Courage wagged his tail and motioned for Muriel to sit down in the chair. The ghosts had faded out to keep from surprising Muriel as she walked into the room. Once Muriel had sat down, Courage took her hand in one paw to keep her calm then gestured to the center of the room with his other paw. Slowly, Mr. Worth appeared.

"Hello, Muriel, do you remember me?"

"Oh my! Of course I remember you. How could I forget such a charming gentleman as you? How are ye David?"

Mr. Worth smiled, blushing slightly. "I am well, Muriel, and you?"

"I've seen better times, David." Muriel sighed.

"Courage has told me all about it and I was here when your front door was busted in last night."

Muriel looked up at the ghost with pleading eyes. "Can ye tell me what is going on here? Who was that and why are they bothering us?"

Mr. Worth carefully considered his words before answering. "We have no idea what's going on yet. Courage called us to see if we could help and we will do anything we can to help. But, until we know more, the only thing we can do is stick together and try not to be afraid."

One by one the children materialized and said hello to Muiel. Muriel smiled cheerfully at the children.

Courage could see that Muriel was feeling better already.

"Muriel?" Eustace called from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be right there Eustace." Muriel rose to her feet. "I better get breakfast started. Do any of you want anything?"

The children looked up at Mr. Worth who smiled down at them and nodded.

One of the girls stepped forward. "Do you have any cookies?"

"I'll bake some up for you." Muriel answered cheerfully. "Would you like some coffee David?"

The tall ghost smiled. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble."

Muriel smiled. "It'll be no trouble at all. I'll have Courage bring some up to you."

Muriel and Courage left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. The sun was already shining brightly and the night of terror was beginning to seem like nothing more than a bad dream.

Muriel busied herself in front of the stove while Courage went outside to look for Eustace. He found Eustace in the barn searching through the boxes from the hardware store.

Eustace looked up as Courage walked into the barn. "Hey dog, what have you been up to? Did that thing scare you away from the living room last night?"

Courage nodded then hesitated. He wanted to tell Eustace that he hadn't abandoned him and Muriel but he wasn't sure how Eustace would react if he knew about the ghosts.

"I don't blame you dog but it seems safer in the living room to me. To tell you the truth, I would get the creeps being alone in the attic with that thing hanging around."

Courage hesitated again unable to think of what to say.

Eustace noticed the pink dog's hesitation but figured that it was because Courage had trouble communicating with him. "I really wish I could understand you sometimes dog. It would make life so much easier."

Courage gave Eustace a toothy grin and wagged his tail.

Eustace turned his attention back to the box he was searching through then pulled out a box of long nails, a bottle of woodglue, and a large clamp. He motioned over to a pile of boards in the corner. "Grab a few of those for me would you dog?"

Courage picked up an armload of boards and followed Eustace back toward the house. Eustace motioned for Courage to drop the boards on the front porch just as Muriel called Courage to come help with breakfast.

Eustace turned his attention to fixing and reinforcing the front door while Courage went into the kitchen to help Muriel. A few seconds later, the kitchen door slowly opened as Courage peeked out to make sure it was safe before sneaking upstairs with a thermos full of coffee, a mug, and a plate of cookies.

The children were all playing quietly in the attic room when Courage opened the door. Instantly he was surrounded by ghostly hands reaching for the plate of cookies. Mr. Worth got up from where he had been sitting in front of the computer to quickly glide over to help Courage. The tall ghost took the plate of cookies and set it down on the cot then gratefully took the thermos and cup. A swarm of ghostly children had followed the plate of cookies and now circled the cot to devour the treats. Courage grinned over at the children then looked curiously over at the computer screen.

The tall ghost returned to his seat in front of the computer and motioned for Courage to come look. "I've been doing a search on the history of Nowhere looking for anything unusual such as demons or hauntings. I found a few interesting links I still need to check up on. I also found this." he opened a page on the screen then moved back so Courage could take a look.

The page had a story about Mr. Worth and the children. Courage began to read out loud, "The freak storm has brought several inches of show up in the mountains where school teacher, David Worth took a group of students for a week-end hike. Rescuers are attempting to reach the stranded hikers but, so far, the storm has kept them from getting up to the mountain trail that the teacher and his students were hiking on. David Worth's wife, Sarah, remains confident that her husband and the children are okay saying that her husband has been up that mountain many times before and is very familiar with the trail that he and the children were on. Parent's of the thirteen school children are also very confident that the children and their teacher will return safely."

Mr. Worth went to another page and Courage started reading again. "A group of searchers has found what they believe was the place where teacher David Worth and his students tried to wait out the freak winter storm that claimed their lives back in early March. The searchers found human bones and bits of clothing that matched the descriptions of what the teacher and the children were wearing. Unusually cold temperatures and heavy snow kept searchers from finding the spot until last week when the snow finally began to melt."

Courage stopped reading and looked up at his friend. There was a deep sadness in the ghost's eyes. Courage whined softly up at his friend.

"I'm okay Courage. It's just a little strange reading this. I can't help but wonder what the children's parents went through. And Sarah ... "

Courage jumped up into Mr. Worth's lap to give him a hug. The ghost laughed and hugged the little dog back. "You truly are man's best friend. Thank-you Courage."

Courage wagged his tail. He jumped down from the ghost's lap just as footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Eustace's voice called out. "Courage? Are you up here? Muriel wants you to come down for breakfast!"

Courage quickly made his way to the door. He intended to slip out before Eustace could get a look in the room but Eustace was standing right outside the door as he opened it. Eustace glanced into the room but the ghosts had turned invisible so he didn't see them. "Why are you spending so much time up here dog?"

Courage pointed toward the computer.

"Oh, playing computer games?"

Courage shook his head then turned into an image of the demon they had seen last night then pointed to the computer then turned into something that resembled an encyclopedia.

Eustace puzzled over the series of charades then nodded. "I see, you are using the computer to try to find out about that thing we saw!"

Courage nearly fell flat on the floor in surprise that Eustace had understood what he was trying to tell him.

He quickly nodded. "Uh-huh!"

"So, have you found out anything yet?"

Courge thought about it for a moment then just shook his head looking defeated.

"Well, don't give up. I don't want to scare Muriel so I haven't said anything but I had more of those dreams last night .. and ... one of them... something bad happens... something happens to Muriel. We've got to figure out what is going on here dog. I don't want to lose Muriel."

Courage looked up at Eustace with a mixture of total shock and worry.

"I know ... I don't act very nice to either you or Muriel but .. that's not how I feel." Eustace looked away then turned back toward the stairs. "Enough of this. Come on dog. Muriel will be wondering what's happened to us!"

Courage followed behind Eustace closing the door as several very surprised looking ghosts reappeared in the room. "Maybe he's not such a jerk after all!" one of the girls blurted out.

Mr. Worth looked over at her. "Sometimes people change when they realize that they could lose someone they love."

"Do you think it will last?"

Mr. Worth chuckled. "I doubt it. Old habits die hard. I'm sure that as soon as all this is over the old man will return to normal." The ghost turned his attention back to the computer as the children settled down to rest for the day.

Downstairs, Courage and Eustace joined Muriel at the kitchen table for breakfast. They ate silently each lost on their own train of thought. After breakfast, Eustace went over to the back door and began to examine it. He opened the door then froze. Courage looked over at Eustace and saw the old man staring at something on the outside of the back door. He got up to see what Eustace was staring at then froze in place all of his fur turning white.

Eustace looked down at the dog then quickly pulled him outside closing the door so Muriel wouldn't see what was going on. "Careful dog. Don't let on that there is anything wrong. We don't want to scare Muriel any more than she already is."

Courage looked up at Eustace then looked back at the door. There were large deep claw marks all over the door around the broken doorknob.

"I wonder what could have done something like this?" Eustace began to study the ground around the back porch. Suddenly he stopped. "Hey dog, come look at this!" Courage looked down and nearly fainted. The footprints looked like a cross between a human and a bird with long toes and large claws.

Eustace looked nervousely up at the door then back at Courage. "Hey dog, can you show me again what you saw outside last night?"

Courage gulped and turned himself into a perfect image of the shadowy figure he saw out in the yard - - complete with large wings.

Eustace stared at him. "Are you sure that's what you saw?"

Courage nodded.

"That wasn't somebody in a costume was it dog?"

Courage just shook his head.

A ghostly figure was watching them from the open attic window above listening to every word. Slowly Mr. Worth turned away from the window to look back at the computer screen. He sighed and looked up toward the sky. "We can't deal with this on our own. Please help us." The ghost pleaded before slumping down in the chair again. He knew that they all had to stick together. He had to talk to Eustace.

Courage helped Eustace fix the back door then went into the living room to check on Muriel. He found Muriel fast asleep in her rocking chair so he went upstairs to see if Mr. Worth had found anything out. He went into the attic room and found Mr. Worth staring out the window.

The ghost didn't even turn around as Courage entered the room. "I need to talk to Eustace and I need to see those footprints."

Courage nodded and motioned for the ghost to follow him downstairs. They quietly snuck past Muriel to avoid waking her up then made their way into the kitchen. Courage motioned for Mr. Worth to wait while he went outside to get Eustace. When Courage opened the door, he saw to his horror that Eustace had used the garden rake to erase most of the footprints. The dog quickly ran over and tried to get Eustace's attention.

Eustace stopped raking and looked down at him. "I don't want Muriel to see these."

Courage frantically grabbed Eustace's arm pulling him toward the back door.

"Is something wrong with Muriel?"

Courage shook his head and tried to figure out how to tell Eustace what he wanted to say.

Eustace seemded to understand. "Well, show me what you want to show me and be quick about it!"

Courage led Eustace into the kitchen where Mr. Worth was waiting. The old farmer's jaw dropped as he saw the ghost standing there. Courage went over to stand next to Mr. Worth to show Eustace that the ghost was a friend.

After a moment or two, Eustace recovered from the shock and was able to speak. "I take it he's a friend of yours dog?"

Courage nodded, "Uh-huh!"

Mr. Worth smiled softly. "Hello Eustace, my name is David." he reached out to shake Eustace's hand.

Eustace hesitantly shook the ghost's hand.

"I need to look at those footprints Eustace."

Eustace quietly lead the ghost outside to show him what was left of the footprints.

Mr. Worth knelt down to get a close look at the footprints. " ------- ----!" He looked over at Courage, who seemed shocked at the ghost's choice of words, then up at Eustace. "This doesn't look good at all."

"Tell me something I don't know!" Eustace snapped impatiently.

Mr. Worth stood up turning to face Eustace. "I understand you have been having some bad dreams lately."

Eustace picked the rake back up and began to erase the rest of the footprints. "They started about a week ago. At first I just dreamed that something was watching us. Then the dreams started getting worse. Last night I dreamed that something horrible took Muriel away and..." The old man stopped.

Mr. Worth looked over at Courage. "Have you been having nightmares too?"

Courage shook his head.

Eustace nodded toward Courage. "He and Muriel have both been jumpy and nervous for the last few days now. So have I. It's been getting worse every day. Two nights ago we all started sleeping in the living room."

Mr. Worth considered what Eustace had just told him. "Sounds like this demon has been around for a few days then."

"Demon?"

"Yes, demon. At least that's what it appears to be." Mr. Worth looked around nervously. "In fact, I think it's fairly close by as we speak."

Both Courage and Eustace stared wide-eyed at Mr. Worth for a split second then they all darted into the house locking the door behind them. Eustace took a moment to catch his breath then turned to Mr. Worth. "I thought these things only came out at night!"

Mr. Worth looked back at Eustace. "These things?"

"You know, ghosts, ghouls, demons..."

Mr. Worth chuckled. "You're forgetting Eustace, I am a ghost and I am out in the daylight!"

Eustace gave the ghost a sheepish grin. "Oh yeah... that's right. But how come people only seem to see ghosts and the like at night?"

Mr. Worth shrugged. "Could be several reasons. We like to keep ourselves hidden so it's easier to rest in the day and come out at night when it's less likely that anybody will see us. Also, some supernatural beings feed on fear and most people are more susceptible to fear when it is dark."

Eustace sat down at the table. "Do you think that thing out there feeds on fear?

"I am almost certain of it. That's probably why it is out and about terrorizing the town instead of trying to keep itself hidden."

Their conversation was interrupted by Muriel calling from the living room. "Eustace, Courage! Come look at this!"

The three of them rushed into the living room where Muriel was watching the news. A nervous looking reporter was standing in front of the gates to the Nowhere cemetary. "Several gravestones have been knocked over. Some of the graves look as if a large animal has been digging at them. Several people reported seeing a large shadowy winged creature standing by the gates of the cemetary last night but all said that it was to dark for them to be able to get a good look at it."

Eustace looked puzzled. "How is that thing getting all the way from Nowhere to here and back again so quickly?"

Mr. Worth and Courage looked at each other. Courage shivered as Mr. Worth answered Eustace's question. "Could be that there is more than one of them."

Muriel looked up at Eustace then at the ghost and back to Eustace. "Thing? More than one of them? Could somebody please tell me what is going on here?"

Eustace looked over at Mr. Worth who turned to Muriel and carefully began to explain the situation. "To tell the truth, Muriel, we still don't have a clue as to what is going on here. We're not sure if whoever it is that is causing all this trouble is even human. The only thing that is certain is that we will all have to stick together and try not to be afraid."

Courage looked up to see the children on the staircase looking down at them. He pulled on Mr. Worth's pant leg to get the ghost's attention then pointed toward the stairs. The ghost looked up at the children and motioned for them to come down. The children silently came down the stairs into the livingroom as a suprised Eustace stared at them.

Mr. Worth gave Eustace an amused smile. "These are my students. Children, introduce yourselves."

One by one the thirteen small ghosts introduced themselves.

Eustace nodded gruffly at the children then looked over at their teacher. "I think I know who you are now. You're the ones who got lost up on that mountain!"

Mr. Worth looked down. "We weren't actually lost. I mean, we knew where we were. It's just that storm came out of nowhere and..."

Eustace nodded thoughtfully. "That was a record breaking storm if I remember my history right. My grandpappy was also a farmer and he used to talk about that storm every spring when he was getting ready for planting. He used to say, 'I hope that we don't get another storm like the one that destroyed my pappy's farm back in 18 --' whatever year that was. He never could remember the year and it was always
different each time he talked about it." Eustace chuckled as he thought about his absent minded grandfather.

Mr. Worth nodded. "It was a very cold spring. That year the snow didn't begin to melt until early in the summertime."

The news came back on and the reporter continued to talk about the vandalism in the cemetary. When the news was over, Mr. Worth motioned to Courage to follow him upstairs. "We need to see if we can find out anything more on the computer."

Eustace looked over at the ghost. "Do you think the library might have more information?"

Mr. Worth thought about it. "That's a good idea! Courage, will you come with me?"

Courage nodded and wagged his tail and held on to the hand that Mr. Worth offered him.

Mr. Worth turned to the children. "All of you stay here. Call me if you need me. Hopefully we won't be gone long."

The children nodded as Mr. Worth and Courage disappeared while Eustace and Muriel stared wide-eyed in stunned amazement.