"This is much worse than before," Sean said grimly, pulling out his spray bottle of loophole sealant."The dimensional barrier has been completely compromised."
His professional assessment carried the weight of someone who understood exactly how catastrophic this kind of breach could become.Defeated, he sprayed what sealant he had left fearing it would be woefully inadequate for damage of this magnitude.
In a jerky response to the spray, the tear suddenly contracted, sealing itself with a sound like thunder.But the damage was clearly already done.Dozens of spirits had already passed through, and the portal's violent closure suggested that the dimensional fabric was struggling to maintain even basic stability.
"Butcher!"Roam called out just as the zombie caretaker came lumbering through the cemetery gate at his characteristically unhurried pace.
"I just stepped away for a minute, went up to the tower to watch over the whole town.I do that from time to time.I figured tonight was a good night to survey," he said, breathing heavily from his zombie sprint.
Roam winced knowing a minute in zombie time could have been an hour in real time.Plus, zombies were notoriously slow movers and bad at judging time.
"Did you see anything?"Sean pleaded.
"Yup.Three troublemakers and a lady in beads.Came through here with half the convention following behind them."
"How long ago?"Sean asked urgently.
"Maybe twenty minutes," Butcher replied, brushing sweat from his brow with methodical movements."Whatever they're planning, it's already happening."
The distant sounds of a celebration drifting from the direction of town confirmed their worst fears.The dimensional breach hadn't just allowed a few ghosts to escape—it had enabled a mass exodus that was now causing chaos in the heart of Cauldron Falls.
"Come on," Roam said grimly."We need to get back there before this gets completely out of hand."
They raced through the woods toward Cauldron Falls, carrying Butcher, and following the increasingly loud sounds of revelry.When they emerged from the tree line and saw the town square, they all stopped in their tracks.
The scene before them defied every protocol in Sean's enforcement manual.Solid ghosts filled the cobblestone circle, dancing and laughing and interacting with the physical world in ways that should have been impossible.
At the center of it all stood several kegs marked Murphy's Ghost Draught Vapor, surrounded by ghosts taking turns inhaling the vapors and immediately solidifying.The systematic nature of the operation suggested that this wasn't random chaos but an organized celebration that had gotten completely out of control.
"By all that's holy," Sean breathed."They've weaponized batches of brew."
His professional vocabulary failed him as he struggled to categorize what he was witnessing.This went beyond simple dimensional breach protocol into territory that would require intervention from authorities he desperately hoped to avoid involving.
Just then, Uma's transportation bubble materialized above the square, descending gracefully toward the celebration.As it touched down near one of the kegs, the bubble popped, depositing Uma and Evelyn directly beside the kegs of vapors.
The timing was both fortunate and unfortunate—Uma and Evelyn had arrived at the exact moment to witness the chaos, but also at the worst possible time to avoid becoming part of it.
"Well, hello there, beautiful," said a strikingly handsome ghost in a 1940’s sailor suit, immediately noticing Evelyn, who was quietly beautiful.Before anyone could react, he took a deep drag of the Ghost Draught vapors and leaned in to give her what he clearly intended as a gallant welcome kiss.
The magical vapor transferred from his solid form to hers through the contact, and Evelyn suddenly became corporeal—not just solid, but radiant.Her mousy, frightened appearance transformed into that of a petite, lovely woman with bright eyes and an unconsciously graceful bearing.
"Oh my," she giggled, looking down at her now-substantial hands in amazement."I feel...wonderful!"
The transformation was remarkable to witness.Years of psychological abuse had convinced Evelyn that she was small and insignificant, but her new corporeality combined with the starlight potion revealed her true nature—someone with inherent dignity and grace that no amount of manipulation could completely destroy.
"You look wonderful too," Uma said with a smile, then took her by the hand."Come on.It's time to tell your story to everyone!But first..."She gestured to the flask still clutched in Evelyn's hand."Take a small sip.You'll need the extra courage."
Evelyn lifted the ornate glass flask to her lips and took a careful sip of the starlight liquid.The effect was immediate—her posture straightened, and her eyes blazed with newfound confidence and purpose.
They made their way toward the town hall steps, where Evangelina had commandeered a microphone with the authority of someone accustomed to choas.
Just then, Mayor Leahnora Loveridge emerged from the town hall, she radiated the kind of presence that could silence armies.Her voice thundered across the square without amplification:
"CITIZENS OF CAULDRON FALLS!VISITING SPIRITS!EVERYONE STOP WHERE YOU ARE!"
The effect was immediate and total.Every ghost, every resident, everything froze mid-celebration as Leahnora's authority washed over the crowd like a paralysis spell.The mayor's power extended far beyond mere mortality.She commanded respect from both the living and the dead.
"Sean McLeary, Roam O'Reilly, Murphy O'Reilly—to the front immediately!"she commanded, her mayor's robes billowing dramatically as she gestured toward the town hall steps.
