(Untitled)

[a1enzo]

Enzo's been skiing a few times, including on Game Simulation field trips. It's one of those concepts that have made it down to sprite level by being copied from Games, so he's accustomed to doing it on synthetic terrain. He just hadn't expected that, in the off-season, so would Users.

"How do they make it?" he asks in fascination, digging his

Comments

[ami_imperfect]

Dani flies through the Jack-shaped hole in the roof, setting her boyfriend and older sister down before looking around to see where they are and to see where her dad landed.

The room they are in is large, paneled in wood with a large stone fireplace at one end. Red curtains frame the large windows. The walls are bare, but the empty spots where pictures or similar objects used to hang are visible. The furniture in the room looks like its seen better days; it's covered in cobwebs and a semi-decent layer of dust.

[passthefudge]

Jack is sprawled, groaning and occasionally coughing, in the middle of a big, dusty red carpet in the middle of the room. He doesn't look severely injured, but a casual glance doesn't necessarily say much.

The pattern of the carpet is just visible as a double-headed heraldic eagle overlaid on the letter V.

[notjustcookies]

"Jack!" Maddie rushes to his side and crouches to give him a rapid examination.

[amity_npc]

"Oh, no." Danny is more interested in their surroundings, though he moves to join his parents as well. "You've got to be kidding me..."

[ilovebearbert]

"Danny?" Jazz walks over to join him, Dani trailing behind. "What is it? What's wrong?"

[a1enzo]

"Yeah, what is this place? Besides a total dump."

[ami_imperfect]

Dani's starting to get a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"No..."

[amity_npc]

"It's, uh..." Danny swallows. "It's Vlad Masters' old vacation house. It's where..."

[a1enzo]

"Oh, frag."

[ami_imperfect]

"It's where I was born," Dani finishes for her brother. Her fists are clenched at her side, and it looks like she's fighting the urge to either cry or burn the place down.

[notjustcookies]

Maddie half-straightens up. "Oh, sweetie..."

[a1enzo]

Enzo doesn't say anything more. He just moves to Dani's side to take and squeeze her hand.

As soon as his foot touches the carpet, something in his pocket tugs sharply sideways. His trailing foot is still in the air, and he overbalances and falls backward, still holding Dani's hand.

[ami_imperfect]

"Whoa!" Dani flails, trying to keep her balance, but falls backward anyway, almost landing on top of her boyfriend.

[ghostzone_npc]

At almost the same instant, bars spring out of the floor under the edges of the carpet, pushing it inward as they shoot up to the ceiling.

Half an instant later, the spaces between the bars fill in with a green glowing barrier. A similar glow coming from the carpet and ceiling make it clear that escape will not be found in those directions.

"Curses, missed!" cries a petulant (and heavily Jewish-accented) voice. Three decrepit ghostly vultures materialize near the bookshelves. They're wearing fezzes, but one still has a parka on.

[amity_npc]

The imprisoned Fentons lunge for the bars; even Jack lurches to his feet.

Danny can't even rattle the bars; he's still in ghost form, and his hands bounce right off the ghost shield.

"You!" he cries. "If you're here..."

[notjustcookies]

Danny has long since filled his parents in on the details.

"Show yourself, you... you evil, treacherous..."