A/N:
Hey, everyone and welcome back.
I'm really, really happy every time I open my account because I see all of your reviews and it's just Awesome! So thank you all so much and I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 11:
Bunny barely has time to take notice of the sudden drop in temperature as Jack slams his staff on the floor before he gets quite distracted by the wall of ice appearing out of nowhere and Moments later, Jack pushing against his chest.
The Australian stumbles backwards but before he falls over completely, Jack grabs his elbow and drags him with him to the side.
``To the right! Run!´´ He yells towards the other guardians, he's already moving, pulling Bunny along.
The others don't question his order, they just start running.
``How many, Jack?´´ Tooth yells dogeing a random rock and glancing over her shoulder.
``six! Aaand They split up, ...Fuck!´´
``Jack! You've got tell us what to do!´´
``I'm trying to come up with something hold on...´´ He turns around and starts running back first.
He stretches out his right hand
``Frosty! What...´´
Bunny is cut of by a wiered Sound, sort of like someone turned on a faucet, he turns and stares in the direction Jack#s pointing his arm in, the wall of ice is... liquefieing. It disappears into the earth only to reappear, frozen again, Moments later about two feet behind Bunny, a split second before something slams into into it with so much force cracks start to form.
This time the ice keeps growing until it's a cubical.
Bunny can't see it, but it is trapping inside it a particularly bloody specimen whose fingers were only a few inches from the Australians face, luckily it hit the ice instead. Luckily, because if it had actually made contact with the guardians skin he would have died within half an hour. Unless treated by the AGGA-medics, cleansing him of the "lingering death" which is what the AGGA calls the leathal effect of the ghost's touch. It's not a pretty thing.
``Now there's Five! Until it gets free of course.´´
``I can't believe ya let one get that close ta me!´´
``This is my first time doing this with a team so, shut up and throw that Boomerang of yours! The oak slightly to your left, behind you! Straight at it!´´
Again, no questions. The Boomerang is airborne before Jack's even finished talking, only it doesn't hit the tree, it slams against... Air. Again, for Jack, the boomerang takes out another spirit which was floating right in the weapon's path.
``Congrats Fluffy, you just got them down to four!´´
``I lost one of my weapons!´´
``Calm down, I got it.´´ Again ice shoots out of the floor, this time right underneath the Boomerang, throwing it towards the guardians.
Bunny stops running turns around and catches it, he grins: ``Awesome mate!´´
The frozen cubical bursts.
``Back to five´´
``Ve cannot keep running, Jack.´´
What are they doing?
No answer is required as in that moment a nearby boulder at least half North's size rises from the floor.
``Sandy, Duck!´´ Tooth screams.
The smallest guardian choses the quickest way and just lets himself drop straight to the ground, he's missed by inches.
`` Alright guys. Stop running!´´ Jack orders confidently.
``What?!´´ Is the unanimous ridiculed shout that meets him.
``Just trust me! And do exactly as I say! Tooth, three steps to the right, there's one coming towards y...´´
He interrupts him self and thrusts forward his hand, and icicle flies forward and again hits what appears to be empty space.
Of course what it really does is burrow itself in an apparitions chest making the brittle exposed rip cage cave in, the apparition flickers and disappears, not permanently, of course, not until the remains burn.
``Tooth your dagger, swing in a half circle at about waist height, now!´´
Jack doesn't stop to watch as the daggers hits the sternum of a middle aged man who appears to have been burned alive, effectively severing him in half.
``Thr...´´ Jack turns towards the rest triumphantly, immediately his expression changes: `` North! block your head!´´ Jack screams.
The Russian flinches but wastes no time in raising one of his swords in front of his head and instinctively performs a defensive pattern in the air in front of his chest with the other one.
He feels the pressure of something pushing against the blade protecting his head as though something had slammed into it.
``Jack!´´ He yells ``What now?´´ ``Do that with your second sword again, a bit higher´´
North does so, three times in a row, in fact, just to be sure.
``Did I get it?´´ The Russian pants feeling the resistance against his weapon disappear.
Jack doesn't bother answering now that the danger to Norths live has exploded into nonexistence, he stares around, searching for the last ghost.
```Where...?´´ Oh, Fuck.
``Bunny! Forward!´´ The Australian guardian throws himself forward, just in time to avoid Jacks second Icicle.
This ghost emits a deafening scream as the icicle crashes into it's forehead and yet another spirit bursts. Jack clasps his hands over his ears and groans. Freakishly loud dead guy dying.
``Frosty?´´ Bunny asks. The others move towards the newest member of their team, unable to hear the sound.
``Are you alright? Are they gone?´´
Jack glances around and sighs in relief. ``I'm fine... Alright.´´ he pants ``Um, What about you guys?´´
``It's seem we're fine too...comparatevily. What now?´´
``Uh,´´ Jack hesitates nervously, the ghosts will come back any Minute now.
No time to think, No time think...
``Uh´´ he sttters still slightely out of breath. His eyes scan the landscape for anything helpfull.
``Alright, Ok, Ok. They'll be back... They'll... Be back. We need to...´´ Again he stops, still looking around frantically. There!
``That hill!´´ He points to a steep elevation on the ground a few feet in front of them ``Let's... Hide behind that, we'll see from there.´´
And they're running again, sliding down the backside of the hill and cowering behind it, just in time.
Again Jack hears that damned screech and takes that as a sign that at the very least that ghost has already formed again.
Once more, all of the guardians stare at Jack looking for a plan. ``What now?´´
``Well, as long as we stay here they probably won't find us, they generally just forget your existance if you hide while they're... temporarily vaporised.´´
We can't stay here forever.
``I know, I'm thinking.´´ Suddenly his face lights up and he grins.
``Tha' expression really isn't appropriate, at the moment, mate.´´
``Yes actually, yes it is. Sandy, if you were,´´ Jack turns towards the mansion, mouth moving silently as though calculating something. ´´...about 150-160 feet above the ground, could you pick up something with your Sand from that height?´´
Of course I could, but I'm carrying the bags, I can't do two things with my Sand at once.
``I know, but I have a plan.´´ a mischevous Look settles on his face. `` What do you guys think of slides?´´
``This is an awful idea.´´
``You would say that, cotton-tail, you and your anti-fun attitude.´´ Jack says rolling his eyes.
``This is not about fun, Frost! We ahve a Job to do.´´
``We can have both, though. Comm on! You have to admitt, this will be really badass.´´ Bunny stares at him, expressionlessly. ``Fine! If you're so unhappy with it, suggest something better, alright?!.´´
Both of them know that Bunny can't and that just makes the Australian more annoyed.
``...Fuck.´´ he Growls and kivks at a the grass. ``If I die, I'll come back as a ghost and kill you personally.´´
``Nah, this'll be great!´´
Tooth sighs, ``Let's just do it.´´
``Alright! Sandy if you please.´´
They move closer together and grab each others arms forming a small round space in their middle, into which Sandy gently setts the bags.
SandyCloses his eyes and takes a deep breath, concentrating. The ground underneath them begins to glow in perfectly circular form and suddenly they're standing on a thick layer of sand, dense to the Point of solidity.
Ready? he asks, repoening his eyes and looking up at his companions
They look at Bunny, who rolls his eyes and sighs: ``This'd better work Frosty.´´
Jack smiles and nods at Sandy.
``We're ready.´´
Hold onetight and up we go. Sandy signs. Then he presses his Hands to the circular sand-plate, Feeling The Hands of the two Guardians Standing next to him grab his Jacket he holds absoulutely still for a second, then he commeands his Sand to push.
And the platform starts rising and just like the hand earlier, it takes it's cargo with it.
The Speed makes the air press the passangers on the ever growing pillar to the ground, breath leaving their bodies as the rush upwards.
``Whoooooop, This! Is! Awesome!´´ Jack shouts joyfully and Sandy smiles at the child widely and nods enthusiastically.
``Focus, Frosty, damn it!´´ Bunny appears less appeased by their speedily climbing height. He'S staring at the ground, farther and farther beneath them with absolute Horror.
As the sand rises higher and higher, they're gaining speed, the air pressing down on them now forcing them to bend their knees and press their hands to the grainy Floor to prevent from being flattened completly.
``Right sorry, guys.´´ Jack directs his gaze downwards and estimates the distance. ``Just a bit higher Sandy, you're doing great.´´
``Jack we should really...´´
``Alright, As soon as I say so... Wait, wait, too fast. Ok, now, Sandy, NOW!NOW!´´
Sandy pulls his hands up abruptly, the sand disperses.
For a second they appear to just hover in the air, like characters i a kids cartoon.
Obviously this is purely a psychological impression and, in reality, it's merely gravity slowing down their ascend until that stops completely and their descend starts to speed up.
In other words:
They're falling.
``Frost!´´ Bunny screams, arms flailing wildly.
Jack, however doesn't need Bunny's reminder, he's already pointing his staff towards the ground, summoning another pillar of ice, this time however, he makes it bend at it's highest point effectively forming a slide. Right beneath them.
Crack! The Sound resonates loudely as they slam onto the top of the ice structure.
``Follow me!´´ Jack orders and Bunny snorts, as if they had another choice. ``Sandy, grab the bags.´´
At just about 145 feet in the air, Sandy barely has time to use his Sand to pick up tir luggage, before Jack, shortly followed by the other guardians hits the beginning of the icy chute.
The white haired teen swings places his hands on the ice in front of him, creating the way as he goes.
Bunny hears a loud crack behind him and glances over his shoulder.
The ice behind him has started to crack, he's just about to start panicking, when it bursts into a fine dust.
``Frost!´´ he screams, expecting to fall, when he realizes that the dust moving towards Jack.
The kid is using the way they've already left to form the rest of the slide in front of him.
Jack's laughing again, the wind blowing into his hair, tiny ice particles hitting his skin almost painfully at their speed.
He hears North's joyful roar and Tooth's slightly frightened giggles behind him, also something that sounds vaguely like a little girl screaming colorful curse in utter panic, with an Australian accent.
"Ahhh, Bunny's never gonna live this down" he thinks and makes sure to include a tiny ski-jump within the next ten feet.
The exhilarating ride comes to a close far to soon for the child and his free laughter abruptly cuts of as the slam into the ground, now far enough from they're already dead attackers.
``Owww!´´ Jack groans, he blinks slightly dizzy and then suddenly jumps up scanning the surroundings, no ghosts, luckily.
``You guys OK? Sorry, I kinda forgot to slow down.´´ Jack stares at his hand, scraped open by the ice.
``Then again, I doubt I could have caused enough friction for that to work anyway.´´
``Dead, Frosty...Dead! Never do that again.´´
``That was awesome, Jack. Great work!´´
``Thanks, Tooth. Sandy, are the bags ok?´´
They're fine, Sandy waves his hand and a replica made of sand does the same holding the bags containing their equipment, that was a great plan, Jack!
The guardians stand and dust of their jackets and pants, then start looking around.
``We should have traveled like this from the beginning.´´ Tooth sighs.
She's right, the mansion is now only a few feet away.
It looks ridiculously creepy from up close, it blocks the sun from where they're standing now, casting a huge shadow over them.
Almost all the window are shattered aside from a few on the second floor and the remains of a wooden balcony are lying in front of the house.
``Hey kid, are ya sure this isn't actually on the burning list?´´
``It does look fairly unstable...´´ Tooth murmurs.
``I think it is charming.´´
``North!´´
``Ugh, Seriously, mate´´
``Tell me your apartment doesn't look like that..´´ Jack scowls
Should we go inside now?
``Actually, Sandy could you put the bags down again and lift me up a little? I wanna look around and see if there are any ghosts here.´´
``Oh, right. I keep forgetting...´´ Tooth trails of, it makes her feel incredibly paranoid, in the same way one feels paranoid in the knowledge that there's a spider in a room but not knowing where it is... Only more deadly, maybe like... A very poisonous tarantula.
A huge tarantula, that can't die...
She's distracted from her train of thought, admittedly not a great loss, by Jack's surprised shout as Sandy's sand-hand picks him up by his waist and lifts him of the ground.
``Oh my gosh! Give a guy a warning!´´
The smallest guardian waves up at him apologetically.
Jack sighs and glances around, he frowns.
It's not that there's no apparitions at all there are actually a few he can see from here but there are not even close to as many as there are in some other red-zones, it surprises him, considering the history of the land.
There's also something else...
``Get me down again. Please.´´
The golden hand sets the teen down gently and playfully ruffles his hair, again.
Jack smiles at Sandy distractedly but doesn't react otherwise, just keeps frowning, staring at the mansion thoughtfully.
``Is everything alright? Jack?´´ Tooth asks and steps forward, ``Are there any close?´´
``What?... Oh, no,no...all the ghosts are pretty far away from the ...´´
``But what?´´
``Never mind I'll just tell you inside.´´
``Alright! Is there any way you could see into the mansion?´´
``No, it's pretty awful lighting inside and some of the windows are blocked.´´
Bunny sighs. ``No sense in putting it off anymore, then.´´
``No I guess not, the entrance is on the other side of the house, I think.´´
Let's go then Sandy once again picks up the bags and waits for Jack to start moving, he does so leading the guardians through what must once have been a backyard, now however it's overgrown by various weeds and shrubs making hard to walk.
They fight their way through a few pretty Forget-me-notts but unfortunatly Encounter way more burning nettles and thorny bushes.
At least until they actually arrive at the front side of the mansion where there is... a cleared path leading right to the front door.
``Ok, that's creepy...´´ Bunny says, Jacks stays silent but frowns.
They move forward.
Standing right in front of the old wooden doors they can see that it was once painted and appears to have had a brass knocker which is no laying on the grass a little to the left.
The door knob is looks old but... Polished?
Jack's frown deepens.
They stop in front of the door, Jack turns around ``I think I should be the one to open the door. If I get slaughtered immediately you should probably run.´´
``Hysterical, Frost, absolutely hilarious.´´ Bunny comments completely mirthlessly.
``Jack,´´ Tooth says hesitantly ``Maybe you shouldn't open the door just ye..´´
Jack yanks open the door and instantly they start coughing.
The sweet scent of decaying wood and mold hits them in hard contrast to the clod clear November air.
They can see the dust on the floor and the furniture get disturbed by the sudden blast of wind from the outside, flying up in wild swirls.
For a second Jack thinks he sees footsteps but they're covered up by the settling particles too soon to be sure about it.
The guardians look at Jack, the same silent question in all of their faces, but Jack shakes his head, no ghosts. Not at the moment.
They enter, floorboards creaking ominously.
For a second they stand there, feeling the slight warmth of the sun out side shining on their backs and casting their shadows right in front of them.
Then Sandy's Sand-hand heaves the equipment inside, North shuts the door and they're cut of from the world, now the only living in a place of the dead.
Jack is not very susceptible to the cold but shivers nonetheless.
``What now?´´ Tooth asks quietly.
``Now we go find the dining-room as quickly as possible and try to get rid of the ghosts in there. Also, it'd be a good idea to place a camera here.´´
``The one with the special mobile receiver you told me to bring?´´
``Yes, we need to know if our only exit is blocked.´´
``Alright, then you should probably have the receiver, since we can't, you know...´´
``Yeah, Thanks.´´ Tooth hands Jack a small rectangular device, it has a screen, about the size of a smart-phone with multiple buttons on the top.
One to pausing, one to rewind, one to play footage from a certain point on, frame by frame.
``Uh...Where do you think we should put the camera?´´ Tooth seems glad she's asked for advice and happy to oblige ``Well, it depends, which Area do you want it to cover?´´
``The threshold itself is not that important, so if you cloud just have it show this...´´
Jack motions a sort of perimeter, it covers most of the space right in front of the entrance and quite a few feet into the hallway leading away from it.
Tooth nods and gets to work placing the camera in a suitable spot, she switches it on.
The way this works, is something like this:
The camera shows whatever area it points at and sends the footage it records live to the device it's connected to, in this case the one Jack's holding.
This way he can monitor their way out, which is important in case of a hasty retreat or, which is disturbingly often the case, a frantic fright after everything had escalated way to quickly.
The map, Sandy had taken the blueprints out of the bags too, says the dining room is just down that way.
He points into the darkness of the corridor which is broken only occasionally by the light from the broken windows.
The guardians wait for Jack to start walking, lead them so they don't, quite literally, run into any ghosts.
But the Psychic stays still.
``There's something not right here. That hallway is empty, so was the courtyard and the entire way here, so many people died, where are the spirits?´´
``Don't complain Frosty, you might jinx us. Nothing good ever happens after someone goes with the whole "it's quiet, too quite" thing.´´
``First of all, Fluffy: that does not happen because it's said out-loud but because whoever said it was right, secondly: This is important take it seriously!´´
``We're not writing you off or anything just, it seems like the six ones we literally just fought are more then enough.´´ Tooth says soothingly.
``That's just because you've never actually been in a red-zone before, it's insane.
The ghost that are there are swarm in incredibly wide ranges from their bones, as soon as they attack you, there are ten more to back them up as though they were communicating, it's constant fighting or optionally crawling on the ground to avoid being spotted, there's always at least one apparition you can at least see somewhere.
Even when it's your turn to sleep, you're usually interrupted by some sort of stray ghost throwing stuff around. There are no pauses, no breaks. Never this long and never at a location with this many violent deaths.´´
They stand there in silence for a second.
Then Tooth quietly remarks: ``That's awful, Jack.´´
``What?´´ The boy looks entirely confused ``No, I mean, I guess... But that's not the point.´´
``Do think it might have something to do with the source?´´
``Well, It's not like it's completely but, look, from my experience what's happening right now, is highly unusual.´´
``But what do you want to do Jack? Do you believe we should leave? You're the Psychic here and you have the experience. Your judgment is the most reliable at the moment. It's your call.´´
``No, not necessarily. That's not it. I just...´´ He sighs ``There's... There's something else.´´
``What?´´
``That, well, look´´ The boy pauses and looks around ``I think... I think the ghosts might be organizing, consciously...´´
Saying that out loud, Jack realizes, doesn't make it sound any less crazy or frightening.
Kill-all attitude beings capable of Strategic thought. Awesome.
A/N: Ok, Action Scene... I'm scared of it. Was it ok? Bad? So awful it Loop back around again to funny? Please have pity and tell me what you thought.
Ah well, hope I'll see you again next chapter. Bye guys! ^^