We clumsily hurry backwards, nearly tumbling to the floor. The scream continues, high-pitched and horrifying.

“What’s happening?” Cody asks as we burst into the diner.

“Go, go, go!” Stacy replies. We keep running and wind up outside the airship.

I’ve never been this terrified in my life. There’s a literal ghost in the ship. It makes noise and drips water.

Holly and Cody rejoin us moments later, confused and on alert.

“What was that noise?” Holly asks. “It sounded like screaming.”

“It was screaming,” Stacy answers. “The ship is haunted.”

“No way,” Cody says. “Ghosts aren’t real. It’s science fiction made to get you to buy more books.”

“You weren’t there, Cody. You didn’t see what Tes and I saw. Water was forming in mid-air and dripping on the ground, and there were shuffling noises. Then, when I talked in the room, the screaming started. It’s a ghost, and it’s real.”

“Fine,” he says, “let’s all go back in.”

“I don’t know, babe,” Holly says. “What if there really are ghosts?”

“In that case, we’ll have to find a different hideaway. Or we could just not go wherever the ghost is.”

“I don’t think that’s how ghosts work.”

“Nobody knows if that’s how ghosts work,” he responds, raising his voice. “They’re ghosts! They’re not real!”

Holly shrinks down a little.

“Alright, hand me the lamp. I’ll lead the way, since you three are too scared of ghosts.”

He grabs the oil lamp from Stacy and retrieves a lighter from his pocket, which he uses to reignite the flame.

“You have a lighter?” Stacy asks.

“Yeah, I do,” he answers. “I’d have my cigarettes, too, if they hadn’t been left behind on the plane when that went up in flames.” He looks at the oil level. “Not a bad idea to hunt for a refill on this while we’re searching.”

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Without a second thought, he turns and marches into the airship. The three of us share a nervous glance. Holly’s the first to break eye contact, and follows in shortly after him.

Stacy and I hold on to each other and hobble forward.

I don’t think I’m ready to do this again.

We’ve barely reached the diner, still as dusty as ever, when Cody stops for a second. “Stacy, why don’t you stay here since you’re injured? That way, Tes won’t have to haul you around.”

I stare at him, mouth wide open, and raise my wounded hand.

“Yeah, but at least you’re still semi-functioning.”

“I’m semi-functioning too!” Stacy says defensively. She crosses her arms and balances on her one good leg for a couple of seconds before having to rely on my support again.

“Respectfully, Stacy,” Holly says, “I think we’ll be better off if you chill for now. You’re clearly not in the best position for this.”

“Fine. I was planning on winding down, anyway. It’s been a long night.”

I help her over to her booth and carefully set her down. She does the rest of the work, positioning herself comfortably.

Looks like it’s just me and the inseparable, annoying duo of lovebirds.

Per usual, Cody’s out the doorway and in the hall before we’re even ready, so Holly and I lag behind. When we step into the hallway, I’m immediately hit by a second wave of goosebumps.

This is horrifying. At least last time I was partially joking about there being a ghost.

I try to listen for the noises of the ethereal creature, but we’re walking a lot faster than Stacy and I had been earlier. Cody’s not waiting for any sounds.

When Cody reaches the doorway, he steps in, not even hesitating a moment. I flinch, expecting to hear the earth-shattering scream of the ghoul inside. Instead, we’re met with silence.

“All good in there?” Holly asks.

“You guys ought to come in,” Cody replies from inside. Holly and I exchange a glance, eyes wide, and she almost instinctively grabs for my hand but decides against it. Someone clearly has separation issues. She steps in first, and I follow.

The room is completely dark. Where’d the oil lamp go? Is it extinguished already?

“I can’t see a thing,” Holly says, stating the obvious. “Cody?”

He doesn’t answer. There’s not a sound in the room. Even the wind outside the airship is hushed.

“Cody?”

“Ah!” he yells, jumping at us from behind a barrel, his vague shape appearing in the dark. We both jump, and Holly screams.

“You jackass!” she yells. “I thought something happened to you! I was so worried!”

“Oh, come on,” he says, “I had to do it. The setup was tremendous. That’s why I didn’t want Stacy in here. No need to break her leg more.”

“I hate you.”

“At least we’ve all gotten our screaming in for the night. There’s clearly no ghost. I’m not sure what you guys saw, but my guess is there’s some sort of rational explanation. Come on, let’s go to the diner and we’ll hunt for a new oil lamp.”

We make our return trip in complete silence, a stark contrast to the first time. I’m too pissed off to even think straight.

“Good news,” Cody announces, as we once again meet in the decrepit diner, “I’ve declared this place ghost-free. You don’t have to worry any longer, Stacy.”

Stacy lies quietly in her booth. Her breathing is shallow.

“Stacy, you good?”

Holly puts her hand on her head. “She’s burning up.”

“Oh, God, she’s probably dehydrated.” Suddenly, Cody’s boastful face is gone.