As per guest's request and CatalystOfTheSoul's persuasion, here's a followup chapter.
Wahboop, Monocheshaa, and CatalystOfTheSoul, I'm so happy this was just what the doctor ordered (^o^)
Thank you Kimera20, Extreme Light 9, Oracle-sama, Neeko96, and the regular KuriMaster13 and christhehopper for your kind words/emojis!
Takes place in Amity Park. Told from Valerie's POV, two days after the last chapter
Two on one. We had a good chance.
We were on a hill: the last patch of nature left in Amity Park after Vlad's "Modernization Movement." I'd pleaded with my dad around a week before to convince Vlad to leave it be. He eventually gave in and told Vlad that it was so close to Elmerton that the local government would feel threatened and shut him down, anyway.
The grass danced across my kneecaps like needles, or at least I hoped that was grass...
In front of me was an open field enclosed by a circle of trees: where Dani and I were hiding separated.
I'd almost fallen asleep after remaining hidden for nearly fifteen minutes. The heat wasn't particularly oppressive, but every passing minute in it had done its part in piquing my fatigue. It can't hurt to let my guard down a little. I turned away and leaned back against the boulder I'd been peeking out from behind.
My eyes shot open to the sound of feet crushing leaves. A short sigh escaped my mouth.
I couldn't see my attacker approaching me from above, but could tell by the rhythm of their steps that they weren't about to lie down next to me and embrace the warmth of the sun. The moment I could see a patch of their black hair through my peripheral vision, I back-flipped over the rock and her and put up two finger guns. "Bam! Bam!"
It must've been quite a shock, because she fell backwards and landed on her butt.
I couldn't see Dani's face because her back was to me, but I imagined her wide-eyed and open-mouthed, like a child who'd just been told their older sibling had eaten the last chocolate pudding cup.
Before either of us could say anything, a shift in the open field stole both of our attentions. Our target glanced at the two of us, and ran behind one of the trees.
"I told you to create a diversion while I attacked," accused Dani, getting back up on her feet. "What good is a distraction after?"
We'd been trying to corner a rabbit for the last two hours, following it all the way from Elmerton to here. Dani almost had it trapped, but it got away after she'd lost her focus when I mistook her for the rabbit.
I lowered my weapons. "You never told me when you were going to strike! I was waiting for a signal, or something."
Dani just shock her head. "Honestly, the fact you're one of the world's greatest ghost hunters boggles my mind."
I opened my mouth to retort, but decided mid-breath against it. Anything I said would just have been taken as an excuse.
Retort or not, a smirk peeked out from the side of Dani's lips.
There was rustling in the grass down the path I'd just taken. It didn't sound like human footsteps; it sounded like slithering. Crap. A snake. It was more after the Dani than myself, like it knew she'd put up less of a fight.
No one is dying unless I say so. I slashed my hand in front of Dani and latched onto the snake's head. I'd never seen a snake before, so I didn't know what to do next. I threw it across the field in panic, expecting it to come lounging at us once more; it just slithered away.
"Thanks, Val, but you know snake bites don't affect me." Dani's voice had a hint of ridicule in it. She'd changed to her ghost form.
I'd actually forgotten. Around a month ago, Ghost Defense lessons were added into the Casper High curriculum. One of the lessons was on ghost anatomy. The ectoplasm coursing through Dani's veins helped fight off poison.
I flinched at the realization. That entire time, it didn't once occur to me that I was goofing off with a ghost.
My face probably turned red from the embarrassment: I could definitely feel the blood tightening my nose. I wondered if this is how Danny felt on the first day of Ghost Defense class.
Maybe all ghosts aren't that bad? I almost had myself convinced, until my eyes fixated on the stylized "D" on Dani's top. So long as I wasn't having tea with Phantom. I still couldn't bring myself to forgive him for ruining my life.
A moment of silence later, the slithering returned. The slight breeze carried a rabbit's cry. Dani and I frantically looked around for a white lump accentuating on the green grass. All we could find was the brown snake slithering away into the forest, a big lump in its throat. The rabbit was nowhere to be found.
Reviews much appreciated!
For events from the Ghost Defense lessons, check out my other phic, Embarrassment Ensues :P
This is probably the last thing I'll be able to write before college starts next Monday, so sorry if I can't update as frequently as I have until now.
Feedback much appreciated!
