Posted to Walker Books, here’s the fifth part of my brand new Scream Street story – Shiver of the Phantom…

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Shiver of the Phantom

by Tommy Donbavand

Chapter Five

The Spell

Luke and Resus edged their way across Scream Street’s central square.

“Is he still with us?” asked Resus.

Luke looked through the 3D glasses at the seemingly empty space behind them. The ghost was trudging along a few metres behind. He wore a long tailcoat and a battered top hat.

“He’s here,” said Luke. “But he doesn’t look very happy.”

Resus took the glasses and peered at the phantom. He was shivering and looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment. “Do you think ghosts can have nervous breakdowns?” Resus asked.

“I’ve no idea,” said Luke, taking the glasses back. “They don’t have any nerves to break down, do they?”

“Maybe not,” said Resus, “but this bloke looks about as happy as a banshee at a sponsored silence.”

The ghost’s bottom lip began to tremble.

“It might be an idea to keep quiet,” Luke suggested. “I think he can hear us.”

Resus turned to where he presumed the phantom was standing. “Don’t worry!” he said far too loudly. “Our friend Cleo has gone to Everwell’s Emporium – that’s a kind of shop – to get a spell that will let us talk to you.” The vampire noticed that Luke was grinning at him. “What’s the matter?”

“Well, for a start, he’s a ghost, he’s not deaf,” Luke said with a smile. “Plus, he’s standing over here with me. You’ve just been talking to a lamppost.”

The silver doors of Everwell’s Emporium burst open and Cleo appeared. Spotting her friends, she raced over to join them.

“Did you get it?” asked Luke.

Cleo produced a magic wand with a shimmering red star at the top. “Voilà!”

“And this one won’t cause anything nasty to jump out at us?”

Cleo shook her head. “I asked Eefa; this is exactly the right spell for communicating with phantoms.”

“Not a minute too soon,” said Resus. “I don’t fancy spending the rest of the day talking to inanimate objects.”

“Eefa said we have to stand together and cast the spell over ourselves,” Cleo explained.

“And then we’ll be able to see him without the glasses?” asked Luke.

Cleo nodded. “And talk to him.”

“Let’s do it,” said Resus.

The trio huddled together while Cleo held the wand over their heads and read the magical words printed along the handle. The red star on the end began to glow, and then there was a flash of bright, scarlet light.

“Well,” said Resus, “did it work?”

“Something’s happened,” said Luke. “I can see right through you!”

Resus looked down at his body. Luke was right – he was transparent and so were both of his friends. “You idiot, Cleo!” he snapped. “You didn’t get us a spell that would let us talk to ghosts – you’ve turned us into ghosts!”

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