Chapter 5: We, The Ghosts of the Fairy Tail Guild, Accordingly Invite You To Hell

The dark seemed to be a nice escape for what was to come tonight. Through all that they've been through, it was only necessary.

Carrying all their millions of supplies, they shuffled through the now quiet guildhall that was deprived of its iconic atmosphere. It felt like to Serena there was a slight barrier between those of the dead and the living. Perhaps to hide themselves. The ravenette paid it no matter as she felt herself grow giddy with nervousness, preparing herself for what's to come.

The team unpacked the motion-sensitive camera and piled out the thousands of walkie-talkie type instruments. They accordingly agreed to set them upin the cafe, the basement, and the lobby-where Serena had felt those thousands of eyes. Once that matter was settled, the team said their goodbyes and wishes of luck.

Serena wandered down the cold, empty staircase to the S-Class lounge, finding herself in foreign territory. Something new, but not deadly.

Serena gathered herself before crossing over to the lounge itself, feeling a creeping tingle in her back. Her gut was screaming at her to go, as she felt another pair of eyes fall upon her. Even though it tried to stay hidden, she could feel the commanding attitude those eyes had and moved away to the couch. Hopefully safe.

That was before she realized it moved.

After a couple of minutes, she heard the slightest groan in the floorboards. It was a soft, quiet, but slow groan-as if a predator was sneaking up on its dinner. She immediately turned to the TV-where it had come from- and dug to find her EMF, a tool to detect different wavelengths of ghosts.

In a couple of seconds, she swung it toward the thing and almost immediately detected it. The light brightened distinctly over 2.5, a semi-high number for something that was just seen. Serena fished for her notebook and, using the rail, wrote down her findings.

It leaned closer to her, earning a second groan on the floorboards-this time, quicker and louder. The ravenette swung her head over, her eyes widened. Acting on a limb, she hid her notebook against her side and jutting out her EMF outwards. The light flicked between the 2.5 and 1.5; it seemed to judge whether or not to put it's guard down. She walked backwards to the end of the rail, not taking any chances. And right into the middle of the lounge, following the wavy rail.

The air swished to the slightest right as a cold bar of wind stretched out to meet her. Serena bit her lip and in a sense of confidence, outstretched her arm. The moon shone in the absence of the implied arm as it radiates its cold aura off to find her.

Her hand touched its. She bit back her scream once she felt it's energy root inside her, never wanting out. It almost felt exhausting, but it wasn't it's full energy; no, it was holding back.

And then, just like a candle, it flickered away.

Mariam creased in concern to see Serena coughing roughly, holding her throat. She picked up her walkie-talkie and talked in, asking if she's ok. Biting back a cough, confirmed. She knew she was, she's been through much worse.

Clicking off of the S-Class view, she surveyed the minor camera they've set up in the hallways. Despite Serena's close encounter, no other anomalies have been spotted. Besides the little dust speck that a novice investigator would've misclassified. She grabbed her own little notebook nearby and wrote down the little information she had: besides one (or the only) ghost(s) are strong.

Mariam looked back up to her five computer set up, and clicked back to Serena, smiling to see she had left. The strawberry blonde left her alone; she trusted her enough to lead her own private investigation.

Sitting alone, in the moody basement, have always calmed her. The only sound accompanying her was the whirring of the TV: or, white noise. She watched as nothing happened, besides the creaking of floorboards.

The sound was immensely loud, right next to her ear. She whipped her head around to the sound, realizing it came from behind. The wall gave off its own side -a light tap of what, presumably, was a finger; perhaps the ghost's way of scarring off Mariam.

The air shifted slightly, dropping only a few degrees in temperature. Goosebumps spread over her arms like fungus, covering her head to toe. She could feel it's presence somewhere to the right. But it was soon hard to tell as the gathered energy drifted away again, presumably towards her; scouting her out.

Mariam looked back behind her in dismay, not liking the flitting nature of the thing. Quickly grabbing her own Spirit Box: an AM/FM radio device, that uses the ghost's energy to communicate with the living.

She flipped the switch, the machine quickly coming to life. 'Who are you?' No answer. The presence drifted away, again, now towards its next chosen spot. Aggressive, then. 'Who. Are. You?' It seemed to play with her, like a child, as if she was just some toy. She heard the drumming of fingers against the wall again, alerting its presence in a northwards direction now.

She whirled back around in her chair, clicking into her security camera window. Mariam narrowed her eyes in thought; she, now, fully alert to her surroundings.

A tiny little speck danced across the screen.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

It awakened Xavier from his damp mood, happily grabbing the walkie-talkie.

'Xavier, come in, Xavier. This is Mariam.'

'Yeah yeah, I know it's you. What's up?'

'I'm wanting to know how it's going over at the bar?'

'It's soo boring, Mar! Nothing has hardly happened'

'Then try to walk around'

'But why'd you ask, Mariam?'

'Serena and me already had encounters beforehand, I just wanted to see if you did.'

Xavier cursed, bummed to be missing out on the "fun." Though hesitant to leave his designated grounds, picked up the few stuff he had and left.

Through the misty halls of the guild he walked, humming while he stopped every once and awhile to inspect glass, wood, or any items that the ghosts could've misplaced. He did this all with a jovial attitude; even daring to hum, with his hands stuffed in pockets.

Finally, he made it around the guild fully, the giant double doors cloning into his horizon. He stopped humming -realizing, dejectedly- that he managed to get around the whole building without experiencing anything. Tucking away his notebook, Xavier traveled towards the doors until he passed the nursing area.

Something called for him in there, crying out like a siren. Help me, please, I'm lonely. It was a slight whisper.

Help me, please, I'm lonely.

But, it soon vanished into thin air.

All thought was lost on his professional duties, Xavier ventured inwards.

Annnd! It's done! Hope you all like the first investigation, it's not too special. Nor is it supposed to be too intense. Yes, it's going to get worser from here on out.

Any ideas on who showed up this chapter? I think how they interacted kinda bases their characterization.

Anyway, stay healthy, stay positive, and stay safe! Have a nice day!