Chapter 6 Holy Carlton
Otto drove to the crime scene with Zabuza in front and with Haku and Nikki in back. He knew that he was being rash, and that if he was going to gather enough evidence to make a case he'd have to point and question instead of command, demanding still didn't guarantee that Haku would seriously hurt anyone. So he, unlike Otto listened.
"I guess for my first question: are you doing this for yourself or your precious person?" Haku asked.
Nikki replied. "Neither. I want to help others." The tiny cyclops seemed genuine, and the whole selfless thing would strike a chord with Haku. Speaking of which, what was he doing now?
Haku then wrote something "Need to protect Zabuza, running low on weapons, don't know if Zabuza has more than a kunai." What was with the secrecy, better yet what was with the secrecy against me of all people? Thought Zabuza.
Nikki wrote. "Taking you guys to the armory when we're done. Today's just planning what to do, I've got your back." When Nikki showed Haku the message all he could make out on the pad from the closest mirror were the words "I've got your back". Bold words and more to question Haku about, there was no time however because when they pulled up to the church three boys and two girls from the old school photo were there. All five were seemed to walk through the wall and the four shot out of the car to follow.
Inside the church was a bible study meeting of 9 adults, the pastor had a mixed expression of first joy then confusion and overall internally annoyed that the 4 strange people just barged in. "My children, as I am happy to welcome you this is a pri-" His words were cut off by screams when everyone noticed the ghosts floating on the upper balcony, staring at the large ornate crucifix on the wall behind them, one child seemed to cry. Nikki snapped a picture with her communicator, but they seemed unbothered, transfixed but not by holiness. The lights flickered off and on, the room shook and the crying child grew louder. He began to phase in and out of sight screaming followed by the rest. The pastor started to pray but everyone else ran out of the church.
Upon moving to the balcony to investigate Haku, Zabuza, Nikki and Otto saw the same goo. "Yup, ectoplasm." Nikki confirmed.
"That boy, was Carlton Abbot. He was apparently an altar boy in his family's church." Haku stated.
"Rumors were that the cross disappeared one night, when they finally got it back it was so messed up it could make the Virgin Mary cry. Think that's what they'll be after?" Otto said.
"Most likely." Said Zabuza. The priest was still in shock, shaking in a pew on the balcony. The conformation made him break out in a shake. "Don't worry we're here to stop that." Nikki said to him. Otto was using his radio to call for surveillance of the church especially during the night when things were usually spirited away.
"At-at-at least don't make me cancel service. This is supposed to be a holy place in the community." He was still with a bottle of holy water waiting in the pew's bible rack, so he can try to sanctify the church before the impurity spread. There would still be service, but only if there was surveillance and some undercover officers in attendance. When Otto's partner Rose arrived the operatives were introduced and decided to go to the sawmill first and then library with Rose.
On their way to the sawmill Rose needed to get gas, leaving the three operatives alone while he went inside to pay. All throughout the town there were signs that this was a rural village a few decades behind modern times.
"What were you two talking about earlier?" Zabuza inquired, partly out of boredom and impatience but also in lingering suspicion.
"Nikki and I agreed to ask each other 3 questions during missions, and 3 after with Gaia." Haku said as he tried to rub his head like he was scratching, to remind Zabuza she was the girl with half of her hair shaved off. "Please say you'll join us Zabuza san."