Gadalik walked down the street of his hometown, laughing with Gretel as she joked around by his side.

He was happy to be with his best friend. And the familiarity of the residents and the area brought him a sense of comfort.

That's when a shadow passed overhead, and his heart sank. No…

"Gadalik?" Gretel called him worriedly.

"Run," he demanded, grabbing her wrist and pulling her behind him as he ran under the shade of the nearest building's roof.

When he got there, the shelter vanished. He started for the next building but it too dissolved into thin air. He heard the cackle of a witch hunter drawing closer.

I have to fight, he decided, letting Gretel go and standing protectively in front of her.

Before he had a chance to react, Gretel and the rest of the scenery faded to black, and the chain of the nullifier that he was suddenly wearing was twisted tight around his throat from behind.

Gadalik awoke, crying out as he sat up, one hand clutching his neck as he panted desperately for air.

"Bud?" he heard his father call from the neighboring room. "You alright?"

Gadalik curled up tightly on his bed, hands trembling, and breathing hard. It was just a dream, he told himself. Except it was loosely based on a memory.

A darker skinned man with a blue-violet mohawk and eyebrow piercings entered the room, knocking on the open door as he came in. "What happened?"

His son sighed heavily, sitting up. "N-nothing… It was a nightmare…"

"Want to talk about it…?" he prompted gently, sitting on the foot of the bed.

"It was...Luna. I dreamed she captured me again…"

The man softened. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have let her get away."

The teen shook his head. "No–it wasn't your fault; you were injured. And besides, we got away, too. That's all that matters." Gadalik's striped blue eyes flitted to the silver pendant on his nightstand.

Gale followed his gaze. "You're going out with Mira today, aren't you? Will you be wearing the nullifier?"

"I planned to, but after that nightmare, I don't think I will. I can disable my ghost sense now, so I don't really need to wear it…except maybe to stop myself from seeing invisible ghosts. B-but it's not like I'm going to a graveyard or anything! We're just going to an amusement park."

"Well…I hope you two have fun. Your mother and I will be here, so if anything does happen, just give us a call."

"Will do."

Gadalik tied his horse outside and knocked on the door.

The girl who answered it was wearing a black top tucked into with a high-waisted dark red-and-black plaid miniskirt, thigh-high socks, and slightly-heeled boots.

"Wow, you look great, Mira," Gadalik said honestly. He couldn't help but notice that the golden chain she wore for her spooks' work was missing. "You're not wearing your ghost detector?"

She blinked. "Why would I? This isn't work." Now it was her turn for her violet eyes to search his neck. "You're not wearing the nullifier?"

"N-no; I have control of my ghost sense so I don't need it."

She shook her head dismissively. "Well, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah. I have everything accounted for." They mounted their horses and took off at a casual pace. "We can both get unlimited rides until closing, but we shouldn't stay that late since we have to factor in the time for the journey home. And–"

"How can you afford all this?" she interrupted curiously.

"I've saved up," he answered simply.

"With how little you charge for being a spook?"

"Y-yeah…"

"It must have taken you a lifetime! Honestly, I don't know how you can get by on your own."

"I'm not exactly on my own. My mother came from royalty and so she inherited a lot of her family's wealth. I'm lucky she takes care of the bare necessities for me."

"Even still, you should charge more. Your real parents were well-known, and you have a pretty good record of helping spirits, so why aren't you raising your prices? If I were you I'd be making it big!"

"Is money all you care about?" he laughed.

"Being a spook is work, so we should be paid for it," she shrugged.

"Yes, but it's not just work; it's also an obligation. If we can help, we should help, with or without pay."

"That's easy for you to say," she retorted. "Your mother's rich."

Gadalik stopped in his tracks. "You think that's why I'm not concerned about pay?"

She continued a few paces before realizing he wasn't beside her, then turned to face him. "Well, yeah. If you needed the money, you wouldn't turn it down."

Gadalik shook his head. "It's true I don't need it. But it's wrong not to help someone just because you're not getting paid for it."

"It's wrong not to pay someone who helps you," she countered.

"So you're saying that people who can't pay you don't deserve your help?"

Mira narrowed her eyes, looking away. "Well… It's my choice whether to help them. And, believe it or not, you have a choice too."

Now it was Gadalik's turn to avert his eyes, remembering their conversation at the lake.

"You shouldn't keep letting others drag you into their lives–into their problems," she continued. "If there's one thing we spooks know all too well, it's that you only have one life…and you're in control of it."

"I understand what you're saying…" he said, and the two continued on. "When I wore the nullifier, I got a taste of that freedom of choice. And, honestly? I liked not having to worry about everyone else. But…"

"'But'?"

"That's…taking the easy way out," he murmured. "It's easy to mind your own business, and leave the helping to somebody else. But sometimes…there is nobody else."

Mira seemed to consider his words. "How would we know if there is or not?"

"That's the problem: we wouldn't know. But if someone suffers or dies because we refuse to help them… Is that something you're willing to risk? Is that something you're prepared to live with for the rest of your life?"

"It sounds like you're speaking from experience…"

Gadalik fell silent for a moment. "This isn't letting my past traumas dictate my life. If we know someone else is there to help, then it's okay for us to leave it to them. And if it's something that it turns out we can't help with, sobeit."

"You really have this figured out, huh?"

"It took some doing…and some help from a friend of mine's father."

"Your friend's father? What kind of company do you keep?" she laughed.

"Heh. That does sound strange spoken out loud, doesn't it? He helped console me during an anxiety attack when I was visiting my friend."

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"Anxiety attack? Kind of like what happened when you were possessed on our job a while back?"

"Kind of, yeah. They range in severity, though."

"You have some kind of disorder?"

"I don't think so… They aren't random; they always have a direct cause. Most of the time they're from my worries getting out of hand, but in cases like the possession, they happen in response to trauma."

"Huh. Well, don't stress yourself out. We should just have fun, alright? Let's go on every ride!"

He softened, smiling. "Alright."

The wait times were long so they couldn't exactly do that. But they first rode the biggest rollercoaster, and Gadalik enjoyed the view at the peak of it. He had always liked being high-up, especially on mountains he's climbed.

But most importantly he turned to Mira, hoping she was enjoying it too.

The younger spook seemed to be more excited on the way down instead.

As long as she's having fun, he decided.

After a few more rides they headed toward a food stand to grab lunch.

"I'm having a good time," Mira admitted.

"Me too," Gadalik agreed, then froze when he heard faint sobbing.

"Gadalik?"

"Hang on," he told her, following the sound around the corner. It was coming from a kid maybe twelve years old. "Hey, there," the spook greeted him. "My name's Gadalik. What's yours?"

The child glanced behind himself, then looked up at the green-haired spook. "Aaron…"

"Nice to meet you, Aaron. Do you know where your parents are?"

Aaron faced away, eyes narrowed sorrowfully.

"Gadalik, what are you doing?" Mira asked.

"Mira, this is Aaron. I think he might be lost–"

"There's nobody there," she cut him off, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly. Then her hand reached for the absent golden necklace.

"Huh…?" That's when the realization struck him. "Aaron…are you…?"

"A ghost…? Yeah…" the boy answered, not meeting his gaze.

"Is there anything I can help you with…?"

"I was abducted here… I keep thinking my killer will come back eventually, so I've been waiting for her, invisible."

The spooks exchanged a glance. "Let me get more details and I'll tell you everything," Gadalik promised her. "Aaron, what does your killer look like?"

"Tall…thin…pale skin…black hair..."

"Well?" Mira prompted impatiently.

Her friend repeated the information back to her. An image of Luna suddenly flashed before his eyes, and he tensed.

"Then what are we standing around for? Come on, let's find this kidnapper!"

"Aaron, why don't you come with us? You can tell us if you recognize her," Gadalik said. That way I can confirm if it's really her or not.

The ghost floated back a pace. "She's scary… You shouldn't go after her; she'll kill you…"

"What's he saying?" Mira pressed.

"He says she might kill us–" Gadalik reported.

"Not her… You…" the child corrected him, "because you can see me…"

The blue-eyed spook swallowed hard. He placed a hand over his wounded stomach. I'm in no condition to fight… And Mira didn't bring her weapon. What can we do…?

"We can handle ourselves," Mira said. "Come on–let's get searching!"

"Mira, I don't know about this…" Gadalik murmured.

"Aren't you always the one who says 'if we can help, we should'?"

"Yes…if we can help. Last time we tried something out of our league, a ghost ruptured my intestine, and I'm still recovering from it," he pointed out.

"What makes you think this is out of our league? We're looking for a human, here."

"A human that targets people who have magic," he specified.

"And?"

"And I have magic."

"You think she'll come after you?"

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time…"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll tell you later," he sighed. "For now, why don't we get something to eat?"

It was then he noticed the shadow of something in the sky pass through. Gadalik froze, cold sweat dripping down his temple once he could see the silhouette of a large vulture on top of the power lines.

"Mira," he whispered, leaning closer to be heard. "Mira, we have to move… Now…!"

"Huh?" the other spook answered, confused.

Gadalik felt for the nullifier around his neck to be extra certain he wasn't wearing it. Drawing in a breath to steady his nerves, he pulled his companion by the elbow and took off running, dragging her along. His free hand went to his belt where the silver knife Gretel had given him on his birthday was sheathed.

"What's gotten into you?!" Mira huffed once he pulled her behind a trailer, both trying to catch their breath.

"L-Luna… I think that was her familiar…" He clutched his aching chest, fighting back panic.

"H-hey, get a grip! Who's Luna? Talk to me!"

His trembling legs buckled and he slid down the wall to the ground. "I can't…fight her…like this… Sh-she…" He couldn't catch his breath.

"Breathe," Mira demanded. "Tell me what happened."

Gadalik took as deep of breaths as the tightness in his chest would allow. He focused on a few small birds he could see pecking crumbs off the ground. He could smell the various foods from the nearby stands. He heard the clatter of roller coasters and other rides in the background.

Calm down…. Even if she is here, panicking won't help anything, he convinced himself, managing to breathe in fully.

"Well?" Mira prompted.

"Luna…is a witch hunter. She tried to kidnap and kill me to use my blood for enchantments. I...I think she did the same to Aaron."

The younger spook thought for a moment. "She's here?"

"I saw her vulture familiar. She can't be far behind."

"So what's the plan?"

He narrowed his eyes, thinking. "I have to fight," he answered, drawing the knife and stepping into the open.

Mira peeked around the corner; Gadalik held a hand back in a gesture for his companion to stay put.

"I know you're there, Luna. Show yourself!"

As expected, a tall cloaked woman came forth from the shadows. "You again?" Luna scoffed.

The spook gripped his knife more securely. "It was you, wasn't it? You killed that little boy…"

"Which little boy? I've killed many."

Gadalik was seething, anger overcoming his fear. He held the knife offensively in one hand, cast a shield with the other, then stepped toward her.

She laughed. "You sure you want to challenge me? Your daddy isn't here to save you this time."

He glared at her. "I won't let you get away with what you've done… Not again."

"Very well." Luna withdrew her own knife which changed length into a sword.

The spook charged at her, focusing on blocking and dodging her blade as he tried to move close enough to strike with his own.

She caught on to his intent and kept him at a distance with her sword.

Gadalik channeled more magic into his shield until spikes formed on it, and he shield-bashed her, catching the sword between the spikes and twisting it to disarm her.

Swordless, she leapt away from him as he slashed at her.

He retracted the spikes on the shield and resummoned them on the rim instead, then threw it at her like a blade. As soon as the first was thrown he conjured one after another and continued throwing them.

One or two managed to graze her as she didn't have room to dodge them all.

The teen charged at her while she was rebalancing.

She leaned back out of the way and countered with a kick straight into his gut.

Gadalik cried out in agony as he skidded across the ground from the impact, where he curled up with both arms crossed tightly around his already-wounded stomach. He must have lost consciousness from the intensity of the pain, if only momentarily. He came to, coughing violently.

"Huh. I didn't think you'd go down in one hit," Luna said, approaching the boy. "No matter. It's time for you to give up and come with me."

"Back off!" Mira shouted, darting between them.

"...And who are you supposed to be?"

"Mira…r-run…" Gadalik panted, struggling to prop himself on one hand, the other still clutching his injury. I have to get up… I can't let her hurt Mira…!

"Go away, little girl. I have no interest in those without magic."

"So what? You think I'm going to stand by and let you kill someone?" Mira spat. "What you've done is unforgivable…!"

"Go ahead and try to stop me," the woman invited, and ran at her.

"No!" Gadalik cried, thrusting his hand out. A barrier was cast from it between Mira and Luna, at least ten feet tall and wide.

The females both hesitated as it blocked them.

Gadalik growled and forced the magical wall against Luna, gradually angling it down to press her into the earth.

The witch hunter held the barrier with both hands, pushing back against it to no avail.

"Run," he begged Mira.

"I'm not leaving you!" the other spook argued.

"I can't…hold it…for much longer…" He coughed out blood and sank to the ground, the world fading in and out, but he refused to dispel the barrier.

While Luna was struggling to keep herself from getting crushed, Mira snatched the knife he'd dropped and circled behind the witch hunter.

Gadalik couldn't hold the barrier any longer.

Right as it dispelled, Mira stabbed her in the back before she could rebalance.

Luna was shocked at first, then collapsed as Mira withdrew the knife.

There was silence for a moment as they both saw Luna's blood pool under her clothes.

"M-Mira… Is she…?" the older spook dared himself to ask.

"I avoided her vital organs. She'll bleed, but she shouldn't die," Mira answered.

He sighed with relief. "Call an ambulance for her…"

"For her? What about you?"

"I'll be…fine…" he managed to say as he passed out.

Gadalik opened his striped blue eyes to find himself in a hospital room for the umpteenth time. He sat up, wincing from the pain in his gut, but was otherwise fine.

"You okay?" Mira asked from his bedside.

He jumped, not having realized she was there. "Y-yeah," he stammered, then coughed into his hand. "Is Luna…?"

"I left her to die," she replied simply.

"What?!"

She laughed. "Relax, I'm kidding. She's fine, but the police have her under close watch. I doubt she'll get away."

He sighed heavily and let himself fall back against the pillow. "Aaron…"

"I'm sure he can rest in peace now," she soothed him.

"Thank you…for saving me back there."

"You seem to need saving a lot," she remarked.

He opened his mouth to reply, then shut it and averted his gaze.

"H-hey, now–don't look so down! You handled yourself well until the end, there."

"Th-thank you…" Gadalik murmured, unconvinced.

"I see what you mean about never catching a break from work, though. It must be hard not being able to see the difference between ghosts and the living."

He shrugged indifferently. "I'm used to it." Gadalik moved to get out of bed, then wobbled and fell back into the mattress.

"What's the matter?"

"I feel…dizzy…"

"Your injury had reopened. You were bleeding internally, so…yeah. Dizziness is expected."

He sighed through his nose. "I'm sorry, Mira… This wasn't a good first outing for us."

"Are you kidding? It was perfect!"

"W-what…?"

"Dates–err, outings–are supposed to let us get to know each other. If this is a typical day off for you, then I'd say I know you a lot better now."

His striped blue eyes looked into her violet ones, trying to gauge if this was sarcasm or not. "And you actually liked it?"

"Well, I don't want to see anyone get killed, but if she hadn't hit you where you were already injured, I think you would've won. And we helped Aaron get vengeance; that feels good, doesn't it?"

"O-oh… Yeah." He glanced toward the door, wondering if Luna was truly captured this time.

"So…do you have any money to cover your hospital visit?" Mira asked as they were checking out.

"I got my mom to invest in insurance for me and my dad, because we get hurt so often. Don't worry about it," Gadalik answered.

"Here," Mira said, handing him the silver knife.

He sheathed it into his belt. "Thanks."

"Should we go on another…'outing' soon?"

"If you actually want to," the older spook said, still doubting how well this one went on his end.

"Yeah. I'll pick the place next time, but it's exciting not knowing what to expect with you."

"Thanks… I never know what to expect, either," he confessed with a chuckle.

She laughed. "Then let's see what awaits us…together."