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“This must be a dream. Or a nightmare.” Zoe spluttered as she ran into a maze of cobwebs, and searched frantically for the exit. “I need to get out of here!”
“Going so soon? But I’ve had no body to play with in years.” Zoe yelped as a cloud of turquoise smoke emerged, revealing the ghost of a jester. “And I mean that literally!”
Zoe screamed in horror, and raced down a corridor as the troupe of instruments pursued her. She burst through a door, before she heaved a nearby dresser against it, barring it closed. She held her breath as the sound of her pursuers grew more distant, and the clacking of the castanets quietened.
“Did I lose them?”
“No. You most certainly didn’t.”
She yelped as a gravelly voice reverberated through the darkness, until the shadows parted. The dark-eyed man stepped from the swirling mists, before his eyes narrowed into a cold glare.
“Did you really think a door would stop me? What part of walking through walls don’t you understand?” The man drifted closer, his feet hovering above the ground. “Now, why have you come here?”
“Stay back, I’m warning you!” Zoe searched frantically in her satchel for a weapon, only to retrieve a half-eaten falafel wrap she’d grabbed on her journey. “Don’t come any closer! There’s enough garlic mayo in this to send you back to whatever hell you’re from.”
“You’re thinking of vampires. And I am no vampire.” A cruel smile flickered across the man’s lips. “I warned you to leave, mortal. And now you’ll discover what happens when you don’t heed my warnings. Come, Cerberus!”
“Cerberus?”
Dark and swirling shadows gathered beside the stranger, twisting and churning until a silhouette began to form. A deep growl reverberated through the darkness, like peals of thunder shaking the foundations of the earth. Zoe staggered backwards as a vast dog prowled from the shadows, with three snarling heads that held her in their gaze.
“This is my kingdom. And this is no place for the likes of you.” The stranger smiled coldly as the dog’s growls deepened. “Now, Cerberus, show our guest the way out.”
Fear coursed through Zoe’s veins as the beast vaulted towards her in a blur of shadow. She waited for it to strike. For its vast jaws to tear into her flesh, and turn her into a human chew toy. But there was no blow. No snapping of jaws, nor crunching of bones. Instead, she was greeted by something quite different.
“Hey, cut that out!” Zoe couldn’t help but laugh in surprise as the giant dog fussed over her like an over-excited puppy, its tail wagging merrily through the air in delight. “You’re going to lick me to death!”
“Cerberus! What part of being a guardian of the Underworld don’t you understand?” The stranger pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration as the giant dog rolled on its back and wiggled its legs in the air. “You’re supposed to scare away intruders, not pester them for belly rubs!”
“Master!” Zoe yelped as the blue jester burst through the wall, the bells on his hat jingling in a frenzy. “There’s a mortal in the kingdom! A real-life walking-talking fleshie…”
“I know, Spooks.” The man’s voice deepened with his growing displeasure. “She’s standing right in front of you!”
Zoe watched in bewilderment as the poltergeist floated towards her. As he began poking and prodding her with interest, she fixed him with a stern glare.
“Hey, cut that out, would you?”
Spooks shrieked in surprise, before he ducked behind a chair.
“The fleshie can see me?” The mischievous prankster peered out from the furniture, his bells trembling in fear. “How is this possible?”
The dark-haired stranger’s jaw clenched in frustration. “Put it out of your mind, Spooks…”
“But no mortal has seen us in years! This is incredible! This is huge! This calls for a special announcement!”
“Spooks, no, I…”
With a grin, the jester cupped his hands around his mouth, before he let loose a trumpeting toot.
“Gather round everyone! The fleshie can see us!” Spooks spun through the air, cackling with glee as he summoned the other spirits. “Misty, fire up the ovens! Miguel, light the candles! José, bring us the finest bottles from the cellar! This will be a night to remember!”
Zoe watched in bewilderment as ghosts flew through the room in a trail of smoke. The members of the mariachi band tooted their instruments in greeting, while the green-hued specter of the woman dusted her hands on her apron and waved in greeting.
“I knew this place was a ghost town. I just hadn’t expected it to be so literal.” Zoe looked at the strange sights before her, and shook her head in wonder. “But where am I exactly?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Spooks cackled with delight before he addressed the mariachi band. “Open the shutters, boys!”
As the pale light of the moon seeped into the chamber, Zoe gazed at the view beyond in wonder. The stars shone brightly, while in the distance, a moonlit hilltop curled into the sky, like the crooked point of a witch’s hat. But her gaze lingered on the motel sign, until realization dawned on her.
