Leo knew it just wasn't his day the moment he started climbing the stairs to the flat above the barber shop. When he heard a commotion coming from inside, he walked over and gingerly pushed the front door open. What he found inside could only be described as utter chaos. The entire flat was in disarray, objects thrown about like a tornado had flown by. But while things in the living room looked like the aftermath of a fight, there were still sounds of destruction coming from nearby. Leo followed the sound and stopped before the kitchen door. He threw the door open and looked inside.

Plates, cups and the cutlery from the kitchen cabinets - they were all flying around in bizarre patterns as the lights blinked. And in the middle of this strange picture was Pearl. She sat on the floor with her fists on her lap and tears in her eyes. But her expression wasn't sad. She looked angry.

"Pearl?" Leo asked cautiously.

That proved to be a mistake, as a fork suddenly changed its course and headed straight for him. Leo ducked and moved out of the kitchen, keeping right outside, next to the wall.

"Pearl, what's going on?" he asked.

"This isn't fair."

"What's not fair?"

"Any of it" she said, her voice cracking.

Leo could hear that things were beginning to calm down as the ghost realized she was no longer alone in the flat. He risked a peek to check how things were. There were still a few plates floating about, but their pattern was no longer as erratic as before.

"I've been dreaming of moving to the big city ever since I was little, you know" Pearl said, her voice soft. "I'd grown up hearing of people walking the glamorous streets of England, and even as a wee girl I wanted nothing more than to walk among them. Even if I wouldn't have become a famous artist or an actress, I at least wanted to know what it was like to live in the city. See the sights, the people. Feel like I was someone who counted."

"You do count, Pearl" Leo said, taking a few steps into the kitchen, "you know that you do."

She shook her head. "The city life wasn't as glamorous as I thought when I got behind the counter of the café. But I still found myself staring out the window every day, coffee-pot in hand. That stupid hope never really left me back, even during those days when I'd have to deal with misogynistic customers. Even during those days when someone would break a plate and the boss blamed me for it. It didn't matter. None of it matter because I could feel that something beautiful was in store for me in the future."

The future. Leo stopped in his tracks, realizing what she was talking about.

"You went to the mortuary, didn't you?"

Pearl nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. "I was so sure that I'd get to live long enough to see what my future had in store... and now I'll never even get to dream about it."

Leo noticed that things were settling down now that Pearl had stopped taking her anger out on everything in the kitchen. All the objects that had been flying about were now on the floor.

"And you know what the worst part is?" she asked. Leo went over to where she was and took a seat on the floor next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Pearl took a deep breath. "I just... died. I wasn't even murdered." She used a hand to wipe some of the tears. "The file clearly said that it was an accident. One of the other waiters just happened to bump into me while I was holding a knife. And I fell."

"I'm really sorry" Leo said in a soft voice.

"If I'd been murdered I could have been okay with it. Because then it wouldn't all meant something. But my death wasn't monumental, and didn't really mean anything. It was quick. It was stupid. And now I'm stuck in a world where I'm neither alive nor dead."

"You're not really dead, you know" Leo said, "not to me and Hal. To us you'll always be someone who matters."

"But what about all that things I just said? The future and the plans and... getting to live long enough to accomplish something."

"Who says you still can't do most of those things?"

A small smile appeared on her lips. "I think being invisible could put a damper on starting up a career."

"Well how else are you going to be become the world's best invisible actress?"

Pearled just waved it off, but not without that smile still firmly on her lips. "You're just trying to make me feel better with all these silly little ideas."

"Is it working yet?"

The ghost playfully elbowed him in the arm. "I'm sorry about all this mess."

"Think nothing of it" Leo said, shaking his head "I'm sure Hal will have a field day helping me sort all this out."

"I better get started in here, then. See if these ghost abilities of mine can help me tidy up instead of cause mayhem."

"As long as you don't go teleporting anymore" Leo said. "You never know what kind of trouble that could cause."

"Weren't you the one who said we wouldn't be talking about the bathroom incident anymore?"

"I only said that so you wouldn't go telling Hal any of that. The last thing we need is him worrying over something else other than his own problems."

Pearl pressed her lips together and tried to look as innocent as possible.

"You told him already, didn't you?"

"It might've slipped out" Pearl said, looking away.

The front door was suddenly thrown open, and Hal stumbled in behind it. He looked positively spooked.

"Well now, see what you've done to the lad?" Leo told Pearl. He turned away. "It's nothing to be worried about, Hal, Pearl's powers are perfectly safe and can't cause any trouble." He paused. "Other than the one you see in the flat right now..."

Hal took a moment to realize where he was and what he was seeing. He was still fighting off whatever voice in his head was telling him that this was the opportune time to sever all ties with Leo and Pearl and join William and his vampire army.

"Hal, are you alright?" Leo asked concerned.

The vampire's eyes suddenly snapped back into focus. "What? No, no, I'm fine. What happened in here?"

"We're sorting everything out for spring cleaning" Pearl said, giving Leo a knowing look. She didn't want Hal finding out that she had went against his advice and went to the mortuary.

"But it's November" Hal said, confused.

Leo stepped forward. "That's why we're staring really early this year. You know what they say about the early bird."

"... quite right."

Hal took a deep breath as he assessed the damage. Putting everything back the way it was would require at least a whole afternoon and he suddenly felt a feeling of calm wash over him. Spending an entire day busying himself with mindless tasks was exactly what the doctor ordered in this situation. He got busy with tidying up the living room. He hadn't even noticed when Leo moved towards the bedrooms.

The werewolf entered Hal's room when he saw that his bed had been pushed away from its usual spot and had ended up next to the window. Leo felt a shiver dancing up and down his spine when he realized just how powerful an angry ghost could be. He hoped that, for everyone's sake, Pearl would never become so furious again.

He walked over to push the bed back where it was supposed to be, but stopped the moment his foot stumbled and sent something flying across the floor. Leo leaned down to grab the peculiar object. He picked up a whiskey bottle and frowned at it as he inspected the label. Hal didn't seem like the type to drink away his frustrations. When he noticed something odd about the color of the liquid, Leo took the cap off and peeked inside. The moment the smell reached him, he knew what the bottle contained.

Leo shook his head as he looked back at where Hal was obliviously tidying up the living room. The werewolf walked beside him, still holding the bottle.

"Please tell me this isn't yours" Leo said, his voice even.

When Hal lifted his eyes from what he was doing, he went pale.

"Have you had this all along? Ever since the night we escaped?"

Hal swallowed nervously. "Leo, this isn't what you think."

"So you haven't been lying all this time, then? Someone just willingly let you have their blood and you took it for safekeeping."

"Leo, I haven't killed anyone."

The werewolf sighed and began walking towards the kitchen. As soon as he realized what was happening, Hal felt himself panic.

"Leo, what're you doing?" Hal asked, following him.

"What you should've done yourself."

Leo unscrewed the cap and held the bottle upside down over the sink. Hal's eyes immediately widened and lunged at him. But something prevented him from moving, like someone had created a barrier between him and the sink. Hal moved his eyes towards Pearl, who regarded him with disappointment in her eyes.

"It's only for emergencies!" Hal pleaded. "You don't have to do this!"

But Leo seemed deaf to his protests, and Hal watched helplessly as the last of the blood he had so meticulously saved was literally going down the drain. When it was over, Hal felt empty. Hopeless.

"I'm only trying to help you" Leo said, but he could have been saying anything at all for all it mattered. Hal just stared ahead, his eyes glossed over. And then, something else replaced his hopelessness. Something Hal had spent such a long time trying to keep it under wraps. The ruthless man within him that had been desperately clawing to get out began to emerge.

Without a word, Hal spun on his heels, picked up something from the floor, and then headed towards the door.

"Hal, where are you going?" Leo asked from behind him.

"Figure I'll have myself a snack since you just destroyed the last of my packed lunch."

Leo immediately moved to block him, but Hal had already anticipated that move. The vampire easily grabbed Leo and slammed him against a wall. He then pressed the knife he had picked off the floor to his neck.

"I don't think you trying to stop me would be so wise" Hal said. He almost sounded bored. He then angled his head towards Pearl. "You might want to stay put as well, unless you want to see him being gutted."

"Hal, think back to that night in the cellar" Leo said. "You told me you want to be a better man. I still want to help you."

"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be appreciative? I think it's obvious that I can't be helped, Leo. And I don't think I want to be, either. Now I'm going to give you one last chance to back off and let me leave."

Leo almost found himself considering that Hal was a lost cause as he stared at his expression of indifference. But they had spent weeks together and he knew that this Hal wasn't the one he had gotten to know. He couldn't give up so easily.

"Please put the knife down, Hal. I now you don't want to hurt me."

Hal raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? I've done quite my share of hurting over the years. And I've seen plenty of years."

Leo was about to say something when Hal was ripped from his spot and sent flying across the room, knife and all. But Pearl was still getting the hang of her powers and accidentally sent Hal landing on the sofa, where he landed safely. The vampire now looked furious. He quickly got off the sofa and ran towards Leo and Pearl, murder in his eyes. Leo ran forward and collided with Hal, sending him falling backwards. With no other option, he pushed Hal into his bedroom. Once Hal was inside, Leo scrabbled out and shut the door, locking it tightly.

A sinister silence fell on the flat for a few seconds. And then Hal got to his feet and began to yell and smash things against the door. Leo was just glad that he had boarded up the windows in his room ever since they had moved in.

"So" Pearl said, trying to dispel some of the tension in the air, "still think I should try and not use these powers of mine?"

Leo just stared ahead, trying to ignore the noises that an enraged Hal was making from inside his room.