Seven years later…

A chill wind blew through the evening air, making the boy shiver as he walked through the dark streets. It was that strange time in October when the sun was down and the streetlights were on, but the moon and stars weren’t quite out yet and the sun’s light still crested the horizon. The sky was the deep blue of almost night, and would be when he reached his destination: Amity Memorial Cemetery.

He glanced form side to side, the streets deserted. The residents of Craven Falls knew better than to come near at night. He should too, but…

The gates weren’t locked. He slipped through with barely a creak, and made his way up the gravel path. Mist was already beginning to hang between the trees. He was all alone as his feet crunched on the bright leaves littering the ground. He stopped, watching an owl hoot and take flight, then resumed his march.

“Brrr.” He’d brought a scarf, but his jacket was wholly inadequate for the cold at night.

He made his way through the graves, past the silent tombstones and angel statues, feeling like they were judging him. He’d brought a flashlight, but there was enough light to make out the path, and…if he was honest, he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. They said there hadn’t been any…activity in years, but no one had been brave or foolish enough to check after dark since.

“So what does that make me?” he muttered softly in a Southern drawl. He made his way to the grave, the fresh dirt obvious in the dim light. He pulled out a trowel and began digging.

After twenty minutes of labor, the shoebox had been uncovered. He gulped and pulled out the paper with the strange design on it. Shaking, he read the words out loud.

“Astenorath, c’tagha. Evdetorum gaphixum victora maleficinum est spiiritous dernacht. Astenorath, c’tagha. Evdetorum gaphixum victora maleficinum est spiiritous dernacht. Astenorath, c’tagha. Evdetorum gaphixum victora maleficinum est spiiritous dernacht.”

The wind whirled around him as the box shook, a dark red light seeping out from the cracks. He stared, petrified. Had…had it worked?

There was a scratching sound, and he pulled it over, opening the lid in wonder. His pet rabbit Cabbage raised his head, red eyes sparkling in the rising moon.

“C-Cabbage! You’re back, you’re really back!” the boy sobbed, hugging the warm, fluffy animal.

“Yeah yeah, that’s great kid. Now get offa me.”

“H-Huh?” The boy gaped as Cabbage struggled free, landing on the ground. He shook himself and smiled. There were a lot more fangs now than he remembered.

“Heheh, this’s great! Finally, its’ Camphrinopheus’s turn to wreak some mayhem!” the rabbit chuckled.

“W-What? Cabbage?” the boy said in confusion. The rabbit turned a beady eye on him.

“I’m not Cabbage, you dolt. I gave you exactly what you wanted: your rabbit returned to life. I’m just…borrowing the body for awhile. Thanks for inviting me to this world, but now…I’m hungry.” The rabbit snarled with sharp teeth and lunged at the boy’s throat.

“Noooo!” He managed to bat the rabbit away and got to his feet, running up the hill as fast as he could, ducking behind tombstones.

“You can’t hide forever, boy!” the rabbit snarled, growing larger and meaner with every step. The boy panted, his back to a tombstone as the monster passed, howling. He let out a choked sob.

“C-Cabbage…what went wrong?”

“You didn’t use a necromancy spell, dummy.” The boy froze and turned. Silhouetted in the full moon cresting the hill, there was a young woman sit ting comfortably on a gravestone. She had big platform boots, fishnet stockings, a red skirt, a studded leather jacket and a black shirt with a skull, x’s in its eyes. Her pale blonde hair was shot through with streaks of black, a Burtonesque punk princess. She was munching on a Twinkie.

“See, what-mmm, cream-what you used wasn’t a resurrection spell, it was an invocation for a daemon to come and grant you a wish. But they always take more in return, so dealing with them’s a sucker’s bet, usually.” she explained.

“B-But Cabbage…” he moaned.

“Oh, that’s an adorable name! His soul’s at peace, it’s just his body running around possessed by that thing. A nuisance, really.”

“There you are!” the rabbit roared, charging up the hill, breath fogging in the air.

“Aaaaaghhhh!” the boy screamed, cowering. The girl licked her lips.

“What’s your name, kid?” she asked.

“H-Henry!” he screeched.

“Today’s your lucky day, Henry. Grab ‘im!”

Hands burst from the ground to seize the daemonic rabbit and halt his movement. Blackened nails ripped into fur, grabbing at ears and paws.

“What is this!?” Camphrinopheus cried. Henry stared at the tableau before him. The girl vaulted off the tombstone, striking a pose.

“You tried to raise the dead, but it went wrong. I’ll show you a better way. Why? ‘Cause I’m a necromancer!” She grinned madly.

“Rotten filth!” The daemon rabbit thrashed, breaking the undead arms. “I’ll devour both of you!” he said, glaring.

“Uh-oh.” she meeped, Henry staring at her incredulously.

“Uh-oh!?”

“W-Well, I need solid bodies to work with, if they’re too old-yipe!” The rabbit was running at them, slavering, his eyes burning bright in the dark. “Ha! Time to run! Move your legs kid!”

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“Atten-hut!” Inside the pristine training room, the assembled…crew saluted as best they could. Cross narrowed her eyes as she paced in front of them, letting them sweat.

“You lot have been selected as the best of the best. I’ve been informed of your training results, but that does not impress me. You know what does? Not you!” She pointed to the eager squad leader, who dutifully closed his mouth and stepped back. “Start from the left.”

“Um…discipline?” the young soldier said, eyeing the prospective agent next to him. The drool was distracting.

“Nope. Next! Wait, Ebble?” Cross asked, cocking her head as she recognized the ghoul. “What are you doing here?”

“Ebble protect and serve ma’am! And he get paid with opportunity to eat extra body parts!” the dog-faced underground ghoul said, nearly knocking himself out with his hand in salute. Cross stared speechless for a moment, then rallied.

“Didn’t know it was you when they said they’d recruited a ghoul. Very well, what impresses me?” she asked.

“…flowers and choc’late?” he hazarded with a blush, holding out a wilted bouquet and half-eaten box out to her.

“I’m married, Ebble.” she deadpanned.

“Oh.”

“Next!”

“I don’t even know why I’m here. I’m in magical research.” Bess said, annoyed. Cross glared at her, but Bess was nonplussed. Fighting a magic god together for the fate of the multiverse left her unimpressed.

“You have one of the most difficult roles in this team. I need 100% dedication. What impresses me?”

“Intelligence?”

“That’s a standard requirement. Next!”

“R-Results?”

“Next!”

“Diligence!”

“Next!” She went down the whole line, each prospective agent. She grinned internally; they were nearly ready, but they wouldn’t really be prepared until they actually had a few missions under their belt. And she had to make sure they knew what they were getting into, and why. She shook her head.

“All good answers, and all wrong. Those are requirements, I need you to have those already. Squad Leader Manning, please inform us of what impresses me, what you need to be successful.” Leo stepped forward.

“What ones needs to succeed is heart, ma’am!” he said, saluting. Cross nodded.

“Right you are. We place our lives on the line for others, taking the place of victims and giving monsters predators instead. I have seen pure destructive evil, and I have seen the wielders of the blackest arts imaginable. I have also seen the dark forces bent to the service of good, especially to a kid with a good heart and a good head, even if it isn’t screwed on properly. And this definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted. Leo, show them what can happen should they pursue this career.” He saluted and turned to his team. Taking a deep breath, he flexed.

His body exploded, his left arm bursting into three waving tentacles, his torso a mass of muscle trailing into several feathered spindles on place of normal legs. Seven small white feathered wings extended from his right shoulder along his spine, and a third eye opened on his forehead while a halo of fire ignited above his hair. Everyone gasped and started in shock, except for Bess.

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“Oh, you grew a couple more wings.” she said.

“Yup!” Leo nodded enthusiastically. “Alright, it’s time you knew what a champion of Zet-Mathaig looks like. I mean, these didn’t really hurt to grow, but it still looks weird.” Leo said, gesturing to himself with his normal right arm.

“This-This is normal?” a trainee asked. “Are we gonna turn into that?”

“Oh, no. This’s just me, and I can revert back whenever I wish. Of course, this form doesn’t get so many strange glances nowadays, but it’s kinda hard to fit through doors.” Leo said, scratching his head. He could freely walk in the streets of New York and other highly-populated areas and only catch a passing look, compared to the other strange creatures and mutated humans living there. But he was restricted from travelling alone to prevent being mistaken for a monster. They didn’t want another case like Idaho.

“So you see, this is the level of weirdness you might be subjected to. You may have to give up your lives, and possibly your bodies and futures. Chief Crenshaw will be back tomorrow with assignments. Who’s in?” Cross said, glaring at them. They all glanced at one another, then all stepped forward. They earned a thin-lipped smile form her.

“Perfect. Welcome to the National Supernatural Protection and Regulation Bureau.”

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“Duck!” The girl forced Henry’s head down as the rabbit daemon pounced, teeth slicing through a gravestone. “Boy, that was close, huh?” she said as they ran.

“Are you insane!?” Henry cried.

“Maaaaaaybe a little. Up we go!” She grabbed him and had zombie hands rise, walking up their hands like a staircase up a tree.

“I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die…” Henry said over and over, clutching his knees to his chest.

“Oh, we are not gonna die. Besides, even if you do I can fix it. Ahh, there we are.” She pulled out a marker and a small glass vial. She quickly drew a strange, unearthly symbol on the empty vial, then threw it to the ground. “I choose you! Get ‘im, Fido!”

The daemon laughed, but it was suddenly cut short by a ghostly mastiff growling at him. The dog barked, and the rabbit hopped back.

“Die!” Camphrinopheus opened his mouth and shot a fireball at the specter, but it charged through and bit down on the daemon. “Aaagghhh!”

“See? Told you I could handle it.” the girl said, slapping Henry on the shoulder. Unfortunately, that made him tip over from the branch, and she scrambled to grab him; she fell herself.

“Aaaagh!”

“Yipe!” The ghost dog turned and seized Henry’s jacket before he hit the ground, floating in midair. The girl wasn’t as lucky, landing hard in the bushes. “Oww!”

“Oh my! Oh man! That’s hilarious!” the daemon guffawed, and the girl scowled.

“I’ll show you!”

“And a great job you’re doing so far.” came from behind her. Camphrinopheus lunged at the new person, but bounced off a barrier of pure shapeless ectoplasm surrounding him. She turned to see Connor’s hand pushing his glasses up over the smuggest face she had seen yet.

“You! Are! Late!” she said, pointing an accusing finger at him. “We were supposed to meet an hour ago!”

“Sorry, Riley.” he said, giving her a hand up. “But I ran into some old friends.”

The rabbit daemon leapt upon them from behind, taking full advantage of their inattention. Suddenly, his momentum was halted and he fell to the ground.

“What the-?”

“Avesh.” From the cobblestones came the clicking of heels. A blonde secretary came out of the darkness, with stockings, skirt, jacket, scarf, and bunned hair; the picture of professionalism. From her hand trailed a translucent shimmering line. “We’ll have none of that tonight, thank you.”

“Graaah!” Camphrinopheus leapt at her, mouth open to chomp down. Ha! He’d show her-

He didn’t know what happened. One second, she was in front of him. The next, she was upside-down, sailing above his head. He tracked her in disbelief as she soared to the tree, landing and standing upright on the trunk. She grimaced and subtly scooted down closer to the ground. “What!?”

“Oh boy, you done messed up good.” There was a sudden chill in the air, everyone felt it. All eyes turned to the path, shrouded in mist and darkness. There was a sinister hum, then ominous chanting in Latin preceded the man emerging from the shadows.

Dark reddish-brown hair. Tall and thin, but filled out, with visible definition in the perfectly tailored black suit. A dark goatee around a mouth grinning like a wolf. And set above that grin were two toxic emerald green eyes, nearly sparkling in the moonlight. He cut an impressive, menacing figure as he strolled through the graveyard, dark, indistinct shapes following behind him. “I am your doom, come to collect.”

“Scooooott!” the woman shouted in annoyance. She threw two more lines out and yanked, pulling the speakers out of the zombie’s hands and sending them tumbling. “How many times have I told you not to play that stupid song everywhere you go!?”

“But Amberrrrrr,” he whined, shuffling his feet. Camphrinopheus blinked; all the menace this guy was building up was gone. “It’s so cool! I make such a good entrance with it!”

“No.” she denied sternly, leveling a steely gaze at him. They still couldn’t go back to that grocery store. He kicked a pebble.

“You’re no fun.” Camphrinopheus shook his rabbit head. What was wrong with these people?

“Boss!” Riley went over and tackle-hugged a laughing Scott. “It’s been so long! Where’ve you been?”

“All over, kid. Did you get taller? You got taller! Hey Amber, she got taller!” he called.

“I can see that.” she deadpanned, with a smile.

“Yeah, we’ve been all over the world. The president of Deadline Industries is a very busy man, you know!” he said, puffing out his chest. He smiled weakly, his eyes twitching as he sagged. “So, so busy. The world’s only professional necromancer is constantly in demand. Oh! Hey Amber, did the UN approve my idea?” he hollered.

“They rejected it, said they needed something both less morally objectionable and more sophisticated than zombies in hamster wheels for clean energy.” she said, consulting a notebook.

“The principle is sound!” Scott protested.

“I left some messages, we can work something out with your engineers on Monday.” Scott blew her a kiss.

“That’s why you’re the best secretary.”

“Personal assistant.” she corrected tiredly. “And do I really have to wear this suit all day, even off the clock?”

“Yes!” Scott said gleefully. “You’re the best sexy secretary ever, you gotta dress the part!”

“Oh my god, you’re such a dork.” she said, palming her face.

“You know you love it.” he said, wagging his eyebrows. Camphrinopheus took the opportunity to attack, aiming for Scott’s chest to rip his heart out. Scott smoothly sidestepped the slavering jaws, pulling Riley out of the way, and whistled. An ancient and massive Chinese Imperial warrior armed with a quan dao, a headless suit of armor carrying his head in one arm, a giant sword at his side and a massive lance in the other, and a grizzled G.I. from World War II appeared, the soldier levelling a rifle at the daemon. “Get him. Riley, some zombies please?”

“Sure, boss!” She called up three of the zombies she’d created, and Scott muttered foul, forbidden incantations while Amber covered Camphrinopheus with gravity webs.

“G’shclhifta zhaun!” Scott clapped his hands, the zombies and ghosts merging to distort and bring them to rotten life, wielding their weapons expertly.

“Uh-oh.” Camphrinopheus gulped. The undead warriors set upon him, thrashing and tearing him apart while the group gathered and chatted.

“So boss, it’s been like a year! Where’ve you been? What brings you back?” Riley asked excitedly.

“It’s been eight months.” Connor said.

“Well, we’ve been dealing with various problems and projects we’ve been contracted with.” Scott explained. “But that actually leads me to why I’m here. I’m exhausted!” he blurted, sticking his tongue out. “I’ve been running this way and that, and I’m practically dead myself!”

“Thought you could fix that.” Amber smirked. He shook his fist at her.

“Anyway, I talked to Cross and the government, and we reached a deal. I’m gonna be sticking around here for awhile, while I make my lesson plan. Psst. Riley, Connor. You might wanna save up for college. I’m going to be teaching necromancy classes at Miskatonic University next year.” Riley’s eyes went wide and she grinned, clapping her hands together.

“Ohmygosh that’s fantastic! We’re accredited now!” Scott raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve been tutoring her.” Connor said. She shot him a look.

“So how have you two been? What grade are you in now?” Amber asked.

“Tenth!” Riley said proudly.

“And I’m a junior.” Connor added.

“What, really? Time flies. So does that mean you’re going to college? Fancy majoring in necromancy?” Scott asked, grinning. Connor shook his head.

“Boss, I already know just about everything you do. Going to school for it would be a waste, because I’ve decided. I’m majoring in medicine. You’ve opened up a lot of avenues for recovery with necromancy, I want to see how much further it can be applied to keep the living alive.” he explained.

“Ahh, I get it. Cool! Good luck, my man.” Scott said, shaking his hand.

“Thank you.”

“But Miskatonic has an excellent medical program, and if you minored in necromancy you’d be officially certified, so there’d be no legal issue. I know what you can do, if you work with me you’ll never have to attend class and still get an A.” Scott said. Connor blinked.

“That-that makes sense.” he said.

“We’ve had lots of experience brokering deals. Turns out being a magician is half magic, half negotiation.” Amber said, then snapped her fingers. “Speaking of which, did Legendary still need those fifty disposable zombies?”

“Yeah. Sis needs ‘em for the next movie.” Riley nodded.

“And how is Vanessa?”

“She’s doing good. Oh! Did you see the pictures from Robbie’s eighth birthday party!?”

“No, I didn’t! Show me, show me!” Amber gushed. Riley pulled up the pic on her phone. Amber scrolled through the photos of the chubby little boy, Vanessa smiling and hugging her son. “Aww, that’s adorable! And look at him, he takes after his dad.”

“Yeah, he’s an early bloomer.” Riley said, glancing down at Robbie’s wide face, bulging eyes, and stubby fins on his elbow. “She said he’s got a lot of rashes from his scales coming in.”

“And Nigel’s still undersea?” Scott asked.

“Yeah. Says the treaty with the UN’s almost done, their country and religion’s gonna be officially recognized at the end of November or something.” Riley said.

“And I heard recruiting for your religion’s going well too. I see the posters and ads everywhere.” Connor said to Amber. She chuckled.

“It’s not really a religion, even if there is a god.” she said weakly.

“Makes it hell on the holiday visit list though.” Scott grumbled.

“Aaaaaauuuugggghhhh!” Camphrinopheus flopped on the ground next to them, panting and trying to get away. Henry had been watching petrified for all this time, and now the daemonic rabbit desperately pulled itself across the grass, the bottom half of his torso missing. The soldiers loomed over it and the quan dao came down, finishing it.

“Good work.” Scott said as the ghosts exited the undead bodies, and the rabbit’s twisting back to normal, now free. “Who’s the kid?” he asked Riley.

“Henry. He just missed his rabbit and tried to bring him back, I guess.” Riley said, shrugging. Scott waved a hand in front of Henry’s face, but he didn’t react. Scott sighed.

“Hey. Hey! Wake up!” he said, lightly slapping the boy’s face.

“He-he killed my rabbit.” Henry said.

“Yup. But your rabbit was actually a daemon. Nasty things, they’re like cockroaches. You gotta clear them out before they get a foothold, or you’ll have an infestation. Here.” Scott handed Henry a card. It had a skull on it, with various numbers and websites. Emblazoned on top was…

“Scott de Kay? You’re him?” Henry said incredulously. Scott grinned and nodded. “No way! You’re famous!”

“And rich, don’t forget about rich.” he gloated. “But there’s a line for therapy on the back. Call that, they can help.” Henry looked at the card, then the necromancer in wonder.

“…can you bring Cabbage back?” he asked in a small voice. Scott glanced at the corpse, then stroked his beard.

“Did he die of old age? Originally?”

“Y-Yeah.” Henry admitted.

“Mmm. Well, I could, but chances are he’d just die again in a week. Sometimes, you have to let things go. If you don’t, the ones you love could turn into ravenous murderous hellbeasts.” he said comfortingly, putting a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

“I…I guess.” Henry said, saddened and horrified. Scott nodded.

“Don’t worry. He’s in a better place.” he said. His eyes were twinkling like the stars, with toxic emerald green light. Henry looked down at his pet sadly and nodded. “Unless, of course, you wanted to make him into a zom-” His mouth was suddenly closed in a steel grip, Amber holding his jaws shut.

“No, no, no.” she said firmly. Scott rolled his eyes and nodded. She knelt by Henry. “Part of growing up is learning when to let things go, and let the dead in peace.” she said gently.

“I-I know. But h-he was my only friend, we just moved here and…” Henry fell silent, sniffling.

“And part of growing up’s also recognizing when the rules need to be broken, when and how to change thing’s to go your way. That includes the rules of God and nature! Right kids?” he asked Connor and Riley.

“You said it, boss!” Riley gave him a thumbs-up.

“You’re a lunatic.” Connor deadpanned. Scott cackled madly, throwing his head back.

“That’s right!” He turned to the teary child, hugged by Amber. He grinned. “If you want friends, you gotta impress people! And nothing impresses ‘em like magic!”

“R-Really?” Henry said. Amber rolled her eyes and smiled. Yet another one.

“Of course!” Scott smelled the autumn air, cool and sharp and ripe. The full moon hung in the air, full of magic, the light casting strange shadows on the ground. The graveyard was dark and spooky, the scent of leaves decaying, promising the season of fear and fun, where witches ran wild and wolves and ghosts alike howled as the dead rose to dance. He grinned sharply, a shadow of a skeleton on his face as he saw that the elder signs were abundant. The stars were right.

“I’m a necromancer! And you can be, too!”