Chapter One-(Part 2): The First Date
Amity Park, August 1979

Ember was standing at school. Ahead of her stood Zack, the boy she only met yesterday. Other than him, the entire place was empty, completely silent. "Hey, Zack! Remember me? We met yesterday—I'm Ember!" Ember called excitedly. Zack didn't move or speak. The wind blew through their hair. "Zack? You okay?" Ember asked. He still said nothing, but this time, started to glide backwards. "Hey-where are you going? Zack-wait up!" Ember called. She tried to run after him, but, Zack kept moving backwards. She couldn't keep up, and eventually stopped to catch her breath. Zack kept moving until he was out of sight and reach. And then everything caught on fire. It was everywhere.

"Wh-What the-what's going on!" Ember said. The flames kept moving toward her, and ember kept backing up to avoid them. She bumped into a wall. She realized she was now in her room, and the flames were still approaching her. The relentless flames caught onto her hair, seared her flesh, and burned her body. She cried out in pain as the relentless flames roared with anger. Ember collapsed onto the floor, the flames now eating away at her body.

Just when she could stand more, a high-pitched, undeveloped death-scream of pure agony pierced the air, which made Ember scream as well. Death laughed in pure evil joy as he brought his scythe down to claim her life as a single realization came to her.

Dream. Ember instantly forced herself out and jolted up in her bed.

It was a dream, a nightmare. She felt her heart, which was pounding beyond belief. She felt her chest. It rose and fell with heavy breathing. She felt her face and ran her fingers through. "Thank God…just a nightmare." She said to herself. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Calm down, Ember. It's okay. That was terrible…What was that horrible scream?" She thought. Her 6:20 AM Alarm went off.

"Shut up you, I'm already up…" Ember said turning it off

She stretched, got out of bed, and got ready for the day. The smell of eggs and bacon filled the air as she went down the stairs. Ember entered the kitchen to find her mother, Clair Mclain, making breakfast. Clair Mclain was 32 Years old, and a half a head taller than Ember. Ember had gotten her widow's peak from her mother. Clair had green eyes and medium dark brown hair that was as just as long (if not slightly longer) as her daughters, but preferred to keep it up in a bun. Clair had her sweet side, but could play the strict mother card when needed.

"Good morning Emberline, one egg or two?" Her mother asked. "Don't call me that!" Ember snapped. "Whoa, sorry…somebody's grouchy this morning." Mrs. Mclain sighed. "My name is Ember." Ember insisted. "Hmm, well I could have sworn I named you Emberline." Her mother replied. "Well when I'm eighteen I'll fix that…Two eggs, please." Ember replied defiantly . Her mother scoffed. "You're impossible sometimes…"

Her full name was in fact Emberline Marissa Mclain. She was named after her Great Aunt Emberline on her mother's side that had died only three months before Ember was born. Ember hated the longer version of her first name. To her it sounded like an old ladies name. The name was shortened after Kathrin Mchalon called her "Ember" for the first time in Kindergarden. Kathrin said "Ember" sounded much prettier than "Emberline", and Ember whole-heartily agreed. Ever since then she refused to acknowledge her full first name. If anybody called her Emberline, she always demanded that they call her Ember.

Despite her hatred of her full first name, there was only one person in her life that she acknowledged when it was used, and that was her father. However even he rarely used it. Whenever he did it usually meant that she had gotten into trouble.

"Emberline, don't talk to your mother like that." He said sternly from the kitchen table lowering his morning newspaper.

"Sorry Dad." She apologized.

Thomas Mclain was a middle aged man in of 45 years. Although Ember bore more of a resemblance toward her mother, there was no question that Thomas was Ember's father. They shared a creative mind and love of music. Thomas was a full head higher than Ember, and had reddish-brown thin hair and blue eyes. As he sat at the kitchen table eating his breakfast while reading the paper, Ember's seven year old sister Emily came down and joined him.

Emily was a head higher than her sister's waist, and had just started the second grade. She too had a creative mind, but her joy was coloring things more than music. She loved her sister, but also loved to tease her as well.

"Morning Daddy! Morning Mommy!" She chimed cheerfully sitting in her chair at the table. "Good Morning sweetie. Here's breakfast." Mrs. Mclain greeted, putting her plate in front of her daughter. Ember sat down next to her sister and took a sip of milk. "Morning, Emberliiiiine!" Emily teased. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Ember demanded. "No shouting at the table, Ember." Mr. Mclain told her. "And be nice to your sister." Her mother added sternly.

"But she-"

"No buts. Here's your plate." Her mother said handing Ember her plate. Emily stuck her tongue out. "I hope you choke on it." Ember said quietly. "Emberline Marrisa Mclain that was not appropriate! Apologize to your sister, right now!" Mr. Mclain demanded putting his paper down. "You know I hate being called Emberline, talk to her not me!" Ember protested. "I call you Emberline and you don't seem to mind." Her father replied. "You're different, and I'm not apologizing." "Fine, if you won't apologize, you can forget about getting a new guitar for your birthday." Mrs. Mclain said cooly.

"Alright, alright! I'm sorry, Emily. There, happy?" Ember apologized unconvincingly.

"I forgive you….Emberliiiine." Emily teased again. "Will you two PLEASE do something!" Ember asked frustrated. "Don't call her Emberline, Emily." Mr. Mclain told her. "Say it right." Ember demanded. "Why?" Emily asked. "Because I said so-now say it!" Ember demanded again. "Say what?" Emily asked acting oblivious. "Say my name! Say it right!" Ember persisted. "No!" Emily refused.

"SAY MY NAME!" Ember demanded one more.

"EMBERLINE MARRISA MCLAIN THAT IS ENOUGH!" Mr. Mclain shouted abruptly as he slammed his paper down once more. "Your name is Emberline whether you like it or not, I don't mind you calling yourself Ember, but I will not tolerate you raising your voice to your sister at my table! Now stop it for goodness sake!" "Alright…" Ember said giving up.

"I hate parents…" She thought.

After breakfast, Ember grabbed her backpack and purse. School started in thirty minutes. She could get there by foot in ten, which gave her twenty to spend some time with her friends before school. She gave her Mom a hug, her Dad and sister kiss on the cheek, and just before she left, Emily stuck out her tongue once more. Ember scoffed and left without another word.

"Yet another abnormal Tuesday morning at the Mclain Asylum…" Ember thought.

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The lunch bell rang. "Finally…" Ember thought. "And don't forget to read chapter three class-test next week!" Reminded her English teacher. Ember left and headed straight for the cafeteria and found Katherine waiting for her at the cafeteria entrance. "What's on the menu today?" Ember asked walking up to her. "Something posing as meatloaf." Kitty said. "Johnny's already at the table. Come on we better get in line before it gets too crowded." Kathrin said. "You go ahead. I need to wait for someone." Ember told her. Kathrin raised an eyebrow. "Who?" "He's a boy a met yesterday after school. I told him he could eat with us today." Ember explained. "Ohhh…is he hot?" Kathrin asked. She looked around to see if Zack had come. She didn't see him. "Oh yeah…he's hot. A lot hot. He said his name was Zack Fenson."

"Fenton." Zack corrected from behind.

Ember jumped. "Oh my God-Zack!" She gasped. "Hi, Ember." He said with a smile. Kitty started laughing. "That better not become a habit." Ember teased. "Oh I don't know it just might…" Zack teased back. "Well?" Kathrin asked expecting something after she stopped laughing. "Oh, sorry." Ember apologized. "Zack, this is my best friend Kathrin. Kathrin, this is Zack." They shook hands. "Nice to meet you." They both said. "Come on let's get are food…line's beginning to crowd." Zack said.

Before they knew it, they had their food. "Would you like a cookie to go with that?" The old lunch lady said sweetly. "Sure." Zack answered. "WELL I'D LIKE A RAISE BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN EITHER!" The lunch lady screamed in his face.

"Ok…" Zack said surprised at the mood swing. "Enjoy your lunch!" The lunch lady said sweetly as they walked towards their table. "Sorry, I should have warned you about the Lunch Lady. She's kind of weird." Ember said. When they got to the table, Kathrin let out an annoyed sigh as she saw Johnny staring at the chest of a passing girl. "Johnny!" Kitty shouted. He immediately shifted his gaze at Kathrin. "Aw come on Kitten I was only looking-hey, who's the new guy?" Johnny asked quickly switching the subject. "Zack Fenton." Zack introduced extending a hand which Johnny shook.

"S'up. I'm Johnny." He said.

Kathrin, Ember, and Zack sat down. Zack had no trouble getting along with Ember and her friends. During most of lunch period Ember and Zack talked about everything they could fit in. They had only met briefly the other day, but they had already clicked. Kathrin spent most of lunch period keeping Johnny's eyes on her instead of the many attractive girls around them.

"What's up with you Johnny can't you talk with me for five minutes!" Kathrin asked as Johnny's gaze once again fell on an attractive passerby Cheerleader.

"Johnny!" Kathrin shouted again.

"Sorry Kitten, they're just for looks, you're my gal don't worry. You're the only one I have eyes for." Johnny said unsuccessfully trying to save himself while looking at yet another pair of breasts. "Are you talking me or her chest?" Kitty asked.

"Her chest-I mean you!" Johnny misspoke.

"Ugh! Fine, stare at her breasts all you want-I'm gone! Sorry Ember…See you around Zack." Kathrin said getting up and grabbing her purse. "Aw come on Kitten you know I'm crazy about you-come back!" Johnny begged. "We're done Johnny!" Kitty said leaving. Johnny went after her. "Not his best moment I'm guessing." Zack said. "Don't worry this happens all the time with them. They've been in love with each other since the fifth grade. Just wait, at the end of the day they'll be making out at the flag pole. Hey, speaking of after school, we always go to Nasty Burger after schools out on Tuesdays. I'd love it if you'd join us." Ember offered.

"I wish I could, but my driver license test is right after school." Zack explained. "Aw…" Ember sighed. "How about I make it up to you?" Zack offered. "How?" Ember asked. "Where's your favorite place to eat?" he asked. "Ohh easy, Papa Graziano's. It's an Italian restaurant on Main street. Great food, and not expensive either." Ember told him. "How about I take you there Friday evening? My treat." Zack offered. "Really? Ok sure! What time?" Ember asked. "How's seven sound?" Zack asked. "Sounds great to me" Ember said. "What time do you need to be home?" Zack asked. "My curfew is eleven at night on Fridays and weekends." Ember explained. "That works. We can get back before then easy. Friday at seven, then. I can't wait." Zack said with a smile.

The warning bell rang, and they both picked up their things and threw their trash away. "You are going to hang out with us again tomorrow right?" Ember asked. "Does that mean I'm part of the group?" Zack asked with a smile. "Definitely." Ember said. Zack walked her to class. After school Zack and Ember found Kathrin and Johnny making out by the school flagpole. Later that same day, Zack passed his driver's test.

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The next three days seemingly passed like lightning. Ember and Zack had bonded tremendously in the short time that they had knew each other. Papa Graziano's wasn't a completely formal restaurant, but she was going to be eating with Zack, and she wanted to look her best for him. After a long debate she decided on a simple casual black dress. It wasn't too fancy, but it wasn't too formal either. She was still putting on the final touches of her makeup when the doorbell rang. "Crap! That's him!" Ember said aloud as she finished touching herself up. She grabbed her purse, headed downstairs and answered the door. Sure enough, it was Zack.

"Hey there!" He said. Ember gave him a friendly hug. "Hey there yourself. Come on, let's get going before-" "Wait! Don't go off just yet!" Mrs. Mclain called as she rushed out of the kitchen with a camera.

"-exactly that happens…" Ember finished.

"You must be Zack! How nice to finally meet you! I'm her mother, Clair Mclain. Thomas! Zack's here come and say hello!" She called. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Mclain." Zack said shaking her hand. Mr. Mclain came out of the family room to where everyone was standing. "Nice to meet you Mr. Mclain." Zack said extending out a hand. He shook it. "Where are you two going off to again?" Mr. Mclain asked. "Papa Graziano's. Ember told me her curfew is Eleven o' clock on Fridays and weekdays. We should be back by around 10:30 ish." Zack told Embers parents. "We'll hold you too it." Mr. Mclain told him. Ember gave her Mom a hug. "Alright see you later Mom, bye-" "Hold on, Ember cant a mother get a picture of her daughter before she goes off on her first date?" She asked. Zack put his arm around Ember's waist as Mrs. Mclain raised the camera. "One, two, three!"

Ember and Zack smiled as the flash went off.

"Alright I won't keep you any longer, I know you want to get going. Be safe, and have a good time." Ember's mom told them giving Ember a hug. After Ember gave a goodbye hug to her Dad, she and Zack left.

…..

The wait to get a seat was only ten minutes. "So, what's good here?" Zack asked as they looked through the menu. "Pasta's good. I'm kinda bad…I love the Calzone's here, but I'm gonna steer away from it this time." Ember answered. "Nah, go on and get it. Eat what you like, that's what I always say. "Alright then, if you insist." Ember decided. "I think I'm gonna go for the Fettuccine Parmesan Portobello." Zack decided. "Sounds tasty." Ember decided.

After a talking for another minute or so, their waitress came. "Buona sera, welcome to Papa Graziano's! Can I get you something to drink?" She asked. "Sweetened ice tea, please." Ember requested. "I'll just have water." Zack said. "Okay, be right back." The waitress said with a smile. In no time at all, they had placed their orders and they were eating breadsticks. "Good breadsticks." Zack said swallowing a bite.

"I know, they're awesome. Problem is I always eat too many of them and can never finish my meal…" Ember confessed grabbing her third breadstick.

"This is my last one." She declared.

"Uh, huh." Zack teased. Ember had wanted to ask Zack about his family ever since she met him. Hunting ghosts was certainly a unique hobby, and she kept wondering what started it. "You said your family was into hunting ghost's right?" Ember asked. Zack finished off his second breadstick.

"No more for me…My family is more interested in studying them more than they are hunting them. Actually, to put it more accurately, they're trying to prove they exist." Zack explained.

"Oh? Why's that?" Ember asked.

"My family has always been interested with stuff like that. One of my ancestors was obsessed with condemning witches during the Salem Witch Trials, but all the ghost stuff actually began on accident." Zack told her.

"Really?" Ember asked, intrigued. "So my father says. He told me it all began with my great grandfather. He was on his way home by sea from a voyage to South America when it happened. At that time, he was in his mid-twenties. They still had seven days left at sea, when out of nowhere this oddly shaped portal opened up right in front of the ship. When they sailed through it the portal closed instantaneously trapping them in some sort of other dimension. My grandfather said in his diary that there were doors of all shapes and sizes scattered across green skies with swirling green mists, while giant land masses hung suspended in midair. They looked down the side of the ship to find they were floating through the air. There was no bottom, just endless swirling green mists." Zack told her.

"Whoa…how'd they get out-I mean-did they?" Ember asked.

"They did, but it gets weirder. They said they started to age rapidly. Somehow the mists were affecting them. They thought they were goners, but my grandfather said they were saved by a pale blue faced man in a purple cape and hood. He opened up another portal with some sort of clock staff and they sailed out, looking young again, and this is the really crazy part: when they arrived at the harbor, there were men saying that their ship just sailed out of sight." Zack finished. "Whoa, trippy." Ember said. "I know. After my great granddad got home, he became obsessed with finding that other dimension and the purple hooded man. He wasted his entire life endlessly searching for that world. He tried to build a portal of his own to the other dimension, but it never worked. When he was too old to continue his passed all his research down to his son, who passed it down to my dad, who passed it down to me and my brother Jack. Like I said before, I don't get involved with the ghost stuff. It's not me. Jack on the other hand is obsessed with our grandfather's work, and claims he's on the verge of completing a successful prototype Ghost Portal." Zack explained further.

Their food came and they began to eat. "So your brother, does he go to Casper high too?" Ember asked. "No, he's off at college. Jack's seven years older than me. He just turned 22. He's a whiz when it comes to technology I'll give him that, but he's also quite an idiot when it comes to common sense. Lately he's been working with a friend of his to build his prototype of a portal to the other dimension. With my brothers idiocy it'll probably just explode into his face." Zack laughed, and Ember laughed with him.

Throughout the meal Ember and Zack realized they had more in common than they had ever known. Zack looked down at his watch. "10:05…I better get you home." Zack said. Zack paid the bill, and they headed out. The lights were out when Ember and Zack pulled into the driveway. No surprise, everyone was usually in bed by nine. Zack walked Ember up to the door. "Thanks for dinner. I had a great time. We'll have to do it again sometime soon." She said fiddling with her keys as she looked into Zack's eyes. "Yeah…definitely." He said looking back into hers. "Guess I should go inside…" Ember said, leaning in closer to Zack. "Too bad. I wish we could hang out long-" Ember kissed him. Zack was surprised at first, but then accepted it. She retracted quickly. "I'm sorry-I shouldn't have-how stupid…never kiss on the first date…" She said looking down. "

"I like you too." Zack said smiling. He kissed her back. "Does this mean we're…a thing then?" She asked. "Do you want to be?" Zack said. "Maybe..." Ember said blushing. "I'll take that as a yes." Zack smiled. They kissed once more, and then Zack walked back to his car. "Goodnight, Em." Zack said. "Goodnight, Baby pop." Ember said blowing a kiss. She went inside, let her parents know she was home, and flopped on her bed. "Wow….what a day…." Ember said smiling. "I've got a boyfriend…wow!"

Death stared at Ember eagerly from the shadows, brought out an evil sliver hour glass with Ember's full name on it, and held up by its chain with a single thin bony hand. Notches were scratched on the glass each marked with another, 16 being at the top and 1 being at the bottom. Instead of sand, the hour glass was full of crimson blood—Ember's blood. It dripped down drop from the top chamber to the bottom slowly; each drop counting down to the very second Ember's life would evaporate. Death smiled. The blood in the top chamber had reached the final notch. He rose from the shadows unseen and unheard.

"One year left, Emberline. And then…you're mine." He whispered into her ear.