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Chapter 1


Everyone has fears...

Sometimes psychological: the humiliation, the loneliness...

Sometimes fictionnal and parnormal.

It's part of the human being, and in a world like this...where fiction is mixed with reality, you need some persons willing to do the bravest, to show that it's perfectly OK to have fears, and that you have the power to fight and get through this, who knows, these fears you have can become familiar or even a friend.

Four kids from the street understood that, thanks to the support of one of them. Today, they're investigators. Regularly, in San-Francisco, paranormal events happen, and they're here, with powers and gadgets. They help people and sometimes what they fear, they only destroy when it's necessary.

Things happen, secrets are exposed, double-identities are revealed, and worst appears. But they've been strong, they're always there...still today...


''Don't lose sight at these two!'' a boy voice shouted.

''I'm driving as fast as I can!'' a girl voice affirmed.

A chase was happening during the night time in San Francisco's streets as a land transportation called the ghoul-mobile and two zombies on roller skates went down a slope in the middle of a little wasteland, almost no building or trees.

One zombie seemed to be fused with the roller skates and was following the other one, with clothes, frizzy brown hair and glasses. Skates of this funny-looking one were not fused to him, he just wore them naturally.

Meanwhile, Daemona was driving the ghoul-mobile where her friends Kira and Jericho were in as well.

The driver was still disguised, and her friends wore their usual clothes.

''I really miss the times where we're usually two times faster than zombies!'' Jericho whined.

''I'm beginning to think this wasn't a good idea!'' Daemona, the leader, realised.

''Casey, are you OK back there?'' Kira's voice asked through her psychic powers.

The zombie with hair and glasses in front of the other zombie responded to Kira's ask, through his head too, he had a child and panicky voice while he was focusing on the road in front of him, trying to not fall off of his skates.

''LA-LAST TIME I TRY TO BEFRIEND A ZOMBIE I SWEAR!''

In the car, the investigators looked worried.

''Poor boy, he doesn't deserve that, we'll try to end this quickly!'' Daemona insisted.

''I think it's time for our special recruit to wake him up for his slumber.'' Jericho mysteriously revealed while leaning his eyes on a watch he wore on his arm. He used it like it was a walkie-talkie and talked to someone on the picture. ''Navarro, you roger us well?''

In a more inhabited side of San Francisco, Navarro was standing on the top of a small shop. He was wearing a purple mask to cover his eyes, a grey long-sleeve jacket and grey pants under a red shirt and finally, a black cape. He looked at a digital map printed on a detector, following a red spot going around.

''Roger you well!'' he approved. ''What are you doing near baker beach? Is Wad going crazy again?''

''It didn't go as planned and now this quick zombie is trying to get Casey!'' Jericho indicated through communication.

''...I see...'' Navarro switched communication with Jericho and went on to Casey, who also wore a watch. ''Casey, you're a brave kid, your friends can give you a hug after all this mess but for the moment, distract it while I'm going to help.''

Back to Casey, who just followed the road, trying to get away from the zombie, he heard what Navarro said on his watch. Still nervous, but taking a breath, he recieved the memo, approved and closed his watch, he looked at the zombie behind him, shapeshifting back into human.

''How is Navarro going to meet us if we keep moving?...'' the little marshmallow evaluated the situation for a few seconds and got an idea to stop all this.

In the ghoul-mobile, Kira wasn't paying attention, she noticed something right to her. On a beach, close to the sea, a large group of adults gathered pieces of high wood, she used her powers of mind-reading to catching up what was going on, but her mind was disturbed by echoes.

More...

More...

Awakening...is...starting!

Before she could know more or warn the gang, her body leaned forward along with Jericho and Daemona, the driver braked short and drifted a little.

''Monie! I almost hurted myself!'' Kira growled.

''Sorry, but Casey warned us!'' her friend apologized while a crashing sound was heard.

The three kids went out of the ghoul-mobile to see what happened, the zombie was unconscious , laying on the ground in front of a wall, the object of crash shapeshifted back into the frizzy boy with glasses who was escaping him: Casey. He panted, the crazy chase for him was done.

''It's strange, at this speed of crush, and because his body was in theory more fragile, he should have been dismembered'' He said between his breaths

''That's the sleep I need...'' Kira just answered.

Navarro came into the place, gliding thanks to a little device to his back who gave him little robotic wings. He had a gadget similar to a big camera in his hand, he turned it on and an orange beam came on the zombie, which disappeared in the gadget while Navarro closed his wings and went on the ground, close to the kids.

''¡Genial! I really missed using these gadgets, so much!'' Navarro happily cheered with his spanish accent, out of subject. Seeing that the kids playfully looked at him, he coughed, giving the soul collector to Daemona.

''Good job, master.'' Daemona cheered.

''Please, I'm just here to help you now that you know everything, just call me Navarro.'' the adult kindly clarified.

''Well...Phantom investigators, great job as usual, even when things get out of hand like this, we always come strong!'' Daemona congratulated at her surroundings. ''That's all for today, no other calls, for the moment we can sleep.''

Everyone high-fived the leader, but after Kira's turn, she didn't seem completly happy, but doubtful. She saw something curious and heard strange voices in her head. At the distance she looked at, she could still see something being made by an infernal number of adults.

''Yeah...hopefully for tonight!''


The next day, in Daemona's house, she had 30 minutes before going to school, but she was already prepared: her teeth brushed, breakfast taken, her school stuff, so in the meantime, she was watching TV in the living room.

The weather announced hot, new school year began since some time and the summer was not over, so Daemona dressed slight: dark green gym shorts, carrying until her knees; her usual shoes and a slim light green t-shirt.

Her parents passed right by her, not looking at her.

''Mom, dad, where are you going this early?'' Monie interrogated, curious.

''Your dad and I will see the big statue that's currently in construction, our neighborhood told us to see this.'' the mother informed.

''Now don't be late while we're gone.'' the dad warned.

''Uuuuuh...OK'' the child replied.

They waved at each other and Daemona stayed at the living room, enjoying the TV.

But her enjoyment was soon going to be changed into a big astonishement. As she were going outside with her school stuff, she saw all the adults in the neighborhood in their car going at the exact same direction, some of them were also with their kids or teenagers. She found it was not enough an hazard for this situation to be normal. She just went to her school, being silent.


At dinner time, in Lugosi Junior High School, Daemona, Jericho, Kira and Casey were eating at the cafeteria. Daemona's friends were also dressed in weather's anticipation. Jericho was wearing an orange jacket with a yellow semi-circle on each side of his fastening buttons, forming a sun, but he didn't changed his usual green-army pants. Kira wore a long purple skirt with a white t-shirt under an open purple vest with short sleeves. Casey, on his hand, just wore the same blue and red color scheme of it's usual clothes, but the sleeves stopped on the red stripes and he wore jean shorts.

It was their usual reunion time, and it was not to do small-talks.

''So...did you too had all your neighborhood going to the same place?'' The red-haired girl inquired.

''Yeah, it was like a giant caterpillar-car, they were all following each other for a while.'' Casey compared.

''Don't compare it, someone might throw it in your face that a caterpillar-car exists!'' Jericho warned.

''Giving goofy pictures of a situation is excellent for memory. So did you saw a ''car-terpillar'' in front of your house?'' Casey just threw to his friend while doing finger signs to his made-up word.

''Yes, of course, my parents also said they were going to see a giant statue who's currently in construction!'' Jericho informed.

''Giant statue? Wait, my mother also said she was going to see a statue, and that my father was going to watch the road!'' Kira reckoned up.

''Yeah, mine too were gone!'' Daemona added. ''Do some of you have an idea where it could be?''

Kira coughed to get the attention, then she adressed herself to Daemona.

''So, remember yesterday when you braked the ghoul-mobile when we were chasing the zombie...''

''You're still mad about that?'' Daemona gave with sudden concern.

''...No that's not the point. I saw this statue, and many people around it, I tried to give it a read, it was unclear, we were moving, and I've heard strange voices.'' the psychic explained.

''Strange voices or strange ''weird'' voices?'' Jericho seeked.

''I am...not going to ask the difference!'' Kira doubtfully stared at her comrade. ''Look, my point is that: nobody called us for an absent parent problem, and I'm convinced this story hides something big. We have to get clear informations after school.''

''Do we call Navarro? He's almost part of the team now, maybe he knows the answer who could be more than ghosts.'' Casey suggested.

''...but he still has his shop to manage, it'll not be closed at this time, who could be able to lead a double life like that?'' Jericho argued.

Everyone was silent as Jericho's ironic question. Not only it was said too quickly, the three other kids frowned an eyebrows, Daemona in particular, who had her two eyebrows frowned, she let out some sarcastic words.

''Wooow, thank you VEEEERRRY MUCH!''


In the evening, the four Phantom Investigators meeted at the rendezvous point: Baker beach, a calm place near Golden gate Bridge with waves, little mounted rocks and sand. In hot times, people could take a swim there.

It was still summer at the actual time, so the sun was setting late and there was still some heat, but more the time passed, the more it slightly cooled down; not enough for everyone to wear a coat, just a quiet small warm breeze.

The gang were hidden behind big rocks, Daemona Prune was wearing her usual green disguise in replacement of her summer clothes, her friends were still wearing their clothes they wore today. They were close behind at least ten inhabitants who were around something made of wood that seemed to be in construction. For the moment, it was just two big vertical pieces that seemed to look like legs.

''I swear I don't think sprites, elementals, monsters or anything suspiscious is linked to it, this looks just...familiar and festive.'' Jericho reckoned.

''Festive? Look at how they're standing and do nothing, birds will turn around them!'' Kira contradicted.

''We have to be sure about that, but let's not jump into the action either, let's gather information and be discreet.'' The PI leader suggested.

The four members of the team went out of their hidden spot and went each their way through the little crowd. Casey and Jericho were about to talk to some of the citizens, but as they talked, things seemed unusual.

''So, what does this work represents?'' Jericho asked.

The adult standing side to Jericho was silent, he just adressed an empty look, Casey gently tapped his friend's shoulder and went a little far away from the citizens, trying to avoid as much eye contact with them as possible.

''I don't like this...'' he whispered.

''Well, this is how you start a conversation.'' Jericho affirmed, whispering too.

''I don't want to go home!'' Casey embarrasingly brought up. ''I just meant that look at them, empty looks, doing nothing...''

''...They could be zombies you think?''

''Twice on two days? I'm not sure, probabilities that Lady Jinx's on our side is statistically questionnable. Besides...for zombies, they seem to have taken a good bath.''

''Zombies don't take baths, at least not clean ones.'' Jericho shrugged.

''Look, we're already starting to lose the point, let's borrow Daemona's-''

Before Jericho could pursue his talk, a big beeping sound was heard in the place, a sound who was familiar to them. Instantly looking at Daemona who was close to two persons, she was hiding her little blush, trying to keep a serious face. She talked while doing a sign to Jericho and Casey to come behind the little structure.

''Hahahahaha, my new cellphone! Sorry, I'm overbooked.'' Daemona claimed while running away, followed by her classmates.

Kira was behind the little structure, hands on it, eyes closed, and purple waves coming out of her head. She was quickly disturbed by her three teammates who came to join her. Daemona wiped her forehead and took out a gadget out of her suit who was responsible for the beep: the specter detector.

''I really need to add a volume system on this thing, it's too noisy sometimes.'' The disguised girl blushed, while turning it off. Her teammates shook their heads vertically. ''So we know ghosts are here, but they don't seem to manifest, Kira, what are you doing?''

''I'm reading its mind, who know? Maybe this thing have consciousness!''

In Kira's head, all that was saw was a black, empty space. Nothing too suspiscious or eerily strange for the moment, but she kept reading it.

''Wait...the emptyness is changing, it's all...green...and things floating...am I...in the netherworld?''

''Kira?'' Casey's voice echoed.

''Wait...I seem to be...bought? There's someone who's taking me like a baby!''

''Kira!'' Daemona's voice embarked.

In Kira's new point of view, she saw big clawed and hairy brown hands coming to her.

''I see a...!''

''KIRA!'' Everyone shouted.

Out of her head, Kira let her hands out of the two large wooden objects and abruptly answered.

''WHAT? I hate to be bothered when I use my powers, it's hard to concentrate.''

''Uuuuuuuuh, tell that to them!'' Jericho pointed side of him where Daemona and Casey looked with a worried look.

The psychic finally opened her eyes, anticipating to get something horrible in front of her eyes. What she got was all the adults in the place gazing at them, with red eyes. Clenched teeths, the PIs seemed to be in an impasse.