Dizgirl: I can give you four good reasons to explain my absence. Fortunately for you, I will do that at the end so you can get to the story. Be glad! I was originally going to make this chapter much longer with at least three more major scenes in it and then I decided you had waited long enough. Plus, it works out better this way plotwise! Enjoy and love!
The Ghost of a Problem
Raimee stopped at the end of the hallway she was currently searching and leaned up against the closest wall. 'Okay, it's official. Locker 329 does not exist!' she thought hopelessly, crumpling the piece of paper in her hands into a ball and throwing in the nearby trash can.
'I don't know where I am, my locker is nonexistent, my best friend is off chasing a possibly murderous ghost around the school, and I have so much freakin' homework to do when I get home, which by the way is not where I want to be right now if my dad is back from work!' Closing her eyes, Raimee let her head fall back against the locker behind her in defeat. 'What am I going to do now?'
"Hey!" She opened her eyes to see a familiar boy with a red beret—Tucker she reminded herself—walking up to her with a huge smile on his face. "Raimee, right?"
"Yeah, that's me," she said, managing to give him a polite smile despite her discouraging thoughts. "And you're Tucker, friends with…Danny and Sam at lunch yesterday." He nodded enthusiastically.
"What are you still doing here? School's been out for almost an hour!" he asked, seeming oblivious to her less than happy mood. Raimee massaged her forehead where her headache was getting worse.
"I'm trying to find the locker they assigned to me but I can't find it! I mean I know my sense of direction is screwed up but this is ridiculous!" Instead of looking alarmed or concerned at her little rant, Tucker grinned like it was his birthday and he had just gotten the ultimate present.
"Well then I'll help you find it! What number is it?" Slightly taken aback, Raimee answered hesitantly.
"Uh…329." Tucker whipped out a shiny PDA and started pushing different buttons excitedly. A few seconds of awkward silence later, the machine chimed and he sent her a triumphant look.
"Your locker should be on the bottom floor near the library," he responded happily. Raimee gaped at him.
"You just figured out—you have a map on your—why the heck couldn't I find it?!" she spluttered. Tucker took a cautious step back, his smile finally slipping off his face.
"Um, well it's right here on the map…" he answered tentatively. "I don't know why you couldn't find it but I could show you where it is right now." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly.
"No, that's okay. You don't have to," she said, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed. Thanks for finding it." He shrugged.
"No problem. Seriously, I'll show it to you right now," he turned towards the stairs. Raimee smiled slightly and followed him down the steps.
"I don't want to make you stay here with me," she persisted, embarrassed by her outburst. "I'm sure you have something you need to do. I mean, why are you here anyways?" He gestured to their left as they made it to the bottom floor.
"I, I just had to…get some homework I left in my locker," he replied hurriedly, sending her a slightly anxious look. She cocked her head to the side as he picked up the pace, apparently uncomfortable. Was he lying? Raimee decided not to push it and instead changed the subject.
"Okay, well I have a question for you then," she continued, stopping with him by the doors to the library. She glanced up to find a locker with the bold numbers 329 printed clearly on the door right in front of her. Hiding a sudden wave of irritation she continued, "What's so special about locker 724?"
"Oh," surprise swept over Tucker's face before he smiled again, excitement back in full force. "Where did you hear about that?" It was Raimee's turn to lie.
"Um…I just overheard someone talking about it and I wondered why they said to avoid it."
"Well, that's because it's haunted!" Tucker proclaimed dramatically. Raimee blinked stupidly, unsure of how to respond to that. He didn't seem the type to get caught up in ghost stories, but then again this was Casper High.
"Haunted?"
"Yeah! There was this kid named Sidney Poindexter who used to attend Casper High in the fifties. He was the most bullied student ever, getting swirlies and picked on everyday. In fact, he was shoved into his locker so many times that some people say his spirit still remains trapped within it!" He waved his arms above his head to add emphasis, completely caught up in his storytelling.
"Wow," she said, hiding her interest behind skepticism. "Do you think that's true?"
"Completely," he answered confidently. Then he looked down at his PDA and balked. "Oh man! I really need to tell him before I forget!"
"What?" Raimee was completely stunned by his sudden change, but not as stunned as when she felt Chaos appear right beside her and jump into her body.
'That was awesome! Raimee, I gotta—' Chaos thought, bursting with excitement.
'—Chaos! I'm glad you're safe, but shut up! I'm talking.'
'Whoa, someone's still grumpy,' Chaos commented cheerfully.
'No! Just surprised,' Raimee thought before refocusing on Tucker.
"Tell who about what?" she pressed, forcing herself to focus on his reaction. Call it an extra sensitive case of curiosity or an attempt to ignore earlier frustrations, but she was interested in what secrets were hidden in this strange ghost-infested school. If Tucker was anxious about something it could be a clue for the riddle. Plus he was the ghost-trace guy's friend. That was a whole other mystery all together.
"Oh, um," Tucker hesitated, obviously uncomfortable again. "I just remembered I had to tell Danny about…something for…that essay in Mr. Lancer's class." Raimee pursed her lips, positive that he was about to say something else.
'You're talking to him? What, should I be worried about an actual date?!' Chaos inquired, distracted from her storytelling.
'No, he just helped me find my locker,' Raimee replied, disappointed that Tucker avoided her question. 'But he's hiding something and I want to know what it is!'
'Why so interested?' Chaos asked
'Hello! Ghost infested school?! Ghost-trace dude's best friend?!'
'Right…'
"Oh…Mr. Lancer's essay…" Raimee sighed. "That will be a blast, huh?"
"Always a blast," Tucker sarcastically rolled his eyes. "But seriously, I need to go talk to Danny or—"
"Talk to me about what?" a voice asked from their right. Raimee and Tucker looked up to see Danny walking down the hallway with his backpack slung over one shoulder.
'Speaking of the ghost-trace dude…' Chaos thought quietly.
'Yeah, he kind of pops up out of nowhere, huh?' Raimee agreed.
"Uh…I'll tell you later," Tucker muttered to his friend, sending her a pointed look.
"Okay…" Danny turned to her, one eyebrow raised in surprise. "Hi, you're…um…"
"Raimee," she answered for him.
"Yeah…sorry, I'm not good with names," he grinned apologetically, rubbing the back of his neck. She shrugged.
"No problem. It's an odd name to begin with." Danny nodded distractedly, sweeping the hallway carefully with his blue eyes.
"So…" The three teens exchanged awkward smiles.
'You guys are just amazing conversation starters…' Chaos commented dryly. Raimee hid an eye roll.
'I'd like to see you do better.'
'Easy. Wanna see me try?'
'No thanks.'
"Uh, why are you two here anyways?" Danny finally broke the silence, eyeing Tucker and Raimee.
"I was finding my locker," she quickly replied. Danny turned to his friend.
"I was helping her find her locker," Tucker avoided the devious look Danny sent him. Fortunately he was saved from future teasing as Jazz came sliding into the hallway, a frazzled expression matching her hectic speed. Catching sight of the three she joined them, gasping slightly.
"Danny! I've been looking all over for you! There's a gho—" Jazz's eyes widened as her gazed focused on Raimee. "—Gooooing to have to be some changes to that paper you wanted me to look at for…um…English class. Yeah, there were several mistakes that could really affect your grade."
"Right," Danny said calmly, though his eyes narrowed slightly. Raimee had the distinct impression she was missing something again, and she bet it had something to do with what Tucker had to tell Danny too.
'Okay, now I'm getting the idea they're up to something,' Chaos thought warily.
'Yeah and this isn't the first time they've done that either, is it? Wonder if they're always like this...'
'I'm surprised no one else has noticed.'
'Yeah, I know,' Raimee smiled at the older teen to cover her silent conversation as Jazz glanced between the three of them, a question forming in her eyes.
"Why are you two still here?" She pointed at Tucker and Raimee.
"To find my/her locker," the two answered. Tucker scowled as Jazz cocked her head to the side, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Really? That's nice...Could I talk to you now Danny? It's kind of important." Danny nodded, waving at Raimee as he followed his sister down the hall. Jazz waved too before her expression turned serious as she whispered to her brother.
"Uh, I gotta talk to him too. Sorry," Tucker said still frowning as he jogged to catch up with the two siblings.
'What is up with them?' Chaos wondered, shifting slightly within Raimee.
'I don't know, but I'm going to find out. But first, what was so awesome earlier? Find a ghost?'
'Oh yeah I did!'
"So what do you think?" Jazz asked after describing the ghost she saw to both Danny and Tucker. Her brother scowled.
"Yep. That's the one I was just fighting...Well, actually she was fighting the Box Ghost and I kinda flew in on them."
"She was fighting the Box Ghost?" Tucker looked torn between skepticism and amusement. "The Box Ghost can't even fight!"
"Actually, she was more like threatening him within an inch of his afterlife," Danny replied, stuffing his fists in his pockets. The trio left through the double doors of Casper High into the late afternoon sunlight.
"Do you think she's going to be a problem?" Jazz inquired as she searched for her car in the parking lot. It was easy enough to find this late after school and she quickly headed for it. "Should we try to find her later?"
"We aren't finding anyone. Plus, I'm more worried about that new girl, Raimee," Danny said, following Jazz towards her car.
"Raimee? Why?"
"Well, she shows up and suddenly this new ghost shows up. Don't you think that's a little weird?" Both Jazz and Tucker shrugged.
"I think you're overreacting," Jazz calmly stated.
"Yeah," Tucker agreed, sliding into the back seat of her car as Jazz unlocked the doors. "New ghosts show up all the time. It was probably just a coincidence." Danny sighed.
"Fine. Call it a hunch, but there's something weird about her." Jazz pulled out of the parking lot, turning towards Tucker's house.
"It's probably best to wait and see. Instead you should focus on that new ghost—and your essay for Mr. Lancer, which by the way I just told Raimee you had finished. You better write one or else she'll suspect you," Jazz smirked. Danny groaned, slouching in his seat.
"Thanks," he grumbled sarcastically. Then, he perked up, looking back at Tucker from the passenger's seat. "Hey, what did you have to tell me anyways?"
"What?" Tucker asked, distracted from his PDA. "Oh yeah! There's a giant pig ghost destroying the grocery store down the block. Your cell phone was turned off so I ran up here—"
"—TUCKER!"
"Computer, open file AA17 and all linked reports," Vlad Plasmius watched the screen in front of him light up and respond to his command. The image of a pale teen ghost appeared, her red eyes glowing brightly and both of her hands crackled with red and black energy.
"Summarize," he ordered. The hazy image of Maddie Fenton materialized next to him, smiling widely.
"AA17 is a young female ghost named Chaos who has haunted Madison for the past three years, Sweetcakes. Her abilities range from the usual to specialized techniques such as 'Chaos Sparks' and subtle possession," the hologram quickly recited, sending him a look of adoration. Plasmius glared at the ghost on the screen, still stinging from his earlier defeat.
"I was so close! I had her in my hands and she still got away!" He whirled around and started pacing his large underground lab, his cape billowing around him. "One more second and my Ability Absorber would have sucked out her ghost powers and energy and transferred them to me!" Vlad stopped and eyed the picture of Chaos with contempt.
"But that ghost had to be uncharacteristically protective of a human, leaving me without my prize." A soft whirring from behind him stopped Plasmius in mid-rant. He turned to watch Skulker fly up with a slightly disgruntled expression on his mechanical face.
"You wanted to see me?" he asked, eyeing the images on the screen and the Maddie hologram. "Something about a new deal…?"
"Yes," said Vlad, an evil grin quickly hiding his previous frustration. "I think you'll find this contract particularly beneficial to you considering your expertise." Skulker's face remained indifferent though a feral gleam in his eyes showed his obvious interest. He crossed his arms and waited. Plasmius moved his attention to the computer screen, guiding Skulker to the large console.
"This is a ghost by the name of Chaos," he began briskly. "She has something I want but managed to escape me before I could take it from her. I would like you to track her down and bring her to me…relatively unharmed." Skulker's face fell.
"And my payment?" he inquired, obviously disappointed.
"You will receive the parts you need for the laser sword you have been developing," Vlad answered. Skulker seemed unconcerned at how well-informed his employer was of his personal inventions, but he hesitated.
"New parts alone won't be payment enough for a boring job like this," he bargained.
"She is not simple prey and will be quite elusive, especially with her ability to hide from ghost detectors while possessing someone," Vlad countered. Skulker raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Undetectable while in a human?"
"Yes, I call it 'subtle possession'. It took me a while to find the human she resided in and even longer to flush her out," Plasmius answered, scowling. Skulker floated in silence, weighing his options.
"I will also allow you to keep her for your own pleasure after I have taken what I wanted," Plasmius offered. The ghostly hunter grinned.
"Deal. Is she in the human world or the Ghost Zone?" The half-ghost frowned in thought, resisting the urge to tell the hunter that he obviously wouldn't need his services if he knew where she was.
"My last encounter with her was in the human world, but she is no longer here," he said instead. Skulker remained silent for a few moments, studying the ghost girl on the screen.
"It will take some time to track her down if I don't know which dimension she's in, but she couldn't have traveled too far if she's in the human world," he stated, turning towards the portal into the Ghost Zone.
"I will track her down as fast I can. Have my payment ready." Plasmius watched as Skulker disappeared into the Ghost Zone before turning back to the fuzzy Maddie. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Show me linked file number five," he commanded her.
"Sure thing, Dearest Heart!" The image of a human girl with dark brown hair appeared next to the picture of Chaos.
"Yes…the human girl she protected so fiercely," Vlad mused, his red eyes roaming his notes next to the pictures. "Raimee Perkings…read report." The hologram clapped her hands in front of her, her affectionate eyes never leaving his face.
"Raimee Perkings, fifteen years old. She lives with her father, Brian Perkings. Her mother Gina Perkings was a phantomologist, now deceased. Her family has moved several times throughout her life, each move marked by strange paranormal activities. Her latest place of residence was Madison, Wisconsin but she has recently moved to an unknown location. That is all you have written. Is there anything else you want, Dumpling?" Plasmius waved a hand dismissively, turning from the computer.
"'Marked by strange paranormal activities'?" he wondered out loud. His troubled expression quickly changed to one of wicked anticipation. "Well we'll just have to find this girl then, won't we?"
Dizgirl: My reasons for my incredibly long absence: First, I had jaw surgery. I'm good now but for a long time I didn't feel like doing anything with stories. Second, I was on a jury for several weeks during which I had seriously planned on updating. That died quickly. Third, I have a second fic up here that I've been pouring my creative juices into: Dream Themes. Check it out please. Fourth, school started again and my creative writing class has taken up all my creativity for the past month. Therefore, I am sufficiently swamped and exempt from scorn!
