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Zoe’s voice trailed off as she glanced at Persephone’s Tree in the distance. She thought of Spooks as he’d soared through its branches with her tracker in hand, laughing with delight at its shrill beeping sounds. She cursed, realizing that the playful poltergeist’s new favorite toy had supplied Chthonic Power Solutions with readings of the Underworld’s magic. With a sinking stomach, she returned her gaze to the laptop, where Mr. Gravesend flashed his teeth into a smile.
“I’ve taken the liberty of tracking your location, and dispatched the workmen. With any luck, the drills should arrive by sunset!” Mr. Gravesend chuckled, sending a cold chill rippling down Zoe’s spine. “I must say, I had my doubts you could pull this off, Zoe. But with this discovery, you’ll finally get everything you ever dreamed of!”
“But, Mr. Gravesend–”
“Mark my words, Zoe! This will change everything.” Mr. Gravesend’s eyes sparkled behind his spectacles, while he broke into a sinister smile. “And I mean everything.”
The call ended, plunging the saloon into silence. As Mr. Gravesend’s words lingered in the air, Zoe drew a shaky breath, knowing he was right. This would change everything. And it was up to her to fix it.
19
Zoe cursed as her call went unanswered. As the chime of the clocks reverberated through the Underworld, she glanced at the horizon fearfully. For hours, she’d been trying to get a hold of Mr. Gravesend. But with every minute that ticked by, his army of drills and workmen drew closer. And she knew their arrival would spell disaster for the Underworld.
She drained the last dregs of her coffee, and returned to her laptop once more. She’d spent the entire morning calling, emailing and borderline harassing every one of her colleagues, with no response. Zoe scrolled through her list of contacts aimlessly, before she placed her head in her hands. Everyone was simply too busy with their work to realize the end of the Underworld was imminent. And if she didn’t do something to stop them, every lost soul would be doomed to wander the earth for eternity, with no way of moving on to the afterlife.
A shrill ringtone filled the air, piercing through the silence of the saloon. Zoe’s heart leaped as she grabbed her phone, only for her lips to curl in distaste as she glanced at the caller ID.
“Swindleton? Now really isn’t the best time...”
“That’s rich coming from you.” Swindleton’s voice was laced with derision as he spoke. “I was told this promotion was as good as mine. So imagine my surprise to hear rumors it’s going to someone else. Someone who just so happens to have found the greatest site of power Chthonic Power Solutions has ever seen. Do you care to explain yourself?”
“It’s not like that, Swindleton.”
“I’ve already had my business cards printed! I’ve ordered furniture for the office! And I can hardly fit a Persian rug and mahogany desk in my cubicle!”
“Swindleton, I’m sorry, I...”
“You know, I have to hand it to you. I never thought you would have the heart to pull off something like this. But I guess I was wrong about you.” Swindleton’s icy fury radiated through the phone. “You really are willing to do anything to get what you want. Even if it means selling your soul to your work.”
The phone line went dead, plunging the saloon into silence. Zoe sighed, knowing that once, this would have been the moment she had always dreamed of. To wipe the smile from Swindleton’s sneering face, and reach the upper heights of the corporate ladder. But now... now everything had changed. She could no longer sell her soul to Chthonic Power Solutions. Because now it belonged to another...
Zoe looked out of the window, watching as the group of spirits prepared the motel for its grand re-opening party. Her gaze lingered on Shadow as he helped Spooks hang reams of bunting from the rafters, while the Phantom Fiestadores prepared for their performance. Their eyes gleamed with the excitement of opening the doors to the Underworld, and welcoming their first guests in centuries. But Zoe’s stomach churned as she glanced at the horizon, fearing the gatecrashers that were about to arrive.
“Morning, sugar!”
Misty appeared in a puff of heavily perfumed smoke. With a click of her fingers, the saloon burst into a flurry of activity, until pots and pans started clanging in the sinks, and the ovens roared to life in preparation for baking.
“Oh, there’s so little time, and so much to do before our visitors arrive. I want these kitchens sparkling, you hear me!” She gestured menacingly to a mop and bucket before they scurried away to do her bidding, before she turned to Zoe with a smile. “Now what can I get you, darlin’? Do you fancy a nice Rise and Shriek Breakfast Bowl to start your day?”
“I… I’m not hungry.”
Zoe returned her gaze to the steps of the motel, and watched as Spooks merrily wrapped the bunting around Shadow, tying him up like a hostage. Once, the sight of the mischievous poltergeist wouldn’t have failed to put a smile on her face. But now, she sat lost in her gloom, her troubles brewing in her mind like a dark storm cloud.
“Is everything okay, sugar?” Misty wiped the bar and glanced at Zoe in concern. “We can’t have you looking so down in the dumps on our grand reopening. What if you scare the guests?”
“I’m sorry, Misty. It’s just, I...” Zoe drew a breath and sighed hopelessly. “I fear I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
“Now, now, sugar.” Despite Zoe’s worry, the buxom ghost broke into a warm smile. “Making mistakes is what life is all about. Trust me, I’ve run this saloon my entire afterlife, and there’s nothing I haven’t heard before.”
“I don’t know. As mistakes go, it’s a pretty big one.”
“I’ll give you the same advice I give all of my customers. You won’t fix your problems by moping around in my saloon.” Misty finished wiping the bar, before she gave Zoe a stern glare. “You’ll only fix them if you talk to the person you love. And take it from me, unless you want an afterlife of regrets, you should fix things while you can.”
“But where would I even start?”
“Why, it’s simple, sugar.” Misty broke into a kind smile. “You just need to speak from the heart.”
Without another word, the buxom ghost drifted into her kitchen, leaving Zoe alone with her thoughts. She watched as a will-ó-wisp fluttered into the room, before it landed beside the tracker, sending a shrill bleep echoing through the saloon.
