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“It worked!”
“Finally! After centuries of being hidden in the gloom, we can be seen again!” Spooks split into a wide grin, illuminated by the golden light of Zoe’s body. “With this, no mortal will be able to ignore us!”
“That’s the spirit!” As the workmen continued to stumble in the darkness below, Zoe turned to a nearby will-ó-wisp and nodded. “Places, everyone. It’s time for a grand reopening party that will be the talk of the afterlife!”
With a burst of sparks, the will-ó-wisp lit the nearby sconce, until a flickering light filled the room. Zoe drifted from the shadows, allowing the light to illuminate her goo-covered body until she became visible to the mortal eye once more. She drew a deep breath, and sent a silent prayer to anyone who might be listening. The trap had been set. Now, they had to give the performance of a lifetime.
“Zoe?“ Swindleton turned in disbelief as Zoe emerged from the darkness. “What are you doing here? And why are you covered in goo?”
“I’m here to stop you, before it’s too late.” Zoe narrowed her gaze at the sneering weasel of a man. “This is your last warning, Swindleton.”
“You have no power over me. Once I’ve unearthed the power from this ghost town, I’ll be President of Chthonic Power Solutions. And you…” Swindleton’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “You’ll have nothing.”
“Is that so?” Zoe turned her gaze to the crowd of workmen and machines gathered below. “You all made a mistake coming here. You should leave, while you have the chance.”
A mischievous cackle drifted from the darkness, followed by the screech of guitar strings. The workmen glanced at the shadows warily, while Gus’ face paled.
“Perhaps she’s right, boss.” The giant oaf whispered pleadingly to Swindleton, his eyes darting to the shadows. “There’s something spooky about this place…”
“Nonsense! It will take more than empty threats and superstitious prattling to scare me away.” Swindleton crossed his arms and fixed Zoe with a defiant sneer. “And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
“Oh, I won’t stop you.“ A devilish smile flickered across Zoe’s lips as the chattering of castanets echoed through the gloomy hallways. “But they will.”
“They?”
One by one, the sconces flickered to life, illuminating the motel in their ghostly light. The workmen glanced warily at the vast bison skulls that hung from the rafters, each casting eerie shadows across the brocade wallpaper, while Gus let out a low whimper as the shriek of violin strings echoed through the hallways.
“I think we should get out of here, boss…”
“I won’t let some theatrics stand in my way!” Swindleton barged his way to the front of the group, and pointed threateningly at the shadows. “Who’s there? I demand you show yourselves!”
“Well, you heard him. It’s time to welcome our guests to the Underworld!” Zoe smiled as excited whispers rippled through the darkness. “Take it away, boys!”
An explosion of goo fired through the darkness, until one by one, each of the Phantom Fiestadores appeared in a burst of color. The hallway filled with the lively rendition of their song, as they performed for the intruders with gusto. But as the merry mariachi band drifted closer, the workmen gasped and pointed in horror at the sight.
“It can’t be.” Gus’s eyes widened as the Phantom Fiestadores approached, their feet levitating several feet from the ground. “They’re… they’re…!”
As the workmen yelped in fright, Swindleton rolled his eyes at the crowd. “For the last time, there’s no such thing as–”
“Ghosts!“ Gus’s scream of terror cut through the lively performance of the quartet. “Let’s get out of here!”
“No, you idiots–”
But Swindleton’s threats fell on deaf ears. At once, the workmen and their machines raced out of the hallway, and into the dimly hit hallways. Gus yelped in fright as a pair of castanets nipped at his heels, while a trumpet pursued the intruders with a tour-de-force of triumphant toots. Together they fled from the hallway, until they burst through a pair of doors and tumbled into Misty’s saloon.
“Bar the doors!” Gus yelped as the chattering of the castanets approached. “There must be something in here we can use to defend ourselves.”
The workmen frantically plundered the saloon, before they armed themselves with saucepans and utensils. They yelped in surprise as another explosion of goo showered the saloon in an emerald hue, until Misty emerged from behind the bar.
“Well, what do we have here?” She tutted in disapproval at the group of invaders. “This here is a fine establishment, and I won’t let the likes of you ruin its reputation. Now, get them!”
At once, Misty’s stolen kitchenware burst to life, striking the workmen and their machines. Gus yelped in confusion as an egg slicer slapped his cheeks with gusto, while saucepan lids clanged like cymbals, disorientating the drilling machines as they scuttled across the floors.
“This way!” Gus ducked to avoid the pincers of a pair of tongs, before he charged through another door and into a gloomy hallway. “There must be a way out of here!”
“Going so soon, fleshie?”
A voice cackled through the darkness, following Gus and the workmen as they sped through gloom. The twang of a slingshot echoed through the corridor, followed by the rush of air, until giant spiderwebs burst from the darkness. They ensnared the machines in their silky strands, while workmen slipped on invisible banana peels and fell to the ground with a thud. Gus shrieked as he wove between the missiles, only for his eyes to widen as a rhythmic sound filled the air.
