So You Wanna Take Over the World - Chapter 3

Disclaimer: Same ol', same ol'… You know the drill.

***

Night time is a good time. It's quiet. It's dark. And the damned annoying humans are asleep. Thank Kami. After my visit at the lookout, I decided to travel west and reach that peculiar energy signal once more. I knew it had come from somewhere in the west. I could worry about exact locations later.

Dende was a little suspicious of my sudden urge to leave. I think that whoever, or whatever, contacted me somehow impacted Dende as well. I don't know how yet… but I plan to find out.

The cool night air swirls around me as I take my flight higher. I like to fly slowly when I can. Having wind beat you in the face is never a pleasant thing, so when you have the option available to you, take it slow. At this altitude the ground rolls by as one dark mass. It's hard to pick out any details even with good eyesight. Mine's fairly sharp, but I never saw it coming.

***

It wasn't very big. But it was scared, and it was fast… and it was pure, unrefined energy. It bolted past me into the sky, screaming out in pain. The scream was not actually heard. It was felt. I'm not one to startle easily, but I think my heart stopped right then and there. The same voice I had heard on the lookout called out to me.

'Angel… Angel… You are closer… did you feel it too?' The tiny, frightened voice seemed to fill my head, almost making me forget to raise my energy in order to continue flying. I dropped about 50 feet in a free fall before I finally got my bearings back.

'Who are you? Where are you?' I called back frantically. The connection(if that's what you want to call it) between our minds seemed… not really broken, but frayed in a way. She didn't answer me for a long time. It was about 5 more minutes before I felt her reach out again. Her mind didn't seem normal… it was weak… it lacked certain things… Hard to describe really. There was just something about her that didn't add up. I had to find out where she was… had to meet her. Finally, she answered me.

'You… you're not an Angel are you?' Her voice was tired, weak.

'No… I'm not.' I answered back, feeling almost guilty when she began to cry.

'There… is no Angel, is there? I don't wanna be here anymore… How do I get away?'

'Tell me where you are… I will try to help.'

'I…I'm at my house.' I rolled my eyes and sighed.

'No, kid… I mean, something a little less specific. Do you live near the ocean? A forest?' I heard more sniffles and her sadness was forced onto me.

'I…I… live in…in a neighborhood. I dunno… I'm scared!'

'All right, all right… calm down, I'm going to try and track your energy signal.' I knew she wouldn't understand what 'energy signal' meant, but I could think of no other word to use.

'Will it hurt?' She asked, still sniffling.

'No, now be quiet.' She silenced herself and I finally managed to get a good grasp on her energy signal. I didn't like the way it felt… but, I had to find her. 'I'll be there soon.' I called to her and broke the connection, flying off in the direction Lien was in.

***

This… did not make sense. I knew I was in exactly the right place, but this neighborhood looked as though no one had lived in it for years. As though it were abandoned… but, and entire neighborhood?? It just didn't add up. Lien's energy signal was strong here, and I tracked it to a large, dilapidated house. The house was like the rest of this place, unused.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked myself out loud. Despite my better sense telling me to get out of here, I entered the house. The cold feeling returned, stronger than it had been on the lookout. This had to be the place. But… how could a child survive here? "Lien? Are you here?" I called out, straining my ears for the faintest whisper.

'You came! Come upstairs. I live upstairs.' Yes, this was definitely it. I looked toward the back of the house and saw a rickety staircase leading to the second level of the building. Hesitantly, I walked toward them. I found myself dreading the trek to the top of those stairs. Something here was not right, it made me jumpy. I breathed deep, calmed my nerves, and headed up. At the top, there was a hall. To the left, there were two doors opposite each other. To the right, there were three doors. Two leading to the front of the house and one leading to the back.

"Lien? Can you hear me?"

'Yes! I'm so glad you came!' She sounded absolutely ecstatic, but I was wondering why she did not just come out and greet me. Perhaps she was scared…

Not wanting to stay in this house any longer than necessary, I focused in on her energy signal and pinpointed her exact location in the house. The door to the right of the stairs… My hand on the doorknob, I turned it slowly and eased the door open.

…

The room was empty. There was a child's bed, and dresser… and even some old toys. But, no child.

"Lien?… Aren't you here?"

'Yes, I'm here…' She was still using the mental link.

"Then come out… talk to me." I looked around the room, thinking maybe she was hiding behind the bed or in the closet… but there was nothing. Puzzled, I stood in front of her dresser and happened to glance into the small mirror hanging above it. Behind me, was the girl. I sighed, happy to have finally found her, so I could get out of here. I turned around to say 'hello' to her… but she was gone again. Now even more confused, I looked back into the mirror and saw her reflection there once more. I turned, and she was gone again.

"What…?" I reached out and touched the mirror. It was a normal, every day mirror. And the child was still behind me. But…

'You didn't know?' Her voice was shaky, as though she were on the verge of tears. 'You don't want me now, do you? You won't help me now….' She began to cry.

"I… I don't understand. Why can I see you in the mirror… but not when I turn around?"

'I'm… a ghost…'

***

A/N- a bit of an odd twist if you ask me. I was even surprised. Anyway, I'm just writing whatever comes to mind, trying to let the story flow any ol' way it wants to. Lemme know what you think. By the way, I'm changing this to horror instead of humor. It was going to be a comedy style thing, but the plot is going in totally different direction than I originally planned. Don't let that scare you off though, I have to have some humor somewhere! And, for those of you who are confused… be not alarmed. All shall be explained. ^_~ - Uzume