Page 69 of Mack's Horribly Hellacious Ghost Town
Someone had made a sort of shepherd’s pie, but it wasn’t baked. Instead, everything was separated into three different bowls, so you piled the filling on top of a bed of mashed potatoes, with the option to put sour cream and cheese on top. Hannah directed me to an entirely different bowl of mashed potatoes that she took out of the oven, where it had been warming.
“These are safe for you,” she explained. “The filling is safe as well.”
I appreciated that she’d looked out for me and gave her a quick hug. “Thank you.”
She hugged back and seemed pleased she’d helped.
I loaded up, sat at the table, and popped a bite in. Groaned. “I don’t know who cooked this, but I need the recipe.”
Gwyn lifted a hand. “Hannah and I did. I saw someone online make it and we decided to try it.”
“Good call. Seriously, good call.”
Lachlan managed to score a seat near Seiji, who sat at the head of the table. He seemed quite pleased with himself for managing it. Clearly, Lachlan was one to wear his heart on his sleeve. Or at least his libido.
I inquired of Seiji, “I assume Booker read you in on everything. Where do you want to start?”
“I want to tour the area in full first before I answer.” Seiji tapped the report in front of him. “Booker lent me his copy to read. I suspect several things are at play.”
Brandon joined me at the table, briefly distracting me, but he was intent on listening and eating.
Seiji flipped to the map of the area and traced things as he elaborated. “Your theory about the area being a time capsule is likely correct. Because of the limestone, the ghost town might have developed into a giant time capsule. I call things like this stone lockers.”
Gwyn had her tablet out, taking notes like mad. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“The geology of the location has formed a locker, or cage. It can either act as a record of past history or like a prison for the dead. Often, both.” Seiji made a face. “Such places can be formed by people but do not last long. These natural lockers can last centuries if not handled. I saw one place where almost a thousand dead were trapped. Undoing that was not fun.”
“Damn,” Brandon muttered, visibly disturbed. “But you did undo it, so it’s possible?”
“Certainly. Most things are. Not always worth the price, though.” Seiji gave a blasé shrug. “In any case, I need to get eyes on it. In daylight and at night, to see if the energy shifts. Often it will.”
Gwyn asked the question I was dying to ask. “How does chaos magic work? I don’t know anything about your magic type.”
“It is technically a psychic ability,” Seiji said, correcting her. “But calling it Chaos Psychic was heavily vetoed. I believe it was because the moniker sounded like a cheap villain in a knockoff comic.”
We all snorted at the deadpan delivery. Okay, I was going to like Seiji, he was fun.
“Chaos magician does sound better,” Gwyn said, eyes dancing with laughter.
“I agree. In any case, what I am is a conduit and guide. I use and harness the energy of the area around me, then mold it as I like. The more chaotic the energy of an area, the stronger I am. This has pros and cons.” He sighed, expression resigned. “On the one hand, in disasters, I am overpowered. I can do incredible things. But if that energy has not released yet, I am near helpless until the eve of the event. I cannot react as I do not have the power to do so.”
Lachlan followed this closely. “So, for example, if you see a dam about to break, you couldn’t do a thing about it because it hasn’t happened yet. But after it breaks, you have all the power in the world to handle the floodwaters.”
Seiji inclined his head to him. “Perfect analogy. I prefer cases like this, where the energy is already collected and pooled. I have time to reflect before I act.”
“Damn, I see where the timing would get tricky for you and how stressful that could get.” Quinn shook his head. “Yeah, cases like this would be easier for sure. But this phenomenon might be miles long. Like, a lot of area. You sure you can handle it?”
“I have no doubt it will take me time.” Seiji didn’t seem at all bothered by this. “But I should be able to undo it. There are things you can do to assist?”
“Sure,” Booker promised easily. “I think we can spare one or two people to help you as you need it. We want you to succeed here, after all.”
“Thank you in advance. Also.” Seiji regarded Gwyn with a slight tilt of his head, his dark brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I did not expect an apprentice. Gwyn, who is your master?”
She pointed to me even as I lifted my hand.
Seiji reoriented to face me better. “Ah, I see. Mack, I would like for Gwyn to spend at least a few days with me. One, it helps me if the people I work with know what a chaos magician does. Training her now will benefit everyone in the long run. Two, I need her to be hyperaware of the dangerous spots. Young as she is, if she tangles with the wrong energy, it can adversely affect her.”
Oh shit, he made a really good argument. “I’m all for it. For that matter, can I hang out with you? I want to know, too.”
