Heyo! This came out sooner then I was expecting! Yay me! Also, we're about to get into some of the main plot points, so I apologize if this feels rushed. I'm just so excited! I hope everyone is still enjoying my story! I'll see you all next time!
Chapter 18 (Valerie's POV)
The walk to the basement was long; full of twists and turns I'd never be able to remember without a guide. I look over at Cheyenne as we walk, noting her pale complexion and the fear in her expression. Sam caught my eye as she looks worriedly between Danny and Cheyenne. For the first time I can see the fear on her face. Like a lightbulb going off I remember Tucker's words. I guess Sam really can be afraid…
"We're here. Give me a minute so I can input you in the system, otherwise you won't be allowed in." Danny's voice sounds completely different when he talks. I've never seen him as a proper leader before, but it's hard not to now. From his posture to his voice, it all commanded attention. Tucker's hand tightens around mine for a moment and I look at him. His eye's speak questions without saying a word. Are you okay? I squeeze his hand back in answer, a tight smile working its way to my face, feeling more like a grimace.
"Okay, we can go in" I follow behind Cheyenne and in front of Tucker as we walk through the door. There are ten seats set at a round table, a large map with indication lights marking spots of it in the middle. I drop Tucker's hand as I take a seat, with Danny sitting at the head of the table while we all crowd around it.
"So, what exactly is going on…?" Cheyenne is the first to speak. Her eyes dancing nervously between Sam, Danny and Tucker. The smile that spreads on Sam's face looks reassuring, and pained. Danny, at the head of the room, takes a breath before he begins.
"We owe you an explanation about what's going on, but I think we need to explain the present before we get into the past. Right now there's a place in the ghost zone called the Far Frozen. They are on the outskirts of the ghost zone, and close friends. They are a strong race of Yeti like ghosts, they are extremely intelligent, and create some of the most advanced technology of the ghost zone. They are not part of the law system in the ghost zone, preferring to self govern. A little over three months ago we received a request from the Far Frozen asking for assistance in security. A highly skilled team was sent to patrol, and a little over half of them returned just recently. The urgent news I had to check up on was from that patrol. They were separated, some of them were killed, and a message was relayed to me from them-"
"Wait, a message? Was it from the person who's attacking the Far Frozen?" Sam cut in with a confused voice. My mind still reeling over the idea that ghosts can die, Danny held up a remote for the screen on the wall behind him. Turning it on he started writing out the message on the keyboard at his seat. Showing everyone exactly what was said.
My simple trick can make you blind
And break a knot that's firmly tied
Beware my cloak while on your quest
And know that this will be your test
To lay asleep, and try to hide
I took in the words before looking back to Tucker who was frowning at the screen. A look around showed two types of faces, grim and confused. I think I was part of the latter.
"Sam, I want you to analyze it and tell me what you think. I'll explain everything else that's going on while you work." Danny touched a button on the table in front of him and I saw the table top light up in front of Sam.
"As I was saying before, Far Frozen is on the edge of the ghost zone in terms of territories. Out there are a few dead zones, meaning we can't contact anyone in those areas. We lost communications with the patrol a little while ago, but it was thought that they got stuck in a dead zone. It turns out communications from the team were being faked, but we don't know how this was accomplished. The team, or at least part of it, made it back recently. They were in really bad shape, but they brought a message from the perpetrator of all this. This message is our only clue as to who is doing this." Danny takes a moment's pause when Sam looks at him. The chair squeaks against the cement floor when he stands, walking swiftly over to Sam. "What did you find?"
"You know I could've shared it on the screen right?" Sam rolls her eyes as she speaks. The tense set of her shoulders and jaw are a contrast to her light attitude. I wonder how they keep this up all the time?
My thoughts are interrupted by Danny's hushed voice, "Shit… Send it to the screen, then we'll talk."
Sam nods and types quickly on the keyboard in front of her. Suddenly the screen behind Danny's seat lights up with the new information.
"As you can all see from Sam's analysis, there's a couple of people who it could be. The most likely being Nocturne-"
"Who's Nocturne?" I hear from the seat across from me. Cheyenne is looking confusedly towards Danny when my eyes get drawn back to him.
"Nocturne is a difficult enemy. He puts people to sleep and feeds on their dreams. Using this ability he can grow more and more powerful until he is undefeatable. There are very few ways to beat him, but it can be done. Tucker, Sam and I have defeated him once in the past. Even so, we cannot take this threat lightly, being unprepared is the same thing as admitting defeat."
"You said there was another option of who it could be, is it possible for it to be someone else?" There's a quaver in my voice I can't quite get rid of. Tucker sends me a small smile of reassurance, but I can tell he's just as worried about the idea I shared.
"I would say there's a one hundred percent possibility that Nocturne is in on this. The reason why is in the clue we have. Here and here," Danny points to the two sections of text as he speaks, "the message uses two words that highly indicate Nocturne; "Cloak" and "asleep". It also uses the word blind, which can allude to the blindness of dreams and fantasies. Because of this it would be unlikely that he isn't involved somehow. That being said, we can't rule out the possibility of there being a second or even third person behind the scenes. There are two other incriminating words in the message. One is "trick", which points at freakshow, and the other is "test", which points at…" Danny looks down and takes a breath, seemingly unable to voice the thought.
"It's Him, isn't it? The one you're all so scared of…" Chey speaks quietly, but it catches the attention of everyone in the room. She's looking at Danny, but Sam is the one to answer.
"This is only a possibility, it's not certain." Though her words are meant to be reassuring, all I can focus on is the light tremble of her words. The barely concealed fear she's trying so hard to hold in. The pain in my chest makes me realize I've stopped breathing. Sucking in a deep breath I look at Tucker to see his reaction. His eyes are cold, his jaw set, lips forming a tight grimace of pain. I have to wonder about the horrors they've faced in their lives, and if it will be possible to overcome their enemies now. Danny stands straighter with a deep breath, drawing the attention of everyone gathered.
"There's no use worrying about it. Worrying won't help us prepare. Right now we need to focus on getting stronger. Not just the five of us, the whole class. We need to make sure they can handle a fight on their own on this ridiculous trip my parents planned. I have a feeling the "quest" in the message has something to do with that. In order to prepare I think there are some things we can't keep secret from each other anymore. I want to reconvene here after school tomorrow, it's time we finally let you in on all of our secrets…"
Danny's speech seemed to bring life back to our fear stricken hearts. I saw Sam and Tucker stand and nod, and like a puppet on a sting I followed suit, barely restraining myself from saluting. Cheyenne doesn't quite manage to restrain that feeling, I watch as she awkwardly puts her hand down, as if unsure how it got to the top of her head in the first place. The room lightens with that as we all laugh along with her nervous giggles.
"I guess we'll be seeing each other again tomorrow after school then?"
"So long as we make it that long Val, what's tomorrow again? Is it combat training?" Tuck looks at me with half humor and half annoyance on his face.
"Pretty sure we're doing combat with weapons starting soon. Can't wait to show everyone how good I am with martial arts and a wrist ray." Sam laughs as she talks, the serious mood from before all but dissipating.
"Remember to keep low profiles at first guys, we don't want anyone getting suspicious…" Danny still had a nervous edge to his voice, but Tucker rammed into his side with the light quip of "don't worry Danny! We got this!"
Sam slammed into Danny's other side with an agreement. Feeling a bit left out between the three friends I yelp when suddenly me and Cheyenne are surrounded by the laughing trio.
"Come on, you too! We're all a part of this group now, remember? You guys need to start getting in on our group hugs." Sam latches an arm around Cheyenne while Tucker wraps one around my waist. I can feel my cheeks heating up at the gesture before I'm slowly wrapping my arm around his shoulder in return. The smile on my face must look stupid, but amdist all the chaos and impending doom, I finally felt truly happy. Now if only I could get him to kiss me…
Hoo boy, almost there, I can feel it. Now if only I could decide on a better title for these things...