Ch.3 - Rust
I still stared at where Andy had faded into the background.
I can only make him visible to you for short periods of time.
"That's okay," I sniffed and wiped my nose. "He told me what I needed to hear."
Speaking of hearing, there is something with us.
"Something wicked this way comes." I said, spotting shambling skeletal figures. My eyes narrowed at the sight, I knew they were here to claim the spirits of the recently deceased. I had spent enough time with Anup to know that what comes after death doesn't care about what you did in life. They were merely scavengers, living off of the leftover life force.
You'll need the staff, Jace.
"Yes, I will." I held out my left hand and felt a staff appear there, solidified from spirit. I swung it around my head and slammed the base into the ground.
It was black and smooth. It was not metal or wood, but some strange mix of the two. An ankh topped it, the two outward facing pieces sharp blades. The circle at the top held a small black stone that shone the same colored light.
I swung to my left and severed one of the figures in half, watching as it dissolved into whatever came after death. Anup leapt forward, covered in what appeared to be smoke and tearing at any enemy he came within reach of.
I swung forward and severed another, happy to let Anup have his fun while I just kept the ones that came near away. I could here ghostly wails across the cemetery and watched as Anup blasted the smoke forward, anything that it touched instantly dissolving.
The moon was shrouded by a cloud and I swung around me blindly, feeling the impact several times.
"Anup! Let them have that half of the cemetary. We can't let something fester and become stronger than they are already."
Ruining my fun now?
"Not ruining, just limiting." I replied, kicking one of the shades in its jaw as I swung the staff around over my head in intricate patterns.
You were born to lead, and use a staff!
"I don't know about the leading thing, but I agree with the staff. I love this thing!"
Soon all the things on our half of the cemetery were decimated. I watched as the other half milled with them, chuckling every time one got to close and was blasted with the ghostly smoke for it.
"Tomorrow – or is it later today? - I am going to go look for housing."
Hmm... Can it be near a graveyard?
"Definitely."
The next day came faster than I thought it would. I ran into town, Anup at my heels. We had done this many times and had the explanation ready. Anup was simply a hybrid between Jackal and black lab. I reached the library without realizing it and was surprised that I wasn't out of breath. I guess track, cross country, and free running improved the stamina.
I set my staff against the wall and flipped the blades, hiding them in the staff while the dull parts still stuck out. Not threatening, yet still deadly.
I walked in with Anup, ignoring the no dogs sign. The librarian loved dogs and had a sweet spot for Anup. I logged onto one of the computers and quickly brought up global housing listings. I entered into the required fields information I felt necessary and then watched as my results poured in.
Nebraska. one bedroom, two bath, 20,000 square feet. $400,000.
Pass.
Tennessee. Four bedroom. One bath. 10,000 square feet. $200,000.
Pass.
Bejing, China. One bedroom. One bath. 5,000 square feet. Equivalent of $200,000
Pass.
I could here Anup letting out contented yips as the librarian scratched his chin. Unchecking the boxes for US and China, I also undid the boxes for other countries that didn't speak English as the main language. Click, click, click, click, loading.
Montreal, Canada. Two bed. Two bath. Equivalent of $300,000
Pass.
Hescombe. Four bedroom. Two bathroom. Equivalent of $50,000
Finally!
I clicked on the option and read through the more in depth information.
'Hescombe is a small community and is on the verge of becoming a green community. 565 Grave Rd. is a larger house for the neighborhood, but fits in well. There is a renovated basement with one room and one bathroom. The main floor has an open floor plan with a large kitchen and sunken living area.
There is also a side, entertainment room with closet space. The upstairs holds three bedrooms and one bathroom, all spacious. The house is only a stones throw from the beach. In the other direction is the graveyard, where the road gets its name.
Impressing, but why was it so cheap? Probably for being in a small community...
Hescombe. A town on the brink of eco-sustainablity. Many Green projects and environmental protections have been put in place recently. An elementary school is located inside the city while all higher levels go to Chartmouth.
A lot of bad weather has been called to attention in recent years. Events include a tornado, and a few major storms... blah, blah, blah.
I clicked the 'Place Offer' button and clicked $40,000. I then brought up the sight for Chartmouth and was redirected to the school. Seems that the year started next week. I applied and brought the page back to the house, meaning to scan through the pictures. Instead, I found an 'Offer Accepted' notice.
I was moving to Hescombe.
…
One week later I was in Hescombe in front of the house. After purchase I had been informed that it came fully furnished.
I walked to the door, Anup at my heels, but was intercepted by a neighbor.
"Oh my, here you are. Welcome to the neighbor hood. You do know that this house is haunted, right?" She stuffed a tray laden with all sorts of pastries and sweets into my arms and I almost toppled backwards.
"Haunted? Haven't heard that."
"Oh, it's true! The owner twenty years ago hung himself, God bless, and since then no one has lived in the house for more than a year!"
I just grinned. "That makes it all the better!"
She frowned and patted her apron down. "Aren't you a little young to be moving in on your own?"
"I'm not on my own, I have Anup here." I stated, putting the 'Don't you dare say any more' tone in my voice. She just looked at me disapprovingly, then scuttled away.
Haunted and a graveyard down the road. Sounds fun!
"You bet." I replied, opening the door.
Eh... Not the best chapter ever, but I like it. How many people want to see more? And how many of those people are in the RP and wouldn't mind me turning it into a story form?
