Zak's gone :'( Don't worry, he stays around for good in Chapter 7 :D

I hope you enjoy the read!

Oh, BTW. This whole story is told from Danny's POV.

Even though the fight itself was brief, I hadn't felt that alert since Valerie and I fought Vlad together.

By the time I got back home, it was already dinner time. I tried talking to Jazz about the Bingo…neck… these cryptids needed easier names. Anyway, I told Jazz as much as I could about what went down without sparking Valerie's trademark glare, who was over visiting.

"I was at a museum, and there's was this section on weird creatures. I think the tour guide called them cryptids."

Valerie had a confused look as she filled her mouth with another spoonful of mac and cheese, meaning she knew we were talking code, but couldn't quite figure out what was actually being said, which was fine by me.

Jazz had a confused look, too. Thankfully, a nudge in Valerie's direction was all the explanation Jazz needed to realize I was talking in code. "Oh, yeah, cryptids! I did a paper on them last year. You're talking about things like the Chupacabra, right?"

"Yeah, chalupa baja. Remember that monster uprising in NYC a few months back? Those were all cryptids."

"What cryptid was the tour guide talking about," Jazz asked.

"I don't remember the name, but I think he said it was from Congo Basin."

A beeping sound interrupted our productive conversation.

"Ghost alarm," said Valerie. "I thought I fixed the damned thing?"

She got up and went to her backpack at the foot of the stairs and took out her gauntlet shaped sensor. "There's a ghost here in Zone 3."

"This place is a ghost's worst nightmare, now," Jazz added. She shot me another glance, meaning we were both on the same page. The ghost was probably looking for me.

"Where is she now," I asked. Dinner had just gotten interesting.

"How do you know it's a she?"

"Uh – man's intuition," I stuttered back at Valerie. I actually didn't know for sure it was a girl ghost. But I hoped it was.

That remark won me skeptical glares from both Jazz and Valerie.

"Anyway, looks like she – it – the ghost – stopped at Wendy High for the night."

Wendy High was the twin high school to Casper High, for people from the other side of town.

"Maybe we should check it out. You know, better safe than sorry, right?" What if she was in trouble? It would be better to go to her than have her risk her life.

"I'm in," said Valerie as she materialized her anti-ghost suit. "I haven't had some actual exercise in ages!"

"Hey, Danny? Can I talk to you?" Jazz walked me to the door while Valerie packed her backpack. "Is it really okay to bring Valerie along? What if this ghost's a friendly, or knows your secret? This could be compromise both of you."

"Well, she is the one with the tracking gear. Anyway, relax. I've already thought everything through."

If I was right, I wouldn't be putting the ghost in danger by bringing Valerie along. I was hoping the ghost was a close friend. I was hoping it was Danielle.