ghost hunter

the rescue

lockwoods pov edited

The city was silent, save for the rhythmic clinking of our boots on the pavement and the faint hum of the streetlights. As we turned a corner, our eyes were drawn to a flash of movement in a dimly lit alleyway. A young girl, barely older than us, was engaged in a fierce battle with a spectral entity. Her red hair, like a blazing fire in the darkness, whipped around her as she fought with a ferocity that belied her age. Bruises adorned her arms, her ripped jeans and worn shirt testament to previous encounters. An old bag lay on the ground, a leather jacket thrown carelessly atop it.

We watched, mesmerized, as she expertly maneuvered her sword, deflecting the ghost's spectral blows with practiced ease. George and I exchanged glances, our jaws slack with admiration. Her swordsmanship was impressive even for seasoned hunters like ourselves.

Without hesitation, we stepped into the alleyway. The girl, startled by our sudden appearance, whirled around, her sword poised defensively. 'Who are you?' she demanded, her voice sharp and wary.

'We're here to help,' I replied, raising my hands in a gesture of peace. 'Those ghouls are a bit much even for a pro like you.'

She scoffed. 'A pro? More like a nuisance,' she retorted, her gaze fixed on the spectral form, now gathering strength. 'I found it first, so I'll be the one claiming the reward.'

We exchanged another look, amusement dancing in our eyes. Her fiery spirit reminded us of ourselves at her age. 'You can have the reward,' I assured her, 'but these things are best handled with two pairs of hands. What's the source?'

She grudgingly pointed towards a small, antique pocket watch lying on the ground. 'Looks like an old family heirloom,' I remarked, picking it up. It was as cold as ice, the metal radiating an unsettling energy.

George quickly whipped out a silver net, deftly trapping the watch within its shimmering mesh. The ghost, deprived of its source, began to dissipate, its spectral form fading into nothingness.

With a sigh of relief, the girl lowered her sword. 'Thanks, I guess,' she mumbled, her voice softened.

'You're quite the fighter,' George commented, his eyes glinting with admiration. 'What's your name?'

'valentina,' she replied, her expression still guarded. 'And you two? The Ghost Boys, I presume?'

'Lockwood,' I answered, offering her a friendly smile. 'And this is George.'

'Right, Lockwood,' she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 'Well, since you're so eager to play hero, how about you find me a place to stay? This whole ghost hunting business is a bit messy.'

George grimaced, 'A place to stay? She wants to stay with us?!'

valentinas jaw dropped. 'What? You think I'm scared of a couple of ghosts? I've tackled worse than that. And besides, you're the ones who saved me, so I'm not gonna go wandering around in the middle of the night looking for shelter.'

'Fine, fine,' I said, chuckling, 'But don't think this means you're turning into one of our little 'ghost hunting buddies.''

George shook his head, a disapproving frown etched on his face, but he couldn't help but smile. This fiery redhead was definitely going to be an interesting addition to our lives. And with her, ghost hunting was about to get a whole lot more exciting.

this is bad lmao anyway