Chapter 1 - Can't teach an old dog new tricks

Many think that when your a ghost you feel nothing - Its not true. When the building exploded and freedom was given, he felt the cold grass on his bare feet he felt the wind blowing through his tangled long hair he felt a new sence of power.

Ryan Kuhn - The Jackal - The eleventh ghost was finally free from his glass cell, and as he walked behind the naked body of the Angry Princess and the blood dripping body of the hammer, who even he would make sure not to brush past he couldn't help but turn his head, the sound of his cage that was situated on his head easily clanged as he blinked dark eyes that held no emotion behind them; those who had managed to look into his eyes said that, they saw a little boy in there lost and uncertain of his fate infront of an angry abusive uncle, others said that it was like looking into the eyes of the devil himself.

His upper lip twitched showing off yellow teeth that had never meet the brush of a toothbrush, a low growl passed through his lips that were badly scared from where he had ripped, the flesh off many years ago. Harold - The great child, shook his overly sized head as he gurgled a sound that his mother had learnt was a pathetic cry for help, she tightened her small hand around his much larger one giving his chubby wrist a firm shake before they both slipped into the darkness, leaving the Jackal to remain standing and growling like a dog who had their water bowl tossed in their face.

It was unclear at first what he was starring at, but at the sound of a young nanny screaming about quiting and glass crunching under her "going out" shoes it was clear who he was staring at; the Kriticos family.

The Kriticos had made a very lucky escape, with only physicall wounds from Ryan Kuhn and a breath taking insane story, they had not even discussed what they were going to do explain this to everyone. They had already been through so much, with the fire and now the power to see ghosts (thanks to the glasses that were unknown to the older Kriticos members, were hidden in the back of Robert's trouser pocket) all mentally agreed that it would be best to not tell this to anyone. No one would find out about the marks on either Arthur or Kathy, Arthur became they were on his back so no one would notice, unless they went to the beach, as for Kathy due to the cleaness of the cuts that were visible on her cheek bones and neck, she could state that she was petting a stray cat; this would not seem strange as she had a love for animals when she was very young.

Maggie re - joined them her over excited words had now become hushed, as she looked at the family that was slowly rising to their shaken feet, she saw that they were covered in soot, she herself did not have much on her due to not being in the explosion but close enough that she was lucky she still had both of her arms. Her curled styled hair rested against the back of her shoulder blades, as she walked towards Robert to help him stand up in his tiny trainers; she herself could not remember the last time she wore trainers like that. Dusting his clothing down with the palm of her hands, while taunting the whine that came from Robert as he exclaimed that it was cool to have dust on his clothing as when would he ever have another adventure like that again? Kathy helped her father being sure not to touch his back, but instead gripped tightly onto his arm in fear and excitment. Arthur watched with sadness in his eyes, he was sad because he had been given hope for his family to have a better life, sad because Maggie might be leaving them unless he saw a way to keep her. But he was also happy... He was able to see his wife and the broken emotional wound that was inside of him had been healed because she still loved him, even though he had failed to save her during the fire.

"Lets go home."

He whispered as he began to step over the chunks of metal that had been part of the machine, the soles of his shoes collecting the ash of the glass, the car remained intack something that made a full wieght remove it's self from his shaking shoulders.

The family did not argure or mutter any words instead they each took a door and climbed in, all expect Robert who had to be picked up, as even though he was tall enough to reach the handle he was not strong, enough to open the door that was longer than himself. As Maggie helped him into his side of the car which was just behind his older sister Kathy, they each failed to notice that the trunk of the car wieghed down a little. Arthur slipped the key into the ignition and started to the car, as he pulled out of the fresh tyre marked drive way, he began to make his way home; he was grateful that the lawyer had written up directions incase they were to become seperated in any traffic ques.

The Jackal was infact in the car situated in the trunk. His feet were pressed firmly against the rough carpet as his legs were pushed against his chest, while his arms wound around them giving himself comfort. The chains rested lazily by his hips and would slither back and forth with every turn, that the car would make. His dark black eyes were focused on the back of the heads of each passenger, watching the happieness that lingered in their eyes, thinking that their nightmare was over; according to The Jackal if he was still living a nightmare then no one else was allowed a happy time. He did not know how long they had been travelling, time was something that slipped past him even when he was standing below a grandfather clock; he did that once when he had wondered away from his old home, the Aslyum. His eyes did not miss the strange blurry lights that passed by, they were much brighter than any flame in a lattern, he would have tilted his head but it was rather hard to do when you were trapped in a cage; he hated the metal contraption that sat squarely on his shoulders, it was no wonder that he would sometimes slouch. If he was alive he knew that he would have fallen asleep, he remembered many times when his mother would have to travel that he would fall asleep in the cart even if the journey, was just ten minuetes, it was a wonder to him that she didn't try walking around with him in her arms to make him stop screaming when he was a baby. Jagged teeth began to grind creating a terrible noise, that was far to low for any meer human to hear if he was in a different situation he knew he would have cackled and giggled with glee knowing that he could do things, they could not hear, but instead he sat and watched with an expresion on his usual manic face that seemed to be a look of boredom; The Jackal was sulking.

Robert twisted himself in his seat, his eyes were closed calmly as he moved his head so that it was resting on the seat belt, causing his neck to be crained in an awkward angle, which would cause him to be stiff when he woke up, but he was far to out of it to realise. Maggie had followed Robert's example and to had fallen into a light snooze, leaving only Kathy and Arthur the ones were awake and looking longly at the road waiting to see their block of flats coming into view. Niether knew what to say to one another, the silence was awkward and yet welcomed at the same time; Kathy was thinking back on seeing her mother for the first time in sixth months, it was a shock but was also a relief to know that now her mother would no longer be tormented, and that she was just as beatiful in death as she was in life. Moving her backside against the seat she positioned herself so that she was no longer, sitting with a straight back but so that she was slouched, and her legs were slightly apart, it was not very lady like but then again she prefered to be herself rather than follow by the rules. Arthur did not notice as he focused on the road, not wanting to be put his famalies life in anymore danger.

"We're home"

He spoke in a calm voice as he pulled the car to an easy stop, unbuckling his seat belt he turned himself in his seat, as he looked towards his sleeping son and the ex nanny, who was starting to wake up letting out a small groan as she did so, as it was clear her body was not used to sleeping in such positions. Arthur had to tence his muscules up to prevent, himself from laughing as he thought it was funny. Maggie turned her head looking towards Robert, she smiled as she climbed out of the car, looking at Arthur.

"I'll get him."

Arthur nodded his head as he climbed out of the car followed swiftly by Kathy and The Jackal.

Cradling Robert in her arms Maggie walked behind Arthur and Kathy, as they made their way into the block of apartments she could not help but smile, this place was her home and though she had thrown a fit in the exploded house she knew that she didn't really want to quit she just hoped that Arthur would know this. Walking into the tiny apartment Maggie carried Robert into his room, where instead of undressing him as she knew that he hated it when ever she would do this, she gently placed him in his bed, with the covers tucked underneath his chin, dragging her fingers through his mop like hair, she switched on his nightlight that was situated just behind the small bedside table which was covered in his comic books along with a single photo of his mother, who was sat on an old rocking chair cradling young Robert in her arms smiling like the proud mother that she was. Turning her head she looked in the corner of the room, seeing a replicar of the rocking chair Arthur was able to buy it three months after the fire, as Robert had many nightmares about his mother dying and Arthur sitting in the chair while cradling Robert was the only thing that would calm him down.

"Night Robbie"

She whispered as she turned off the main light and lightly closed the door, before she walked into the kitchen where Kathy was getting herself something to eat which happened to be, a plate of cookies with a cool glass of milk.

Robert was not really asleep. He had become a grade A student at faking it. Pushing the covers slowly away from his body, he seated himself up a small frown came over his lips when he felt something pressing against his bottom. His hand moved down as he slipped his small hand into the pocket, pulling out the glasses, that he had used when he was running away from 'The Bound Woman' he blinked in confussion before he turned his head looking at his closed bedroom door he smiled in a childish manor. He did not think that wearing the glasses would cause himself any harm, he slipped them on and looked around; gone was the glowing writting, gone was the strange cubes that were open allowing monsters to escape and chase him. But there was something in his room that was out of place, he looked at it with the glasses on, his line of vision was focused on the rocking chair, he remembered what it looked like even when he was sleeping, perfect oak tree brown, with a red and golden patch work cushion situated on the center. But this time there was a man sat on the chair, his legs were wide open exposing a damp patch over his crotch area, his feet were bare and sore looking, his body coated in a thick broken straight jacket with chains that were resting on the arm of the rocking chair, and a broken cage that was resting over his head, causing only the front part of his face to be on view. The face was terrifying, dark eyes and a dog like grin on chewed scarred lips.

Robert then slipped them off, the rocking chair was back to normal there was no scarey man in a straight jacket with a cage on his head, he blinked as he slipped the glasses on again this time his mouth hung open in shock, he wanted to scream for Maggie and Kathy but ended up being pinned against the bed, with a cold dead hand covering his mouth and long fingernails inches away from pincing his flesh on his cheek bone. The Jackal looked down at Robert with a twisted grin showing off his teeth, he could see tears prickling in Robert's eyes which only caused his grin to become much larger.

"Hush little kiddie"

He hissed in a high pitched voice as he leaned himself closer, that the cold cage was just inches away from the quivering boys head.

"I'm not going to hurt you"

The Jackal had not put himself away in the aslyum because he acted young children, he put himself away because he murdered women, he could not recall a time that he had ever hurt a child even when he was dead. Sure he had scared them but never physically harmed one.

"I-"

He stopped talking when he heard the sound of someone coming towards the bedroom door, he quickly fanished leaving Robert to lay there dazed before he ripped the glasses away from his face, and hide them under his pillow just seconds before Maggie walked in holding a plate of cookies and a glass of chocolate milk; Robert hated regular milk. Maggie smiled as she walked into the room placing the plate and glass on the bedside table.

"I thought you would be awake little man, so I thought-"

She stopped talking when she noticed that Robert had tears, in the corner of his eyes. Positioning herself at the side of the bed, she seated herself down as she rubbed at his hair even started to feel his forehead to see if he had a high fever.

"Everything okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

Robert did not want to tell Maggie the strange man that he had seen, so he only nodded his head - well it was close to the truth. Maggie smiled as she picked up the plate of cookies setting on his lap, Robert straight away forgot about the ghost and began to nibble on the cookies as Maggie watched him sometimes teasing him by trying to steal a cookie away from him.

The Jackal had gone back to sit in the rocking chair, watching with a careful glance starring at Maggie the ex nanny, wanting nothing more than to slit her throat open with his own nails, to feel her warm blood run down the palm of his hand, but he forced himself not to think this, knowing that he would need the boy alive and unemotionaly scarred from his murder style if he would get what he wanted.