The little stone shack was almost completely covered in dark-green ivy. The broad glossy leaves waved in the faint breeze coming off the water, and the light coming in through the narrow slit window was dappled with waving shadows. Inside the weather-worn structure, the air smelled damp and stagnant, and successive drifts of leaf litter decayed to dust in the dark corners.
Under normal circumstances, it was the sort of place Simon would be investigating with a notebook, a camera, and a cold-iron bar to swing at any opportunistic predators from the Otherworld. Most importantly, he would have had Marshall alongside him, which always made things a little less frightening.
But Mars was out of town with his parents, visiting potential colleges. And sure, the squat dark hut could have waited until he got back, but September was approaching fast, dragging the spectre of a more permanent separation in it’s wake, and Simon wanted to be ready when it came. A weekend without backup was the perfect time to test himself against the forces of Eerie, secure in the knowledge that if it did go horribly wrong, well, Mars would be back on Monday morning and he would know what to do. Probably. He’d at least know who to ask.
At the very least, Simon would be out of the house for a few days.
There was a lot of graffiti on the inner walls. The bulk of it seemed to involve variations on the name “Bob”. Evidently Sara Sue’s brothers had found a place to escape the watchful eye of their nanny. The watery beam of his flashlight flickered over the vari-coloured surface, looking for the one name he knew he wouldn’t find. Even if she had come here, Sara Sue wouldn’t have put her signature to the pirate flags and fire-breathing dinosaurs that decorated the hut’s interior.
The torch picked out a tangled ball of candy wrappers, twisted into something vaguely man-shaped. Somebody - most likely several somebodies - had tried to set it on fire, but it had simply melted and later cooled into a solid lump of charred plastic. If he had to guess, he’d say the Bob siblings were not enjoying their new housekeeper.
Simon cleared a patch of floor with his sneakers, spread a thick jumper over the cold concrete, and settled down to wait. He pulled a stack of comics from his backpack and selected one at random. Reading was hard in the dim light, but the heavy walls kept out the worst of the wind and he’d brought a sleeping bag. He could last the weekend here, he thought. Ghosts or not.
Trusted Associates, Inc.
Halloween by
froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve
Surprise by
froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year
The Glade by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th
Egg Hunt by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities
Boardwalk by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising
Lady in Red by
froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues
Seafoam by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside
Taking a Break by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R
Shoreline by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie
Parade by
froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot
Homestead by
froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class
Slyboots by
froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
Waterlogged by
froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall
Facilities by
froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet
Castle by
froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie
Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay
Phonebooth by
froodle, in which someone goes to great lengths to ensure a certain call does not go through
Festival by
froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer
Strawberry by
froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie
World Chocolate Day by
froodle, in which even chocolate can be weird in Eerie
Shrubbery by
froodle, in which there is malevolent greenery in Eerie. Maybe.
A Night at the Circus by
froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves
Hound by
froodle, in which Simon makes a friend
Errands by
froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list
Holmes Brothers
The End by
froodle, in which Simon reads Harley a bedtime story
Drains by
froodle, in which clowns are evil, murderous sacks of shit, and Simon is having none of it
Kaleidoscope by
froodle, in which Simon has cause to regret buying cheap toys at the World o' Stuff
Festival by
froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer
Strawberry by
froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie
World Chocolate Day by
froodle, in which even chocolate can be weird in Eerie
Cygnet by
froodle, in which Lillian and Harley go fishing
Sneakers by
froodle, in which the latest Sky Monsters are released
Reception by
froodle, in which Simon has problems with his mobile phone