[Author's Note: You might ask why am I writing this story other than the good friend who put everything together into a novel last time and I got some answers. When I read Ghost in the Mirror for the first time while preparing for Hildaverse thanks to DiscordedEdd, I was amazed. Yes, there were errors and I even had ideas provided for how to fix them when I met ride-on-the-woff-side (which was a massive surprise by the way), but for what it was, I was amazed that it maintained the heart and soul of a normal Hilda episode with the themes it tackles and with the amount of gore and body horror it has. It just goes to show that the writing can still hold the bloody binding together no matter the amount of guts spilled. Ghost amazed me so much that I want to direct an animated adaptation of Ghost one day. I doubt that will happen, but it would be nice. Especially with the music list woff-side and I put together containing Mallory Knox and Low Roar music. Plus, I was pleasantly surprised by the romance which I thought was going to be weird and creepy at first, but aside from a rather uncomfortable scene in Chapter Ten and some awkward dialogue, the romance was pretty good for what it was and possibly the best part about Ghost. When I talked to woff-side about Ghost and while having fun as well, he offered me to make a sequel and at first, I said no. Why? Because I was scared that I would never live up to the original and I obviously can't. Plus, I've never written a novel in my life before then, but some ideas came to be in this tornado of a brain I have and things came to be. The Rocker Stalker. Before you ask, this is not in the continuity of Ghost 2. As for why: I just had a gut feeling telling me that I should do my own thing with woff-side's blessing, of course. Anyway, I'd like to thank woff-side for the laughs, the heartbreaks, and the fun I had reading everything. So much so that I stopped reading Metro 2033 for a while. Here is The Rocker Stalker.]
Episode One - Life
As the morning sun rose to fill the bedroom of a rockstar's penthouse, Hilda and David slept quietly until the alarm went off. Hilda woke from her slumber and rose from the bed, turning to the alarm as Twig hops onto her lap. "Hey boy," Hilda says as she pet the Deerfox. After Twig hopped off Hilda's lap and went back to sleep on the far end of the bed, Hilda got up and prepared herself for the fourth day of work as she noticed the clock reading 6:02 AM while replacing the current clothes she wore with the work clothes for the zoo.
Hilda then noticed a sleepy David who is now starting to grow a beard and smiled for a moment before she walked to the door to leave the bedroom. "Hey," a familiar voice alerted Hilda to turn around to see David awake. "Awake, sleepyhead?" Hilda smirked while David tried to get up and fell back into bed due to laziness. "Yep. I'm alive and I'm still tired. I'm not too big of a fan of that alarm, but it has its purpose."
"Agreed. The only time I get to wake up fully rested is on the weekends. Anyway, I'm heading out to work like usual," said Hilda, who then opened up the bedroom door and began to walk out. "Don't hurt yourself while I'm gone!" David then looked at the opened door and smiled. "I won't," replied David. Hilda then went down stairs, placed food into Twig's bowl, grabbed her car keys, and went down to the parking space to find her car sitting there. Hilda unlocked the door, entered her vehicle, and relaxed for a moment. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before placing the key in the ignition, she started up the car and looked at the small CD collection she has with two choices in particular that have her interest. Either Low Roar or Sola Manor. "I think I've listened to that album more than enough times already." Hilda looked out the window after saying her thoughts of wanting a new sound of instruments to play in the car. Hilda then chose the Low Roar album to get a new sense of sound, placed the CD in the player, and began to drive to work as 'I'm Leaving' played. As the blue haired adventurer drove through Trolberg to get to her place of employment, she saw a city waking up like clockwork to prepare themselves the same way as her. Get up, get dressed, and work from nine to five, although seven to five in Hilda's case. Hilda continues to drive through town and she notices a billboard for Sola Manor's upcoming tour starting in Trolberg and going all the way to California and she smiled after driving past it while other drivers went past her. As the song started to conclude and Hilda arrived at the zoo, she turned off the engine of the car and looked at the zoo. "Welp. Let's do this. Just another day at the office."
As Hilda clocked in, she began to look around the zoo to see if everything was fine while others arrived and clocked in. After Frida left for her political campaign, Hilda offered jobs to others who are passionate about the world's mysteries and the creatures who live among the norm just as much as her; despite her love for those creatures never being matched. Before Hilda could go inside her office and begin to work on the mountain of paperwork that has been brought before her due to Frida's departure months ago and the new amounts piled on top of it, Hilda is then greeted by an old friend. "So how's all the paperwork?" Alfur asked sarcastically. "Well Alfur, it's been hell. I don't know how you all can deal with this kind of stuff so often," Hilda remarked as she placed Alfur on her shoulder and began to walk towards her office. "Doing paperwork is in our blood, really. I would be surprised to see one Elf who doesn't like the notion of paperwork. I can say the opposite for humans," Alfur said. "Maybe one day, I'll end up turning into an Elf because of the amount of time I spend at the desk figuring out the budgets, plans, future guest and party tours, everything. Not to mention the new crew looking after you all. They've been treating you well, right? Just to make sure," Hilda said and then sighed as she entered her office. Alfur then jumped on the desk and noticed all the paperwork on the right side of the desk which looked like a tower for his size. "Oh my," Alfur said as he stood on the desk, looking in awe at the mountain of papers; he had sympathy for Hilda. "Yep. I always wondered what Frida did while I was out there. Now I know." Hilda then noticed Alfur's more concerned look and then thought of a way to bring some light to the situation. "Hey, at least I don't have to clean up after Deerfoxes anymore!" she said. The two then began laughing until one of the new zoo members entered the office. "Ms. Falkenberg?" The new employee with the name tag 'Jack' asked. "Yes, Jack?" Hilda then said with a direct look like placing her hand together. "Any new tasks or the same ones like usual?" Jack said while scratching his head. Hilda then looked at a clipboard of tasks for everyone and looked at Jack's list of tasks such as taking count of inventory and looking after the Woffs. "Same ones. You should know this." Hilda said as she placed the clipboard down. Jack then stopped scratching his head while Hilda grabbed some paper and wrote down Jack's tasks and handed it over to him. "Don't worry about it. Here. Same ones like usual," Hilda said when Jack took the paper. "Thanks. Also, good morning," Jack said with a kind gesture as he leaves the room and leaves Hilda and Alfur in peace. "Hopefully the new folks can put up a great job like what you did before Frida left," Alfur said. Hilda then looks back at Alfur. "Yeah. I hope so. They have the same care for these creatures as me so I trust them...but if they were lying and hurt them then they're not going to like seeing me angry at all," Hilda said in a serious tone. "Well Alfur, I'm going to do all of this paperwork. I'd suggest going back so you won't be bored," said Hilda when she placed the first paper in front of her. "How about I help out? We could work together like the old days and you'd have company for a while," Alfur suggested. "You know what? That's not a bad idea. Alright. Let's get started," Hilda implied as the two began to figure out the mountain of paperwork.
Later that evening, at the penthouse, a phone rang throughout the house and David ran to pick up the call. "Hello?" asked the rockstar. "David! Ayyy, what's up?" Daoud yelled while David laughed at the loud response. "Nothing much really. I assume this is about the tour in two days?" asked David. "Yep. Also, hi!" Nessa added, giving David the indication that he entered a group call. "Hey, Nessa," David replied as he heard the cheers of all the band members over the phone. "Alright David, fun time is over. You need to get yourself ready because we're going to show up at your place tomorrow to meet up and then everyone goes to the hotels like usual," Tim said, entering the conversation. "To get everyone and the crew here without delay or problems? Sounds like a normal day in the office," David replied as he then went into the kitchen and looked in the fridge to grab the jug of milk. "Yep. And like always, if you're gonna go crazy, go crazy onstage. That means, stay ON the STAGE, especially if you're holding an instrument. I'm talking to you Ahmed!" Tim remarked. "I break ONE rib diving off ONE stage and you never let me hear the end of it!" Ahmed retorted as everyone other than Tim began laughing. David poured himself a glass of milk with the phone on his shoulder. "Ahmed, you climbed the rafters all the way to the ceiling. It was a 20 foot drop! You should be glad you broke only one rib!" Tim added with the crew still laughing as David placed the milk jug back in the fridge. "Quiet, everyone!" Tim angrily said and the crew became silent. David then stopped moving and waited for the next sound to come from the other end of the call. "Alright. So this is like the usual business. It'll only be the second time we came to you since you moved into that penthouse, but it'll still be like last time. We show up, we 'hang out' as you all like to do, and we get into our beds in the hotels while you sleep in your own with Hilda like always," Tim remarked. "How is Hilda, anyway?" Nathan asked with curiosity. "Paradise like usual," David replied and smiled with the thought of Hilda in mind. "Oh how sweet. You know, since the tour begins in Trolberg, you should bring her along with us," Nessa suggested and David's smile turned into a bit of skepticism. "No. She...she's the manager of the zoo and she's got all this paperwork and such. She sometimes brings it at home and works on it for the rest of the day before sleeping," said David as he walked back and forth through the penthouse's living room. "Well, since we're starting on Saturday, maybe she could join us for one night and then go back home?" Nathan recommended as David continued to pace back and forth. David then takes a drink of the milk. "Maybe. I don't know. That's up to her and that's up to the amount of paperwork she has," David concernedly said while he took another drink of milk. "Well when you see her again, tell her we believe that the paperwork monster will be defeated. Never give up!" Daoud yelled and the crew then yelled the words ``Never give up" as a kind gesture. "I will. So you''ll meet me here and then you'll go to the hotels? Just to be sure," David added to make his mind clear. "Yes," Tim said. "Alright. I'll see you then. Goodnight," David said as he hung up and placed the phone down back on the counter, then finished the glass of milk, and walked towards the kitchen sink. David then hears the front door opening and walks over to it after placing the glass into the sink; Hilda finally came home. Feeling tired and weak, Hilda lies on the door, slides down, and then sinks onto the floor with her eyes closed. "Hilda?" David asked. Hilda then looks up to see David and replies with a small smile and tries to get up, but fails. David then quickly walked over and offered a hand to pull Hilda up. "You ok?" David said as he pulled his partner up and placed her arm over his shoulder. "Yeah. I'm alright. I never knew that the papers would be my worst enemy. Out of all the things I've been through such as climbing mountains, dealing with world ending situations, this and that, the paperwork would take me down," Hilda tiredly said and laughed as David carried her to the chair and placed her there. "How much did you have to do this time?" David asked as he kneeled and is now the height of the chair. "Well to Alfur, it was a tower. To me, it was like...what...hours of placing the right words in the right places, and in the right boxes. Did I mention hours?" Hilda lazily added and she sunk her head into the chair. David then looked away for a moment, thought about the suggestion the band made, and looked back. "You know what? I got an idea," David proudly remarked and his confidence boosted to 100%. "What? What do you have in mind? A way to find a secret superpower that just makes my delusions of papers disappear and file themselves?" Hilda sarcastically smirked and David began laughing. Hilda then joined the laughter with a few chuckles. "No, but that is pretty funny, hon," David remarked as he smiled. "It's about the new tour. How about you come with me and let loose for a bit? It could relieve all the stress and such," David asked. Hilda then looked directly at David after he gave the idea. "No. David, that's crazy. I know it'll start on Saturday and all, but come on. Sometimes, I bring the work at home and I don't really get to do much. Then when I go back, more is added to the count. I don't know how Frida managed to do it, but she somehow did," Hilda said. "I know that! I mean since we're starting in Trolberg, you could join us for one night. You could let loose for one night and then the next day, you would be recharged after getting the rest you deserve for sure," David combated. "Then I'll be alone while you travel around the world. Though I got Twig so I guess I won't be alone technically." Hilda said as she closed her eyes to rest for a moment. "Yeah...that happens," David sadly added and then looked away. Hilda then opened her eyes and saw a disappointed David and began to think about what she would really want. Plus, it would be just one night and the next day, things will go back to normal after the wanted rest. Hilda then sighs as the thought of the idea of delaying the future mountains of plans, tour plans, budgets, and everything she could imagine lingers. "You know what? If things go well tomorrow, I doubt it really, then sure," Hilda said and David turned in amazement. "To tell you the truth, I want to let loose, and trapping an adventurer in a box with a desk full of all sorts of crap to sign is not always the best idea mentally. However, that's life. It's like a cog in a clocktower. If one piece is missing when the tower needs to function off of that certain cog at a certain time then everything falls apart. If I play the hand I'm dealt with right then maybe I could walk out of the tower for a while, come back, place myself in the same place as before, and everything functions like if nothing happened at all," Hilda said as she tried to get up when David's amazement turned to astonishment. "Seriously? Are...are you sure about this?" said David with cautious optimism when Hilda got up from the chair. "If you don't want me to go then don't give me any ideas." Hilda smirked as she placed her arm around David's shoulder due to her weakness from being tired. "No, no! I want you to. I'm just amazed that you're finally doing something different other than filling out those damn papers," David said as he carried Hilda up to the bedroom as Twig woke up and chased the two up the stairs. "Hey, Twig. David took good care of you?" Hilda said with curiosity, despite her tired expressions. Twig then nodded and David smiled. Hilda smiled in response to Twig's nodding when the two entered the bedroom. Hilda then took her arm off of David and then slowly walked over to the bed and then fell onto the bed. "Also, I forgot to mention this, but the band is on the way here tomorrow," David smirked as he laid down onto the bed. "Really?" Hilda said. "Yeah. It'll be the second time they showed up to my doorstep for a tour, but since we're more experienced with the plan, things will work out. Or at least I hope it will." David said as he becomes a bit more concerned with the possibility of things going wrong. "It'll go well. Trust me. You have my vote of confidence!" Hilda replied as she then rolled over close to David. "Ha ha. Yeah. Also, the band gave a cheer for you to never give up on the work stuff," David smirked as he placed his arm over Hilda's shoulder. "Huh, well tell them I said thanks," Hilda happily said. "Yeah," David replied as the two laid down onto the bed together. Twig then jumped up the bed and walked over to Hilda and she hugged Twig. "Hi, buddy. It's good to see you too," Hilda said to Twig as he licked her face like Twig always did for years. David then separated from Hilda and rose from the bed. "I think I'm going to get everything turned off and we all can go to sleep," he said. "Wait!" Hilda yelled as she shot up from the bed, and Twig became confused. "What?" David said with confusion. Hilda's quick anxiety turned back to laziness. "I'll have to clean myself up before I go to sleep. Shower and all," Hilda reminded herself as she rose from the bed and walked over to the penthouse's bathroom. "Actually, instead of going to sleep, maybe we could watch a movie or something. You just got back home so you should probably relax before going back to work again tomorrow," David suggested as he went back to the bed and laid down again. "Well, what do you have in mind?" Hilda asked. "Alien, perhaps?" David asked as he raised his eyebrow. "Sure. Always wanted to see what the buzz was about with that movie so yeah. See you then." Hilda said as she closed the bathroom door and David rose from the bed again. The young and slightly bearded rockstar went downstairs to find Alien in his collection of movies in the living room until the phone rang again. David went over to the counter where the phone was last placed, picked up the phone, answered the call, and then he heard nothing. "Hello?" David said while still looking around for Alien. Nothing answered as he continued to search and after thirty seconds of nothing, the call hung up randomly. "Ok….?" David replied as his face became confused for a moment. "Maybe it was some technical problem or something...no...it has a number. Maybe someone called by mistake. No big deal." David said as he placed the phone back on the counter and walked back to the collection of movies and found the case for Alien. David then took the case for the movie and walked back upstairs to the bedroom and found Hilda laying on the bed after she took the shower and got dressed in pajamas. "Found it!" David said as he walked into the room and waved the movie case. "Sounds good. Let's see what this is about," Hilda remarked while she rose from the bed and followed David down to the living room to see a legendary classic.
Later in the midnight, the two slept in bed together, with Twig curled up at their feet. David twitched in his sleep. As the night progressed, the more David's twitching progressed as he finally snapped and awoke with a loud yell that woke up both Hilda and Twig instantly. "Ah, fuck!" David yelled as he got out of the bed and quickly walked to the bathroom sink. "What happened?!" Hilda said as she followed David and saw him splashing water on his face. "Just another bad dream. It happens." David remarked with water on his face and slowly growing beard. "Was it about her again?" Hilda said as she rubbed her arm and approached David. "No…..no. It was dark...I couldn't see anything other than you. We couldn't talk to each other because I think we couldn't hear anything, I couldn't do anything, and you couldn't do anything. It was limbo." David said after he turned around to face Hilda. "I told you, I didn't have a choice in the matter. It was either that or be murdered." Hilda concernedly said as she walked over and hugged David. "I know...and I'm scared. The more I think about it, the worse it gets," David said as he hugged Hilda. "Look. We're still here and when the time comes, then we can start to think about all of this. At least you won't be alone there," Hilda responded. "At least….and you're right. We're still young and all so...it's best not to dwell on it right now. If we knew that damn amulet was a trick then things would have turned out a lot different. That's for sure." David said as the two began to walk back to the bedroom and they saw Twig concerned. Knowing everything is alright, Twig hopped back onto the bed and the two joined them. "Yeah..." Hilda replied as she hugged David again. "And if you think it's your fault, don't. It's not. Don't blame yourself for something you had no control over. Like you said, it was either this or be murdered. Though I did have to learn how to walk again after the ocean fucked up my leg." David smirked after he remembered what it was like to relearn how to walk again at the age of 23. "Thanks. If I'm being honest, I feel like hell for even accepting that offer. Yes, I got to be with Dad, but at the cost of giving up the chance to be in the afterlife really takes its toll on you when you think about it." Hilda said as she then closed her eyes. "I wonder what it's like...to live after death. It does give me the impression that Mum is alright...or at least I hope she is." David replied as he became sad at the thought of not being able to see his mother again when the time comes to die. "I like to think it's peaceful, beautiful, and harmless. No more pain, no more suffering, no more tragedies to live through. Just happiness." Hilda smirked as she began to tear up at the thought of her interpretation of what life would be after death. "Yeah. That's a good way of putting it." David said and then noticed Hilda becoming more sad. David then turned over to face Hilda and hugged her to bring a sense of calmness. Twig noticed Hilda's sadness and then crawled under David's arm to get to Hilda. She then saw Twig and then accepted the offer of comfort from both of her companions. After becoming calm and then regaining composure, Hilda then looks up to the ceiling of the bedroom. "We should go back to sleep. Like I said, when the time comes then that's when we can start thinking about all of this." Hilda said and she then closed her eyes to sleep. "I love you," Hilda says as she falls asleep. David then noticed Hilda asleep and then he prepared himself to go back to sleep. "Love you too," said David. After sharing the difficult discussion, David falls asleep with Twig joining soon after he went back to his spot at the far end of the bed.
When Hilda made the decision to doom herself and David to the world of Limbo, David didn't think about it at first due to him being happy that he's alive until he realized that life after death would be nothing thanks to the forced decision made by Hilda. Nothing. Of course, he would have Hilda with him, but the possibility of there being no sound or anything at all or the knowledge of never being able to see the past relatives and friends who died along the way began to take a toll on David's mentality. The thought of never seeing mother again was the worst part. So much so that it began a series of nightmares that progressively got worse throughout the months like if David was somehow reliving former drug years, but without the substance abuse. As for Hilda, she didn't think about the ending for her life much, but when she did, it always left her more depressed and regretful than anything. Despite her wishes for the afterlife to be peaceful bliss, the answers to her theories will never be answered due to her giving everything up just to be with her father for a single moment. Just a moment of happiness and closure at the price of living in Limbo after the body gives up functioning. Even if it's been a long time since the choice, it still has taken a toll on the two love birds. For the rest of the world, time will move forward after life for them. For Hilda and David, time will freeze over and will never tick again.