The Unknown

Chapter VI

SHANNA

Music: General Guy's March from Paper Mario

All nine of us become still at the sound of the voice from behind us. It sounds like a woman's voice, and even moreso, it sounds like the voice that we heard laughing just a few hours ago. We all slowly turn around in the direction of the voice, and when we see who it came from, we all jump back in surprise.

In front of us is the ghost of a young woman, smiling and waving at us. It appears that she died either in her late twenties or early thirties. She's wearing a light, lavender blouse with light blue yoga pants underneath, black heels, and two diamond (?) earrings. Her skin is pale and alarmingly clear, and her thick, blonde hair is put up in a nice bun. Her spirit form has a slight hint of green to her shade. While she has all of her limbs, she's able to float in mid-air. And she looks as though she was expecting somebody.

Like us.

"Why, hello there! The name's Linda Darwin. What a pleasure it is to meet you kids!" she greets us with, sounding way too sincere. The smile on her face is also very fake.

Mackenzie, Avery, Julianna, and I scream. Mia, Sean, Heath, and Avalon just gasp. Sam jumps back when the rest of us do, then mutters, "Crap, now I owe Heath five bucks." I guess they made a bet or something.

"You're... you're a ghost," Mackenzie stammers, pointing at Linda shakily.

Linda nods. "Yeah, you could say that.. I've been dead for almost 30 years now. But I'm sure you kids wouldn't have known about that. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here in the first place."

"This shouldn't be happening, this shouldn't be happening..." Julianna mutters to herself.

Linda glares at Julianna mockingly and frowns. "Aw, what's wrong, little girl? Are you scared?"

"Leave her alone!" Avalon demands, stepping in front of the team and putting a hand in her pocket. Linda doesn't even flinch.

"I'm gonna guess you're the one who trapped us here?" Heath asks warily.

Linda shrugs in a "I guess" sort of way. "I guess you could say I... did a few things. My husband and I don't get visitors anymore, so we like to make sure everybody who comes, well, stays here. It's gotten pretty lonely around here," Linda says, frowning.

"Um, sorry to burst your bubble, but your husband kinda died. Again." Mia smirks. Avalon looks at Mia like she's ready to strangle her.

Linda is taken aback by this news. Her eyes shoot wide open and she gasps. She then shuts her eyes and clenches her fist tightly. I grab ahold of Mia with one hand and Sean with the other. There's no telling what this ghost will do to us for (evidently) "killing" her husband.

Music: Thunderforce Boss from Parodius Da! PS1/SS

"Well... looks like this one's on you now," she growls, unclenching her fists and staring at us viciously. My whole body trembles from just the mere sight of it. "You wanna kill somebody I loved deeply and start a war? So be it."

"Guys, get in front of me," Avalon instructs, pulling out her Colt. But Linda just smiles mischievously.

Then, just like that, she vanishes.

SAM

Linda just completely disappears from our sight. I don't know how or why, she just does. Then, her voice cheerfully calls out, "Yoo-hoo!" from behind us. We all sharply turn around to find that she teleported right behind us, and is smiling and waving at us just like she was before.

That's when the nine of us take off. We might not have had any idea of where to go, other than anywhere away from Linda, but it's better than just standing around.