Chapter 40: The Sign of the Twisted Candles:
Nancy's POV:
So, now I gotta deal with ghosts. Hey, don't look at me like that! You'd forget about ghosts too if you were distracted by helping out members of the Justice League! Anyway, Gomber, the Hidden Staircase Guy, unleashed an army of the most terrifying ghosts ever to haunt Riverdale. I wonder what his next move is going to be.
Gomber's POV:
I was looking at a candle when my next plan came.
"So, we're looking at candles now."
"The Firemaster in the ectoplasmic flesh," I said.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to use this candle against Nancy Drew."
"As long as I'm a ghost, I can't start fires again... and since I can't come back from the dead... we have a problem."
"I don't want you to burn her, I want you to curse her!"
"I get it, but what kind of curse."
"What if I were to tell you that she could do all your work for you?"
The Firemaster then zaps the candle, and it gets twisted. "That was unexpected, but oh well. If she looks at the flame of this candle, she will obtain my passion for pyro. So, why do you want me to turn her into a hothead?"
"Because I want Nancy Drew to suffer and the best way to make her suffer is to make her destroy this pitiful town."
Nancy's POV:
Shaun and I were walking back home when we saw a twisted looking candle in front of the door. It was lit. "Weird," I said.
"Maybe Dad lit it to keep the ghosts out," suggests Shaun.
I then thought I saw something. I decided to look at it while Shaun was looking at the candle. I then came back. "I guess it was a false alarm," I said, "hey, where's the candle?"
"I don't know," says Shaun, "but the flame was beautiful."
. . .
We were at Pop's, the next day. "So, any sign of ghosts," I asked.
"The only ghost I've seen is the worst roommate I have ever had," says George.
"She's not that bad," says Bess.
"She did try to kill us before," says Ned.
"Well... forgive and forget," says Bess.
"Guys, we have a current problem," I said.
"Guys... I have to go," says Shaun. He then walks away.
"Is he okay," asks Ned.
"I hope so," I said.
"What's he doing," asks George.
. . .
You won't believe it, but Shaun set the whole place on fire! It was lucky the fire department came. "What was that," I asked.
"I don't know," says Shaun, "I just had that urge."
Gomber's POV:
I was reading the news about Nancy Drew setting that restaurant on fire. Best news I've ever had. The Firemaster then came.
"There's my pyromaniac," I said.
"I'm glad you're happy," says the Firemaster, "because we have a problem."
"What kind of a problem," I asked.
"Nancy Drew didn't look at the flame," says the Firemaster, "her little brother did."
"What," I asked, "you were supposed to... did you say her brother?"
"Yeah," asks the Firemaster.
"Nancy Drew being burnt alive by her brother... I don't hate this. This could work. Just one thing, how did the kid see the flame?"
"They both found the candle in front of their door," says the Firemaster.
"Why didn't you put it in her room," I asked.
"Because she's not a cartoon villain," says the Firemaster.
"Good point."
Nancy's POV:
Something's wrong with Shaun. He keeps setting things of fire and here's the worst part, he's starting to like it... a little too much! I'm starting to worry about him.
"Okay, what's with the whole fire thing," I asked.
"I'm just having a little fun," says Shaun.
"Fun," I asked, "suddenly, you've turned into Mick Rory! Now, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing," says Shaun, "I've just come to appreciate the beauty of fire." He then walks away.
. . .
I couldn't focus in school because I was too worried about Shaun.
"You okay," asks Archie.
"My brother keeps setting things on fire," I said, " he's become obsessed with it!"
"Sounds like the Firemaster," says Archie.
"Who," I asked.
"His real name is Daxton Cardenas," says Archie, "he was the biggest pyromaniac in Riverdale! One day, he got executed, but they say his ghost haunts the town."
I then realized what I was dealing with!
Shaun's POV:
I decided to cut school. I just wanted to cause more fire.
"Enjoying yourself," asks a weird guy.
"Who are you," I asked.
"Someone who can teach you the true beauty of fire if you let me."
"What do you mean?"
"I always wanted an apprentice, and I could take you to the next level. What do you say?"
Nancy's POV:
My crew and I were looking for Shaun.
"So, he might have been possessed by a ghost," asks Ned.
"I don't think so," I said, "then he'd be like George. I think the ghost put a curse on that candle!"
We then saw Shaun with a strange man. The Firemaster.
"Well, look who it is," says Firemaster.
"Shaun, stay away from him," I said.
"But he's going to improve my talent," says Shaun.
"Talent, you're combusting things," says Bess.
"Shaun, create a... what is it that you call it? A firewall?"
Shaun does so.
"Ziss ees cheeld's play fahr sahmeone who ees a meestress of wahtair!" Odette tried to summon water, but nothing.
"It's a little hard when you're in someone's body," says the Firemaster.
"Now would be a time to get out," says Ned.
"I literahlly cahn't! Eef I could, do you naht sink I would find a bettair bahdy?"
"Pathetic," says the Firemaster, "Shaun, let's have a roast!"
"Shaun, you're under a curse," I said, "you can fight it!"
"Shaun, they're just holding you back," says the Firemaster.
"Shaun, the curse is turning you into him," I said.
"Shaun, BURN THEM ALIVE!"
Shaun is struggling. I had to move fast. I then ran and I ran around the firewall. Lucky for me, it wasn't too wide. I then faced the Firemaster.
"Time to put out the flames," I said. I then opened the book, and it absorbed the Firemaster, freeing Shaun.
. . .
We were back at Pop's. "I'm really sorry, Guys," says Shaun.
"It's not you," I said, "it was that ghost."
"Y'know," says Ned, "I feel like we're forgetting something."
We then all realized. "SCHOOL!" We then got up and Mr. Weatherbee was there, and he did not look happy.
. . .
No, he did not believe our story of the pyromaniac ghost... or any of the stories we made up. Yeah.
In the next chapter, Nancy meets Tom Swift.