Chapter 2

The Boys are Back in Town

The sun was setting in the distance, caught between night and day as the red shift started to take hold and night began to greedily take its place in the heavens.

In a large grouping of clouds miles up in the sky three strange specters lounged among the pastels and neon color drenched clouds, the only sound at the moment was a whistling wind and the smallest of the three, who was snoring loudly.

Stretch, the self-imposed leader of the group lazily rolled over and stuck his head through the bottom side of the clouds. Nothing new at the house, accept-, "Hey! How long we been gone Fatso?" The wirey ghost asked as a cruel smile slowly stealed its way across his face

"Mmmmm, bought three days." Fatso replied, his attention, however, was on a small whispy cloud passing by, his eyes narrowing and a creepy sneer spreading across his wide face.

The clouds floated lazily around them and started to loose their brillance as the sun continued its retreat. Stretch resumed his previous position hanging hammock style from a small batch, floating and swinging as he contemplated.

"Got an idea?" Stinky asked with a yawn; he sat up from his little nest on the very edge looking down on the Earth below.

"I just realized sometin', ain't the doc's goody two-shoes daughter s'posed to be coming home today?"

"Yeah, so what?" Fatso said as he took a piece of the cloud he had been eyeing and attempted to eat it, he spit it back out and scratched his stomach, "Water weight-" he mumbled with frustration.

"Well, we haven't seen the little bone-bag since she was Casper's precious little sweet heart. Why not pay the unruly daughter of our incompetent doctor, and lonely heart neighphew a visit. We can reacquaint her with the closet."

Stretch was still swinging as he waited patiently for the unison, 'Ooooooh' of realization from his two brothers to chime out into the night sky.

When it finally dawned on them he smiled ruefully as his brothers started to laugh and came to float next to him, all eyes on the little blue Corsica below.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Kat walked the halls of Whipstaff with a fond and nostalgic air. It felt like this place was some long forgotten memory, and yet she'd been here on a short visit eight months ago. As she tried to recall all of the secret passages and the places her and Casper had gone to sit and talk, play cards or board games she came upon a familar suit of armor.

She had been so young; growing up here had really changed her views on a lot of things. Especially when it came to the supernatural and the occult.

Growing up with the ghostly trio hadn't been easy, especially when they teased her about her body, clothes or her awful attempts at wearing make up. She had been so insecure about herself then, so awkward and shy. The ghostly trio had always known exactly what so say to get under her skin and make her pull her hair out in frustration.

Kat had felt such relief when her father had told her the trio wasnt home upon her arrival. It had given her time to steal herself against their words and jabs. Having walked the Manor a dozen times already since her return, she recalled all the adventures her and Casper had gone on, as well as her constant battles with the Ghostly Trio, most noticeably their headstrong, cocky and obnoxious leader.

"Stretch-" Kat sighed as she sat down on the ground next to the suit of armor. She recalled with much embarrassment the last time she had run into him. The trio had not been present on her last four visits, always off scaring or traveling to distant places to cause problems and create chaos. She hadn't actually seen them in nearly four years.

Reaching behind the suit of armor Kat pressed in the right calf plate and smirked when a little door popped open to reveal a compartment.

Casper had showed her this small secret a long time ago when the ghostly trio had snagged her journal. They had been reading it like poetry and acting everything out as if in some Shakespeare and play. Needless to say her father had been red in the face and Kat had NEVER written about her possible love intereinterests again. After she had got it back, via a short game of Kat-in-the-middle, a small war had raged over the little purple book until finally, Casper had showed her this panel. He had been a life savor that day and had received a light kiss on the cheek for his cleverness.

Kat pulled the little purple book from its cell, it didn't look to bad, a little water logged but then again this house was old. She opened it and read the first entry. She smiled, "Wow, Carrigen-"

The vicious woman was in the 1st entry, this book was older than she thought. She read a little further and laughed, Dibbs, what an absolutely creepy and disturbed little man. He still had a reoccurring roll in her dreams, often times playing a fool or clown.

When she reached the entry about the school's Halloween party and her first real kiss, which happened to be with Casper, her brow furrowed as it often did when she was confused, scared or worried. She had loved Casper so fiercely when she had been younger, he had probably been her first love if she was being completely honest with herself.

Now, as she looked back over these youth filled pages she wished she could have stayed a kid and loved Casper forever. Kat looked at the ring on her finger, she had to tell Casper that she was engaged, and she had to do it soon. The wedding was in six months and she planned to get married out back in the gardens. That is, if Casper would let her, despite what Stretch said, it was Casper's house and all requests regarding the house went through him. Kat and her father had agreed upon that fact very quickly after coming here.

Kat had to tell him and she had to do it now. As she put the book back in its hiding place she heard a noise that nearly stopped her heart. She looked up and slowly glanced around, waiting for the all to expected gust of wind.

The windows at the end of the hall burst open and three different sets of laughter carried to her ears on the wind, echoing down the hall towards her. She slammed the door to her journal's safe house shut and scrambled to her feet before she sprinted down the hall.

"Damn it!" She cursed under her breath as she heard the ghostly trio enter through the window at the end of the hall, "OH KAT! DADDIES HOME!" she heard Stretch bellow after her, his brothers twittering with laughter beside him.

Stretch gave them orders to split up so Kat jumped down the stairs three at a time heading straight for the kitchen, and hopefully her dad.

"DAD!" She called, the upward inflection ringing in the large entryway.

James was sitting at the table reading the evening paper when she burst through the kitchens swinging door, "Whoa, bucket! What's got you upset sweat heart?"

"They're back! The stupid ghostly ass holes are back and they're trying to find me!" Kat said through gasps and pants of anger. The trio's laughter rang through out the manor, "FIND HER BOYS, RUN HER THROUGH!"

"Oh Bucket, don't worry, it's just there welcome home process-" Kat gave her father a get-real type of look and James cleared his throat before he amended, "I bet they missed you, ya know." He sounded and looked so certain until another voice was heard.

"Come on bone-bag! Time to get a hug from your uncle Stinky!" a belching sound with more laughter followed and Kat looked to her father with a wince and scrunched up nose.

"Look Kat, they still think you're that cute little girl that they scared all the time, just go out there and face them. Show them you are aren't going to be pushed around-"

"Or you could tell me where you put the vacuum- Kat said with a weak smile.

"Uh- no, I'm pretty sure that would just piss them off." Dr. Harvey said as he stood and gave her a hug, "You're pushing me to do this so they don't come after you today aren't you?" Kat asked flatly into her father's chest.

"Your sacrifice will be remembered forever. Now go and make peace, I am not the middle man any more." He gave her a soft push towards the doors.

Kat looked back at him with a glare but did as she was told. After all her father had a point, if she didn't stand her ground now she never would make any progress at all. How could she move across the country and start a life with her fiance if she couldnt even stand up to three dead guys.

Taking a deep breath Kat threw the doors open and walked into the main rooom. She stood at the center of the black and red swirl on the floor and she felt her confidence grow as she recalled her first night here.

"HEY! PILLOW CASES!" She called out loudly, "I'm right here!" Silence followed and as Kat waited, arms crossed and her nerve set.

Stand your ground, stand your ground, stand your ground, repeated itself over and over in her mind.

Then finally, at the top of the stairs she saw them, all three with swords, fancy looking war helmets adorning their heads. "CHARGE!" Stretch cried as the three lunged out into the air and swooped down gracefully.

With three blades pointed right at her she didn't think they would stop in time, but they hadn't killed her yet so she braced herself but kept her feet planted. As they reached her Stretch came to a screeching hurt, calling for his brothers to stop, "Hold it hold it hold it, that's NOT da Doc's kid."

"It's not?" Fatso asked scratching his head and looking at Kat with confusion.

"No, it ain't."

"Then who is it?" Stinky asked as he desolved his ghostly helmet into thin air.

Stretch and Fatso did the same, but the tall ghost retained his sword and pointed it right between her eyes.

"Who da hell are you!" Stretched yelled angrily as his eyes looked at her with such frustration her resolve almost vanished.

He looked confused and angry, like he was trying to see through her and into her at the same time but couldn't manage either.

Kat pushed the sword out of her face, narrowing her eyes, "Are you stupid?" she asked.

Stinky was the first to approach, "K-Kat?" he asked sounding alarmed and shocked.

The girl nodded giving them a strange look, she couldn't look that-, "Whoa- you look… different." Fatso said glancing over to Stretch who had a blank stare etched across his face.

Stinky and Fatso floated back a little as their leader moved in closer. An angry violet glare searched the girl's face and then his eyes slowly slid down her body. Kat folded her arms across her chest protectively but didn't waver in her resolve. His pupils dilated as they lingered on her hips and hidden breasts and she felt her stomach twist in anxiety. She could almost read him, after all these years she saw the gears in his head turning and she suddenly knew where his ghostly mind had wondered.

"Well what do you know boys, da Doc's kitten has become a cat. All grown up it seems, and apparently very well rounded." The cruel sneer that burned it's way across his face gave Kat goosebumps and the anxiety in her belly shot cool waves of discomfort up her spine. If he was going to go down this new Road of torment she was going to have to be prepared.

"Back off sleez ball. I'm not playing that game."

Stretch seemed to realize she was aware of his intentions to use her body against her and his eyes narrowed in a clever yet terrifying way, his hand shot out and icy fingers gripped her chin, "And what GAME are you refering to fleshie? I'm not aware of any game going on at da moment."

"I haven't been living under a rock, I've been at school, I know what your thinking Stretch, I can see it in your eyes and it isn't going to work. At least it won't on me, you're just like every other frat boy drop-out still hanging at the bars hoping to bang some drunk freshman. News flash beeky-" Kat pulled her chin out of his grasp and flicked his nose to emphasize her point, "I. Am. Not. Eye. Candy. Im not EASY either. I cant be scared anymore so I dont suggest you try." With that Kat turned on her heel and marched towards the kitchen.

As she disappeared into the other room Stinky said, "Wow, hard to believe the little fleshy grew up."

"Yeah, especially into something as hot as that. Hubba Hubba!" Fatso quipped, the two laughed and started to float away, however Stretch remained hovering in the air, not moving. Just staring at the closed doors that Kat had just disappeared behind.

A/n: This is setting everything up, Please keep reading!