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As we stomped down the dirt road, we kept our eyes peeled. Both of us had our phones out, using their lights. A minute passed, and then Mare released a yell.

Both Abyss and I stopped, and Mare yelled again. My feet took off, but not in the direction I wanted. I headed straight for Mare with Abyss on my heels.

“We should be running the other way. We’re heading into horror movie territory—” Abyss gasped as suddenly we both went flying.

“Who the fuck stood on me?” Mare demanded. I rolled over from where I’d fallen spreadeagled and glowered at him. Of course, he wouldn’t see it, but I felt better for it.

“What are you yelling about?” Abyss snapped.

“I was attacked.”

I found my cell, picked it up and turned the flashlight on Abyss. “By what?”

“How the hell would I know? Something touched my face,” he snarled.

“That’s it? Are you fuckin’ kidding us? We assumed you were being murdered,” Abyss barked as he located his phone. We both shone it on Mare and fell silent.

“Is that…?” Abyss broke off.

“Looks like it,” I replied grimly.

“What?” Mare demanded.

“You’re covered in ectoplasm,” I stated.

“The fuck I am,” Mare exploded.

Footsteps sounded behind us, and we turned around and blinded someone with our lights.

“Turn them fuckin’ down!” Law ordered, grumpily. “What the hell are you three doing?”

“We heard screams and came to investigate,” Mare explained.

“Only fuckwit here explored alone. He got slimed!” I said gleefully.

“Slimed?” Law repeated as if we were idiots. He probably wasn’t wrong.

“Yup. Look at him. That’s ectoplasm.”

“It’s goop,” Mare argued.

“If it’s slime, shouldn’t it be drying and not evaporating?” Abyss challenged.

Good point. We all stared at Mare as thin wisps of smoke drifted off him, and the substance faded away.

“What happened?” Law finally said.

“I came down here. Those two cowards refused and stayed behind.”

“Who got slimed?” I interrupted Mare smugly.

Mare continued without acknowledging me. “I heard a noise and turned around. Nothing was there, but then someone unexpectedly touched my face. I stepped backwards, and then these idiots ran me down.”

“You yelled.”

“And you’re telling me you didn’t see that?” Law demanded, suddenly sounding shaken as he pointed at a translucent figure.

“Where is he?” she whispered, then faded.