I'm alive!

Hey guys, long time no see! ;D

So sorry for the long wait; school's been even crazier than usual lately (or maybe I've just become lazier?). And even though I have wanted to finish this chapter for a couple of weeks, I haven't been able too. For some reason the words have abandoned me every time I finally found the time to write... But I think I've finally turned things around again; I'm feeling inspired, I'm catching up on my schoolwork, I have more control on everything called life and I'm even starting to get a hang on my future... Wow, that last one sounded huge ;P Seriously though, I'm freaking out a little bit right now. The application to the universities has opened and I just realized that it's less than three months until I graduate! O.O

Eeeeither way... Here it is: chapter eight! ENJOY! :D

Chapter 8:

"You're a bit too negative, you know that right?" Leo said irritated and James simply shrugged his shoulders.

"You would too if-"

"No! No more depressing stories!" the boy interrupted and the ghost looked at him slightly shocked, but Leo didn't care the slightest.

"Isn't there any way to... 'un-possess' him? You know, kick Michael out or something?" Leo continued. Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes...

A few agonizing moments passed when James just looked at them. Then he sighed.

"I don't know." he admitted.

"There has to be..." Bree mumbled dejected and James gaze focused on a spot just outside the door as he frowned in deep thought.

"There might-... No... No, that would be-... But-... Maybe... Yeah, maybe that would-... But, no, it's-... No..."

"What?!" Adam shouted exasperated as he and his siblings stared at the ghost with just the slightest glimmer of hope glistening in their eyes.

"If there is any way, any way at all... Please just tell us." Leo begged, the irritation replaced by a defeating feeling of hopelessness, and James looked at them hesitant.

"There might be a way," he begun, his voice still uncertain. "Though it all depends on your brother, and how strong of a hold Michael has on him. But there might be a way to weaken Michael's hold, to give your brother a chance to fight him. To... 'kick him out'."

"Really?" the siblings echoed, not really daring to believe but still wishing so bad that there was a way they could all walk away unharmed.

"Yes," James said and nodded his head; he sounded a lot more confident about it this time and the three teens exchanged a relieved glance. "I do believe there's a way, but... You're not going to like it."

And just like that, Leo's sense of relief washed right off him. 'You're not going to like it', that did not sound reassuring at all... But it didn't matter. There was a way. That was what was important.

"What-"

The question was cut off by the doors suddenly closing again. Though it wasn't the same slamming as the first time, it still caused them all to jump. Slowly they turned around and looked into Michael's black eyes.

"Are you leaving already?" he asked, and under the mocking tone was actual shock. "But we who were just starting with the fun!"

"We don't wanna be here!" Leo cried out; fear, frustration and worry coloring his voice. "Just let us go! Please..."

There was a deafening moment of silence, and then Michael sighed and raised a hand, causing the doors to open again.

"Fine." he muttered, sounding like a child giving up a toy; but he was also looking at them with a smug grin. He knew, just as much as they knew, that they wouldn't abandon Chase.

"Go ahead, get out of here." he encouraged in their brother's soft voice, though none of them moved a muscle. His smirk widened. "See, I told you we were having fun!"

"Let our brother go!" Adam screamed, tears stinging his eyes. Michael glanced at him unimpressed as he started fidgeting with an object in his hands; with a sickening feeling the siblings realized that it was a knife -a dagger!

"Don't worry, I will." Michael said, admiring the sharp weapon with an appalling fascination. "When I'm done."

Leo shared a scared look with his siblings; what were they going to do?! Before they could even think about the answer Chase's head snapped up again, Michael's black eyes staring at them and it almost felt like he was looking right through them. He gave them a lopsided smirk and suddenly thrust his hands forward.

Suddenly the trio was flung backwards, landing harshly on the hard floor.

"Okay, ouch..." Leo muttered as he rubbed his sore head. "Remind me again why I was so thrilled about that ability."

No one did. Instead both Adam and Bree -and Leo himself- were staring horrified at their brother who was quickly making his way towards them, a murderous expression on his face. Leo dared to pull his gaze from the possessed boy for a moment to glance over at James. The ghost was staring at the scene, nothing but shock on his face.

Right... Leo remembered. He has been way uninformed when it comes to knowing what it means being a "bionic superhuman".

"What are we gonna do?!" Adam hissed, and his wide eyes had never been more frightened than when he looked at his little brother. Bree was the first to truly snap out of the shock and in less than the blink of an eye she was on her feet. She quickly rushed forwards, catching Michael off guard as she grabbed his left arm. In a familiar move she'd used several times for pranks she spun him around and backwards at high speeds before finally realizing her grip.

She rushed back to her brothers and helped them up before she dared to look at Chase. He had fallen to his knees and was gripping his head in a way that clearly screamed dizzy. She glanced at Adam and Leo helplessly.

What were they going to do? Should they run again? But to what end? Michael would find them anyway, and what good would it really do? Should they-... What could they even do? Fight?

Bree felt her eyes widen at her own thoughts... Fight?! They couldn't fight Chase! They couldn't fight their own brother...

A loud scream -which she wasn't even sure who had caused- was heard as a vase was hurled towards them. Jumping backwards Bree realized that Michael had recovered from her spin and was now hurling all kinds of stuff at them.

"Stop, stop! Please just stop!" Leo cried out and Bree wasn't even sure who he was pleading to.

"Okay, we've got to get out of here!" Adam said as he avoided the book that came flying over his head. Most of the things were nowhere near them, Bree realized, which only made it all worse. She knew her brother should be able to hit them... Michael was playing with them; "I'm going to take my time on you" he had said.

"Hey, Casper!" Adam shouted, which successfully snapped James from his shock as he frowned at the tall boy.

"Where can we go? We need to switch things around." Bree said and the ghost nodded thoughtfully.

"The cornfield." he responded. "It's basically dead and will give you more area to move around on and fewer things that can be used as weapons against you."

"H-How do we get to it?" Leo barely managed to ask before he fell on his butt with a startled yelp as a chair landed only a few inches before him.

"There's a trapdoor behind the-... The- The couch in the library!" James said and pointed down the hallway behind them. "First door two turns to the left."

"We'll need a distraction." Leo pointed out and looked expectantly at his sister. Bree nodded slowly, her brow furrowed thoughtfully, as she looked around the hallway.

"We need... something more too..." she mumbled before her gaze settled on a big bookcase that was basically leaning against the wall. "Adam?"

Her older brother followed her gaze towards the furniture, looking confused for a moment. Though he then nodded his head rapidly as he understood her plan.

"Okay..." Bree mumbled and took a deep breath. She glanced over at Adam, who gave her a quick nod, signaling her he was ready.

After taking another breath Bree bolted forwards, though just like she expected Michael was more prepared this time. So instead of grabbing his arm like he thought she would Bree halted right in front of him and started running around in a dizzying zigzag pattern around him. She glanced over at Adam for a millisecond and saw that he had positioned himself beside the bookcase.

"Now!" she shouted to her older brother as she grabbed Chase's arm again and sent him rolling on the ground. She flinched as she heard his head connect with the wooden floor, but quickly shook the concern away as she turned on her heels. She speeded past Adam just as he tipped the bookcase over, blocking the path between them and Michael/Chase.

"Come on, let's go!" James shouted, successfully snapping the three siblings into action. They quickly took off running down the hallway after their ghost friend.

Though just like they all assumed Michael recovered fairly quickly and soon he was on his feet again and past the fallen furniture as well. Come on, come on, hurry, hurry! Leo thought panicked as he heard the footsteps behind him come closer. He barely had the time to see the suit of armor as it was flung forward before he crashed into it, sending him to the floor with all the metal pieces and a throbbing pain over his face.

Groaning Leo pushed himself up on all four, and as he looked up he saw his siblings staring at him, their eyes wide and faces pale. Though before he could even think about getting up quickly a hand gripped his arm and yanked him up on his feet. Spinning around Leo felt his heart drop to his toes when he saw the knife raised above his brother's head.

"LEO!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Oooh, that cliffy was mean ;)

We're actually starting to approach the big climax! ...Though it's still a couple more chapters until then, so stay tuned! :D /Libra