Chapter Eight

Kalin was torn between chasing after Radley and staying behind to try to see what was going to happen to Billy's spirit. He lingered a moment and was soon rewarded. Thaddeus Johnson was stunned by his enemy's actions in grabbing a body, so much so that he was yelling and cursing a bluestreak and Billy managed to force his hand with the spirit knife away and judo flip him to the ledge.

"I'm out of here," he said in disgust. He jumped off the ledge and floated down to the ground.

Biff looked ready to faint. "Billy! You're a ghost!"

"Well, yeah," Billy retorted. "Those jerks pulled me out of my body." He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "But I'm still me. And I am so sorry for all this. I didn't mean to cause all this trouble. . . ."

"You did what you had to do," Kalin said. "They really did want Radley. You saved him. But now we have to get your body back from my ancestor!"

"Oh, don't worry," Billy replied. "He's not getting away with this! And when I catch up to him, he'll have to see how he likes being thrust out. The difference is I'll be justified in reclaiming what was taken from me!" He ran past Kalin towards the conveyor belt exit.

Kalin looked back at the other good spirits. "If they're in the tunnels, we need to get to them now!" he barked.

"Some of them have already teleported to try to head them off," Mike said. "Although if Kessler and Radley are already in the tunnels, that doesn't mean the spirits will correctly predict the right path to try. . . ."

"Teleport?! That is wicked awesome!" Scotch exclaimed as he ran after Kalin. "Why can't Billy do that?"

"It takes a while to learn that skill, and Billy isn't dead," Miss Johnson said. "He's just been forced into astral-projecting."

Kalin ran through the doorway and into the darkened tunnel beyond it. "Radley?" he called. His voice echoed eerily off the walls.

"Kalin?" Radley sounded far away. "I still haven't caught up to . . . him yet."

Kalin sighed. It was hard to know how to refer to this enemy under the circumstances.

"Be careful," he called. "Do you see any of the good spirits?"

"No," Radley said.

Kalin frowned. Apparently they hadn't found the right path. "What are these tunnels for?" he asked the ghosts with him.

"Originally they were to get the silver away from the mine while trying to avoid attacks from the Indians," Miss Johnson said. "When the war between my brother and Mr. Kessler became more of a danger than outside forces, the townspeople started hiding out in the tunnels."

"Oh great," Virgil scowled.

"How well do Johnson and Kessler know the tunnels?" Kalin queried.

"Very well by now, unfortunately," Miss Johnson said. "They've explored every square inch of them over and over."

Kalin stiffened. "Then . . ."

Up ahead, Radley suddenly cried out.

"Radley!" Kalin yelled. He tore ahead with everyone else thundering after him.

Radley was not in a good mood as he chased Kalin's ancestor through the darkened tunnels, shining his flashlight in an attempt to find the wayward body.

Could this day get any worse? The office had been trashed, they had run into Kalin's father, they were all trapped in the town limits unless they could calm the evil spirits down, Billy had been badly hurt, the evil spirits had pulled out his soul, Kalin had considered sacrificing himself, and now his wretched ancestor had jumped into Billy's body.

Radley scowled to himself. It could always get worse. When would he learn? They could all die here, or Kalin really might decide there was no choice but to sacrifice himself, or . . .

No, it was better not to think about all the ways.

He and Kalin still hadn't recovered from him sacrificing himself. Sometimes he wondered if they ever would be able to get over it. It still shook him up when he remembered hitting the water and dying. Somehow, with it all so sudden that way, it was more distressing than when he had been slowly killed by Malcolm's shock collar over a number of hours. And he certainly hadn't wanted to go from dealing with the emotional fall-out from that to experiencing Billy nearly dying, probably suffering a fate worse than death, and hearing Kalin talk about sacrificing himself all in the span of a few horrible moments.

I'm tired of sacrifice. I did what I felt I had to do at the time, and I felt it was right, but I didn't want to die. And I didn't want to leave my loved ones in turmoil. I didn't fully realize how badly it would affect Kalin. I had hoped he knew by now how deeply I care about him, but maybe he doesn't.

And Billy . . . poor Billy . . . so consumed by his self-hatred and guilt that he felt he couldn't be at peace unless he sacrificed himself for me. . . . Is he ever even going to be able to get back to his body?

Without warning Kessler dropped from the ceiling and onto Radley's back, forcing him to the floor. "Now you're going to pay!" he roared. "You're going to pay!"

Radley cried out in shock and pain. "Why?!" he exclaimed. "Why does it bother you that badly?! It sounds like you were trapped here regardless of what Malcolm and I did!"

Kessler grabbed Radley's shoulders, pulled him up, then slammed him down again. "At least things were quiet! But you had to go and reawaken our hate for each other!"

Radley choked back a pained cry. He grabbed Kessler's wrists, but hesitated. He didn't want to hurt Billy's body. "You chose to let your hate be reawakened," he countered. "You didn't have to decide to revive your war just because Malcolm started another one!"

Kessler called him a foul name. "And now you're best friends with my pathetic descendant!"

Now Radley's patience bent and broke. He gripped the other's wrists tighter but still didn't throw him. "From what I've seen, Kalin is the best of this family line," he snarled. "Engaging in a destructive war with someone for 170 years and blaming other people for it?! How is that not pathetic?! And Kalin's father, beating him every day and drinking himself into oblivion?! What a waste of a human being!"

Kessler rose up enough to suddenly and painfully slam his knee into Radley's back. "And what about what Kalin did?!" he retorted. "You talk of my hatred, but what about his?! Letting himself sink so far into the darkness that he accepts an evil force and allows himself to be corrupted to get revenge on his old friend and try to destroy the world?! What could be more pathetic than that?!"

Radley jerked, snarling in pain. "And he felt so horrible about it that he tried for months to find creative ways to commit suicide!" he shot back. "That's what sets him apart from you and his father—he's a good person who has a conscience!"

Kessler got up and abruptly grabbed Radley's wrists even as his own were still being restrained. "And you, you had the chance to get the upper hand with me, but you chose not to take it just because I'm possessing that idiot kid's body! You're supposed to be a leader, but you don't even have enough guts to do what has to be done!" He threw Radley over his head to crash into the wall.

Radley fell to the floor in a heap, dazed from the blow. The wall was hard, with some made of actual rock while the rest was dirt hard enough that it was almost rock-like. He blinked, fighting to keep the blurry scene in focus. Kessler was coming at him now, intent on slamming him into the wall again, but Radley couldn't make himself move to get out of the way.

Then a transparent figure ran out, flying at the vicious body. "Radley is the best leader there could be!" he spat. "Yeah, he wouldn't risk hurting you because you're in my body and he loves me! Even after everything I did to him, he still forgave me! That's something you'll never understand. Get out of my body! Now!"

Radley watched, not sure if he was seeing correctly or imagining as Billy phased into his body. A almost inhuman scream of rage echoed through the corridor. As Kalin and the others finally caught up, Billy thrust Kessler out and fell to his knees, reaching to pull Radley into his arms. "Radley . . . Radley, please be alright. . . . Please. . . ." He trembled, tears slipping from his eyes and splashing on Radley's face.

Radley blinked, finally pulled back to greater consciousness by Billy's worry. "I'm okay, Billy," he soothed, hugging his friend close. "Thank God you're alright. . . ."

Had it all been a nightmare? Had he dreamed it? But no, it was all real. At least, though, it had finally been set right. Billy was alive and back in his body.

Kalin breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down, embracing them both.

Billy looked up in surprise. "Kalin. . . ."

". . . I'll admit I haven't known what to think of you or whether you could be trusted," Kalin said. "I'm sorry for that. You've more than proved yourself today."

Radley smiled. "You most certainly have. I hope you'll be able to put your burdens behind you, Billy. You deserve to be happy again, truly happy, and not bogged down by the past."

Billy hugged him close and reached for Kalin too. "I hope I can," he said. "I know you might not want to hear it, Radley, but I think it did ease my mind a lot to know that I can be counted on in a life-or-death crisis."

Radley sighed but smiled. "I'm glad if at least it gave you peace of mind," he said. "I never doubted you, Billy, but I didn't know how to help you believe in yourself again."

"Billy!" Scotch came flying at them and joined the group hug, trying to hug all three. "You're alive again! Or awake, or something! And you're solid!"

Billy laughed, hugging his friend and then all the others as they rushed the group.

Yusei stepped back so as not to be plowed down. "Kalin's really got a good thing here," he smiled.

Antinomy nodded. "These people truly care about him."

"I'm glad," Yusei said. "He needs stability like this."

Monkey suddenly hissed, bringing everyone's attention to where Kessler was stumbling up, glowering at the group. Thaddeus Johnson had just caught up and looked as though he was going to come at him with the spirit knife, but something stopped him. He turned, looking at the overjoyed group. His expression slowly changed; the hate was beginning to melt.

". . . It would be nice to have something like this," he said at last. "They love each other so much. I'd almost forgotten what it was to love. . . ."

"Then let go of your hate and come with me, Brother," Miss Johnson pleaded, holding out a hand to him.

Mrs. Kessler finally came forward as well. "You too, Kolten."

Kessler looked up. ". . . You would really forgive me, after all of this?!"

Mrs. Kessler sighed. "It isn't easy, that's for sure. You've put all of us through so much. But . . . I could have moved on. I didn't want to without you. I still love you."

Kessler stared at her, stunned. Finally he went to her, shakily taking her hand. "Brigette . . . this has all been so pointless. I'll try to move on, but it won't be easy. . . ."

"At least being willing to try is a vast improvement!" Mrs. Kessler exclaimed.

Thaddeus Johnson embraced his sister. "Martha . . . I'm so sorry. . . ."

Miss Johnson smiled. "That makes a world of difference to me." She hugged him close.

Scotch looked over at them in amazement. "Happy endings all around!" he exclaimed.

"Is this going to release the seal over the town?" Radley asked.

"Yes, of course," Kessler said. "You'll be free to come and go as you please, and contact whomever you wish."

"And what about the treasure?" Scotch wondered.

"Oh, what use would we have for that?" Miss Johnson said. "We just wanted to hide it from Brigette's husband because he was desperate for cash to support his gambling habit. The map should also point out another buried box of jewelry at the entrance to the tunnels. It's all Brigette's jewelry, so it should go to Kalin."

Kalin went red. "I wouldn't have any use for jewelry. . . . These pieces are all really feminine."

"Then sell it and further revitalize the town," Brigette shrugged. "Or keep it for a sweetheart someday. It is antique jewelry by now, so it might be nice to hang onto it."

". . . I think I'll give some of it to Nico," Kalin decided. "She's about the age when she'll probably want jewelry soon."

"That's a great idea," Yusei smiled.

"And instead of selling any, the rest could go on display in the Crash Town museum," Kalin continued. "We should preserve the memory of this town's Old West heritage."

"Ooh, I like that idea," Radley said. "A museum would be a good tourist attraction."

"And that would bring in good money. I know," Kalin smirked.

"Yes! And we can take turns giving tours!" Scotch declared.

Radley chuckled. "Well . . . we'll talk about that."

"Ironic that the Kesslers have always been poor, but they owned these treasures," Antinomy remarked.

"We were kept poor because of Kolten's gambling habits," Mrs. Kessler said. "So the treasures were hidden up for another day. I guess somehow they just got lost through the generations."

"That's just as well," Kalin said. "My relatives would have spent it on vices anyway."

"I had assumed it was your treasure," Johnson said to Miss Johnson, "although I didn't understand why Mrs. Kessler would be keeping it."

"It was Brigette's," Miss Johnson insisted. "I just wanted to make sure she did something to hide it so she wouldn't lose it."

"You're welcome to share in it, if you want," Kalin said to Johnson, who also went red.

"No, that's alright. I'm well enough off. You should keep it for the town," Johnson said.

Kalin nodded. "I'll do that."

"Well, it looks like everything is going to be fine now," Miss Johnson said. "I think it's time for us to leave. I'm so sorry about all the trouble."

"At least if it's over now, that's the most important thing," Yusei said.

"By the way, was it a spirit who broke into my office?" Radley asked.

"Yes, that was me," Kessler said. "I'm . . . sorry about that now."

They watched as the four spirits from the Old West shimmered and vanished. The miners' ghosts, on the other hand, lingered.

"What about you guys?" Scotch asked.

"I think we'll be staying on for a while," Drew said. "Maybe we can learn to help protect the town." He looked to Radley. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Of course not," Radley said. "It's your town too."

Biff didn't look as sure, but he didn't offer any objection.

"Should we dig up that other box now or wait?" Scotch wondered.

"Let's wait, unless the Big Five want to go at it," Radley said. "We've all had a long day. I think we could use some rest."

"Rest sounds good!" Scotch said.

"I agree," Lector said. "Whatever's down there has been there for 170 years, give or take. It will keep for another day."

"Thank you for coming out to help us," Radley said. "All of you." He looked to Yusei and Antinomy too.

"We'll always be there for you," Yusei said, giving him a thumbs-up.

Kalin smiled. "We know."

Epilogue

Kalin relaxed against the couch. It had been a long evening of sharing dinner at the diner and watching the Bunch throw together an improvisational mini-concert. Billy definitely seemed to be in better spirits, despite how disturbing the day's disasters had been. That certainly brightened Radley's heart, and Kalin was happy about it himself.

"Come over if you have nightmares trying to sleep," Radley had encouraged him when they left.

"I will, but I think I'll be okay," Billy had smiled back. "I finally believe in myself again. Now I know I'll be there for you no matter what happens."

They had shared a sweet hug before departing.

Kalin smiled to himself. Radley could finally stop worrying about Billy. That was a huge weight off of his shoulders. And now that they were happier, Kalin was too.

Radley came out from the shower in a fresh tank top and jeans and sank down on the couch next to Kalin. "What a day," he said. "I hope we never have another one like that again."

"We probably will," Kalin deadpanned.

"You're always so grim," Radley quipped. He sighed. "You're probably right, though."

Kalin grunted. "I know."

"I suppose tomorrow we'll need to go back and dig up the rest of that antique jewelry of yours," Radley remarked.

Kalin flushed a bit. "If you want any of it yourself, you're welcome to it."

Radley laughed. "It's probably too feminine for me, but I'll look. Jewelry doesn't have to be feminine, you know. You don't think what I wear is, do you?"

"No," Kalin admitted.

"And you were awfully quick to think of Nico when Johnson's ancestor suggested saving the jewelry for a sweetheart," Radley chuckled. "Anything to get away from that subject, eh? Do you ever think about marrying someday, Kalin?"

"Not that much," Kalin shrugged.

"Yeah, me either, honestly." Radley leaned back against the couch.

"I guess your experience with Brittanie soured you on that?" Kalin wondered.

"Oh, maybe a little, but really, I never felt I needed that so much as just wanting somebody to truly care about me," Radley said. "I don't need to have romance for that."

Kalin drew an arm around his shoulders. "You have a lot of people who care about you now."

Radley leaned against him. "So do you. It's a nice feeling, isn't it?"

"It is," Kalin agreed. "It was amazing enough when it was Yusei, Jack, Crow, and me against the world. I didn't think anyone else would ever care about me and that was alright. But now I also have the rest of Team 5Ds, you, and all of the Bunch."

Radley looked happy. "Do you really consider yourself one of us now?"

"Yes, I think so," Kalin said. "I think maybe I was still holding myself more at arm's length with them because I didn't know if I trusted Billy, Clint, and Virgil. After what happened today, I finally trust Billy. He deserves that. I'm sure I'll come to feel better about Clint and Virgil too."

"I'm glad," Radley said. "We're really all a family now!"

"We are," Kalin agreed.

Radley hesitated. "Kalin . . . about what you said today . . . you really do understand how much I care about you, don't you? I can't bear losing you."

". . . I guess sometimes, it is still hard to fully grasp," Kalin said. "But that's the lingering self-hatred talking. I know you and Yusei both desperately want me to live. Even the Bunch does too." He smiled a bit.

"I was stunned to realize how badly you were affected by my death," Radley said. "And horrified. I . . . I never wanted to hurt you like that. . . ."

"It was Lawton's fault," Kalin said. "He forced you to do what you did."

"And . . . today?" Radley looked earnestly at Kalin.

"I don't want to die," Kalin said. "I would have been willing if I'd had to, but I'm glad it didn't turn out that a sacrifice was necessary. I'm sorry, though, for even bringing it up. I didn't mean for you to hear it at all. Yusei was upset, and then Scotch was upset, and then you heard it anyway." He looked away. "I guess we've never actually talked before about what we'd do if the situation came up again. But . . . you're right. We need to try to find other solutions if at all possible. What happened with you . . ." He shook his head. "I know I can't go through that again. And I would never want to put you in that position either."

Radley nodded. "I intend on being around for a very long time. I hope you do too."

"I do," Kalin said. "I had thought death was calling for me when there was that mining accident. Now, though, I think something or Someone wants me to live. I've been spared from death more than once. And I'm going to live life to the best of my ability . . . with you."

Radley beamed. "Kalin . . . I'm glad." He hugged his friend close.

Kalin hugged him in turn. He had had so many visions for how his life would turn out—some upbeat, some grim and dark—but he had to admit that a sweet domestic scene like this had been the farthest thing from his mind. He had pictured himself as a gang leader bringing peace to the Satellite, then a power-hungry maniac putting down every possible threat (although of course he hadn't considered himself power-hungry or a maniac at all), then a dark ruler. After that, he had only wanted to die. But Yusei and the kids and Jordan had all reawakened in him a desire to live, and now this life was what he wanted—safe and happy with Radley and the Bunch, and Yusei, Jack, and Crow as his renewed friends as well. He had to wonder how he possibly deserved any of it. But really, instead of wondering, he would just be grateful.

"Did you ever think your life would turn out like this?" he asked.

"Hardly," Radley said. "But I have everything I wanted—a nice house, enough money to never have to worry about being homeless, and a real family."

"Same here," Kalin said. "Although I didn't know this was the life I wanted before."

"Or the people you wanted to be with?" Radley remarked.

"Exactly." It still haunted Kalin to think of how he had very nearly lost Radley before they had ever had the chance to grow close. And then to have almost lost him again after coming to recognize the precious gift of his friendship. . . . Every day they had together was a treasure.

"Someday we'll be like the Big Five and looking back on what must be over fifty years together," Radley said.

Kalin smirked. "With more still after that."

"Of course," Radley said. "We're resilient. That will be our story too."

Kalin smiled. "That sounds perfect." Would they really be allowed such an existence? He would certainly hope and pray for that.

Radley rubbed his neck. "You know, I've been thinking. It would probably be easier and more comfortable to rest on a bed more often, even when we still need the reassurance of each other being alright. Even a twin bed is wider than a couch," he smirked.

"I was thinking the same thing," Kalin said.

But neither of them felt like moving at the moment. After a while they started to doze resting against each other, as they had for the past several weeks. There would no doubt be more hard times and more nightmares in the days ahead, but for now they were peaceful and happy just being together.