Dark in the Island
Chapter 10: A job well done
It was a cold rainy night as gunshots exploded throughout the hotel forcing Danny and Jazz to rush down the hallway dodging bullets from the crazed townies who once welcomed them as heroes now hunting them like animals, neither of them had the faintest idea of what was going on nor why the town suddenly turned against them. A bullet passed deadly close to Danny as he turned around the corner but poked his head to fire his pistol landing two headshots and making the rest take cover behind couches or around the corner, distant gunfire caught the siblings' attention for a moment, it was through the window that the boy saw part of the hotel in flames.
"Die, monsters!"- a man yelled as he tried to stab Danny with a kitchen knife.
Jazz quickly disintegrated his head off using an energy pistol, the siblings rushed down the hallway in search of their parents while hearing dreadful screaming and shooting all around, their path was cut short as a group composed of no less than twenty men block off their route, old bolt action rifles in their hands neither of the teens doubted to open fire on the crowd. Men fell one after another but weren't deterred by the energy bolts forcing the teens to leap out the window and used the cornice to get away from the fighting. Men poked their bodies outside the windows firing their rifles but missing by nothing short of a miracle.
The two Fenton kids yelled as a machine gun placed in the garden was used to try and mow them down, Danny and his older sister began climbing up the wall using the space between the bricks while firing upon anyone foolish enough to step out the windows and follow them. Horrible screams escape from townies as they fell out of the windows after being struck by an energy bolt, the redhead demanded her brother to move faster as the wall cracked after being struck by machine gun fire. Danny wasn't sure why but knew they were being attacked with a Maxim 1910 machine gun due to the particular sound it made.
"Oh no! That's Tristan's room!"- Jazz exclaimed making Danny turn to his left to see a stream of fire coming out of the window. "Look out!"- the redhead yelled while pointing to the rooftop.
The boy's eyes opened in utter horror as dozens of men and women aimed their pistols and rifles at them, their aim left much to be desired. Bullets passed deadly close to the Fenton kids who desperately moved down trying to get away from the gunfire and the madmen, Danny looked over at his older sister wanting to give her instructions but a bullet struck him in the shoulder, and blood gushed out as he lost his grip on the pistol which fell to the darkness below, machine gun fire impacted him on the back.
"Jazz!"- the boy yelled as a stray bullet hit the girl between the eyes, blood darkening her already red hair, the boy yelled as his older sister fell to the void below. All strength leaving his hands, soon to follow his sister in death.
It was then that Danny instantly sat up covered in sweat and panting for air, his hand instinctively reached for the gun under the pillow as eyes darted all around, the boy was ready to send anyone to an early grave yet came to discover that he was still inside his hotel room, sitting over the mattress, it was just a nightmare and nothing more. The boy lowered his pistol feeling his throat parched, as he crawled towards the nightstand and noticed the sun was still high up in the sky. With a quick glance over to the clock hanging on the wall saw that it was only four in the afternoon, it still surprised him that the whole battle ended around midday.
The boy rubbed his temples for a moment before standing up and noticing that he was still in his battledress, the only thing he took off was the gas mask that rested over the nightstand just next to his cell phone, his eyes turned over to a neatly arranged pile of luggage stocked away in the corner, Danny was kindly expecting the hotel staff to have rummaged and stolen most of his belonging after leaving for Casper fortress and yet everything was in place, he was sure more townsfolk believe they wouldn't survive the first hunt. This belief was not without reasons or cause as many hunts in the past ended in horrible failure, forcing the town to live isolated.
Danny turned his attention towards Tucker's empty bed, there was no way he could ever be able to explain or justify his demise. Danny had assured Tucker's safety when taking him ghost hunting and yet died in such a brutal fashion despite being under his protection, surely, the Foley family were aware there was a certain risk in hunting ghosts but losing a son was never easy, it would be a very difficult conversation, one that Jack Fenton was to give as he's the one in charge.
The sounds of cheerful music reached the boy's ears making him open the window, much to his delight saw a parade taking place just in front of the hotel, by the looks of it could tell the parade was heading to the town square where the main event was taking place. Every building and house had some manner of decorations resembling the recent and most successful ghost hunt, it was true that many hunters laid their lives on the line but such losses were still in the realm of acceptable, one doesn't go to war expecting everyone to come back unscathed.
There was a soft knocking on the door that prompted Danny to look over to his energy pistol but reminded himself that he wasn't in any danger nor was he in hostile territory, the hunt was over. Soon a couple of hotel maids walked inside carrying towels and other toiletries, his attention was quickly drawn toward the many gifts and rather simple flower bouquets being placed over the table. Though the women remained professional couldn't help but gaze over Danny's slender figure. Just as the maids left was that Danny slowly removed his clothes leaving them tossed across the bed, his long heavy boots were placed by the bed's corner. The sounds of the shower running filled the bedroom.
"Can I help you, boys, with something?"- Danny asked poking his through the bathroom door.
Tommy and his friends blushed madly upon seeing their hero looking at them, it was clearly obvious they wanted to see him undress. Most likely due to them still being under the impression that Danny is a girl, though why they thought this was a mystery. It was then that Danny invited Tommy to shower with as a matter to scare the kids away seeing they clearly had an overly innocent mentality and manners of the early nineteen century, much to his surprise, Tommy agreed. All four kids watched with amazement as the boy walked into the bathroom.
"You really are a bo…"- Danny put a finger on Tommy's lips before he could finish his sentence.
The young boy couldn't help but ogled at Danny's naked figure as he walked over to the steamy tub, a slender yet curvy body, silky black hair, and spotless skin made Tommy feel a little odd, it wasn't the first time that he skinny dip with some of the boys around town at the nearby river on a safe day, but this felt different. The two boys relax in the hot water, it was a surprise that Tommy's parents allowed him to wander off again after foolishly going to the haunted fortress and barely making it back alive. Then again, this day was for celebration, their undead overlords were finally gone and the headless Fright Knight was being paraded all across town.
"How you going holding up?"- Danny asked.
"Very good…better than I thought"- Tommy replied as Danny turned around and handed him a sponge. "You want me too…"- the boy said.
"Weren't you looking forward to this?"- Danny countered.
The sounds of the festival and fireworks made their way into the hotel as a blushing Tommy walked out of the bathroom in the company of shirtless Danny who followed dressed in a pair of fresh jeans while drying up his short black hair, the other boys watched in awe at his chest still under the misguided belief their hero is female. More than one gulped down unable to believe their good luck, the brave hunter then took noticed the kids were holding his combat uniform, sniffing it.
"Now that's just plain out gross…"- Danny said upon seeing one of the kids sniffing his boots. The boy ran out completely embarrassed.
(XXXXXX)
"All done Jeremy. My dad says he'll be here by morning with the yacht."- Paulina said most pleased with herself. "Though he was really pissed that Dash lied about winning a paid vacation at a luxury hotel and we ended up mixed up in a ghost hunt."- The Latina said dismissively as she handed Jeremy's satellite phone.
"Could you at least add the Mister when you talk with my dad."- Sam said quite annoyed at the casualness that Paulina and Star address her father.
The Manson family along with Paulina and Star stayed in the same bedroom soon after arriving at the hotel plotting their burglary even in their weary state, despite the Manson's original wealth amassed in the millions being reduced to what they had on their person at moment. Ironically, it was through Paulina who wasn't aware of the ghost hunt she would eventually participate in that they managed to procure a yacht belonging to her family, with it they intend on taking as much gold as they could carry away.
It was just a matter of time before the hidden treasury became public knowledge, Jack and a handful of ghost hunters would be conducting scouting patrols around the island using the ghost trackers but putting special focus on the fortress, therefore, it was just a matter of time before they came across the gold mine. In theory, Jeremy had only four days to take as much gold as possible out of the island, by then the ferry would arrive. Paulina and Star would have to give explanations to the proper authorities concerning Dash Baxter and their fallen comrades, even Jeremy would have made a statement about his dear deceased wife. Coming to the island was not a mistake given the rewards but coming to the island so ill-prepared was a mistake, much more could have been done to prevent so many casualties.
"Come on dear, let's go to our room, dinner's almost ready."- Jeremy said as he lifted the bag filled with gold coins that now felt as if weights doubled.
Dinner was most extravagant as the grateful chefs employed all their skills to prepare the feast for their heroes, the hotel staff outdid themselves with the decorations as they made banners and flags using the hunter's logos, a wolf head for the Army team, the symbol of Nocturne for the Zealots and the potent green flame covered F of the Fenton team, only the minor teams such as the Groovy Gang, the Casper high team and the Manson were left without a banner as they had merged with the Fenton. Valerie the Red Huntress being the longer was granted a similar symbol as that of the Fenton though had an R rather than an F.
The night had been reclaimed by the town, and people openly spoke about moving into the fortress and taking possession of the lavish houses that once belonged to wealthy lords, the townsfolk were sure that with the passing of years more outsiders would move in, therefore, the original residents should take the larger houses before any wealthy foreigner came along, even Mayor Vlad was eager to move his operations to the castle. Others spoke about bringing wild animals such as deer to bring some life to the forest now that the monsters were gone.
The shadow of fear had long vanished and stories would be told of the brave hunters and their exploits, Tristan the Ghost Writer would make sure the conquest of Casper Fortress was known throughout the country, with a little luck he might secure a deal to make a movie where his beloved Jazz Fenton would be the protagonist, after all, her exploits are worthy of legend even if her brother had a more powerful role in the conquest.
It was the following night that the Fenton family walked around the cobblestone streets no longer wearing their battledress admiring the results of the hunt and taking in the town's new allure, the streets now well illuminated, houses filled with joy and laughter, people walked around in mass making it seem like a new town considering the first night the Fenton arrive was in complete silence, children ran around playing and laughing, some even pretending to be ghost hunters themselves. No longer did people barricaded inside their homes begging for the monsters to spare them.
"Come and see the freaks of nature!"- A showman yelled as he pointed over to a glass cage.
The Fenton family walked up to see a disgusting slug-like creature with short blonde hair crawling around the floor, its purple tongue licking away the salt cubes its new owner tossed as treat, two melted skeletons inside its translucid body told everyone that it was a dangerous animal. People gawked with disgust as they stare at the monster, Danny could swear a tear was coming down from his eyes as it looked directly at him, almost pleading for help.
"You got a name for this thing?"- Danny asked.
"Not yet, dear… wait a minute! You're Daniel Fenton, the great ghost hunter. Could you perhaps help me name the monster?"- the showman said as Danny held his chin and smirked.
"I got it… Dash… cause he's a slug"- the boy replied.
"Wonderful!"- the showman said. "Everybody! Come and see Dash, the freak of nature." The man continued as Danny waved Dash goodbye.
The following days had the hunters scouting the forest and the fortress in search of any hidden ghosts, though Paulina and Star decided to stay at the beach finally able to wear the bikinis they bought previous to their arrival, catching more male attention than what they were used to. Vlad was most pleased to hear his ghost problems were no more, though it was an extremely expensive clean-up service but had earned himself an island and a magnificent fortress. The mayor and town council along with a mass of people wave their goodbyes as the ghost hunters boarded the ferry that would take them back to the mainland.
"I really thought Vlad was going to try and weasel his way out of paying up."- Danny said as looked at the island becoming smaller in the distance. The idea of a giant tentacles coming up and sinking the island crossed his mind though nothing happened.
"I wouldn't dare try to cheat our heroes from their hard earn pay, especially, after the mountains of dead monsters you piled up."- Jazz said trying to emulate Vlad's voice. "I'm sure not paying us crossed his head a couple a couple of times but you really don't want to upset people who can take the hordes of hell ahead on and win."- The redhead said as she pulled out a gold pendant she took from the treasury.
The end.