Chapter 2
"Lucy, move." George whispered urgently, "Go." He stepped forwards and put his hand on her shoulder. She couldn't. She wanted to move, but her body was refusing. Ghost-lock had claimed her.
Lockwood had sliced his rapier straight through the apparition, causing it to fizzle out like a sparkler. He knew it would be back. And it was. Right behind him it appeared, and he was only saved by a shout from George and Lucy, desperately getting ever closer. Again, he sliced, this time falling short. Now, he'd put himself in a vulnerable position. The ghost could easily reach forwards and touch him as he'd opened up his chest. Hurriedly, he tried to bring his sword around, but the ghost was quicker. It lunged and Lockwood closed his eyes.
Yet, nothing happened. Instead of feeling the same horrific icy burn that he felt the first time he was ghost-touched, he felt nothing. Tentatively he opened his eyes, and found himself looking at a very sweaty George, shining a torch in his face. "Are you ok?" He demanded.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for that."
"No problem. If Lucy hadn't got caught up back there," he glanced back at her, "We would've been here with you."
"Well I'm sorry! This is a Solitary we're talking about. You know they have very strong ghost-lock. And anyway, you-" Her defence was cut short by Lockwood pushing her aside to take a swing at the apparition that had formed behind her. It moved back a bit, aware that it would struggle against three people. They all ganged up on it, slashing and slicing. All the while it moved back, watching them with a desolate expression on its pale, glowing face. Suddenly, it twisted until it little more than a flickering, cloud. It moved very quick, but not very far. A few metres away from the agents, it dove into the ground, right beneath a tree.
"Well." Lockwood stated, shining his torch up and down the tree, "I think we may struggle to dig this up."
"You think?" Lucy sighed, exasperated.
"We should mark it and notify the council. They can hire someone to dig it up themselves." George suggested.
"I think we should." Lockwood agreed and moved forwards to study the tree. "Does anyone have any chalk? Paint?"
"No."
"Nah, sorry."
"Hmm... we'll just have to remember it."
"What?" The others said in unison.
"Look. It's the only pine in we've seen this whole time."
"I dont know... I haven't exactly been focusing on the trees." Lucy murmured.
"Well, I know. We know the direction and distance roughly, right?"
"Yep." Assured George.
"Ok. Let's chain up this location before it tries its luck again."
