouded her thoughts, making it harder to stay rational, harder to think. She needed to find the others. Now. But the basement felt like it was swallowing her whole, the walls closing in as the stench of rot suffocated the air around her. Chaos stumbled forward, her footing slipping on the damp floor as she lost her balance. The world spun around her, and before she could react, she fell through an opening—a doorway hidden in the dark. She landed hard on the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of her lungs. As she pushed herself up, she felt the overwhelming stench hit her like a physical blow. It was as if she had fallen into the very source of the decay. Her heart raced as she instinctively reached for her flashlight, only to find it had slipped from her grip during the fall.  In the pitch black, she could feel the dampness of the floor seeping into her clothes, her palms pressing against something sticky. Panic surged within her, threatening to engulf her as the horrid smell intensified. It was suffocating, a foul blend of rot and something metallic that clawed at her throat.  Chaos fought the rising bile in her stomach, her hands trembling as she tried to steady her breathing. She couldn’t throw up; she needed to stay alert. Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself, straining her ears for any sign of her teammates. The silence was oppressive, the air heavy with a sense of dread. As she pushed herself up, she felt the wall behind her—a cold, damp surface. She was in a room, but the darkness was so thick that it swallowed any trace of light. The stench surrounded her, a reminder that something terrible lurked just beyond her perception.  With no light to guide her, she instinctively reached out, fingers brushing against the wall as she tried to navigate the room. The atmosphere was thick with the weight of something lost, and her heart pounded in her chest as she moved cautiously, each step echoing softly in the silence.  But as her senses sharpened, she began to discern faint outlines in the darkness, shapes that sent a chill racing down her spine. The oppressive air hung heavy with memories of sorrow and despair, and Chaos felt a deep, visceral instinct urging her to leave.  Just as she thought to turn back, the low, pitiful moan of the unseen sent her heart racing again. She pressed against the wall, feeling the rough surface against her back, her mind screaming for her to escape. The sense of dread intensified as she strained to listen, her body coiled tight like a spring, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. No matter how hard she tried to push the thoughts away, the sickening smell and the presence around her kept drawing her back into a terrifying reality she couldn't ignore. She was lost, alone, and the darkness was closing in. Heart racing, Chaos pushed herself off the damp ground, instinctively turning to run from the horrifying room. The smell clung to her clothes and filled her nostrils, but she had to get out. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she dashed blindly back through the dark corridors, her pulse pounding in her ears. Desperation fueled her movements. She could feel the weight of the asylum pressing down on her, as if the very walls were conspiring against her. Her hand instinctively reached for her radio, fingers trembling as she pressed the button, hoping against hope that it would work.  “Bug! Kim! Maple!” she mouthed, unable to voice the names of those dearest to her, desperately trying to focus her mind on her friends. She tapped the radio repeatedly, her heart sinking as the only sound that met her was the static. “Can you hear me?” she tried to scream into the radio, but all that escaped her lips was silence.  Her fear morphed into frustration and despair. Why aren’t they responding? she thought bitterly, a sense of betrayal creeping into her mind. Are they ignoring me on purpose? The thought twisted in her gut, making her feel even more alone.  The echoes of her silent pleas filled the dark space around her. She stumbled through the halls, the heavy shadows wrapping around her, making it hard to see or think. She clutched the radio like a lifeline, pressing the button again and again, but the response was always the same—nothing. Just an endless hum of static. The isolation gnawed at her, amplifying the sensation of being trapped, cut off from everything she knew. Each time she pressed the button, the hope flickered lower. She had no way of knowing that her friends were frantically searching for her, that they couldn’t hear her buzzing pleas for help. Chaos rounded a corner, the darkness feeling more suffocating with each passing moment. She felt the walls close in, the shadows deepening as if the asylum was determined to swallow her whole. The silence was oppressive, and her frustration quickly morphed into panic. I need to find them, she thought, her mind racing. She continued running, calling out in her head, Please, just listen! I need you! Her legs burned as she rounded another corner, but still, no sign of light or her friends. The emptiness of the asylum felt infinite, a maze designed to trap her. Chaos fought against the mounting dread, her thoughts spiraling into a whirlwind of fear and confusion. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes, overwhelmed by her helplessness. As she pressed on, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the asylum was alive, its very essence feeding off her fear. Shadows flickered just out of sight, and the whispers of the past seemed to taunt her, their echoes mingling with her own silent cries for help.  Bug, Kim, and Maple gathered their equipment outside the decrepit Sunny Meadows Asylum, the fading light casting long shadows on the ground. They had wrapped up the investigation, a mix of adrenaline and relief coursing through them. Yet, as they packed the van, a growing sense of unease settled over the trio.  “Where’s Chaos?” Kim asked, glancing back at the asylum’s dark silhouette. They pull something up on their phone, a worried frown growing. “She should have been right behind us.” Bug furrowed his brow, his hands pausing mid-pack. “She was with us when we left the basement, wasn’t she?” He scanned the entrance, the door hanging slightly ajar, its creaking hinges a reminder of the eeriness inside.  Maple bit her lip, glancing nervously toward the asylum. “Maybe she got lost? I mean, the layout in there is confusing,” she suggested, but even her voice trembled at the thought.  “Lost?” Bug echoed, his heart sinking. “We can’t leave her in there!” He grabbed the radio, but as he raised it to his mouth, the static buzz filled the air—a sound that felt ominous and heavy. “Chaos! Can you hear us?” he called out, but there was no reply, just the eerie silence of the asylum.  Kim’s anxiety grew at the lack of response as they took a few steps back toward the entrance. “Something may have happened, she could be hurt.”  The chill of worry washed over them. Chaos was small, and while she had always been spirited and determined, the isolation of the asylum could be overwhelming, especially if she was still trying to navigate the darkness. “We need to go back in,” Bug decided, his voice firm despite the creeping fear. “We can’t just leave her. Chaos wouldn’t leave us like this.”  Kim nodded, the resolve returning to their eyes. “Take some sanity pills. I’ll grab the flashlight and the parabolic mic. We can use them to find her faster,” they said, urgency pushing them into action. Maple followed suit, grabbing a few more essentials. They slipped back into the asylum, the oppressive darkness swallowing them as they stepped inside. The atmosphere shifted, the silence now heavy with anticipation. Each footstep echoed ominously through the empty halls, reminding them of the dread that lurked within. “Chaos!” Bug called out, his voice steady but tinged with worry. “Where are you?”  The only answer was the faint rustle of wind, sending chills down their spines.  “Let’s split up, We’ll check the first floor,” Kim suggested, their heart racing as they grab Maple’s hand. “She could be anywhere.” Bug nodded, but his eyes lingered on the basement door. “I’ll check the basement,” he said, a hint of dread creeping into his voice. “Stay together and keep calling for her.” As they separated, the darkness felt more suffocating than before. Bug made his way down the narrow staircase, each creak of the old wood echoing in the stillness. The air was thick with dust and the faint, lingering scent of decay—a reminder that this place held many secrets. “Chaos!” he shouted again, the word hanging in the air like a desperate plea. “Can you hear me?”  He stepped into the basement, the dim light from his flashlight barely cutting through the gloom. The musty air felt heavy, as if it was laden with unspoken horrors. As he moved further in, the realization that she could be trapped somewhere in the vast darkness settled in his gut, making it hard to breathe.  Meanwhile, Kim and Maple searched the first floor, calling out for their missing teammate, dread pooling in their stomachs with each unanswered call. The feeling that something was wrong grew stronger, a gnawing fear that they couldn’t shake off. They had to find her—before it was too late. Bug's heart raced as he clutched the parabolic microphone tightly, its curved surface glinting in the faint light of his flashlight. He focused intently, scanning the dark corners of the basement, trying to tune out the ominous stillness surrounding him. He turned the microphone toward the left side, listening carefully for any signs of Chaos. The air was thick with anticipation, each creak of the floorboards beneath him making him jump. Suddenly, he caught a faint sound—a soft, muffled whimpering that sent chills down his spine. He strained to hear more, directing the microphone toward the right side of the basement. The crying grew clearer, raw and heart-wrenching. It was unmistakable; it was Chaos. “Chaos!” he called out, adrenaline surging through him as he rushed toward the sound. The weight of worry lifted slightly, but dread still clung to him. He had to reach her before whatever was haunting this place could reach her first. He followed the sound, navigating the dark, cluttered space filled with broken furniture and old boxes. The crying echoed off the damp walls, a haunting melody that guided him closer. Each step felt like an eternity as the smell of decay intensified, but he pushed forward, calling her name softly. “Chaos, I’m coming!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the darkness. “Hold on! Where are you?”  The sobbing paused for a brief moment, and he felt a pang of hope. Maybe she could hear him! He pushed through the shadows, the beam of his flashlight illuminating bits of mold and grime as he neared the source of the sound. “Chaos!” he shouted again, this time louder, desperation creeping into his voice. He rounded a corner and spotted a faint flicker of movement.  And then he saw her. Chaos was huddled in the corner of the basement, curled into herself, her face buried in her knees, her clothes, arms and face covered in some form of rotting… stuff. The sight twisted his heart, the dim light reflecting the sheen of tears that streamed down her cheeks. She looked so small, so lost, and the pitiful sounds coming from her were enough to make his stomach turn. “Chaos!” he exclaimed, rushing over to her, dropping to his knees beside her. “Thank Mojang! I was so worried. What happened?”  But as he reached out, he realized she couldn’t answer. Her lips moved in silent distress, her voice completely gone.  “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Bug said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder, trying to soothe her trembling frame. “I’m here. We’re going to get you out of here.”  He glanced around, the oppressive darkness still hanging heavily, but the fear of the unknown was momentarily replaced by determination. He needed to get her back to the others, to safety.  “Can you stand?” he asked, hoping she would nod or give him some sign. He offered his hand, ready to help her up, but the way she curled tighter into herself sent a surge of fear rushing back.  Chaos clung to Bug as if he were her lifeline, her fingers gripping his jacket tightly, getting the stuff all over him, but he didn’t mind too much at the moment, too concerned about making sure she was okay. The warmth of his presence was a comfort amidst the cold, suffocating darkness that surrounded them. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to block out the overwhelming fear and the sickening smell that clung to the basement air.  “Shh, it’s okay,” Bug murmured, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace. He could feel her trembling against him, and his heart ached at the sight of her so shaken. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.” She remained silent, her tears soaking into his shirt as she fought to regain her composure. Bug felt a surge of urgency; they needed to leave this place before the shadows closed in completely. But he also knew they couldn’t rush her. She needed time, a moment to feel secure again. “Let’s get you back to the others,” he said softly, gently pulling back to look into her eyes. “Can you stand?”  Chaos nodded slowly, though her grip on him didn’t loosen. Bug took her hands, helping her to her feet while keeping a firm hold on her. As she rose, he could see the remnants of fear etched on her face, but there was also a flicker of trust in her eyes.  “Stay close to me,” he instructed, guiding her carefully through the darkened basement. He could feel the weight of the asylum pressing in around them, the silence thickening as if something watched from the shadows. The crying had ceased, but the lingering sense of dread was palpable, tugging at his instincts. As they moved, Bug kept the parabolic microphone ready, his senses alert for any signs of danger. “We’ll find the others,” he promised, trying to reassure her even though his own heart raced with unease. “I’m right here.” The oppressive darkness felt like a living entity, but with Chaos beside him, he felt a renewed sense of determination. They would make it out together. He led her back through the maze of debris, his flashlight beam cutting through the gloom as they moved cautiously toward the stairs. But just as they reached the staircase, a sudden noise echoed through the basement—a low, rumbling growl that sent ice coursing through Bug’s veins. He turned, instinctively shielding Chaos behind him, heart pounding as the shadows shifted ominously around them.  “Stay behind me,” he repeated, his voice steady despite the rising panic. He could feel the air grow colder, the darkness thickening as something unseen drew closer. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”  With every cautious step up the creaky staircase, Bug kept a watchful eye on the darkness behind them, the oppressive weight of the basement pressing heavily on his shoulders. He held Chaos close, feeling her shivers against him. Each step felt like a victory, but also a reminder that they were still far from safe. As they emerged into the dimly lit hallway, Bug's heart lifted at the sight of his friends. Kim and Maple stood near the entrance, flashlights flickering nervously as they searched for any signs of their missing teammate. Relief flooded over Bug, but it was quickly overshadowed by concern when he saw the way Chaos leaned heavily against him, her face pale and drawn. “Bug!” Kim exclaimed, rushing forward. “We were so worried! Where was she? Is Chaos okay?” “I found her in the basement,” he replied, his voice tight with worry. “But she’s not okay. She’s really sick, I think.”  Maple stepped closer, her eyes widening as she took in Chaos’s disheveled appearance. “What happened? Is she hurt?” Bug shook his head, his grip tightening on Chaos. “She got lost I'm guessing and… I don’t know. She’s freezing, and the basement was awful. The smell, the darkness… it was too much for her.”  Kim nodded, understanding flashing in their eyes. “We need to get her out of here,” they said urgently. “Chaos, can you walk?”  Chaos tried to nod, but her body felt heavy and weak. She leaned more into Bug, her breath shallow and shaky. The chill of the asylum had seeped deep into her bones, exacerbating whatever illness had already been lurking beneath the surface. She felt the world around her blur, and her heart raced with anxiety as she tried to shake off the fog that threatened to consume her. “Just a little further,” Bug encouraged, wrapping an arm around her waist for support. “We’ll get you warm soon.”  The group made their way toward the exit, the heavy silence of the asylum replaced by the distant sounds of the night outside. Each step felt like a marathon, the air thick with tension as they navigated the dimly lit hallways. Bug stole glances at Chaos, whose breathing was growing more labored, a faint sheen of sweat forming on her brow. “Stay with us, Chaos,” Maple urged, casting a worried look back at her. “Just a few more steps.” Finally, they reached the entrance, the cool night air greeting them like a warm embrace. But as they stepped outside, Bug felt the sharp contrast between the frigid air and the oppressive heat building within Chaos. She looked even more fragile in the light, her skin pale and clammy. “Get her to the van!” Kim instructed, moving to help support Chaos on the other side. Bug nodded, determination flooding through him as he and Kim helped Chaos shuffle toward their vehicle. Once inside, they settled her into the back seat, Bug taking off his jacket and draping it over her shivering frame while Kim grabbed the emergency blankets, giving them to Bug to put over the sick child. “You’re going to be okay,” he murmured, brushing her hair back from her forehead. “Just hold on.” “Let’s get the heat going,” Kim mumbles half to themself as they jump into the driver’s seat. They turned the key and the engine sputtered to life, the heater beginning to fill the cramped space with warmth. “Chaos, can you hear me?” Bug asked, leaning closer. “Can you talk?”  She opened her mouth to respond, but only a faint wheeze escaped, her voice completely gone. Bug’s heart sank at the sight of her struggling to form words. Instead, she reached up, her small hand clasping his tightly, as if seeking reassurance. As Kim maneuvered the van through the winding roads, Bug sat in the back, focused on Chaos. He kept his hand on her shoulder, offering what little comfort he could as the warmth from the heater enveloped them. The soft hum of the engine and the reassuring bump of the road were the only sounds as they drove away from the foreboding darkness of Sunny Meadows Asylum. Maple sat up front, glancing back at them with concern. “How’s she doing?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry. “Still pale,” Bug replied, watching Chaos closely. Her eyes were half-closed, and she seemed to be struggling to keep them open. “She needs to warm up and rest.” When they finally arrived at the warehouse, Kim quickly parked and turned off the engine. “Let’s get her inside,” they said, jumping out of the van and moving around to help Chaos. Bug assisted her as they carefully helped Chaos out of the vehicle and into the familiar space of their home.  The moment they stepped inside, the warmth enveloped them, contrasting sharply with the chill that had settled in Chaos’s bones. Kim led the way to the kitchen, their movements quick and purposeful. “I’ll make soup!” Maple settled into a chair nearby, pulling out her phone to check in on anything that might be urgent. As Kim poured a can of soup into a pot, they cast a glance over their shoulder noticing the… rotting stuff all over Chaos before glancing back at Bug. “Can you get her to take a shower? And uh…. You might want to change too.” “Of course,” Bug replied, before leading Chaos to the bathroom, having her take a shower. Then he went and changed clothes, getting a new set of clothes for the young girl as well, and waiting for her to finish.  While the two were busy Kim busied themself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables to add to the canned soup with quick, practiced movements. The aroma of the broth began to fill the air, a comforting scent that promised warmth and nourishment.  Once Chaos was out Bug led her over to the couch and helped her settle in, draping another blanket over her to keep the warmth in.  “Just relax,” he said gently, brushing a few stray hairs from her forehead. “You’re safe now.” He walked over to the laundry room, and started a load to clean off the filthy clothes and emergency blankets, “That emergency kit in the van was a great idea Kim.” “Should be mandatory- Here Chaos, it's nice and hot to warm ya up,” they said, walking over with a steaming bowl of soup, their voice brightening the atmosphere. Chaos mumbled slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she tried to focus on their reassuring presence.  Chaos attempted a small smile, grateful but still too weak to respond verbally. Kim gently helped her sit up a bit, holding the bowl to her lips. “Just a few sips, okay? You need to get your strength back.” As Chaos took a few tentative sips, Bug watched, relief washing over him. The warmth of the soup seemed to ease some of the tension in her shoulders.  “Good job,” Kim encouraged, their tone warm and supportive. “See? You’re doing great.” Once Chaos finished a few bites, Kim set the bowl down and wrapped her in a thicker blanket, making sure she was comfortable. “Just rest for a bit. We’ll be right here,” they said, giving her a reassuring smile. While Kim runs around grabbing everything Chaos might need, Bug turns to Maple, who is still scrolling through her phone, her brow furrowed. “What’s the update on the next hunt?” he asked, trying to distract himself from the weight of concern pressing down on him. 
“Nothing urgent, thankfully, this group called GIGGS has been taking all the contracts,” Maple replied, tucking her phone away. “But that's a good thing honestly, I think we should all take a break after tonight. Chaos needs it, and honestly, so do we.”
 Bug nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting back to Chaos. “Yeah, we pushed ourselves hard. We’ll figure out the next steps when she’s feeling better.” Bug then grabbed Kim by the shoulders, and made them sit down next to Chaos, to calm the overprotective hunter. Chaos didn’t seem to mind this new thing, cuddling up against Kim, and falling asleep on their shoulder, her congestion making her whistle slightly with each breath. Kim shoots a mildly perturbed look at Bug who flashes back a smirk, but the moment they look at the child cuddling against them the look fades away into a fond one. Bug brings over another blanket and with a small chuckle grins, “Looks like you got chosen. You know what they say, don’t wake sleeping Chaos’s.” Kim whispers in turn, “Can you grab my tablet?” Investigation Report: Sunny Meadows Date: 10/18/2024Investigators: Bug, Chaos, Kim, Maple Location: Sunny Meadows AsylumType of Entity: Obake 
Summary:
 The ghost is likely identified to be an Obake. Due to recent equipment shortages we were unable to confirm UV evidence. The ghost took an hour to locate due to initial low activity. Located in the former Manager’s Office. Ghost has a preference for throwing books. Ghost Orbs and EMF 5 were confirmed. Ghost activity indicates Obake, due to lack of appearance in DOTS projector after 30 minutes. Biomedical hazard was located in the right wing of the basement floor. Cleanup is recommended ASAP. 
End of Report
  kimrose444@TheFoxTablet:~$ ssh desktopkimrose444@TheFoxComputer:~$ nano 'Desktop/ToDo.txt'       GNU nano 6.2 - Desktop/ToDo.txt URGENT radio: signal boosting needed URGENT     -find new model     -find better tracker     -upgrade sanity monitoring     -check software for bugsvideo camera     -adjust emf protectionenergy brownies     -try adding blueberries, avocado     -balance sweetness     -research new ingredientsreports      -followup       -check environmental lawsspirit box      -verify           [ Read 48 lines ] kimrose444@TheFoxComputer:~$ ^X      Save modified buffer? Y      File Name to Write: Desktop/ToDo.txt kimrose444@TheFoxComputer:~$ exitkimrose444@TheFoxTablet:~$ exit

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chaos skipped a few paces ahead of Bug as they entered the craft store, her excitement barely contained. “So, what do you think Ren’s making this time?” she asked, her eyes scanning the aisles filled with colorful fabrics.
 
Bug shrugged, keeping a casual pace behind her. “Knowing Ren, it could be anything. A blanket, a costume, some weird art piece… who knows?”
 
Chaos giggled, picking up a roll of fabric with bright patterns. “I bet it’s something cool for Kim. He’s been acting all secretive lately.” She leaned in conspiratorially, whispering, “Maybe it’s a surprise for them!”
 
Bug smiled softly, though there was a flicker of suspicion in the back of his mind. Ren had definitely been acting strange. “Yeah, maybe,” he said, trying to keep his tone light. “Let’s focus on finding this fabric before you get distracted by anything else.”
 
Chaos pouted playfully, tossing the fabric back. “I don’t get distracted! I’m super focused!” She immediately darted toward a section with plush fabrics, running her fingers over the soft material. “Oh, this one feels like a cloud!”
 
Bug raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that focus thing?”
 
“Okay, maybe a little distracted,” she admitted with a grin. “But look at this! It’s so soft!”
 
Bug couldn’t help but chuckle. “Come on, let’s get what we came for. Ren was pretty specific—orange, white, and pink.”
 
Chaos finally tore herself away from the plush section and helped Bug search. After a few minutes of rummaging through various rolls of fabric, she spotted the perfect shades. “Got it!” she exclaimed, pulling out a roll of bright orange fabric. “Now we just need the white and pink.”
 
Together, they found the remaining fabrics, and Chaos draped them over her arms like some sort of extravagant cape.
 
Bug shook his head, amused. “You’re going to trip if you keep carrying them like that.”
 
Chaos stuck her tongue out playfully. “Nah, I’m graceful like a cat.”
 
Just as she said it, she stumbled slightly, catching herself before Bug had the chance to intervene. She shot him a sheepish grin. “See? Totally fine.”
 
Bug gave her a knowing look, but said nothing, instead heading towards the checkout. Chaos followed behind, still playing with the fabrics as they walked.
 
“So, what do you think Kim’s going to say when they see the surprise?” Chaos asked, her voice full of excitement.
 
“I’m sure they’ll love it, whatever it is,” Bug replied. He couldn’t help but smile at how much enthusiasm Chaos had for something as simple as a secret project. “But don’t forget, we’re not supposed to let on that we know anything.”
 
“Of course not!” Chaos said, her face suddenly serious as if she were taking on the most important mission of her life. “I’m great at keeping secrets.”
 
Bug chuckled. “Sure you are.”
 
As they reached the register, Chaos began chatting with the cashier about all the possible things they could make with the fabric, while Bug quietly paid for everything. Watching her, Bug felt a warm sense of contentment. After all they’d been through, these little moments felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air.
 
As they left the store, Chaos skipped ahead, twirling with the fabric still draped over her arms. “Ren’s going to be so happy we got everything. I can’t wait to see the final project!”
 
Bug smiled to himself. “Neither can I.”
 
As they left the store, Chaos turned to Bug with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Think we can swing by the candy store on the way home? Ren’s going to need some ‘recovery’ sweets.”
 
Bug sighed, shaking his head with a smile. “You just want an excuse to buy candy, don’t you?”
 
Chaos laughed. “Maybe. But come on, you know it’s a good idea.”
 
Bug relented, playfully ruffling her hair. “Alright, alright. Candy store it is.”
 
Chaos squealed in delight, bouncing on her heels. “Yes! You’re the best, Bug!”
 
As they walked down the street, Chaos chattered excitedly about all her favorite candies, her energy infectious. Bug listened with a fond smile, secretly amused by her enthusiasm.
 
“Okay, so what’s your top pick?” he asked, genuinely curious.
 
Chaos thought for a moment, tapping her chin. “It has to be the sour gummies! They’re like little bursts of joy, but I also love the chocolate-covered pretzels. They’re the perfect mix of sweet and salty!”
 
Bug chuckled. “You really can’t decide, can you?”
 
“Not at all!” Chaos grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “What about you? What’s your favorite?”
 
“Honestly? I’m a classic chocolate bar guy,” he admitted. “You can’t go wrong with a good chocolate bar.”
 
“Boring!” Chaos teased, sticking out her tongue. “You should try something more adventurous!”
 
“Like what? Eating a whole bag of those sour gummies you love?” Bug shot back, raising an eyebrow.
 
“Exactly!” Chaos laughed. “See? You’re catching on!”
 
When they reached the candy store, the colorful display of treats brought a fresh wave of excitement to Chaos’s face. She dashed inside, dragging Bug along with her.
 
“Look at all this!” she exclaimed, pointing at the jars filled with various candies. “It’s like a dream!”
 
Bug scanned the store, his amusement growing as he watched Chaos zip from one display to another. He picked up a couple of chocolate bars and some gummies, making a mental note to grab a few recovery sweets for Ren, too.
 
Chaos finally settled on a bag full of sour gummies and a box of chocolate-covered pretzels. She triumphantly held them up for Bug to see, her grin wide. “These are perfect!”
 
As they walked back towards home, Chaos skipped alongside Bug, occasionally reaching into her candy bag to nibble on her gummies. She offered him some, and he couldn’t resist the temptation, grabbing a handful of the sour treats.
 
“Ugh! These are so sour!” he exclaimed, his face scrunching up as the flavor burst in his mouth.
 
Chaos doubled over in laughter. “I told you! They’re amazing!”
 
Bug shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips despite the sourness. “You’re ridiculous.”
 
“I know!” she replied, beaming.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“So, how'd the appointment go?” Bug asked, sitting down on Ren's bed as he was finishing the hoodie for Kim, getting the drawstrings in the hood. “Uh, great.” Ren immediately lied. “Said it must be an issue with my medication.” “Ah. Doesn't really explain the whole sick thing though.” His tone was suspicious, searching for answers. Ren didn't look up. “She said it’s related to allergies. I'll be going in next week for tests on my current medications, to see if I can maybe get proper dosage so I'm not slowly dying.” He tried to say it in a lighthearted way, making it a little less of a dire situation. The joke didn't land.  “Ren, this is serious stuff. You can't just be treating it like it's an everyday thing– you've been out of the field and locked in your room for a month.” “Sorry.” He apologized, and he really meant it. “You're seriously worrying me with how- how careless you are about this. You've been locked in your room for forever, and we’re left picking up the pieces.” Bug’s tone became a bit frustrated, and Ren tried his best to keep from getting upset. “At least help me out with paperwork. You know it's annoying to do, and it's just legal stuff, so you don't have to worry about anything ghost-related.” Oh.. Did Bug think Ren didn't want to be involved with ghost hunting anymore? Because of the possession?  Ren considered it for only a second before agreeing. “Okay, I'll help out with paperwork. Just text me the info, I'll even write up the summary to send to the Guild.” “Thank you.” Bug sighed. Ren rocked back in his spinny chair as he was threading the last drawstring inch into the other side, letting the silence settle awkwardly. Bug’s eyes scanned over the hoodie with an impressed look. “That looks really well made, Ren.” He complimented, and all Ren could do was nod in acknowledgement. He never really knew what to say to compliments, and conversation afterwards always felt clunky. “Kim will love it.” “I hope so.” He mumbled, grabbing a clothes hanger and putting it on, to look at the hoodie fully. It didn't actually look terrible, which Ren considered to be a win.  The orange, white, and pink all went exactly where they were supposed to. The ears he had sewn onto the hoodie, the white pattern on the front.. Yes. This project was done. Finished. Complete. “Finally.” Lt’s voice came through his head. “You took forever on this.” “You were the one who wanted it to be perfect.” Ren scolded mentally, and Lt cackled, a sound that had started to become familiar, and still annoying. “Hey Ren?” Bug asked, snapping Ren back to reality.  “Yeah, Bug?” “You know you can tell me anything, right? I know how much you tend to keep to yourself, but if anybody on this team, you know I'm in your corner.” For once, Ren believed Bug, because his tone was sincere, and the look in his eyes told Ren he really did want to help. Ren took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, I know.”  “Okay. Uh, good. Because I'm always here for you.” What an awkward display of support. At least he was trying, which was more than what Ren was doing. “Actually..” Ren hesitated, and Bug seemed to perk up. Then the doubt crept in instantly and he backpedaled. “Uhm– never mind. Sorry. This is just the worst I’ve felt. Ever. I can't explain it, but I just feel awful in every sense of the word.” “Yeah, you definitely…” Then it was Bug’s turn for hesitation. “You definitely look awful.” How delicate. How kind. “Thanks, Bug.” Ren said in a monotone voice, and Bug couldn't help but snicker. “I'm being honest!” Ren smiled. “Maybe for you, honesty is not the best policy, Bug.”  “Brutal honesty is still honesty, Ren.” Bug teased, rolling his eyes. “I'm sorry you've never had the truth told to you in your life.” Ren threw the hoodie at Bug, making sure to remove the hanger and ball it up as best he could in order to do the maximum damage to Bug. Bug covered his face as soon as the orange hoodie was sent through the air, and it hit him in the shoulder with no real harm done. “Hey!” He shrieked, and it immediately turned into a throw-the-bigger-object competition. Unfortunately for Bug, the only items were pillows, stuffies, and blankets, which Ren easily caught and threw back. It also didn't help that Ren was next to expensive things, such as his sewing machine and computer, so Bug was at a complete disadvantage. Within two minutes, the ceasefire on the object war was called, but that was because Chaos had returned home with pizza. And Ren felt good enough to go downstairs and join them all for dinner.  About a month after that, Ren held up the fox hoodie and scanned every inch of Kim’s face for their reaction, standing in Kim’s room by the door. He needed it to not be a bad reaction, because he didn't think he'd be able to take that. But Kim’s eyes went wide, their jaw dropped open, their mouth went into an O shape– yes! Just like he’d predicted and planned for. What he didn't plan for, however, was the hug. Kim practically bolted forward and almost tackled Ren in a hug, slamming into him with enough force to make him take a couple steps backwards. After a moment of reluctance, Ren hugged Kim right back, though still keeping a hold on the hoodie.  They finally pulled away and grabbed the hoodie from his hands, looking it over. Ren watched closely again, and it felt a bit easier this time.  “Merry birthday?” He said almost as if a question, smiling because Kim was smiling. “Merry birthday indeed!” Kim beamed, before unzipping it and tugging it on. “This is amazing! You made this?” “From scratch.” He confirmed. “Chaos and Bug got me the fabric, I figured I needed to do something while I was sick.” “Thank you so much Ren!” Kim grinned. “You’re welcome.” He smiled in return.  Speaking of feeling sick, Ren had been starting to feel better. A lot better. The fatigue was always there, even before Lt, but Ren felt like he could actually do stuff. Not ghost hunting yet, but he received live footage from Kim in the van, and called out advice to the other three over their phones. The paperwork was even easier to do, and he’d even started writing little reports to put in the journal Chaos gave him. Those were actually fun to do, and it also gave him a log to fall back on if he forgot details. Lt even said Ren was recovering quickly for a demon adjustment period, so he was over the moon about it all.  Slowly, but surely, Ren was getting better. He'd decided to try and stop compulsively lying so much, and as soon as a lie left his lips, it was instantly ‘that was a lie, I meant..’ And that actually worked. It was easier to backtrack and tell the truth. Sure, he still hadn't told anyone he was a demon host, and also— whatever- it didn't matter, and he just wasn’t going to worry about those yet. Ren did notice one thing, though. One of the main reasons he never really went out hunting yet, and stayed at home, was because of the equipment malfunctions. Despite Lt’s best attempts to fix it and conceal their existence, Ren's computer still glitched every once in a while and his favorite photo camera did too. Taking pictures was impossible.  So, Ren stayed home. ---  “Come play games with us tonight.” Bug asked Ren, almost pleading. “Chaos misses having you around, and it's been two months!” That sent a pang of guilt right through him. “I’m.. I–” Ren only wanted to make excuses. To give some other reason why he couldn't possibly do it. “Please.” Bug asked again, and Ren couldn't take the tone he was using. Like a sad puppy dog tone. Or a wet cat. Either worked, honestly. “Okay, okay. Fine. I'll play games tonight.” Ren finally conceded, allowing a smile to peek through. Things were getting better. He could play games again! It was all improving. “I‘ll tell you how to win.” Lt offered, and Ren almost burst out laughing- there was no way Lt knew the game they were playing.  “Lt, have you ever even played Monopoly?”    ---  Apparently, Ren didn't know how to play Monopoly either. He was 600 bucks in debt to Chaos’s growing empire and he was also in jail. Bug wouldn't stop laughing at him, and Lt was starting to become really annoying with the constant giggling. “Wow, I feel so welcome here.” He deadpanned, which only sent Bug into a bigger fit of laughter, and Chaos joined in this time. Kim was just smiling, which Ren considered a blessing at this point.  ---  “You suck at Monopoly.” Lt whispered as Ren lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling.  “I know, I know. I never claimed to be good at board games, y’know? I just like doing them, for fun.” “You humans are so weird. Us demons just taunt humans for fun. Possession is fun. Throwing things is fun. Board games? Not as fun as you think.” The air seemed to settle as the house finally quieted down. Ren shrugged. “I'll pass on the possession. It's just the time spent with people for me.” There was a beat of silence, then Lt spoke up. “Ren?” “Yeah, Lt?” “Did I ever tell you how I became Lt?” Their voice was tender, almost nostalgic. “No. Are you going to tell me now?” Ren asked, trying to match the tone. Another best of silence. “Not tonight.” Lt decided. “But eventually.” Ren nodded, his eyelids beginning to grow a bit heavier. “Alright. Goodnight, Lt.” “Goodnight, Ren. Good job.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Night sighs as he collapses into bed. He had school in the morning and just got off his shift and…what time was it? 10 PM–almost 11. He had time. He pulled a hand down his face and opened up his phone. Night's eyes were barely able to keep themselves open, but he wanted to make sure to get this done before he forgot. The meeting with the guild went about as well as it could've, so this was the easy part. Right? Right. 
Wolves_ARESNEAKY  — 9/14/2024 10:11 PM

Hey, so I was lookin into startin some ghost hunting jobs. Would anybody be able to teach me the ropes?
 
kimrose444 — 9/14/2024 10:23 PM

i can, i think im in ur area. want to meet at a walmart?
 
Wolves_ARESNEAKY — 9/15/2024 10:34 PM

Yeah, my shift ends at 10. Can I meet you near the one on Central tomorrow?
 
kimrose444 — 9/15/2024 10:37 PM

works w/ me, cya then.
 There. Now the only thing left to do is to finish his schoolwork. Great.  Despite being not even eighteen, Night feels older when he exits Walmart after a long, exhausting shift. If this was a regular night, he would head home…but he set up the ghost hunting contract for tonight. Unfortunate, because he was exhausted. As he gazes upon the parking lot, he can see a person in a fox-eared hoodie leaning against a modified van to the side. Hands in the hoodie pocket and green eyes staring right at him. He steps in a puddle on his way over to the van, a glance in it showing his reflection looking back at him. The blue hair dye he'd put in his messy hair was cheap and beginning to fade. He'd have to save up for more soon. His grey-teal hoodie was so worn down you couldn't read what it originally said in it. His eyes are tired. Night doesn't dwell on it. He takes in a breath, mentally preparing himself for this, and takes the last few steps, “Hi, are you the person from the forum?” The stranger nods, giving Night a smile. "Yep, with the ghost hunting. Ready for your first contract?" “I…’spose so, yeah. How long are they usually? Got somethin’ ta do in the mornin’ .” He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. Night really couldn't afford to miss school. The forum stranger looks Night over, head tilting one way as they seemingly assess him. He forced his gaze to be elsewhere, though it didn't remove the feeling of being watched. Picked apart, even. "This should be straight forward, this is a fairly calm ghost. We can go through this quickly. This is still a learning experience for you though. When I tell you to get out of the house, get out of the house." “Will do.” He shifts uncomfortably where he stands, legs starting to ache. “I’m Night.” He still refuses to meet their gaze. The stranger’s smile shifts to a grin. "I'm Kim. Worst case scenario, call the guild to pick everything up at dawn. It is unlikely to come to that, but important to know. You understand the risks of this job?" “Uh, yeah- Yeah I do.” "Alright, let's head out then, hop on in." The forum stranger–Kim–pats the shotgun van door, then heads around the front to the driver’s seat. Night blinks, then hops into the van. Kim drives off to the location, arriving outside of a small suburban house on Tanglewood Road. There, they back the end of the van part way up the driveway before hopping out. Night gets out too and finds the forum person at the back of the van, opening up the doors to reveal the setup inside. They gesture for Night to come inside, pointing out each of the different equipment that is present inside and giving a long spiel that Night only manages to process some of due to his minimal amount of sleep. He looks around at all the equipment, debating on what to grab, before settling on a flashlight, EMF reader, and DOTs projector. Looking back at Kim, who was regarding Night thoughtfully with their head tilted to the side. They give Night a grin and grab their own equipment: a flashlight, photo camera, and thermometer. From the desk they pull radios and some strange wristwatches and hand one of each to Night. "If the ghost starts hunting, turn all electronics off and hide. For the same reason, best if you leave your phone in the van. Radios are a bit safer to use." Night fishes his phone out of his pocket and sets it down on the desk, grabbing the radio handed to him. The strange wristwatch takes some fiddling but eventually is adjusted to stay on his wrist. He doesn’t say anything as he looks back at Kim. Kim is looking over the house floor plan on one of four screens on the side of the van, continuing to fill the silence. "Usually the breaker location is marked on the map... Basement this time. We also have our sanity and our activity boards here." Kim starts walking towards the house. "Let me know if you pick up activity on the EMF reader, or if you see a bone laying around. I'll call out when the breaker is on. Ready to go in?" Night nods and follows behind them. Kim leads the way in, soon disappearing around the corner as they half-jog for the basement door. Night pauses for a moment, considering all the doors, before entering one where the door was cracked open. As he shines his flashlight around the bedroom the radio comes to life, "Breaker's on!"  With a flip of a switch, light illuminates the room. Night backs out to check the next bedroom, staring intently at the EMF reader, when another burst comes through the radio. "It's in the dining room!"  Night comes into the dining room a moment later, holding the EMF reader up. He looks around cautiously before placing the DOTs on the table. It's freezing in the room. He's glad he's wearing a hoodie. The dining room is simple, with enough area for someone to walk around the table- and it may have been set for dinner, though Night only sees plates on the ground now.  Kim opens the door of a glass hutch against one wall and takes a picture of an odd, dried looking hand. Night feels a little queasy at the sight of it. Kim doesn’t seem to notice as they simply state, "Cursed object is a monkey paw." They turn to Night and continue, "I'm going to go back to the van to grab more equipment. Let me know if you get 5 bars on the EMF reader." He makes a quiet noise of acknowledgment and watches as Kim walks out of the room. Night then turns the EMF reader back on, taking in a deep breath.  He can do this. Suddenly, the lights started flickering rapidly. Loud breathing was in his ear. He backed up into the corner, but it didn't go away. He curled up, trying to make himself less of a target. Night stays like that even as the lights go back to normal and he can no longer hear the breathing. Kim walks back in after some time– Night doesn't know how long. They take a look around, their head tilting to the side as they do so, before spotting him. "I take it the ghost evented?" Night has to take a moment to remember what that means, but then he nods. "Alright, go check the sanity in the van, look at the cameras." Kim sets down the writing book on the floor, getting the pen setup to help promote the activity to the ghost. Night nods and sets the EMF reader on the floor before getting up and heading outside. The van was warmer, though still cold in his opinion. He checked the sanity for the two of them. 86% for Kim and 61% for him. That… didn't seem right, but Night didn't dwell on it long. He wasn't really sure what to do next. Night really didn't want to go back in, but he wasn't certain how much money he would actually make by staying in the van. He could really use the paycheck, seeing as his parents clearly weren't going to help anytime soon. A glance at the computer screen then the equipment wall reveals that the camera is offline and in the van still. After a moment of staring at the video camera, he finally decides on grabbing it and dragging himself back into the house. Night makes it to the entryway when he sees Kim walking down the hall, looking mildly surprised at Night’s presence. Kim looks at the camera Night is holding, "If you can, night vision mode on the camera and check for little orbs floating around in the ghost room." Then they brush past Night on their way to the van, not saying anything else. Once back in the dining room, Night flips the camera to night vision and lifts it up to his eye to check for orbs. As he does, though, he hears echoing singing and lets out a loud yelp- the figure of the ghost just in the corner of the room. Not again . The radio crackles, "Everything alright in there?"  Night manages to grab his radio, shakingly saying into it, “It’s singin’.”  
"How about you come back to the van and take a sanity pill? We are starting to get low, probably why it is more active now."
 Night winces, if he stays in the van he may not get the money- “I- …can I still come back in?” There is a brief second of silence. "Yeah, the pills are to help the ghost calm down, since they are more active at lower sanity."  Night sighs quietly in relief, and quickly starts walking back to the van, noticing Kim in one of the rooms looking for something on his way out. He grabs the sanity medicine container to get a pill, staring at it for a long moment before taking it. The young man heads back inside and begins checking up on all the equipment. Kim returns to the ghost room shortly afterwards, idly picking up the video camera only to exclaim immediately afterwards, "Oh we got ghost orbs!" They gesture for Night to come and look. Night walks over, just close enough for him to be able to peer at the small screen. He didn't really like being close to people… Kim points at a spot on the screen, where a small speck of light seemingly floats for just a second. As Kim resumes talking, Night can see the light mote appear again.  "That's what to look for, if that is floating around in the ghost room- the room that the ghost picked to haunt. Sometimes they may wander out, but usually we only need to search for evidence at the ghost room," they tell him. He tilts his head in thought, then nods. The forum ghost hunter follows up with a request, "Can you go double check if the ghost has touched any doors while wandering? I'm going to check spirit box, it usually works best if I'm alone in the room." Night nods again and grabs the UV light before heading out. After just a moment Kim’s voice sounds from his radio, just as he can hear their footsteps quickly going past. "We got dots and spirit box, meet up outside!"  “Oh- okay,” Night goes to the doorway, the UV light still in his hand. Kim is standing there looking relieved, a tension dropping from their shoulders as Night steps outside.  Kim pulls out a pocket sized book and begins flipping through it. "Alright, using the ghost guidebook, what ghost do you think it is?" Night pulls out the guidebook, thinking over the evidence as he flips through the pages as well, eventually pausing on one that matches. “Uhm… Yokai?” "Correct! Now we just got to let the guild know so they can send the exorcism team." “A’rite.” He shuffles into the van, and sits on the floor of it. A silent observer as Kim moves about, marking something in their own book while they pull up a contact on the phone to call. The call is set to speaker mode, and Night listens as Kim talks with the other person, both being rather straight to the point. Night fidgets with his hands while he waits for the call to finish, glancing around the van. Soon enough Kim finishes with the call and turns to Night. "Have any questions?" He jumps, “Oh, uh- I don’t think so.” Kim nods slowly, their head tilting as they seem to be deep in thought. "Alright, money should be transferred in about 3-5 business days, after the exorcism team does their work and the ghost is confirmed gone." Night slumps in visible relief, the money should be arriving soon enough then. “Okay. Yeah, okay. Thanks.” "Let's get driving back," Kim offers as they hop back out of the van, their steps audible as they walk to the driver’s seat. Night nods and follows them out, heading to the passenger seat. As Kim starts up the van and starts driving, they pop a question, "Whatcha think of this kinda work so far?" “It’s…somethin’, I ‘spose.” It provides money, at the very least. As to if he wants to continue… He can see Kim glance at him briefly before focusing back on the road. "If you're comfortable sharing, why did you decide to start ghost hunting?" “Heard it paid well.” "It can, especially as you get more experience. The pay is better if you complete objectives or deal with more difficult ghosts though- it can get riskier doing some of those things." Night hums in thought and turns to lean his head against the window. What Kim has said is similar to what the ghost hunting guild had given too. Kim continues on chatting as they turn onto another road, "I originally started with the equipment, just fixing and making certain everything works, then started getting involved with contract work gradually. The group I have is really good at what they do, if you ever want to learn more about ghost hunting it might be a good idea to contact them." Night leans back in his seat, looking out the window. “I don’t got a way of contactin’ your group if I wanted ta.” "We've messaged on the forums, oh- I forgot, my number, let me know when you're ready and I'll start saying it." "Oh, uh-" Night hastily pulls out his phone, then nods at Kim. The older adult begins listing off a number that Night inputs into his phone, saving the contact as ‘forum person’. "That way you can contact me again if you want, and we can do another contract together or I can hook you up with the professionals from my group." He frowns and nods. Kim falls silent after that, driving right back to the Walmart parking lot they had met at. Night lets out a yawn, unable to force it down as Kim parks. He opened the door once the van was in park. Kim is looking at Night through the open door when he turns to close it, their expression odd. "Safe travels, I hope you can get some good rest." Night nods and waves goodbye. This…wasn't that bad. Maybe he'd try it again sometime. Not soon, though. Right now Night needs sleep.  It's been two weeks or so since Night's last contract. The money sent in had been enough to last him awhile combined with his normal work, so he hasn't really considered doing another. But a night or two ago his parents went out and wasted most of it on more wine and beer, so he was running low again. He sighed and paused in his attempt at doing homework. Night picked up his phone and opened up Kim's contact. He chuckled quietly at the contact name, then clicked on the 'message' button. Forum person - Me 
This is still Kim right? (12:03 AM)
 
yes! who is this? (12:06 AM)
 
Forum man, are ya free to do another

contract? (12:07 AM)
 
oh, night right?

yeah! when you want to (12:07 AM)
 
Uhhhh, when're ya free? (12:08 AM)
 
the group is going friday night to a big contract,

free otherwise though! (12:09 AM)
 
 Are ya free Thursday night? (12:09 AM)
 
yes! do u want to meet at the one walmart

again? (12:10 AM)
 
Sure, I'll be a bit though

I have that day off (12:11 AM)
 
ok (12:13 AM)
 Night sighs in relief. Just one day. He just has to last one more day.  The young man groans as he finally shuts the door on his parents. He made sure to bring his bag this time, it held several belongings which he probably should've brought last time. Night digs the umbrella out of it and opens it up. He kicks a rock into the rain as he begins walking. The cold seemed to seep into his skin. He paid it no mind. Night walks for… however long. He doesn't keep track. He just knows it takes forever to finally get to the parking lot. After a moment, he finds the van parked amongst the outskirts of regular traffic, lights turned on but the engine is silent. He walks up to it and knocks on the passenger window. "Kim?" He doesn't know if they can hear him, but it's worth a shot. The window rolls down a crack, Kim’s voice quickly calls out, “Get in, get in!” Night jumps a little, and quickly gets in, stuffing the umbrella into his bag when inside. He's cold, he realizes. Maybe a stupid thing to realize now, after walking–he checks his phone–20 minutes in the pouring rain. He stuffs his hands in his pockets to try and warm them up, then turns to Kim. "Hi." The window is quickly rolled up once Night is in. Kim has a bit of a pinched look, their eyes looking Night over. “Oh- I could've picked ya up if you wanted, do you have a better coat?” Night did not want that. He looked down at his worn-down hoodie, then shrugged. "Not really." Kim hums, thinking through something that they do not elaborate on as they start driving to the contract location. He turns his head and leans it against the window. His hands were still cold despite the van’s heater. The rest of the drive seems to pass all too quickly, and soon enough they are at the location. Kim starts rummaging in some of the boxes as Night looks over the equipment, trying to decide what to take. After some rustling in the boxes, Kim turns to Night and proudly presents an old but intact winter coat. “Here! It’s been gathering dust in here for a while, you can keep it.” Night…doesn't really know what to think of that. He grabs the coat, running his fingers along the inside to decide whether it would feel fine to wear. After a moment of debating, he shrugs it on over his hoodie. It's warmer. He goes to grab the equipment, but pauses. He turns to Kim and says, "Thanks." “No problem! Can’t have ya freezing when there’s a ghost to identify.” Kim is busies themself with picking out their own equipment. Few minutes later they part ways as Kim heads for the breaker and Night starts looking around the family house. Every room he goes in though, the EMF reader remains silent. Eventually the only place left to check is the basement… Night hesitates, not really wanting to go down there. Eventually though, he steels himself and heads into the basement. Halfway down the staircase, the radio crackles to life and Night’s hopes raise- 
“Cursed object is tarot card deck.”
 -only to crash. He still needs to check the basement. He sighs and continues walking. It's…cold, when he reaches the bottom. It's really cold, to the point that the coat Kim gave him isn't helping. Night pulls out the EMF reader, some dread filling him when it beeps at level 3. He pulls out his radio to let Kim know. "It's in the basement." His hands are cold again. Once the EMF reader is dropped and the DOTs projector is set-up, Night heads out to grab more equipment. He debates on what to grab in his head, settling on the salt and UV light. On the way back in Night passes an empty-handed Kim. The basement is more lit due to the beam of Kim’s flashlight in the equipment pile. He pours the salt around the room, and waits. Not long after Kim descends to drop off the last of the equipment into the room. They snag the photo camera again, and their flashlight. “There we are! I still need to find the bone, are you good keeping an eye down here?” He gives a thumbs-up vaguely in their direction. Kim grins and departs up the steps with a final statement, “Let me know if anything happens!” Not long after Kim leaves, the salt is stepped in by the ghost. Night quickly walks over to it, eyes lighting up when he can see the glowing footstep in the ultraviolet light. He's about to grab his radio when the lights begin flickering violently. He stumbles backwards and into a corner, covering his mouth with his hands to muffle any noises. His heart pounds as he sees glimpses of the ghost walking down the stairs. He pushes himself further into the corner. His foot bumps into something, making a loud metallic clatter that echoes throughout. Night gasps and freezes up when the ghost turns its head towards him. It begins running down the rest of the staircase, only returning to a walking pace at the bottom as it goes straight for Night. It reaches out and grabs his arm roughly, but Night can't feel anything but the cold. It seems to wrap around him from where the ghost clutches him. It's freezing. It numbs him so fast he barely has time to think. It's all around him, and he needs to get out but he can't move–  His vision goes dark. When his eyes next crack open, there’s the soft light of the van all around him. He tries to sit up, only to find he’s cocooned in too many blankets to move. Blearily looking around, he sees that most of the equipment is back on the walls, only the salt and a crucifix missing. He looks up and notices he's laid down under the screens. There’s a pleasant smell in the air, and Night can just barely make out Kim sitting on the rear edge of the van with a mug in hand. His thoughts feel a bit muddled, as if he's still on the brink of falling asleep again. It takes him a bit, but eventually he's able to remember what happened. He's still cold, but it's more as if he's been in the rain all night, rather than being engulfed by it. He lays his head back down, fighting off the urge to go back to being unconscious. After some time has passed, Kim enters Night’s more direct field of view and smiles softly. “Hey there, how ya feeling?” He thinks on it for a moment. His tongue feels heavy when he speaks, "Tired." Kim nods, seemingly expecting that response. “Alright, anything else that you’re feeling?” Night frowns, "Cold." There’s some mirth to their smile, “Yeah, you’ve been rather cold. Want to sit up?” He nods, and allows Kim to help him move the blankets around until he's finally able to sit upright. The older person then goes over to a machine plugged in. The lingering smell in the air is a mug of warm hot chocolate, which Night realizes when Kim offers it to him. The mug itself is shaped as a penguin with a scarf, the ends of the scarf serving as a mug handle. The young man looks up at Kim, hesitating to drink the liquid. They don't seem to have any ill-intentions, and they haven't given him any reason to think that, but… A question crosses his mind. 
Why is Kim helping me?
 Kim seems to take Night’s silence in a different manner, “Yeah, it’s not the greatest cause it’s just from store bought mix, but it’s what I got on hand.” Kim goes back to the machine, refilling their own mug. He looks down at the hot chocolate and takes a hesitant sip. It's warm, almost hot due to his current temperature. Night doesn't remember the last time he had hot chocolate. His family never really had any holiday traditions, and could rarely afford anything other than basic groceries due to… excess spending. It tasted good, he decided. As Night is reaching the bottom of his mug, Kim breaks the silence. “Do you still want to pursue this career path?” "Hm?" He looks up at Kim, not having expected them to speak. “You’ve experienced a hunt now, and the ghost has evented on you as well in the past. Is this still a job you want to continue doing?” "Yeah. It pays well." He fidgets with his thumbs, adverting his gaze from Kim. Kim tilts their head, their eyes deep in thought as they gaze at Night. “Alright. Tonight’s ghost was a Jinn- can be faster when the breaker is on. Want more hot chocolate?” He pauses, and frowns. "Don’t this stuff cost money? Wouldn't want ya ta waste it all and have ta make ya buy more." “Nah, this stuff is cheap. Always makes me feel better after a hunt, and there are proven benefits to sanity when drinking it, so I keep it around for the whole group.” "So…keep it for your group. They probably need it more than me anyways. Plus, even if it's cheap I'd really rather not make you spend more than ya have ta." “It’s more a waste when people don’t get to enjoy it. And I already spoil the rest of the group with better stuff back at our warehouse. You can always have as much of this stuff as you want.”  That only makes Night's frown deepen. He shakes his head and sets his mug down, staring at it longingly. Kim snatches Night’s mug, quickly filling it with hot chocolate. Starting to talk before Night can protest as they put the filled mug back into Night’s hands. “So, Jinns are known to create EMF 5 on breakers…”  The mug is broken by his parents as soon as Night gets home. He doesn't have the glue to piece the poor pottery back together, so he sweeps it up and tosses it out. He doesn't mention it to Kim the next time they see each other.  Kim searches the upper floor of a house, having left the first floor for Night. They have been enjoying having a partner on these ghost contracts. Night has been a fast learner, and the company is always a bonus, but… As their infrared thermometer swings to face the next room, revealing a temperature of 3.2o Celsius, they push the thoughts away. "Night, I found the room, it's upstairs in-" Kim suddenly freezes as they see the ghost forming in front of them, and then completely ignoring them as it goes for the stairs. After a few seconds they unfreeze to release a panicked shout into the radio, " It's hunting , Night it's going your-" Kim gets nothing but static as all the lights go off. They quickly get up, mentally cursing this situation as they turn the lights on and rush downstairs. They eventually locate Night in the downstairs bedroom, and carefully bring his unconscious body into the van. With Night safely in a cocoon of blankets, Kim downs a sanity pill and goes back in. The evidence confirms what they were already thinking: Banshee.  "It's in the kitchen!" Kim walks for the front door to grab more equipment, hearing Night's footsteps about a room behind them.. But it is just as Kim steps outside and Night enters the front living room that the front door suddenly slams shut, leaving Kim to whirl about in time to see a large ghost descend upon their trainee. " Night -" They quickly burst in as the ghost disappears, in time to see Night's head glance against the sofa on the way down. The worried engineer quickly drags Night's passed out form into the van, and patches up the scrap on his head from the fall. Once done wrapping up Night in some blankets, they start up the hot chocolate machine. Fiddling with the computer they manage to get up the sanity history numbers, paling further as they look through them.  Kim hurriedly calls up the guild as they quickly do the math for the average sanity value when the hunt had started. There's only one ghost that will hunt that early on, when the average is 91% , and the guild needs to know immediately -  Kim was pulling out the camera to take another picture of a broken salt line when the lights flicker. They back up a bit, but not quick enough- they find themself frozen as they stare at the ghost crawling towards them- Only for the ghost to go for Night, slightly behind Kim and to the corner. Kim breaks out of their inaction to catch Night as he passes out, listening for the door to finally unlatch as the hunt ends. They should have had Night check the sanity instead of staying with them-  Kim rummages through the boxes in the back of the van, extracting a particular container. They had been working on making these yesterday… Kim pulls the lid off as they turn around. “Hey Night, I've got some energy brownies for ya to try. New recipe attempt!”  Night looks up from where he was attaching his sanity monitor watch. Kim watches as Night seems to inspect the entire container before carefully grabbing one and taking a hesitant bite out of the corner. “Thanks. It's…sweeter.” Kim grins in response, grabbing one themself to munch on as they put the container back away. The jingle of keys and thud of footsteps behind signals Night departing for the front door. Kim glances at the sanity board, when they see Night's sanity is at 84% their grin grows. That's a new record for the highest Night’s sanity has been! They mentally check off the sanity ‘energy’ brownies as a success.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

[A Tutorial On How to Get a Sulking and "Sick" Ren Out of His Room and Into Working Condition, by Kim.]
[How To Be Left Alone By Anyone Who Cares About Your Welfare 101: A Failed Tutorial by Ren and Lt-(I didn't want any part of this, but Ren dragged me into it, so I insist I get credit where it's due.)]  [Step One: Make Every Excuse Ever ] - Ren Lying always gets you out of trouble and doesn’t dig you any deeper at all. Take it from Ren, he’s an expert at it.  There’s a knock on Ren’s door. He doesn’t want to get up and answer it, but Lt insists, annoyingly, that it’d be normal to answer it. So begrudgingly, he stood up and made his way to the door. With a big sigh, he twisted the handle and pulled open the door.In front of him stood a housemate, wearing a painfully familiar hoodie, one that he'd spent weeks working on. Orange, with fox ears, and that fluffy brown hair.“Hey, Kim–” He began, smiling fakely in an attempt to get them to leave him alone. “Hey Ren, I need your help.” Kim waved from the door, and Ren felt like melting into a puddle of goo. Not now. Lt, ever the difficult-situation-solver, was dead silent. What a pal!“What with?” He asked anyway, praying that the group's engineer wouldn't say equipment— It wasn't even turning on around him, and Ren was incredibly close to giving up his entire ghost hunting career. Even his special camera had decided he was off the list for people it'd work for. Name crossed out in Sharpie- off the list. Completely and totally blacklisted.Kim grinned. “I need some assistance testing the equipm—”Before they could even finish, he interrupted them without a second thought. “–Oh no, I wish I could- but- uh- I'm busy! Very busy. Busy central, right here. Me. I'm busy.”“Busy?” Kim’s expression dropped, and they raised an eyebrow skeptically. “But... you've been complaining about how bored you are not going to investigations.”“Yeah, but- uh, Bug is having me do the reports!” He said, and it was a half-truth. “I'm way busy doing uh, those. Doing those.”“Funny, because I asked Bug and he said he submitted the one they did today already, and yesterday, and so on. Our paperwork is all caught up, Ren.” Kim tilted their head and Ren grimaced mentally. “I just wanted to do a once over?” It was more of a question than a statement. “Bug likes forgetting to take–”“I know.” Ren floundered helplessly for a moment. Excuses. Tech wasn't working around him because Lt. Lt wasn’t leaving. He had to get out of helping.[Step One: Ignore the Excuses] - Kim
Ren is a master at finding the most absurd reasons to get out of uncomfortable situations. Trust me, I know.
 Kim glanced briefly into Ren’s room, then focused back on Ren. Originally they were going to wait for Ren to rejoin them all on ghost hunting, but given how much time had passed, they didn't think Ren would go without a nudge. They suspected he wanted to, at least, based on him following along when they stream the video camera feeds. How could they convince him to help... “It’ll be quick, and you can get back to doing…”“I need to pair up my socks!”“That can wait,” Kim stated as they gently grabbed Ren’s hand to tug him out of his room. They didn't think he did laundry recently, and attempting to avoid this further proved what they already knew. Maybe if they gave their fake reasoning for this… “Chaos’s room lately-”As he stumbled a bit forward, he quickly shouted out, “Chaos! You could get Chaos’s help-”…or not. Kim pulled Ren along as they interject, “No, Chaos can’t-”Again, Ren cut them off. “Or, uh, Bug! Bug’s help! Have you asked Bug?—”“No , Ren, neither of them know a good photo if it hits them in the face; it needs to be y-”“–But I need to redraw my a–”“–It can wait–”“–My fabrics need to be organized—”Kim paused in the middle of the hallway and looked at Ren. Did he really think they would believe that one? “I know ya, your fabric does not need organizing.”“Honestly my own fault, that was a horrible excuse.” Ren muttered, before spitting out another. “I need to practice my Spanish—”“–It can wait, Ren.” Kim insisted, cutting him off. They kept pulling Ren towards their room once more.“I need to cut up some-”“Nope.” They walked faster, dragging Ren along with them. “But there's-”“Nope. ”“Uh, I-”“Nope!” Kim gladly swung their door open once it was in reach and pulled Ren inside, despite the panicked protests and horrible excuses.

[Step Two: Don’t Touch Anything, Even if You Like It] - Ren

They’ll try to distract you with things you like, don’t touch them at all. It’s a curse and a very effective way of getting your attention on the wrong things. DON’T take it.
 Kim’s room looked a bit messier than the last time Ren had seen it, more parts and half-finished projects laying around in the engineer’s space. Ahead on their desk, the video camera Ren used to use before Lt joined him. One of his favorite pieces of equipment. The all-time favorite was his photo camera. He didn't notice that Kim locked their door before moving past Ren to get to their desk, “As I was saying earlier-”He needed to find a way out of this- if Kim finds out about Lt, it'll all be over. “I'm supposed to go-”“-Chaos’s room has been giving interference lately to electronics. I think it's–” They continued, stopping him from forming yet another excuse.He paused. Wait, he wasn’t aware of that. Maybe he could use that to explain his own room and the issues that had been going on in it? Kim quickly picked up the video camera on the desk, crossed the room, and shoved it into Ren’s hands. “–probably ‘cause of how many cursed objects she's got stashed away. How's the image look?”Ren fumbled with it, almost dropping the camera before regaining a grip on it. He looked at the viewfinder, trying to ignore just how much his hands were shaking. “Uh, it's sorta blurry. Not as bad as when-uh- when a ghost is present though. Yeah, but it's definitely not normal.”Kim nodded and grabbed the video camera from Ren, who was awfully eager to get it away from himself. “Wait just a second.”  [Step Two and Three: Give Him Something He Likes, Distract Him With Tech Talk and Personal Lore] - Kim
Basically, give distractions so he stops thinking on how to get out of the situation. Throw any interesting topic in if needed.
 Kim hurried to their desk, plugging the video camera in and pulling up a code document labeled ‘Project Goat’. The still present interference was to be expected, there was only so much they could do with the equipment on hand. It was doing well earlier, but it’s only to be expected that it is worse when Ren is holding it. Given the calculations they are using, they suspect they need to fix the beta and the gamma values, maybe the iota value too. They quickly scrolled through and edited a few values before saving the file, unplugging, and then returning the camera to Ren’s hands. “What was that for?” He asked, seeming a bit paler than usual, almost like he'd seen a ghost.“Changing some of the values in the program. Video should be clearer now, is it?”Ren looked at the screen of the video camera, his eyes widening. “Yeah, uh, it’s a lot clearer- there’s still some fuzziness at the edges.”“Getting closer then!” Kim grabbed the video camera once more. It sounded like they were on the right train of thought with editing the beta values, so maybe if they adjusted those some more or maybe edited the theta values…  
[Step Three: Make It Your Personal Demon’s Problem] - Ren (Who else would it be?)

You have to have a demon attachment for this to work. Even so, it might fail. 100% 0.2% of the time, it works every time.
 Ren stared at the clear view the camera now provided in shock. Kim had edited their program stuff a few more times and now a clear screen stared back at him. No interference or blurriness to be seen. With a concerned idea, he mentally asked Lt to take control.“What if—?” They began to ask, but Ren cut them off.“Kim is trying to fix it, and they're doing a good job. I need to be sure it'll still work with you in control. Just be cool, and act like I would.” Reluctantly, Lt took control, and looked at the camera. Almost immediately, the camera glitched out.“Uh..” They grimaced, doing their best to keep their voice the same as Ren’s. “It's acting up again.”Kim looked thoughtful, their head tilting to the side as they pulled out their phone to get a timer app up. “Let me know once the image clears up- there must’ve been a spike or something.”Lt looked at the screen, “Why would it, uh, clear up?”“I’m doing a form of active cancellation! Earlier when I was trying to test this stuff out on my own I noticed that the levels kept changing- as such, figured the best method was something that could scale as needed to help cancel out the changes in interference. Plus active cancellation can do better at specifically selecting a certain form of interference. From the sounds of it I need to redo my timing calculations- which, well, to be expected. Everything looked fine to me when I was testing earlier but I’m not the master photographer for a reason!”Lt nodded like they understood– they definitely didn't, but Ren nodded along in their head like he knew– and looked back at the screen, watching as the glitching slowly resolved itself. Sure enough, after a few minutes, the screen became fully clear once more. Lt held out the video camera towards Kim, “It’s clear now.”Kim stopped the timer and went back to their computer with the video camera, plugging it in and pulling up a notes document with various equations and vague notes. Pulled out their calculator too, starting to input various calculations into it. Lt found his gaze drifting instead to the photos hanging over Kim’s desk, showing various members of the team. While the majority are of the BRCK’M team, there are some that are not of the 4 person group; mostly depicting various wildlife and natural areas. There’s one that isn’t either though, instead showing a mostly black dog with some brown patches, in the middle of an outdoor basketball court. Its tongue was lolled out to the side of its long snout, and the pup was gazing up at the camera with a tilt of its head. “Dog.” They whispered quietly, wanting very much to meet this dog. Lt decided right then that they liked dogs.Kim seemed to remember ‘Ren’ was there at that point, glancing back at him. “This might take a moment, and I’ve got no clue when the next spike may occur. Do you want to stick around?”“Ren?” Lt looked back at them and asked, hesitant. Ren's voice came back clearly.“Only if you want to. You're doing pretty good so far.”Okay. Okay, that was good. Lt nodded at Kim. “I'd be okay with that.” Was that how Ren talked? Kim nodded, turning back to face their desk. But they didn't return to their calculations. A few seconds later, the engineer softly broke the silence. “The doggo was Brookie.”“Brookie?” They repeated, glancing back at the canine in the photo. “And.. was? What happened?”“In my defense, I was 5 when I named him and I thought he looked like a brookie. Old age, he got to about 13 and a half.” Kim started to return to working on the calculations and code as they continued to reminisce, “Was a silly mutt, best guess on breed was maybe Rottweiler, German Shepherd, and some other stuff mixed in. He was really good at catching frisbees and scaring off bullies.”“Oh.” Lt replied quietly, something twisting in their stomach. “Do you miss him?”“Yes,” Kim softly muttered, looking up to the photo of Brookie. “He was the best dog.”Lt looked back at the photo, and frowned. Demons didn't have to deal with death, really. They never had to know something before it died. The most Lt had was a mouse that visited and brought little plants to his room, burying seeds in the floorboards and windowsill that was so caked in dirt that they grew and blossomed. One day, the mouse just.. stopped coming. Was this the same? Kim returned to their work but continued to talk, “It took me a year before I could convince Brookie to go to that basketball court- he's absolutely terrified of ghosts. Once we got past that though, he loved how much room there was when we were playing with the frisbee.”“What do you mean ghosts?” Lt asked, a little confused. “Was the court haunted?”“No-” Kim paused, tilting their head in thought, “-well, I don't think the court was haunted? It was more so ‘cause it's that courtyard behind Brownstone. Brookie didn't want to go anywhere near there for a while.”“Brownstone.. the high school?” Ren asked, and Lt repeated it out loud.Kim grinned ruefully, “Yep, it’s where I graduated from. And yes, it got haunted plenty of times before they shut the place down- in a sense I am lucky that I still graduated. Brookie absolutely refused to ever enter, even if I was bribing him with an entire rawhide.”“Yeah.. I like dogs.” Lt added, just to make sure Kim knew. “Did you ever get a new one?”“No… I considered it at one point in college, but with everything going on and my lack of financial means at that time…” Kim trailed off, sadness and maybe a bit of regret mixed in. They saved the file they were working on and then unplugged the video camera, a small smile put on their face when they next faced ‘Ren’. “Anyways, this should fix the issue! We won’t know until the next time there’s a drastic change again, but maybe you can keep an eye on it and let me know how long it takes to stabilize?”“Well, alright.” Lt accepted the request, and glanced around the room. “Is there anything, uh, anything else?”“Not part- Oh wait! Almost forgot, there's hagelslag in the kitchen fridge! I made some up earlier.”“Hagelslag.” Lt stated blandly, and Ren immediately seized control, shoving Lt to the back of his mind. “Homemade? Thanks, Kim.” Kim smiled fondly, with a hint of amusement as well. “No problem! Just let me know how long the next interference spike affects the camera.”“Okey dokey.” Ren gave them a thumbs up before backing up towards the door, desperately trying not to panic. “You literally gave it away!” “What even is hagelslag? It sounds like the Dutch cursed a witch even worse than she was already cursed! ” Lt argued, and Ren almost facepalmed out loud- that is to say, physically. It's hard trying to explain thoughts and how they translate to in person, okay?“Only my favorite food ever, now they know something's up for sure! ”“How was I supposed to know?! It doesn't even sound like food! ”
"You are hopeless!"
  
[Step 4: If You Forgot to Bribe the Ren Earlier, Make Certain the Ren Still Gets a Reward] - Kim

And, while the Ren is distracted, don’t forget to take notes on what you now have learned! Especially if the Ren is possessed.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

For some reason, nothing came of the incident. No pounding on his door, demanding for answers, no exorcists bursting into his room,

nothing

but Ren and the plate of yummy hagelslag sandwiches he got out of the encounter. How suspicious.

So… Ren and Lt switched- gave Lt a chance to experience delicacies beyond demon belief- and watched the video camera eventually fizzle back into a clear viewpoint screen. Ren tentatively knocked on Kim’s door with the camera and a note on how long it had taken for the video camera to adjust and… the engineer went to work on fixing it.

After a few rounds of this the video camera was working. And with the video camera working, Kim was able to apply a similar solution to a photo camera. He could ghost hunt again.

He could return to work.

Which led to now, as Ren was standing in the box truck and putting on his sanity monitor wristwatch on. Just as he got it attached and turned on there was a beep. Bug turned to the sanity monitoring screen on the side and frowned. “Hey Ren, your sanity is gone.”

Ren turned to the board and his heart dropped at the question mark value displayed. The value that indicates

unconsciousness

- [

Insert brief second of panic, along with mental screaming.

]

Kim’s agitated voice cut in, “

Ohhh

- I thought I fixed that stupid bug!” They frowned at the sanity monitor for a moment before turning to the computer and bringing up a terminal. As they started inputting commands the screen flickered. When it turned back on, Ren's sanity now showed as 95%- and Chaos’s sanity showed the question mark value.

Bug’s eyes widen with alarm, “Chaos-”

“Yes?” Chaos poked her head back into the back of the box truck.

Bug looked visibly confused, even more so as his own sanity dropped to 46% on the board. “Kim, what is going on?”

“Software update resulted in bugs, I thought reinstalling it earlier worked but seems like it hasn’t… restarting the program doesn't seem to help either. No sanity monitoring tonight, and for however long it takes to fix this.”

“That sounds like it’ll be a

nightmare

,” Ren said weakly, face pale.

“Yeah… Well, if there's enough troubles, I might just have to program my own to show us the stuff we need. For now I'll try looking through the backend raw data, it's just gonna be slower cause I gotta do the calculations to get the percentage we normally get.”

“So.. Techy stuff.”

Kim gave Ren a bit of a grin. “That’s the watered down version, if you want the full techy description I can give it to ya later- for now though, we got a ghost to figure out! Go on in, I’ll figure out what I can regarding sanity.”

“Alrightie,” Ren forced a smile and started walking towards the Bleasdale Farm House- his

least

favorite place to go. They’d been called there a lot, and it was starting to get tiring.

As Ren stepped inside the musty, crusty, and definitely dusty old farmhouse, something reminded him of home. Not the warehouse home, but.. home. Where he grew up with Bug. Maybe that's why he kept accepting new contracts to come here again and again. And maybe it's why Bug never objected.

Right, the job. Ren began checking the rooms, looking at the office and the living room before heading upstairs. Just as he reached the top of the stairs though, he found himself freezing as the screen of the video camera started glitching.

This was supposed to be fixed- what if it does not stabilize, what if he was causing other equipment failures, what if the whole group realized he was the reason they failed this contact and later go bankrupt and then they all blamed him as they starved on the streets-

“Calm down.”

Lt suddenly took over, switching to speaking mentally,

“It is not that bad.”

Ren scowled, mentally returning from his spiral,

“Yes it is- when the camera is glitched we won’t be able to see ghost orbs!”

“

You do realize that with me, you can actually see the ghost?

”

“

What?!

”

“

Oh my Nine Rings of Hell, I forgot you haven't been hunting since I moved in.

” Lt started walking down the hallway, glancing at each room as he passed them. He ignored the video camera, even though the screen had returned to normal at some point during their bickering.

In one of the bedrooms near the end of the hallway, Lt paused and gestured. Their voice was more than just a bit smug,

“There!”

Inside the bedroom, there was indeed a ghost standing in the middle of the floor- an axe buried into the skull. And, in the corner of the video camera’s viewpoint, Ren spotted a ghost orb floating out of view. The spark that lit up when he found evidence– the same spark that was the reason he kept this job– flared to life, and it was like he'd seen his purpose again.

Lt must've felt it too, because the feeling shifted in the room. “Ghost orbs.” They called over the walkies, and added, “We– I found the ghost room.”

“

Smooth.

” Ren said from inside the mental corner. Lt visibly rolled their eyes, but didn't say anything.

Then the investigation continued under Ren's direction, and with every new piece of evidence and thing to take a photo of, Ren could see the same forces that had once worked in him working on Lt. The pull to find out. The urge to understand. It must've been universal for people like them. People who were angry and wanted answers.

It was a Yokai, and Lt

thankfully

remembered to keep their mouth shut when in the house, just to avoid angering it, and just like that, the contract was complete.
  
Ren nervously knocked on Kim's door, still trying to think of how he could sabotage the software they were making. He needed to get Kim away from their computer, and find the software…

The thoughts were interrupted as the door swung open, revealing a tired-looking Kim. They perked up when they saw Ren standing there. “Oh, come in, come in! I was working on that software monitoring, if ya still curious.”

“Uh- yeeeeeah, yes! How's, um, it programming…?” Ren awkwardly followed Kim into their room, peering at the screen as Kim sat down. There was some form of code editing software up, though Kim brought up a terminal window that blocked it briefly. Ren watched as Kim inputted in a series of commands very quickly, all abbreviations and codes Ren did not recognize.

Kim returned to the original programming window, “Alright, so… well, I forgot to label this stuff apparently. From the top though! This section here deals with connecting to the wristbands, which took awhile to calibrate for, and then there's data collection which apparently-”

“Ren,”

Lt interjected as Ren’s mind began to wander.

“Focus. We need to get Kim away from their computer.”

Easy for you to say, I'm the one dealing with this,

Ren glanced around looking for a good distraction, “Kim-”

Kim turned, head tilted quizzically. “Yes?”

“Uh, you…”

I can't think of anything-

“They have an empty water bottle,”

Lt dryly stated.

Ren glanced down at the bottle and quickly blurted out, “You should go to the bathroom!”

Silence was thick in the room, Kim staring a bit startled at Ren. That was it, Ren was going to die today out of embarrassment, he needed to say something else-

“Bathroom, cause- cause you've emptied your water bottle, uh…”

“Smooth.”

Ren did his best to ignore Lt’s commentary as Kim began thoughtfully speaking, “Well, it has been awhile since I've taken a break- let me show ya something though first-”

Kim scrolled down to a section where there was a block of green code, and the blocks below it were white or multi-color. “-I wrote some code to generate theoretical sanity loss, though I went a bit overboard. I went through old data I had on sanity and generated the theoretical model off of that data, on the individual level. Chaos tends to drop in sanity quicker than the rest of us for example, that gremlin probably spends too much time in the dark- so I had her theoretical model match that. This is your section! Currently I have the theoretical stuff commented, but if I were to uncomment the theoretical-”

Kim deleted a slash and an asterisk character at the start and end of the block, then put those characters at the start and end of the next block. “-and comment the real stuff, save and hit play, then it uses the theoretical stuff again!”

A new window popped up, showing a graph of sanity values- only one, labeled as Ren, dropped quickly, after a few seconds reaching zero. Kim quickly added, “Currently the speed is sped up so I don't have to sit for hours to watch it go down. But yeah! I'm working on a few fixes, but everything with this display is all done!”

Kim undid the edit they had made, re-commenting the theoretical equation for Ren.

Ren just stared. “What does the theoretical do?”

“It shows a theoretical example of sanity drain! Like I said, I went a bit overboard- so it’s slightly randomized too, and it really just generates data at the same rate as the wristbands collect. If I wanted to prank ya all, I could just uncomment the theoretical stuff, and then it gives ya a fake sanity monitoring read-out! It’ll look just like your actual sanity monitoring, essentially, but it’s a fake. Was useful for checking if my display code was working.”

“So it… makes it look like the sanity monitoring is working? When the wristbands aren’t being used?”

“Yep!” Kim stood up and grabbed their water bottle, “If it’s alright, I’m gonna go to the bathroom- I can answer more questions when I get back if that’s alright?”

“Yeah, that works,” Ren backed up a bit, prepared to leave the room. But Kim rushed past him, not even looking back as they left. Leaving Ren, technically alone– if Lt was not counted– in Kim’s room.

He immediately dove for Kim’s computer. “They said I need to comment stuff?”

“

Uncomment the theoreticals.

” Lt replied, focused on what Ren was doing and what he

needed

to do at the same time. “

Not that!

”

Ren groaned, furrowing his eyebrows as he tried to recall what exactly Kim had said was the theoreticals, fingers hovering over the keyboard nervously.

Of course, Lt had to have it all in order. “

The slash and the tiny star

.”

“Asterisk.” Ren corrected, but he followed the instructions, saving it before stepping away. His heart was pounding– did he seriously just mess with Kim’s code? Oh stars, if they found out.. Ren stepped further away from the computer.

“

Look natural.

” Lt warned, and Ren turned to look at the photo wall again just as Kim entered the room again.

They went straight to the desk, setting down their full water bottle with a grin. Sitting down, they scrolled back to the top of the code. “Felt good to stretch my legs a bit- any other questions for me?”

“No, you explained it really well. That's really cool, Kim.” Ren said, giving them a thumbs up. “Thanks for showing me the mystic magic of coding. I still think you're a wizard.”

They did their best to hold back their laughter, “It’s not magic, Ren. It’s just code!”

“Sorcery.” He shook his head, before exiting the room with a wave.
  
Kim let out a yawn, turning down the volume on their headphones. After checking the sanity wristband they were wearing was turned on, they synced it and hit start. They leaned back to watch as the code ran one last time.

A success, Kim confirmed, watching their sanity compared to Ren’s ‘sanity’. For now they would have to start it every time, but it was a small price to pay if Ren felt more comfortable. They saved the final version, and ensured a copy was in a folder labeled ‘Project Goat’.

Time to see what else they needed to work on.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ren sat in the van and stared at the camera. His camera. His precious heirloom of a camera. The camera he would give his life for. The camera he’d even kill for. The most important thing in the world was his camera. The camera that now had a cracked lens. The camera that wouldn't turn on. The camera that had a completely corrupted SD card.  Chaos, Bug, and Kim were all inside, ghost hunting. Ren had passed out earlier; the ghost had gotten a little too close, and Lt wasn't paying attention enough to save him, so he was out fast. His very first investigation since his absence. He still shivered from the freezing touch he felt at the ghost’s attack. After he'd passed out, apparently Chaos had proudly picked up his precious camera and declared she'd take photos for him. Ren knew she was just trying to help. He knew she didn't know how to work it. He knew she was just trying to make him feel better about how awfully he’d been performing at work since his return. He knew she was trying to lighten his load. Chaos was trying. And Ren.. He was grateful she was inside– that they all were. He was trying so hard to stay calm. His shaky hands held the camera that his brother gave him, and his throat seemed to close up as he stared at the shattered lens.  Dammit. Don't cry, don't cry, they're going to finish up soon and your face always gets super red and it's always so obvious when you cry— don't cry, Ren. It's just an object, it's just an object— But he couldn't stop the tears that formed. He couldn't hold back the sob that forced its way out, and he definitely couldn't stop the way his chest tightened and his breathing became erratic and shaky.  “What’s wrong?” Lt’s voice came hesitantly, and Ren didn't reply, lightly putting his fingers upon the lens of his beloved camera, and only crying even more. Ren mentally curled up into a ball, trying to make the world go away. It’s over.  No it's not.  I got this far just to end it all over my camera.  You're still here.  I can't do it anymore.  Yes you can.  Not without my camera.  It's just an object. It can be replaced.  But I've had it for years.  It isn't worth that much.  I'd give my life for it. You have serious attachment issues. Ren's hands got shakier, and the tears just kept falling. He hated the way they rolled down his cheeks, and he certainly gave up trying to stop them, seeing as they were constant right now. Lt had been trying to teach him to let things pass through and go away mentally, but it obviously didn't work for something as sentimental as his camera.  There was a note left with the camera as he lay in the truck, passed out. It was written in Chaos’s horrendous handwriting, scratchy and barely legible. He immediately read it when he came to, and the world came crashing in on him. “Ren im so so sorry, i dropped your camera and it broke, im so sorry, please dont be mad” How could he be mad? Was he a bad person for being upset? How in the hell was he supposed to continue with the most important object in his life being broken, and from a skilled appraisal, beyond repair? “Goodness, it's time for you to breathe.” Lt rolled their eyes and Ren choked back another sob. “You humans, always so sentimental.” “You literally atta-attacked us for-for being in your house.” Ren attempted to speak out loud, forcing his way past the hiccups. “Touché.” They replied begrudgingly. “My point is, you've known these people for years. Years, Ren. People can't be replaced, especially not a group like this. You can get a new camera, and you can even get it upgraded.” Wait. Wait wait wait. Upgraded? Yes. Upgraded. That.. Was that possible? Why wouldn't it be? Why didn't he think of it sooner?  Oh wait.  That's right. Because he wasn't concerned about the quality, he was concerned about the sentiment behind the camera. “For the love of the nine rings of Hell, don't talk back to me!” Lt exclaimed in his mind, before forcing their way into taking control, grabbing it from Ren with a strength he couldn't match. “You are in time out, you angsty child! Now go sit in the corner and think about what you thought!” Not that Ren had much choice, but he knew Lt probably was doing the best thing they could be. So, he mentally trudged over to the mind corner, sat down, and sulked. His mom always said he was good at sulking. However, he knew Lt had a point. And unfortunately, that point was good. He needed to learn to let go of material objects- there was no way they'd last forever. But Bug.. No. Bug would want him to upgrade, right? Just because it was.. unusable… (He wanted to start crying again at that terrible word) didn't mean he had to throw it away. It was still his. Besides, he had had the camera for years. Almost a decade now, and it was probably time for it to retire anyway. That didn't mean it didn't hurt. It hurt really badly. But deep down, Ren knew it wasn't worth destroying the friendship he'd formed between himself and Chaos over even more years. She was precious to him too. So were Bug and Kim. All of his friends were. They were more important than a camera that one of them had given him. People couldn't get replaced, objects could. “Are you finally understanding?” Lt asked, which sounded odd, because they were in control. Ren nodded sheepishly, wiping his face. “Good! You're still in timeout.” “It’s seriously okay, Chaos.” Ren insisted for the thirteenth time. “It was getting old anyway, and I needed an excuse to get a new one.” “But—” She began, eyes still very full with tears. He sighed for the fourteenth time. “No buts. It's fine. If you feel so bad about it, just don't take my cameras anymore. Your photos are...”  There was a long pause as they looked at the pictures that did get uploaded, however few there were. Blurry, out of focus, literally just a wall, a ball, and a finger in the lens.  “To say it as kindly as I possibly can, Chaos,” Ren cleared his throat. “You're really bad at taking photos.” That joke seemed to snap her out of her upsetness, and she wiped her tears away. “Y-yeah, I kinda am. I don't think I'm cut out to take pictures.” “And believe me, I am fine with that. I like my job as the photographer and camera man.” He smiled, and Chaos returned the grin. Bug walked into the room and his jaw almost dropped to the floor. “Ren, these are—” “It was Chaos.” Ren explained, not waiting for Bug to finish the sentence.  Bug blinked once, then twice. Then he cleared his throat. “Oh. Chaos, no offense or anything, but you're really bad at taking photos.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The dim light flickered above, casting shadows across the worn floors of the old house. Chaos was practically bouncing on her heels, her eyes wide with excitement. "Found the room!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing off the cracked tiles. Her fingers twitched, eager to start the investigation.
 
Bug, ever the responsible one, didn’t waste a second. He grabbed the thermometer from the kit he’d been carrying and rushed over to where Chaos was pointing. "Let me check." He quickly set the device down, turned it on, and scanned the air around the bathroom door. The reading shot up, confirming the unsettling temperature drop. "Yep, this is the spot."
 
Chaos, already hyper, was practically vibrating with energy. She was eager for this, the rush of the paranormal world filling her veins. "I’ll get the stuff!" she said, dashing past them toward the van. "I’ll be right back, I swear!"
 
Bug glanced at Kim, a look of concern flashing in his eyes. "She’s going to end up breaking something if she’s not careful." But there was a slight hint of fondness in his voice, despite the concern.
 
Kim chuckled softly, adjusting their glasses. "Let her have her moment. We need her energy tonight."
 
Bug sighed but nodded, beginning to set up the EMF reader. He placed it carefully on the bathroom counter where the temperature had dropped. "Alright, keep an eye on the spirit box. We might get something." He adjusted a few wires and equipment as Kim did a final check for any immediate signs of paranormal activity. Their calm presence contrasted with Chaos’s youthful enthusiasm, but both were necessary pieces to the puzzle.
 
Chaos arrived back at the van, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste. She grabbed the box containing the crucifix, barely pausing before she ran back toward the house. "Got it! Got it!" she hollered, clutching the box tightly to her chest.
 
Kim turned to Bug. "She really doesn’t know how to slow down, does she?"
 
Bug gave a half-smile. "No, she doesn’t. But we need her."
 
As Chaos burst back through the door, the atmosphere in the room seemed to shift. The temperature dropped even further, and a coldness filled the space. She grinned, holding up the crucifix triumphantly. "Here it is!"
 
Kim gave a small nod, keeping their eyes on the various tools they had set up. "Go put it in the room."
 
Chaos nodded and walked into the room. However, the moment she entered it, the metal of the crucifix flared white-hot.
 
“Ahh!” she screamed in agony, her hand instantly searing with pain. The crucifix burned into her palm as though it had been thrust into a furnace. The pain was unbearable, far worse than anything she had felt before. It was as if the very heat of hell had been injected into her hand.
 
The crucifix slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor with a thud as Chaos fell to her knees, clutching her palm in desperation. Her face was pale, sweat breaking out along her forehead as she gasped for breath. Her hand, now charred and blackened, was beyond recognition—her nerves burned away from the extreme temperature.
 
“Chaos!” Bug shouted, rushing to her side. His usually calm demeanor cracked, the worry clear in his voice as he knelt beside her. “What the kriff happened? Are you alright?”
 
Kim stood frozen for a moment, horrified, before snapping into action. “Bug, get the first aid kit—she’s burned so badly.”
 
Chaos, though, didn’t seem to notice the concern, her face grim. She shook her head, trying to brush it off as though it was nothing. “I’m fine, really. It doesn’t even hurt.”
 
Bug’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Chaos, your hand—it’s ruined.” His voice was laced with both frustration and fear. “This is not something you can just ignore.”
 
“I told you it’s fine!” Chaos snapped, still trying to wave off the pain, but her voice was shaky, betraying her attempts to act tough. “It’s not that bad. I’ve dealt with worse. Trust me.”
 
Kim stepped in, her voice soft but filled with concern. “No, Chaos, you need help. That’s—no one should be able to take that kind of burn without feeling it.”
 
But Chaos just bit her lip, stubborn as ever. “It doesn’t hurt... not like you'd think. It’s not that bad.” Yet the strain in her voice gave her away. She could hardly keep her hand steady. It was clear she was in pain, even if she refused to admit it.
 
Bug was still kneeling beside her, eyes wide and clearly concerned, as he carefully grabbed her burnt hand. “I don’t care if it doesn’t hurt now—this is serious. We’re getting you out of here.”
 
But Chaos shook her head stubbornly, wiping away the sweat on her brow. “It’s just a burn, Bug. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
 
Kim’s worry only deepened as she stared at Chaos, knowing her stubbornness wouldn’t let her give in. “We need to get you help. Now.”
 
The ghost, for now, was forgotten.
 
The dim light flickered as Chaos tried to steady her breathing, her blackened hand still shaking. She looked at Bug and Kim, her expression defiant, though the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. "I'm fine," she insisted, her voice tight. "I told you, it's nothing."
 
Bug, kneeling beside her, gave a long, measured sigh. His concern was clear, but so was his frustration. "Chaos, you’re not fine. We’re getting you help, whether you like it or not."
 
Kim stepped forward, their calm demeanor now replaced with quiet determination. "Bug’s right. You’re not going to keep going like this. We need to get you out of here."
 
Chaos opened her mouth to argue, but her face twisted in pain, and she closed it again with a grunt. "I can handle it," she muttered through clenched teeth, trying to push herself to her feet. She swayed slightly, her vision blurring as the burn throbbed in time with her heartbeat.
 
Bug moved quickly, his hands firm as he helped her stand. "No more arguing. You’re going to the van, and you’re staying there." He didn’t give her a chance to protest. With a gentle but unyielding grip, he guided her toward the door.
 
Chaos’ feet dragged, and she hissed in frustration, but she didn’t fight him. "You don’t have to do this," she grumbled, though it was clear her strength was waning.
 
When they reached the van, Bug opened the door and motioned for her to get in. Chaos hesitated but didn’t resist. She climbed in, still trying to act tough despite the obvious pain. Bug climbed in after her, his eyes soft with concern. He reached for the duct tape from the backseat, and she shot him a confused look.
 
"What are you doing?" Chaos asked, her voice a little shaky now.
 
Bug didn’t respond immediately. He just looked at her with that stubborn, calm expression. "You’re not working tonight, Chaos. You’re sitting here and resting."
 
Before she could protest, Bug wrapped a strip of duct tape around her arms and fastened her to one of the chairs in the van. Chaos tugged at the tape, her face flushed with frustration. "What the kriff, Bug?" she growled.
 
Kim watched quietly from outside the van, leaning against the doorframe. They gave Bug a small nod, a silent agreement that this was necessary. "She’s going to try and get up, you know."
 
"I know, why do you think I'm taping her to the chair" Bug muttered, finishing securing the tape. He stepped back, crossing his arms as he gave Chaos a stern look. "You’re not leaving this chair. Not until we know you’re alright."
 
Chaos scowled, but she wasn’t fighting anymore. The pain in her hand made it hard to focus on anything else. "This is ridiculous," she muttered, slumping in the chair. "I hate you both."
 
Bug leaned against the van, arms folded, his expression softening as he glanced at her. "I don’t care if you hate me. You’re not going back in there, not until we get that hand checked out. Now sit tight. We’ll handle this."
 
Chaos stared out the van window, her teeth gritted as she continued to try and free herself. The pain in her hand burned with a constant throb, but it wasn’t the only thing gnawing at her now. It was the feeling of being helpless, of being trapped in that chair.
 
But despite her resistance, she knew, deep down, that Bug and Kim were right. She wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot.
 
The investigation went quickly after that. Bug and Kim worked efficiently, moving with purpose as they finished setting up the equipment. After a few moments, the readings came back, and Kim let out a quiet breath.
 
Kim glanced at Bug, “That should be the last of it. We are free to go.”
 
Bug nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stood up. "Good. Let's get Chaos taken care of."
 
Chaos, still stuck in the van, didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. She sat there, slumped in her chair, frustration written all over her face. Her hand burned with an intensity that made her dizzy, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit how badly it hurt.
 
Bug opened the door and moved to release Chaos from her duct tape prison, his movements precise.
 
"You’re going to the hospital now," Bug said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
 
Chaos, still grimacing, shot him a glare. "I’m fine, Bug."
 
"You’re not fine." Bug didn’t give her a chance to argue. He helped her out of the van and guided her to the car. "We're getting you checked out, whether you like it or not."
 
Kim was already in the front seat, ready to drive. "You’ll thank us later, Chaos."
 
Chaos, defeated for now, simply sighed and climbed into the backseat. "I really hate both of you right now," she muttered under her breath, but there was no bite in her words.
 
Bug slid into the front passenger seat, giving her a sideways glance. "We’ll deal with that later. Right now, you need help."
 
The engine started, and they drove off, heading straight for the hospital. The eerie quiet of the night filled the car, broken only by the soft hum of the engine.
 
The hospital’s fluorescent lights flickered overhead as the team made their way through the sterile hallways, a stark contrast to the warm, chaotic energy that had filled their van just moments before. Chaos, still gritting her teeth against the pain, had been ushered into an examination room. Bug and Kim stayed by her side, but it was clear she wasn’t going to make this easy for them. The stubborn set of her jaw and the way she refused to make eye contact only added to her frustration at being sidelined.
 
Bug stepped outside the room for a moment, his phone already in hand. His fingers hovered over the screen, glancing at the name. He took a deep breath, pressing the phone to his ear, waiting for Ren to pick up.
 
“Hey, Ren,” Bug started, his voice steady but with a hint of exhaustion. “Yeah, we’re at the hospital. Chaos... she got hurt. Real bad.” He paused, looking back at the door to the room where Chaos was, still trying to convince the doctors that she didn’t need all their attention. “It’s her hand. Burned pretty badly. Don’t know how bad yet, but it’s serious.”
 
He shifted his weight, leaning against the cool wall, eyes scanning the hallway. There were people rushing past, nurses and doctors in a hurry, but to Bug, the world felt oddly distant. Chaos was alive, but there was a heavy weight to the situation that made his stomach tighten.
 
“Yeah, I’m sure she’s alive,” Bug continued, a slight chuckle escaping, though there was no amusement in it. “You know how she is—stubborn as hell. She won’t admit it, but it’s pretty bad. Her hand... it's fried, Ren. It’s not just a surface burn. They’re still checking her out, but it looks pretty bad.” He sighed deeply. “She doesn’t want to talk about it, but I’m telling you now, this is beyond just her usual tough-guy act. We’re gonna need to figure out what comes next.”
 
There was a long pause on the other end, and Bug knew Ren was processing the information. Chaos might have a reputation for being able to bounce back from anything, but Bug wasn’t about to let her fool herself, or anyone else, into thinking this was a small injury. This wasn’t a scrape from a ghostly encounter or a minor bruise from running through an old building. It was life-changing.
 
“She’s going to be benched for a while, at least until this heals,” Bug added, a finality in his voice.
 
Bug exhaled, feeling a little lighter after telling Ren the full story. He’d always felt like a shield for the team, keeping things together when they were all falling apart. But right now, even his patience was starting to wear thin, and he could tell that Ren, while not overly concerned—Chaos was still alive, after all—would want to be kept in the loop.
 
“Yeah, I’ll let you know if anything changes. We’re here for the night at least.”
 
Another pause, “Goodbye.”
 
Bug hung up, slipping his phone back into his pocket as he turned back toward the examination room.

This is going to be a long night.

Investigation Report: Willow Street House

Date:
11/9/2024

Investigators:
Bug, Chaos, Kim

Location:
Willow Street

Type of Entity:
Yokai

Summary:

Arrived at Willow Street house for routine investigation. Upon entry, the temperature in the bathroom dropped significantly. Chaos was excited, as usual, and insisted on setting up the equipment. EMF reader confirmed unusual activity in the room.

During setup, Chaos retrieved a crucifix from the van. Upon entering the room, the crucifix heated up drastically, causing severe burns to her hand. Burn was extreme, nerve damage suspected, but still unclear at time of writing. Chaos remained stubborn, claiming it wasn't serious, though she was visibly in pain.

Kim and I attempted to get her to a medical facility. Chaos refused at first but was eventually restrained for her safety.

Current Status:

Chaos is at the hospital being treated for severe hand injury. Diagnosis pending. Investigation halted.

Notes:

Entity is likely a Yokai, but further investigation needed after Chaos’s recovery.
Immediate care was necessary.

End of report.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Bug sits back into the couch, sighing heavily as Chaos once again looks away, not answering him. She hadn’t spoken a single word to the man since they left the hospital. Sure he knew she was mad, but giving him the silent treatment? 
 
“Chaos.” He stated, a lot firmer this time. However, she still continued to look away, before standing up and walking back into her room, where she had been spending most of her time lately

like Ren had

. 
 
“Cha-” He was cut off as he heard her door close, and he groaned, leaning back and running his hands down his face. Kim looked over from where they were working on fixing some broken equipment, “Give it some time Bug, she’s going to be mad at you.” 
 
“I know that, but she hasn’t spoken to me in days, it’s starting to get worrying.” Bug spoke with exasperation, yet it was obvious he still cared immensely for the girl. “You know how she is, she doesn’t like being left out of missions, and right now, she’s going to hate you for benching her.” Kim stated calmly, looking back down at the broken EMF reader.
 
There was silence for several minutes, the only sound being Kim’s tools working on fixing the broken piece of equipment, and the sound of their breathing. Then Bug broke it, “So what do you suggest I do? I don’t want her to hate me forever. But everything I try just ends up not working. I’ve tried bringing her candy, or playing games with her, I’ve tried everything!”
 
Kim paused for a moment, before slowly speaking, “I think she needs some time. We will always be here for her when she’s ready.” 
 
Ren spoke up from behind them, startling Bug slightly, who hadn’t noticed his approach, “Yep. I know you’re worried about her, we all are, but you just need to give her a little bit, she’s strong. She’ll pull through.”

Chaos sat in her room, her sketchbook propped up on her knees, yet she was unable to draw, the thick white bandages wrapped around her hand preventing her from doing yet another one of her hobbies. With a groan she throws the pencil across the room, flopping back onto her bed and staring at the ceiling.

I can’t draw, I can’t hunt, I can’t do anything!

The young girl thought bitterly, staring angrily at the hand that has caused all these issues. In a few weeks she will be starting physical therapy to help her regain movement in her hand, as she currently cannot move it at all. The doctors had told her that she likely will not regain feeling in her hand, as the burns completely destroyed the nerves. 
 
She wouldn’t admit it, but the thought scared her, what if she was permanently crippled like this? What if she could never hunt again, never draw again. Tears prickled in her eyes at the thought, but she wiped them away firmly. She could hear the others talking in the kitchen, but didn’t care to try and listen in.
 
Chaos tries not to think of the look on Bug’s face every time she ignores him, or walks away from him when he tries to talk to her. She

knows

it hurts him, that’s why she does it. But, she also just wants to tell him it’s okay, and that she forgives him, but she can’t. 
 
The tears return to her eyes, and she doesn’t stop them this time, allowing them to roll down her face as she lays in her bed, clutching the stuffed dragon that Kim gave her, a weighted stuffie to help with her nightmares as they had told her… It did in fact help.
 
After a while of letting herself cry, staring at the ceiling, which Bug had helped her cover in glow in the dark stars when they first moved in, she slowly drifts to sleep, her hold on the dragon slightly tightening as dreams take her away.
 
A few minutes later, the door creaks open, Kim poking their head in, and notices the sleeping child, a fond expression makes its way to their face as they quietly step inside, gently tucking her in, before brushing a small strand of hair away from her tear stained face. Then they leave, turning off the light, and closing the door behind them. 
 
Bug turns to them from his location at the coffee pot, which had a sticker on it that said that Chaos was banned from touching it, as they re-enter the kitchen, “Well? Is she alright?”
 
Kim shrugged in response, turning the kettle on to make some hot cocoa to match Bug’s coffee. “She was asleep.”
 
Bug nodded thoughtfully, “Honestly probably a good thing, she needs the sleep to recover.” Kim hummed in agreement, preparing their mug with some milk. Bug dispensed his coffee into his own mug, bringing it up to his mouth and blowing on it for a moment before drinking it.
 
Just a few minutes later, Kim did the same with their hot chocolate, the creamy beverage leaving a mustache on their upper lip as they savored the drink. “I do need to fix the heater though, Chaos’s room is freezing.”
 
“Still?” Bug questioned, they had been having issues with heating for a little while, and every time they seemed to fix it, it came back a little bit later. “Yep. I’m not quite sure what's causing it.”
 
Bug responded with a sigh, a sound that was becoming all too familiar to the group of hunters. “Geez, it’s just one problem after another, huh?” Kim chuckled sarcastically, slurping their hot chocolate before responding, “Well, it keeps us busy at the very least? Oh speaking of which, any word on new contracts?”

Bug nods, walking over to the computer in the other room, and pulling up their next contract, “42 Wallaby Road, should be a pretty easy contract at least, no reports of violence, just seems to be a simple haunting, nothing that should take too long.” 
 
“That sounds pretty good. Are you going to let Chaos join?” 
 
Bug immediately shook his head, “No. She is not allowed to join us on contracts till the doctors give their okay.”
 
Kim nods thoughtfully, they do feel bad for her, knowing how much she enjoys joining the contracts, and the fact that she has been banned from joining them is something she really hates. “Alright, but I suggest we don’t tell her about the contract, she may get upset.”
 
“More so than she already is?” Bug questioned sardonically. “Yeah.”
 
Bug typed in a few things, before responding, “Alright, I’ll keep it a secret.”

Chaos watches Bug and Kim loading up the van in silence. Still continuing to give Bug the silent treatment. Instead she turns to Kim, “Where are you going?”
 
Kim glanced at Bug, before responding, “We aren't going anywhere, just getting the truck loaded and organized for whenever we get a new contract.” They lied, feeling bad for doing so, but they also knew it was for the best.
 
Chaos eyed them apprehensively, but just shrugged before wandering off again, ignoring Bugs attempts at getting her attention. 
 
“I know you said we should give her time, but this is getting ridiculous.” The older man groaned, hooking the equipment onto their respective hooks.
 
“Just don’t think about it for now, let's get this investigation over, m’kay?” Kim soothed Bug, who took a deep breath and nodded, glancing around to make sure Chaos wasn’t nearby before he spoke, “Let’s go, before Chaos finds out where we are actually going.”
 
Kim finished putting the last camera up, before they went and hopped into the passenger seat, Bug starting the van and heading towards the contract. “I think we made it out before she noticed.”
 
Of course however, life never can be as easy as they hope, as just a few moments later the duo heard a small grunt of pain from the back, causing Kim to turn around to find Chaos crammed on the floor, the grunt coming from the rough bump they had just taken. “Chaos.” Kim's voice was heavy with disappointment as they looked down at the girl, who didn’t meet their eyes. “What are you doing here?”
 
Bug stopped the van, turning it around and starting to drive back towards the warehouse, “Chaos you aren’t allowed to come with us. I’ve told you this several times.”
 
She didn’t respond to either of them, just sitting on one of the seats, clearly upset with the both of them. The drive back was short, and passed in silence. The moment they got back to the warehouse, Bug turned to the girl and in a tone that allowed no argument stated, “You’re grounded, go to your room.”
 
Chaos didn’t move for a moment, but the warning look he gave her caused her to slowly climb out, and return to her room. After ensuring she was in fact now in her room, Bug returned to the van and they set off back towards the contract.

It was early morning when they finally returned, to find Chaos sitting in the kitchen. Once they entered she just stood up, walking back to her room, “Chaos?” Yet again the girl gave no response as she vanished from sight.
 
Bug took the seat that she vacated, resting his head on the counter in exhaustion, “Kim what do I do?” They didn’t respond for a long moment, leaning against the counter deep in thought, “I think you need to talk to her, sure she might not want to talk to you, but I think you still need to try.”
 
“What if she doesn’t listen?” Bug questioned, his voice slightly muffled from behind his arms which now wrapped around his head on the counter. “Then you just tell her what you need to say, and hope she will understand. Bring some hot chocolate, with marshmallows, that usually softens her up” They stated knowingly, already starting the kettle.
 
Bug nodded, preparing a mug for her, and as an afterthought, one for him as well.

He knocked at her door, but as expected there was no response, with a sigh he gently pushed the door open to find Chaos laying in bed, hugging the stuffed beetle he got her for the previous Christmas. “Hey kiddo, I brought you some hot chocolate.”

Bug carefully stepped in, holding out the steaming mug to her. For a few seconds she didn’t react, but then she grabbed it from him with her left hand, sitting up and scooting to the side slightly so he could sit down, which he did so.

Well, she’s at least reacting to my presence, that's progress!

“So…. How's your hand doing?”

Ah, stupid question, gahhh why is it so hard to just say what I need to

.
 
Chaos hummed in response, sipping the hot cocoa, but still not talking with him. “I-.... Chaos. Look, I don’t want you to hate me, benching you really was just for your own good, you have to trust me on that, please.” 
 
Still no response from her so he continued, “Right now, I’m going to be completely blunt with you, but you are a liability, it’s safer for you, and for us if you stay home and recover. And if that means you will hate me, then that’s a chance I’m going to take, because I care more about keeping you safe than about if you like me or not.”
 
There was silence for a few minutes before Chaos spoke, “I don’t hate you…” Finally, she looked up at him, her eyes moist with tears, “I can’t hate you, and I don’t know why. I’m scared, I’m upset, and I’m hurt… But I don’t hate you.”
 
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s okay to be scared, and I understand why you are upset.” Bug soothed, gently cupping her cheek, “But please, please don’t keep it hidden away, we’re here for you, you don’t have to hold it in, talk to us.”
 
Those words seemed to break her resolve, and tears started to flow down her cheeks, “I’m scared, what if my hand never heals, what if I can’t draw again, or hunt again.”
 
“Then we will be here to help you every step of the way. We’ll find ways to help, I promise we will.” He spoke completely determinedly, not a shred of doubt in his voice, and despite her fear, Chaos found herself believing him, his words calming the fear that she had held in for a while.
 
She leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her, holding her close, “Kim was right, it’s freezing in here.” And with that, Chaos laughed, wiping away her tears, “Yeah, I have to sleep with like…. 5 blankets to stay warm!”
 
With the ice broken, Bug laughed heartily, “We really need to fix that heater.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air in the physical therapy room smelled faintly of antiseptic and rubber, the bright fluorescent lights casting harsh reflections on the polished floor. Chaos sat on the padded table, her left hand resting uselessly in her lap. It was still bandaged, though the wrappings were thinner now, revealing angry, jagged scars that spidered across her palm and fingers.The therapist handed her a small, squishy ball. "Let's try this today, Chaos. Just give it a gentle squeeze."Chaos scowled but complied, the muscles in her forearm twitching weakly. Her fingers barely moved, and the ball remained stubbornly round in her grasp. She gave up after a moment, throwing the ball down onto the table with a frustrated growl. "This is pointless!"The therapist’s expression remained calm. "It’s not about immediate results. Progress takes time. Your hand went through a lot—it’s not going to bounce back overnight."Chaos glared at the floor, refusing to meet the therapist's eyes. "I know that. Doesn’t make it suck any less."From across the room, Bug watched silently, his arms crossed over his chest. He knew better than to intervene while Chaos was working with the therapist. Her stubborn streak was strong, and she’d bristle at any sympathy, claiming she doesn’t need the pity. Still, the sight of her struggling with something so basic, squeezing a ball, made his chest tighten.The ride home was quiet at first. Chaos stared out the window, her good hand fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket. The other remained still, the scars catching faintly in the sunlight as she shifted.Bug finally broke the silence. "You did good today."Chaos snorted, her gaze not leaving the passing scenery. "Yeah, sure. Barely squeezed a ball. Real impressive.""Hey," Bug said, glancing at her before returning his eyes to the road. "You’re doing better than you were last week. That’s something.""It doesn’t feel like it," Chaos muttered, her voice low. She flexed her injured hand experimentally, wincing at the strange, numb sensation that ran up her arm. "It’s like... it’s not even my hand anymore. I can’t feel anything with it. I can’t hold anything. I can’t even—" Her voice cracked, and she stopped, biting her lip hard enough to hurt.Bug tightened his grip on the steering wheel but kept his voice steady. "You’ve been through worse, Chaos. You’ll figure this out too.""Will I?" she snapped, turning to face him. Her eyes burned with frustration. "I’m supposed to be the one who dives in, the one who keeps moving no matter what. Now I can’t even hold a stupid crucifix without worrying it’ll just- just-" She faltered, her anger giving way to something more raw, the fear she had kept hidden. "I feel weak, Bug. I hate it."Bug exhaled slowly, pulling the sedan over to the side of the road. He put it in park and turned to her, his expression firm but kind. "You’re not weak, Chaos. Not even close."She laughed bitterly. "Oh yeah? Sure feels like it.""Listen," Bug said, his voice softening. "Strength isn’t about what you can or can’t do with one hand. It’s about getting back up when things knock you down. And you’ve done that every single time. This? This is no different."Chaos looked at him, her defiance wavering. "But what if I don’t get back to where I was?"Bug shrugged. "Then you adapt. You’re Chaos, for kriff’s sake. You’re the one who keeps this whole crazy team moving. That doesn’t change because of your hand."She didn’t respond immediately, her gaze dropping to her lap. After a moment, she muttered, "Still sucks.""Yeah," Bug said with a small smile. "It does. But you’re not alone in this. We’ve got your back, even if we have to duct tape you to a chair again."Chaos let out a reluctant laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I still hate you for that""You do that Honeydew," Bug said, starting the sedan again. "Now, let’s get you home. Maple and Kim made cookies. You can still eat those with one hand, right?"Chaos smirked. "Please. I can eat them with no hands.”Bug chuckled, pulling back onto the road. "Of course you can."The rest of the drive was quiet but more relaxed. Chaos leaned her head against the window, watching the scenery blur past. Her hand, still wrapped in bandages from the latest therapy session, rested on her lap. It ached—not physically, since she couldn’t really feel it anymore, but the absence of sensation gnawed at her.When they pulled into the warehouse parking lot, Chaos sat for a moment, staring at the building. The warm glow of lights spilling from the windows told her the rest of the team was already inside. She sighed, her earlier humor fading. "Bug?"He turned off the engine and glanced at her. "Yeah?""Thanks. For, y’know, putting up with me." She whispered, a rare sense of vulnerability in her voice.Bug raised an eyebrow, his expression softening. "Chaos, you’re family. There’s no ‘putting up’ with you. We’re in this together."She nodded, biting her lip as her fingers brushed against the edge of the bandages. "I just… I don’t want to be useless. I don’t want to hold anyone back."Bug reached over, ruffling her hair. "You’re not, and you won’t. We’ll figure it out. One step at a time, okay?"Chaos gave him a small smile, her voice quieter now. "Okay."They climbed out of the car, and Bug slung an arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the door. The smell of freshly baked cookies hit them as soon as they stepped inside, and Maple appeared from the kitchen, holding a tray."Hey, you two!" she said brightly. "How’d it go?"Chaos rolled her eyes. "It was physical therapy, Maple. How do you think it went?"Maple just grinned, unbothered by the sarcasm. "Well, I saved you some cookies. You can complain with a mouthful."Kim leaned against the back of the couch, holding a mug of cocoa. "Welcome back. Bug, you didn’t lose her in traffic, did you?""Almost," Bug teased. "She tried to jump out at a red light."Chaos smirked, punching him with her good hand. "You wish."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Ren was a troubled kid growing up. His parents kept trying to teach him better ways of doing things, normal ways of doing things, but it never stuck. He always had to do it in a very specific manner. The purpose wasn't to get it done effectively to Ren, the purpose was to get it done his way. They yelled and took his things in hopes he'd actually listen, but he refused to bow to their command. Maybe it was his parents that were the problem. They treated his brother the same way, but he never said anything. He just stood there and took it. Why did he take it? He should've fought back, he should've said something, he should've—... But it was Ren who was doing that, not his brother.  He was always the problem.   Ren was a troubled kid.At age ten, he had gotten suspended three times for starting fights at school with other kids. He’d been teased relentlessly because he tied his shoes too tight, freaked out if anything wasn't right about his clothes, and if people were too loud or too close to him. He'd been pushed around, cornered, and felt there was no way out. It felt like he couldn't breathe with so many people around him.  They did similar things to his brother, but still, he just stood and he took it, silent as always. He never said anything. He never said anything. So Ren did the only thing he could think of, and he started to fight them. He bit and clawed, punched and kicked, and he did anything he could to make them go away. In a way, he was fighting for his brother too. The weaklings didn't even try and fight him back, they just ran, sobbing, to the teachers. The teachers really didn't like him, and every reason he had was twisted into a bad excuse. His brother stood and took it, but Ren couldn't. Not when he saw how they all looked at them.  He was always the problem.  Ren was a troubled teenager. When Ren turned 13, they'd gotten pulled out of public school and homeschooled by their parents, who became increasingly frustrated by his way of doing things. He got yelled at often, and berated for being.. well, being himself. His brother wasn't safe from that either. As always, he stood and took it, bold and resilient despite the way he was screamed at. Was it Ren's fault this was happening? Their parents gave up almost immediately and sent them to a school for troubled children, and every day, someone new would ask both of them what crime they committed to get there. Stealing? Breaking and entering? Murder? Every day, it was a new thing to make them feel outcast from the rest of the group. No. Just being scared. They crowded him again, pestering, loud, relentless, and trying to force an answer out of him. Someone made the mistake of touching his arm, and his instincts stepped in as his arm swung. After that, they stopped asking. They stayed away from his brother too. It didn't make Ren feel better, but the fighting did. The fighting did. He remembered that.  He was always the problem. Ren was a troubled teenager. At age 16, he had almost given up. Hopeless enough to hide if he was aware of any plans to go anywhere, do anything, or be anyone he was supposed to be. His little brother came into his room and sat on his bed until he started talking.  That made it a bit better, but nothing had the same feeling as the fighting. At school later in the year, Ren made friends for once. A quieter kid, by the name of Jesse. Jesse talked to him and didn't crowd him, didn't touch him, and didn't mess with his brother. Ren liked Jesse. Jesse was at the school for troubled kids because he'd tried to run away from home, and continued to do so. Ren wanted to fight, Jesse wanted to run. Ren's brother continued to take things standing. Fight, flight, and freeze. Ren didn't like his home life. He wanted to run away, to fight back one day, to be anything but complacent to his parents and the yelling. It was so loud, and Ren just wanted them to stop. The same year, they got a divorce, but both parents were so miserable to be around that he almost begged the court to let him be by himself, with his brother. In the end, they ended up sticking with their dad, who was the kinder of the two, only by a little. Ren had an idea. A bad idea, one that might be the worst idea he ever had. But it was a brilliant idea. He asked Jesse to fight him– an odd question, but he explained it. The way he felt when he was fighting was something that should be chased. It felt so nice. The adrenaline that actually made him feel something was worth chasing, all at the risk of some bruises and maybe a bloody nose. To Ren's surprise, Jesse agreed.  He was always the problem.  Ren was a troubled young man. By the time Ren turned 19, Jesse and him were used to fighting each other. They'd find some spot in an alley away from home and go at it, stopping only when one of them called it. Ren won most of them. Looking back, it was a miracle he never had anything broken, just bloody noses, scars, and bleeding knuckles. His little brother moved in with him in his apartment, and life was finally worth living. Bug never asked why he'd come home covered in bandages, or why his knuckles were bruised, or even why his eye was black. Ren didn't know what Bug thought of him. At the same time, Ren was going to college for photography. He'd never done it before, but thanks to the classes he was taking, he had become almost an expert on the subject. He enjoyed it too, as much as he enjoyed fighting. Jesse would come over really often, and was easily coaxed into staying the night, to the point he was usually found on the couch the next morning. To Ren, it was like the family they were supposed to have. They watched movies some nights, and it was safe.  It all changed when Jesse got sick. Really sick. They had to stop fighting, because Jesse would get winded so fast, and Ren would refuse to fight anymore until it was fair. It didn't get fairer. Jesse’s condition continued to deteriorate rapidly, until two months after he got sick, he was in the hospital, with Bug and Ren by his side. “About time, huh?” Jesse said quietly, but Ren didn't reply. Something about this hurt. It hurt more than he could put into words. It was the same kind of hurt that made him lash out, but it was so much worse.  “You'll be fine, right?” He asked, slipping his hand into Jesse’s and squeezing it tightly. Ren could feel the scars on his knuckles, and that made the mental knife twist in his chest. “Sure, if it makes you feel better.” Jesse smiled, and Ren wanted to fight him. This wasn't funny. “It doesn't. None of this does.” Jesse snickered. “You don't see it yet, do you?” That made him falter. “See what?” “The details! Ren, you're always so focused on the bigger picture that you aren't seeing what's important.” “You're important.” He replied defiantly, but Jesse shook his head.  “It's not about me. It never has been.” “You're talking nonsense, Jess—” Jesse protested, mouth opening in mock offense. “No, I’m not!”  “Yes you are!” Ren huffed, but he found that his emotional wall was beginning to crumble. “Big picture, little details, it doesn't matter. What we have matters, who we are matters, that we're here matters. I'm here, you're here, Bug’s here, and you’ll be fine, so it doesn't matter.” Jesse's eyes softened, and his voice became quieter. “Keep telling yourself that.” “I will.” Ren sighed, squeezing his hand one more time. Visiting hours were over, and Ren and his brother left like it was a regular hangout, ready to come back the next day. But the next morning, there was no point in coming back. The knife stayed in his chest.   He always was the problem.  Ren was troubled. Ren became angry. Angry at the world, at the people, at the very reasons it might've happened. He blamed whatever people he could, his parents, the doctors, the nurses, the people who got Jesse sick, himself, strangers, anyone. Anyone but his brother. Something stopped him from doing that. Ren never learned how to grieve. In all his childhood of torture and noise, the subject of grief never even came up. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to go ask Jesse to fight him, just to get the issue off his chest and off his mind. The realization that Jesse wouldn't be fighting him anymore hit him again and again. That Jesse wouldn't be there anymore. He did the only thing he knew how to, and began to fight more and more. Ren made bad connections, and it just got worse. The damages he sustained while street fighting grew, but he got better at it. He trained, and while working at his low-income retail job, he finished college with a degree in photography and videography. He fought still, on both fronts. He always came home late, and passed out at the front door. His brother never mentioned it. Things escalated, and soon Ren was passing out on the sidewalk and waking up in the emergency room. The fourth time it happened, Bug pulled him aside before work. “You've got to stop.” He demanded, and Ren wanted to protest, but Bug cut him off. “I'm serious, Ren. This isn't good for you, and it hasn't been for a long time.” “I can't just quit this, Bug, I'm so close to—” “To what? So close to dying from a fight? So close to breaking yourself beyond repair?” Ren's eyes hardened- did Bug know what he was doing the whole time? “You don't understand.” “Then make me understand! Because I don't get it– you're hurting yourself, and it's going to kill you if you keep it up.” “I— you— it's—” “Exactly!” Bug cut him off. “Why are you doing this? Is it because Jesse—” “I have to go to work.” Ren stopped Bug before he could finish then walked out the door, shutting it behind him. Ren walked down the hallway of his apartment building and thought. Was Bug right? Was he doing this all so he could feel better? So he could avoid his grief? Honestly, that felt a little pathetic. A lot of pathetic, actually. Fight just to keep yourself from feeling. Then it clicked when he reached his car. Ren hadn't been fighting because it was the purpose for his existence, he'd been fighting to keep himself from the pain of having to figure it out. In getting hurt physically, Ren was avoiding the mental pain. He didn't have goals to reach, the only constant goal was to not die from his last fight. He'd been avoiding what he needed and it was going to kill him if he kept it up. Bug was right. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ren grieved. And he cried, and he found himself missing home. Home to him was being with Bug and Jesse and staying up late and watching movies. It'd never be that way again. Slowly, but surely, Ren got used to the idea. He didn't go fighting that night after work, and instead took a long walk. He came home late, as usual, but he didn't pass out on the doorstep. Bug was sitting in his chair and looked over as the door shut. For a long moment, Ren didn't say anything to his brother, instead chewing on the inside of his cheek as he thought.  “Ren.” Bug said, and Ren held up his hand.  “Wait. I'm thinking.” Bug didn't wait. “Ren, you need to do something else. Anything else.” “Bug, all I know is fighting.” Ren began to pace, running his hand through his hair. “Then fight differently!” “How?!” “Just– differently! Just— Ren, we don't fight with our fists. You should know this by now.” Bug ran a hand down his face, sighing. “Bug, it's all I know how to do. All I can do is fight.” “That isn't true.” He protested, “You can take pictures.” “Pictures aren't a real way of—” Bug cut him off again– it was getting really annoying. “I've been doing research on jobs, and I found this thing called the Ghost Hunting Guild. You get contracts for finding out a ghost type, and you can get paid for it.” That made Ren pause. “Photos are a majority of what helps you get paid.” Bug continued, and Ren was listening intently now. “Plus, you could start a YouTube channel. Record the hunts and explain the process, once we get better at it.” After a couple minutes of thinking it over, Ren sighed. “I'm assuming you've already gotten started?” Bug cracked a smile. “How'd you know?” “You're like an open book, Bug.” “We’d have to go with professional guild members before we get our own contracts, and we'll need to buy some gear.” “We're not exactly rich.” Ren hesitated. “I ordered the lowest quality things with the money I got from bartending for a month.” Bug answered speedily. Stars, he really had it all planned out. “When?” was the last question. “Tomorrow night.” His brother replied.  The contract went better than expected, and although Ren still held that itch to fight someone, with photography, it subsided. His scabs from his last fight sure itched though, but he wasn't allowed to scratch them. The check came in the mail a couple of days later, and Bug opened it up with wide eyes. “This’ll cover groceries for a couple weeks.” “Seriously?” Ren asked, moving over to look. Sure enough, a couple hundred was written on the check. The next contract was even better, and the photos alone paid rent for the month. Ren felt the itch to fight fading, and for once, he wasn't looking at the bigger picture anymore. The details were more important, after all. Ren didn't fight with fists anymore.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Chaos grabbed her helmet and slung her backpack over her shoulder, calling out to Bug and Ren in the kitchen. “I’m going for a bike ride!”

Bug looked up from the stack of papers he was working through. “Be back before ten, okay?”

Chaos gave a quick nod, already halfway out the door. She hopped onto her mountain bike and pedaled off, the familiar route pulling her forward like a thread tied to her past. She let her mind wander, her body on autopilot as she weaved through the streets.

Next thing she knew she was at the house, stepping off her bike and laying it on its side. She pulled off her purple and blue helmet, setting it next to her means of transportation, and walked inside the abandoned house.

“Hey, guys. I’m back,” she called out, her voice soft but natural, as though she were returning home. In a way, she was.

The air shifted, an unmistakable whoosh signaling the approach of one—or more—of the house’s spectral residents.

“How’s it been? Any investigators lately?” she asked casually, dropping her backpack in the corner like she’d done a dozen times before. Chaos wandered through the dim halls until she reached the master bedroom.

At the center of the room sat the safe. She pulled a small notebook from her pocket and flipped to a page scrawled with potential codes. Sitting down, she began the familiar process, her fingers dialing in the numbers one by one.

Nothing.
8456. Still nothing.
8457. No click.
8458—

Click.

Chaos froze, her breath catching in her throat. After years of trying, the safe had finally opened. Her hands trembled as she pushed the door open, revealing a stack of files within. She pulled them out, her heart pounding as she leafed through the pages. The color draining from her face with each word she read.

The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the quiet of the warehouse, its hands inching past midnight. Bug stared at his phone, his brow furrowed in frustration as yet another call went to voicemail.

“Still nothing,” he muttered, dropping the device onto the counter with a heavy sigh. “Why haven’t we heard from her yet?”

Kim sat cross-legged on the worn couch, their own phone pressed to their ear. After a long pause, they pulled it away, their expression dark. “Straight to voicemail again,” they said quietly. “She’s not answering anything. It’s been hours, Bug. What if something’s wrong?”

Bug ran a hand through his hair, pacing the length of the kitchen. “She said she’d be back by ten. She’s never this late without saying something, at least texting.” His voice filled with irritation, with a hint of worry.

Kim set their phone on the coffee table and leaned forward, their elbows on their knees. “Do we even know where she went?”

“No,” Bug admitted, halting mid-step to turn toward them. “She didn’t say. Just that she was going for a bike ride.”

Kim rubbed their temples, thinking. “That could mean anywhere. But we can’t just sit here. What if she’s hurt? Or lost?”

Bug hesitated, glancing at the clock again, his jaw clenching. “Yeah,” he said finally, grabbing his phone and shoving it into his back pocket. “We can’t wait any longer. Let’s go.”

Kim grabbed their jacket from the back of a chair and stood. “Where do we even start? We don’t have a clue where she went.”

“We start with the paths she usually takes,” Bug said, heading toward the door. “Bike trails, that old park she likes, anywhere she might’ve gone to clear her head.”

Kim nodded, pulling on their jacket and grabbing the keys to the van. “And if she’s not there?”

“Then we keep looking,” Bug said firmly. “We don’t stop until we find her.”

The van’s headlights cut through the inky darkness, illuminating the empty streets as Bug and Kim scoured the area. The tension between them was palpable, unspoken fears weighing heavy in the confined space.

“Any luck?” Bug asked, his voice tight as he glanced at Kim, who was staring intently at their phone.

“Nothing,” Kim replied, shaking their head. “No texts, no missed calls. It’s like she just… vanished.”

Bug gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles white as they turned onto another deserted road. “We’re going to find her,” he said, more to himself than to Kim.

Minutes stretched into an eternity until finally, Kim sat up straighter, pointing out the window. “Wait! Over there!”

Bug slowed the van as Kim gestured toward a familiar mountain bike propped against a tree in front of an abandoned house. The bike’s purple and blue helmet rested on the ground beside it, unmistakably Chaos’s.

“That’s hers,” Bug said, his voice barely above a whisper. His stomach sank as he pulled the van over, parking it on the curb.

Kim was already unbuckling their seatbelt, throwing open the door. “What the kriff is she doing here?”

Bug stepped out, the cold night air biting at his face as they approached the bike. His eyes scanned the house, its dark windows staring back at them like empty eyes.

Kim crouched beside the bike, running their hand over the handlebars. “She wouldn’t just leave this out here. Not like this.”

Bug’s jaw tightened. “She’s inside,” he said, his tone firm with growing certainty.

Kim glanced up at him. “This place looks like it hasn’t been touched in years. Why would she come here?”

Bug shook his head, already moving toward the front door. “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.”

The door creaked as Bug pushed it open, the sound echoing through the stillness of the house.

“Chaos?” Bug called out, his voice cutting through the silence.

Kim followed close behind, their flashlight cutting through the darkness. “If you’re in here, say something!”

The house was completely silent as they moved from room to room, each one as empty and lifeless as the last.

Then, faintly, a sound.

From upstairs.

Bug froze, glancing back at Kim. “Did you hear that?”

Kim nodded, gripping the flashlight tighter. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

They climbed the creaking staircase, their footsteps careful but hurried. At the end of the hallway, light flickered under a door.

Pushing the door open to reveal Chaos, staring blankly at some papers in her hand, an opened safe in front of her. She didn’t seem to notice their arrival, at least not until Bug grabbed her shoulders, worry evident in his voice, “Chaos what are you doing?”

Chaos jumped a bit, looking at Bug in shock, “When did you get here?”

“We’ve been trying to call you for hours, what are you doing here?”

Chaos held out the paper she was looking at, a birth certificate, one for a girl named Katrina Jay Cass, Birth date 6/27/2005, Daughter of Julia and Tom Cass.

Wait, that would mean Katrina is about the same age as Chaos

Bug thought as he scanned the paper. “What’s wrong with it?” He questioned, not seeing why the girl seemed so panicked.

Then she handed him the other papers, pictures of a happy couple with an infant.

No that can’t be. The mom and the baby, they look like… Chaos.

“Chaos, what is this?” Kim asked, reading the info from over Bug’s shoulder.

“This- this is my home… That… that's me, and my parents.” She choked out, her hands trembling.

Bug and Kim shot a glance at each other, before looking back at her, “What…. What happened to them?” Kim questioned, sitting down next to her, a comforting hand reaching up to rub her shoulder.

Chaos shook her head helplessly, “I don’t know…”

After a moment, Bug held out a hand to her, “Then we can find out together. But not tonight, let's get you home, and we can do the research tomorrow, okay?”

Chaos nodded numbly, taking his hand, and following them out of the house, Kim holding the documents that held her past.

As they tucked the girl into bed, they handed her each of the stuffed animals they had given her through the years they knew her, which she quickly hugged tightly. “Sweet dreams” Kim murmured before they left the room.

They went into the living room where Ren was developing some photos. Bug sat down, pulling out his laptop, while Kim grabbed their tablet, both with the same idea. And so they began to search.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The living room was dimly lit, the glow of Bug’s laptop and Kim’s tablet creating an island of light amidst the shadows. Ren hummed softly to himself as he worked on developing photos, the occasional

snap

of a drying print the only other sound in the quiet space.

Bug scrolled through a database, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he narrowed his search. “Okay,” he murmured, “here’s something. Katrina J Cass. Birth certificate… and that's it.”

Eventually, Kim set their tablet down with a sigh, rubbing the back of their neck. “Still nothing new, nothing of her, or her parents.”

Bug closed his laptop, leaning back against the couch. “We’ll figure it out. For Chaos, she deserves to know.”

“Kat, c’mere.” Momma called out, and I ran to her open arms, hugging her tightly, “MAMA!”

The kids mother smiled, yet it was strained as she carried the young girl downstairs. “Kitty Kat, me and Poppa have something for you to do, okay?”

“Yes mamma!” I smile, ready to help however I can.”

Poppa came over, a grim look on his face, and he took me from Momma, setting me down into this really awesome red snowflake! I reached out to touch one of the pretty candles, but Poppa pushed my hand away, which made me sad.

“⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⍜⌇⟒ ⍙⊑⍜ ⎅⍙⟒⌰⌰ ⎍⋏⎅⟒⍀, ⍙⟒ ⍜⎎⎎⟒⍀ ⍜⎍⍀ ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁⟒⌇⏁ ⏁⍀⟒⏃⌇⎍⍀⟒, ⍜⎍⍀ ⎅⟒⏃⍀⟒⌇⏁ ⎅⏃⎍☌⊑⏁⟒⍀ ☍⏃⏁⍀⟟⋏⏃, ☌⟟⎐⟒ ⎍⌇ ⌿⍜⍙⟒⍀ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍀⟟☊⊑⟒⌇ ⏁⊑⍀⍜⎍☌⊑ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⌇⏃☊⍀⟟⎎⟟☊⟒.” Poppa spoke in such a strange language, and then everything went dark.

Chaos awoke with a start, the
memory
dream already fading from her mind. She rushed to grab her notebook, writing down every bit of the dream she remembered, as she always did. After a moment she sighed, running her hands down her face, this one was even more realistic than the last.

With a groan she sat up, walking out of the room into the kitchen, where she began to make breakfast for the others. She idly broke the eggs into the bowl, making scrambled eggs with toast, and getting the coffee pot started for when the others got up.

As the smell of cooking eggs and fresh coffee began to fill the air, Chaos tried to shake off the lingering feelings from her dream. She had grown used to the unsettling images that haunted her nights, but this one was different—it felt

too

real, like pieces of her past were slipping through the cracks of her memory. She focused on the simple task of cooking, trying to keep her mind distracted.

The soft sound of footsteps behind her made her glance over her shoulder. Kim was the first to emerge, their hair still messy from sleep, but their eyes sharp with a quiet urgency. They smiled as they walked into the kitchen. "Morning, Chaos. Something smells good."

Chaos managed a small smile in return, but there was a flicker of something in her gaze, a hint of worry she couldn't hide. "Morning, Kim. Just making breakfast."

Kim's smile softened as they sat down at the counter, watching her with a knowing look. "You okay?"

Chaos hesitated for a moment, then nodded, although her voice was a little shaky. "Yeah, just... one of those dreams again."

Kim nodded, the understanding clear on their face. "Anything specific this time?"

Chaos shook her head, absentmindedly stirring the eggs. "I don’t really remember much. Just... bits and pieces. It’s like something’s trying to get through, but I can’t reach it."

Just then, Bug wandered into the kitchen, still half-asleep. His usual sharp focus was absent, replaced by the sluggish movements of someone who had only just pulled themselves from bed. He gave a half-smile when he noticed Chaos. "Smells like you're saving the day with breakfast."

"Someone has to," Chaos said with a soft laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

But Bug, always perceptive, caught the subtle tension in her posture. "You sure you're okay? You’re not usually this quiet in the morning."

Chaos gave a shrug, still not fully able to shake off the unsettling feeling. "Just tired."

“That’s fair, you had a long night last night, to be honest I’m surprised you’re up this early.” Bug chuckled, pouring himself a mug of coffee.

Chaos glanced down at the eggs as she stirred them slowly, her mind far from the task at hand. Her thoughts were still wrapped up in the fading fragments of her dream and the uneasy feeling that had settled deep in her chest. After a moment, she set the spatula down, turning to Bug with a look that was a little too serious for the casual morning atmosphere.

“Bug,” she began, her voice quiet but firm, “I... I want to go back to my old house. I need to check something.”

Bug raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden request. He set his coffee cup down slowly, his gaze shifting to Kim, who was watching them both closely. “Your old house? You’re sure about that? After everything we found last night...?”

Chaos nodded, her hands tightening around the edge of the counter. “Yeah. There’s... something I need to see. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll feel better if I check.” She hesitated, chewing on her lip for a moment. “It’s probably nothing, but it might explain... a few things.”

Kim set their tablet down, their expression softening. “Are you sure this is the right time for that? You’ve already been through a lot.”

“I know,” Chaos said quickly, her voice almost pleading. “I just... need to know, okay? I can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing. And maybe—maybe I’ll find something that’ll help me remember what happened.” She glanced between the two of them, her eyes wide with a mix of uncertainty and determination. “I don’t want to do this alone.”

Bug studied her carefully for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. But we’re going with you. No way I’m letting you go back there on your own, not after everything we’ve found out.” He glanced over at Kim for confirmation.

Kim nodded. “Agreed. We’ll go with you, Chaos. But we need to make sure we’re being careful. We can’t risk rushing into something we’re not prepared for.”

Chaos smiled faintly, the weight on her shoulders lifting just a little bit. “Thanks. I... I really appreciate it.”

The old house was exactly as Chaos remembered it—weathered, forgotten by time, and standing in eerie silence at the edge of the neighborhood. The once-vibrant paint had faded to dull, peeling remnants, and the front yard, though overgrown, was still familiar to her in a way that felt both comforting and unsettling.

Chaos led the way up to the front door, which hung slightly ajar, as though it had been waiting for her return. The others followed closely behind, their footsteps careful, almost reverent, as if they knew how much this moment meant to her.

When they entered, the house smelled faintly of dust and decay, the air heavy with the weight of years spent abandoned. The wallpaper in the hallway was peeling, the floors creaked underfoot, and the air felt thick, almost stagnant.

They made their way through the house, past the living room, into the kitchen—Chaos’s eyes scanning every inch of the place like she was searching for a ghost, something that would give her the answers she’d been longing for.

“I don’t remember the exact spot,” Chaos murmured as they walked deeper into the house, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s somewhere in here… near the back.”

Her heart began to race. She didn’t know why she was so certain, but the instinct was undeniable. The house felt… different now, like it was holding its breath, just waiting for her to find it.

They reached the back room—a place that had once been her parents’ study, filled with books and papers and a strange aura that she couldn’t explain, even as a child. Now, it was eerily empty, save for dust-covered furniture and broken picture frames.

Chaos stepped into the room, her eyes flicking nervously to the floor, then to the walls. She had a feeling. It was there, she could feel it in her bones.

And then, just beneath the thin layer of dirt on the floor, she saw it.

A faint, circular pattern, barely visible at first. She crouched down, brushing away the dust, and there it was—an almost perfect summoning circle, just as she had feared. The markings were faded, but still distinct, their edges sharp and deliberate.

She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "This... this is where it happened."

Kim moved closer, kneeling beside her, their eyes widening at the sight. "Is this... a summoning circle?"

Chaos nodded, her breath shallow. "Yeah... this is where they... tried to—" She stopped herself, her voice trembling, not wanting to say the words aloud.

Bug looked at her in concern, “Where who tried to what?” He urged her.

I don’t remember much after that. It was like a big fog, thick and heavy, swallowing everything up. I remember hearing Poppa's voice, but it didn’t sound like him—not really. His words were so strange, like nothing I’d ever heard before. It scared me. I wanted to ask what was happening, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even move.

The red snowflake on the floor—it had felt so pretty before, like it was made just for me. But now, sitting in the center of it, I felt like I was trapped. Something wasn’t right.

I reached out for Momma’s arms, but she wasn’t there anymore. Poppa’s hand wasn’t there, either. It was just me. All alone.

The air in the room was heavy, like I couldn’t breathe right. I remember looking around, trying to find them, but the house... everything was different. The walls felt closer. The lights, dimmer. And the silence—it was like a huge, empty hole.

“Momma? Poppa?” I whispered, my voice small, tiny in the vastness of the dark. But no one answered.

I sat there for a while, waiting, hoping. But no one came. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where they went or why they left me. I just wanted to be with them again. I wanted to feel safe again.

My eyes started to water. I could feel the tears on my cheeks, but I couldn’t stop them. I wanted to run, to find them, but my legs wouldn’t move. It was like my body had frozen. The only thing I could do was stay right where I was, in the middle of that circle, surrounded by silence.

I don’t know how long I sat there, alone, but when I finally stood up and tried to walk, it felt like the house was watching me. Like the walls were moving in closer, trapping me. My little feet carried me through the house, but it was as if the air itself was pulling me back, like it didn’t want me to leave.

I ran through the hallways, down the stairs, calling their names, but it felt like the house was swallowing my voice. Like it didn’t want to let me be heard. The shadows seemed to grow longer, twisting and stretching, making the house seem even bigger than it had been before.

I remember the cold. I remember the darkness pressing in on me.

And then, I saw something—a shape in the corner of my eye. It wasn’t my parents. But it was something. And it was watching me.

I froze.

I don’t know how long I stood there, heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to run, but my feet wouldn’t move. I could barely breathe, the air thick in my lungs.

And that’s when I heard the door slam open.

Momma? Poppa?

But it wasn’t them.

It was just the wind.

And I was alone.

Back in the present, Chaos stood frozen, her hand still gripping the edge of the counter, her eyes wide and distant. The quiet hum of the house around her seemed muffled, the reality of the present slipping away as the memories from when she was five surged back.

Bug and Kim exchanged a quick glance, both of them sensing something had shifted in Chaos, but unsure of what it was. Chaos's face was pale, her lips trembling slightly as if she were still trapped in that moment from her childhood, still struggling with whatever had happened all those years ago.

“Chaos?” Bug’s voice was soft, gentle, but his concern was clear. He stepped closer to her, his hand hovering just above her arm as though unsure whether to touch her or not.

She didn’t respond at first. Her eyes were unfocused, like she was seeing something beyond the walls of the house—something far off, something haunting. Her breath came in quick, shallow bursts, as though she had forgotten how to breathe.

Kim stepped forward, a little more hesitantly than Bug, their voice quieter but still firm. "Chaos, what’s happening? What just went through your mind?"

Chaos blinked, the fog of her past slowly lifting as her gaze refocused on them. She took a shaky breath, then another, trying to steady herself. Her hands were still trembling, but she finally spoke, her voice hoarse and tight.

“I—I remember it. I remember everything. The circle, the way it felt, the way they… they just left me there,” she whispered, the words barely leaving her lips. Her eyes flickered to the ground, as if the very memory of the summoning circle was enough to make her legs shake. “They... they tried to sacrifice me."

Bug’s brow furrowed in confusion, but he didn’t interrupt. He could feel the weight of her words, heavy and fragile, like glass ready to shatter.

Kim, however, gently placed a hand on Chaos’s shoulder, guiding her back to the present. “Hey, hey, look at me,” they said, their voice soft but grounding. “You’re not alone, okay? You’re safe now. Whatever happened back then, we’ll figure it out together. But I need you to tell us what you remember—

everything

.”

Chaos inhaled sharply, forcing her mind to clear. “It’s all coming back. The house, the circle… The way they... they were trying to do something to me. But then everything went dark, and when I woke up… they were gone.” Her voice broke at the end, the pain of that moment still raw, even all these years later.

Bug’s expression softened. “What were they trying to do to you, Chaos?”

Chaos swallowed hard, her hands twisting together nervously. “I don’t know. I couldn’t understand what they were saying. It was like a language I didn’t know—like they were calling something, trying to summon something, but they left me there. And then...” She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push past the memories. “And then they disappeared. I... I thought I was dreaming, but I wasn’t. It was real.”

Bug and Kim wrapped the distraught girl into a hug, softly reassuring her, this knowledge of what had happened to her changing everything.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“-and none of them really respect me anymore! I am just as much of a ghost hunter as all them, I'm better at this stuff too! But even Kim has been coddling me on contacts lately!” Chaos flopped onto the sofa, frowning at the table. Maple, sitting next to Chaos, glanced up from her homework. “Kim has those solo contacts, what if you did one of those for Kim?” Chaos perked up, “That is a great idea-”  When Chaos entered the garage portion of the warehouse, she spied Kim standing near the back of the van, hurriedly typing something in their phone. Chaos quietly grabbed the spare key for the van off the wall and pocketed it. As Chaos approached Kim she could see there was already gear in the van. The van was ready, all she needed to do was get Kim out of the room. “Kim, it's gotten really cold in my room again, can you check the heater?” “No time, I need to go now. Bundle up with some blankets for now.” “I thought you had 10 minutes before you needed to leave?” Normally Kim would not leave this early, or be in such a hurry to leave. Kim glanced up from their phone, “I gotta drop by and get a part on the way.” This was perfect - Kim only ever visited one store for parts. Chaos put on her best puppy-eyed look as she pleaded, “Can I come with?” Kim hesitated, but caved in the end. “Yeah, you gotta help me keep track of time alright? In the store for 15 minutes only, and I’ll drop you off on the way out.” “Yes!” Chaos ran for the passenger door. Kim gave a sigh, though they were a bit more relaxed now as they got in the driver’s seat. The radio came to life as Kim started the van, classic rock playing in this case. They drove out and ensured the remote closed the garage door before they pulled out of the parking lot that came with the warehouse. In practically no time Kim was at the electronics store, as they parked they reminded Chaos, “Help me keep track of time please- 15 minutes top.” “Yes!” Chaos remained standing near the back of the van though, watching as Kim speed walked into the store- not even realizing Chaos was not right behind them.  Once Kim was inside Chaos quickly scrambled for the driver's door and hopped in with a giggle. This was too easy- odds were it might take a whole hour for Kim to even realize. Chaos grabbed the van’s tablet, which the van had in place of the box truck’s full computer setup to monitor video cameras and such. The lack of password made it easy for Chaos to get in. And as always, Kim had the contract details already pulled up on it. Chaos got the address and started the van. She could do the contract, complete all the research objectives, and be back before Kim even realized she was gone!   Chaos carefully backed the van into the driveway of the location, eagerly parking it and hopping out. With this she could prove her- The person standing near the back of the van brought her thoughts to a sudden halt. They looked young, definitely not older than 18 at most. Their hair was dyed a dark blue-ish grey color and they looked ready to pass out at any moment. The most interesting thing though, was the sanity watch they had around their wrist. It looked like the exact same model that all of BRCK'M used. They hardly looked up at the approaching van, not enough to notice Chaos, at least. "You're here early, Kim. Haven't fully set my watch up yet." Chaos froze, looking at the young person apprehensively, “Who are you? How do you know Kim?” The person stiffened, glancing up to finally look at Chaos. "...you're not Kim." She shook her head, taking a cautious step closer, and holding a hand out for him to shake, “I’m Chaos.” "Night." They hesitantly shook her hand, scratching at the palm of their hand once it's over. “You alright?” She questioned, tilting her head slightly as she noticed his scratching. "Mhm! Uh- sorry, what were your questions?" “What’re you doing here? I thought Kim went solo investigating?” "I'm their…apprentice? Intern? Whatever ya wanna call it…why’re ya here?" Chaos’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, Kim never mentioned an apprentice, “I- Uh.. I’m taking over for them today, yeah that's it.” Night frowned. "They didn't message me about that? And…why someone I've ain’t ever met?" they muttered that last part to themself, and pulled out their phone. “Uh… Their phone died, I’m a close friend of theirs though, don’t worry” "...how can I trust you?" “Uhh… we have the same band!” Chaos held out her sanity monitor to prove it. "I dunnoknow the difference in bands- wait, there’s a difference?" “... I have no idea, but really I am one of Kim’s friends” "Is there a thing on the bands ta tell me that?" “Uhm” Chaos thought for a moment, before pulling out her phone and pulling up a photo of her and Kim. They were in the woods, Chaos wanting to take a selfie in front of the shack they found out there. “See, we are friends.” They took a while staring at it, before eventually nodding. "Okay, so…why are you fillin’ in for Kim?" “Uh… Kim’s… Busy! Yeah.” She nodded, trying to sell the obvious lie.  "...busy." It was hard to say if he bought it. “Yep, they’re very very busy with uh…. Socks!” "Socks??" “Yep! Socks.” Chaos confirmed, sticking to the admittedly atrocious lie. "...so they ain’t comin’?" “Nope." The stranger was silent for a moment. "Well," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "I still wanna do the contract, so…could I? Alongside you, I mean." Chaos nodded, a grin on her face, “Absolutely!” "Is the…ah, is the van ready?" “Yes! Has all the equipment!” Chaos walked past Night, opening up the back of the van. The two shared a glance, then began pulling out equipment and gearing up for the ghost hunt  Night woke up with a groan, staring at the ceiling of the van. He was starting to think that that last idea was a bad one. Kim soon entered his field of view, concern clearly visible in their eyes. “How ya feeling?” "Tired," he replied. "And cold." “Well, I got some hot chocolate!” Kim moved away to prepare a cup for Night. It allowed Night the chance to sit up, noticing that he was on one of the bench seats in the van- and that he was not alone, as the bench seat in front of him had a blanket covered, sleeping Chaos. Kim held out the cup of hot chocolate, “What happened to ya two?” "Ghost." He blinked, realizing just how vague that was. "Uh, ghost got Chaos. Then I went in 'n it got me." Night grabbed the hot chocolate from them and took a sip, ignoring the burn. Kim was slowly processing the statement, glancing at Chaos. “Alright… why did you two go in?” "Ta do the contract..?" he asked in confusion. Was this a trick question? “I suppose I should rephrase, what did Chaos tell ya?” Oh. That made more sense. "Busy and couldn't come, phone died, Chaos was fillin’ in. More or less." Kim sighed, “Alright- well, my phone had not died. Chaos snuck off with the van while I was trying to get the part needed to fix-” Kim facepalmed with a groan, “I left it at the store! Alright, later problem. Chaos doesn’t have the qualifications for training, despite her experience.” "Oh... Sorry," Night apologized meekly. He looked away and took another sip of the drink. “Nah, nothing to apologize for, ya didn’t know. Chaos however…” Kim stared at Chaos’ sleeping form. Dismay and something else swimming in their eyes. Night didn't say anything for a moment. Then, "Uh, d’ya think I could use this mug again next time? Parents… took the other one." He hated the way the lie tasted, but he didn't want to tell them what actually happened. Kim tilted their head a bit, an odd thoughtful look coming to their face. Their voice was cheerful though, “Yeah! I can keep it safe for ya, for next time.” A bit of tension eased out of his shoulders. "Okay. Thanks.” He set the partially empty mug on the desk and muttered a quiet goodbye to Kim, before swiftly exiting the van to walk home.  Chaos woke up to the sight of the family room. She was laid out on the sofa, her head pounding. As she sleepily went to sit up Kim was suddenly by her side. They offered a glass of water to Chaos, only pulling away once Chaos had a firm grip on it. To avoid looking into Kim’s eyes, Chaos stared down into the water. Kim’s voice sounded more even than normal as they carefully asked, “Chaos… how are you feeling?” After a moment, Chaos drank some of the water, before quietly answering, “My head hurts.” “Do you want some painkillers?” Like usual Chaos shook her head. The headache pounding against her eyes at the motion, she much preferred to just wait out the pain instead of using medication. “Alright. Can you go over what happened after you took the van?” Chaos sighed, before she spoke in a resigned tone, “Just get to the lecture already, I already know it's coming. Nothing I say will make it better anyways, might as well just get it over with.” “...Chaos, why did you take the van.” To avoid answering, Chaos just slowly sipped at the water Kim gave her, avoiding eye contact at all costs. The silence stretched on for long minutes of time. Eventually, the older ghost hunter broke the silence, “Do you understand the risk you put both yourself and Night in?” Chaos wouldn’t meet Kim’s eyes as she nodded, guilt and shame etched into her features. Kim firmly stated, “You’re grounded for at least 2 days-” Chaos wouldn’t admit it, but their words broke her- Kim who never grounded her, Kim who always believed in her, Kim who never got mad at her… Kim, who was now disappointed in her. “-possibly more depending on Bug’s input. No contracts till you go back over the onboarding and safety training.” With that said, Kim stood up and left the room. The moment the older ghost hunter left, the kid burst into tears, pulling her knees up to her chest, arms hugging them close as she cried. I failed them again.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

[Many Years ago…]
 
Kim looked at the tuition amounts for college and compared it with their current funds. They had managed to save up some funds during high school, but it was not enough. They opened up an online job listing website, they needed something they could do after college classes…
 
Maybe a nighttime job?
  [Present Day…] Kim gradually woke up, checking the clock once they shook off the initial grogginess. Thirty-two minutes before their alarm would go off, again. They turned the alarm off for today and got up to get dressed. Throughout the process their mind whirled with all the things they need to get done today and…  Well, there’s only one way to get started-  
Kim double checks the truck’s license plate, eyeing the beaming person standing in front of them. “Are you Todd Sage?”
 
“Yep! You must be Kim, ready for your first contract?”
 
“Yes.” Kim heads towards the truck, only to be abruptly stopped by Todd’s arm shooting in front of them.
 
“Wait- have you eaten?”
 
Turning to look at Todd clears up none of the confusion his statement has brought up. “Why?”
 
“Can’t ghost hunt on an empty stomach! Come on, we’ll swing past a food joint on the way, on me!”
  -and that was by getting breakfast. As they approached the kitchen they could already hear Chaos cooking. Kim rounded the corner with a smile, “Morning Chaos! Whatcha making today?” “Morning Kim, french toast today!” “Oooo, that sounds good- is the food processor free by chance?” “Yes, I don’t need it. Whatcha making?” “I wanna try out a new energy bar recipe…” 
“-You got to get more protein, we have a busy day ahead!”
 
Kim made a face, but accepted the protein bar. “These taste weird…”
 
Todd laughed, “Well, if you ever find or make a better version, we can start carrying those!”
  
Kim worked on rolling the final mixture into bars, breaking a chunk off to try for themself. Seemed to taste fine, but admittedly their sense of taste had always been skewed after they had a protein bar heavy diet in college. This recipe was less focused on energy though, and more focused on sanity in order to assist a specific person they know…
 …and incoming footsteps indicated the exact person Kim needed next. Kim quickly rolled out a bar, spinning with it in hand to offer. “Morning Ren! Wanna try a new energy bar recipe?” “Uh,” Ren freezed in place, Kim could practically feel the anxiety as he eventually walked closer to accept the offered energy bar.  “Uh, yeah, I can. Totally.” Kim smiled as they set it into his hand before he could second guess his decision. They turned to Chaos as they returned to rolling out more energy bars, “Wanna try one?”  
Kim looked up from their notes, rubbing at one eye as they checked the time. Still two more hours until TAK headed out- Angelica was picking them up this time. But for now…
 
A glance at their notes only have them grimacing. They really needed to get better adjusted to this late time work…
 
With a sigh, Kim set aside the notes and pulled out a broken ‘spirit box’- just a cheap FM/AM radio, that broke a while back. If they cannot focus, they may as well start taking this apart. They suspect the transistor may have been fried...
  While Kim was glad they had time to make that new energy bar recipe, packaging the bars and cleaning up took more time than expected. They rushed through the equipment checks on the way out and now they were second guessing their equipment. So far there has not been much luck in finding the ghost room, the dining room is mildly cold but not quite cold enough. And their thermometer was acting strange… another thing to add to their to-do list. Kim trudged out of the Bleasdale farmhouse. There was still more equipment to bring in and they haven’t heard from Night in awhile. Last they heard he was heading to the van to grab equipment- their worries went away when they saw Night in the van, fiddling with the buttons of the new video cameras the BRCK’M group got recently. Kim smiled fondly, grabbing some of the equipment they needed and going back in. They could figure out the ghost while Night got a chance to learn about the new equipment.  
Kim was fiddling with the camera settings when Angelica approached, “Rookie, what are you doing with that thing? It doesn’t work.”
 
Kim hesitated to answer, but a glance at Angelica’s patient expression convinced them. “I… think, the settings… might be wrong…?”
 
When Angelica remained silent, Kim nervously talked more, “There’s, the exposure setting wasn’t right, and… the focus was manual, which makes it harder to detect the orbs…”
 
Angelica smiled softly, “Good thing we have you.”
 
Flustered, Kim tried to protest, “I-I’m not that- I haven’t graduated, I don’t even study cameras-”
 
“You are doing better than us with cameras, and you are skilled enough for what we are doing. That is why we keep giving you the camera, Rookie.”
 
“...Oh.”
  After dropping Night off Kim picked up Ren and Chaos, and one (boisterous) ride later they were pulling up at a family’s house along Edgefield Road. Kim went down to the basement first and found the bone, calling it out over the radio for Ren to get a photo of it. They continued their search upwards, finding the ouija board on the first floor. 
It was as they reached the second floor that the first event occurred, Ren already rushing down the hallway ahead to try to find the event location. The cheerful shout a second later had Kim setting a mental reminder to remember to upload the ghost photo he must have gotten later. Kim passed Ren on the way to the event location, but frowned at the warm temperatures of the room. The ghost must have roamed, but from where… Kim started checking the different bedrooms.
 It was just after they had exited one room the lights begin to flicker and the ghost began to groan right behind Kim- Kim quickly dashed into a bedroom, nearly tripping over a shoe as they crouched down behind the bed. Hoping that everyone else hid- The ghost entered their room, they knew they were going to get hunted, they relaxed for the inevitable drain-  
The ghost suddenly appeared and Kim dropped the voodoo doll. Todd whooped in joy just behind Kim, “There it is! Now just get a photo before it knocks us out!”
 
Kim fumbled with the camera, taking a step back as the ghost lunged-
  -The ghost appeared over the bed, too translucent for a usual hunt, too- the ghost made it to just in front of Kim’s face before letting out a breathy sigh and vanishing. Chaos poked her head in, as chipper as always on contracts. “Event!” “I thought it was hunting,” Kim groaned and got up. Using their radio this time, “Any idea on ghost type?” Chaos quickly pulled out her own radio, “I’m thinking Banshee, cause it ignored me for the event and went right to Kim.” “I’m not so certain…” Both of their radios crackle, “What about Oni? It’s doing a lot of events.” Kim tilted their head, technically these both were behaviors that might indicate one of those ghosts, but… The lights flickered, and Kim dived for the closet alongside Chaos. There’s faint footsteps elsewhere in the house, but otherwise… It's quiet. Kim watched Chaos. Despite Kim’s experience they have never been good at picking up the… finer details, such as the shift in air from the end of a hunt. But Chaos…  
Kim hesitantly poked their head out of the tent they hid in. The hunt might be over…?
 
As they stepped out though they hear the quickening footsteps and soon were face to face with-
 
-They woke up to laughter, rubbing at their eyes and noting the rising sun in the distance. Angelica and Todd were sitting near the campfire, chatting and roasting marshmallows.
 
As they stood and brushed fallen leaves off of their clothes, Angelica turned to Kim with a smile. “You got out of your spot too quickly. The ghost was still hunting.”
 
As Kim ducked their head Todd chimes in, “You’ll get the feel of it soon! It just takes practice!”
  …Chaos jumped up to her feet to dash out of the closet. Kim quickly pulled their radio out. “Ren? You alright?” The radio remained silent as Kim turned to Chaos and held out a thermometer. “I’m going to check our sanity. Let me know if you find the ghost room.” “Alright!” Chaos grabbed the thermometer and went into the next room over. Kim quickly rushed downstairs, on the way to the van. If they can figure out when the ghost started hunting compared to san- The slam of the door behind them interrupted, leading them to shout into the radio, “Hunt, there’s a hunt-” They see all the lights go out. With a sinking feeling they checked the front door and… it swung open. “Hello? Hello-” 
“-Please leave a messa-” They hung up before their parent's voicemail could finish. Over in the messages app Kim pulled up the TAK group chat, staring at their unanswered message from a week ago. Given nobody has answered in the past two months…
 
Kim put their phone away and let out a sigh. Not the first time they have drifted apart from friends, but they thought…
 
A glance at their phone shows they still have some time. Kim picked up their graduation cap while checking their math. An hour till they need to leave for the commencement ceremony. Plenty of time to find a stranger willing to help them get a picture by the bell tower.
  -Nobody answered. With a deep breath Kim returned to the van, snagging one of the new sanity medicines to stab into their arm. As they maintained pressure on the site, they quickly started up the sanity monitoring program. With everyone unconscious, they do not need to worry about someone looking at Ren’s sanity. A glance at the raw data indicated either they had been in there for longer than they thought, or sanity was getting drained quicker than expected…  
Staring at the spreadsheet did not magically grant them more money, unfortunately. They needed a bit more money for rent, and to cover their car’s maintenance, but how…
 
An idea formed and Kim moved through their file storage. They have some time this weekend. And their ghost hunting license was still valid. If they could just find some cheap equipment…
  …Either way they could still handle this. Most of the equipment was probably on the second floor, assuming nothing broke during the hunts. The ghost was on the second floor somewhere. They waited for the sanity monitoring software to show their sanity, now up at 100%, before going back in. Chaos and Ren were not hard to locate, neither of them have injuries needing attention thankfully. Kim left the two where they are in favor of locating the ghost room. There were two rooms that they did not have the chance to check yet: another bedroom and a nursery. The nursery turned out to have cold temperatures, hovering at about 5 degree Celsius. Perfect for a ghost. Kim quickly set up the equipment in there, grabbing some of the equipment from Chaos’s and Ren’s bodies as well. Thankfully the cameras were still functioning- always a risk after someone gets knocked out. With the equipment set up Kim now began the process of dragging Ren and Chaos out to the van. It was as Kim was getting Ren safely burrito-ed into a blanket that they saw a ghost orb on the monitor. A moment later they finished getting Ren and Chaos settled, allowing them to walk back in to see writing in the book. They snapped a quick picture and glanced around the room. A few things seemed out of place, but not much by ghost standards…   Kim glanced around one more time. They have not been able to get any evidence so far and they have been in here, in the dark, for almost an hour.   
This was so much easier back when they were with a group.
 
Reluctantly they picked up the spirit box, turning it on. “Are you her-”
 
The chill of energy drain interrupted as they slipped into unconsciousness…
  …and with their sanity starting out higher, it would be best if they used the spirit box. Kim reluctantly turned the spirit box on, and mentally pulled up the standard list of questions. “Are you friend-” “-getting attacked has left-” burst through the static, causing Kim to quickly drop the spirit box. They have three pieces of evidence- this ghost is a mare. 
And they had all been running around with the lights off.
 Kim quickly flipped the light switch in the hallway. Best to ensure the ghost stopped wandering out like it was before. They snagged the cameras and descended back down the stairs to go to the van. A quick glance at the sanity monitor shows they have plenty of sanity to grab the rest of the equipment.  And with the rest of the equipment in, Kim closed up the van, called the guild with the result, and started driving back to the warehouse.  
Kim took in the new apartment, setting a box down on the counter. Back in the old city… they felt like it should be a relief. To have returned to familiar land. 
 
They turned to exit. They could figure out their thoughts later, if they did not bring their boxes up no one would. Everything needed to be in and unpacked before their new job starts tomorrow.
  It was after Ren and Chaos were awake that Kim went to the family room. There, they could see Maple racing on Mario Kart, sending a blue shell after a Yoshi bot on the track. “Maple, time for lessons.” Maple frowned, passing Yoshi and racing after Luigi now. “Does it have to be now?” “Ya can finish this race, but yes.” “Fine…” Maple finished in second place, then stood up. As Kim led Maple upstairs for the table there, they began by handing Maple her homework. “So, today you'll be learning about systems of equations. First though, that homework you gave me yesterday, you had a subtraction error on one of your problems and I want to see if you can figure out which one has the error…”  
Kim looked through the rows of the spreadsheet, trying to determine where the error was. They were fairly certain they put the last pay stub in correctly… Eventually they found it, a copy paste error not correctly adjusted for the new cell column Kim added.
 
Once the edit took effect, the numbers finally matched their bank statement. Kim leaned back with a groan to stare at the ceiling. 
 
They have enough for now, not as much as they were hoping but they could at least do two more weeks of groceries… They needed to get a job, soon. A non-corporate one this time.
  Kim hopped into the shotgun seat as Bug started the car, setting the grocery list down on the middle divider. As Bug started driving Kim fiddled with their headphones- fox eared with both passive and active noise cancelling, a gift from the group awhile back. During Maple's lesson they had started to notice their usual signs of sound sensitivity… They'll probably need the headphone’s noise cancelling inside the store today.  Bug was the first to break the silence, “The heater has been malfunctioning again today.”“I can take another look at it.” Kim frowned grimly. They had responded too late to the silent alarms on it today... In truth, the heater has been malfunctioning much more frequently than Bug suspected. It has been getting worse though, and while the silent alarm was initially set up so Kim would notice and fix the heater before anyone else noticed… They have not been able to keep up with it as of late.  They should probably check if Ren is doing alright, there is still a chance that the cold is connected to emotional state. More data is needed to confirm it though… Bug interrupted their thoughts with another, “Would you have time to check the spirit boxes as well? That and the thermometers seem to be acting strange lately.” “Yeah… I was noticing issues on one of my contracts today. I’ll try to look at it tonight.” Another item to add to their list. “Maple has been doing well in her lessons…”  
The box was as untouched as Kim remembered it, and the equipment inside was mostly still working when Kim went through the performance checks. A deal with an old friend had them temporarily broke, but the contract they found should be able to pay off the debt and regain them their rent money.
  They are glad that their ghost hunting license was still valid. That was what they reminded themself of, as they stared at the familiar gate of Camp Woodwind.  
It would get them money, and combined with the equipment repairs they started advertising through the guild, they could pay rent. 
 
Maybe, they could even find a new group.
  Kim sat down at their desk, turned up the headphone’s noise cancelling factor, started up a playlist, and pulled up their to-do list on their tablet once more.              GNU nano 6.2 - Desktop/ToDo.txt  URGENT radio: signal boosting needed URGENT     -compare model stats     -check between tracker specifications     -upgrade software     -check for other upgrades Heater     -replace motors     -replace ignitorsanity monitoring     -debug software 2.0Monthly Equipment Performance Checks     -Video camera     -crucifix     -salt     -motion sensors     -spirit box     -parabolic mic             [ Read 72 lines ] With a sigh, Kim scrolled through the rest of the lines. With everything happening lately, the list just kept growing… Equipment has been breaking or malfunctioning faster than normal. They crossed off the code word they left to represent the deal they made to get Maple's documentation- that has been paid in full now. Then they just needed to finish paying Sil for the damages, and double check for any other concerns… A glance at the time finalized their thoughts. They could afford to stay up another hour or two, which should also give them enough time to check on some of the equipment.  Their gaze wandered to the photo board, and a small smile crept onto their face without their knowledge. All the various photos Kim had saved, of BRCK’M and other friends. The very reason why they have such a long, growing to-do list… but they would not trade it for anything in the world, if it meant they stayed with this friend group for another year.  The thought lingered as they pulled out a thermometer, motivating them as they worked another late night.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kim stopped the van, but the next stop was not a contract location- it seemed to be a large electronics store. “Here we are!” Night looked around curiously. He did not recognize the building. "Where…are we?" “It’s a store that sells good equipment at a decent price! What’s your favorite equipment again?” Night thought on it for a moment, considering his usuals. "I like the EMF Reader a lot." “Let’s go check out their selection then!” Kim locked the van as they started walking into the store. They led the way through the aisles, though they paused by a shelf with thermometers of various kinds on display. Night looked around at everything on the shelves, feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of it. Most of it was out of his budget, so he could not buy much even if he needed it. Kim eventually managed to break away from the thermometer display, “Right- I get distracted in here, uhhhhh, over here-” This time the engineer led the way to the shelves that hold the EMF readers, everything from an old analog model, to a small plastic handheld with a few lights, to the shinier models with touchscreen and recording. Night stared at each model. The newer ones seemed cool but… He picked up an older model that did not seem too reliable. He squinted to read the price label, deciding whether it was worth it to get it. He would need the equipment (obviously), but there were cheaper ones he could purchase. Kim meanwhile picked up one of the newer models, comparing it with another before selecting one of the two. “Wanna look at another section?” Night stared at them, baffled at how they so easily picked something so… expensive up. Kim turned to Night, head tilting as the silence stretched on. He blinked, realizing they were waiting on an answer. "Uh- yeah, okay." He said. Kim grinned and led the way to an aisle of spirit boxes. Once again they looked through and compared different models, mostly looking at the bulky newer stuff. Night tried not to gawk at them, instead forcing his gaze to the old, not-expensive models. As Kim settled on a dual-channel model, Night found a small, cheap handheld barely bigger than his hand. The senior ghost hunter once more turned to Night, “I forgot to ask- How about I give ya a tour of the place?” Night considered it, then decided it would be helpful to know the place for later. "Okay." Kim perked up, and soon Night got lost in the amount of technical talk Kim started getting into- “-But the 350c model is better than the 352a model, so you got to be careful-”“-And don’t forget that the Spooked lines require an extra 2 seconds to turn on-” “-the Bony line is the best, but an old favorite with a good number of pixels is the Parasonic-” Night's head hurt by the time they actually got to the check-out. The total for his stuff came out to around $300. His heart sank at the sight of the amount. He…did have money to spare. But it felt wrong to just use it all up. He needed the money like his life depended on it– his life did depend on it for so long. But then Kim was setting the stuff they were carrying done right next to Night’s, and pulling out their own wallet while chatting with the cashier about… thermocouple types? Whatever those are. Night was almost jealous of how easy they made it seem. He forced his gaze back to the check-out– Just in time to see Kim slide their card into the payment terminal as the cashier scanned the last item. Night's jaw would've dropped if he had not frozen up the moment he noticed. Kim just… paid for everything . Literally everything . Kim wrapped up the conversation as the cashier bagged the items, and turned to Night to hand him the bag of purchased equipment. “That’s a success, I would say! I wasn’t expecting the new spirit box models to be out yet.” Night stared at them in disbelief. That… was at least $700, maybe more with the stuff Kim had picked out. And Kim paid for it all . Kim blinked, then looked behind them, then back to Night. “Did I get something on my face?” Night promptly burst into tears.  Kim quickly rushed forward to comfort the silent Night, guiding him back to the van while softly humming. And once they reached the van, opening their arms in offering of a hug. Night was hesitant to accept, but he does so anyway. It has been a long while since he has had any contact that wasn't hostile. It was… nice. Kim’s hug was gentle, enveloping Night while still softly humming a tune. Gently rocking side to side. Night nudged them off after a minute, not wanting to stay in the hug longer than needed. Kim let go, tilting their head. “Ready for the contract?” He wiped his eyes until they hurt. "Yeah. I'm ready."  As Kim pulled up to the location, Night spotted a box truck already parked near the front gates of the campgrounds. A group of people lingering near the open back of it, some of them in combat vests and a few holding crucifixes. “Um, Kim?” “Oh, the exterminator group is already here!” Kim waves at the group, pulling the van up to park closer to the gate. “A mandatory thing these days for campsite ghosts, given they can be more dangerous and may wander. They’ll make certain the ghost remains in the campground while we’re investigating the type.” "Oh…a’rite." Night got out of the van once it parked and waved politely at the group, then shuffled ahead quickly. He felt out of place next to Kim, who he figured was probably well trained. He grabbed his standard equipment and waited for Kim to finish grabbing their's. Kim grabbed the keys, gave Night a grin, and unlocked the front gate to the campground. “I’m gonna run to the breaker, radio if you find the ghost!” Night gave them a little salute and trudged off to go search for any activity from the ghost. The campsite was quiet. Occasionally, the EMF reader would go off, and he'd dart off to another section only to have the activity then move. It's as he passed a few picnic tables that he heard something, possibly from a yellow tent up ahead.  He started crossing the empty ground between him and the tent, looking at the EMF reader's activity rating.  The main thing Night noticed when approaching the tent, was that there were quite a lot of objects thrown around. Cans of food, wooden blocks, sports balls, etc were scattered around the site.  He kicked one of the cans aside so he could step into the tent. There wasn't a whole lot for him to investigate, considering how small it was, but he didn't think he found anything of interest. He went to leave, but paused when he heard a clang of a can being kicked behind him.  Night turned around, barely processing the figure there as an object came flying at his face- He felt it– whatever it was– puncture his eye. He didn't have enough time to process that before he was turning around and stumbling away. His world was sluggish, like everything was turned to slow-motion. Something warm trickled down his face. He reached up, only to have a spike of pain shoot through his face. He gasped, lowering his hand. It hurt. Whatever was lodged in his eye hurt. The pain wasn't awful, at first, but every time his eyelids twitched that hurt would lace its way into his skin. "Kim-" he tried calling out, but he cut himself off with a cry as the pain doubled down. White hot agony spreads out from his eye, warm liquid dripping into his mouth. The iron taste caused him to sputter, which only led to more pain. Night reached up, and grasped the hilt of- of whatever it was.  He tugged, once. A loud yelp forced its way out of his mouth. Twice. More crimson liquid–blood, that was blood–burst from his eye. Pain wracked his face. Three times, and managed to pull the knife–he got stabbed, his eye was stabbed–out of his face to the sounds of distant shouts. The relief was short-lived as the pain pierced his head. Blood fell onto his clothes- his hands-  Just as quickly there was something pressing against one side of his face. He whined as the pressure caused the pain to flare up once more. Night extended out a hand, trying to grab what was on his face- A hand grabbed his wrist, and he realized that Kim is the reason, standing in front of him with fear and concern on their face. Kim’s mouth was moving, but the sound was muddled to the point Night couldn’t make out what was being said. Then they were tugging on his shoulder- when was it that he got on the floor? They yelled something to someone- And suddenly he was buckled into a seat. He was lightheaded and dizzy. His world swayed, making it difficult to focus on anything. There was still something pressed against his eye. Night managed to force his gaze over, and found that Kim was still next to him. He could not remember a seat being where Kim was though. Are they buckled up? A blink of the eye instead brought the image of white ceiling above as- uniforms… nurses? -bustled about him. Where was he? Nothing looked familiar in what he could see of the white room, medical equipment all around, a nurse holding his arm while a concerning pressure grew on his neck. He managed to catch a glimpse of a familiar orange fox-hoodie in the corner, before he slipped into unconsciousness.  While his thoughts were muffled and blurry initially, one thought poked through.  He was stabbed.  It was enough to have him struggling to wake up, sitting up- There was a nurse next to him, gently pushing him back down, saying something lost to a roar of panic. He couldn't recognize anything around him- There was a curtain, partially parted with an unfamiliar room beyond it. The nurse was rubbing circles on the palm of his hand. As the sensation drew his attention, their voice began to come through, “-alright, relax, lay back down. It's alright, you need your rest.” His throat was sore as he croaked out, “Where?” “Brownstone Hospital, would you like some ice chips?” “Yes..?”  The nurse let go of Night's hand and walked past the curtain, out of view. They soon after returned with a styrofoam cup that they set on a previously unnoticed table next to Night. “Could you tell me your name?” He forced himself to untense as he answered, "Legal or preferred?" “Legal, to verify identity.” "Uh, Nicholas." He brought a hand up to his throat, as if that would help. “Last name?” "Oh- Damaris. Sorry." The nurse kindly smiled, “It's alright, thank you.” Then they left, and Night was alone. He attempted to pick up the cup left for him, taking a few tries before he managed to get it. Something was still off , making it hard to do… anything. He managed to get an ice chip into his mouth though, and as he sucked on it he looked around. There was not much in the pseudo room created by the curtain… but he could not see all of it.  With a dawning realization, he lifted a trembling hand to his right eye. Bandages. That was probably it. He prayed that was it. Night sat there for a while. He wasn't sure how long, though he figured it was probably something like 10 minutes. Or maybe 20? He tried to piece together exactly what happened, while he sat. He couldn't remember most of it. Little fuzzy bits here and there, but not much else. He tried not to focus on the fact that this was going to cost a ton, or that his parents were going to be furious with him when he got home. The ice chips helped. It was easier to focus on the chill of one in his mouth, or trying to get another out of the cup with clumsy hands. Eventually, the waiting came to an end as a nurse or worker entered the curtain area. Already they were moving around the bed, unlatching stuff and doing something underneath that occasionally provided a low thud as the bed Night was on shook. “Hello! Time to get you to your room!” "Wh-" He cleared his throat. "Where am I goin’?" “To your room! That’s where you’ll be staying the night, till you get cleared to go home. There’s a TV in it if you get bored.” They then step behind the bed, and with a jolt the entire bed is now moving. Night fell silent and watched as the bed he was on rolled past a table, where the nurse from earlier was filling out some paperwork. The nurse handed a folder to the worker as they rolled past. There was a beep as the worker scanned their badge on a reader, and in the distance the double doors ahead started to slowly swing open. It became easier to lean back against the partially reclined section of the medical bed, watching the lights above rather than the people that he was being wheeled past. The worker struggled a bit to maneuver the bed into an elevator, bumping against the wall a few times as they eventually managed to get the bed at the right angle to go in. Night chuckled quietly. After passing by a desk on the floor they got off on, there were doors leading to rooms on either side. And eventually, the bed was turned into one of the rooms. There was a counter along the short entry hallway of sorts with a sink. Past that was an empty space, with a TV on one wall to the side and the opposite wall having a variety of medical equipment and plugs. But as the bed was wheeled in, it was the wall of windows with a row of chairs that immediately took Night's focus. Because, in one of those chairs, there was Kim. Their usual hoodie was missing, instead they were just in a short sleeve green shirt and jeans. They set aside some kind of yarn project and got to their feet as Night was wheeled in. “How ya feeling, Night?” He looked away from them and awkwardly shrugged. It helped that the worker had turned the bed to better line it up in the spot it goes, meaning Kim was now on one side of the bed. His eye ached, though he figured it was dulled from pain killers. He'd never really liked hospitals, either, but they weren't the worst thing in the world. "I'm fine, I ‘spose." Kim smiled ruefully, “Well, the doctor told me the surgery was a success- there luckily was no damage to the brain.” "That's good…is there anythin’ else?" Kim hummed, there was the scrape of the chair against the floor as they sat down next to the bed. “Depends on what ya feel up to talking about, the rest can wait for later, or we can go over what occurred now.” "Uhm…" He thought for a moment. "Whatever works for ya, I think." After a moment of silence on their end, they grimly asked, “How much do you remember?” "Mmm, I remember the ghost 'n some of the ride." “Yes. We were on a contract for Camp Woodwind. The ghost evented on you, resulting in your eye getting stabbed. You were rushed to this hospital.” "Small camp," he recalled, deciding not to focus on the second half of what Kim said. “Yes. Ghost was in the yellow tent at the end. The doctor had to remove the remains of your eye to prevent infection. The exterminators were successful in removing the ghost, a poltergeist.” He was silent, lifting a hand up to the bandaged side of his face. “...do you have any questions at the moment?” "Sight's gone for good, then?" he put it bluntly. Saying it out loud only made him feel worse. “You have one functioning eye. Monocular vision, it will take some getting used to but you will still be able to drive and do all regular activities in the future.” He was afraid to ask, but he wanted to get it over with. "How much is this gonna cost me?" “Nothing, the cost is already covered. You just need to focus on resting.” "...pardon?" “The cost is covered. You do not need to pay anything for the treatment today, and all future treatments and medicines for this are also covered. Which, you’re here till the doctors say you are healed enough- so, this remote at the side of the bed? Controls the TV, can watch-” Night was too stunned to process most of what they said. This cost and all other costs being covered completely was never a sentence he expected to hear. Besides in his dreams, at least. He interrupted Kim after a moment, "What d’ya mean it's covered?" “Exactly as it sounds. You do not need to pay anything.” He frowned. "Not funny." “I am serious about this, Night. You should only have to focus on recovering, and as such that is how it will be- the cost is covered.” His frown deepened. "I don't…I don't believe ya." Kim shrugged, “Don’t believe me then- just focus on recovery, and… it is entirely up to you if you continue with this job or change careers- you have plenty of time to think about it.” "Oh…I hadn't even considered that." “It is… common, after a major accident, that people will switch to a job with less risk of injury.” "I'll- I'll think about it." Kim smiled, “It is up to you. For now though, I might try to fall asleep.” "That's a good idea," he muttered quietly. Night ran his hands through his hair and heaved a sigh. "I might try that, too." “Get your rest, and wake me if you need anything!” He was not sure how good his sleep would be, with all of the pain, but he nodded and closed his eyes.  Kim stayed at the hospital for as long as visitors were allowed, and kept returning the moment visiting hours started, up until the day the doctors released Night. They questioned the doctors regarding Night’s health while he was getting checked on, explained anything Night was curious about, and would wait outside if Night asked them to. But Kim stayed with Night, throughout it all, sometimes striking casual conversation with him.  And the day Night was released, Kim walked alongside the wheelchair as a nurse wheeled him outside and to Kim’s car. “Freedom! Wanna get some ice cream? Or wanna get dropped off at Walmart or home?” Night looked back at the nurse awkwardly before responding, "Uhh…whatever works for ya." Kim opened the car door for Night, their head tilted to the side as they debated. “It is technically almost lunch… Chinese, Mexican, Mediterranean, or American?” Night got into his seat, pulling the buckle into place, "Are there any Italian places nearby?" Kim grinned, “I know a place!” "Lead the way." The drive was short, soon they were arriving at the Italian place. With the large windows, the wine bottles, the chandelier, the place looked… fancy. Kim did not seem to care though, as they told the hostess, “Two people!” As a waiter showed the way to their table, Night realized there were multiple people in T-shirts or jeans. Despite the fancy decorations of this place… nobody was dressed up except for the waiters. That made him feel a bit better. As Night sat down, he realized one thing. He has not been to a restaurant in years. Hell, he had barely even gotten out in years. He looked around more nervously, now, unsure if he was dressed right, or if he was acting weird to anybody. Kim did not seem to have any of those concerns as they looked through the menu. Night made sure to hold his arms close to himself, trying not to take up much space. Kim merrily spoke up, “Whatcha thinking on getting?” Although, despite not really having been anywhere in the past few years, he did vaguely remember having been to an Italian place one time when he was younger. And he remembered that there was one dish in particular he loved. Night wasn't sure how to pronounce it, so he twisted his menu and pointed to his option. Kim grinned, “Fettuccine Alfredo! That’s a good one- though, well, I think anything with Alfredo sauce tastes good.” He muttered the word under his breath. There was…quite a lot to look at on the menu. He wasn't quite sure what appetizers or entrees were, but at least the drinks didn't have fancy names. "Uhh…sorry, how do we order?" he asked, glancing away awkwardly. “Oh yeah- this is one of the places we just wait for the waiter to come over, and then he’ll take our drink and appetizer orders- though, since ya know what ya want for your meal already, we can order everything at once!” Right…that was not pressuring at all. It must have shown in his face, because Kim then added, “Well, if ya want to stick with that Alfredo dish- take your time if you want to look over the options more!” "What does…Sprite taste like?" he asked after a moment's hesitation. “Oh, it's sweet! And kinda sparkly, cause the carbonation. And in my biased opinion, better than the other soft drinks.” He considered the options, then shrugged. Kim made it sound good, so he might as well try it. "Sorry," he apologized. "Haven't been ta a restaurant in years." Kim gave him a simple grin in return, “Don’t worry about it! Ask questions if ya don’t know.”  Not long after a waiter came by, introducing himself and taking their drink and appetizer orders. Night got mozzarella sticks, while Kim ordered toasted ravioli.  And with a basket of breadsticks now between them, Kim happily grabbed a breadstick to munch on. He grabbed one too, after a brief hesitation. It felt…odd, maybe, to be at a restaurant like this.  Every time he thought too long, that sense of fear would creep up. That sense of dread that he wouldn't have nearly enough to pay for any of this. He shoved a breadstick into his mouth to ignore his shaking hands. Kim started talking about some research paper released on shade translucence percentages. Night didn’t follow their talking fully, but… it pulled him away from his thoughts. He found himself relaxing as he talked with Kim and enjoyed the food.  After dropping Night off at that Walmart parking lot, Kim drove to the warehouse. Stopping by the mailbox on the way in, they sifted through the mail as they walked in. After distributing the mail, Kim went to their room and checked their messages- and sure enough, they have one. From an unnamed contact just showing the picture of a hospital bill. Kim looked up the link provided on the bill, transferred funds to cover it, and messaged back that it was paid. They paused briefly, then saved the contact as ‘Demon Parents’ before putting their phone away and looking at the task backlog that had been generated while they were visiting the hospital.  Night tugged the annoying head cam off his head as he left the house. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before walking up to Kim waiting by the van. They had a tablet in hand as they stared expectantly at Night, causing what little courage he had to crumble.  “Uhm- I think it's a phantom 'cause there was spirit box, glowstick– uh, ultraviolet, and DOTS as evidence.” Kim suddenly grinned, “Good job! What I saw ya doing on camera about matched that- we’ll have to wait for the exterminator crew to confirm it of course." He breathed out an inaudible sigh of relief. "Okay. Cool." “And once they confirm this solo run test, then it’s off to the licensing test! And you’ll officially be a ghost hunter.” Night stared at them a long moment, trying to work up the courage to ask. Their head tilted, eyes silently questioning, waiting for Night to speak.  "Do- agh- would ya still wanna hunt with me after?" He blurted out. His voice was shaky. Preparing for rejection- “Oh yeah, of course!” Kim grinned, zero hesitation. “Lot funner to hunt with ya than alone.” He blinked. Was that it? "Oh." Kim ruffled Night’s hair, bluescreening his mind with the fond gesture. “You’re a good ghost hunter. I look forward to working with ya in the future- here, let me show ya how the guild portal looks for licensed folk. When you get your license you’ll be able to schedule contracts yourself!” It took a moment for him to reboot, for his brain to process everything, but when it did he gave them a small smile. "Sure." Night decided he was glad that he took up ghost hunting.  Forum person - Me 
I got my license! (12:34 PM)
 
:D

good job! (12:45 PM)
 
i found a contract for tomorrow night

would you want to join me? (12:51 PM)
 
kim? (1:49 PM)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Kim looked up from their work when hearing movement from the next door bedroom. They glanced at the clock, quickly developing a worried frown. The sound came from the room to their left, where Chaos’s room was. They tilted their head in concern, she should have been asleep by now…The engineer set aside the DOTS projector they had been working on. While they probably would need it working by tomorrow, and they needed to figure out why the reserve equipment seemed to have broken, it could all wait if Chaos was indeed up from a nightmare. Setting the equipment aside they stood up, stretching with a satisfying pop in their back before making their way over to the youngest Ghost hunters room. They hesitantly knocked on the door, quiet in case they misheard- they hoped they misheard at least.From inside the room Kim could hear a small whimper, and a few seconds later the door opened, Chaos immediately hiding her face into their chest, trembling. She mumbled quietly, but the exact words she said were illegible. Kim wrapped their arms around Chaos, rubbing a circle in her back. “It’s alright, it’s alright.”They started to hum a lullaby in an attempt to comfort, as they started to carefully maneuver Chaos step-by-step back to her bed.Her room was small but very decorated, the walls were plastered with photos of the group, and several drawings that Chaos made, some happy, others… less so. Hidden around the room were a multitude of cursed possessions, despite the older ghost hunters banning them from the warehouse they called home. Her bed was pressed against the wall, several blankets folded at the foot of it.They broke the humming to snag one of the blankets, a voodoo doll falling on the ground from the folds of it. They really needed to talk to her about bringing home cursed objects… Kim spared a glance at the doll then wrapped the blanket around Chaos given the chill of her room. They should double check the heater after this too…For now, they focused back on Chaos, guiding her to sit on the bed as they sat with her. “Do you want to talk about it?”Chaos paled, but tried anyways, “I- I had a- a nightm- nightmare” She managed to stammer out, fear still gripping her chest from the dream she had. Kim continued to hug Chaos, humming softly and leaving it up to Chaos if she wanted to speak more.“W-we were o-on a c-contract and… and… th-the ghost app-appeared and k-k-killed all of you.”Kim hummed softly once more before talking, “We are all safe. And with your experience, and Bug’s experience, and Ren’s experience, no ghost is going to get close enough to hurt us all that badly.”Chaos shook her head, distraught, “But what if something like when Ren got possessed happens again? Or what if I mess everything up again…” It was obvious that she had been holding in this fear for a long time, the nightmare only worsening it.Kim mentally reminded themself to talk with Bug later, snagging another folded blanket from the end of Chaos’s bed to wrap around her as they noted the chill of the room once more. “We learn from our mistakes. For example, what would you do next time you see a cursed mirror?”“I- I don’t know… but what if I touch it again, what if I don’t think , and I hurt you guys, I never stick to the plan . What if because I can’t wait, all of you guys get hurt? I take too many risks .”Kim tugged Chaos against them, some of those words sounding familiar. A new mental note that they all needed to sit down to talk this over. “We didn’t get hurt with the mirror incident though, things got more heated than they should have been but that is out of worry I would imagine. In the other cases, everything was fixable.“Not everything will go to plan, and sometimes we need some spontaneity in life. At the end of the day we will still be together and we can figure it out.”She leaned into the comforting embrace, before whispering a quiet yet desperate plea, “Promise?”“Promise,” Kim confidently provided. “I think we should talk more in the morning though, if you are up for it. After we both get a good night’s sleep.”Chaos hesitantly nodded, before pleading in a vulnerable voice, “Stay? Please? I don’t wanna be alone.” Oh. Kim nodded, already reaching for a blanket to wrap up in. It was rather cold… maybe because Chaos had an exterior wall to her room. “Yeah, I can stay. Go ahead and lay down.”Chaos laid down, and grabbed Kim’s arm, pulling them down with her before closely snuggling up against them, still trembling. Her heartbeat loud in her ears, the old lights flickering slightly.Kim hugged Chaos close, gently patting Chaos’s head as they hummed the lullaby once more. They all needed to have a talk about-The thought was abruptly cut off by the shadow that fell over Kim and Chaos, a looming figure of a ghost in the corner of Kim’s eye as they realized the sensation of the ghost’s touch on their back.
So that’s why the room was so cold…
  Bug jolted awake to the sound of a scream further down the corridor. He scrambled out of bed and opened his door, seeing Ren already partway to Chaos’s room when Chaos came flying out of her room. She saw them and screamed, “ Ghost - It got Kim-”“ Kriff .” After this, Bug was going to lecture Chaos about keeping cursed objects. But for now- He turned to run for the garage, yelling out, “Ren, go get Maple, get some sanity and meet up outside. Chaos, get some sanity, and regroup outside.”The moment Bug rounded the corner into the garage, he made a beeline for the crucifixes. Snatching up as many as he could hold in one hand, he turned and rushed past the others to get to Chaos’s room, dropping one in the hallway along the way. The moment he crossed into Chaos’s room he could feel the chill. Likely the ghost room, as he had suspected. He quickly dropped the remaining crucifixes and hurried to the still form on the bed. He carefully picked the unconscious Kim up and speed walked to the nearest exit.What would Kim do… Bug would have to check the first aid instructions they had printed out in the truck. And blankets- Blankets, first aid instructions, and then… there was a ghost to find.  The sun beamed down on the sleepy group, though it barely cut through the winter chill. Approaching mid-day for most. Given the group’s nocturnal lifestyle, normally they would all be asleep... Instead of dreaming though, Maple was tensely watching as Bug flipped through some papers in a folder marked ‘First Aid’. He soon closed it and set it down next to the blanket wrapped form of Kim. “Everything looks normal- we need to focus on dealing with that ghost.”Maple relaxed, loosening her grip on Ren's hand. Bug continued, “Crucifixes are down, the ghost has already been somewhat active, and hopefully our sanity is up- I do not know how to start up Kim's monitoring software. And after this…”Bug fixed Chaos with a withering look, Maple could see Chaos wilting under it. “...we need to talk. For now, there's a ghost to go investigate.”Maple filed back into the warehouse with the others, blinking at the gloom of the building compared to the sunlight outside. Given what everyone else grabbed from the tables, she grabbed the DOTS projector, a writing book, and the UV flashlight.As she was walking down the hallway however, she found herself pausing near Kim's ajar door due to a feeling and glancing into their bedroom. Everything looked normal, a half-finished project and their phone on their desk… She shook off the odd feeling as she pulled the door closed. Quickening her pace to catch up with the rest in Chaos’s room.  “EMF!”Ren sets down the video camera after one last scan of the room. “No Orbs!”Bug frowned at the DOTS projector in hand. “I can't get this to work- hopefully the ghost doesn't have DOTS."Ren nodded, he could see Maple looking at her ghost book. Bug had already declared freezing earlier, and now that they got EMF 5…Maple read out loud, “Jinn, Shade, Oni, Twins.”Ren chimed in, “Not active enough to really be an Oni or Twins.”Bug looked at the writing book, “It's acting like a Shade, but it has not written anything yet…” Bug turned to Ren, “This will go quicker if we trigger a hunt. I could loop it in the kitchen.”“I'll tag along to take more photos. May as well get some money out of this.” Bug nodded, “Maple, go wait outside with Kim.”Lt idly spoke up, “And Chaos” Ren startled, now noticing Chaos near the wall as Maple walked out. How long had Chaos been standing there? “You too, Chaos.”Once Chaos was gone as well, Bug frowned at her messy room filled with cursed artifacts. “Our sanity has not been dropping quick enough, we'll need to grab some of these.”Ren glanced at the ghost in the corner, then grabbed a few cursed objects and followed Bug out. Setting up in the kitchen was quick, Bug stood to the side of the counter while Ren was closer to the other end. A few pins into a voodoo doll, and soon later the ghost stormed into the kitchen-A very visible , and furious, ghost. Ren stayed behind Bug as they looped the ghost, getting several good photos. And when the hunt was over, Ren blurted out, “That has to be an Oni-”“But how-” Bug paused, then groaned. “Of course! It's daytime- all ghosts are less active.”  The exterminators came quickly, thankfully, and were able to remove the Oni. Chaos was with the others as they watched the last of the exterminator group walk out of the warehouse they call home.When she turned around she saw everyone looking at her though. She picked up a thermometer nearby to avoid having to face everyone. There was only mild success though, as she could still feel the scalding look Bug was giving her. His voice cut through the air, “Chaos. Do you understand the amount of danger you put all of us in.” Chaos turned the thermometer on to watch the changing numbers, barely managing to whisper out, “Y-Yes.”“Then why the Kriff have you still been collecting cursed objects- Dang it Chaos, because of you , the warehouse got haunted. You woke up all of us-” Bug’s voice raised as he continued, getting closer to a yell, “Your room is a hazard, and you put us all at risk. What were you thinking , Chaos?”“I- I didn't mean-” She did not mean for this to happen, she did not mean to wake everyone up and bring a ghost-“You never mean to!” Bug seemed to be looming over Chaos. She clutched the thermometer tightly as he now shouted, “Why didn't you think about how dangerous cursed objects are- there's a reason there's a disposal procedure. Have you learned nothing-” He took a deep breath and abruptly stated, “You're grounded for a month.”Bug stormed out of the garage, pacing furiously in the lot outside. The door slammed shut, the echo ringing through the warehouse. The tension was suffocating. Chaos stood frozen, her trembling fingers still clutching the thermometer, the numbers on it blurring in her vision as tears welled up again.Ren crossed his arms, his face unreadable but heavy with disappointment. “You have to take responsibility, Chaos,” he said quietly. “We all rely on each other, and this… this isn't just about you.”“I-I know, I’m s-sorry—” Chaos stammered, her voice breaking. The words spilled out in sobs, her chest heaving with guilt. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen! I swear I didn’t—”Before Ren could respond, the door flew open again. Bug stormed back inside, his expression still thunderous. “And another thing, Chaos! You think we didn’t notice the sigils in your sketchbook? Some of those are dangerous—did you even check what they could summon? You can’t just scribble stuff like that and expect nothing to happen!”Chaos flinched, shrinking further into herself. “I… I wasn’t trying to summon anything,” she whispered, clutching the thermometer tighter.“Well, congratulations,” Bug snapped, throwing up his hands. “You’ve managed to summon a whole truckload of problems!” He jabbed a finger toward her, his voice rising again. “Until you show me that you understand the consequences of your actions, no contracts, no experiments, and no cursed object collecting. Period.”He turned on his heel and walked out again, the door slamming harder than before.Chaos stared at the floor, tears dripping onto the concrete. Maple, who had been quiet in the corner, approached cautiously, her hand resting lightly on Chaos’s shoulder. “He’s angry because he cares,” Maple said softly. “We all do. You scared us.”Chaos choked on a sob, nodding miserably. “I-I know… I just… I wanted to help… to learn more…”The door swung open once more, and Bug stormed back inside, this time rubbing his temples. He inhaled deeply, clearly trying to steady himself. “Listen, kid,” he said, his voice slightly calmer but still strained, “you’re smart. Too smart to keep pulling this reckless crap. We’re a team. Your actions affect all of us. If you don’t get that by now…”“I do! I promise, I do!” Chaos cried, her voice cracking. “I’ll stop—I’ll do better, I swear!”Bug closed his eyes for a long moment, then muttered, “You’re grounded for a month. Minimum. End of story.” He turned again, muttering something under his breath as he walked back outside to cool off.Chaos let out a shaky sigh, her chest aching. The weight of disappointment and guilt hung heavy in the air.Ren looked at her once more, his voice low but firm. “Make it right, Chaos. You’re part of this team, but you’ve got to act like it.”Chaos nodded weakly, gripping the thermometer as if it could anchor her in the storm of emotions. She had a lot to make up for—and no clue where to start.The ringing of a phone stopped Bug just as he was midway through the door. There was a brief moment of confusion on his face as he pulled out his phone and stopped the noise, then alarm as he glanced at the still-unconscious Kim. Chaos watched as Bug gently shook Kim's shoulder to no avail, his face more guarded than before.The thermometer slipped from Chaos’s hands to land with a crack on the floor at what Bug next said.“We need to go to the hospital. Now .”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The city lights are pretty…

Are these city lights?

There’s lights in the sky too, but more dim.

What are those?

Were those lights always so dim?

Those lights weren't there earlier…

The lights now flicker, flicker and then pop.

Why did the lights pop?

Where did the lights go?

A doctor pulled Bug aside, the hospital’s festive decor a striking contrast as they began to grimly lay out the diagnosis, “Kimothy is in a coma. Their body is living, but there is no brain activity. The prognosis is not good- It is likely they will never wake up. You have a choice: we can continue running the machines, but the cost will add up over time to keep them running… or, when you feel you are ready, we can lay them to rest. The decision is yours.”

Bug half wondered when he would wake up. “What about- have their parents been contacted? What have their parents decided-”

The doctor gently interjected, “You are the only authorized person on file that Kimothy has listed for making medical decisions. You

are

the emergency contact.”

Bug found himself frozen in place. That could not be right- Kim had parents, why would Kim put

him

down for emergency contact-

“Why…” Why did they not tell him?

The doctor softly provided, “You do not have to make a decision today. We will continue to keep Kimothy’s body alive- there is nothing we can do to restore the brain activity, except to hope for a miracle.”

“Ok,” Bug weakly stated.

With a sad smile and a simple condolence, the doctor departed. Bug mechanically returned to the room. Kim lay in a bed, surrounded by medical equipment and the rest of the BRCK'M crew…

Just 5 hours ago they all had dinner together.

They may never have dinner all together again.

Chaos was holding Kim’s limp hand in her own, tears streaming down her face, her expression unreadable. Maple was tugging on Kim’s sleeve, watching for a sign. Ren stood a bit further back, looking to Bug for hope.

Bug solemnly stepped forward and prepared to break the news.
  
Bug watched as Ren stormed out of their home. And given there was a car missing in the garage…

He turned, seeing the only person remaining peeking into the garage. “Do you have any homework?”

“Kim isn’t here,” Maple snapped, a split second later she wilted as tears pricked her face.

Bug carefully pulled Maple into a hug, rubbing her back softly. “You should still keep up with your schoolwork. Kim would be… upset at us both if you fell behind.”

“...okay.” Maple pulled away, rubbing at her face.

“How about we do your homework down here today? Over in the family room.”

Maple nodded glumly and went up the stairs to grab her homework. Bug took in a deep breath and headed towards Kim’s room. As much as he would not want to touch their room… they were the one that kept the lesson plans.

He stood outside the door for a moment, hand half raised to knock for a person that…

The hand fell back to his side. A deep breath in. Open the door- Bug freezed at the sight of Kim’s room.

It was a

mess

.

Fragments of glass, plastic, and more debris all over the floor. Books knocked off of their shelves, some of the item storage bins knocked from the shelves as well. Only half of their photo wall was still hanging, scattered photos or torn paper laid about. His first step into the room was with the crunch of glass under his shoes. What may have been the exploded remains of a DOTS projector laid on the desk next to a cracked phone.

What

happened-

the exterminator team had said the Oni remained in Chaos’s room. So why-

Bug turned as he heard Maple running down the hallway to him, frantically calling out, “Bug! Bug-”

“Don’t come in!” Bug shouted back, fairly certain Maple might not have shoes. He soon saw Maple in the doorway holding Kim’s iconic headphones. The engineer claimed it was fox-eared due to Kim’s love of foxes, he remembered how happy they were when the group showed them the gift. How they would carry the headphones around-

“Bug-” Maple held out Kim’s headphones, a panic clear in her eyes. “It’s cursed-”

His own eyes widened. A step closer, and he could feel the tingle of energy as he touched the headphones. “Go get a thermometer-”

Bug pulled out his phone as Maple ran off, and dialed the hospital.

Dread filled him as the ringtone sounded, already knowing the answer he was about to receive as he stared at Kim's headphones.
  
Ren stalked down the street, wishing he had someone to fight. That itch he thought had left completely had returned, full force. It was stronger than ever at the moment, but it was all a way to hide just how

alone

he felt. Kim was one of his best friends, the one he’d known the longest in their group besides Bug.

“Ren.”

This is- this is unfair!

“

Ren.

”

They aren't that old, there shouldn't be any complications-

“

Ren!

- oh, for the love of-

LOOK

!”

What?!

Ren mentally snapped back as he looked up.

He was on a familiar street of shops. And ahead, there was an achingly familiar flash of a fox-eared hoodie, in the midst of the Holiday shopping crowds. Ren charged through the crowd, uncaring of anyone he shoved past. It almost made him feel better.

As he broke through, he took a brief moment, looking for another glimpse.

“The fabric store,”

Ren could hear the urgency in Lt’s voice.

Thanks.

Ren took off running, it was just a few stores down. The two of them went all to this store all the time, to pick up fabric and yarn. And if Kim was here-

Why didn't Bug call me?

Lt was silent as Ren bursted through the doors of the fabric store. Ren took in a breath, frantically glancing around the store.

If Kim was here-

Ren jogged over to the yarn aisles. He spied a glimpse of that familiar orange in the second yarn aisle, he turned into it with a shout, “Kim-”

His feet came to a stop as the head of a fox turned to look at him with endless voids where eyes should be. A fox tail poked out from under the hoodie that Ren had made for Kim. A bipedal fox in all, jeans rolled up to show black-furred paws that floated an inch above the ground. The fox’s head slowly tilted, the empty sockets boring into him as the long snout parted to show sharp canines that could tear flesh-

The unsettlingly familiar voice that emerged from this fox was surprisingly cheerful, in contrast with the sharpness of their form.

“Camera man?”

They sound like Kim,

Ren could barely breathe. “You're…”

The fox ghost floated closer as they pondered out loud, floating around Ren,

“The photo taker… anxious boy… bad excuses, no… Ren! Ren, that's your name!”

With dawning horror, Ren stared at the grinning fox. “You're… dead…”

The ghost of Kim tilted their head the other way,

“No? I'm checking out the yarn sales! Oh, and they got some holiday fabrics that way- have you seen?”

Ren blinked, and realized he was still staring. “Uh, no. I don’t- I’m not really- I don’t want to look at fabrics right now, Kim.”

The fox was taken aback by that, in this case literally floating back a few inches before quickly coming closer to look Ren over with worry.

“Are you feeling alright? Normally when we go to this store together all ya wanna do is look at whatever new fabrics came in-”

Those empty eye sockets widened somehow and Kim’s ghost drew back slightly,

“Oh, Goat is visible- I thought ya were still hiding Goat.”

Something clicked, and Ren cleared his throat, ignoring the stinging of his eyes. “You mean Lt?”

Kim grinned, the human motion resulting in the reveal of many rows of sharp teeth for the fox ghost.

“Oh, it was from that contract! It’s good to officially meet ya, Lt. Ya like dogs, right?”

Lt tentatively spoke, their head turning a slight bit to convey caution. “

That’s me. You aren’t supposed to be dead.

”

The fox ghost laughed, wheezing and rolling backwards slightly.

“I’m not dead! Pretty certain I would know if I was- ohhh, I’m glad I got to finally meet ya, makes it a lot easier to slip ya your Holiday present when it comes time! We’ve got… what was it, 2 weeks till we celebrate?”

A pit dropped in Ren’s stomach- he’d nearly forgotten, given the rush to the hospital. There was

one

week left before they celebrated. Taking a shaky breath, he nodded. “Yeah. But- but there isn’t going to- Kim, I’m seeing your

spirit

. Not you.”

Kim looked down, taking in their floating form, their hand-like paws emerging out from their hoodie pocket so they could stare at them…

“Nope! Just regular ol’ me. Have you been getting enough sleep Ren?”

Lt took over then, shoving Ren back to the corner, where he mentally sat and stared.

This wasn’t happening- it shouldn’t have been happening

. “

He has. You

are

dead, Kim.

”

“Oh, you switched!”

Kim floated up a bit to read the label of a yarn bin, not seeming to notice when their paw-hand went through the yarn skein.

“And I’m not dead- fairly certain I would remember something as traumatic as dying.”

Lt went silent, and Ren’s mind began to work.

No brain activity, that didn’t mean they were dead. Unless..

Kim continued floating down the aisle casually, passing their hand through the yarn skeins in a similar manner as to how they would normally have felt the yarn textures.

Lt followed them, staying close by as Ren began to panic. Thank everything that the demon was in control, because it was starting to come together. It was starting to make sense, but- but no. No, that couldn’t be right. Kim wasn’t dead. Kim was just in a coma. Kim was

just

in a coma.

Then it hit him.

And all the rage he’d taken care of in the past burned in his chest, his eyes. He shoved Lt to the back of his mind and took control, the fire inside begging to be released.

“Kim, come with me.” Ren said calmly, in a voice that didn’t sound like his own- not to him.

The ghost turned to look at Ren, their void gaze somehow coming across as quizzical as they tilted their head.

“...Ren…?”

“We have to go home. C’mon.” He said firmly, and turned on his heel. Ren’s insides felt hollow, and nothing seemed real. The world just moved with him, the aisles of the store passing by and out of existence.

“Ren,”

Lt interjected,

“They aren’t following.”

Kim was still floating in the aisle, their tail twisting as they whispered out,

“Home…?”

Ren stopped, and turned around. “Kim, just follow me. I’ve got to talk to Bug.”

Their ears flopped a bit as they tilted their head.

“Bug? Bug… oh, the responsible one! Who else… bricks? Bricks… Bug, Ren… Lt? And… sapling, sapling tree… sand… sanel…”

“Maple, Bug, Chaos, Ren- Me. They don’t know about Lt.

Don’t

tell them. We have to go talk to them, please Kim. Just follow me.” Ren was almost insistent. In all reality, he felt so small. Shrunk right back down to the little kid who just wanted to fight. Fighting meant he didn’t have to think about how he felt. How scared he was.

“Chaos…?”

Kim’s pointed fox ears went alert suddenly.

“The gremlin, where is the gremlin?”

“She's at home- follow me. Please. Follow. Me.” They weren’t

listening.

“The gremlin’s missing, I need to find her-”

The fox ghost’s head snapped up to the ceiling, they began to float up-

Lt seized control and dove forward- their outstretched hand missed. As they nearly face-planted on the ground, Kim vanished through the roof with the flick of a fox tail.

Leaving behind Ren and Lt, looking up at the ceiling as they both shared a brain cell.

“Kriff-”

“Kriff.”

Chaos stumbled into the forest shed, barely able to see it with how watery her eyes were. Kim was-

She shook the thought away in favor of searching for the handheld radio the two had brought in, during one of their times hanging out here. Kim had been the one to bring the old ghost hunting equipment, joking that there could be a ghost in the shed with how old and isolated it was.

They never found a ghost, but they would hang out together, in this forested land away from the city…

Chaos held back a sob as she fiddled with the radio. Static filled the room as Chair struggled with the dials, trying to find that one station it can pick up-

As the voices of the radio show filled the room, Chaos felt numb.

Kim should

be

here, or they would push open the barely functional door at any moment

Chaos realized the radio had gone to static. She rubbed at her eyes as she smacked the device. Music started coming through the speakers. The next verse began to echo from the tinny radio speakers,

"We'll... meet again..."

"Don't know where... Don't know when..."

"But I know we'll meet again... some sunny day..."

Static cut through the song, a familiar voice barely audible in it,

“Ć̷̫h̸͋̈́a̷̎͝ò̴͘s̸̆̕.̵̎̂.̵͆.̵̘̓?̷̀̐”

And that was the thing that broke her, sobs beginning to wrack her small form.

“C̵̺͝h̵͈̿ạ̴̃o̷̚ͅs̷̪̅?”

This was all her fault.

She killed Kim.

It was hard for Maple to tear her eyes away from Kim’s headphones, now back on the side table next to the family room sofa where Maple initially found them. It was easier to look at the headphones than the rest of the decorated room, or the tree in the corner. Kim probably took the headphones off yesterday and set them there, forgetting about them…

The click of the door latch broke her stare at the headphones. Maple glanced up as Ren opened the door. Lt was occupying the same space as him as usual, but something was wrong. Lt felt almost scared, and Ren’s eyes were hard, cold.

She scrambled to her feet, “Ren! You’re back, thank goodness–”

“Not now Maple,” Ren said absently, heading for Bug's room. Maple followed behind, hurt by his dismissive tone.

“Ren-”

She was interrupted this time by Bug exiting Kim's room with a thermometer in hand. Maple could see the relief in Bug's eyes as he saw them, calling out, “Ren! Do you-”

“What the kriff did you do?!” Ren cut him off, grabbing the thermometer and tossing it to the side. He was more angry than Maple had ever seen him before– not that she'd seen him angry at all. The way Bug’s stance changed told her that Ren had been this way before, a very long time ago.

Bug’s hands came up in a placating gesture, “Calm down Ren, let's talk this out-”

Ren pushed Bug’s hands away, shaking his head firmly. “No! No, no, no, you don't get to act all cool about this– What the

kriff

did you do to Kim?!”

Maple could only stare, bewildered as she watched Ren talking– rambling, almost. He wasn't making sense, Bug didn't do anything! Kim was still at the hospital. Why was Ren being so hostile?

Bug tried to speak, mild confusion and worry growing on his face, “I didn't do anything-”

“Don't

lie

to me! I seriously can't handle this right now Bug, tell me the kriffing truth. What happened to Kim?!” Ren emphasized each word in the last sentence, stepping closer to Bug each time until his brother was backed up into the room he'd just exited from– Kim’s. Maple could hear a crunch as Bug took a step backwards into their room.

Bug attempted to interject, “I swear, I'm not-”

“Then tell me what happened! Tell me why—” Ren cut himself off, his voice choking on the next words. Maple couldn't help but move to the doorway, watching it all happen. Why…

“I don't-”

Maple's eyes widened as she came to a realization. “Wait- you saw them?”

Ren's head snapped to her, sparks in his eyes. “No. I just- no.” His eyes flicked back to Bug, and then to Maple, a silent message of

don’t rat me out

. “Just tell me what happened, Bug. Don't lie to me.”

Well, at least he wasn't looking like he was about to attack Bug anymore.

Bug relaxed a bit, tiredly starting again, “I don't know what's going on. After you left I came in here to get the lesson plans for Maple, and… found it like this.”

He gestured at the room the two were standing in. Continuing the story while Ren looked, “Maple realized Kim's headphones are cursed. I called the hospital to check- they're still alive.” Bug's tired expression returned to one of concern, “Ren, why were you asking what I did?”

Ren’s eyes changed- Maple could see it clearly. “Nothing. I have to go. I really have to go. Where’s Chaos?”

“I don’t know.” Bug’s eyes grew solemn. “She- slipped out, took one of the cars when we got back. She won’t answer her phone either.”

Maple looked between the two, her heart clenching. She couldn’t let Ren leave, she couldn’t lose another person- she reached for his hand, pleading, “Ren, don’t go.”

He didn't even look at her, just turned on his heel and walked off. Not a word to Bug, not a word to her.

Maple chased after him. “Ren please-”

“Not right now, Maple.” He repeated, but the inflection was different, more harsh. It must've not been Ren speaking.

“Ren-” Maple desperately called out, hoping Lt would turn around.

“Maple. Not. Now. ”

Maple faltered, tears budding in her eyes as she stared at his back. “Don’t go.”

Lt turned around, and their eyes softened. “I have to. For everyone's safety.”

Her composure crumpled and her vision became watery. In a small voice, “I don't want to lose you too.”

“We’ll be back. If Ren stays here, it'll just make it worse.” Lt shrugged, checking to make sure Bug wasn't listening.

She didn't want them to leave at all. “You- you better.”

Lt crouched down to Maple’s level and ruffled her hair. “I promise. I'll drag Ren back by force if I've got to.” With that, he stood up and walked out the door, grabbing the keys to his personal SUV.

Maple listened as the car pulled away, staring at the door. And just like that, they were gone. It was just Bug and Maple.

How was it that she went from a family of 6, to just a family of 2? Christmas was in a week, they were supposed to be getting ready for the Holiday and there should be joyful laughter in the warehouse.

The silence stretched in her ears.

Too

silent, what if Bug left her too-

Maple rushed into and down the hallway, barreling into Kim’s room. Crashing into and hugging Bug tightly as he exclaimed in surprise, “Maple- There’s still glass-”

“I don’t care,” Maple’s voice muffled as she kept her face pressed into Bug’s jacket.

“Maple…” There was a rustle, and then Bug’s arms picked Maple up. Carrying her down the hallway until he set her on top of the cool surface of the bathroom counter.

Without Bug’s jacket to hide her face in, to get away from this nightmare of a world, she found a sob bubbling out of her throat. Her vision was too blurry to make out much more than the form in front of her that must be Bug.

His voice reached her ears though, calm and collected as he began to pull shards out of her foot. “It's alright Maple, it's going to be alright…”

A prickle of pain, then more as she realized just how much her feet hurt, and the dam broke.

It was later, as the last of the tears started to abate, that she found herself in Bug’s embrace on the family room sofa. Faintly illuminated by green and red bulbs. She slipped her arms around Bug to tightly return the hug.

Listening to the breath in his lungs as his voice calmly rumbled, Maple found herself drifting into a restless slumber.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Staticky silence.

“Are you here?”

Nothing.

“Are you close?”

Nothing.

“K-Kim, give me a sign.”

Chaos stared at the small handheld radio. She knew she heard Kim earlier, but now… nothing came through. Not even the station she had been listening to earlier.

The old Mercury thermometer was useless, given the winter chill that was within the shed. Nothing in the skinny notebook, no disturbance of the little salt pile Chaos managed to gather together on the floor. Her phone died a while back. And the UV glow stick would not activate- well past its expiration.

Which meant Chaos had

nothing

.

…Or Kim was no longer here.

Chaos bursted out of the shed, letting the door fall to the ground as she looked into the dark skeletal forest around her. If- If Kim was a forest ghost, they could be

anywhere

.

She could not breathe. How would she ever find Kim again-

One staggering step led Chaos to collapsing on the floor, gasping for air. There had to be something-

The realization came to her. Ghosts often were attracted to people. There was a small campsite nearby-

Maybe Kim would be there.

She took in a breath and got up, grabbing her mountain bike so she could get there quicker.

The journey was a cold dark blur, up until the moment she first began to see the orange light filtering through tree trunks and branches. Chaos practically crashed into the gate, gasping for breath.

Alarmed chatter eventually led way to the swinging of the gate as a few concerned faces peered down at her.

When did she get on the ground? Why couldn’t she breathe?

It took a moment to realize one of the strangers was counting down in a pattern.

Another for her to attempt to breathe in that pattern, struggling to hold for as long as the stranger was indicating.

As Chaos struggled to catch her breath, her hands trembling, the strangers at the camp gathered around her. One of them knelt beside her, their voice a soft whisper.

"Hey, hey. You’re okay, just breathe with me," the stranger said gently, placing a hand on Chaos’s shoulder. "In for four… hold for seven… out for seven…"

Another stranger crouched in front of her, offering a water bottle, the cool plastic a sharp contrast to the warmth of her shaking hands. "Focus on my voice, okay? Just breathe. In… out… slow, steady breaths. Good, you’re doing good."

Chaos wanted to scream, to lash out. She wanted to run, to find Kim, but the overwhelming pressure in her chest made it hard to think. The strangers worked in sync, helping her focus on the rhythm of her breathing. One spoke calmly, coaxing her to breathe in sync with their counting. Another placed a hand on her back, steady and grounding.

The panic didn’t vanish, it hadn’t since
Kim
, but the sharpness of it dulled as she followed their instructions. Each inhale felt like a step out of the fog in her mind, each exhale like a little bit of weight lifted from her chest.

"You're safe here," one of them said quietly, their words laced with a reassuring warmth. "We’ve got you."

Chaos squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, allowing herself to be still for the first time in what felt like hours. The intense pressure in her chest slowly lessened, her heart no longer threatening to beat right out of her ribcage.

And yet, in the calm, something still gnawed at her.

"I can't stay, I-" she whispered, pulling away slightly, her fingers trembling as they clutched at her jacket.

The lights suddenly dimmed, the campfire striking deep shadows all around. The campers broke into startled chatter, but Chaos wasn't listening. It took Chaos only a second to spy the orange she was looking for- a bipedal fox ghost off to the side, partially behind a tree in a too-familiar hoodie. Staring at Chaos with empty voids where their eyes should be.

A sharp pain went through Chaos as the ghost looked away. She started running, screaming out, “

Kim-

”

Kim's ghost did not seem to notice Chaos’s cry as they took a step away from her. In the split second before Chaos reached them, Kim vanished, leaving Chaos’s hand reaching for empty air as she collided with the campgrounds' simple wire fence.

Hanging onto the wire to stay upright, uncaring of how it was cutting into her palm, Chaos stared into the forest. Where would Kim go next-

The city

, the city laid in that direction-

Chaos blinked away tears as she bolted out of the camp.

She needed to find Kim.
  
Bug disposed of the last of the glass shards in a paper bag. Probably best to vacuum again just in case, but first a break.

As he walked into the kitchen, diligently followed by Maple, he pulled out his phone and frowned at the lack of notifications. He tried restarting his phone, then checking the connection, but still no new messages came.

With a sigh he set it aside and began making lunch for him and Maple. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and rinsing off a couple of apples.

After giving Maple her sandwich, he pulled up the messaging app once more while taking a bite into his sandwich. He stared at the messages he had been sending Chaos and Ren. Neither of them have responded yet.

He sent the latest he had received from the hospital to both of them: ‘no change.’

And he messaged both, ‘Will you be back for dinner?’

Based on the prior conversation, he would get no reply, but he sends the messages anyways. Messages sent and timestamped, his eyes drifted to the date. Less than a week till Christmas.

Would he even be able to bring everyone back together by then?

Bug set his phone down and looked at Maple. “Have you… gotten all your presents for everyone?”

Maple gave Bug a sullen look. “What do

you

think.”

If nothing else, Bug was going to make this Christmas a good one, if only for the kids. “Let’s go shopping then, so we have everything ready for everyone.”

“...and we visit Kim.”

A tightness grew in his chest as he agreed, “And we visit Kim.”

Maple dropped her half-eaten sandwich on her plate as she hurriedly got up, leading Bug to add in, “

After

you finish eating.”

In response, Maple stuffed half the sandwich into her mouth and ran off to get her shoes.

What… What were they doing?

Why do they ache?

They had…

What did they do?

They need to remember…

What…

What were they doing?

Something isn’t right…

What had they…

During the drive back into the city proper, Chaos’s phone charged. And with the flood of messages once it was online, Chaos learned one important thing:

Kim was still alive.

Or their body was, at least.

So Chaos, ignoring the other messages asking where she was and to come back, set out on a mission.

Two days later, Chaos had failed to find anything. She had started looking up ways to summon Kim or find them, but there had been no luck in that attempt either so far. The last place she had visited had a fake ‘Oracle’ that did not even know what a Deo was, let alone how to find a ghost. Once Chaos realized this, she asked for directions and left.

The nearest library was in a more worn down area of the city, Chaos did not care about that though. It just needed to have computers, or a spot she could charge her phone at so she could continue her search for a place or person that actually knew stuff.

It was a stroke of luck that Chaos happened to notice the old message board near the entrance with forgotten flyers posted up. Luck that had her noticing a flyer that had the word ‘fortune’ in the only visible corner. It took just a second to tear the flyer free from the board, bringing it with as she found an outlet to charge her phone. Reading it over and over again.

The flyer looked old. It mentioned a ‘shaman’ that could ‘talk with the dead’, ‘curse your enemies’, or ‘reveal your true love’.

More importantly, it had an address. Chaos tried looking it up on her phone, but could not find any mention of the business. Given none of the places she could find so far worked though…

Five minutes later she rushed out of the library and began driving. As she got closer to the shaman’s shop, the streets became more uneven and filled with potholes. Most of the buildings lining the street were crumbling, or boarded up and graffitied.

Chaos kept driving.

She arrived at the location and parked on the side of the road, glancing around the eerily quiet street. The building her maps app directed her to was boarded up, with ruins of a building foundation next door and another boarded up building on the other side.

Chaos frowned and got out of her car. There has to be

something-

a faint sound has her looking into the dark alleyway between the two buildings. Cautiously she walked into it, and as her eyes eventually adjusted she saw a sign next to a door in the alleyway.

‘Shaman's Shop’- exactly the place she was looking for. She tried the door to find it unlocked, opening into a dark hallway… leading to a doorless room with faint light spilling out.

Chaos stepped in, the floor creaking under her step as she walked into what looked like a small store with shelves of various things- bags of dried plant leaves, unlabeled jars, card decks, cheap golden plastic jewelry, and more. Towards the back there was a counter that separated the store from a small area behind with even more shelving. And behind the counter was a woman with long black hair, her back to Chaos as she shelved cigarette boxes behind that counter.

“I'm looking for the Shaman,” Chaos stated as she walked up.

“For what.” The shopkeeper continued to shelve the items, never looking back at Chaos.

“For ghosts, I need to- to find one.”

The shopkeeper doesn't even look at Chaos. "That requires consultation, consultation costs money. Lot more money than you probably have, kid."

"I have money- I have five hundred." Chaos quickly opened her bag, pulling out and letting the bound stack of bills thud onto the counter top.

The shopkeeper sighed and began to turn around, "...It only costs three hundred, put the rest away-"

The shopkeeper stopped talking when she saw Chaos. She cursed under her breath and shoved the stack of money back towards Chaos. "No. Scram kid, you're better off staying far away from this. Nothing good comes from the occult.

“What- but you just said-”

“My answer is

no

. Tell them to kriff off.” The shopkeeper’s voice dropped to a disgusted mutter as she began to turn around, “What in the hells were they thinking, sending you in their place.”

“Please, I’ll pay extra, I

need

to know.” Chaos pleaded with the shopkeeper, but the shopkeeper did not seem swayed as she returned to shelving.

“

No.

Go use that money for better shit, like moving out from under their roof.”

Tears filled Chaos’s eyes as she left the shop, potentially losing her one chance to find Kim…

Forever.

Someone else, a teen, entered the alleyway with a box full of stuff, recognition lighting their face when they spot Chaos. “Oh! Can you give Kim something for me? I keep forgetting to meet with them.”

“Y-you know Kim?” Chaos asked in surprise, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Yeah! Especially since they've been visiting the store more often lately- don't know why they do, given they get the same answer each time. But I was going to ask them if they could fix my radio again.”

“I-.... okay.” Maybe this would help her to forget the awful truth, and maybe she could actually believe- actually believe Kim was coming back.

“Sweet! Follow me, I left it in the shop.” The teen went through the door Chaos had just exited, the still faintly crying girl following behind.

The shopkeeper ignored the two, even as the teen set the box down on the counter. The teen carried on with going through a nearby door clearly marked for employees, and gestured for Chaos to follow.

The room beyond had shelves upon shelves along the walls, along with a few rows in the room on one side. The shelving contained a wide variety of books, but intermixed was also cursed objects- a monkey paw in a jar, an ouija board sticking out between two books, and more. The other side of the room was left open beyond a few foldable chairs and a table. An old radio with antenna sat on top one end of the table. “Here it is! When could Kim get it back to us?”

“Uh- They’ve been very uh… Busy, so I’m not sure.” Chaos stuttered, trying to hold back more tears thinking of Kim.

“Oh is that why Kim sent you here? I remember they looked stressed last week- the radio can wait if they are busy, it’s still somewhat functioning at least.”

“Uh, yeah that’s why. I can still ask them to take a look at it though.”

“Nah, having it around would be better than missing it, even though it is kinda broken. I can chat with Kim next time they come over to chat with Ms. Angelica.”

“Okay, I will let them know that you have something to fix?”

“That works!” The teen went deeper into the room, going out of sight as they called out, “Thank you!”

Chaos doesn’t respond as she leaves the shop, trying to find somewhere,

anywhere

that Kim would have gone.
  
From where she stood in the doorway to the family room, Maple stared at the headphones. Its presence, soaked with ghost energy, mocking her in the same way that the hospital's heart monitor had. Bug in the kitchen, the sizzle of something in a pan as he cooked breakfast. A Christmas tree in one corner of the room, lights turned off.

Chaos should be cooking breakfast. Kim should be at the table. Ren should be walking in, having just woken up.

They all should be getting ready for Christmas.

Tears pricked at Maple’s eyes. Stupid Lt and Ren- they have not returned, and it had been

days

. Stupid Chaos, she won’t respond to any of them. Stupid Kim, for-

Maple cut the thought short, taking in a shaky breath. She wanted Kim to wake up. She wanted Kim to be back, to stop…

The headphones seemed closer than before- no, Maple had taken a step forward. Maple frowned, determinedly curling her hands to fists as she continued stalking towards the headphones.

Kim’s headphones. Kim’s stupid cursed headphones-

Maple snatched the fox eared headphones and slammed them down over her ears.

Instantly the world sounded quieter-

too quiet,

there’s nothing-

As if everyone had left her-

Maple quickly turned, rushing for the kitchen- Bug was still there, was still cooking, though with Maple’s sudden entrance he was now turning to face Maple. Concern and alarm rising in his eyes when he saw Maple with the headphones. His mouth opened-

She couldn’t hear Bug, the headphones silencing the world around her as he tried to talk to her. Only her own heartbeat, and-

Her eyes widened.

-the chime of bells, distant but ringing, slowly counting the hour-

The headphones were torn off of her head, Bug sternly looking at her with worry, “Maple, what are you-”

“I heard bells,” Maple blurted out, trying to think what it meant. “I heard bells- distant, echoing like from far away.”

Bug’s brow initially furrowed in confusion, but then his eyes widened with a realization. “Kim’s old college campus has a bell tower.”

Maple’s eyes widened, “We need to go there- Kim could be there.”

Bug muttered something under his breath as he hurriedly pulled the food off of the active burner, turning the stove off. Maple took off for the closet as Bug yelled out, “Get your shoes and your winter gear on. Gloves too!”

“

Hurry!

” She shouted back as she hopped on one foot, pulling her snow boots on.

It took all too much time for Bug to finally hop in the car with her, and to get driving. She looked out the window as he drove, seeing the gloom of a cloudy winter day. It did not help that the streets were emptier near the college.

Maple frowned at the lack of people. “Is this abandoned because of ghosts?”

“No,” Bug stated as he searched for parking, eventually finding a spot. “It is winter break- the school will open back up in a month, after the holiday.”

What

.

Her head whipped over to look at Bug instead of the campus. “Why do

I

still have to fill out homework then?!”

“Because that is to catch you up with what you don’t know yet.”

The retort Maple was going to say never emerged as Bug parked the car. She focused instead on bursting out of the car the moment the doors unlocked.

She hesitated at the sidewalk, looking at the large, empty spaces… She ran back as Bug emerged and grabbed him by the hand, pulling him along impatiently. “Faster old man!”

“I’m going, I’m going-”

The campus was bigger than Maple expected, a maze of sidewalks and buildings. It does not take long for her steps to falter. Bug took the lead at that point though, leading them out to an area where the buildings open up for a large grass lawn…

…and in the middle, a bell tower looming over everything.

Maple frantically scanned the area, searching for anything- a flash of orange between buildings had her tearing free from Bug’s grip, ignoring his shout as she tore off after it. Between the buildings, then- a glimpse of a fox hoodie, as the ghost phased through the doors to a brick building. “

Kim-

”

She practically collided with the doors in her hurry, frantically tugging on the handles- the doors did not budge though. She banged on the door frantically, shouting once more, “

Kim-

come back, we need to go home- Kim-”

A hand suddenly lands on her shoulder, she swung her fist at- Bug caught the fist, and wordlessly pulled Maple into a hug.

Tears welled up in her eyes at the unfairness of it all, and she

wailed.

When Ren checked his phone next, it was as he exited the craft supply store once more in a fruitless search. There were the usual updates from Bug, but there was also an unexpected notification: messages in the BRCK’M groupchat.
 
BRCK’M

Maple

I saw Kim

they were at the college

So you all better come home, right now

come home so we can get the senior back in their body.

come home now (7:35 PM)

pls (7:56 PM)

He pulled up directions to the college while his car started back up. Working with living people was too much at the moment.

It took awhile to find parking despite the fact that the campus was closed for winter break. A moment longer to walk to the actual campus of the college, but once he did he started searching. Snow fell from the nighttime sky, only adding to the eeriness of the silent campus.

As he got to the heart of the campus, he saw Chaos in the distance, huddled under the college’s bell tower. A small device was in her hands– probably a spirit box.

His feet carried him to a stop in the shadow of a nearby building. A place where he could still see Chaos through the falling snow. Lt spoke up after a moment,

“Why don’t we talk with her?”

A shake of the head denied that option. Ren watched Chaos in the distance as he mentally replied back,

She probably would run if we tried to.

Lt fell silent, and they both listened to the faint, eerie echoes of Chaos asking questions to thin air, hoping for a response. There is no sign of Kim though, no flash of orange or hint of a fox tail.

When Chaos eventually moved to another snowy location to try again, Ren tailed her. Her unknown companion through an empty, snowy campus. Watching, again and again, as no ghost came forward.

Kim wasn’t here anymore.

He refused to accept that idea. Kim went looking for Chaos, and Chaos was right here. So where was Kim?

They have to show up eventually, was the idea he clung to while he followed Chaos to the parking lot. The idea he held tightly as he rushed to his own car, in enough time to follow Chaos onto the road.

He

will

find them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Bug walked into the family room to find Maple with Kim’s- with the cursed headphones on. She stared practically unseeing at the blank TV with tremors traveling down her body. Her face was much too pale. “Maple?”No reply, no reaction at all.His steps quickened, bringing him there faster. He waved a hand in front of her face- no reaction. Kriff. He quickly pulled the headphones off and held them out of reach. As he expected, Maple was immediately twisting around to jump up for the headphones. He managed to get a hand on her shoulder to push her back onto the sofa. Pinning the wiggling teenager in place. “Maple, calm down-”“No, I need to find- I need to keep-”“You need to stay alive.” Maple flinched at Bug’s harsh tone. Her struggles abating. He let out a sigh and released his hold. “When did you last eat?”“...lunch.”Bug stared at her disapprovingly, mentally kicking himself for not insisting she joined him for breakfast earlier. “That was yesterday.”Maple’s eyes widened. “What-”“No more headphones for today, go eat.”Her face contorts, panic and grief present along with another emotion Bug could not identify. “But what if we miss where Kim goes next?”“It is more important to take care of yourself.” Bug had to look away from Maple’s face due to the look she gave him. “Go eat, go get some sanity. I will… wear them for a moment, and then the headphones are going in a drawer for the rest of the day. That is final.”Maple ambled out of the room as Bug put the headphones on. The lack of sound, beyond his heartbeat, was disorientating. He sat himself down though, turned the TV on, and turned captions on.It was midway through a show that he began to hear the whispers of a conversation. The sound louder, and louder- until it was blasting in his ears. He winced and tore the headphones off, trying to find the volume control that he knew existed. Pressing on the volume down button for several long seconds before putting the headphones back on.The sound blasted him in the same way as before, and with a sinking feeling he realized that holding down either volume button resulted in no change. He resigned himself to the loud volume in order to listen to the conversation.
“Dope.”

“I know, right? I think this place could do with some rizz though.”

“What about the next room?”

“Oh right, you should see this-”
There was a sound of feet, mostly walking, then the voices continued, “Pretty lame, isn’t it?”
“That’s not even the worst part! Check this out!”
A drawer, or something, sliding open. Laughter following whatever had been revealed.
“This teacher must have been such a dork! What a lame ass-”
A roar cut off whatever was being said, too loud in Bug’s ears- He once again found himself ripping the headphones off. Trying to catch his breath like he had just sprinted a mile- his sanity probably needed a boost.More importantly though… He stared down at the cursed headphones. His ears ringing from the volume of that roar. Hurriedly, he ran over to his room, pulling up his laptop and refreshing the page once he had logged in.It took about 12 minutes for Brownstone High School to pop up in the list of available contracts.It took him 3 seconds to hit accept.It took him another 10 seconds to skim through, confirming what he had thought.The contract was called due to a group of teenagers getting hunted on while hanging out in the classrooms.Another 6 seconds was all it took for him to send a message in the groupchat.  Ren was doing his best to follow Chaos, but when she switched to her bike she was able to cut down a side path that was not meant for cars. By the time he parked, she was long gone.Instead of trying to find her on foot though, he started the car back up and returned to driving.They both got the same text. Kim, or their ghost at least, was likely at the high school. The direction he last saw Chaos going indicated she was heading there. With the amount of times that high school had been haunted, Ren knew exactly how to get there.As he pulled up into the driveway towards the high school, the building looked as foreboding as ever in the faint midnight light with the light layer of snow all around. Based off of the familiar mountain bike leaning against a familiar box truck, Chaos beat him there too.The moment the car was parked, Ren hopped out. Ignoring the truck of equipment, he rushed inside, trying to think of where Chaos might have gone first in this building. He picked a direction, walking down the hallway.While he did not find Chaos, in the far back of the school he did catch a glimpse of a familiar orange.The fox ghost was curled up in the middle of one of the science classroom labs, floating in the middle and spinning. “Kim.” He exhaled, stepping forward carefully. “Why are you here?”A fox ear twitched at their name, and those empty sockets of nothing now stared at Ren as they uncurl. Floating closer to Ren.Lt spoke up, “Ren, something isn't-”They were quickly cut off by Kim suddenly lunging, grabbing Ren by the shoulder, the cold touch seeping into his skin. Ren was unconscious before he hit the floor.  Bug waited one more second before emerging from the bathroom stall he had hid in. He and Maple had ended up going separate ways once they were in there, occasionally radioing the other with how the search is going.Which was not well, up until this recent hunt. At one point he thought he heard a ghost in the distance. Distant footsteps echoing down the abandoned corridors. Possibly a regular walking speed, but it would be better to have a closer listen to confirm.Or, better yet, he would not have to figure out the ghost at all because it turned out to be Kim.Part of Bug knows it would not be that easy, though. He had heard Maple’s ideas, that Kim just needed to be told where their body was. He kept his doubts to himself. Maple looked… better, when she had that hope to cling to. That everything would work out.But if it was that simple, Kim would have been back in their body by now. The best thing Bug might be able to do… was to try to get Kim to rest.He walked out into the hallway and headed towards where he believed he had heard the ghost. Pulling out the canister of incense he had brought with him. He had hoped that they would have more time before the ghost had hunted… but, since they had been using the cursed headphones… he had made certain to bring at least one canister.It would probably come in handy, given the situation.Especially as the lights began to flicker when he reached an intersection of the hallways- there was a shift in the air as a ghost took shape a few feet to his right side, right before his eyes. It felt like time slowed down- 
The first thing he registered was the blood, dripping off of the ghost’s form from several large slashes on the torso and arms.
 
The second was the blood dripping from sharp canines in an inhuman mouth.
 
The third was the glimpse of the torn orange hoodie the lanky fox creature ghost was wearing, that was all too familiar.
 -as he quickly turned and ran. His heartbeat in his ears. If he was quick enough he might be able to make it back to the bathrooms-He could hear the ghost begin to walk, all to close and he still needed to reach the bathroom-The ghost’s footsteps sped up as it rounded the corner. “Kriff,” Bug muttered as he lit the incense and sprinted the rest of the way to the bathrooms. Going into a stall and closing the door as quickly as possible. Just a few seconds later he could hear the ghost of Kim wander into the bathroom. That was a close call, he would need to get more incense. Convince Maple to leave the school as well, since there seemed to be no qualms from Kim with hunting him. It was a stark contrast to how concerned Kim would have gotten any time one of them had gotten hunted, how they would check on everyone. The implications…Bug pushed it aside. At this point he needed to treat this like a regular contract. Possibly get another hunting team involved for investigating. Let the exterminators deal with… the ghost. He waited, listening to the ghost as it reached the other end of the bathroom and was heading back for the entrance. Just as the ghost was passing his stall though, his radio crackled to life-He came face to face with a snarling fox ghost as it lunged through the door. He quickly crouched as his energy got drained, slumped against the wall as he fell into unconsciousness.  A young voice came through the staticky radio speaker, quietly echoing in the bathroom walls. “-Bug? Where are you?”They lazily sniffed the radio, not finding a smell on it. 
“Please answer.”
They reached for the radio. If they did this right… “W̷͙̩̓̌h̷̓ͅe̶̫̗̠̞͐̿r̵̺͗ĕ̴͕̱̄͋?”
“I'm on the second floor, over by-”
  Several times now the energy of the high school had felt like it changed. The standard feeling that came with every ghost hunt. A hollow feeling, a chill deep in her bones... and now footsteps and a shout just around the corner. Occurring a split second before the feeling went away.Chaos ran around the corner to find Maple, her back to Chaos as she stared. As if she was transfixed, to stare down the hallway.A brief moment of hesitation, and Chaos reached for Maple’s shoulder. The Sanelwiche jumped, but then there was relief in her face. “Chaos- they’re here, they’re right here-” She turned to point down the hallway. “I think they might be hurt?”Chaos was quick to walk forward, fiddling with the dials of the radio. Static came out of the speakers as she began, “Kim? Can you hear me- please come back, please, we need to go home.”The air shifted and Chaos looked up at the fox ghost forming in front of her. The ghost was looking at her this time. Kim was here, they were listening.Relief filled her. They could all go home, everything would go back to normal-It felt like a cold shock when Kim's clawed hand latched onto her shoulder, draining her energy.  Maple stared at the ghost of Kim in shock as Chaos fell to the floor. Kim hunted on her, Kim caused this-Those void filled sockets turned to Maple. Ears pinned back, and mouth open in a snarl.“Kim, please-” The ghost took a step towards Maple, and her voice pitched in desperation. “Please, it's me- Maple! You tutor me, you wouldn't let me ghost hunt till you were certain I would be safe, you-”The hostile-looking ghost was still approaching as Maple felt her eyes water. “You're my parent, you helped me figure out what I wanted to look like, you and Bug built a room for me-”Her breathing was unsteady, staring at the fox ghost. Tears falling down her cheeks. “Please, I don't want to lose you, I want you to be back with us, playing games and- you were going to take us to a Christmas musical.”Maple could barely make out the ghost's hand reaching out towards her due to her watery sight. This couldn't be real- Her voice cracked as she continued, “Grandparent, why are you this senile-”She squeezed her eyes shut. Why did Kim have to- she wanted Kim back, she didn't want- she wanted her family back. A hum reached her ears, bringing with it the realization that she was still awake. The ghost had not gotten her. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized the humming was that of a familiar song. She quickly blinked away tears, rubbing at her eyes in an attempt to clear her vision. Kim always hummed this song, to comfort them. Kim was still here.Except the humming faded, growing distant. By the time Maple's vision was clear enough to see… Kim was no longer in sight.  Ren woke up in the usual way after getting knocked out by a ghost- feeling like a train had hit him. His groan alerted Bug, who proceeded to approach with a water bottle held out. “How are you feeling?”“Like my head is on the point of explosion.” He grumbled, keeping his eyes shut for a moment to adjust. His nose was stuffy, his eyes felt more sensitive to light than usual, and his throat was dry and painful. “Put me out of my misery.”“Not happening.” Bug huffed, and Ren recalled how he'd totally not listened to anything Maple or Bug had said and gone off on his own. Oh, he was in for a load of trouble. “Can we save the lecture?” He asked, holding back a cough as his eyes stung from the effort. Bug paused for a moment, and for a second, it almost seemed he'd taken the request. Of course, Ren was completely wrong in thinking that. “Save it? For when? When you're dead or missing? Maybe when you're in jail for trespassing without a proper contract? Oh! How about we save it for when it's just you and me left because I have to be the responsible one even though you’rethe big brother! How about that?!”Ren didn't say anything. This was starting to feel rather familiar, with the lecture of responsibility coming back to haunt him after all these years. The fogginess in his head didn't leave, and only thickened. He hated getting knocked out by ghosts. He always got incredibly sick after and wouldn't recover for another couple days. Bug only continued on, and the realization of what he'd done started to become clearer and clearer to Ren. “Chaos is missing, you're mad at me for no reason, and you've been distant for some kriffing reason and you won't tell me anything! What the hell is wrong with you? If you don't want to ghost hunt anymore, just say it. Tell me you don't want to do this anymore, and I'll gladly leave it with you! Just tell me—”“It's not the ghost hunting, Bug.” Ren cut his little brother off, swallowing back the pain in his throat, chest, and especially in his eyes. “And it’s not you. It's not any of you. You're my family, and I'm not going to end up like our parents. I’m trying to fix everything, that's all.”“Then fix it with me, not by yourself. We've been stuck together since the beginning, and I'm getting tired of keeping you alive by myself.” Bug said after a moment of quiet. Ren took a deep breath and nodded.“Okay. Okay, I promise.”“Now, idiot, get up and come have soup.”Ren blinked. “Soup?”“Soup.” Bug confirmed.“Why soup?” He asked, forcing himself to stand despite the raging exhaustion through every bone in his body.Bug offered an arm for support, but Ren refused it. “You always get sick after passing out, and soup helps. Besides, hunting down Kim on an empty stomach is going to kill you if you keep it up.”Ren sighed, but accepted the idea. Soup did always help him feel better, especially after a ghost knocked him out. For some reason, Lt had been strangely quiet, so he went poking around in his own mind. What’s wrong?It took a bit before Lt’s presence became easier to sense. Nothing's wrong, I'm doing alright.
That's just a fancy way to say you're fine.

I’m fine, then.

You're not talking a lot, something’s wrong.

I hate that you know that.

Spill it, Lt.
With a mental voice full of reluctance, Lt began to explain. I failed to do what you told me to do. I didn't keep you from getting hurt.Ren almost made a face, but remembered Bug was right there. It's not that bad, you know. I'm just sick.
We made a deal, and I broke it because I wasn't paying attention.
It's not your fault. I don't blame you. Ren insisted, putting a firm emphasis on the lack of blame. 
You don't understand, Ren, I didn't fulfill my end. This isn't a light thing—

I'm making it a light thing! Did the ghost kill me?
Lt hesitated. Well, no–Then it's fine! Accidents happen, you can't blame yourself for them. Ren was frustrated at the lack of understanding the demon seemed to hold when it came to forgiveness.
…Seriously?

Yes, seriously.

… Okay.
Stars, you're so dramatic sometimes. He couldn't help but sigh mentally, and Lt's visage raised their eyebrows.
Me? Dramatic? Says you!
I am not dramatic! Ren protested.Lt snorted loudly, You literally thought you were going to die because of a broken camera.
…Shut up.

Don't call me dramatic.

Fine!
They all entered the kitchen, Bug heading towards a pot on the stove top to pour out some more bowls. Maple sat at the table, staring grumpily down into her soup bowl. Ren didn't think talking would make the situation better, so he kept his mouth shut.After all, he'd been the one to ignore the pleading messages from Maple to come home. He'd been the one to storm out and leave vague answers about when he was coming back, even where he was going. He'd been the one keeping a secret from the rest of the group. So Ren kept his eyes focused on the soup, and he didn't say a word.Bug ended up being the one to break the silence as he sat down. “It would be good to stick together. We need to make certain Chaos doesn’t run off again, currently they are still out which the first aid sheets says is normal. The ghost of Kim hunted on all of us in the high school.”“They didn’t hunt me,” Maple snapped out. “They just… didn't recognize me at first.”“Maple,” Bug cautiously began, “There is a chance that they may not have-”Maple slammed her spoon on the table. “They remembered. I called them senile and they- they started humming. To comfort me.”Ren grimaced. “I saw them. They didn't seem to recognize me either. I called their name out and they jumped at me. Next thing I knew, I woke up here.”“You didn’t call them old, that’s why they didn’t recognize you.”Bug sighed, “Either way, Kim is no longer at the high school. Exterminator team confirmed no ghosts.”“So where to next?” Ren asked, idly using his spoon to move his soup around in its bowl.“We don’t know yet. We’ve been using Kim’s headphones to find them so far. If you put them on, it seems to let you hear what Kim is hearing at the moment. Most of the time though, nothing is really identifiable. Where have you found Kim at? Maybe there is a pattern to the places they go to?”“It was a fab— uh, their college first, then high school. Maybe they're going through relevant places of their past?” Ren offered the suggestion, cringing at the slip up.“Then we can try predicting where they go next. Maple, could you keep an eye out for any contracts appearing that might be Kim’s? I am going to try digging through Kim’s records to see if I can find anything about their childhood home or their middle school records. And Ren- rest up.” Bug went through the list of things to do relatively fast, and Ren thankfully agreed. He really hated being sick.“Aye aye.”  The headache tearing at her skull was the first thing that Chaos registered as she came to. It meant her mind only later focused on what had occurred. She failed- Kim had been right there and she failed-With all those thoughts racing through her head, it took her a while to realize she was not alone. A while to realize that the pressure on her arm was Maple, holding onto it tightly while chanting, “Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!”It was hard to know how long it took. Air felt as if it was honey, too thick to enter her lungs and making it nearly impossible to move.Chaos gradually, eventually, got her breathing back into a more normal pace. Air began to feel somewhat normal, entering and leaving her lungs. Maple was still clinging to her arm tightly.Kim wasn’t here.“Maple,” Chaos began as she tried to pull free.She was cut off by Maple yelling, “No! You’re staying-“I can’t- I need to fix this, I need to get Kim back-”“I don’t want to lose you too.”Chaos froze at the unexpected remark, eyes beginning to burn with tears. She thought Maple didn’t want her, after all that Chaos had caused- “I messed up though- I hurt Kim, I hurt all of you-”“I don’t care! I got hurt more by you leaving and I didn’t know if you were still alive- don’t go, please. I don’t want to lose anyone else from my family.”“But I broke-”“You’re still my family.”Chaos held back tears as she hugged Maple back. There was relief, but deep down Chaos knew the others hated her. After what she had done there was no forgiveness. They eventually parted, Chaos rubbing at her eyes. Maple seemed to remember something, “Oh wait here-”Maple ran off, quickly returning with a glass of water. But she was not the only one. Chaos froze upon seeing Bug coming in, this was it she was going to get lectured again or kicked out or worse-His arms instead wrapping around her was a surprise. “I'm sorry,” Bug murmured as he held Chaos close. “I was too harsh on you.”The dam broke, and her tears flowed.
He didn't hate her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Bug, Bug!” He turned when hearing Maple’s calling, seeing her run into the garage. “I found one!”Bug quickly closed the gap, grabbing the laptop Maple held out for him. It detailed a contract for a residential area… quickly checking, he confirmed that it was the same address as what he found in Kim’s old records. This contract is at the house Kim grew up at.Since the family evacuated the house due to ghost activity concerns, and with Christmas tomorrow, the contract was a higher priority and could be started the moment they drove over.“Go about accepting it, and go tell Ren he has 15 minutes.” Bug turned back to his previous task. Chaos was on the other side of the table, no longer going through the equipment laid out as she stared at Maple running off.“Chaos,” He gently called to get her attention. “Did you find any working ones?”She shook her head. “None of the DOTS projectors are working. The thermometers won’t turn on and the UV flashlight won’t either.”Bug nodded, “Let’s try checking if Kim had any stashed elsewhere before we leave.”  It was past midnight when the group arrived, just half an hour after they found the contract. Technically Christmas Eve had just begun.The group was anything but festive as they grimly grabbed their gear.After checking her radio was working, Maple grabbed the ultraviolet flashlight, the thermometer, and a regular flashlight. Clicking the flashlight on, she followed the rest out of the box truck after shoving her hands into her coat pockets. As the others approached the door, she paused to take in the two-story house looming in front of her. A carpet of snow blanketing this neighborhood in silence as more snow fell from the sky.Somewhere in there, there should be Kim’s ghost.No, Kim’s ghost had to be in there. Christmas was tomorrow, and Maple was determined to have all of her family back together. There is snow on the ground, and that meant they had to have a perfect white Christmas.And it could not be perfect unless all of her family was back.This would work. It has to. She went towards the back of the house, noting how all the rooms circle around the staircase in the middle. Her flashlight lit the way, showing photos of an unfamiliar family. She paused to look at one, frowning as she realized none of them looked like Kim at all- all much paler and with blonde hair. Did Kim’s family move away?Soon her radio crackled to life when she was halfway between the kitchen and dining room, Chaos’s voice carrying through it. “Breaker’s on!” Her chilled fingers pulled out the thermometer and fumbled to get it turned on. The display turned on briefly… And then a barely visible paw-like hand touched the device, the display immediately turning black as the glass of it cracked. Maple stumbled back and looked up, watching Kim hovering there. Staring at her from the dining room.“I found Kim,” Maple quickly called through the radio, finding herself unable to look away from the void sockets of the fox ghost. She won’t lose sight of Kim this time. “Dining room, the old one is in the dining room.”Bug arrived a second after she finished saying that, walking through the ghost as he entered the dining room. Saying in greeting, “Hello old person.”The fox ghost slowly turned towards Bug with dazed confusion. Maple chimed in, “The old person says hello back!” While he laid down a book, Ren entered with his camera. “Hello senior, we got ghost orbs!”The ghost drifted to look over Ren’s shoulder as he set up the camera. They then drifted away from Ren and floated to the side, looking at Bug and Ren. A few seconds later, Chaos bolted into the room with the accompanying sound of a staticky spirit box. She hastily asked Maple, “Where?”“There,” Maple pointed at the ground that Kim was hovering over. The fox ghost was remaining put for now, seeming to be glancing around at the team with a twitch of their fox tail.Chaos was quick to go to that spot, Maple could see Chaos briefly in the same spot as Kim before Kim floated to the side with an annoyed look. The ghost went above Chaos’s shoulders as Chaos began calling out, “Hello? Hello, any old people here?”Ren walked past Maple, she could see Bug still in the room. The fox ghost drifted a bit higher over Chaos, something about them seeming more aware than before. “Are you here? Old one, yes that’s you Kim, please answer-”She could see the fox's ears beginning to pin backwards as they growled out, loud and clear through the spirit box, " Leave. "“Kim!” The relief in Chaos’s voice is in stark contrast to the upset ghost. Bug was backing up towards the doorway. “Grandparent, it’s going to be alright, we’re here to help you.”The fox’s tail was lashing now, teeth bared when they replied. This time, Maple heard a whisper in between the words that the spirit box picked up on. "You…” are “hurt-" -ing me. ‘You are hurting me.’ They are saying that we are hurting them- “Chaos-”Just as Chaos turned to look at Maple, a staticky growl echoed through the speaker. And that was when she realized it was too late to warn Chaos- Kim’s ghost was forming between them. Just a foot away from Chaos. Bug was a few feet away, Maple several, and with Ren behind her no one could reach Chaos in time-“Senile grandparent with-” She called out as the fox ghost formed, pulling their attention to her. Kim's ghost started walking past Bug, heading straight for Maple. Their void-filled sockets staring into her. Bug called out, “Hey old one!”“-with dementia!” She watched the ghost speeding up towards her. Why were they not stopping- She held her flashlight out. “You're so old that-”Her own shrill scream cut her off as the ghost’s claws sunk into her arm and yanked-   The moment that Lt saw Kim’s ghost grabbing Maple’s arm and heard her pained scream, they saw red. With no care for appearances or how the team might finally see what Ren was hiding, they took control and lunged the few steps needed in time to grab the fox ghost’s free hand, right before the ghost plunged it into Maple’s chest.The fox snarled at Lt, focus diverted onto the demon, but Lt wasn't having it. With Ren completely out of control of their shared mind, they would be fighting here in his stead. That was something they learned that Ren did, at least in the past. Lt wanted to partake of the adrenaline that had seemed so good, and if it meant Maple was safe, then why the hell not? They did, however, mildly acknowledge that the secret would be out because of it. A quick sense told them that Ren didn't care, as long as the rest of them were safe.With surprising force, the demon pulled Kim’s hands back away from Maple and shoved the fox into the wall, hard. A familiar temper began rising like old times. Ghost against ghost? At this point, Lt was just a symbiote with Ren, but that was fine with them. Like the human had said when they first really met, they weren't so different. As the months had gone by, Lt had finally started to understand the depth of the similarities they had. As soon as Kim was shoved into the wall and left Lt’s grasp, they darted forward again, claws gleaming and twin voids staring soullessly into Lt’s determined glare. The first attack was a slash with their claws, which cut into Lt’s arm, ripping their shirt. The cuts stung, but the idea of letting Ren down again stung worse. They quickly moved to counter with a fist to the face, which actually seemed to daze Kim for a moment.Kim growled and their black eye sockets just seemed to go even deeper into that mindless anger. Lt just rolled up their sleeves, totally willing to keep fighting. Ren was right, this was fun! For only a second, they circled around each other, and Lt glanced up only for a moment to see Bug, Chaos, and Maple staring at the fight, horror in their eyes.  This'll be a fun explanation to handle later. Ren’s voice sighed.Without giving Lt time to respond, Kim attacked again, tackling the demon and opening their jaw to reveal those sharp teeth. Lt rolled to get Kim off, and grabbed their furry head. Maybe it was the demon in them, but something burned at the idea of getting Ren hurt more. This was his body, after all. So, with a brutal force, they began to pound the fox ghost’s head into the ground, gritting their teeth when Kim fought back, scratching with their other claws.After a second, Kim managed to wrangle their head free of Lt’s firm grip and used that split second to bite Lt’s wrist, hard . They let out a yelp and pulled their hand back, and Kim scrambled away. The fox had its ears pinned back, and their tail lashed dangerously. Another attack, and Kim managed to end up behind Lt. Before they could turn, a hard force shoved them to the ground. As soon as they tried to push themselves to their knees to get up, Kim’s jaw took hold of their long hair, tied back in a ponytail, and pulled sharply. Seriously?! What the kriff, Kim!  Lt kicked back, and both heard and felt a satisfying thud as Kim released their grip on their hair. Then they pushed themself to their feet and turned to face their opponent. So, Kim was going to play dirty. Lt could play dirty too.   Bug tore his eyes away from the fight to hurriedly press more paper towels against Maple’s bleeding arm. He and Ren needed to have a long talk after this— maybe an entire day dedicated to how long of a talk it'd be— but for now he was going to trust that Ren had it handled. “Kriff, we need to leave.”That earned him a panicked look from Maple. At the same time Chaos panickedly stated, “ No- we need to- They’re right there—”“They tried to kill Maple!” Bug hurriedly whispered, half carrying Maple towards the front door. “This is too risky, for all of us.”“But- no, wait, that means they remembered!”Bug shot a look at Chaos as he shifted his hold to pick Maple up fully. Maple seemed to catch on, weakly getting out, “I- I didn’t bring it up. I never mentioned what I am.”Implying that they remembered Maple was a Sanelwiche- that would explain how Kim’s ghost had ignored both him and Chaos. But did they remember anything else about them?Chaos continued at a whisper, “They remembered what Maple is- They just, we can get them to remember more-”He checked the door, still locked. Kriff, he hoped this hunt ended soon. “We don’t even know what ghost they are.”“Y-Yokai,” Maple weakly whispered. Her eyes had a more far off look than before.Chaos seemed to light up in realization, “They were getting more active when we were talking?”Due to a shift in the air, Bug tested the door again and rushed out as it finally swung open. “That… could make sense. We can’t check for DOTS though.”“We can still try trapping them!” Chaos proposed, “If they are a different ghost, it won’t work and we can try again. And once trapped we can get them back to their body and they’ll just hop in.”Bug didn’t call her out on the uncertainty leaking into her voice. They all could use some hope in this situation. He set Maple down, “Chaos, get some crucifixes in there and find the bone.”He could hear Chaos rushing off, hoping that she grabbed the crucifixes before doing so. As she was away, he pulled out the first aid kit and grabbed some gauze and bandages for Maple’s arm, just enough to stop the bleeding. He applied gauze first, then wrapped the bandage around her arm, tying it with a messy knot. “Is it too tight?” He asked, and Maple shook her head lightly, barely moving like too much movement would hurt her. “Good. Do you want to stay in the van or help investigate?”“I’m helping.” She insisted. Bug sighed, and handed Maple several canisters of incense. “Help look for the bone then, and avoid the ghost at all times.”  Chaos mentally thought over everything needed to trap a Yokai, holding the empty peanut butter jar close. She only briefly paused to look in the family room where the fighting was occurring. She could see Ren, but she could not see Kim- but Ren seemed to be grappling with someone, knocking over a side table while getting pushed by an invisible force.Kim was attacking Ren. Attacking everyone-A shake of the head to dispel that thought, Chaos rushed past to the next room. Setting the jar down with determination. Kim would stop fighting when they were back in their body, they would be back to normal, and everyone would celebrate Christmas together.She began drawing with chalk around the peanut jar, carefully inscribing out the details necessary. Pulling out the herbs that would aid in trapping the ghost. And sharpie, to write the words needed on the jar. Among other materials and steps required…Chaos lost track of her surroundings as she prepared it. Only briefly registering when Maple shook her shoulder to give her the ghost bone- a scapula.A minute later, she finished setting it all up. Holding the ghost bone and standing up, Chaos looked around for where Ren was now. She first saw Maple and Bug standing nearby.A moment after, she could hear Ren and probably Kim, due to a crash of more furniture getting knocked over. Chaos rushed over to the doorway, “Ren! We need to get them near a circle in this room!”Ren glanced at her for a moment, and it suddenly hit her that his eyes were different. Then, he turned back to the fight, and started luring Kim– Chaos still couldn't see them– towards the room she was in.Chaos quickly rushed back over to the circle, holding the bone over the place it needed to go. She needed to wait for Ren to bring Kim near first-As if on cue, the familiar face bolted through the doorway, and Bug and Maple shrank back as loud footsteps pounded after him. He skidded to a stop before the trap circle and turned to face Kim, then sidestepped at just the right moment as they presumably lunged at him.Chaos slammed the bone down, watching the whole thing light up as the jar shook violently. She glanced at Maple, “Are they in?”Maple hurriedly nodded, and Chaos quickly grabbed the lid for the peanut butter jar and twisted it on. The light from the chalk began to fade and Chaos held onto the jar, staring at it. If she messed this up, Kim would come bursting out and it would be all her fault again —“Chaos,” Bug rested a hand on Chaos’s shoulder, “Breathe.”Her lungs failed her. Chaos shook her head minutely.“It’s alright, breathe, in for one… two…”Chaos eventually gathered her breath together, managing to ask, “Are they still in the jar?”“They're in.” Ren confirmed quietly.Chaos looked at Ren, checking if his eyes were still different. Sure enough, they were. Almost fuzzy, the color was dulled, but he refused to meet her gaze directly so she couldn't see it as well.“Chaos,” Bug asked, “Do you feel well enough to drive?”Her eyes widened at the suggestion. She normally didn’t drive, everyone normally considered her driving to be too reckless.She could probably get them to the hospital faster though.She quickly nodded, grabbing Bug’s arm and tugging him towards the door. “Let’s go-”  Maple was with the others as they ran into the hospital in the early hours of the morning for most. For the ghost hunters’ nocturnal lifestyle, bedtime was just a few hours away.She watched anxiously as Bug checked them in as visitors, occasionally glancing at the peanut jar that Chaos was holding. The peanut jar looked murky, like a cloudy white vapor, though there was no distinction of head or tail.Kim tried to kill her.Maple shivered and pulled her jacket on tighter, tears in her eyes as her arm throbbed from the small motion. Now that the adrenaline was starting to wear off, it was starting to hurt more and more.The group was quiet when Bug handed out the visitor name tags, and they all piled into a hospital elevator. They all rushed for the room, Maple leading the way with how often she had been demanding visits.As usual, the only thing that greeted them in this cold space was the slow, occasional beep of the heart rate monitor. Maple went straight to where Kim motionlessly laid, grabbing their chilly hand with her own. She turned to watch as Chaos stepped up, twisting the jar open-She could see the half-visible ghost quickly rushing out, forming into that fox shape that she had grown familiar with as the lights almost seemed to dim.But instead of Kim’s ghost going into their body, Maple could see them focusing back on her. That same gaze from when they had torn into her arm while trying to get to her heart-The feeling of someone beside her snapped Maple back to attention. She glanced back to see Lt standing there, eyes fixed firmly on Kim’s fox form. It was almost a warning, telling Kim to leave Maple alone.The warning was ignored, given the fox ghost rushed towards Maple- Again, Lt stopped it, and grabbed their paw-like hands before they could reach the Sanelwiche. Chaos startled, her expression falling. “Are they not going- Kim, you need to go back to your body-”The fox ghost only growled, snapping teeth at Lt. Their glare sharpened, and it looked like they were about to start fighting Kim again.Maple backed away, her injured arm aching as if to remind her. To remind her how Kim wasn’t going back to normal, how they weren’t-Chaos must have realized, given Lt’s focus and Maple’s fear. The next time Maple managed to look away from the ghost that wanted her dead, she saw Chaos hurriedly scribbling something on a piece of paper.It devolved into a fight again, as Kim began to struggle against Lt’s hold again, snapping and clawing. Rips formed in their clothes, blood began to gather and drip. The hospital room wasn't exactly the most spacious, but the fox seemed determined to make Lt pay. Bug was quick to pull Maple backwards, near the door.Maple's attention moved back to the demon and ghost, and she scrambled behind Bug as Kim bit Lt’s arm, earning them a shriek of pain. Lt let go of Kim, stumbling back, and the fox ghost launched forward, slamming them straight into the wall, which knocked the air out of Lt’s lungs. After the first attack, Maple thought that was the end of it, but only could stare in horror as Kim slammed their hand against Lt’s head, which got hit against the wall with a terrifying force. The demon went limp, dropping like a sack of rice.  “Bring them here!” Chaos shouted, “I need them over here-”With Lt down, the fox ghost whipped around to face Maple and Bug at the doorway as they slowly started advancing. Bug cursed under his breath and lit an incense as Lt collapsed, walking forward and looking for any signs of the ghost.“Kim, old person-” Chaos called out, Maple could see fear in her eyes when she glanced at Lt.Bug’s frame briefly blocked the fox ghost from sight, but after he walked through the fox ghost Maple could see how they were staring at her with malicious-A solid whack to the head sent Kim's attention back to the demon standing above them. Holy kriff, Lt was resilient. “Don't even try it.” Lt snarled, and the fight was back on, with Lt pulling and shoving Kim across the room, away from Maple.The fox ghost landed near the hospital bed and a clueless Chaos, growling as they straightened back up.Lt rushed at Kim’s ghost though, pushing them backwards- pushing them into the hospital bed and what Chaos had drawn.There was a sudden flash of light, and the ghost was gone. Lt took a step back in the silence. Maple looked, but she couldn’t see the ghost anywhere now-The door behind them suddenly opened to an annoyed nurse. “You all are being too rowdy, keep it do-”There was an abrupt gasp as the body suddenly sat up, triggering multiple hospital machine alarms.
Kim, human Kim, was sitting up.
They weren’t looking at anybody though, staring at their bedsheets. The machines were still beeping in a cacophony of alarms as Kim gasped for air. Before Maple could get the chance to move closer, the nurse pushed her back. Loudly ordering, “Everyone out-”There was another hospital worker entering, then another, more rushing into the room as the alarms continued. Some of the workers went straight to Kim’s bed, while the others ushered everyone out.That was how Maple found herself just a few seconds later, out in the hallway staring at a door that was just slammed shut.
…was that a success?

Or would Kim still try to kill her…?
Instead of searching for an answer, Maple turned and latched onto Lt for a hug. Shaking as the stress was catching back up to her.Soon after she could feel Chaos and Bug join in on the impromptu hug. A shelter of family, feeling like protection and safety. It would work out. Maple would make it work out if it wouldn't.  The time in the waiting room seemed to drift into eternity, going on and on as if every minute was a day. Lt paced back and forth, avoiding idle chatter. They weren't feeling well, the cuts and scratches and bites had scabbed over, but if they made a move, it'd break open and start bleeding again.Talking might only make it worse, and Ren was staying as far away from regaining control as he could. Apparently, it was up to Lt to explain, but they wouldn't be doing that until they were sure Kim was okay and alive.A nurse stepped out of Kim’s room and sternly looked over the group, to which Lt’s attention honed in on her. “No more commotion- be calm and quiet or we revoke visitation.”She then held the door open for the group. Showing Kim sitting on the hospital bed, looking out the window. Chaos was first to rush in with a whispered shout, “Kim!”There was a twitch that only Lt could see. Based on the lack of reactions from the others, at least.Kim turned their head slowly in response to Chaos’s call, a small but tired smile coming up at the sight of Chaos rushing for a hug. Maple, having cautiously followed Chaos, soon was joining in on hugging Kim when they beckoned for her to join.Lt stared at the ears he could see. Ghostly, fox ears poking up amongst Kim’s hair. They were alive, but why were the ears still there? The demon stayed back as Bug pushed past them, moving aside Chaos and Maple to hug Kim himself. It was a lovely reunion, really, but Lt still felt out of place. Ren was supposed to be here, but the human had insisted Lt stay in control for the time being. So they just stood off to the side and stared at Kim’s fox ears.The ghostly ears twitched as Kim turned their head towards the entrance, searching for something. When their exhausted eyes found Lt’s, they relaxed and reached a hand out for Lt. Lt glanced behind themself, just in case there was someone else that Kim had been looking for. That brief hesitation was all it took for Maple to grab their hand and drag them over to Kim’s bed. Bug drew back, and Kim held both hands out in the universal offer of a hug.Kim probably was searching for a hug from Ren, was what Lt concluded as they leaned in to embrace the waiting engineer. That belief was quickly shattered when, with arms wrapped tight around Lt, Kim whispered, “Goat.”For a moment, they just stayed there. To be acknowledged by someone other than Ren or Maple felt almost illegal, but at the same time, it was warm and comforting. Inviting, even. But Lt couldn't stay in that hug forever. After carefully counting the appropriate amount to remain in the embrace, Lt pulled themself back and offered a tentative smile to Kim.“Sorry for punching you.”Kim looked absolutely bewildered by the statement, though their ghostly fox ears went back. “Uh, it's alright…? When did that happen?”“Uh, it’s a long story. We’ll tell you later.” Lt rubbed the back of their neck awkwardly and laughed. “Just know I’m sorry.”Kim looked concerned, but anything they might have said gets cut off by Bug. “We can save the chat for after the Holidays- let us all go home and celebrate.”Lt could see confusion on Kim's face, but it gave away to a realization of some kind. Kim took in everyone standing by their bed, reaching out to grab Chaos's hand when doing so. With that the engineer smiled, “Yes, let's all go home.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

He should've known.
 
Nicholas should've known.
 
He'd heard his pa's tone. He'd seen the way he tensed when Nicholas spoke.
 
Really, this was on him. 
 
The blood was never going to wash out. It clung to everything. His skin, his clothes, the floor, everything.
 
He'd have to mop it up. 
 
God, he was an idiot. He should've known.
 Night took the contract he had messaged Kim about, despite them ghosting him. It was hard, being alone and needing to enter. It was as if all his courage had been with Kim. He had managed to enter though, and to find the ghost room in the bedroom. The only upside to the situation was some of the equipment that Kim had helped Night get- His stomach turned at the thought. Kim abandoned him. A shiver ran through his body. He turned his attention back to the spirit box, only hearing static. Setting it aside he reached for the thermometer- His gut dropped as a dark, looming figure was suddenly looming. He wasn't going to be able to escape- An orange blur (with a…familiar hoodie?) suddenly tackled the ghost, the two tumbling through the floor. Night stared at that spot for a second before turning to go to the door. He wasn't going to stick around for the ghost to come back- Two more days. Night only had to last two more days in his hell of a house. Tomorrow was his eighteenth birthday. He was going to get out the day after. He hadn't planned exactly how, but he was going to do it. He pulled out his phone from where he had sat down in the parking lot of Walmart. Kim still wasn't answering his messages. Night tried not to feel hurt by that. He hadn't known them long, after all.  
They made him feel safe and like someone finally thought he was worth loving and they left him as soon as they no longer had to put up with him–
 Maybe he'd buy a bike. He had some money, for once, now that he wasn't wasting all of it on his excuses of parents. He'd buy a cake, too. He's never had a birthday cake before.  He stood up and began walking. No point in delaying the inevitable.  Just two more days till freedom. "What were you thinking , Nicholas?!" Night stared at the cake that his ma had thrown on the floor. The icing was everywhere, along with the cake itself. He was going to have to clean it up later. A quick snap in his face brought him back to the present. "Nicholas, are you even listening to me!?" Night couldn't didn't respond. He didn't like acknowledging the name his parents had given him. Nicholas, Nick, whatever. He didn't like it. It made him feel gross. He had tried telling his parents to call him something, anything , else. He stopped after at least two months. "Now, you're going to have to work your ass off twice as hard to make up for the wasted change! Because you were irresponsible and wasted it on–" "You say that like it's a punishment," Night cut his ma off. "What?" "You say that like it's a punishment , but that's the thing I've been doin' for you guys for years ." His ma scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. What worthwhile thing have you ever done for this family?" Night felt rage simmering beneath the surface of his skin. "What have I done?" He stood up. "What have I done ?! I've spent nearly everyday for years working my ass off at any job I could grasp while also balancin' homework and studyin' and my own health and takin' care of you and dad! I have sacrificed so much for you two, and you ask me what I've done?!" Night's ma was silent. He hated that he couldn't take satisfaction in the awkward silence. "I have had ta do everythin' for you two while you lay around and drink until you can't move. I have paid bills, I have sacrificed sleep and eatin', I have sacrificed my childhood for you guys! And you have the gall ta act as if I've done nothin'?! " Unwelcome tears were streaming down his face. "I'm done." " Nicholas– " His ma reached out for him. "NO!" He slapped her hand away, ignoring the gross feeling from the contact. "I'm done . I don't have to be here anymore. I can finally leave." It was silent for a long moment. Time felt like it had slowed as he stared at her. Suddenly, she turned around and walked off sharply. He stood there, stunned. She just…walked away. No fight, no more words, nothing. Just walked away. That was out-of-character for her, but Night didn't dwell on it. As soon as he processed what had just happened, he sprinted up to his room and began packing stuff into bags. He didn't have much he wanted to take, just some clothes, essentials, and a sentimental item or two.  He stood up– Only to hear a lock clicking in place behind him. Night froze. The doors in the house locked from the outside. At least, his did. He turned quickly and jiggled the handle. Locked. Now he was wondering if that design choice was intentional. He tried opening it a second time. Same results. He tried slamming into the door with his shoulder. Again. And again. And again. Pain wracked that side of his body the more he slammed into it. Night pulled away, clutching his side before taking a swing with his fist at the door. The wood splintered and cut his knuckles. He swung again. Pieces of his the door broke off and stuck in his hand. Blood droplets began falling onto the floor from his cuts. His heart pounded, and his breath came in short gasps. "LET ME OUT," he screamed. " PLEASE !" No response. He punched the wood again, choking out a sob while he did. He couldn't breathe. It felt like he was suffocating. The room seemed to close in around him. He stumbled back, dropping to the floor and tugging at his hair roughly. Night pulled out his phone with shaky hands. He tried to get ahold of Kim in desperation. He had no contacts besides his parents. He could call the police, but…there was a small part of him that, despite everything they've done, still cared for his parents. Still loved them. "Pick up, pick up, pick up please. " No response. What was he expecting? Night curled up, and began sobbing. Days passed. The door was splintered and cracked. He had considered breaking it down, but that would alert the other people in the house, and Night really didn't want to do that. Sometimes, he would call out. Sometimes, he would scream until his throat gave out. Sometimes, he'd just curl into a ball and wonder what he did to deserve this. He had a water bottle, thankfully, so he carefully drank a bit each day. His bag was still packed, as he saw no point in unpacking it if he was going to leave eventually. He had to get out he had to leave-  Night sighed. Maybe they would let him out soon. He prayed they would. The final straw was when his pa began taunting him through the door. That was it. He had to leave, no matter the cost. He began planning something out. There wasn't a whole lot Night could do, but he figured if he waited till late enough in the night, he'd be able to bust the door down and run out. There were still several issues with this plan, though. With the main one being that he hadn't eaten in ages, meaning it might take a lot more effort to bust the door down. And then there was the issue with his pa. He usually slept on the couch, having passed out or something similar. The living room was adjacent to the front door, meaning he'd be right there if Night tried something noisy. Maybe…instead of busting the door down, he could try picking the lock? He searched around his room until he eventually spotted a bobby pin underneath his bed. Perfect. He had no idea why he hadn't done this sooner. The metal was cold in his hand as he inserted it into the door. He wasn't actually sure how to do this, but he assumed it couldn't be too hard. He wiggled it around in the lock for a few long moments before a faint click could be heard. Night pulled the handle down and pushed the door open. He could've cried at that moment. He grabbed his bag, stuffing his water bottle and phone into it, and strode out of the door.  It was dark in the house as he walked–it was late in the night so it made sense. He made sure to keep his footsteps quiet, avoiding the floorboards he knew were creaky and taking extra caution to not make any noise. The house was silent. Eerily so. But he lost focus on that when he got to the front door. Night's hand itched to grab the door and rush out, but he forced himself to slowly open the door as to not make any noise. He quickly learned how bad of a mistake that was, though, as he felt something tackle him in the side. He slammed into the wall, not even having any time to recover before some grabbed his neck, and lifted him up while squeezing it tightly. He tried gasping for air, but he wasn't able to get any. The hand squeezed tighter in response. Through tears and spotty vision, Night managed to make out his pa. "Listen here, brat, " his pa hissed. "You are not leavin' this place. Ya hear me? You are goin' to stay and continue paying our bills. Because you're our son, and you owe us -" He squeezed tighter. Night's vision was near-fully black now. "-for takin' care of ya all these years." Night could barely hear his pa's rambling through the ringing in his ears. He looked around desparately. He clenched his fist, mustering up as much strength as he could before he swung his fist into his pa's face. He was lucky that he didn't think to try and use his right hand. His pa let go instantly, letting out a loud shout of pain. He dropped to the floor, relief filling him because he could finally breathe before he realized what he had done. Night stared at his pa in horror. Blood seeped from the wound. He made sharp gasp and grunts full of pain, and stepped back. "P-Pa I-" He didn't know what to say. His pa lunged at him, managing to get a hit on his good eye, before Night shoved him off. His throat hurt, a lot. It ached and ached. So did the rest of his body. He grabbed his bag and sprinted out the door, slamming into it on the way out. Kriff my lack of depth perception , he thought. Outside was cold. So cold, but so welcome at the same time. He bolted down the street, not even waiting to see if there were footsteps behind him. His breath–as little as it was because of his throat –was coming in short huffs of air. He just- He just broke his own pa's nose . Tears welled up, and he collapsed onto the sidewalk. His head swam. His sides ached–so did his throat. He was free. He was free . Night sobbed in relief. There was still money in his account. He was lucky that he still had anything. He would've assumed his parents had wasted it by now. Night lived off the cheapest food he could buy–which just so happened to be uncooked ramen. …definitely not a permanent solution, but it worked for now. He spent most of his nights walking around—he was on Winter Break, so he didn’t have to worry school.  His phone buzzed with notifications every now and then, but he never checked it. He didn't want the battery to drain. He'd taken to sleeping on the streets most of the time. People usually picked a fight with him if he tried sleeping on the benches (lord knows he has enough bruises), and other places would kick him out.  The concrete wasn't the most comfortable, but the rocks left him with cuts, so he figured it was the better option of the two. … Night wanted to go home. But, he couldn't. Home wasn't safe. Nowhere was. He missed Kim. He wanted to message them again, but…they weren't gonna respond. He was sure of it. … There were tons of bruises all over him, most prominently on his neck–from what he saw in a puddle, at least. His body ached. But he had to keep going. He had to.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The midday sun cast long shadows over the driveway as Chaos crouched beside the van, her dark hair falling into her eyes as she tried to focus on arranging the supplies Bug had handed off to her. The heat radiating from the asphalt didn’t bother her much, though her left hand still wasn’t able to hold much, so it hung at her side. She didn’t complain however. She never did. Not about her hand, not about anything.
 
Bug’s voice broke through her thoughts, firm but distracted as he climbed out of the house with another armful of gear. “Hey, Chaos. Grab the crucifixes from the cabinet in the living room, will you? We’ll need them for tonight.”
 
Chaos froze. For a moment, it was as though time itself had slowed down, her pulse pounding loud in her ears. Her left hand burned—not physically— the nerves had long since been destroyed, along with any sense of feeling, but from the memory. The memory of searing pain, of white-hot agony. She forced herself to take a steadying breath, her fingers trembling as she set down the box she’d been holding.

It’s fine. You can do this

, she thought, biting the inside of her cheek.

They’re just objects. Nothing more. Just metal. It doesn’t matter.

She straightened slowly and turned toward the house, dragging her feet with every step. The urge to turn around and tell Bug she couldn’t do it clawed at her throat, but she pushed it down.

Bug was depending on her. He asked for help, and you’re going to chicken out over this? Seriously?

The doorway loomed ahead, the shadows inside feeling far colder than the heat outside. Chaos stepped in cautiously, her heart racing as she approached the cabinet. Her hand hovered over the handle.

Just grab them. Grab them and go. You’ve touched worse. You’ve faced worse. What’s a crucifix going to do to you now?

But her hand wouldn’t move. Her fingers curled into a fist, and a knot of panic tightened in her chest. The memory came flooding back—her skin sizzling, the acrid smell of burning flesh, the screams that she’d barely realized were her own. Her breathing quickened as she pulled her hand back.

Stop being stupid. This is ridiculous. It’s over. It’s done. They can’t hurt you anymore. Just grab them.

She reached out again, but the same invisible wall slammed into her, forcing her to recoil as though the crucifixes themselves were alive and threatening her. Chaos staggered back, pressing her shaking hands to her thighs as her breaths came shallow and quick.
 
“Chaos?” Bug’s voice was closer now, tinged with concern. She hadn’t even heard him come inside.
 
Her mouth opened, the lie already on her tongue. “I... I couldn’t find them.” The words tumbled out before she could stop them, but even as she said them, she knew they wouldn’t work. Bug wasn’t stupid. He saw everything.
 
He raised an eyebrow, studying her carefully. “You couldn’t find them?”
 
She swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze. “Yeah. Maybe they’re... in a different cabinet or something.”
 
“Chaos.” His voice softened. “What’s going on?”
 
Taking a deep breath, Chaos hugged her arms close to herself. “I can’t do it,” she admitted softly, her voice barely audible. “I tried, but—I can’t touch them. I’m… I’m scared of them.” Her shoulders hunched, shame weighing her down. “I’m sorry.”
 
Bug approached her slowly, his expression softening. “Hey,” he said gently, crouching slightly to meet her eyes. “You don’t have to apologize for that. I get it.”
 
Her eyes flickered up to him, uncertain. “You do?”
 
“Yeah,” he said simply. “After everything that happened… It makes sense. You’re not broken or weak for being scared of something that hurt you.” He gestured toward the box. “You don’t have to force yourself to deal with this. That’s why we’re a team—I’ll handle the crucifixes, alright? You focus on what you’re comfortable with.”
 
Chaos hesitated, the knot in her chest loosening just a fraction. “But… what if I’m alone? What if I need one for a job?”
 
Bug nodded, understanding. “We can work on that when you’re ready. Not today, not tomorrow—but when you feel up to it, we’ll find a way to ease you into it. Until then, you’ve got mex and Kim, and Ren, and Maple. We’ll stick together.”
 
For the first time that day, Chaos allowed herself to take a deep breath. “Thanks,” she murmured, the corners of her lips twitching into a faint, almost shy smile.
 
Bug ruffled her hair lightly, earning a small, reluctant laugh. “Anytime, kid. Now go grab the salt—I’ll handle the scary stuff.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Flicker drifted aimlessly through the abandoned house, her translucent fingers trailing along the dust-coated walls. The wood beneath her hands no longer felt like anything. She was so tired of this. Tired of the emptiness, tired of being alone, tired of feeling nothing but cold. She wanted warmth. Contact. Someone to reach out and remind her she was still something in this world. But every time someone stepped inside, every time someone saw her, they ran. A group of teenagers had screamed when she reached out, their faces twisted in terror as they bolted out the door. A middle-aged man had prayed under his breath, clutching a cross as he threw salt in her direction. The last woman had simply called her “demon” and left, never returning. Flicker hadn't hurt anyone. She hadn't tried. She just wanted—wanted something she could barely even put into words anymore. Now, new voices echoed through the house, careless and bright. Flicker stilled, listening. “This is gonna be so easy,” a girl’s voice chirped, full of energy. “I bet I can get her to show up first!” “Chaos, don’t—” a man started, but the girl had already pushed the door open. Flicker turned, watching as a trio stepped inside. The first was a girl, wild-haired and lively, practically bouncing on her feet. She grinned into the dark house, scanning the room like she belonged here. She was followed by two men—one with brown and a careful stance, and the other, already rolling his eyes. Flicker recognized the tools they carried. Ghost hunters. Her chest ached at the realization. They weren’t here to stay. They were here to get rid of her. The reckless one—Chaos, the other had called her—strode further in, arms swinging at her sides. “Hellooo? Angry ghost lady?” she called out. “We’re here to send you to the afterlife or whatever, so if you wanna make this quick—” Flicker moved before she could think, drawn forward by the casual, open way Chaos had thrown her arms wide. The girl’s energy was so warm. So full of life. Flicker reached for her. Chaos yelped as her arm was engulfed in ice. She flinched back, her wild eyes flicking around. “Whoa! Okay—uh—solid start—” The brown haired man, Bug, was already moving, pulling something from his belt. “Chaos, seriously?” he groaned. “You don’t just let ghosts touch you—” Flicker hovered there, her outstretched hands trembling. No. No, she wasn’t trying to hurt her. She just wanted to hold on, just for a second. The other man, Ren, sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That’s twice now,” he muttered. “She really likes you.” “She’s just aggressive,” Bug muttered, checking a device in his hand. “Seems like a pretty territorial ghost.” Flicker flinched. No! Not aggressive. Not territorial. She just— She reached out again, desperate. Chaos startled as another icy brush ghosted over her shoulder. “Oh—she really wants something,” she muttered. “She’s not, like, hurting me or whatever—” “She will if we don’t get rid of her,” Bug said firmly. Flicker recoiled. No. Panic flared in her chest as she backed away. They were going to get rid of her. Like all the others. Her vision blurred with static, emotions lashing out around her. The house groaned as shadows stretched, and the temperature plummeted. She wasn’t trying to scare them—she just didn’t want to be alone again! Chaos shivered violently, rubbing her arms. “Okay, that’s getting intense,” she muttered. Then, suddenly— she smiled. “I have an idea,” Chaos said brightly. Bug groaned. “I hate your ideas.” Chaos ignored him, turning toward the air, toward her. Flicker hesitated. Chaos took a slow, deliberate step forward, arms spread wide. “Hey, ghost lady. If you want something, just—show me.” Flicker stared. Carefully, hesitantly, she reached out—and touched Chaos’s hand. A sharp chill ran through the girl, but she didn’t flinch away. Didn’t recoil. Didn’t run. Flicker almost sobbed. She clung to Chaos’s hand with everything she had, feeling the warmth seep into her frozen form. It wasn’t much—but it was more than she had in so, so long. Chaos exhaled, visibly shaking. “Oh wow,” she muttered. “Yeah, that’s cold.” Bug was gaping at her like she was insane. “Chaos. You are asking to be hunted.” “Uh-huh,” Chaos grinned, teeth chattering. “And I think she just needed a hug.” Ren groaned. “Do not hug the ghost.” Chaos, of course, immediately spread her arms. “C’mere, ghost lady.” Flicker didn’t hesitate. She threw herself forward, wrapping herself around Chaos in the tightest grip she could manage. The girl shuddered at the contact, arms stiff—then slowly, carefully, hugged her back. Flicker squeezed her eyes shut, feeling warmth for the first time in forever. It wasn’t perfect. She was still cold. Still dead. But for once, she wasn’t alone. Flicker barely registered the way Chaos’s body tensed before going limp. Bug was the first to react. “Chaos!” He lunged forward just as Chaos’s legs buckled, catching her before she hit the ground. Ren swore under his breath. “Oh, for the love of—” He crouched beside them, already checking Chaos’s pulse. “She’s fine. Just drained.” Bug shot a glare at where he guessed Flicker was, still hovering above them. “You did this.” Flicker flinched, guilt crashing over her. She hadn’t meant to take so much. She just—just wanted warmth, just wanted something real, and now Chaos was— Ren sighed, rubbing his face. “Bug. You know this happens all the time.” Bug muttered something under his breath before shifting Chaos into a better position, resting her against the wall. “Yeah, yeah. I just—” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his brown hair. “She’s an idiot.” Ren grinned. “She’s your idiot.” Flicker hovered, uncertain. They weren’t—weren’t running. They weren’t attacking her. They were just waiting, acting like this was... normal. She hesitated before reaching out, barely brushing Chaos’s arm. It was still warm. Still alive. Bug tensed, eyes narrowing. “Don’t. Do. That.” Flicker yanked her hand back, retreating a few inches. She hadn’t meant to hurt her. She just wanted to make sure— Ren watched her carefully, then sighed. “You really aren’t aggressive, huh?” Flicker shook her head, or at least—tried to. Ren stretched, rolling his shoulders. “Well, congrats. You made friends with the most reckless ghost hunter alive.” Bug grumbled, shifting Chaos slightly. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t wake up and immediately try to hug her again.” Flicker hovered there for a long moment, watching Chaos breathe steadily in Bug’s arms. She still looked so warm, so alive, even as unconsciousness kept her still. Flicker had felt that warmth—just for a moment. It had been enough. She didn’t want to hurt them. Didn’t want to drain them dry, to leave them cold and lifeless. She just wanted. But she could tell now—staying wouldn’t end well. With one last lingering glance, Flicker pulled away, retreating into the shadows. She let the cold fade with her, releasing the grip she had on the house. The walls settled, the groaning stopped, and the air lost its unnatural chill. Ren sighed as his equipment flickered, the readings fading to nothing. “Well. That’s that, then.” Bug shifted Chaos into his arms, "Well let's head out." Outside, Flicker drifted toward the treeline, fading into the night. She was still alone. But for the first time in so long, she had felt something real. Maybe, just maybe, that was enough.