"Seriously, girls, I don't know what the big freakout was about the gummy worms." Mom One said as she drove them home. "Grams was probably just giving them as a goodbye gift!"
"And Ginny, I didn't leave that book in your room because I saw the bookmark in it." Mom Two added. "I put it in the backseat for you-"
"WHAT?!"
Ginny Ferrerio spun her head to see it. Stay Out Of The Basement. The second book in a favorite series of hers. She never got around to finishing it. After all that trouble that started just by trying to find a replacement after thinking it was left back home, it had been right THERE this whole time?!
But given what she and her older sister Mia just went through, she wasn't exactly in the mood for reading. She had had about ENOUGH scares to last for probably all year!
She only tossed the book into the back. And that's when she heard something in a suitcase go "Ow!" when the book landed on it.
At that quiet voice, she and Mia turned around in surprise.
"What was that?" Mia asked.
"I don't know." Ginny replied. "But it sounded like…"
"What are you two whispering about?" One of their moms asked.
Mia and Ginny froze. No WAY could they explain. No one would believe them about what happened during their visit to Grandma's. Sure, Mia was gonna go to this new camp called Camp Jellyjam with her sports team, but she broke her leg and this happened instead. Rumor had it that there was this strange monster that secretly controlled everything happening there before it died.
She didn't believe those rumors before. But now? She might as well.
But they managed to make a new friend as well. However, they thought…
Mia struggled to come up with an excuse. She came up blank, but that's when Ginny sprung forward.
"Can we stop?" She asked. "I need to pee!"
"We just got on the road-."
"It's all right. I could do with a coffee." Mom Two interrupted Mom One. "Ginny, could you get one for me?"
Once the car stopped at a small convenience store, Mia and Ginny got out of the car and opened the back, grabbing the suitcase.
"Hey, where are you bringing the suitcase?"
"Uh, I didn't make it to the bathroom!" Ginny answered Mom Two. "Gotta change clothes!"
Once the doors closed behind them, the girls checked to see if anyone was watching. Whoever was supposed to be at the booth was gone. Their moms were too busy chatting.
Good. The coast was clear.
They opened the suitcase. It was full of spare clothes, but also something else. Something they never thought they'd see again.
It was a small creature. With tiny horns, purple fur and green spots, she had a tiny ponytail with a green rubber band and her eyes were a yellow amber color while her pupils were red. At the sight, Ginny gasped.
"Irk!" Mia cried. "What are you doing?!"
"How did you get here?!" Ginny added.
"Irk can read!" The little adorable monster yelled.
"Hmph! You're not the ONLY one!"
The joy the sisters felt suddenly turned into horror. Their reunion was short-lived…
"Uh oh…" Irk only gulped.
An old woman with large glasses, Barbara Soditch, poked her head from beneath one of the top candy aisles, cackling like a witch. Her eyes glowed a menacing green. The owner of that Cursed Editions bookstore had FOLLOWED them! And she wasn't alone…
"Hey, cool!" A skeleton with a mohawk snatched some tropical Hawaiian shades from a glasses rack and turned to the trio. "Whaddya think?"
They couldn't reply. Mia, Ginny, and Irk only stared at the small man in front of a large black doorway, with two signs reading "The Really Scary Stuff" and "Monster Blood" above it and a mirror the skeleton checked his new shades out in.
"Aw, what's the matter?" Slappy the Living Ventriloquist Dummy asked, holding his skull-tipped cane. "Miss me?"
"AAAHHHHHHH!"
Ginny was sure she'd need her asthma medicine again from the shock. How did their moms not hear that scream?!
"You really thought you could get away from ME that easily?" Slappy cackled. "Barby, Curly, and I are bringing you back. And this time, there will be NO escape!"
He took a step forward, about to lunge, when suddenly, the lights went out!
"What the-?! HEY! What's going on?!" Curly the Skeleton yelped.
The automatic doors got sealed, and all windows darkened. No one could see in or out! Mia, Ginny, and Irk couldn't see a thing!
And then, there was a flash of bright blue light, and something else dropped to the ground with a THUD!
"What's happening?!" Irk gulped. "Irk can't see!"
The footsteps thudded through the store. The new figure was RUNNING! But not towards them. It was headed for Slappy!
"Who are-AGH!"
There was a hard impact sound, and Slappy ended up slamming against the wall! Barbara screeched in anger and lunged at the figure, who only intercepted with a backhand that sent her skidding to the floor!
Curly lunged next, but a hard sock to the jaw knocked the tropical glasses off and left him wide open for a few more blows before a spinning kick made him topple over the counter.
The lights were flickering as the three watched. They couldn't make out the figure as it continued to battle Slappy. The dummy threw out green fireballs, but the figure caught one in its hand, crushed it, and lit the fist on fire before dealing a spinning punch that broke a magical force-field Slappy conjured up!
In only a matter of seconds, this…this…THING ended up knocking Slappy up into the ceiling, and he fell to the ground before weakly getting back up.
"Whoever you are…you've made a BIG mistake!" Slappy growled at the hidden figure. "I will HAVE my revenge, and Slappy ALWAYS has his revenge!"
With a cackle, he enveloped himself in a dark green cloud and flew off, snatching up Barbara and Curly before vanishing into the dark corridor. The door there flew open and slammed shut behind them.
And that's when the trio saw it. The figure turned to face them. And it…didn't seem human!
It was covered head to toe in dark blue armor. Even the face was hidden under that visor and mask! It was horned, with claws, talons, and even wings! As it came closer, Mia realized what this was.
The Blue Beast. It had become a recent urban legend in her hometown of Hollowville! But…why was it HERE?!
It crouched down to eye the girls as Irk hid behind the sisters. Mia felt incredibly frightened, but held her ground. She couldn't let this thing hurt Irk…
And then…the Blue Beast held a finger to its covered mouth. As if to silence the trio. Telling them to keep quiet about this. It eyed Irk for a while…and then stood back up again.
It turned back around, beginning to make its way to the dark corridor and the door Slappy, Curly, and Barbara fled through. As it did so, a hand reached to its back, then pulled something, MANIFESTED something, out of thin air!
The Blue Beast lowered the sword to its side as it continued towards the door. It gripped the knob before turning it, then threw the door open. The wings formed into a cape that flapped and flew in the spooky winds as it stepped through, the door closing shut behind it.
All went silent. Then, the lights came on again. And the door slid back open as the windows became see through again.
The trio were silent. Mia knew her mothers would be suspicious if they were changing clothes for a bit too long.
"So…" Ginny asked, pointing to Irk. "How are we going to keep this a secret?"
It wouldn't be long before their moms caught on. The only excuse Mia could think of was that it was Grandma's pet that she couldn't care for anymore. Then again…what kind of pet was a small purple monster that could TALK?!
…
The figure stepped out of the door and stopped once it could get a clear view of its surroundings. This place was so familiar…yet different at the same thing.
The helmet only dematerializes, allowing me to get a good view with my naked eyes alone.
Yes. I am the Blue Beast. Hello there, dear reader. It's been a while.
My name is Cory Waldhorn. I am 28 years old, and the sole defender of my hometown of Hollowville. And a lot sure has happened.
Ten years. Ten years since the Eternal Night. Hard to believe it all went by so fast. Some of our friends left, others stayed. Still...life goes on.
Monsters still roam in the shadows. But I'll always be ready to face them. A nightmare to others...is MY reality. And a hunter's work...is never done.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I had a feeling that not even Dracula could kill Slappy for good. If he was that imposter Lizzy, Luke, and Clay met back way back when, that dummy would make quick work of his.
But Fier brought him back once. He must have only one last chance to take over the world for that chaos god. So why hide away for a decade? To rest? To recover? To plan?
Or…maybe upgrade his headquarters?
A sign nearby only reads "Welcome to Horrorland".
You mean, welcome BACK. I only think.
Hard to believe that this used to be that old abandoned movie studio called Shock Street. But since he couldn't exactly kill Katzman's dream, Slappy had to start from scratch. There's several buildings, along with spotlights, neon signs, and all kinds of familiar sights.
The Stagger Inn. The Deadly Doom Slide. Werewolf Village. Coffin Cruise. Fever Swamp Water Park. Terror Tombs. Vampire Village. Mad Labs. The A-Nile-Ator. Black Lagoon Water Park. Wolfsbane Forest. The Vampire State Building. The Carnival of Screams. The Haunted Theater. Even Zombie Plaza.
Hello, what's this? He's even got a House of Mirrors. Guess he doesn't need to worry about The Menace anymore. And Monster Blood's legal here? That's new.
Hmmm…New Horrorland. That's got a nice ring to it.
The door behind me has vanished. Well…no problem. I'm not here to escape.
"Welcome to Horrorland! Welcome to Horrorland!" A recording over the crappy PA speakers roars. "Whatever you fear, you'll find it here!"
Looks more like Horrorworld if you ask me.
"Is it not a little weird, that all you know has disappeared?" The recording continues. "The door is shut, the way back gone, here lives midnight without the dawn. With monsters of all kinds amassed, the Midnight March begins at last! Our aim is to frighten and leave you aghast! Your fortune's been told, your runes are cast!"
Oh yeah. It's always night in Horrorland. I wouldn't be surprised if Slappy tried making his own Eternal Night recipe. Too bad he's lacking the main secret ingredients that are seven mystical stones.
I begin trekking through New Horrorland, materializing my helmet back on again to blend in with the monster crowd. At least I don't have to worry about any No Humans Allowed rule.
This'll be just like the good old days.
"Black Ice Cream!" A Horror Vendor calls. "Get your Black Ice Cream here!"
"Monster Blood here!" Another yells. "Make your problems smaller with Monster Blood!"
Hmph. Back in my day, you had to enter with a ticket through a parking lot, then ride a speeding cab on tracks to reach Zombie Plaza. Nowadays that's super easy. But like a fine wine, I guess I get better with age.
Other monsters try to jump out and scare me. But after years of work, I'm not even fazed.
"Hey! Get back here! You were supposed to scream!"
Yeah? Well next time, show me a past due bill.
I don't even NEED a scream file to enter. And the only belongings I carry are on my person. Even IF they still have a flamethrower, that bag is just a decoy.
What, no Good-Bye Land? Wow. Guess that entrance really is one way only. Well…at least I've got a shortcut out of this place.
Still…Irk's a new one. She's not like any Horror I've ever seen before. They're all big, green, and scaly. She's only small, purple, and furry. Maybe some kind of defect? Or maybe it's an evolution?
Guess I've got something new to add to my very own bestiary.
More sights pass me as I make my way to the Stagger Inn. Madame Doom, Make A Face, Frozen Eyeballs On A Stick, even the Monster Police Headquarters and the Dungeon of Doom! Ahhh…memories.
I enter the Stagger Inn's lobby, throwing the doors open. Much to my secret joy…it hasn't changed a bit.
The area is bustling with monsters. All of which freeze to notice me. Even Headless Trevor turns. The walls have huge oil paintings, all of which have screaming kids. Just how I remember it.
Reset timelines can do that to you.
I feel like Mr. Black as I head through the lobby, arriving at the main desk.
"Tickets, please." The bored Horror only states. I only pull out the Very Special Guest ticket I had summoned up minutes before and present it to him. He only stamps it. "Floor 13. Room 1399."
1399? Isn't that Slappy's room?
Right. New timeline. Things are different now.
I only nod thanks and walk off towards the stairs. When no one's looking, I head down instead. If my hunch is correct…
Underneath the dungeon and Spooky Spa is a hidden basement level. Classic creepiness. The decor and throne is all it takes to tell me all I need to know about the massive underground chamber. This is Slappy's lair.
Looks like he's not here. For now. I come across another door and head into a smaller room. Hello, secret area…
There's a board of various ideas and schemes. Plans to take over the world, no doubt.
Let's see…unleash Monster Horde. Fail.
Imprison MS. Fail.
Unleash MORE monsters. Fail.
Get rid of Dylan. Fail.
Scare MS out of Horrorland. Fail.
Use Jonathan Chiller to terrify them. Fail.
Send super scary monsters to destroy MS. Fail.
Use a magic stone to raise a zombie army. Fail.
There's a bunch more here. He's more like a Saturday morning villain, because most of these aren't worth mentioning.
That's when I see a NEW plan. One right on a massive desk.
A large sketch of a Generation Z phone, labeled the Fear Phone. I only move to view it right-side up and eye it carefully, studying the detailed device.
Huh? Virus? Spreads to other phones? Dark Magic fused with Cyberspace Tech? More evil and haunted than the camera?!
I begin to sense something coming closer! I whip out my own phone and take a picture of the sketch, the camera perfectly capturing each and every detail.
I then conjure a portal onto the ground and drop down, like I wasn't even there.
I landed perfectly back in my home and base. 208 Lawrence Drive. Home of the Mystic Night private eye detective agency and paranormal investigator secret service.
I live alone, work long hours, and get paid next to nothing. But sometimes money's not enough. Sure, home sweet home may be run down, but it's a living. Plus, the creepy vibes drive the kids away.
By day, I'm a private eye and supernatural expert. By night, I'm a Monster Hunter and vigilante the town calls the Blue Beast. Think of me as both Sherlock Holmes and Batman, mixed with a bit of Van Helsing.
The garage is right next to the basement, but the slope's not that steep. Attic's where I keep records of my previous cases. Meanwhile I've got a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom, a man cave hangout spot, a bedroom, a library, and of course, an office. Complete with the eye symbol and private eye sign on the door.
Since I work from home, I don't take visitors. Only calls. On this old noir-like phone. I enter my office, which is standard private-eye detective stuff. All my monster hunter stuff is kept in a secret area in the basement.
I keep a few magnums in my desk. Some are a .38 revolver, a .45 automatic, and a .44 Magnum. I keep them loaded in a holster. Some more are bottles, and they keep me loaded.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suicidal or an alcoholic or any of that depressing stuff. This town NEEDS me. The bottles are just some water and coffee, since I tend to get thirsty during work. Meanwhile, the guns are for more…unwelcome guests. I have the right to bear arms, and I plan on keeping mine.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not exactly working with the cops. One, they only call ME in when there's a case they can't solve, and two, it's a bit risky to expose your secret identity to the law and they know you're going around doing their job.
Here's how most cases do. I try to beat the cops to the crime scene, get a scoop of the place before they arrive. They ain't happy when I snoop around murders, but they don't do well around real supernatural threats. The Eternal Night is like a bad itch you just can't get rid of.
It's normally a lot better around those who don't exactly remember that night. Those who think monsters are myths stay away from the kind of cases I work on. They chalk up these kinds of murders to be the result of drug overdoses.
Long story short, even the law has limits. I'm all that stands between innocent people and the forces of darkness.
I figured it was only a matter of time before Slappy returned. But if he was in hiding for ten years, his next plan HAD to have been big. Of course, he'd adapt.
I look back on the picture I took of the blueprints of the phone, sending them to my assistant Dylan via email and text. He's my undercover guy, able to blend in with the younger kids thanks to being stuck looking like one for the rest of his life. He should be at least 18 by now. No one will believe him, so he covers up. But it'll be suspicious when he keeps saying he's 12 as the years go by. His secret? Just that. A secret.
We all have them. I don't blame him.
It CAN get a bit lonely. My dog Larry's over with my sister Lisa. Thankfully our magic can "unlock" his voice or shut him up so he doesn't blab in public. He's like Scooby-Doo, albeit my line of work can be a bit extreme.
Of course, my work's always lonely work. There's no glory in it. And even less pay. But SOMEONE has to pay the bills and taxes. If you've got a hobby, never do it for free.
I examine the picture in full-screen. Seems like a modified Samsung Galaxy S21, complete with high-speed 5G network capability, unlimited data, and limitless wi-fi. A teen's dream. Knowing that it's also fused with Slappy's dark magic and Cyberspace technology, it could be capable of so much more.
I'm no arcane scholar. And DEFINITELY not a tech geek. Jaclyn's moved back to Sherpia with her dad, Morgred's back in England with Sue, Eddie, and Arthur, and Mark Tyler moved away a few years ago. I'm on my own here…
Hold on. Maybe I'm not…
Teenagers with phones are like kids with candy. And there's only one person I know that's close to that age group.
Lisa's gotten a job of her own: A history and science teacher back in Hollowville High. One of the cooler ones, thankfully. She even studies Cryptozoology and Pseudoscience, which is nearly close to the supernatural and paranormal, which is my profession.
I only dial her number on my phone, and not the noir one on the desk. I should give her a heads up about this Slappy Galaxy device. Those with a smartphone like this won't be very smart in seconds. THIS is called a cellphone for a reason: You could get trapped in it like a prisoner.
"Hey there, bro." She answers. "What's the special occasion?"
"He's back."
Silence.
"Who's back?"
"You know EXACTLY who I'm talking about, Lisa." I replied sternly. "You really thought he could be killed that easily?"
"Oh…the S man, huh?"
"Yes. He's been recovering and planning for the past ten years. And he's come up with yet another scheme."
I text her the picture of the phone schematics. There's some more silence.
"Where'd you get this?"
"He upgraded his base back on Shock Street. He's made his very own Horrorland. I got the plans from a secret area in his throne room. This cursed phone has a virus. It's able to infect other phones, and possibly other pieces of technology."
"Are you sure?"
"It's a fusion of his dark magic and Cyberspace technology! There's no telling what it could do!"
That's when my phone rings again. Dylan. I answer it and he joins the group chat.
"Just heard something that might be interesting." He says. "Back in monster society. Some Creeps were speaking of some kind of Fear Phone, having stolen the phone and installed one of their own apps on it. As part of their plan to creepify the world."
Of course. The Creep King Sauria defected from Slappy after the Eternal Night, no longer tolerating being slaves.
"Anything else?" I answer.
"Someone else managed to steal the phone from THEM. And gifted it to someone else: A teenage girl back at your town's high school. I'm looking for who sent that phone as we speak. It might take a while."
"Good luck."
Dylan only hung up, and I directed my attention back to Lisa.
"Did you get all that?" I ask.
"First the camera, now a phone? Wow. Times DO change." She snarky replies.
"This is SERIOUS. If this virus infects the world wide web itself, we could face enslavement from either Slappy OR the Creeps." I say. "Do you know ANYONE at the high school who's gotten a new phone recently?"
"The semester hasn't even STARTED yet!" She complains. "That's on Tuesday!"
"That does NOT answer my question and you know it."
"Okay okay, fine! I don't know! Not yet, anyway. I'll keep my eyes out and let you know."
"Good. The sketch I sent you was colored, so you should know what the phone looks like."
"A gray color. Duh."
"And…?" There could be HUNDREDS of kids with gray phones in that school!
"*sigh* And a pink background with a skull."
"Once you find whoever has that phone, inform me ASAP. Got it?"
"Got it. Buh-bye."
She hangs up. I only freeze. Is she SERIOUSLY going to try and do this by herself?!
I only sigh and fall back into my reclining swivel chair with a groan, thinking back on her recklessness and her actions thanks to it…
"My god, we're doomed…"