Ghost of a Chance
Part 4: Bump in the Night
"Hang on Agent Talia," Chase yelled as he and the other agents charged into the kitchen, "we're coming!"
"What a maroon." Di snickered.
The agents found Talia standing in the corner of the kitchen in front of an overturned icebox. She looked as though she'd seen a ghost…that may or may not have been a good thing.
"Agent Talia," A stepped forward, "we heard you scream, what happened?"
"It wasn't me." Talia informed her gravely, "One of those creatures overturned this icebox and then shrieked when I sent a bolt of lightening its way."
"You mean to tell us that you shot off lightening in here?" Chase asked skeptically. "It's not like there's a burnt spot on the wall or anything."
"That's because I didn't miss." Talia pointed to a small line of steam rising up from what seemed to be midair on the other side of the icebox. "I have impeccable aim."
"Well let's just see about this so called alien attacker of yours." Y stalked forward and kicked at the steaming air with his foot.
Surprisingly, another shriek filled the air and the icebox was pushed aside by an unseen force…"The Phantite." A gasped.
Talia waved her hand over the space where the alien had fallen. A dim, transparent image began to take shape before the agents eyes. "Behold," Talia smiled, "my alleged alien attacker."
The thing looked like a writhing giant glow worm with claws on the floor. It was twisting about with thick plates layered on its back and fangs digging into the loosened tiles.
"Gross." Di stuck out her tongue for emphasis.
"So this is what a Phantite looks like?" A asked.
Chase stood back as the thing drew its last breath. The gaping whole in its abdomen secreting its inner luminous fluids. "There's a good reason for these things being invisible." he muttered.
A thought struck A, "Wait a minute. The rest of these things will be coming back her soon."
"And right now they're out hunting down civilians." Y added.
"What the heck are we doing waiting around here?" Chase gulped, "Either way, it's a bad plan!"
"Patience." Talia advised. "To rid yourself of a swarm you must first destroy their hive."
"You're saying we should bring the house down?" Di asked nervously. "They're gonna be awful mad if we do that."
"That's the idea Agent Di." Talia smiled, "To have them mad at us instead of off hunting down innocent bystanders."
"B-but…" the panicking agent stuttered.
"Trust me." Talia made a swooping motion with her hand and they all found themselves just outside the house.
"Now there's a way to cut down on automobile pollution." A joked, "Teleport a friend."
Y rolled his eyes.
"She's spouting gibberish again." Di whispered to the others as Talia began a spell.
Chase was backing away, "I think we'd better stand back."
Talia opened her clutched fist and revealed a small red glowing sphere.
"She's gonna knock the house down with a little marble?" Di scoffed.
Talia flicked the sphere and it hit the house. It exploded instantly upon impact.
The other agents stared, mouths gaping, as the house disintegrated.
"Whoa." A gasped.
"You wanna bring the whole fire department out here?" Y yelled, "We're supposed to be inconspicuous!"
Talia turned and stared at him impassively. "I assure you. No one else saw this."
"HOW THE HECK COULD ANYONE MISS THAT?!" he demanded.
"Remember the dome?" she asked, only slightly annoyed.
"Yeah, so?"
"So, there's a dome of magic around this house. Not the kind that's impenetrable, but the kind that prevents unbelieving eyes from seeing." she explained.
Y turned and threw his arms up in the air, "I can't believe this! That has to be the biggest load of crock that I've ever heard!"
Talia smirked, "This load of crock may wind up saving your life before this case is closed."
"Yeah Y," A teased, "so be a good alien and believe in magic for a while."
"We don't have time for this nonsense," Chase warned.
"So stop arguing already." Di shouted.
Talia was silent, these rookies wouldn't survive a day on the planet she now called home. Although it was doubtful that any of them would live to see another day on this one. Unless they could pull together…the Phantites thrived off of discourse. It made it easier to divide up the multitude and choose which unlucky creature would fall victim to their attack first.
A screech filled the air. It was followed by another, and another, and another…
The agents grew silent. Di scooted closer to Chase. "I guess they're back."
"And without a home to come home to." he murmured.
"And it's all thanks to us." A added.
Y turned to the enchantress with a look of derisive calmness. "So…spell slinger, what do we do now?"
Talia's dark blue eyes stared up into the seemingly empty sky. "Now--Agents--the real fun begins."
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*I know I haven't posted much in a while, but cut me a brake G I've been busy with school, college stuff, and well---life. I'll try to post more frequently from now on, but no promises. ^_~ Please read and review.*