The Chess

In the beginning, there were six of them: she, her mother, and four of her siblings. In the beginning, there was nothing wrong. The world seemed blurry and warm. It was filled with the taste of Mama Cat's milk and the gentle caresses of her rough tongue as she washed all her children. It was easy to ignore the occasional cold or darkness when they were all huddled together. It was easy to ignore the world that was limited to a small, dimly lit room, with something big and ever-hot to keep them all warm when it got dark outside. When her eyes could finally see more clearly, everything became interesting. There was the big thing that hissed occasionally, emitting white steam. There was the little spider that fed on the foolish insects that fell into its web. There was the vast world outside the window, which their mother strictly forbade them to enter, often pulling them roughly away from the edge of their warm shelter by their tails or ears. They were always playing with each other, engaging in battles that seemed very, very serious at the time. Except one of them. The first to die was her brother. He was weak to begin with, the last to be born, and she remembered that he couldn't breathe for a long time. Mother ate his little body to provide milk and warmth for the others. So there are five of them left. They grew up a little and even learned to show their claws when their mother allowed them to venture out into the big world in search of a new home. Where there would be more space and food. She kept a close eye on them. She didn't allow them to get distracted by colorful bugs or the strange, large two-legged creatures they had never seen before. Sometimes, she would grab the laggards by the scruff of their necks and carry them along. In the new place, it was pretty much the same, except that their neighbors this time were not small spiders, which were tasteless and hollow, but mice. Their mother would catch these creatures and bring them to them while they were still warm and sometimes even moving. And was very displeased when they started playing with them instead of eating them as she had instructed, and as punishment, she would eat the mouse herself and leave them without a meal. When they would start crying, rubbing against her warm sides, trying to get to her chest, from which she was now actively pushing kittens away. Then it became clear that you had to eat what was given to you, and while you were given it, if you didn't want to go hungry. But one of the sisters didn't learn the lesson correctly. They had to eat only what mother brought. One day, a two-legged creature came to their hideout, leaving something strange-smelling in several corners. The mice ate it, and her sister decided to try it. She ate everything, leaving not a crumb for the mice or her siblings, and soon she began ill. She vomited for a long time, not with what she had eaten, but also with part of her insides. She cried and tried to hide under her mother's wing, but her mother only hissed at her, baring her sharp teeth and forbidding everyone else from approaching her sister. After a while, she stopped crying and fell on her side, stirring up the gray dust and concrete crumbs with her paws. White foam flowed from her mouth until her life end. Mother forbade them to eat her body, and a strange two-legged creature that brought strange food found her sister's body and took it away, making strange noises. There are four of them left. She loved to watch her mother hunt. She often followed her in the company of her sister, watching from afar as the hunter tracked her prey, slowly approaching it from the leeward side, always from behind. She would swiftly grab her prey with her claws and sink her teeth into its throat, causing its vertebrae to crack. In these moments, she was the most beautiful and majestic cat. Strongest and most dangerous. In their new games with their sister, they often pretended to be hunters, chasing the remaining mice around the shelter until there were none left. However, for some reason, their brother did not want to participate in the games. Mom soon decided that it was time for them to learn how to forage for their own food. She had been waiting for this day for a long time, and she was eager to try. However, catching even the smallest bird was incredibly difficult. They patiently practiced on large flying beetles, even those that bit painfully. One of them stung her in the face several times, causing her right eye to close. Hunting became more challenging, but she persevered, and eventually, her efforts were rewarded. She managed to capture and strangle a real sparrow. It took a long time to kill the bird. It was difficult to reach the neck, but when the bird's bones cracked under her fangs for the first time, she was overjoyed. Even her injured eye managed to open briefly that day, allowing her to fully savor her first meal. Her sister was deeply envious of her. She even attempted to take the bird's carcass away for herself. But their mother intervened, and this minor distraction allowed her to claim her prey and retreat to a dark corner to indulge in a hearty meal, enjoying the warmth of the meat and the freshness of the blood. His brother couldn't hunt. He preferred to approach the two-legged creatures that stroked him and offered him treats in secret, away from their mother. Their foolish brother had failed to learn the lesson their sister's death had taught them. They could only eat what their mother provided or what they had hunted themselves. This foolishness ultimately led to his demise. The two-legged creatures, who had an unpleasant odor, once offered him something that made him ill. He died a long time, much longer than their sister. He lost weight quickly because he couldn't drink or eat anymore, but he didn't cry. He was quiet all the time. When he got really bad, he just left and they never saw him again. There are three of them left. Mom was a good hunter. She was strong and brave. Sometimes she even fought dogs when they tried to take her prey. Her face was often marked with the scratches and one of her ears had been bitten several times. She was a role model of strength for them, and she could even take on dogs that were twice her size! The cowardly animals would whine and tuck their tails between their legs when Mom would raise her fur and hiss, baring her sharp teeth. Mama was not afraid of anything or anyone, but even her sharp claws and teeth were not enough against two-legged creatures. They caught her, wrapped her in a cloth, and took her to a large building where they had their hideout. “We can use her to prepare for our autopsy class. It’s just a stray cat, and she’ll die on the streets sooner or later, so we might as well use her for something useful,” the two-legged creatures communicated using strange sounds. She remembered this combination well, even though it took her a long time to understand its meaning. There are two of them left. And they didn't get along with each other. Fought over the loot and the warmest place to spend the night. During these scuffles, her sister often aimed at her closed eye and once quite severely scratched her swollen eyelids with her claws. At first, there was nothing special, just another wound, licked, washed, and that's it, it was already covered with a crust, under which it would heal quickly. But this time something went wrong. The crust often bled and refused to dry out completely. It began to smell bad, and the more she tried to wash it with her paw, the worse it got. Her eye ached and itched under her closed eyelids. She was thirsty more and more often, hunting became more difficult, and her sister kept her distance from her. She became careless and the bipeds often began to notice her, often snorting and trying to push her away. In response to these kicks, she only became angry and hissed more often. She herself ached not to be near these noisy and smelly animals that always spoiled her hunting by deliberately scaring sparrows. At some point, she and her sister parted ways. Before she knew it, she was alone in a world full of two-legged creatures. One of them was too loud, and as she was being chased away from her sleeping spot, he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and threw her down the stairs. Landing wasn't good. One of her legs cracked, and she could no longer move it. This meant that she would no longer be able to hunt. Her new shelter was pleasant. Although the two-legs passed by quite often, they didn't touch her, and that was the only thing she wanted at the time. To be left alone. However, one of the two-legs did disturb her peace. Unlike the others, who made strange noises with their mouths, this one spoke to her. His voice resonated within her mind as he gazed into her intact eye. He promised to help her regain her hunting abilities. This two-leg was not like the others, as he could speak with her. He wasn't human.

***

Everything was going well from the very beginning. Maddy kept glancing at her wristwatch as she sat in the crowded airport lounge. The conference had been relatively good, although it had made her nervous due to the presence of foreign guests, but overall, she was pleased with the work she had done and the opportunity to share her expertise with her colleagues. As for the rest of the vacation, they were scheduled to spend it on their usual camping trip through the forests of Arkansas, which would end at Aunt Alice's cabin. Danny winced. His dad's stupid belt had electrocuted him again. According to parents, the new invention was supposed to be tested, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get out of the tests. The only thing that was saving him from pain was the layers of fabric between the belt and his body. He was hungry, and it was starting to become a problem. His snack supply was dwindling, and if things continued like this, they wouldn't have enough supplies for the two of them in their camping. Jack said that his innovative design would strip ghosts of their power. Deep down, Danny hoped that this hunger was just a result of self-hypnosis, but his hopes were dashed with each new spark that made Phantom twitch. — I want to take this thing off, — the teenager said, throwing the phone into an open backpack next to a bottle of water. — Danny, we've already discussed this..., — Maddy began with a sigh. — It's faulty and it's sparking, — Danny tried to insert the bomber's belt between his body and the device. This would reduce the contact with his body even further. — It's impossible, — said Maddy, without looking up from her science journal. — The belt doesn't react to people. — Oh, and you trust this thing completely as I see, — the boy said with sarcasm, looking at his mother. Like him, Maddy wore a belt not only over her blue work uniform, but also over her long-sleeved windbreaker. — How many times have you been electrocuted? — None, — the woman sighed, wearily pushing her bangs back. — Don't get ahead of yourself, sunshine, and give your father's solo invention a chance. — Why doesn't he ever test his torture devices on Jess? — Danny snorted nervously as he finished tucking the thick fabric of his bomber jacket between his belt and his body. His stomach rumbled. The Phantom was demanding food, and with each new mild electric shock, it became more insistent. Danny felt his neck sweating, and the waiting room for airport was hot and noisy. His nerves and frustration at being forced to play the role of a guinea pig were reaching their limits. He was on the verge of reaching a point where the Phantom would demand that he remove the device. — Are you hungry? — asked the woman, looking up from her reading. — Yes, — the boy wanted to wrap his arms around himself to drown out the sound of his rumbling stomach, but instead he pulled the sleeves of his bomber jacket almost to the tips of his fingers to avoid touching the deflector. — Go get yourself something, — Maddy handed her son a wallet. — The plane leaves in fifteen minutes, so don't be late. — Okay, — Danny sighed, taking the item so that he wouldn't touch his mother's fingers. Just in case. — But you should have given me the key to this thing. The woman didn't say anything in response. She just sighed softly at his back and returned to her magazine. As he stood in line for the overpriced snacks at the airport, Danny tried to distract himself from the stupid belt. He wanted to cool down his and Ghost's mutual irritation. At the recent conference, for example, where he and Jess had been dragged along. He didn't understand half of what the adults were saying, but he tried to listen attentively. Jess seemed to have an easier time. She took notes, listened, and even managed to ask her mother questions, which she later voiced if she didn't know the answers herself. It was hardly surprising that Vlad turned out to be the patron who paid for the entire event. A couple of weeks before the event, Danny accidentally (or almost accidentally) overheard a conversation between his parents, from which he learned that participating in the event was one of the wishes of the Wisconsin Nosferatu, who wanted to compare the data he had received from his parents with his own research. The reason for the invitation seemed far-fetched, and Danny's father did not like it. For the first time in his life, Danny witnessed the extent of his father's jealousy towards his mother. Danny paid and impatiently tore the wrapper off the snack. The ghost was hungry and devoured the meat with incredible pleasure. The first triangle of the sandwich was devoured in a couple of seconds. The boy exhaled, closing his eyes and listening to himself. Vlad had told him that dividing his personality into a human and a ghost was a bad idea, but it was difficult to think about these halves of himself in any other way, even though Danny tried. The dark thing from the dark forest was haunting his dreams more and more often. The wild creature didn't tolerate most of the human habits, one of which was the reverence for elders or hierarchy. Danny began to notice that he was again increasingly snapping back at Dash's actions, his parents' words that insulted his ghostly side, or even at his mother, seemingly for no reason. It was all because of his father's foolish device, to which she had no connection. Jess said it was just a teenage crisis, but Danny was convinced that only Phantom could act like that, not him. He was always silent and didn't respond. He was used to living an invisible life and doing everything he could to avoid being noticed. Danny was sure that he just didn't know how to respond the way Phantom did. Huddled in a quiet corner on the floor, between the wall and a large row of flower pots near his mother, Danny was starting on his second triangle of sandwich when he heard a soft meow nearby. Or rather, a squeak. A tiny kitten was hiding behind the plants. It was small and black as a coal. Its bright blue eyes were still a little blind, and its paws didn't hold its round body and large head very firmly, but it had a good sense of smell. Danny swallowed a bite of his snack, peering into the deep shadow under the dense plant, where two yellow eyes with vertical pupils were glowing. The mother of this microscopic kitten was nearby, watching her offspring and Danny with a sharp, attentive gaze. The teenager took a piece of ham from a half-eaten sandwich and placed it in front of the kitten. A vicious hiss came from the shadows. The mother cat was not pleased with his actions. She leaped forward, using her paw to drop a piece of meat from the edge of the flower bed onto the floor, and bared her large, yellowish fangs. Danny involuntarily flinched, moving away from the angry animal. The black cat's face was covered in scars, and half of its left ear was missing, as was the tip of its tail, which was devoid of fur. The cat's life had taken a toll on it, and it was difficult to feel anger towards its behavior. The teenager just moved away and continued eating his sandwich, not looking at the hissing creature. ― Ugh! Is it rabid?! ― came from somewhere to the side. ― Maybe it's just sick? ― It has ringworm! ― How did this parasite get into the airport in the first place? Where are the security? — Hey, kid, — a man said to him, — Get away from that thing. Danny paused, crumpling the sandwich wrapper in his hands, and it took him a moment to figure out who man was talking about. He turned to look at the black cat, which was shielding the kitten with its body, and at the man, trying to read his face and eyes to understand what was being asked of him. — It's not a thing, — he muttered distractedly, remaining in his seat. — It's a cat. — And she's clearly ill, you need to step aside so the staff can remove her, — he said, noticing two uniformed airport employees standing behind the man. — Why are you causing a panic? Let them sit, what do you care? — The Ghost was starting to get annoyed. Everything about this place was irritating him, from the smells to the people's behavior, and the new spark from the belt, which caused his body to twitch towards the plants, only made things worse. Mistaking his accidental movement for an attempt to invade his personal space, the cat hissed and scratched the boy's neck. — I said get out of the way! — The man roughly grabbed the teenager by the elbow and pulled him out of the comfortable corner, making way for the cleaners. People roughly grabbed the struggling animals and carried them away in an unknown direction, accompanied by cheers from the crowd. Some people were filming the event on their phones, as if it were a significant occurrence, while others ignored it and went about their business. The scratch on his neck was causing him discomfort. The sweat was seeping into the fresh wound, making it feel unpleasant. ― Honey, do you need help? ― his mother's caring and gentle voice was too much mixed with the hum of the people around him. Danny roughly pushed her hand away from his neck and raised his collar instead of answering the question. He pulled a wallet out of his bomber jacket pocket and silently thrust it into her hands, trying not to listen to the distant cat's cry. ― I told you, kid. You should have stayed away from that dirty animal. Black cats bring bad luck. ― It's all your fault. If you hadn't annoyed the cat and made a fuss, nothing would have happened! ― The teenager was annoyed by the man's smell, his stretched-out T-shirt, his worn-out cap, and the red marks of sunburn on his shoulders and neck. He reeked of sweat and sour beer. — Danny, that's rude, — Maddy reprimanded him. She tried to sound stern, but her eyes were worried. Danny took a slow breath and let it out. The stupid belt was annoying him. The people were irritating him. The stench of human bodies, overcooked food, and someone's vomit in the confined space was almost unbearable. — I can't wait to get to Arkansas, — he said, barely suppressing the otherworldly echo of his own voice. He plopped down in a chair, pulled his phone out of his backpack, connected it to a power bank, and dove headfirst into the internet.

***

The animals were thrown out into the street, into a flower bed full of dense vegetation and bright decor. The employees shook off the remnants of the animal's fur from their gloved hands, complaining that the rabid animal had bitten them several times, even through the thick gloves. The adult cat landed skillfully on its paws, but the kitten was unlucky. Its body fell clumsily onto the pearlescent-painted stones. A stream of scarlet blood glistened in the bright spring sun, dripping from the stone and quickly soaking into the dark soil. The mother - cat diligently licked the wound, trying to revive her only child, but its life was fading rapidly. In the beginning, there were six of them: her, her mother, and four of her siblings. But that was so incredibly long ago. Too much time had passed since then, and she had lost them all, found new ones, and lost them again. She had visited the dwelling of the two-legged creatures who called themselves humans, endured the hospitality of her host, and even tasted their flesh after the two-legged creature had fallen silent, hanging from a rope attached to the ceiling. ― Oh my God, there's a body here! ― Is that a child?! ― Call 911! On the flower bed lay the naked body of a three-year-old girl. A thin stream of scarlet blood flowed from her broken head onto the decorative stones, which were painted with mother-of-pearl paint, quickly soaking into the dark earth. Her heart had stopped, and her body was slowly cooling. Nearby, a black cat with a bitten ear and a torn tail was crying. A symbol of bad luck.

***

The boarding process was supposed to be completed in five minutes. Almost all the passengers had already taken their seats when the senior flight attendant noticed a black cat slipping into the plane between the legs of the passengers who were rushing around during the boarding process. However, after rubbing her eyes for a moment, she attributed it to fatigue, as there was no way a cat could have entered the airport. The first sign that something was definitely wrong came after they had reached their cruising altitude. The captain informed them that it was likely that the passengers would be approached by the police upon landing in Little Rock. A small child had been found dead at the airport from which they had departed. Naturally, no one had intended to inform the passengers of such information during the flight. There was no need for unnecessary panic. And who knows what might happen if such information were to be disclosed, and the criminal happened to be on board their flight. Thirty minutes later, the flight was still going smoothly, at least from a technical standpoint. However, a second alarm sounded from the co-pilot. Strangely enough, their plane had disappeared from the radar and was no longer being tracked from the ground using any available methods. The captain assumed that it was a minor satellite malfunction, as they had successfully established communication with the ground. There were no signs of interference, and the voice on the line was crystal clear, which was rare even on clear days. Additionally, the onboard instruments were functioning properly, accurately determining their location. ― I'm sure we'll be on the radar soon, but just in case... ― ...We will be careful, captain, ― the senior flight attendant finished for him with a smile. A friendly smile had long become a part of her face and never disappeared even in the worst moments of life or work. “It’s just a series of unfortunate events,” — she said to herself, straightening her airline-branded neckerchief. A well-pressed uniform, perfectly coiffed hair, a smile, and a calm tone of voice were essential to maintain at all times. Her inner peace - the skills she had honed over the years, and they had always served her well. The third warning sign came when one of the passengers, an elderly man in a garish Hawaiian shirt and Panama hat, nervously grabbed her by the sleeve of her white shirt as they were serving lunch. She was already prepared for another story about something scary sitting on the plane's wing. She had heard many such stories throughout her flights, both from children and adults, but this time there was no monster. ― I think one of the passengers let their cat out of the carrier. Can you make sure the animal doesn't wander around the cabin? — There are no passengers with animals on our flight, sir, — she replied with a friendly smile that never left her face. — I'm sure there is, — the man insisted. — My wife has seen it too. Tell her, Martha. — Yes, miss, — the old woman said in a dry, slow voice, drawing out the vowels. Her gray curls bounced as she nodded in agreement with her husband's words. — A black cat with one ear ran right past us a short while ago. Who allowed animals to roam freely on the plane? What if they got into trouble or bit someone? — Besides, black cats bring bad luck, — the man added. His faded, light-colored eyes were sharp and attentive. There was no fear or panic in them, as was usually the case with passengers who experienced hallucinations at high altitudes. She was certain that there were no passengers with animals on board, but she quickly reassured the elderly couple, promising to resolve the issue as soon as possible and find the owners of the cat. ― Perhaps one of the passengers smuggled an animal in their carry-on luggage? ― suggested the steward, refilling the kettle for them. — And no one noticed this at the checkpoint? — The youngest stewardess raised a thin eyebrow in disbelief. She didn't join in the conversation. She couldn't believe, to some extent, that a stray cat had actually made its way on board. It was even less likely than an animal being carried in carry-on luggage without a proper ticket. But the feeling of unease refused to go away, settling in the back of her mind along with an unpleasant itch. The last warning sign appeared when she noticed a cat making its way into the cockpit. This was strange in itself, as the cockpit door was always closed and only staff could enter, not a small animal that obviously couldn't push the door open with its little paw. For a long time, the woman tried to convince herself that she was just imagining things. She continued to perform her duties, serving drinks and warm blankets, but after the captain missed the standard announcement about the flight for some reason, she decided to check on the pilots. It was just for her own peace of mind. Perhaps she could also find out if their plane had appeared on the radar. ― Captain? ― The door was actually slightly ajar. Everything in the cockpit was as it should have been, except that both pilots were sitting in their seats in unnaturally relaxed positions. Neither of them was holding the controls, and their arms were hanging limply at their sides. The flight attendant's trademark smile faded from her face as she slowly realized that there were two thick, crimson pools beneath the pilots' seats. In the seats directly in front of her were two corpses with their throats torn open. ― Earth, this is flight AA849, respond, ― there was silence in the headphones. Absolute. Nothing even white noise. ― Earth this is flight AA849 respond, we have an emergency. There was no communication. The autopilot had been controlling the plane for a long time. The navigation instruments were silent, showing nothing, and beyond the endless sky, all that could be seen were mountain peaks and dense forests. The senior flight attendant pulled off her headphones, trying to regulate her breathing and calm her racing heart. This would be the most difficult landing of her life, and it was crucial to save as many lives as possible. Panic was not the answer. There was a long, low growl from behind her, and it sounded like something big and angry. The woman could feel the creature's heavy breath on her neck, and she was afraid to move. The smell of blood and the fear were the last things she felt before the world went black forever.

***

The last six months have been particularly eventful and busy. Even during the recovery period after his blood purification with shtriga, Vlad hasn't had much time to relax. There have been constant developments, meetings, conferences, and numerous small and exhausting lawsuits and media scandals from religious organizations that have followed him every step of the way. This is especially true in the fields of cloning and artificial intelligence. These individuals seem to have too much free time and too little intelligence. It was incredibly pleasant to sit in a cool study with a book and a cup of coffee, for once not having to worry about a bunch of tasks and meetings tomorrow. This hive was relatively small compared to the Wisconsin estate, but it was well-hidden in a dense mountain forest, away from all possible distractions. This solitude was worth the effort it took to create it. While the ghosts were working in Wisconsin, this was an opportunity for the clan members to prove themselves. The greenhouse they created, with its rapidly growing lichen, became the object of Breckley's close attention. As good a biologist as she was, she still lacked the talent to take care of plants. But at least she was finally healthy enough to take care of business. It was her turn to work for two. “Light as a feather. Hard as a rock,” — the rhyme came from outside the window, slightly muffled. Outside, the worker bees’ children were always under the care of a nanny, always visible and safe. There were three of them for ten adults, excluding himself for obvious reasons. It was a rare opportunity for creatures like them. Vlad put the book aside and turned to the window. On the windowsill, a white cat with funny dark spots above its eyes was basking in the sunlight. With a sleepy squint, the cat hung one paw over the side of the window, watching two girls lift their friend into the air on their fingertips, repeating a simple rhyme as they removed their hands from under the floating body, leaving the boy unsupported about a foot off the ground. The man smiled at the harmless children's game, which allowed even such youngsters to experience flight. There was a soft knock on the office door. ― Come in, ― Vlad stretched, kneading his back. From the secluded regularity, it was sleepy and only strong coffee prevented him from dozing off all day. — Sir, — Lee looked paler than usual. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes were filled with concern. — I'm afraid we should no longer attempt to use pathogen on the teenager's samples. — Has the decay process started again? — the man asked, just in case. — On the contrary. The sample began to grow and..." the woman hesitated, unsure how to phrase her thoughts. In her mind, Masters saw the image of the neon-green ectoplasm cells dividing endlessly, forming not just a shapeless entity resembling the weakest inhabitants of the Ghost Zone, but a flatworm-like creature. — ... evolve. The drowsiness and relaxation quickly vanished. Masters stood up from his chair and quickly walked towards the laboratory. He needed to see for himself what was in his assistant's memories. In the Petri dish, there was indeed a greenish flatworm, but it was larger and had a distinct pattern of black and white stripes on its back. The creature was exploring the closed laboratory container, moving around the perimeter of the circular chamber and leaving a slightly glowing trail of greenish slime in its wake. — I swear, it was much smaller when I left, — Lee muttered in confusion, staring at the creature behind the glass. A small drop of ectoplasm remained in the center of the bowl: a part of the sample of ghostly blood that Daniel had donated voluntarily. The blind worm, having finished exploring the perimeter of the transparent case, returned to the center of the bowl and absorbed the remaining plasma, literally sucking it into its outer shell. Its body began to ripple, swelling and expanding, taking on a more voluminous shape. A white paw with four stubby fingers detached from its side, causing Lee to gasp in fear. Vlad hastily pushed his assistant out of the test room. The small room where Lee had conducted her experiment was sealed with an electronic lock and an iron door. A purple flame engulfed the Petri dish from the inside. Vlad burned the creature with his powers until even the glass dish itself melted, spreading like a thick, hot puddle across the chrome table. Not even a trace of the worm remained. — Start the automatic cleaning procedure. Do not enter the test room for the next 48 hours, — he ordered coldly. — None of the Ghost Zone's inhabitants have ever reacted this way to the protogen, — Lee leaned against the glass, trying to make out the table with the remains of the Petri dish through the dense curtain of acid spray. — Who is Danny? — If I had known, — the man said, tiny flickers of ghostly purple flame still dancing on his fingertips. Somewhere in the distance, there was a rumble, inaudible to humans but clearly audible to vampires. A children shrieked in fear outside. — What's this? — Vlad opened one of the laboratory windows with an overly abrupt gesture. There were no noticeable changes or foreign odors in the air, but in the distance, beyond a small pass about four hours away by vehicle, a thin, barely visible plume of smoke was rising into the clear sky. — It's relatively far away from us, — Lee said cautiously. — Do you think it's worth worrying about? A cat jumped onto the windowsill of the open window. Stretching, the animal sat up and looked directly into its master's eyes. A crimson flame pulsed in its sharp vertical pupils as it communicated with its master without blinking. Masters had never kept an ordinary animal. ― It definitely wouldn't be superfluous to check, ― Vlad stroked his pet on the head before letting her jump out of the window onto the soft green grass. ― If there are a lot of people there, look at everything properly, but don't let yourself be noticed, ― the man threw after the cat disappeared behind a dense green hedge.

***

Maddie was rudely pulled out of the darkness of unconsciousness by a sharp pain. It seemed to be everywhere, in every cell of her body, but as soon as she opened her eyes, it focused on a specific place. Her leg. — Sorry, — Danny said quickly. He was dirty and worn, and he had a buttoned-up bomber jacket. — I was just trying to untie your shoe. Your foot is swollen. Maddy's mind was stuck for a long time. It took her a while to figure out where she was, and she had to remember a lot, fighting through the hellish ringing in her head and the constant distracting ache. They were flying to Arkansas. Wanted to spend some time together hiking to Alice's cabin, as they did every year. They planned to follow the standard and well-known route. There should have been no difficulties. It seems to have started with a black cat. She heard other passengers discussing an animal that had escaped from a carrier, and she even caught a glimpse of a mangy black tail disappearing between the seats. Or was it the one they saw before boarding at the airport? But they were on a plane, that much was certain. There was a slight tremor, and then... Then... The woman gently touched her forehead. Her fingertips felt moisture and a slightly dried crust. For some reason, when she looked at her hand, the first thing she noticed was not her own blood, but the absence of her black work gloves. — Mom? — Danny gently touched her shoulder, drawing her attention. His blue eyes were more expressive and frightened than ever, and he smelled like burnt skin. His hands were trembling, and his fingers were twitching strangely. Before she passed out, he complained about the anti-ghost belts. — Are you all right? — her own voice sounded hoarse and muffled. — More than you, — the teenager said casually, gently embracing her. She noticed that faint streams of smoke were seeping from the child's body through the bomber jacket. It seemed as if her son's body was on fire beneath the outer clothing, but his face felt normal to the touch. Even slightly cool. However, there were pinkish marks where her fingers had touched his skin. Or did she imagine them? He reached for a nearby backpack to retrieve a bottle of water. He unscrewed the cap, breaking the plastic seal with a distinctive crack. Maddy hadn't realized how thirsty she was until the cool liquid touched her lips. As she sipped, she felt the water cooling her burning insides and restoring her clarity of thought. She finished most of the bottle before stopping, wiping her lips with the back of her hand and returning the rest to her son. When the image stopped blurring in her eyes, Maddy was finally able to take in her surroundings. They were standing in a small clearing, surrounded by green trees, distant mountain peaks hidden behind a white haze, and the sound of a mountain stream. There were no other passengers nearby, and the only belongings were the teenager's backpack, which now contained a half-empty bottle of water and a few useless items allowed in carry-on luggage. The teenager's useless mobile phone with a broken screen was lying on the ground nearby. The device was still alive, but the icon on the lock screen showed that there was no connection. ― How are you? ― Danny looked exhausted. — Fine. Thank you, sweetheart, — the woman said on a sigh. — How far are we from the plane? — I don't know, — Danny said, looking down at the dirty fabric of his wide jeans. A faint trail of gray smoke was rising above the treetops at the base of the mountain. — There were still people alive, I think, and I... — You did your best, dear, — Maddy said, covering her son's hand with hers. He wasn't crying, but he seemed to be in a short-lived stupor, staring into space. His blue eyes were dull, like a person moments before fainting, but he wasn't unconscious. At least not physically. Maddy sat up more comfortably. Her leg was burning with pain, but there was no visible blood, except for a piece of her trouser leg that had been ripped off, revealing inflamed skin. This was definitely bad.

***

Danny didn't call her. Jess paced around her room restlessly. Her attempt to sit down for a moment, calm down, and think things through only made things worse, because Danny was never one to break the routine for no reason. She knew this for a fact, because over the years, his actions had remained consistent. She and her mom usually made it to Arkansas by evening and checked into one of the budget motels to start their journey in the morning. And at that moment, Danny would always call or at least text her. He asked her if she wanted to get a trinket as a souvenir, told her what he'd seen, and suggested that they go together next year, but she always refused, laughing and reminding him that she couldn't even walk to the Amity Park shopping center, let alone hike through rough terrain. It was almost six o'clock in the evening. They should have arrived at Little Rock Airport on time. They should have been at the motel by now. Her brother should have had a chance to send her a message. At least a short one. The girl stopped abruptly in the middle of the room and ruffled her hair with jerky, nervous movements. She pressed her palms against her temples, took a deep breath, and held it. Focused on slowing down her racing heart. Exhaled. “I’m just getting worked up. I’m doing the same thing Danny did when parents had a fight last anniversary. I’m making a big deal out of nothing,” Jess opened her eyes, meeting her own reflection in the small dressing table mirror. She looked tired, fidgety, and her lips were red and chapped. “It’s probably nothing serious. It’s just a little thing. Maybe he’s just tired because we traveled all the way across the country this time.” She patted her cheeks lightly before turning away from the mirror and heading to the kitchen to cool her head with some iced lemonade. The small TV was on, tuned to a sports program. Father must have left it on during a brief break, as he had made a run to the refrigerator. The announcer was overly enthusiastic about the football game taking place in Green Bay. The cold soda caused a slight sting in her nose. ― We apologize to our viewers, but we must interrupt the match for an urgent message. Jess froze with her glass halfway to her mouth. ― Flight AA849, which was on its way from Chicago to Little Rock, did not land at its destination. Our sources report that the plane went missing from radar about half an hour after takeoff, but the captain and copilot were still in contact. However, about an hour later, all communication was lost. At the moment, there is no information about the fate of the plane or its passengers... Jess felt the cold lemonade spill past her mouth, but didn't pay much attention to it. Slowly sinking into her chair, she unconsciously wiped the sweet water off her chin, her eyes fixed on the TV screen.

***

His hands were shaking, and his empty stomach was starting to howl too loudly. He think even his mother could hear it. — Are you sure you can do it? — the woman asked worriedly, continuing to carefully try to loosen the lacing on her swollen leg a little more. Danny had already found several branches straight enough for her to fix the limb. Unfortunately, they didn't have much extra fabric. There was nothing to settle down for the night. There was even enough water left for one sip. — As if we had a choice, — he tried to joke, even though his skin burned with every movement. — It's going to get dark soon, try not to stay too long, — the woman unbuttoned the side zipper on her boot, giving her sore leg a little more space. The skin was covered with crimson spots and a thin network of red-blue burst vessels. — Even if you don't find anything useful. It's better to try tomorrow than to come back in the dark. I don't want anything to happen to you. — Okay, — he nodded. To make room in his backpack, he emptied its contents onto the ground. An almost empty bottle of water, a worn-out book, headphones, a power bank for a phone that didn't work in such a remote area, and a pack of crackers. It wasn't much, and it didn't seem like anything truly useful for surviving in a remote mountain forest in the middle of nowhere. He waved to his mother again, smiling and promising to be back before sunset, but as soon as the small clearing disappeared behind the trees, his mood changed and the smile disappeared from his lips. His stomach was rumbling with hunger, and his head was starting to spin. He wanted meat, any kind of meat, and in large quantities. He waved to his mother again, smiling and promising to be back before sunset, but as soon as the small clearing disappeared behind the trees, his mood changed and the smile disappeared from his lips. His stomach was rumbling with hunger, and his head was starting to spin. He wanted meat, any kind of meat, and in large quantities. He had to use his powers to get himself and his mother out of the iron trap they were in, several hundred meters above the ground. And he had to pay a high price for it. Fenton anti-ghost belt was unfortunately working, weakening the teenager. The sparks had burned through his shirt and part of his jeans, which were now falling off his narrow hips. The device had left numerous burns on his bare skin, some of them scorched to a black crust. The ichor and blood mixed with the bright green ectoplasm that his ghostly half was so diligently trying to patch the woond, but, alas, it only made things worse. After all, it was precisely these greenish clots that the belt reacted to the most, leaving new and new burns where there was already no intact skin. It felt like this little act of heroism had cost him one burnt-black kidney. Danny took off his remaining T-shirt and soaked it in cool water. He tried to at least rub the wound under the deflector a little. It didn't work out very well, but the touch of cool water on burnt skin felt great. Goosebumps of relief ran down Danny's back and arms. The teenager couldn't resist and dipped his face completely into the transparent stream. The cold water cooled my head quickly. Sitting down again and straightening up, he caught his breath, looking at the remnants of the T-shirt in his hands. After wringing out the cloth, he folded it several times and carefully placed it between the deflector and his body. The measure is temporary and will only work until the ectoplasm droplets seep through the fabric, but it makes breathing easier. He removed the laces from one of his sneakers and used them to tie his slipping jeans before continuing on his way, tucking his bomber jacket into an empty backpack. It seemed that he hadn't flown too far from the place where the plane had crashed, but in reality, any distance in the mountainous terrain should have been multiplied by two. It took quite a long time to finally come across the first signs of the crash, such as broken tree tops and an unbearable smell of fuel. One advantage was that there would be no animals in the area for the time being, as the deafening crash of the metal bird had likely scared away even the most resilient predators. The engine wreckage was still smoking, and there was a crimson glow coming from somewhere inside the turbines. The impact site was huge, the Boeing plowing through a strip of forest, knocking down all the trees in its path and breaking apart. Perhaps from above, this madness could be spotted relatively quickly. Scorched passenger belongings and... Pieces of meat? Danny walked closer to one of the black-crusted scraps. It almost smelled like the meat his mother had been cooking for him so often for the past six months, only slightly overcooked instead of warm and half-raw, but that was just a minor detail. Father often cooked his grilled meat to a similar state, although he always claimed to be a fan of medium rare steaks. He never added onions, seasonings, or marinades, but the result was still delicious. It looked as if someone had been barbecuing nearby and had scattered the food at the crash site for some reason. “Maybe it’s the lunch of the first-class passengers?” The smell made his mouth water, and his empty stomach rumbled louder. It wasn’t until he saw the remnants of a gold chain on the piece of meat that he realized he had been drooling for almost five minutes. — I thought I saw..., — he said, stepping back and dropping his backpack, rubbing his eyes with his hands. He wasn't sure if he had seen a corpse instead of a steak or a steak instead of a corpse. His stomach was still growling. His body wasn't reacting to the smell the way it should be. It wasn't reacting in a normal way. A trickle of warm, thick saliva ran down his chin from the corner of his mouth, and he quickly wiped it away. Tried to make out something human in the charred piece of meat, but it was difficult and required a lot of concentration. It seemed to be the upper body and head, but Danny wasn't sure. — Pull yourself together, — he said, patting his cheeks. — You're here for reason! Most of the belongings were destroyed after the crash. In some places, you could see the torn-up suitcases that had fallen out of the luggage compartment after the plane had completely disintegrated into two parts: one that was broken and mixed with the clay soil and fallen trees, and the other that was relatively intact, where you could still find some useful items. The surviving part had been turned upside down, with the luggage compartment on top. Some of the passengers, who were still strapped to their seats, were hanging in strange and unnatural positions. There was a heavy, metallic smell in the air, juicy and fresh, just like in Alice's parents' butcher shop, one of the Birdies where his mother shopped. — These are people, — Danny ordered himself. — Not food. He was attacked from behind. A clawed hand grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the luggage compartment, cracking the carbon-fiber shell with his skull. Something grabbed him and threw him into the remaining compartment, leaving claw marks on his neck. His back collided with an overturned flight attendant's cart, littered with leftover water and snacks. The cloth between the deflector and his body slipped off. An unbearable jolt of electricity ran through his skin, causing him to growl through clenched teeth. “Damn belt! Why do you always use me as a guinea pig?! Why not Jess?!” The claws dug into his leg, pulling him out from behind the cart. The first thing that caught his eye was the vertical pupils and the large, sharp, predatory teeth. The creature swung its clawed paw at him, aiming for his neck. Danny managed to grab the attacker's limb with one hand and grab the short, curly hair with the other. He pulled the head towards him and sank his teeth into the flesh. The hot blood flowing into his mouth was arousing. He pushed the creature away, tore off a piece of flesh, and immediately consumed it. The creature clutched a clawed hand to the wound where its ear had been. Wounded. Weak. It looked at him, backing away. Its fresh, sweet blood dripped onto the ceiling of the airplane cabin. The air was filled with the strong scent of fear. A satisfied growl escaped his throat. He caught up with the fleeing creature in one leap and sank his teeth into its throat, tearing off piece after piece. He devoured the raw, tough meat with relish, finally feeling a surge of energy. The ghost deflector made an irritating squeaking sound, drawing his attention away from his meal. With a swipe of his claws, he tore off the lock, tossed the device behind him, and sank his teeth into one of the hanging pieces of meat. Then another. Then a third. His body was filled with a pleasant feeling of fullness. There was so much food, and it was all different: sweet, salty, hard, soft, and greasy. Only when the wild otherworldly hunger subsided a little did Danny slowly sink to the floor, a piece of torn-off meat in his teeth. He swallowed it in a half-trance. The meat was sweet and tender, sliding down his throat. The teenager looked around in a daze, examining the bodies of the people he had tasted. Now, he finally saw people in them.