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Chapter five: Flamed

Blake Indigo:

Amity Park, Illinois (Timeline 3), 3:29am Wednesday, 14th of September, 2011

“Remind me again why your helping me.” Danny asked though the Fenton phone. “And don’t you have school in the morning.”

Danny’s voice snapped me back to reality. It’s been a strange week. Vicki managed to come closer to Danny, Sam and Tucker, at first over common interests. Sam was impressed by her poetry, despite it being to ‘Rosy’ for her tastes. She got Tucker to babble on about computers instead of hitting on her. And she managed to prefect the Fenton Thermos, something about polar energy conversion. Along with that, she built a ‘polyphase ass kicker,’ designed off some science fiction show she found interesting. A test on the Box Ghost proved it very effective. Works on humans too (After Jack decidedly mistook it for a fudge dispenser). She called them the Alexandars, after her mother for various reasons.

I dismounted the scooter, put a finger to my ear and replied. “Well one, my Insomnia is about to enter month three and I’m wearing a grove in the carpet just wondering around the house. Two, if I can’t get to sleep, I may as well be helpful. Three, you need some good PR that can only come from youtube and HD video. Didn’t I tell you this last night? And every night since Friday?”

“My parents are going to worry.”

“And these are the same adults who make me want to scrub myself clean every night from the repeated phase ‘Ghosts are evil.’ Not to mention have shot at you four times in the past week alone, called you a ‘filthy ectoplasmic protoplasm’ ten times since the Lunch Lady Ghost, and have blamed you for two thousand, eight hundred and six dollars in property damage, this weekend alone.”

“You’ve been counting?”

“How could I not? Jazz is the only one even remotely open to reason. If only she’ll accept that ghosts are...”

“Unit Four, please respond to a three eleven on West and Fifth.” The police scanner reported.

“Indecent exposure. Must be a slow night.” I answered, pulling the coffee thermos from my bag, pouring a cup of coffee and watching the TV screens advertise ‘Circus Gothica’ to the dark clothed masses. Something caught my eye.

“Circus Gothica. Coming to Amity Park. Cross over to the darkside.” The ring master made his hard sell as a flash of red filled my vision.

“Blake?” Danny called out.

“Yeah. Just need a pint of Ectoplasm.”

“What?”

“Sorry. Zoned out. And I’ll say it again. Sam and Tucker are just worried about you. And I’m just making sure you don’t die. Again. Once is enough. And Jazz.”

“What about her?”

“You re...”

“All units, Ten-Seventy on Gillard Road. Code two.” The scanner alerted. There was several ten-fours.

“We’ve got a fire. Sounds like a big one.”

“How big?” Danny asked.

“Gillard Road is downtown. Most of the residences there are apartment buildings.” I answered running back to the scooter. “Warehouses aren’t far. Great for photos.”

Moments later, I was scaling the wall of the warehouse across from the fire. The entire building was alight. Flames and smoke came bellowed and flickered from the windows. There was a beauty to it, I couldn’t deny that. I took some shots of the building itself before switching to the zoom lens...

“Ok. You’ve got two kids on the third floor, an old woman on the second... and a weakened support about to collapse. Third window from the left, second floor. Get those kids out of there!”

It was chaos. Outside, spectators watched at the inferno ate away the building. Inside, firefights braved the smoke, ash and flames, looking for survivors. The building itself was a loss. Nothing could be done to save it. The fire was just to wild.

One man heard the fear filled and mournful cries of a child. Following them, he found twins, wrapped up in a blanket, cowering on the floor. The young man stepped out into the room.

CRACK!

The hardwood gave way under his foot. He lost his balance and fell into the the fiery pit, following the kids.

Something grabbed him my the collar. There was a flash from the window, enough for him to see what grabbed him... and the twins?

He felt a tingle as the wall came closer, then they went though it completely and out into the night air. There was a flash of light and the ghostly hero disappeared into the building once more.

Alexandra Victoria

Amity Park, Illinois (Timeline 3), 5:34am Wednesday, 14th of September, 2011

“Phantom: Hero or Menace?” I read the headline after Ryu came home, picking up the paper from, I assume a newsagent either frightened from a dragon buying a paper in the early hours of the morning, or escaped from the local asylum.

“In a head turning development, local ghost kid better known as Inviso-bil was praised by local firefighters and spectators after rescuing several occupants of the apartment building that caught fire on Gillard Road. The building in question has received several complaints of leaking gas pipes over the past six months, investigators have yet to rule out arson...”

I lost interest until I saw the photo, and the source. Even then, I wanted to finish working on my surprise for Danny. There was a knock on the door and Sam stumbled in.

“Another fight with your parents?” I asked. “Was it over another one of those pink abominations?”

“No. This time it’s over being late home for curfew, my choice in friends and Circus Gothica.” She answered. “I kinda stormed out on them and spent most of the night in the park.”

“Roughing it again? Cheer up blackbird, your boyfriend will be dropping by soon.”

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Sam defended loudly.

“Are you sure. I’ve seen the looks, I know the signs. Albert and I were the same way. And you should see Charlotte around Blake. Love does strange things to everyone. Even if we’re too clueless, distant or even busy to notice. Hand me that ratchet.” I asked the goth girl. She obliged.

“What are you doing?” Sam asked, resting her hand on the headlight.

“Rebuilding an engine while lesioning to Vivaldi. And careful of the headlights. I’m not sure the singer missiles are right.” She pulled her hand back immediately as I pulled my head out from under the bonnet. “Have you seen the paper?”

She picked it up and gave it a read. “They’re using the right name finally.”

“Tucker says the website’s picked up a lot more traffic since the weekend. SInce the foiled bank robbery.” I turned back to my work. “Only problem here is the tangibility shifter only works once before the coil burns out and needs replacing.”

“Wait? You can make the car intangible?”

“And humans. Didn’t you see the tangibility vest?”

“I thought you said it could kill the user.”

“I lied.” I watch the ghost boy float in thought the celling, Blake following in, climbing down the ladder rather then free falling. Danny went wide eyed when he saw the car. “You like it? A Shelby Mustang GT 500, sixty seven model. The engine runs on ectoplasm, with all the spy movie refinements.”

He walked over to the black car. I had to give Sam credit for the paint job, white flames, night sky black and the DP logo front and centre. Tucker had a hand with the electronics and programming inside, the thing could drive itself if needed.

“Can it fly?” He asked. Sam was the only one laughing. Not for long after I pulled out an iPhone and opened the Shelby’s app. The wheels retracted and it hovered there. “Where did you find it?”

“Same place I found the Alexandras.” I picked up one of my previous inventions. I’m suprised I finished it this quickly. I handed the stun gun to Sam. “Better to have it an never use it, then need to use it and not have it. Also, I made this.”

My next display was of a pen. “Mightier then the sword I hope.” Blake started.

“Thanks to me, they are right.” I aimed the pen at the lightning rod and pushed down on the clip. A discharge of electricity streamed out and hit the rod. “Internal Alexandra, plus an explosive inside with a four second fuse. Just click the pen three times to activate, three times again to stop and restart the fuse. The multi-purpose civilian weapon. We’ll use Old George here to demonstrate.”

Vicki slipped the pen into a store dummy’s lab coat pocket and clicked it three times, she ran back behind the blast proof glass and the dummy blew up.

“Now, if that’s all?” Vicki asked, but Sam and Danny had already taken the Shelby for a drive.

“Actuarially. I need you to build something for me. A small round steel container to hold in a viscus liquid with the container able to draw in energy freely.” I asked her.

“Hmm... give me a day. I’ll think of something.”

“Good. I need to get home.”

“What time did you tell them you’ll be back?”

“Never went home.”

“Not even for rest?” I asked worried.

“What’s rest?”

“I’m serious Blake. You’re going to burn out again.”

“What do you mean again? Nevermind. I need to cook breakfast or Jazz will be forced to endure another round of possessed toast.” With that he ran off.

I looked at the paper again.

Blake Indigo

Amity Park, Illinois (Timeline 3), 6:01am Wednesday, 14th of September, 2011

Before long, the giant metal complex of the OPs centre loomed over, below it was a two story building with a neon sign declaring ‘Fenton Works’ that was never turned on. Not sure why given Jack’s ego.

I walked in, not bothering to sneak in. Why would I sneak in? I’m not guilty about anything. Jack and Maddie fell asleep waiting for me to get home, Jazz wasn’t even up yet. Perfect. Better start with pancakes and coffee.

Once I started the bacon, I could hear shuffling from the living room.

“And where were you last night?” Maddie demanded.

“With a friend.” I answered as vaguely as possible then turning to her. “What do you expect me to do at night? I can barley keep my eyes close for more then a minute. I’m constantly awake. It’s driving me mad, I don’t need to go stir crazy as well.” Before she had a chance to open her mouth, I put her on the defensive. “You people are so unfair! It’s just photos, and it’s not like I can’t fight back. You two must count for something.”

“Danny. I...” Jack started.

“Stop! How many times do I have to tell you that I am not your dead son. You know what. Fine. Eat your breakfast. I need to get ready for seven hours of mind numbing standard education.” I stormed out of the kitchen by way of the basement.

I found Danny about to send another ghost back to the zone.

“Come back here young...” Maddie ran after me only to find the ghost she was hunting standing in the middle of her lab. “Gho... ah.”

I reacted from instinct alone, drawing the Alexandra and firing at the lowest setting, giving Phantom an window of opportunity to get away.

“Maddie!” Jack called out, thundering down stairs, seeing his wife on the floor, nursing an headache and me sheathing the weapon. “What is this?”

“I am sorry you two. But I really don’t like you tearing my friends apart molecule by molecule just because you have some self righteous and short sighted belief that all ghosts are only capable of evil, destruction and mayhem.” I answered plainly.

That’s when the arguing started.