Eventually, we’re all in a circle, fighting back-to-back, and I have to admit I’m having a great time, although the number of ghosts appearing is starting to get slightly alarming.
In theory, we could be here fighting for an extraordinary amount of time. I don’t imagine the Spirit Realm is going to run out of dead to send. It’s where the dead go from all of the realms. My mind can’t even fathom how many dead there are, and who knows how many can get across.
“Enough!” A familiar and very angry voice shouts over the sounds of the battle.
The ground rumbles again, and the ghosts closest to us are grabbed around the ankles by some unseen force as a swirling hole of red and orange opens up beneath them, and they’re pulled downward, screaming, clawing at the ground for purchase. It’s no good, and within moments, they disappear, the ground closing back up over the top of that.
“That was freaky,” River mutters.
“Oh, for sure,” Raiden replies, his eyes wide as he stares at the now normal ground.
As we watch more and more of the ghosts disappear down new holes of terror until those who are left have been successfully corralled by the still rippling ground, and the holes themselves form into a group, creating a huge hole of terror that appears underneath them all.
Their screams fill the night as they all get dragged under.
It’s pretty horrifying to watch.
It’s also really fascinating.
I have questions. Lots of questions.
Like, who is making the holes of terror? Because I’m reasonably certain that it’s not one of us.
Where are the ghosts going?
Will they come back?
Why were they attacking House in the first place?
Who do I need to kill for attacking House?
How was Van physically fighting with one of them?
They were all clearly ghosts, so how did we see them? Although we can all see Ribit, and our magic that we were gifted from the Choosing is death magic, so that probably explains that one.
See? Lots of questions, and I’m sure I’ll think of more.
“Well, now that’s dealt with,” Ethel says rather primly. “It’s nice to see you all.”
I spin on my heel, turning to look back at House, and sure enough, Ethel, the skull that I haven’t seen anywhere but on the side in the kitchen, is floating on the front porch.
“Was that you?” I ask, unable to hide the shock in my tone.
“Of course it was,” she replies, like it’s a ridiculous question. “Now come on, dinner is getting cold.”
Ethel disappears, and I’m left completely and utterly stupefied. I’m reasonably certain that’s a word and that I’m using it in the right context.
“That just happened, right?” Doc asks.
“Pretty sure it did unless we all licked the no-no mushrooms accidentally and are on some kind of group trip,” I ramble in reply.
“Erm,” Griff starts. “I really do think that we need to know that story. That’s the second time you’ve brought up licking something that you shouldn’t have licked and have consequently ended up tripping.”
I pull a face, “I’m fairly certain that the one I mentioned before was about the time I accidentally licked a frog and tripped balls, this time I said mushroom.”
I feel like clarifying that is important.
“Just how many things have you licked that you shouldn’t have, and that have ended in you being high as a kite?” Coen asks, looking amused and slightly worried.
