Chapter 37: Mischievous Halloween
It was after six in the afternoon when Shadow came back to the apartment. After having enough exploration for one day he decided to return home early. He wasn't sure if Kristy was home already so he remained cautious to enter the residence unseen. He didn't feel like letting her or anyone else know he was there.
It was silent in the apartment but he was still on the look out to stay out of sight. The moment he reached the second floor he heard the front door opening. He waited just to see who just came in, Kristy would be the most probable person but it could also be Jake or her father, Mr. Wildman. As soon as the figure came into the living room his attention was drawn into taking a closer look.
'Who's that?', he wondered as he was staring at a female human with jet black hair in a bob haircut. She was wearing the weirdest attire he ever saw. Mostly black leather, high heel boots, fingerless gloves and black nails.
He decided to make his presence known with a quite rough approach.
'I'll give this intruder a well deserved welcome.', he thought as he jumped down back to the first floor, bounced on the dresser and charged forward toward the mysterious woman. He was closing in when the girl did something really unexpected; simply jumped out of the way. Shadow landed on the dining table while the girl tripped on her feet and fell to the floor.
'She noticed me. Unless that's…'
"Shadow, what are you doing?? It's me, Kristy.", her voice exclaimed shocked after managing to dodge that surprise attack.
Shadow ceased his attack immediately after hearing that familiar voice. He landed next to her and kept staring completely dazzled at her makeup-ed face and pitch-black bobcut hairstyle, most probably a wig.
"Kristy?", he wondered having a hard time recognizing her in her unusual appearance.
"Yes, who else?"
"You look like a freak.", he pointed out boldly.
Kristy sighed disappointed after realizing Shadow didn't even show the slightest concern to the fact he almost knocked her down.
"Since it's Halloween, your remark can be considered as a compliment."
"Halloween?", he echoed.
"It's a holiday where kids dresses themselves like monsters and other freaky characters to go trick or treat. To cut the story short, there will be scary themed parties, quite a few rascals pulling out pranks and lots of candy. I wanted to tell you about it this morning but you already left, earlier than usual. Now that I think about it, I wasn't expecting you to be back home so early either."
'Sounds like a silly holiday if you ask me.', Shadow concluded in silence.
"So, are you coming along or not?", Kristy proposed as Shadow was still silent.
"What for? I'm not a kid anymore and even if I was, I wouldn't feel like walking around dressed like a clown begging for candy.", he said as he was marching toward the stairs again.
'I knew he would say something like that.', Kristy thought annoyed as she stood up straightening up her costume.
"Well, there are other things we adults do on Halloween.", she said trying to trigger Shadow's curiosity, but she didn't get even the slightest sign of attention as the dark chao was climbing up the stairs.
She didn't give up yet as she continued with a wily smirk on her face. She turned around toward the dining table to fetch her purse, at the same time sounding like she would go along with Shadow's 'not going' decision. "Alright... In that case, it's just me and the gang of dark chao to go trick or treat."
She barely turned around toward the door, she found Shadow standing on the dresser next to stairs. "What are you talking about?", he asked with the usual stern look on his face as soon as he made eye contact with Kristy.
"Oh, right. That's another thing I didn't get a chance to mention.", she said carelessly while digging into her bag searching for her keys. "This year I volunteered to chaperone a group of dark chao during Halloween night, tonight to be more precise. The dark chao at the island eagerly look forward to this festivity. Sadly there are not enough guardians to escort them through the neighbourhood. They have a strict rule of maximum six chao per guardian."
She came closer, bent down to be face-to-face at the same level as Shadow. "It would be even more fun if you would come along.", she finally pointed out.
Shadow lowered his vision to think. 'Dark chao are known to be deceitful, but tagging them like that would be like tagging myself as I'm also a member of this race.'
"I'm sure you won't regret this.", she added as her final plea.
At that moment Shadow didn't know what was more scarily dangerous, spending Halloween Night with dark chao or Kristy's cleverness in persuading him.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
After descending in the elevator Kristy and Shadow walked into a dim illuminated corridor. Even with the lack of light Kristy could still distinguish Shadow's neat looking vampire cape flapping as he walked ahead toward the sub-terrain chamber known as Dark Garden. She was still amazed that he was wearing the cape she gave him as Halloween costume. He was probably fascinated by the mysteriousness of a dark mantle. After descending a few steps they finally entered a large chamber.
"This entire cavern must be Dark Garden.", Kristy assumed as she looked around. It was hard to see if there was anyone present since all the light was focused on a central tarn. All corners were in complete darkness, yet she could feel many probing eyes watching her in complete silence.
"Hello!! Anybody here?", she called while nearing the pond.
Shadow was looking around, also aware that several individuals were watching them intently. Kristy kept calling a few times until someone finally answered.
"Welcome, gorgeous… What brings an eye-catching babe like you into this dark and dreary caverns??" The voice was slightly deep yet exaggeratedly tender. Kristy wasn't sure if it was the tone of the voice or what the voice said that made her skin shiver.
She turned around and right next to the entrance she saw a dark chao. He was standing on a five feet high gargoyle statue almost completely concealed in darkness but his bright yellow eyes were faintly glowing like fireflies.
"Hi, my name is Kristy Wildman", Kristy said as she tried to focus to see the male chao concealed in the shadows. "and I'm looking for a gang known as Mischief. They told me to ask for their leader, a chao named… Archon."
'The group calls themselves Mischief, yet she goes along with this babysitting deal.', Shadow realized as he watched and listened in complete silence.
"So, you're Ms. Wildman? It's a great pleasure of finally meeting you.", the chao said as he glided off the statue toward the ground. He was out of the darkness showing a full view of his physical traits.
'He's a bat chao.', Kristy thought surprised. The chao was genetically bonded to a guardian who's apparently a bat.
He had the miniature version of the giant ears of a bat. One special trait was a short cowlick hanging over his forehead and had fire orange accents on the tip of his hands and feet.
'Wait a minute', Kristy realized suddenly. 'was a chao hitting on me with the 'gorgeous' and the 'eye-catching babe' naming?'
Meanwhile the bat chao was moving closer to her.
'Is that a cape??', Kristy began to wonder when she noticed a cloak wrapped around his shoulder and flapping behind his back reminding her of Shadow's cape, but soon her assumption proved wrong.
Suddenly he flapped his so-called cape open showing his gigantic wings fully spread. His wings were huge almost twice the length of his own body. Kristy was staring amazed at the display of his mighty arms of flight. His hand and feet, previously hidden inside his 'cape', were totally different from any average chao. Kristy never saw a chao with claw-like fingers and toes.
He made a courteous bow and said: "I'm Archon, leader of the gang Mischief. Pleased to meet you and to know I'll be under the protection of a guardian with such an wonderful taste in attire."
Kristy chuckle briefly either from Archon's chivalrous gesture or the remark he said. "Pleased to meet you, Archon. By the way, this is my Halloween costume. Gothic isn't really my style.", Kristy explained as Archon was walking around her like he was gazing at a glamorous mannequin.
"Oh and this is Shadow.", she added, finally introducing him. "He's also joining us tonight."
Archon looked to his right casually, paying attention on Shadow for the very first time.
"Shadow, ha.", he said as he tugged his wings back into a cape. "You're the famous Shadow. I heard a lot about you, long before you won the Chao Tournament. The first youngling ever to escape this island and you did it all on your own. You were a fierce kid that won't allow his goals to be suppressed by the rules on this island. That's proves that you were born with the essence of a dark chao. Very impressive."
"I heard some rumours about you too. So, stop wasting my time with your sinister sham.", Shadow said as he looked away coldly.
Kristy wasn't surprised of Shadow's discourtesy and impatience.
"True.", Archon agreed showing no offence by Shadow's rudeness. "We have a big loot of candy to collect tonight, isn't it gang?"
"That's right.", a voice answered in agreement. Out of the dark a female chao came toward them.
"I'm Jill and I'm the Dark Lady of the gang."
'Jill!!', Shadow perked up as he recognized her. 'She's that female chao I once saw training with Atlas in the Chao Dojo.'
"Nice meeting you Jill.", Kristy said with a friendly smile.
"Now it's my turn.", another male chao said as he came forward.
"The name is Dex, the Dark Genius of the gang.", he said as he readjusted his glasses on his face.
"Hi Dex.", Kristy greeted as she stooped down in front of him. "I have one question, though. The vision of a chao always remains sharp, so why are you wearing glasses?", she asked intrigued.
"Very clever observation, Ms. Wildman. The purpose of my glasses is to emphasize my intellect.", Dex replied with a haughty tone.
Archon and Jill slapped their forehead at the same time.
"Uhm okay and please, just call me Kristy."
Dex gave an understanding nod before Kristy continued: "So, and who's the chao standing next to me?"
Kristy looked around to her left. Shadow was the only one puzzled by this bizarre question, as he didn't see anyone.
"I'm truly impressed.", an unfamiliar voice said then a chao amazingly appeared at the exact spot Kristy pointed. "Never before could a person see through my cloaking ability with their bare eyes. My name is Eidolon.", he said with a unflustered look on his face.
Kristy turned toward him to get a better look at his metallic silver skin. "I heard about chao born with supernatural abilities, but I never met one before."
"Actually, I'm not a wonder of nature. I'm the living prove of military experiments on chao." He corrected her with bitterness in his voice, casting his gaze toward the ground.
'Experiments?', Shadow echoed shocked in his mind. Hearing the subject military experiments made him think back when Suzie was kidnapped. Inside that base chao were used as guinea pigs or they were disposed of like garbage.
"Saddens me to hear that but believe me, not all humans are as heartless as those military scientists.", she said as she gently laid her hand on his head.
"Halloween!!, Halloween!! Halloween!!" Suddenly a nutty voice was squealing from afar and quickly coming toward them. Kristy stood up to follow the sound but due to the echo in the cavern she and Shadow had a hard time pinpointing the source, until it was too late. A dark figure jumped on Kristy pushing her flat to the ground.
Shadow immediately jumped in action. "Stay away from her.", he shouted as he jumped toward the attacker kicking him against the wall. He was about to charge again when Archon stepped in his way with his arms spread.
"Shadow, wait!! It's ok, he means no harm.", he said in a rush. Shadow ceased his attack glaring at Archon.
"Then keep him under control.", he replied briefly as he turned around and walked away.
"Are you alright, Kobal?", Eidolon asked as he was helping his friend to stand up after that painful smack against the cave's wall.
"Kobal fine.", he said as he was standing woozily on his feet.
Kristy pulled herself up. "Kobal?", she echoed.
"I must apology for Kobal's behaviour.", Archon said on Kobal's behalf. "He's obviously overexcited about Halloween night. He's been looking forward to this day for weeks."
Kristy turned around looking at him. The fifth chao was a lot bigger than the others and judging by the force he collided against Kristy, he was definitely a power chao. "Are you ok, Kobal?"
"Kobal very happy.", he answered while blinking his squint eyes, unsynchronised.
"Why is he talking like that?", Kristy asked puzzled.
"We're not sure.", Archon explained. "Rumours say that when he was still inside his egg, he probably fell from a high spot. Wonderfully the egg didn't break, but he obviously suffered permanent cerebral damage."
"What awful.", Kristy said feeling sorry for him.
"I don't think it's a good idea to let him tag along, Archon.", Dex suggested after seeing Kobal's untamed behaviour.
"He's part of the group. If he doesn't go, no one will.", Archon said with a stern and dominant voice.
'So far he sure has the image of a strong leader.', Shadow concluded slightly amused by the display of authority.
"I'm sure Kobal will be good and cause no trouble if he wants to collect a lot of candy tonight.", Kristy said knowing that chao are fund of candy, except Shadow of course.
"Candy, candy!! Yes, yes!! Trick or treat!! Kobal good!! Promised, promised!!", Kobal cheered euphorically.
'If Suzie's queen cheerful, he's definitely the king.', Kristy concluded with a blissful smile. "That's the Halloween spirit."
They left the island, walking over the bridge toward the neighbourhood nearby to start the candy hunt.
The chao gang was walking ahead, Kristy and Shadow a few steps behind. Shadow was walking well balanced on the railing next to Kristy.
"How did you know?", he asked all of a sudden.
Kristy looked at him puzzled. "Know what?"
"How did you know Eidolon was standing next to you?", he repeated without looking at her.
Kristy lowered her head to think.
"Some sort of awareness, I think." Kristy noticed the question mark above Shadow's head.
"Is that the higher level of awareness you lectured me about a while back?"
"Yes.", she replied. "It's like a sixth sense that allows you to sense a living presence around you even if you can't see them. A blind person develops the same ability. I developed it after a long time of intense training and meditation. Well, that's what my martial art master said. I also felt a very cold air coming from him when he was invisible."
"Hm… Interesting.", he commented briefly.
Meanwhile the gang was chitchatting about their chaperone for the night.
Archon deliberately bumped into Eidolon than he began mocking him. "So Eidon, you're a real lucky duck tonight, ha.", he said while poking him with his elbow.
"I don't know what you're talking about.", Eidolon said coldly.
"Hey, drop the cold attitude. I saw how you enjoyed being fondled by that beauty."
"I was surprised she petted me, that's all.", he said while crossing his arms and looked away. "I don't get that so often and with her it even felt different, like she was honestly accepting me. She's not terrified of me at all even when I'm so… abnormal.", he added with a low voice.
"Just go with the flow, buddy.", Archon insisted as he pulled his arm around Eidolon's shoulders. "It will only make things a lot more… enjoyable. A little un-bonded affection is always good for the spirit and besides, she's quite a stunner."
Archon looked at Kristy deviously over his shoulder when suddenly he received a mayor smack on the back of his head.
"AU!!!", he whinged while rubbing the back of his head.
He looked to his left to find Jill walking next to him. She was glaring at him through the corner of her eyes. The spiky balloon above her head was in flame accentuating her fury.
"Quit bothering Eidolon. You're just jealous because you're not the one who got 'fondled'.", Jill pointed out angrily.
"I already told you. Not on the head!!", Archon retorted back with even more anger.
"Ha, that's the only way to snap some senses into your head, you pervert."
"Look at it from the bright side, Jill.", Dex chimed in the middle of the argument walking next to her. "At least he didn't charm her."
"Not yet.", Jill corrected. "But you know Archon..."
"HE WON'T MISS A CHANCE!!", Jill, Dex and even Eidolon echoed in unison.
"Ha, ha, very funny.", Archon said annoyed of the fact that they knew him so well.
The Mischief gang couldn't ask for a better night. At most of the houses they received a fair amount of candy. Thanks to the dark and creepy festivity known as Halloween their dark appearance and nature was more accepted by the people around than normal.
'They sure are having a wonderful time.', Kristy thought as they left the last house, moving toward the next street.
"I can officially say that this is one of the best Halloween nights ever.", Archon said as he was flying next to Kristy. "And this is all thanks to you."
"Glad I could help. I had fun too. To be honest,…", she said with a lower voice. "I wanted to chaperone a group of dark chao on Halloween so Shadow could interact a bit more with chao from his race. I also wanted to find out if dark chao are as devious as people say they are."
"Really?? And, what's your opinion so far?", Archon asked intrigued.
"Well, that your dark nature is really misunderstood. All of you deserve a fair chance like anyone else.", Kristy said tactfully.
The bat chao landed on a medium high stonewall. "You… really think so??", he asked feeling moved by her opinion about dark chao.
Kristy halted in front of him and nodded with a smile. "Sure."
"That really means a lot to me, to all of us actually. Thanks.", Archon said sounding honestly grateful.
Kristy looked around and on that very moment her sight came across Archon's alluring eyes.
'Now I got you.', he thought as he focused more intently into her eyes.
'What's going on back there?', Shadow wondered as he looked back at Kristy and Archon.
Kristy's eyes were hanging half open for a few seconds than she smiled, petted the chao and said: "You're very welcome. Let's see. Where should we go next?" She was thinking while tapping her chin with her index finger.
Archon had a dumbfounded look on his face by this unexpected result. 'It's not possible. She's… resistant without even realising it.'
"Is something wrong?", Kristy asked worried by Archon's silence and unusual look on his face.
"No, I'm fine.", he said in a rush and switched the subject immediately. "I heard some guys talking about a mansion in this neighbourhood. They said it's a dark and creepy place and on Halloween night strange things goes on inside."
"Oh, that's probably the Minutiae mansion.", Kristy assumed.
"So that's the name of the mansion. Fascinating.", Archon said as he got even more interested in the mysterious house.
"Yes. It's one of the oldest houses in this neighbourhood. Some say it's the oldest house in the entire city.", Kristy commented. "Only a few of those historical houses were restored and preserved as monuments while most were demolished and completely rebuilt in a more modern architecture. My father can talk about that for hours."
"Maybe we should pay the people at that house a visit. And… if we're lucky we can get our last treat of candy for the night and a tour inside the house.", Archon proposed as gang leader.
"Yeah…", the gang cheered in agreement.
"Not so fast." Kristy clearly disapproved the plan. "There is no point going there. The house hasn't been occupied for years."
"Oow…", the gang sighed disenchanted.
"But… there is no harm if we go to see the mansion from the outside, please?", Jill asked with a very nice voice.
No chao guardian was able to say no when a female chao made a request in such a polite manner.
Kristy sighed and said: "You're right. We can go take a look from behind the gates, but no further. Going inside would be trespassing and I don't want to get in any trouble."
Jill nodded blissfully.
"Alright, let's go than. It's not far, about ten minutes walking from here.", Kristy said as she moved ahead leading the way.
Jill was about to follow her but she turned around looking at Archon still standing on the stone wall. He looked down in time to see her stuck her tongue out at him. "Female amiability rules!!", she said victoriously.
"I will get you for this.", Archon whispered angrily.
They left the neighbourhood and wandered up a small hill where a group of mansions was located. After passing along the most luxurious and overawing houses with gardens several times bigger than their own home, the Dark Garden, they reached another mansion at the end of the street completely opposite from the others when it comes to beauty. The shabby and neglected gables didn't turn off the dark gang at all. On the contrary, it made the house even more appealing in their eyes.
"That's the one, right?", Archon wondered as he flew toward the gate and remained hanging on the bars.
"That's right, the Minutiae mansion. Guys at school use to challenge each other in going inside. Then they all come back out running and screaming about strange things they saw happening in there.", Kristy recounted.
"What kinds of things?", Archon asked looking briefly over his shoulders.
"Ghosts wandering through the corridors, real murderers hiding inside from the police, all kinds of rumours.", Kristy summed up than began to laugh jokingly. "Yeah right, you have to be very credulous to believe such nonsense. Besides, those guys are known to be silly liars. They will come up with any weird story to get people's attention."
It was silent for a few minutes as everyone was staring at the house until the sound of thunder snapped the group back to reality.
"Looks like there will be a heavy weather disturbance coming this way. Much earlier than prognosticated by the weather station.", Dex reported after checking his computer watch.
"Well, it's time for you guys to get back anyway. Let's go."
"Oow…", the gang sighed in unison. The Halloween night was reaching its end.
Archon gave a disappointed sigh. 'This could have been a great oppertunity for some exploration in a dark place but for this one time I'll be a good chao. I don't want to lose the trust I already earned from Kristy.'
Like the others he turned to walk back when Eidolon suddenly realized something. "Guys, where is Kobal?"
Everyone was looking around for that wacky chao.
"There he is?", Dex said pointing through the gate. They all looked around in time to see him hopping into the house through the front door.
"Kobal, come back here!!!", Kristy called him but the front door slammed shut by a strong breeze. "Oh, great!!", Kristy said disappointed. "I just said we were not to go inside."
"Don't worry, gorgeous. I'll get him out in no time.", Archon said ready to go inside.
"No, I'll get him and we're leaving right after. Just stay here and wait, okay?", Kristy instructed while opening the rusty front gate.
"Fine", he agreed sadly. "but be careful. Run into any creepy stuff, just give me a yell and I'll rush in there to save you."
"Yeah, right.", Jill chimed in annoyed at Archon's exaggerated gallantry. "And who's going to save her from you??"
The gate wasn't locked so Kristy easily entered the garden filled with weed walking straight to the front door. She was almost there when a trap door opened right under her feet and she fell right through it. Shadow and the gang saw Kristy disappear into the ground. Shadow was first to rush in but by the time he reached the trap it closed again faster than it opened.
"Darn it, what kind of place is this?", Shadow cursed as he stumped the hatch with no avail.
"Where did she go?", Jill asked shocked.
"That trap probably took her into the cellar of the mansion.", Dex answered.
"I must find her.", Shadow said as he turned around, climbed the five steps stairway with one jump and with a second one he kicked the front door open.
"There goes our silent entrance.", Archon complained as he landed next to him.
"I'm not going to hide from anyone.", Shadow said as he marched inside, into the spacious main hall. "We'll search faster if we split up. I'll check the basement to find Kristy. The four of you go search for that loony friend of yours. We'll regroup here in half an hour.", Shadow instructed and left without waiting for any reply.
"Loony friend?!?", Dex echoed puzzled.
"Wait a minute. Who died and made him the big boss?", Archon complained hurt in his leadership pride.
"So you want him to get rid of you?", Jill suggested in a sarcastic way. Archon had a funny look on his face as she continued. "Even with his cold attitude, right now he's clearly concerned about his guardian. Look at it from the bright side, this is our chance to explore this spooky residence."
The house was dark. Daylight could only reach a few spots inside and it was getting weaker as the stormy clouds were moving above the mansion.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Au, where am I?", Kristy wondered as she rose up shakily after landing on a soft but dusty pile covered with a canvas.
While removing dust and spider web's threats from her clothes and wig she browsed around searching for a way out in the partially dark room. She noticed two lighted oil lamps hanging on the wall meaning that the house wasn't as abandoned as it looked like from the outside. In a wooden box she found a few candles and a candlestick. After transferring some of the lamp's flame to the candles, she climbed up the stairway out of the basement.
'The gang must be worried after I fell through that trapdoor.', Kristy thought as she was wandering through the corridors. 'but I have to find Kobal first.'
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"What was that?", Jill asked after hearing a strange noisy.
The gang decided to split in two groups. Since they didn't have a clue in which part of the house Kobal could possibly be, two search parties checking the first and second floor was the best way to start.
"Probably nothing to worry about. In old houses there are many bizarre noises coming from inside the walls and floor.", Archon replied while looking around.
They were alone in a hallway as far as Jill could see. On a wall at the far end she saw a painting of a mid-age human male. He had long pitch-black hair, a narrow face and a neatly trimmed beard around his mouth. Suddenly she saw something that made her skin crawl. She kept staring in the eyes of the painting as she stretched her arm trying to find Archon.
"Ar… Archon??" Jill could barely whisper. "The eyes on that painting are blinking."
The bat chao didn't have to ask which painting as Jill finally grabbed his arm and turned him to the same direction she was looking.
"I don't see anything odd. Just the face of some haughty snob.", Archon said annoyed assuming Jill was acting paranoid.
"His eyes… his eyes were blinking.", she insisted.
"How can you be sure, there is poor light in here. Maybe it's some kind of effect caused by moving shadows", Archon explained coolly trying to calm her down.
Since she was already clinging on his arm, it was easy for him to escort her closer. "Come on, let's check it out. We have to look over there anyway."
They walked to the end of the hall and stood still with the painting hanging high above on the wall.
"See, nothing to be worried about. Like I said, it's just a painting of some haughty snob.", Archon pointed out. In a split second the man in the painting pulled his head and one scrawny hand out of the painting looking like a mad ghost and looked down on the two chao with his vicious red visage.
"Who you're calling haughty snob??", the spook growled before swinging his long nailed hand at them.
Both chao were stunned but Archon was the only one to take action when they were about to be slashed. "What a… Jill, look out!!" Jill just stood there like she was nailed to the floor. Archon quickly pulled his arms around her, spread his wings and with one flap they both moved away from the wall. Meanwhile the man in the painting pulled himself completely out of the cloth looking and was gliding through the hallway chasing the two chao until Archon pulled out one of his simplest air stunts. He flew full speed toward a wall, instead of turning left or right, he rapidly change course upward making a three quarter loop while the ghost flew right through the wall. From that point Archon managed to take Jill to a safe spot.
"Snap out of it, Jill. Stay focused.", he told her as he was gently trying to wake her up from her shock.
She came to, looked around and her gaze turned deeply saddened. "I… I'm sorry. I froze… I couldn't move a single muscle.", she whispered with a trembling voice.
"It's ok.", Archon said while gently stroking her left cheek. "We lost him. Let's hurry to find Kobal and regroup in the main hall."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"As I think about it carefully, this might be the first time that Kobal's idiocy is working in our advantage.", Dex commented to Eidolon as they were checking another hallway in the other wing of the house.
"I'm glad you're looking at the bright sight of things for a change.", Eidolon replied as ge kept checking around for any sign of Kobal.
"Hey, I'm not that all pessimistic.", he said with a slight tone of indignation. "Tonight I hoped this would be the best Halloween night ever and so far things are working out better than expected. We got a substantial loot of candy and got the chance to snoop around in this eerie mansion."
They were almost at the end of the corridor when they heard a strange sound.
"What was that?", Eidolon wondered. Dex paid closer attention and he could hear faint metal sounds of chains.
"Sounds like someone is in that room over there. What could they possible be doing in there?", Dex wondered.
They went to the bedroom where the noise was coming from. With the laser on his computer watch Dex opened the locked door and in less then three seconds they ran out the corridor with a robust maniac bearing an axe and a hockey mask, growling like an animal on their heels.
"There is indeed a fugitive psycho murderer in this house.", Dex noted with an agitated voice.
"Yes, and we must see to lose him if we don't want to become his next victims.", Eidolon said.
Thanks to their size and agility, they put quite some distance from their pursuer and in the next corner Eidolon stopped holding Dex's arm so they both turned invisible. They remained quiet as they saw the giant walking by looking everywhere. He moved a few metres away from them and in the middle of the corridor he disappeared.
"Did you see that?", Dex said with a low voice.
"Yes, I did. I hope that means he's gone and not that he can turn invisible too."
"Are you trying to scare me??"
"Sorry about that. I hope this doesn't change your enthusiasm to visit a haunted mansion."
"I'll have to see into that. For now let's get out of here in stealth mode, please."
"Agreed."
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
In the meantime, Kristy was trying to figure out where she was and which corridor would take her back to the front entrance. She approached a two-door room when she noticed a faint light beaming through a slit.
'Fire light is coming from that room.'
Driven by her curiosity she neared the door and slowly opened it wide enough to move her head in first to see what's inside. The room was a very spacious library with high ceiling. First thing she saw was a huge filled bookshelf, a kindled fireplace against the right wall, two leather armchairs near it and a round tea table between them. There she was, the first person Kristy came across with in the bizarre mansion. It was a girl in her teens with blond hair, wearing a blue dress. Her blue eyes were fixed on the fire like she was daydreaming. Not even the sound of thunder, caused by the storm outside, made her quiver or disturbed her train of thoughts.
'That's strange, didn't she hear me coming in?? The door was pretty squeaky.', Kristy thought as she moved in slowly.
She decided to take initiative in making her presence in the room evident. "Hi… uhm excuse me. I'm Kristy Wildman." She was coming closer feeling the warmth coming from the fire. "I came here by mistake and I'm looking for a dark chao."
The girl looked up with a serene expression on her face. The vampire make-up and attire on Kristy didn't make her panic at all. "Please, look after him for as long as you can. He needs you more than both of you might think.", she said with a calm voice, yet there was a tone of earnest in her voice that made Kristy consider her request as death serious.
After saying those words she returned to staring at the flames in the fireplace.
"Please tell me, who are you??"
"A friend…", she whispered before fading away.
'Where did she go??', Kristy wondered as she looked around confused and shocked of what just happened. Yet she didn't panic. 'Was she real or not?? She talked to me, so…'
"Look after him. What did she mean??" She place the candlestick on the tea table and was about to sit down in one of the chairs to think when she heard a voice coming from the corridor. Through the open door she could clearly hear a voice calling out to someone.
"Hey buddy!! Come back. Kobal nice chao. Kobal wanted to say hi."
She rushed back into the corridor to find Kobal wondering all alone in the corridor.
"Kobal!! There you are.", she said relieved she finally found her missing chao. She scooped him from the floor to get a good look at him to make sure he was alright, and then she lectured him about his disobedience. "What are you doing here?? I clearly said we were not to go inside the house."
Kobal in the meantime showed little attention toward Kristy and an uneasy behaviour, like he was looking for something. "Kobal saw chao staring through window.", he said as he kept looking around.
"A chao!?! How, no one lives in this house anymore… or so they say." After seeing the blond girl Kristy was no longer certain if the house was really abandoned.
"Chao live here. Kobal went inside to say hi."
"Ok." She decided to play along. "Where is that chao right now??"
"Didn't want to meet Kobal." For the first time she noticed a gloomy expression on Kobal's face.
"That's not true. Maybe… that chao is a bit… shy." Kristy didn't quite believe a chao was living in an abandoned mansion, but somehow she needed to comfort gloomy Kobal.
"Come on, let's go. You still have your friends from the gang and they are all probably worried about you, both of us actually."
With Kobal in her arms Kristy managed to reach the main hall where the rest of the gang had regrouped and were discussing what to do next.
"Look there comes Ms. Kristy and Kobal.", Eidolon noted when the other were to busy to pay attention.
"Guys, what are you doing here?", Kristy asked as she walked across the hall joining the group.
"Oh, thank goodness. Kristy and Kobal are back and well.", Jill noted relieved.
"What does it look like we're doing, gorgeous?? We're here to save you.", Archon said as he flew up hovering next to her.
"And Kobal.", Jill added irritated.
"You guys shouldn't have, but thanks anyway.", she said as she placed Kobal on the floor close to Eidolon. "Where is Shadow??"
"I'm here.", Shadow's voice answered immediately. Everybody looked around to find him standing on the railing on the second floor. "Strange things are happening in this place.", he noted briefly.
"We were chased by a psycho with an axe who disappeared in front of our eyes.", Dex said supporting Shadow's statement.
"An old geezer came out of a painting and tried snatch us with his bony hand.", Jill testified and a chill immediately rushed through her back.
"I hope nothing awful happened to you, gorgeous."
"Nothing as terrifying as what you guys went through.", she answered short while standing up. "Since we're all here I would like to leave now."
"I totally agree.", Archon replied. "My gang and I have enough of this paranormal place already."
"It wouldn't be wise to leave this house. It just became our shelter now that the rain is pouring outside.", Dex said after taking a peak through the window.
"I don't care. I just want to get out of here.", Jill said as she flew up to the door's handle trying to open it. "Hey, who closed the door after we came in??"
"No one since Shadow bashed in the front door, remember.", Eidolon replied standing on the floor.
Kristy joined Jill in her struggle to open the door. "If he did, how can it be shut and locked??", she noted.
"Guys, look!! Something's happening!!", Archon said alarmed.
The bat chao was staring at the most bizarre phenomena happening right in the middle of the hall. A pillar of light came down from the giant chandelier and many ghostlike faces where twirling inside. The faces were howling and making many blood curdling noises. Smoke was spreading along the floor, all the other doors in the hall slammed shut and many object started to float around.
"The house is coming to life.", Jill said with her back pressed against the door. The others joined her when the strange smoke was beginning to reach them.
Kristy immediately stepped forward protecting the gang gathered behind her back. "Archon, you and the gang stick together."
"You got it.", Archon replied obediently.
This time the bat chao made sure his gang was complete, then he realised that someone else was missing this time. "But where is Shadow??", he asked with a low voice.
"He was standing on the second floor a minute ago. Now I don't see him thanks to that thing.", Jill answered.
'Whatever this thing is, it's not real. I must get to the bottom of this so we can get out of here.' Kristy was determined to put an end to whatever was going on in the house and make sure the gang was save. She moved closer to the light until she could reach into it with her hand. Then she took a deep breath and walked in.
"Wait gorgeous, don't go in there!!", Archon yelled but Kristy already disappeared into the light.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
A/N: Dum, dum, dum!!!! Is Kristy gone forever into a ghost dimension or will she solve the mystery of the mansion?? The conclusion of this in my next chapter of Chao Bond!!! Hope you liked the new chao characters, the Mischief gang.