Interning on the Aronnax

Ghost Boy

A/N: I... didn't realize this was going to be a serious chapter until I got to it. Four attempts later and I'm still cringing, but this is probably as good as it's going to get. Just hang on a bit longer, and things will get less serious.

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Fontaine didn't take two steps onto the bridge before Ant crashed into her. Fontaine stumbled back and fell on her butt. Ant caught himself on her shoulders.

"Ant!" Fontaine snapped.

"You'll never guess what!" Ant yelped, right in Fontaine's face.

Fontaine just shoved Ant away and stood. It was late and she still didn't know what had happened to Finn; she wasn't in the mood for Ant's nonsense.

"Ducts are clear," Fontaine said. She put her hand against Ant's head to hold her brother back. "I'm going to bed."

Will and Kaiko had only been paying half attention to the kids, but they both looked at Fontaine when she made her announcement. Fontaine saw Kaiko's face crease in worry. Luckily, Will spoke first.

"Still nothing?" Will said. "How can anyone stay hidden for so long?"

Ant finally abandoned his attempts to cling to Fontaine -maybe he hadn't recovered from lack of air- to dart to Will. He draped himself over the back of his dad's chair.

"I told you how!"

Fontaine couldn't help herself. "How?"

"It was a ghost!" Ant happily exclaimed.

Fontaine snorted. "A ghost?"

"Yeah!" Ant ran to Kaiko. "Show Fontaine the footage, Mum!"

"You recorded a ghost on the Aronnax?" Fontaine asked, amused despite herself.

"That's what Ant suggests," Kaiko said as she turned back to her console.

Kaiko pulled up the same footage from the hall outside the hold. Fontaine watched Finn trot up the hall, but nothing really said "ghost" to her.

"I don't get it," Fontaine said.

"He didn't make a single sound!" Ant exclaimed. "And then he vanished into thin air!"

"You think the Aronnax is haunted?" Fontaine really wasn't in the mood. "Su-ure."

Fontaine looked at Kaiko, expecting her mom to be watching Ant in amusement. But, Kaiko's eyes were on Fontaine. Kaiko grinned a bit sheepishly.

"Mum, don't tell me you believe Ant?" Fontaine asked incredulously. "Dad?"

"We've seen stranger things," Will said.

"Not you, too, Dad!" Fontaine groaned. "Is everyone getting enough air?"

"Hey, Jeffrey agrees, too!" Ant said, pointing to the fishtank on the console.

"You think a ghost is haunting the Aronnax? Where do you even pick up a ghost? And why would a ghost mess with our wiring?"

"Because he thinks one ghost on the sub is enough?" Ant suggested.

"Ant, as your sister, I feel obligated to point out that a ghost would probably want company."

"So you admit there's a ghost!"

Fontaine snorted. "Sure, whatever you say." She turned away. "See you in the morning."

"Fontaine, are you-" Kaiko started.

"I'm fine!" Fontaine interrupted. "I'm just tired. Night!"

Fontaine rushed from the bridge before anyone could stop her, not willing to admit that she was not fine. Her stomach hurt and her chest felt tight.