Waking up from her nap due to all of the noise Carrigan groaned and glared at the door. "Why are these people so damn rude?!" *punching the wall her fist hit a button that popped open a compartment. "AH!!" grabbing her hand Carrigan stared at the button before she looked up at the squeaky door as it opened. Softly she gasped and her eyes widened. Upon studying the picture it was of J.T. McFadden and the compartment was "in his chest". Immediately Carrigan looked inside pulling out the paper. On it was a long list of ingredients and only one final clue for the final ingredient. "Found ya...! Looks like you weren't so smart after all.." Carrigan smirked and eyed the picture. The door hinge soon fell off and clonked her on her head. "DOH!" After she managed to get herself together she raced downstairs for Dibs. "DIBS! DIBS!" She called out annoyed at his slow response. Finally when Dibs arrived she pulled him over to her. "SHEESH, What took you so long!?"
"I was...- !" Dibs started to explain.
"Oh who cares, listen, I got the ingredients, all we have to do now is get that machine out of here and we're are RICH!" The two grinned widely at each other. "C'mon, let's go get a crew..!" Looking around the two of them darted for the nearest exit.
Meanwhile Casper, Kat and Dr. Harvey had just started to check all of the chests in the attic for anything that remotely would connect the clue. "Nothing... we've been at this for hours! I guess it's time to check the other chests..." Disheartened by their lack of clues Casper hunched as he looked at the ground.
"Hey, don't give up yet! Alright, Well, how about we check all of the portraits that we can find, and uh, leave the grave robbing, which is illegal,...eheh...for last. Hmn?" Dr. Harvey patted the ghost on the shoulder. Both Kat and Casper laughed lightly and smiled. "Alright, I'll search here and then hit the main floor afterward. Casper you and Kat search everywhere else!" The two agreed and took off in a hurry. "So...just me, the dust bunnies and the really creepy attic.." Everyone continued the search for another hour that is until they spotted the open cavity that Carrigan had discovered.
"Oh no...... S-She..." Casper frowned and teared up as he looked down at his hands. "This can't be....!"
"That witch! She knew we were looking for it! AUGH, That's not right, that isn't her's!" Kat's eyes narrowed as she watched Casper fly out of the room in a fit. "C-CASPER! WAIT!" Frowning she turned and raced after her friend. "Casper!!" Quickly Kat made her way after her friend. The girl followed him out to the backyard and then lost him. A heavy sigh seeped out from her lips as she looked around lost as to what to do. Walking around slowly she continued the search for her friend. Worriedly she called out for him in hopes to get a response, but no such luck. She seemed to pace around the area for hours until she finally noticed an odd looking garden. She wondered WHY they'd have a garden outside if there'd already been one inside. Apparently Elizabeth loved flowers a whole lot more than she'd thought. Squinting her eyes in thought Kat pushed the squeaky gate of the garden open and started through the little maze. When she reached the end of it she found Casper hunched over on a headstone as he cried. Frowning Kat silently watched him as he wept for a little while longer. Looking she noticed the names on the headstones. The one Casper sat on was his fathers, the one next to him was Elizabeth, and on the other side was Casper's. There were even more stones in the section next to this. That is where Blayne, Benen, Sloane, Emma & Abigail were buried. Unfortunately, Kat and Casper would never see those this time around and put it together. "C-Casper....?" Gently she questioned her friend.
"Kat.... I... I let him down... I .. I let my father down! He did all of this for me...and...and I couldn't even put it together! He must be so disappointed in me.. I failed to protect the secret!" Covering his face he couldn't stand the thought of having ruined everything.
"Oh no, I'm sure he's not disappointed at all! I'm...I'm sure he knew there was a chance that someone would maybe even... try to force you into giving them the recipe. So I'm sure everything is okay... I'm sure he prepared for it..." Kat tried to ease his sorrows the best she could. Casper smiled lightly to Kat but still everything in his non-existent stomach turned with what felt like sludge. The rest of the day went on for them rather peacefully, which only proved that there was something wrong. Something somewhere was being twisted and turned. Why hadn't Carrigan and Dibs arrived back yet...? This troubled all of them the most. Over and over they tried to tell themselves that they were only assuming the worst. Denial had indeed set in, especially for Casper who still didn't want to face it that Carrigan had gotten her greedy mitts on his fathers ingredient list. Everyone's nerves had been stacked high and everyone was on edge about what happened. No one knew who to trust anymore at this point around the manor. Anyone could've tipped Carrigan off, and there was one person who they'd started wondering about the most. The one girl they let in without being reluctant about it..
As bad timing would have it Melle wandered in on the group as they sat around the kitchen table. Raising an eyebrow she stared at all of their glum looks. It was when they turned their attention to her that she noticed an annoyance and a sense of anger that seemed to pierce at her from their eyes. "Hah, whoa~! Okay, apparently I walked in the wrong way... uhm..... lemme try again..!" Grinning and pointing nervously to the door behind her she whirled around and walked out. Out in the hall she gave a grimaced look and sighed heavily as she placed on an extremely happy face. "OKAY!" Twirling around she walked back into the kitchen. "Hey there you balls of sunshine! What's uuuuuup? You are all awesome, and you know it!" Winking she grinned at the group. Kat rolled her eyes at the act, Casper smacked his forehead as he shook his head, Dr. Harvey twitched his eyebrows lightly and tried to give a smile. "Okaaayy.... Well then, I'll just get the drink and leave..." Feeling rather embarrassed now Melle reached the fridge and quietly pulled out the drink.
"Stop acting like you don't know." Kat stated flatly and firmly. This surprised both Casper and Dr. Harvey who shot questioned looks at her.
"Know about what...?" Tilting her head just slightly Melle squeezed the juice bottle nervously in her hand. The one thing she hated was being confronted by others. Especially when she had no idea what the heck was going on.
"Duh, about your mother! About this whole thing! Okay, let's try your mother randomly reappearing, taking over Whipstaff, now she has the ingredients, which I WONDER how she found out we were even looking for them!" Kat narrowed her eyes at Melle. Dr. Harvey and Casper wanted to interject but the problem was they didn't know whether or not either one knew what they were talking about. "So where is she? Hmn? I don't know, I just find it a little bit funny how this all happens only AFTER we let you in here! It can't be coincidence!"
Stepping back Melle stared at Kat with her jaw dropped. "U-Ugh, WHAT? I...I don't know where she's at...! I didn't tell her anything...! I was hanging around with Ghastly earlier... and ..and... I was being spooked by Stinkie... So I.. I really wouldn't know!" Worry filled her eyes as she glanced from person to person.
"Right, and what about the time in between? There's always a chance you could've slipped it to her early this morning..or even yesterday! I can't believe it , we let you into our home and you just ruined Casper's chances for everything. Now you're lying to our face...!" Swinging her hand Kat swung at Melle to slap her. Closing her eyes tightly Melle cringed and raised her arms to block as she readied to get hit. After a few seconds passed there was nothing! No slap, no impact of any sort. Slowly squinting her eyes open Melle blinked and stared at what she saw. There in front of her floated Stinkie with a confrontational glare aimed towards Kat. Firmly he gripped Kat's hand in his right and frowned.
"Don't touch 'er...~!" He huffed "She didn' do anythin' wrong. She didn't tell her Ma anythin' about you an' Caspuh's plans! She didn' Write 'er, tell her, mention it, hint at it, NADDA! So just leave 'er alone! Melle's tellin' you guys da truth, if dat broad found ya stinkin' ingredients, it was probably by sheer stupid luck! I have been followin' her around all day for the past few days. Tryin' ta loin how ta scare da socks off her...so I'd know. " Finally he released Kat's wrist and looked between the other two. Kat just groaned out of frustration storming off to be alone. Casper quickly started after her not wanting to be alone and not wanting to leave her alone. "What?" Stinkie's expression lightened as he stared at Dr. Harvey who just smirked and smiled.
"I believe, I'll...leave you two alone...! I'd think you have something to discuss...some issues to work out..?" Motioning to Melle, Dr. Harvey laughed and smiled to himself as he stood and left.
"D-ah...I.. W-well... N-Not....really..! Eh-heh..." Swallowing Stinkie turned around and looked at Melle. Horribly nervous about being around her in this kind of situation he shifted his eyes around a lot. "Are you okay...?" Quietly he mumbled hoping that his brothers weren't close by. Stretch was probably busy now with Ghastly, but Fatso...? He could always be lurking somewhere! "Don't take it da wrong way, I just didn' think ya desoived gettin' smacked fa nutin'. I get it all da time and it ain't fun! Heh, well, I got places ta stink, people ta scare! I'll catch ya latuh doll!" Turning to leave Stinkie found himself being pulled back. "HAH-WHA?"
"Don't go yet.." Closing her eyes tightly Melle hugged him close from behind. Looking over his shoulder at her his mouth hung open as he stared in disbelief at her. As he felt her squeeze him a little tighter he slowly started turning red from the bottom of his tail to the top of his head! Soon he was completely filled with blush. Nervously he bit his lip and shakily reached a hand to touch hers.
"Melle...." Shakily he spoke her name. Just before his hand touched hers the two of them raised their heads up at all of the shouting and arguing that had started from out in the entrance hall. With a quick Thank You, Melle kissed Stinkie on the cheek and darted for the scene. In shock the ghost touched his cheek, melting into a puddle on the floor. Shaking it off he bolted after the girl, with Fatso who had been watching close behind. Apparently Stinkie had every right to be nervous about what happened there! When they all arrived at the entrance hall there stood Carrigan and Dibs with a big nice juicey set of papers in their hands.
"I beg to differ young lady! These documents do say that I can demolish and rip-out whatever I want. Don't forget what I promised, because believe me, I have.... NO problem with carrying it out. If I wanted, this place could be totaled in a sonic second." Carrigan narrowed her eyes at the group. "Everything in your precious manor would be gone. All I'm taking is the Machine. Sit and think on that for awhile. Hrmp, I thought you'd be happy anyways, I just bought us a new home. I used the money I managed to get supplied for this...of course...!" Grinning evilly Carrigan waved the Lazarus list around. "How did I convince them....? Let's just say I have....my...ways..."Carrigan revealed a fiery red pair of pupils. She may be a human, but her soul still belonged elsewhere until she proved herself.
"YOU ...YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM! Those were meant for ME from MY DAD.... to ME.....!" Casper pointed at the list. "That is MINE..!"
"Right, a little boy ghost who isn't even alive nor registered. Hmn....." An evil smirk formed on her face. "Finders keepers...!"
"MOM! W...why!? Why do you want that stupid thing so badly....??? It already cost you once...! Just forget about that Lazarus thing already... please...! It's....It's not worth it.." Melle charged in with Stinkie and Fatso close behind.
"Stupid....? Darling, I can't forget about it, it's apparently worth, a-lot. Now I want you to go upstairs and pack your things. We're moving out of this dump and into a real home tomorrow. " Brushing her daughters hair out of her eyes, Carrigan patted her daughter on her shoulder.
"M-mom... I don't want........ I don't want to move.. I like it here..! I mean, I have ....."Slowly Melle's voice trailed off as she glanced towards Kat and Casper. She wanted to say it, but after earlier, she'd started to doubt about a few of them being 'friends'.
"Friends? AUGH, Honey, these rejects aren't your friends...! They're four ghosts, a man who's work amounts to zilch and a spoiled rotten brat! C'mon go get ready!" Again Carrigan encouraged her daughter to go on upstairs and pack. Shaking her head slowly Melle stepped backwards. She LOVED her mother to death, but, she really didn't want to leave Whipstaff. Sure things had been really bumpy around there, but, there was something that pulled her to stay here. There was something that connected her and she didn't want to leave this feeling. Finally taking the hint Carrigan just sighed and shrugged. "Fine, stay here with them. You'll find out the hard way I guess!" With that Carrigan marched her way on to her room to get her few possessions packed up for the leave. Kat and Casper stormed off in their own direction which left Dr. Harvey with a lot of thinking and note taking to do. Stretch meanwhile floated there pissed off about everything, but he knew his hands were tied with a demon like Carrigan around.
"C'mon boys... we've got some plannin' ta do! YOU shoulda taken up her offer squirt...Ya would've saved yaself and me some trouble!" Stretch snapped at Melle as he motioned for his brothers to follow out. In the end Ghastly and Melle were the only ones left standing. Though as the others had, they soon retired to their room for the night as well. Tomorrow would be an entirely new day for them. There would be many things for the group to talk about and fight over. For now...? Everyone wanted to do nothing more than sleep, or in the case of the Trio...haunt.