Ghost Squad: Chapters 11–16

“Dad, we’re trying to study in here.”
Her dad played a low, remorseful note by way of an apology, and Syd shook her head as she sat back down on her furry throw rug.

Lucely was sprawled out on Syd’s bedroom floor playing with Syd’s dog, Francisco, as they took turns reading from the giant book Babette had given them, searching for anything even remotely helpful.

However, as the hysteria of the witch trials overtook Salem, residents of St. Augustine began to look upon the coven with suspicion and fear.

“Proctor Braggs—and his wife—accused one of the young witches, Pilar, of hexing their eldest son, Michael, who had asked for her hand in marriage. The Braggs family brought Pilar to public trial and—despite vehement protests from the betrothed—she was drowned in the San Sebastian River the very same day.”

“Proctor Braggs—and his wife—accused one of the young witches, Pilar, of hexing their eldest son, Michael, who had asked for her hand in marriage. The Braggs family brought Pilar to public trial and—despite vehement protests from the betrothed—she was drowned in the San Sebastian River the very same day.”

A knock on the door interrupted what had devolved into a fit of shrieking and barking.

“It’s almost time for dinner, Syd. We’re having your favorites: fried plantains and steak.”

Among her favorite games was Ghosts ’n Goblins, a side-scroller where you, a knight, had to defeat various ghouls with the use of a trusty lance.

As Lucely was filling up her plate and dousing everything in a healthy bath of maple syrup, the radio on their kitchen counter perked up with an emergency weather alert...

“There continue to be reports of erratic wind patterns and flash flood-level rains all over town. Some residents have even claimed to have seen ghosts—”

“It’s a protection candle,” Syd whispered. “Supposedly it is meant to invoke the God of War.”

For the first time since this whole thing started, Lucely had some hope, even if it was only a glimmer.

As you know, the annual Halloween Festival is coming up soon, so I thought I’d do a bit of local canvassing, passing out fliers and such.

It would be a great pleasure if you could join us for our little soiree.

“I think it would be advisable for you to at least consider—”
“I think it would be advisable for you to get off my property before I call the police. Or I can hex you.”

“So this is a protection amulet to help ward off evil spirits, all the way from New Orleans. And this is a fresh ghost catcher.”

Anyway, I brought three more protection amulets, gifts from Babette on my birthdays. We should all wear one.

Syd handed Lucely a necklace with a giant sapphire pendant in the center. Syd’s had a beautiful amethyst stone, and Chunk’s was made from a clear crystal.

They rode their bikes through the foggy night, the occasional specter rising from the tree-lined streets.

Chunk sat in a basket at the front of Syd’s bike, swaddled in a blanket to keep warm.

“Good thing my grandma’s cats are solely motivated by food.”

Lucely could hear Chunk chewing happily, and the whimpering subsided.

Despite the normally mild weather, both girls had succumbed to a cold in their bones that they couldn’t seem to shake no matter how much they jumped around or rubbed their limbs.

Just as she thought of the toys, Lucely heard what sounded like a small child laughing and feet scuttling across the cement ground.

The voice laughed maniacally and Lucely thought she might pass out from fear.

“We’re just gonna make our way out of here now. Thanks for your kind hospitality.”

Brambles scratched Lucely’s legs as she tried to keep a straight path in the dark.

A cloud of dirt and bramble swirled around it like a powerful tornado, obscuring its human form completely. Mayor Anderson had become a roiling, shapeless, terrifying thing.

Pedaling became harder and harder until she was going so slowly that she was nearly at a standstill. Beside her, Syd was in the same predicament.

She closed her eyes just for a moment and imagined her fireflies surrounding her and Syd, creating an impenetrable ball of light to protect them.

“Oh no, that’s when I died.” A stricken look crossed the judge’s face. “And those terrible thieves stole my gold teeth! You haven’t happened to see them, have you?”

He was so hopeful and seemed so earnest, Lucely actually felt bad she didn’t know where this guy’s missing teeth were.

It shot a stream of fire in their direction, singeing the end of Lucely’s sweatshirt.

“We’re not gonna die. Not tonight, not like this,” Lucely said, with more conviction than she felt.

The monster’s shriek reverberated throughout the church from behind them, its head now halfway through the splintered doors.

Most of the dragon’s head was now peeking through the church’s splintered door, smoke billowing from its massive nostrils.

“Reverse, rearward from whence you came!”

Babette loomed over Lucely and Syd, pacing back and forth in a silent rage as they sat petrified in her living room.

Babette finally stopped pacing and dropped her arms to her sides, a look of bewilderment on her face. “What were you two doing in that cemetery in the middle of the night?”

Her face blanched as she looked it over.