AN: Y'all, please forgive me. Real life has me slammed, and I'm so behind on my writing goals. So I'm breaking this chapter up into yet another shorter chapter. Hopefully, now that summer is drawing to a close, I can focus on getting ahead again and be back to my usual chapter lengths.

Thank you to all my reviewers. You brighten my day in ways I can't describe. You mean so much to me.

Finally, a special thanks to my hubby for distracting Uncle Bob so I could get this chapter finished.

XXX

Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair

Chapter 15: #HauntedHouse

July 30, 2019

Minako had acquiesced to waiting until Friday to investigate. They were to meet at the train station at the designated training time. Usagi felt this was, much like Minako's awkwardly-timed text, unnecessarily early. She decided she would sleep on the train.

She stumbled onto the platform only fifteen (or so) minutes late. Out of breath and carrying Luna in her beach tote, she rested beside an ice cream vending machine. She would be purchasing some of that before they left. Taking a moment to compose herself, she observed Minako.

Minako wore a classy, sage green dress with muted red shoes and her signature red bow. Beside her was a large wicker tote. She sat on a bench staring at the bustle and absently petting Artemis in her lap.

Of course, Minako would be classy even when waiting. Usagi would have been playing a phone game if roles were reversed. However, she was never early, so that would not happen in any universe. Pulling out a 500 yen coin, she bought herself an ice cream cone (strawberry) and one for Minako as well (vanilla). She walked to the bench, ice cream outstretched like a peace flag.

Minako smiled and took the cone from Usagi. Silently, Usagi sat next to her.

"The next train gets here in seven minutes," Minako stated.

They ate their ice cream in silence while watching businessmen and women going about their busy morning. Usagi disposed of their trash once they finished their cones.

The air between them was so tense you could cut it with a knife. Usagi sighed. The girls had finally started to warm to each other. Then again, Usagi hadn't been alone with Minako since the ex-fiance bombshell dropped.

"So…" Usagi said. She so desperately wanted to pry for details. She'd done it with Mamoru. But like most things, he was fairly terse on the subject. A man of words he was not.

Also, she'd broken a cardinal girl sin. She was sleeping with the ex. To be fair, she didn't know he was the ex until it was too late… She needed something, anything, to break this silence.

"So, I think I might have dreamed this into existence," Usagi said before reaching into her bag and pulling out the Crescent Wand.

"What?" That got Minako's attention. Artemis also looked closely at the wand. Usagi handed it over. "What do you mean you dreamed it?"

"It's a little hazy now," Usagi continued. "But like, I dreamt I woke up in my apartment, and there was this ghost woman, and she gave me this."

"Ghost woman?" Minako inquired.

Usagi furrowed her brow. "Yeah, she was like, pretty, and had silver hair," she continued. Yet, the more she pushed for the details of the dream, the more it faded.

"It couldn't be…" Minako said as she turned the wand over in her hand. It almost seemed like a toy. Closing her eyes, she tried to feel the power. But there was no warmth. No surge. This wasn't a weapon meant for her. She handed the wand back to Usagi with a sad smile.

"Looks like you've got a weapon," Minako said.

"A weapon? Me?" Usagi asked in disbelief. "But what does it do?"

Minako shrugged. "I guess we'll find out."

XXX

Usagi did sleep on the train. So she felt quite rested when they finally exited. The sun was shining. The air was warm. Perfect weather for a beach outing. Minako let Usagi lead the way, which in hindsight, was not the best idea.

Hence, they found themselves wandering in a forest. Usagi stared at her phone and wished for better reception. Minako watched on, smugly.

"Do you need some help?" Minako asked.

"There's no cell service," Usagi said. "So, um, the map won't load."

"You didn't look this place up before we got here, did you?" Minako teased.

"I did it! Just, maps are not my strong suit," Usagi lamented.

"Well, why don't you two stay on this path," Luna suggested. "Artemis and I will scout ahead. See if we can find some better directions."

"Wait!" Usagi cried as the two cats started off down the path. Luna turned back, her head cocked.

Usagi fumbled around her bag and produced a harness with a little pouch on the back.

"What, pray tell, is that?" Luna said.

"Well, in case we get separated, you can carry my cell phone, so we can get back in touch with each other!" Usagi said proudly.

Luna blinked. Artemis quirked an eyebrow. Minako opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again.

"I am not wearing that thing," Luna said.

"Reason number 468 on why we need communicators," Usagi stated. "Then Luna wouldn't have to wear a ridiculous harness."

"I'll just put your phone in my subspace pocket," Luna said.

"A what now?"

Minako giggled. "Her subspace pocket. It's a small dimensional pocket. Luna stores things like the transformation pens until she finds us," she explained. "We all have one."

"Wait, are you saying that I have an interdimensional storage purse? AND NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL ME?" Usagi exclaimed.

Minako nodded.

"Then why have I been lugging around this bottle of Rose the whole time! Ugh, you people are so bad at explaining the perks of being a superhero!"

With that settled, Usagi took the harness back, and Luna and Artemis darted off into the trees.

"We do need to invest in a phone for Luna," Usagi said, as they continued walking.

"Perhaps you're right," Minako said. "As we expand, we do need better communication."

"Reason 469 for communicators."

"We are not getting communicators."

The darkening sky let out a rumble, and Usagi shrieked. Clutching her tote to her chest while squeezing her eyes shut, she silently counted to ten in an attempt to calm herself. Minako watched on, curiously.

"We do need to find cover, and soon," Minako said. Usagi nodded in agreement.

The rain began to fall. They picked up their walking pace, Usagi moving faster than Minako had considered her capable of. Usagi, however, was on the verge of full panic mode. So she didn't notice the other person coming from a less-traveled path until she crashed into her.

Thunder rumbled. Usagi screamed as if spiders were crawling over her.

"I'm so sorry!" the girl mumbled. She couldn't be much older than fourteen with short brown hair and ghostly purple eyes.

Realizing that she wasn't a monster, Usagi clung to the strange girl as another crash of thunder echoed through the sky. The rain intensified.

"Oh!" The girl exclaimed. "You're afraid of the storm!"

"I'm so sorry for my friend," Minako apologized, trying to pull Usagi away from the teenager. "I don't know what's gotten into her."

Usagi melded over to Minako, gripping Minako's arm and burying her face in her armpit.

"It's okay!" the girl said. "I'm Sakiko, and my family owns the Pensive at the end of the path. Follow me, and we can at least get out of this rain!"

Sakiko lead the way, and Minako dragged Usagi through the rain.

XXX

The Pension Adams was a Western Gothic mansion built sometime after WWII by a rich gajin. The white paint had a grey tint to it, giving the place a slightly neglected look. Usagi realized that many of the images she'd seen on Instagram had no filters. That spooky look was all-natural. She shivered, but not from the rain.

"It's so creepy," Usagi whispered.

Sakiko lead them right up to the door which flew open as they approached. In the doorway, three figures greeted the young girl. None of the people looked quite human. Thunder clapped, and Usagi yelped.

"Youma!" she squealed.

Minako sighed and held the woman wrapped around her.

"Usagi," Minako whispered. "They're costumes. Look, it's just a vampire, wolfman, and Frankenstein. This is a theme hotel."

Still perched on Minako, Usagi stared at the figures. Sakiko grinned back at her. Minako was right. As she looked at the monsters in the doorway, they seemed less monstrous and more costumed. The tall, slightly pale vampire woman's neck was flesh-toned. The wolfman's sideburns peeled up at the edges. Frankenstein was just a guy with a very gnarly scar that had stitches glued on.

"Who are your friends, Ms. Sakiko?" the pale vampire lady asked.

"Oh! Some tourists who got lost in the woods," Sakiko explained. "I lead them here so they could get out of the rain."

"Well, perhaps they would like to come in for lunch at our cafe?" the vampire lady continued.

At that prompt, Usagi's stomach growled loudly.

"That sounds excellent," Minako said, trying to pry Usagi off her.

"Come in, then," the three monsters said in unison.

Sakiko giggled as Minako dragged Usagi behind her. Her giggle was cut short by a loud crash of thunder, and a booming voice.

"SAKIKO."

At the top of the stairs, an imposing man called down to the teenager. Lightning cast a hard shadow over his already harsh features. Usagi screamed again before jumping onto Minako's back.

"Who is he supposed to be?" Usagi whispered into Minako's ear.

"I don't know," Minako grumbled.

"Just where were you? Get over here," the man instructed.

Sakiko hung her head. "Yes, father," she answered. "Right away."

The girl waved a hasty goodbye and hurried over to her father. Together, they walked up the stairs, engaged in a conversation no one else could hear.

Everyone stared for a moment, watching the girl and her father retreat. Usagi tightened her grip around Minako as if somehow the strange man could pull her friend away as well. As they disappeared upstairs, Usagi's stomach growled.

"Yes," said the wolfman. "Follow me to the dining room."

XXX

Usagi and Minako were seated at the end of a large banquet table. Menus in the shape of coffins were presented to them. Usagi perused the menu.

"Everything looks so tasty!"

"Tough a touch morbid," Minako said with a small frown.

"And expensive," Usagi added, scrunching her nose at the thousand-plus yen price tags.

"Theme cafes often are," Minako said with a smile. "But I'll cover the bill. It's official business after all."

Usagi smiled and proceeded to order squid ink pasta, a piece of pizza in the shape of a cross, some sort of chicken that would be roasted tableside, a pastry in the shape of a coffin, and some sort of blood sangria cocktail. Minako ordered a salad.

"Oh! We should probably text Luna and let her know where we are," Usagi suggested once the monster hosts were out of earshot.

Minako shrugged. "I'm sure she and Artemis are nearby."

"Yeah, but it would be the considerate thing to do," Usagi said. She didn't go into more detail because Frankenstein rolled a squeaky cart in. Usagi smiled with delight as the first plate was put in front of her.

"It smells so good!" Usagi nearly moaned. She patted her pockets and frowned. "Minako, can I borrow your phone?"

"What for?"

"I need to take a photo of all the yumminess!"

Rolling her eyes, Minako handed over her phone. With a smile, Usagi took the camera and started turning her plate to get the best angles. Minako shook her head.

Usagi just had her angle perfect when an eerie moaning echoed through the dining area. Usagi clicked the picture and tensed.

"What was that?" Usagi whispered.

"Probably just an atmosphere…" Minako started, but Frankenstein was trembling behind Usagi. Minako stood up from the table and followed Frankenstein's gaze into the hall. Usagi shrieked upon seeing a fearful Frankenstein and hid under the table.

In the hallway, Minako saw the Wolfman and Vampirina cowering as an ethereal woman howled before them. She was more cloud than woman, but her face was clear. It was in pain. She looked at Minako, then charged.

Minako was hit by a blast of cold air, knocking her backward, and the ghost disappeared. Usagi screamed from the dining room while the Pension employees pressed against the walls, terrified. Minako gaped before a slow smile crept across her face. As she stood, she understood two things. Something was definitely haunting the Pensive Adams, but it wasn't a youma.

Minako walked back into the dining room and sat down. She leaned over so she could see Usagi under the table.

"How do you feel about spending the night out here?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?"