It was not the first time the PIs were stuck in this kind of situation, it seemed familiar to them, after all, they were experts at that job for around one year, but it seems everyday something new surprises them. In this case, it was not the adults who were slowly walking to them with a demonic gaze and a big grin...
''Are they...'' Jericho asked.
''Obviously demonic possessions! But...for what purpose?'' Monie meditated.
''Hey I have an idea!'' Kira started proposing with a bit of sarcasm and a mocking smile, which lowered down as she spoke. ''Let's politely ask them while THEY'RE COMING TO US!''
One of the victims already had his grip on Casey's arm, who tried to get it out, he was surprised and a little scared, but he was not screaming.
''You know too much!''
the evil human threatened to him.
At the second he said that, Daemona and Kira took a run for it and pushed the adult away from Casey. Their enemy fell on his back, sand as a landing point. Before he could stand back up, Jericho used his telekinesia power to move sand around and under the adult, burying him, only his head was free.
''Phew, that was close. Jericho, I hope this quicksand you just made is as quick as your reflexes for them!''
Casey warned to his friend, mentioning the rest of the adults coming for them.
Four against ten,
with good organisation and synergy, maybe the PIs were going to have the upper hand, but another problem was coming. As Daemona was going to work out a strategy or use one of her gadgets she magically kept in her coat, something caught her by the shoulder.
She fought back by a shoulder move, getting away from her grip. She angrily turned herself towards the surprise attack...who were her parents, with other adults. They had red eyes and they were holding some piece of wood.
''You won't interrupt the awakening!''
Daemona's dad said, in an evil demon voice.
The poor children changed from a combative face to a surprised face in distress, standing still, hesitating about what to do, one of her friends called her, as more adults were getting closer to them.
''Daemona!''
''Strategic retreat! Quick!''
Thankfully, even with the numerous demonic possessions around them, there was still an issue, a small space between some of the major people, all the PI gang slipped by and took a run from it, climbing some slopes to get back where they have parked their ghoul-mobile.
As they all entered their means of transport, the leader Daemona took some time to breathe.
''Of course, I didn't thought of them, I should have been aware!''
she desperately brought.
''We're really sorry about your parents...'' Casey sympathized.
''...It's not the first time I see them in transe, to be honest.'' The victim in this situation rationalized with a little smile, before getting serious again. ''...For the moment, we have to find clues, and we won't find them with this army here.''
''Actually, while I was in communication with this...strange piece, I took some wood out of it!'' Kira revealed while showing the piece of evidence, it was just a regular stick, not as big as her hand.
''Awesome, to my place!''
The PIs moved away from the place with the ghoul-mobile, Jericho looked at what seemed to be in construction, it seemed familiar to him.
Someone was also watching them from the other side...on baker beach. In the vast sea, there seemed to be a transparant figure watching from afar, swimming with a fluorescent striped bathing suit entirely covering his entire body.
A friend or a foe?
Later, that same night, in Daemona's house, the PIs were looking at the object Kira brought from the beach. They were in the living room, since Daemona's parents were currently at Baker Beach, they had all the house for themselves, they were not currently worried by the possibility that the parents might run into their double identity.
However, judging by the worried and confused look on their face, the aura that emanated from this curious object didn't seem reassuring, worse than some secrets exposed.
They also seemed discouraged. Daemona identified it with her specter detector. There was still a beeping sound, but none of the sprite, ghost, demon and elemental's gauges rose up, they were all empty, with a big red X. Even with all the analysis machine they had in Daemona's attic used earlier, they were not getting good results.
Kira tried to read it again, but...
''I'm not able to know more.'' the telepath declared. ''I know it's been taken by someone and it's coming from the netherworld, but it's still blurry!''
''An object this small? From the netherrealm?'' Jericho questioned.
''Never rely on appearances, and I know what I'm talking about!'' Casey pointed out.
''Look, we saw my parents and some other people with other pieces with similar shapes! If they are looking for this piece we have, we are in great danger, at least for tonight.'' The leader investigator theorized.
''Not with us having a special sleep night at your home!'' Her girl best friend suggested.
''No, too obvious, my parents could come back and who god knows if they would be possessed again and with an army!'' Daemona Prune wondered.
Casey brought everyone's attention to him, he was thinking for some time.
''I have an idea of a good hiding place for tonight, but I'm not sure some of you could like it...''
Inside Lugosi Junior High School, Daemona, Kira, Casey and Jericho walked in the school's corridors, even if it was closed, they managed to break in, thanks to Casey's shapeshifting into a key. They also brought the piece of wood with them.
''You really don't think we spend enough time here do you?'' The kid with orange hair spitted out to Casey.
''It was the only safe place I was thinking, all of our parents are probably involved in this, ghostly stuff is attracted to Navarro as much as us, this school is big and nobody's here at that time, nobody except...''
Casey cutted himself as he opened a door leading to an abandonned storage room, as everyone saw what was in front of them, they sighed.
''So much for the revelation effect...'' Casey commented.
An headless ghost janitor was sleeping on the chair of his desk, in front of a small TV. His body was on the chair. His head, completly apart from his body, was snorting in a big bowl of popcorn.
''I thought these types of ghouls never slept.'' Jericho brought up.
Daemona went to the bowl of popcorn on the ghostly janitor's desk and took the head sleeping in it, shaking it up for three seconds while whispering.
''Pssst, Mustapha, wake up!''
''Eeeeaoaoaoaoaoaoaoa!'' the head stuterred under all the shook.
His eyes rolled for some time before looking at Daemona and the gang.
''Oh, it's you, Phantom Investigators, how's eight grade?''
''It's just more numbers and words.'' Jericho answered.
''And you, you have TV in a book store now?'' Kira gazed, one eyebrow raised, while Daemona put back Mustafa's head on his body and Jericho and Casey went to watch the TV.
''It's my home now, why not have some fun?'' The dead janitor justified.
Daemona went side to Kira and brought up the main subject of why they were here.
''Forget the TV, we came to sleep here for tonight because some demonic possessions might be looking for something we stole. We were going to give it back to them but we can't analyse it and we are wanted.'' Daemona said, showing the piece of wood to the adult.
''Mmmh...where were you when you took this object?''
''At Baker Beach, why?'' Kira brought up.
''...I don't know if I have books to explain this! But honestly it seems familiar...''
Jericho interrupted Mustapha's thinking by calling the three persons to come to his side.
''Hey, they're showing Baker Beach at the news!''
Kira, Daemona and Mustapha came by Jericho and Casey's side, in front of the TV. A news reporter was seated behind his desk with a recorded footage of Baker Beach during the day.
A man with black hair, green eyes and a brown suit.
''Only a few day before some San Francisco's inhabitants decided to bring their own festival here. In the memories of good times, a giant man statue of wood is being built on baker beach!'' The TV reporter announced.
''This? A festival?'' Daemona questioned.
''Do they even come her at night like us?'' Kira remarked.
The TV reporter pursued his speech.
''We are all impatient for this big event, at the dawn of september, once this big statue rises, it will be burned down, it will be known as our own homemade nostalgic festival who's been torned down for Baker Beach years ago: the burning man festival!''
Everyone in front of the TV was shocked by the announcement, not only by surprise, but by high levels of doubt, they've been here at night, they witnessed the events. Jericho was the first to express disagreement.
''The burning man festival? Here? But usually it's like seven hours away from here at the Nevada!''
''No way that's a normal festival, I don't think possessed adults attacking us at night is part of this tradition.'' Daemona added.
The TV reporter was going to continue the news, but suddendly, he felt weird, he was getting some spasms, abruptly rising from his desk. His head moved down, he breathed heavily from a few seconds. Everyone in front of the TV was not reassured by this sudden change of mood. They all backed away as they saw the TV reporter violently moving his head up and gazing at them with red eyes and a despotic demon voice.
''And don't think you won this, we're sending every of our resources to you! Do you understand? You're not getting out of here safe!'' he shouted, moving forward and getting in front of the cameraman.
The camera on the TV backed up from fear while the new demonic possession was getting more close to it, as we only saw his full-teeth grinning face, the camera closed out and a picture saying ''technical difficulties'' showed up with a big beeping sound. Kira broke the silence, she was really not comfortable right know.
''Can someone tell me why we can't spend one day without getting close to the ghost life?'' she turned around to Mustapha, who was holding his head fallen off once more. ''No offense.''
''None taken.'' Mustapha reassured.
''It's OK, I've seen worse threathening, but one thing for sure: this is not the burning man festival! Not what we think. Usually it's a period of peace and reunion!'' Jericho explained, things were finally getting familiar to him.
Suddendly, a new ghost appeared in the place, directly saying something.
''This is not what you think indeed!''
Kira directly took the ether disruptor from Daemona's suit and pointed it at the ghost.
''I'm not your enemy!''
The gentle ghost seemed to be a good swimmer, judging by the equaliz(able) scuba mask he wore on his green and transparent face added by the one-piece black and green striped swimsuit covering all his body, his hair was short and lacking of color, it seemed to be black like the other ghost in the room, Mustapha.
''Who are you? You followed us?'' Casey asked.
''I am Niles Zieger...''
He looked at everyone, it was silence for some time.
''No, we didn't saw you on a milk carton, nobody knows you, continue please.'' Daemona radically brought up.
Niles cleaned his troath and pursued his introduction.
''Since 44 years my life was taken away by a shark at that very place where your case is happening, I was offered to spend the rest of my afterlife in the netherrworld but every summer I love to go at Baker Beach, it's such a calm place...but...I'm afraid it won't be for long.''
''So you're a big expert at Baker Beach huh? Think you can teach us a little history to be sure of our doubts?'' Kira interrogated.
The new ally ghost, hand on his chin, looked at the gang, happy to help. While he talked, some fire background was behind him, for decorating the explanation.
''I think the TV gave you enough informations, you've heard it: what the news reporter and you think is the burning man festival has been on Baker Beach years ago, in 1986! 5 years after the foundation of this festival, it's been moved to the Nevada for legal and high risks of fire reasons. ...Some people in this town sure miss this festival.''
Everyone looked at each other, they didn't knew what to think of this.
''Let me guess: a lot of adults in the town, including my parents, has been tricked, thinking it was just a regular statue, but once they've been here...something or someone is now in charge of them.'' Daemona husked.
''Exactly...and this isn't a normal piece of wood you stole there...what you hold here seem to be one piece of the first prototype of a new netherrealm creature...''
Kira was the first to realise the unthinkable.
''Wait...let me read this again.''
When Kira took the piece of wood and used her psychic powers on it, her point of view was the same as before, only this time, she had more time to look around, she seemed in a shop, she saw the mysterious creature buying her, but she only saw her brown arms, legs, and dirty grey business suit. Her mind went back to the human world and she looked at everyone.
''Did I told you that this thing was taken by someone...in the netherrealm?''
''Like a fan in a shop?'' Jericho compared, as soon as he said that, he began to understand something. Mustapha took the next talk.
''If you want to know more about this, I think the best for you is to get out of this shelter.''
''Right, follow me gang, I have another idea...why I didn't thought about it earlier?...'' Daemona got away from the place, followed by her friends and the ghost Niles
Some minutes passed on, the gang were all in Navarro's repairs, the shop of the adult who worked with them yesterday night. Inside, Jericho was sitten down on the ground, Kira calmly stomped one foot, crossing her arms, and Casey made forty turns on himself, walking. The new ghost ally was just waiting. Two new sidekicks were also here: Wad the chewing-gum sprite and Jinxie the bad luck demon, who were just waiting.
The only persons who seemed to not count flies were Navarro; in his casual clothes, and Daemona, both were standing next to each other, holding a purple phone in their hand. That being said, they seemed to wait for something too.
''Why is it so long?'' Niles asked.
''We are trying to get infos around here, and we are being subtle.'' Daemona turned to her friend.
As soon as the leader got her attention somewhere else, a bell noise and a door closing was heard on the phone. Daemona turned around and all her friends, except for Niles, gathered closer to the phone. It was on free hand so everyone could here the other line.
''I thought you had problems.'' Navarro said, looking at the phone.
On the line, a wrinkly but relaxed voice justified the silence.
''Sorry, me and my husband had to be incognito to enter in the nethershop.''
''So, what type of monster are we getting this time? Elemental? Slime? Were-dogs? '' Daemona interrogated.
''...I'm afraid it's a new type of monster...'' the female voice on the phone cleared her troath. ''Tell me Daemona, remember when you were a small kid? Everytime you passed in front of a giant statue or sculpture of whatever kind, you were scared it would come alive and destroy everything?''
''Reaaaaaalllly the time for embarassing memories.'' Jericho snickered with sarcasm.
Daemona severely stared at Jericho, displeased, before coming back to the conversation.
''I think it's not the right time.'' Daemona snarled.
''What you see in construction at Baker Beach right now is alive...well...it will be! It's a new trademark: ''the poltercult companies'' , you buy multiples pieces of wood, once it get all together like you do a three-dimmensionnal puzzle, it forms the monster of the model you bought and it comes permanently alive.''
All the gang heard this, they seemed to be surprised, but not shocked and panicky, they looked at each other. Daemona spoke to her interlocuteur, loving and grateful.
''Thank you grandma...I didn't know what to do, we called Wad out of his rehabilitation and his ''knowledge'' didn't help. And even Jinxie's netherrealm chart didn't gave us more infos, I hope we didn't ask you too much by going in this shop for us with all these ghouls around you.''
''Anything to help the new generation. Don't forget to call if you have other special spying netherworld missions like this.'' Daemona's ghostly grandmother took back the compliment with a gentle voice.
Everyone smiled, Navarro patted Daemona's shoulder. Behind them, Jinxie, right to Wad, started to talk, he just arrived with Wad by the asks of the whole team so he was still unsure about the situation.
''So...we're fine for now, I mean you have a piece of wood so the statue can't come alive?'' Jinxie inquired with hesitation.
''Right, as long as we have it, nothing dangerous is going to happen, we just have to find a way to get rid of this case and all the demonic possessions.'' Casey brought up.
''Thank you for the help Mary.'' Navarro gratefully thanked, Mary was the name of Daemona's grandmother on the phone. ''If it's all we have to know, I'm going to hang up no-''
Navarro got interrupted, on the other side of the line, there seemed to be someone else, we heard a loud bell noise and the sound of a door slam. A male adult with the earnest of voices started to talk.
''Wait, Daemona, everyone!''
''Harold?'' Mary's voice began.
''Grandpa?'' Daemona added almost at the same time as Mary.
''Everyone, you...you must go at Baker Beach, now! I've gathered unpleasant informations at this shop.'' Harold cautioned.
''What?'' Kira exclamed.
''I've asked the shop seller how many sellings he did yesterday! He didn't sold only one of these, he also sold small models for young demons! They're in construction!''
While Harold's warn speech, Jinxie and Niles Zieger turned around, they saw strange figures through the window, they started to barge through it.
''Uuuuuh, guys?'' The new ghost ally let out, everyone turned around and gasped.
''Get out of there!'' Harold's voice shouted.
''Too late!'' Daemona put the phone away as the window broke under the opponent's barge.
There were four of these types of netherworld creatures made of wood: a faceless human; a were-dog; a goblin and a falcon, all of them were almost the same height as Navarro and despite being made of wood and alive, they seemed to have no emotion, all that was coming out of their mouth were growls and distorted noises.
..
Things were not getting right!
