Saskori and the Haunted Theater

     “Don’t be ridiculous!” sneered a Quiggle gentleman. “You’re just a little girl.”

     The girl in question, a Cybunny with blue hair and a patched dress, narrowed her eyes. “And what of it? You’ve said you’ve tried everything to rid your haunted theater of its ghosts, but with that kind of attitude, I highly doubt you actually have. Also, I’d say twelve is hardly little.”

     The Halloween Quiggle stiffened. “I’ve called in witches, wizards, the Ghoul Catchers, the whole lot of them charlatans. They claim to have rid my theater of ghosts, and yet the hauntings continue. Actors, actresses, stagehands, none of them will work at my theater anymore. I can’t sell tickets to a stage with no shows.”

     The blue-grey Cybunny leaned in. “No you can’t. Just let me take a poke around, look into things. You don’t even have to pay me unless I successfully unhaunt your theater. It won’t hurt to let me try.”

     “Hmm…” said the Quiggle. “I don’t have to pay you unless you exorcise my building?”

     “Nope,” replied the girl. “You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to possibly gain.”

     The Quiggle considered this. “Very well. I agree to let you investigate my theater, and should you somehow rid it of its problem, then I will pay you.”

     The Cybunny stuck out a paw, “Let’s shake on it, Mr. Carmichael.”

     The Quiggle gentleman in his fine clothes looked down at the urchin girl, and disdain flashed in his eyes before it was replaced with a smile and a firm handshake. “Very well, ah, what did you say your name was again?”

     “Saskori. The name’s Saskori.”

     “Wonderful, Saskori, we’ll meet, say, ten o’clock tomorrow morning, at my theater, and get this whole business straightened out?”

     Saskori nodded. “We’ll get this straighter than a measuring stick.”

      ***

     Carmichael’s Theater was a fine upstanding brick affair, and the only sign betraying anything was wrong was the blank marquee. Saskori arrived quarter to ten that gloomy morning, but she wasn’t alone. A Halloween Bori accompanied her, appearing a decade her senior, much grimmer, but equally as determined.

     “Thank you so much for coming with me Nathan,” said the Cybunny.

     “I thought you were more into monsters than spooks,” said Nathan.

     Saskori smiled, “That’s right. That’s why I wanted to bring you along, I know you know a lot more about it than I do.”

     The Bori grimaced at this, but Saskori continued. “So either you can teach me more about spirits, or – “

     They were interrupted by Mr. Carmichael arriving. “Ah, yes, glad to see you’ve made it safely. And I see you’ve brought a friend along?”

     Saskori stood up in a refined position. “Yes, this is my consultant, Nathanial Clarke. He will be accompanying me today.”

     The Quiggle sized up the Bori and frowned. “I wasn’t aware there’d be others involved.”

     Nathan looked the Quiggle in the eye. “I trust that won’t be a problem, though. Unless you were planning on cheating my friend here of your payment.”

     Mr. Carmichael gulped. “Of course not,” he said smoothly, “I was merely stating a fact. If Miss Saskori feels a consultant is needed, then so it must be.”

     “Okay, then, let’s get started,” said Saskori, nodding towards the main entrance.

     The Quiggle pulled out an ornate silver key, unlocking the glass front doors and opening them, gesturing the pair inside. They didn’t enter, though. Nathan looked the side, while Saskori said, “Actually, we’re going to look around the outside of the building first, if you don’t mind.”

     Mr. Carmichael looked blankly at them for a moment before replying. “Oh? Very well, I’ll wait in the theater for you then.”

     The Cybunny and the Bori watched as the Quiggle walked inside, waiting until he was out of sight. “Okay Annabeth, you can appear now,” said Saskori.

     A mournful-looking Ghost Pteri materialized next to Nathan. “I agree, it wouldn’t have been wise to show myself to Mister Carmichael, as he’s looking for less ghosts, not more.”

     “We still love you, Annabeth,” Saskori smiled. “Besides, who better to think like a ghost than an actual ghost?”

     Nathan began examining the doorframe. “Look at these runes carved into this. I don’t think that’s a part of the decoration.”

     Saskori knelt to examine a rune. “This reminds me of the symbol on that Codestone I found one time. I sold it, though, pretty useless to me, as I’ve never been to Mystery Island.”

     “It’s not the same, though, Sas,” said Nathan. “They’re both magic runes, but these ones are for repelling ghosts if I’m not mistaken. Likely left by the others Mr. Carmichael hired. Anna, mind testing for me?”

     “Yes, brother of mine,” the Pteri replied, “that would be the simplest way of determining.”

     And with that, she approached the doorway. As she got closer though, her form was knocked back into ectoplasmic blobs, which reformed into the shape of a Pteri a few feet away. “It would appear I cannot enter that way,” she said.

     “Keep trying other entrances, then, and even walls,” said Nathan. “We need to make sure we’re not missing something here.”

     “Very well,” said the ghost, “though it feels a bit absurd to walk into walls, I will attempt to do so.”

     “Meanwhile, we’ll look on the inside,” said Saskori, “We’ll meet you there. Or not. I guess we’ll see.”

     ***

     Inside the theater everything was silent. Gas lamps edged the lobby, their flickering lights casting strange moving shadows as the blue-grey Cybunny and charcoal Bori made their way across the carpeted floor. The scene was spooky, and one could be forgiven for getting shivers down their spine.

     Of course, Saskori had no such reservations. She had faced greater perils than a dusty old theater, such as the soul-stealing Yurble whom she saved Annabeth from, or the house that was supposed to show your fears, only to show Saskori – no, she couldn’t get distracted right now. She had to focus.

     Nathan, for his part, was on high alert. He had been dealing with the ins and outs of ghost for a very long time, and while most of them were content to live out their deaths as quietly as they’d lived their lives, not all did. Ghosts could be quite dangerous, and he gripped a silver dagger in his overcoat pocket, ready for that first sign of danger to appear.

     The only thing that awaited them, though, was Mr. Carmichael. “Hm, yes, find everything in order out there?”

     “We’re still figuring that out,” answered Saskori.

     Nathan looked around the lobby. “Fancy place.”

     Mr. Carmichael smiled, his large Quiggle mouth stretching across his face. “Thank you, it’s my pride and joy.”

     The Quiggle waved his webbed hand towards a flight of stairs. “I’ll be in my office taking care of paperwork if you need anything.”

     And with that, Mr. Carmichael bounded up the stairs and out of sight.

     “Shall we?” asked the Bori, nodding towards the set of double doors to the auditorium.

     “Yeah, let’s solve this mystery!” replied Saskori, making a grand entrance by throwing open both doors at once. The gesture was lost to the rows of empty velvet seats, though.

     The theater was only illuminated by the light from the lobby streaming past Saskori. She and Nathan and the seats all faced the dark stage. Everything was still.

     A smile crept up Saskori’s face, and she ran down center aisle, even doing a cartwheel. “This is great! So much room! I can see why the ghosts like it here.”

     Nathan smirked and shook his head, following at a much more dignified pace. “We’re here to work, Sas, or at least, I am.”

     Saskori reached the stage and heaved herself up onto it. “I’m here to work too. I just mean, though, might as well enjoy it, right? How often do you get nearly an entire theater to yourself?”

     The Bori walked to the side of the stage, using the stairs to meet Saskori on the platform. “Well, you enjoy running around, then. I’ll be backstage, looking for signs of the ghost.”

     Saskori raised a paw to her forehead in a mock salute. “Will do!”

     Nathan shook his head again, half a smile on his face, and walked behind the curtains.

     Saskori looked out where the audience would sit. No one was there, of course. Mr. Carmichael was in his office up front, while Nathan was behind her, backstage. Completely empty, completely quiet, completely still…

     Fwish!

     From up high, a spotlight suddenly shone down on Saskori, so bright it felt like an actual object.

     Disorientated, Saskori blindly peered up, trying to figure out what had just happened. But all she could see was brightness.

     Could it be the ghost? Was it real?

     Fwooosh!

     Something whooshed past the Cybunny, eddies of wind ruffling her fur as it whizzed past her, causing a shiver of fear. Her only visual impression was that of white, of bright, of…

     Wait a minute…

     Saskori whirled around, pointing accusingly. “You’re no ghost!”

     Nothing was there.

     But Saskori wasn’t fooled. “I know you’re there!” shouted the Cybunny. “You think you can haunt this theater, but I’m here to prove otherwise!”

     Silence, until she heard running footsteps. Smugly, Saskori turned to face them. “Saskori! What’s going on?” yelled Nathan, his footsteps pounding as he ran up to her.

     Saskori grinned. “I’ve already found our ‘ghost,’ which, just as I suspected, is no ghost at all.”

     “Is… it a ghoul, then?”

      The girl shook her head. “It’s not a spirit of any kind, it’s quite solid, I could feel it as it swooped past me.”

     The Bori scratched his chin. “Which would explain why none of the others could drive it away. If it’s not a spirit, then none of those tricks would work on it.”

     Saskori nodded. “Exactly. It’s something pretending to be a ghost.”

     Nathan’s eyes lit up. “It’s Mr. Carmichael pretending there’s a ghost here to collect on insurance Neopoints!”

     Saskori’s mouth opened to form a response, but no words came out for a full minute, until she said, “…No.”

     “No?”

     “No. Mr. Carmichael can’t fly.”

     “Oh.” Nathan looked down at the floor.

     “Look up,” said Saskori, then when he looked at her, she added, “No, I mean, really, look up at the ceiling, I think there might be more clues up there. That spotlight was switched on, then whatever it was flew down past me, trying to scare me away, I think.”

     “What is it, exactly?” asked Nathan.

     Saskori tapped her chin. “I’m not entirely sure yet. How do we get up there?”

     ***

     Getting up there turned out to be rather tricky, requiring Mr. Carmichael’s assistance. He grumbled about how he failed to see how this helped get rid of the ghosts, and Saskori made no move to correct him. Nathan followed her lead, not mentioning their suspicions that the hauntings were not caused by spirits at all.

     It turned out there was scaffolding hanging from the ceiling, where lighting technicians could walk narrow pathways to work the lights that shone down onto the stage. No Neopets were up there though, besides Saskori and Nathan. Mr. Carmichael had returned to his office.

     Saskori lived in a treehouse in the Haunted Woods, but being up in the scaffolding was different. There were holes in the mesh floorboards, so you could see how far down you had to fall. Also, she hadn’t determined yet if the not-ghost was friendly or not.

     Steeling herself, the Cybunny took a deep breath, and stepped out onto the platform. She carefully walked to the spotlight that still shone, holding onto the handrail as she went, trying to ignore the feeling that the whole building was swaying.

     Nathan was right behind her. “Doing okay, Sas?”

     Saskori nodded and gulp. “Yes, just… yes, I’m doing fine.”

     “Okay, because you almost missed our next clue,” he said, pointing at her left boot.

     Saskori looked down and saw the ground far below. But also… she lifted her foot; she was stepping on something. Saskori picked it up. It was a long white feather streaked with a black band. And despite her precarious placement, she grinned. “This is great!”

     ***

     Safely back on the stage, Nathan examined the feather. “So what kind of beast is this from? You’re the monster expert, Sas.”

     The Cybunny tilted her head, also looking at the feather he was holding. “I don’t think it’s from a monster, actually. Or at least, not from any I know about.”

     The Bori from the feather to Saskori. “So you don’t think it’s a ghost, or a monster? So, what’s left?”

     Saskori waved Nathan closer, then stood on tiptoes to whisper in his ear.

     Nathan stamped his foot. “Of course! It’s a – “

     Shoush!

     The spotlight that had been illuminating them had been snuffed out, plunging the pair into darkness. Saskori peered wildly around, but could see nothing.

     Without warning, Saskori felt claws, talons digging into her shoulders, swooping her up, lifting her up off the ground. She screamed, twisting and flailing, trying to escape. But the talons held tight, not letting her go.

     “Saskori!” Nathan shouted to the darkness. “What’s happening?!”

     But Saskori didn’t know what was happening. She only knew fear, the fear of being small, vulnerable, hunted.

     And then suddenly the talons let her go, and she fell.

     Saskori crumpled to the ground. It had only managed to lift her up a couple feet. She knew she should feel lucky, but all she could feel was her heart still beating fast.

     “Sas!” yelled Nathan again. “Where are you?!”

     Just then, a ghostly blue light emitted from halfway up the outer wall. “Nathanial, it would appear that there is indeed a hole in the enchantments – “

     Annabeth looked down at the dark stage, her brother searching wildly, Saskori in a heap on the ground, and a third figure standing some distance away. She frowned. “That will not do at all.”

     And with that, ghostly blue flames enveloped the stage, the fiery light illustrating the scene to all.

     Nathan rushed to the Cybunny. “Sas! Are you okay?”

     The once hidden figure spread its wings to fly away before it was spotted. “Not so hastily, you!” said Annabeth, speeding down to block its way.

     Saskori sat up, looking at where Annabeth was headed. “You! I knew it! You’re not a ghost, you’re a – “

     Realizing that Annabeth was an insubstantial ghost, and therefore unable to block anything, the figure lifted off, only to be tackled by Nathan to the ground. “It’s a Neopet!” he yelled.

     “A Vandagyre,” Saskori confirmed, standing over them.

     The Vandagyre struggled. But Nathan was much bigger than it. In fact, Saskori realized as Nathan held it fast, it was about the same size as herself. It was remarkable that it was able to lift her up at all.

     The Vandagyre had white feathers with bits of black speckled throughout, matching the feather they’d found in the rafters. Saskori bent down and lifted its head up by its long black hair. Saskori looked at it, and suddenly realized it wasn’t an “it” at all, but rather a “them;” not a soulless object, but a being about her own age. One with hurt and fear and anger in their eyes.

     Saskori looked them in those eyes, and said, “Who are you?”

     The Vandagyre continued to struggle. “Let me go!” they spat.

     “Why are you haunting this theater?” Saskori pressed on.

     “Because Carmichael is a fraud who ruined everything!”

     Saskori stared at them, but it was Annabeth who replied. “I do believe that there is a greater story to tell here. Please, do elaborate.”

     “This was my grandfather’s theater! My mother helped him run the place! It should have been hers!” The Vandagyre was starting to tire out, their attempts to escape growing feebler. “But Carmichael convinced Grandpa to sell it to him. He acts like he owns the place, but it should have been hers.”

     “So, you started pretending to haunt the theater.” Saskori stated.

     “I was practically raised here; I know all the ins and outs of the place. It was easy.” They were calming down now. “Stage folk are superstitious to begin with, it wasn’t hard to convince them a ghost was haunting the place. A flickering light here, a ghostly wail there, they were scared out of their tails.”

     Nathan let go of the Vandagyre, who had stopped struggling. “To force Carmichael to sell? To ruin him?” he said.

     “To prove to that creep that this place was ours, and he couldn’t have it,” they retorted.

     “Maybe… maybe you shouldn’t do that,” said the Cybunny.

     “Indeed,” said Annabeth.

     “Look. Don’t get us wrong,” said Saskori, “it’s a crummy thing. But I mean, sometimes you just gotta move on with your life. Haunting dusty old theaters is how dead Neopets waste their time. But you have better things to do.”

     “Like chasing down girls pretending to be ghosts?” the Vandagyre scoffed.

     Saskori looked aghast. “I’m a monster tamer, I’ll have you know. And I had a hunch that there wasn’t a ghost here at all. It turned out to be you, and not a monster, but that’s okay. Because I do a thing that actually helps people.”

     “Yeah, because I feel so helped right now,” said the Vandagyre.

     “Hey, you’re the one who attacked me,” said Saskori, rubbing her shoulder. “I’m still sore.”

     “Well – “

     The Bori held up his paws to stop the banter between the two girls. “Listen. I think we need to stop a minute and introduce ourselves. I’m Nathan, and you are?”

     The Vandagyre nodded. “Mel. Short for Melandine.”

     “It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Melandine,” said the Ghost Pteri. “I am Annabeth Clarke, Nathanial’s sister.”

     She grimaced. “It’s just Mel.”

     “I’m Saskori,” said the blue-grey Cybunny. “They’re no relation, just my friends. Now let’s say we finally, properly unhaunt this theater, Mel?”

     Mel frowned. “Why should I?”

     “Because… because you’re going to get caught if you keep doing this, you already have by us, but the next ones might not be so understanding,” said Saskori. “And also, what I said before about you having better things to do. I know you had good times here, but it’s time to move on.”

     “Besides,” said Nathan, “if you stop haunting the theater, you’ll have more time to devote to other things.”

     “I would not object to your company,” added Annabeth.

     “Yeah, you can hang out with us, we’ll be your friends!” exclaimed Saskori.

     Mel considered all this. “I do already have friends. In the theater. This place being closed hasn’t been great for them either. But I’m not sure how to get out of this situation without getting in trouble myself.”

     Saskori grinned. “Don’t worry, Mel, we’ve got you covered!”

     ***

     Mr. Carmichael followed Saskori from the lobby to the auditorium. “You say you’ve found the ghost?”

     “Yessir, found a ghost all right.”

     Inside the theater, Nathan stood on the stage, holding open a book with one arm, and waving theatrically with the other. Suddenly, a ghost formed in front of Nathan, taking the shape of a Pteri. Mr. Carmichael gasped.

     Saskori ran up the aisle, waving her arms and yelling, “Begone, spirit!”

     The Pteri ghost wailed piteously, and sank into the floor, disappearing. The Quiggle’s eyes bulged in amazement.

     Nathan wiped a strand of red hair out of his face. “Your ghost problem is no more, Mr. Carmichael.”

     “I… how did you do that?” said the Halloween Quiggle.

     “Trade secret,” grinned Saskori.

     From the rafters, a Vandagyre with snowy white feathers watched. “Thank you,” whispered Mel.

      The End.