Calling Out Mayday Chapter 03 (Early Preview)

Chapter 03: Spring Broken Part 3

They all braced themselves, expecting Danny to transform into some horrific creature after drinking from the flask. But nothing happened. Danny simply savored the taste with a pleasant nod.

"Huh. Real sweet. Strong flavor with a good kick."

He looked up at everyone staring at him. "What?"

Verosika's jaw dropped slightly, her pink skin flushing deeper. "That's impossible. That drink turns humans into monsters within seconds."

"Yeah," Millie added, pointing a clawed finger at the slimy remains nearby. "They become monsters like that octopus thing."

Tex, Verosika's imposing bodyguard, stepped closer. "You should be writhing on the ground right now, kid."

Danny glanced from the flask to the now-dead kraken. He suppressed a chuckle. "Well, I suppose it's a good thing I'm not human."

The group went still. "You're not?" several voices asked simultaneously.

"What do you mean you're not human?" Moxxie asked, adjusting his bow tie nervously. "You look human. You smell human, well, before."

"You've been smelling him?" Blitzo interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I. That's not what I meant," Moxxie stammered.

Verosika moved closer, her heels clicking on the pavement as she approached Danny. She leaned forward, her face inches from his. "I guess you're not any human I've ever met. So what are you, Mr. Hero?"

Danny shrugged. "I'm a ghost."

Verosika's face twisted. "Bullshit."

"A ghost?" Tex rumbled. "Like those wimpy translucent things humans claim to see?"

Millie rolled her eyes. "You're fucking with us."

"Ghosts are just stories humans tell to explain weird noises in their shitty houses," Moxxie said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah," Blitzo added. "Next, you'll tell us the Tooth Fairy is real, too."

Danny's mouth curved upward. "Shoot me."

This got everyone to pause. "What?!"

Blitzo grinned. "With pleasure."

"Wait, Blitz!" Moxxie started, but it was too late.

Blitzo pulled out a pistol and fired, but the mundane bullet passed through Danny's ectoplasmic body, leaving no trace as his form reformed instantly.

Jaws dropped and eyes widened.

"Holy shit," Tex whispered.

"That was awesome!" Millie exclaimed, jumping up and down. "Can you do it again?"

Blitzo fired twice more, both bullets passing harmlessly through Danny's chest.

Blitzo pouted. "Well, fuck. Ghosts are real."

"I can't believe it," Moxxie muttered. "All this time. The humans were right about something."

"Can all ghosts do that?" Verosika asked, circling Danny with newfound interest. "Or are you special?"

"Most ghosts have intangibility," Danny explained. "But we all have different powers beyond that." He let his eyes glow green. "I've got quite a few tricks up my sleeve."

"Fascinating," Verosika purred. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Loona, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "So if you're a ghost, are you dead? Like, were you human once?"

Danny hesitated. "It's complicated."

"Complicated how?" Tex asked.

"Half-dead would be the simplest explanation," Danny replied. "I'm both physical and spiritual."

"That's not possible," Moxxie insisted. "You can't be half-dead. That's like being half-pregnant."

Danny crossed his arms. "Yeah, and I'm learning Hell and demons are real." He raised a glowing green fist. "Listen, if I catch you guys killing again on my turf, it won't be without a fight."

The CEO of IMP leaned away from the heat radiating from Danny's fist. "Fine." Blitzo turned back to Verosika. "Y'know, we could keep this little B-movie scene on the down low if you agree to let us use that parking space."

"Wait, this is all about a parking space?" Danny asked incredulously.

"Not just any parking space," Blitzo explained. "The closest spot to the building. Prime real estate."

"It's my spot," Verosika insisted. "It's in my contract."

"A contract you signed while drunk off your ass," Blitzo countered.

"You got me drunk on purpose!"

"Details, details."

Verosika hesitated, glaring at Blitzo before giving in. "...Fine."

Blitzo erupted. "WE FUCKIN' WOOOOOOON!!!"

Millie jumped up beside him. "Fuck YEAH!"

"I can't believe that worked," Moxxie said, looking genuinely surprised.

Blitzo pointed at Verosika. "IN YOUR FACE, BIIIITCH!"

"Real mature," Danny muttered.

Verosika turned away. "Come on, let's get out of here. Tex!" she called out, motioning for her bodyguard.

Tex nodded. "You got it, boss." He turned to Danny. "Nice meeting you, ghost boy. Don't be a stranger."

"Yeah," one of Verosika's backup dancers chimed in. "You should come to Hell sometime. We could show you around."

"I'll, uh, consider it," Danny replied, not entirely sure if that was a genuine invitation or a threat.

Blitzo waved at Loona. "Come on, Loonie Tooney! Let's go back and park our fat fuckin' car in our fat fuckin' space!"

Loona grimaced. "Dad, stop calling me that in public."

"What? Loonie Tooney? But it's cute!"

"It's embarrassing," she growled.

Moxxie and Millie gleefully followed Blitzo through a swirling portal that appeared in the air. Loona trailed behind, looking dejected as she fell backward through the portal.

"Sorry about my dad," she muttered to Danny

Danny sighed. "Did you go out of your way to kill anybody here?"

"Not directly..." she tried to defend.

Danny pressed a hand to his face. "Just go..."

With that, she disappeared into the portal.

Blitzo jumped up and mockingly flipped the double bird at Verosika as he vanished. "SEE YOU NEVER, SUCCUBITCH!"

Verosika's eye twitched as she watched the portal close.

Danny shook his head. "Man, what an asshole."

Verosika turned to Danny. "You don't know the half of it. That ex of mine is a real piece of work."

"Ex?" Danny asked, surprised. "You dated that guy?"

"Biggest mistake of my afterlife," Verosika admitted. "One month of passion followed by years of regret."

Danny frowned. "Wow... Sorry you had to deal with that."

Verosika's shoulders slumped. "Yeah... It is what it is."

Later

Danny surveyed the ruined beach. His gaze lingered on the spots where bodies were likely hidden beneath the sand and debris. Palm trees lay splintered across what had been a dance floor hours earlier. Abandoned beach towels and coolers littered the shore, left behind when panic struck. The aftermath was clear, but for now, he focused on what he could do next. 

He turned to Verosika and her band, who stood huddled near their damaged equipment."You guys need any help?" Danny brushed sand from his white hair. His transformation back to human form could wait.

Verosika and her gang exchanged looks, shrugging in unison. The pop demoness adjusted her cracked heart-shaped glasses. "This isn't exactly our first rodeo with destruction," Verosika said, flicking a piece of seaweed from her pink hair. "Though it’s usually fun for everyone."

"For real," another band member added, trying to salvage a mangled guitar. "Remember Milwaukee?"

"Don’t remind me of Milwaukee," Verosika groaned

Tex, the towering bodyguard, approached Danny with an appreciative grin. His massive frame cast a shadow over the ghost boy as he extended a fist for a bump. "You kicked ass out there, little man. Hard to believe you were the same dude from before. One minute you're this skinny college kid sipping drinks, next you're flying around shooting green energy from your hands."

Danny returned the fist bump awkwardly. "Yeah, I get it."

"What are you talking about, Tex?" Verosika asked, curious. She looked Danny up and down again. "You know this ghost boy?"

Tex gestured toward Danny. "I was hanging out with this guy during the concert. Real chill dude. Called himself Danny... something. Didn't look like this, though." He squinted. "You can change your appearance as a half-ghost?"

“Yup.”

“Sweet!”

Danny sighed and looked at his watch. "Well, I should probably get going. My roommate's going to wonder where I disappeared to."

"Wait," Verosika called. "You're just going to save everyone and bounce? Not even going to stick around for a thank you drink?" She placed a hand on her hip. "Still, college boy, huh? Smart and heroic. I like that combination."

"Thanks, I think?" Danny scratched the back of his neck. “I kinda wanted to share a drink with you last time we met.”

"Last time?" Verosika's eyes widened with realization as she got a better look at him. She recognized that butt. "Wait, were you the cute human at the bar? The one who actually resisted my charms?" 

One of her band members snickered. "Vero's not used to being turned down."

"Shut it, Josh," Verosika snapped without taking her eyes off Danny. She looked him up and down with renewed interest. "Now I'm really intrigued." Verosika reached into her purse and pulled out a card. "If you ever want to learn more about my world, or just want to hang out with someone who understands the supernatural, give me a call."

Danny took the card, surprised. "I might take you up on that."

"I hope you do," she said with a genuine smile. "It's not every day I meet a mortal who can resist my charms and survive demonic liquor."

"First time for everything," Danny replied.

#

Before Verosika could respond, the wail of sirens pierced the night air. Blue and red lights flashed across the beach as police cruisers screeched to a halt on the sand. Two SWAT vans rolled in behind them, and the whirring chop of helicopter blades drowned out everything.

"What the actual fuck?" Verosika muttered, her expression shifting from flirtatious to annoyed in an instant.

Officers poured out of the vehicles, assault rifles raised. Spotlights from the helicopters bathed the small group in harsh white light. Danny, Verosika, and her crew were isolated in the center of a rapidly forming police perimeter.

"PUT YOUR HANDS UP, YOU SICK DEVIANTS!" A police officer's voice boomed through a megaphone. "WE HAVE REPORTS OF MASS INDECENCY, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, MURDER, AND POSSIBLE NARCOTIC DISTRIBUTION!"

Danny groaned in frustration. "This again." He glanced at the cops surrounding them. "Can't catch a break."

Vortex's massive frame tensed beside him. "Man, we didn't even do anything." He slowly raised his hands. "Not tonight anyway."

Apple whispered, "Boss, if they take us in and Hell finds out, we're screwed.”

"I know that," Verosika hissed back. She sighed dramatically and raised her hands in the air, pink manicured fingers splayed. "Alright, sluts," she muttered through gritted teeth. "Get ready to suck a lot of pig dick."

Her gang collectively groaned in disgust as they reluctantly raised their hands.

"Or we could kill them all," suggested Ace. "Just saying, it's an option."

"And bring more heat down?" Verosika countered. "We'd never hear the end of it from the higher-ups."

"Yeah. We're not doing that," Danny said firmly. He glanced at the crew. "Either option. You guys trust me?"

"DISPERSE ANY WEAPONS AND GET ON THE GROUND!" The megaphone crackled with static.

Verosika eyed Danny skeptically, her pupils contracting to slits for a moment before returning to normal. "We just met, pretty boy. Trust isn't exactly my forte."

"You prefer jail? Or whatever your green-haired friend was suggesting?"

Vortex leaned down. "Boss, I’m down to listen to this guy. A good vibe."

Verosika studied Danny's face, then nodded. "Whatcha got, hero?"

"FINAL WARNING! ON THE GROUND NOW!"

Danny placed a hand on Verosika's shoulder. "Huddle together and close your eyes."

Danny placed a hand on Verosika's shoulder. "Huddle together and close your eyes."

"That's your big plan?" Kiki scoffed.

"Shut it, Kiki," Verosika snapped. "Do what he says."

The group hesitated for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances, then complied, forming a tight circle around Danny. Five demons and one half-ghost, surrounded by cops with itchy trigger fingers.

"This better work," Verosika whispered, standing close enough that Danny could smell her perfume

As they closed their eyes, Danny took a deep breath. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a pulse of ectoplasmic energy outward, creating a burst of green light and thick smoke. Simultaneously, he turned himself and everyone touching him intangible.

"Open fire!" the lead officer commanded, and the police unleashed a barrage of bullets into the smoke.

But as the smoke dissipated, they were left staring at an empty beach. Danny, Verosika, and her gang had vanished without a trace.

The police officers lowered their weapons, exchanging bewildered looks as they realized their targets were gone.