An alarm went off by Zeeki's bed. He groaned as he slapped the little clock, causing it to stop. He stretched under his blanket before getting up and heading to his bathroom across the hall.
As he entered he saw himself in the bathroom mirror. He saw his dark untamed raven hair coving his right eye like normally. It was hiding his other cool blue eye. He saw his tanned skin being covered by his gray shirt and shorts.
He sighed tiredly before brushing his teeth and trying to tame his hair. After ten minutes of only brushing the top part of his hair and moving his hair out of the way, he decided to give up and get dressed.
Before he could leave he heard a knock at the door and a shout "Get out of their Zeeki before I strangle you!"
He chuckled before saying "Alright Natalie, wait up."
He opened the door to see his younger sister Natalia, tapping her bare foot against the cold wooden floor. She had the same dark hair as him but longer. She was four years younger than him, making him the middle child. She was in pink pajamas and her brown eyes were staring up at him, annoyed.
He messed up her hair before saying "It's all yours."
He instantly left to his room before his sister could attempt to kick him. Zeeki and Natalia had a good relationship as siblings should. They both hated each other but loved each other enough to not kill each other in their sleep.
Zeeki quickly ran to his closet, pulling out and changing into his gray t-shirt, dark blue jeans, combat boots and his red coat. He was in a rush because he knew his older sister Amy would kill him if he and Natalia were late.
When he finished he looked at himself in the mirror. All Zeeki saw was a normal teen in his junior year of high school. That's when a thought a curried to him. Amy was still living with him, Natalia and their parents. She hasn't moved into a dorm like every other college student.
He pushed the thought out of his mind as he heard Amy. She was shouting "Hurry up you two! Breakfast is ready and we only got 15 minutes before we have to leave!"
Zeeki rolled his eyes before running out of his room and hopped down the stairs, passing Natalia in a red shirt, light blue jeans and navy sweater. The two raced each other to the kitchen, almost running over their mother.
"Slow down you two." She said calmly.
Her name's April Holen. She's relatively young for someone who graduated early from college, earning her degree in engineering. She has a thin figure hidden under her normal yellow jumpsuit that protected her from fire and electricity, normally that's the danger of working with bits and pieces of metal and wires. She had dark hair that was cut low and blue eyes like her two youngest kids.
"Watch it!" said Amy angrily, sitting at the table that almost toppled over by the two.
Amy was much like her mother. She had dark brown hair that went down to her lower back and same figure. Only difference is her eye color; light brown like her father's. She had on dark blue jeans and her college sweater; it being dark blue with a burly cartoon man wielding a heavy pickaxe.
"Now kids, settle down." Said their father, now walking into the kitchen.
He's a burly man wearing a checkered shirt tucked into his dark blue jeans. He had light brown eyes like Natalia and Amy's, and had dark black hair that was graying. Victor Holen wasn't old. His doctor says it's due from stress. He did worked hours on end defending his home from stray ghosts and being a paranormal expert. He has been frustrated with not knowing the source of the ghost's attacks in El Paso, their home. He and his wife worked hours on end trying to find it, working together, but there was no such luck. Only proof of their hard work over the years was several ghost-catching gear they created and a little portal to the Ghost-Zone that they only use to send some ghosts they find back into their own world, it was all just semi-collecting dust in the basement. After all that time it seems Victor was the only one affected by the long hours.
The two listened and sat down quietly, looking at their bacon and eggs. Their father smiled as he walked in, greeting them all properly.
Mr. Holen sat down with his kids while April was washing the pans she used to cook breakfast. Zeeki knew where this was all going to so he tried to eat his breakfast as fast as possible.
His father cleared his throat before asking "So kids, how's your morning going?"
"Good." They all said simultaneously, knowing the routine their father always does.
"Amy, have you fully decided on what you wanted to do after college?"
"Yes," she said tiredly "I'm going into the field of biology."
"Natalie?"
"Told yea dad; I'm gonna be a doctor." She said before drinking her milk.
"And you Zeeki?"
Zeeki looked up at his father, bacon and eggs filled his mouth and keeping him from answering. He hated it when his father did this. He keeps pushing one of them to continue his life's works but the truth was, none of them wanted too. True fully Zeeki wanted to become an astronaut but knew the chances of that happening was ten to a thousand, so he kept trying to find something else he would like doing in the future but found nothing other than drawing, singing and acting. Which were all frowned upon by his father?
He swallowed before saying "Well, I… uh."
Amy felt her brother's discomfort and said "Well look at that, it's time to go."
Zeeki picked up the rescue idea and added "Oh yeah! Can't be late for school!"
"But I-"Natalia was going to protest. She wasn't done with her breakfast and she wanted to see her older brother squirm some more.
"Love yea!" Amy and Zeeki said to their parents before grapping Natalia and their bags before leaving out the front door and into Amy's car.
When they were all buckled up, the two oldest in the front, they drove down the street. Leaving their two story house and down to their schools.
Zeeki relaxed in his seat and said "Thanks Amy."
"No prob lil' bro." she said, half smiling. She cared for her younger siblings and hated it too when she was growing up with their parents.
Natalia gaged at them, not liking the heart to heart moment and said grumpily "You guys owe me."
Amy dropped Zeeki off first, since Socorro High School was closer. Socorro was an old school that has normal ghost attacks, like any other schools now. It had three entrances; two front ones that led to the main office and the other led to both the library and the preforming arts wing. The last entrance was the back, near the clock tower they had.
Zeeki gave his two sisters a wave before heading through the second entrance and heading for the library to meet up with his friends.
He carried his navy blue backpack into the building, ignoring the other teens. You see Socorro, like all other schools, had a popularity chart. It's simple; your either popular or not. Each had their branches like in the popular side was the Jocks, Plastics, Actors and Student Council. If you're not them then you're in the other half as a Geek or Nerd of something they don't like, Druggy's, Gothics and Losers. There is middle to all of this and it had many but there were three students that were so close to both sides to the popularity chart. That was Zeeki and his two best friends.
Zeeki made it to the back of the library and found said friends. Toby, the nerd of the three, was using his PDA.
Toby was the "King" of nerds. Not because he was more of a mess then all of them but that he was more athletic and was liked by a small few of the popular people. He had glasses that were thick enough to deflect light with ease, short cut hair that was covered by a red beanie he always wearied but the teachers always made him take it off. An orange and cargo jeans with pockets full of gadgets he either bought or made himself. He was also the only few African Americans in the school.
Zeeki's other best friend was sitting on the table, her combat boots dangling on the edge.
Coralline, or Cory for short, was part of the Goths. Only she's the most social of them all so they all considered her as their "ambassador" to the popular people and recruiting new students if they wanted. She had long black hair that stopped at her upper back. She had a Huntress T-shirt that was hidden under her Camo-Jacket. She had a dark purple bracelet that was almost as dark as her black lipstick. She had dark black jeans that were always questioned by the female teachers at Socorro since most girls in the school wore either shorts or skirts.
Zeeki's spot in the whole popularity chart would be with the Loser. He had talent in a lot of things that could easily get him in the popular side of the chart but he decided not to show those sides, being shy and a bit anti-social.
They all have been great friends for years. They grew up with each other and were practically family. Even when their interests in the other gender bloomed, they all stayed as best friends and created boundaries. Though Coralline had stretched her boundaries of Zeeki's more than Toby's.
She smiled at Zeeki and said "Finally," in a mocking tone.
Zeeki chuckled "Glad to see you too Cory. Sup' Toby?"
Toby looked up and said cheerfully "Hey dude!"
Zeeki set his bag by Toby's satchel and Cory's black backpack. The two always hang out in the back of the library before school started. It was their way of relaxing and for the jocks and plastics couldn't find them.
Toby was the first to pick up a conversation "So did your dad do it again?"
"Yup," Zeeki said, hitting his head on the table they were sitting at "He won't stop."
"Has your mom done anything to stop him?" Cory asked, messing with Zeeki's hair. It annoyed him and she liked it when he fixed the little mess she makes.
Zeeki pulled his head up and mumbled "Stop that!" before fixing his hair and saying to them "She's actually with him on this. The two been working so hard that they practically have a future for one of us to take over."
The bell rang, signaling that the school day was starting and they only had a few minutes before they had to get to class.
"Don't worry," Cory said, grabbing her bag and messed up his hair one last time before saying "I'm sure they'll lay off eventually."
"Yeah!" Toby agreed "If you find something to do with your life then I bet they'll leave yea alone."
"That'll be being a total loser!"
The three turned around from where their bags once were to find Gary, star quarterback. He had blond hair that was longer than Toby's but shorter than Zeeki's. He had muscles to make him look like a senior but really he was just like the three. By his side was Chris; his own best friends. He too was part of the football team so they both had their letterman jackets with a football sown on to the S. Chris had brown hair that was in a buzz cut.
Zeeki sighed and said "Lay off Gary."
Gary laughed and so did Chris. When they stopped Gary said "Why should I? It's only true."
Zeeki was starting to get mad. He could probably handle Gary on his own, his parents did teach him self-defense but not when Chris could be there to help. For sure he couldn't ask Toby for help or Cory.
They all stood there until another voice said "Mister Basel and Cong please leave to your class now before I give you both detention."
They turned and saw Mr. Baxter. He was middle aged man, starting to bold and always wore a casual suit. He made a self-duty to help and protect students from bullies like Gary and Chris away from people like Toby, Cory and Zeeki, mostly Toby. But he didn't want to look soft to anyone so he always acted harsh on all the students so the bullies would listen to him and for everyone else wouldn't think of him as a push over.
The two nodded before leaving. Gary shot Zeeki his normal "You're dead" look and the three sighed in relaxed tones.
Zeeki smiled and said "Thanks Mr. Baxter."
"Mister Holen, Mister Kona and Miss Rosaline; you all better leave two or you'll be late to class."
"Oh right." The three said as they all left the library and to their home rooms.
The day passed by normally with the three best friends. They dodged bullies and annoying plastics while also surviving the cafeteria food and passing classes.
It was all slow in Zeeki's fifth period; English Class with Mr. Baxter. He was doing what he always does in the class; day dreaming and looking out the window in his seat when he was supposed to be taking notes.
He kept staring off into space until Mr. Baxter spoke to him from the front of the class, grabbing everyone's attention. "Mr. Holen, please tell me why you're not writing this down?"
He snapped out of his trance and saw everyone staring at him. He hated being the center of attention and hatted it even more when Mr. Baxter does this sort of thing.
The raven haired teen sighed, readjusting in his seat. "Because sir-"
He was cut off by the sounds of an alarm. It was deep and menacing meaning it was the Ghost Bell. Everyone started to panic before Mr. Baxter shouted at them. "Everyone exit in a calm fashion now!"
Everyone knew the drill, but they couldn't help but run. The last time they walked calm was when a kid named Kenny almost died to a couple of ghosts. So they all ran for it with Mr. Baxter at their tails, minus Zeeki.
The three friends had a plan for this; they would all meet by the library when this always happen, so they knew they were all safe and thanks to Zeeki's parents, unfortunately, the each learned a few things for defending against most ghosts. So he broke away from the class and ran for the library, dodging crowds of running students. He was almost there until a green octopus like ghost blocked his path. Zeeki wasn't afraid of ghost but he really hated them, thanks to his past experience when he was little.
He sneered, making a disgusted and irritated face. "Oh great, it's you again."
That octopus ghost was the very first ghost Zeeki had ever seen. He was barely a toddler but remembered exactly how it looked, remembering it appearing in his bedroom, scaring the hell out of him before his father could help and send it back into the Ghost zone.
He then ran the other way, running back to his classroom. He was then meet by a cross road. One hall was empty that lead to the preforming arts wing and to a dead end, the other was too led to his classroom and eventually the emergency exit, but it had another ghost but human like.
She had green skin and a blue dress with blonde hair. She was floating and Zeeki knew going down there wasn't a good idea, so he ran the other hallway, hearing the octopus ghoul and now a… dragon behind him?
He kept running until he made it to the preforming arts wing, searching desperately for a hiding place. He tried the doors leading to back stage of the theater but sadly they were locked. So were the ones to the band room, choir room, black box, and art room.
"Damn it!" He shouted as he tried to open each and every door.
He was about to run back but stopped in his tracks when he saw a dragon at the other end. Its scales were a black inky color, mixed with a dark purple. Its horns were a deep ghostly green with dark purple claws. It had purple flames coming out of its nose as it stared down at its prey.
Its eyes widen and soon the green skinned women appeared near it saying worryingly, "No, it can't be…"
"Silence!" shouted the dark dragon at his sister. Zeeki could only hear the women speak. As for the dragon, he could only hear snarls and small roars.
The dragon continued "It couldn't be him. There's no chance he survived. Even if he did, he's dead now!"
The dragon notched its head at Zeeki and released a blast of ghostly fire that was mixed into an ecto-beam. Zeeki stared at it wide eyed and tried to run but he couldn't, paralyzed by fear.
He didn't have time try and block his face or stomach area with his hands as the attack hit him, burning his skin, clothing, hair and just about his existence. Zeeki opened his eyes wide and made a blood curtailing scream. He was in pain, but not in normal pain that you would normally get from getting hurt physically, but also mentally. His DNA was in pain as it absorbed the ectoplasmic power. Zeeki felt the stinging pain in his essence as it changed, almost hearing it tear and wave around but he couldn't hear it, only his screaming reached his ringing ears. His mind was being ripped apart, as if something was seeping into his subconscious. He kept screaming until the attack finally stopped.
He opened his eyes tiredly and smelled something burning; he guessed it was his hair being singed off his body. The dragon and green skinned women didn't react at first, obviously full of fear from what they just seen.
The green skinned woman was obviously terrified and somewhat relieved as she screamed. "It is, it really is him!"
The black dragon's eyes widen before speaking to the woman. "Quick, we must flee and attack another day!"
Zeeki's eyes widen as he realized he just heard the dragon speak. He didn't understand it before and now… it was starting to scare him.
The two ghosts fled, both disappearing through the ceiling and out of sight. Zeeki stared up at them and felt his knees get weak. He looked at them and saw his leg were in what looked like a black jumpsuit. His sneakers were now gone and were replaced by another type of shoe he had never seen before, possibly some kind of boots? As he tried to touch them he saw that his hands and arms were also in the same type of clothing and gloves. He stared at his limbs until looking at the theater entrance.
He looked at the little bit of reflection the door's little window was giving off and he saw his face. He was paler and his once dark raven hair had turned into a snowy white. He looked into his blue icy eyes and closed them tight, hoping it was just a dream induced comma but as he opened them he no longer saw his icy blue, but instead a pair of ghostly green ones.
He stared at himself for a moment before mumbling under his tired breath. "I'm… I'm a… ghost?"
He started to panic as he stepped away from the door, trying to comprehend how he became a ghost or if he was dead or if he was just knocked out. His mind was racing a thousand miles and suddenly stopped when suddenly felt tired. His knees started to give in and the pain from the blast was starting to kick in. Zeeki fell to the ground, breathing hard and heard his heart beat go faster before going slower and slower. His vision grew dark as he drifted off into a comma.
Greetings reader! I like to thank you for taking the time to read this story and I hope that you will stick around till the very end of it. Please do leave a comment/review on this story of your thoughts. I'd like to hear/read your comments to either improve or know how the story is going.
Now I bid you all farewell until the next chapter!