”Yeahhh, this isn’t something I would willingly do otherwise,” he admitted to her. It was better to let her know of his reluctance now than later. Ezra didn’t need any pretty girls clinging onto him for comfort while he tries not to piss himself. “Serena, huh? Okay. I’m...Raz.” Chomping down on his bottom lip, the reporter almost caught himself revealing his name to this otherwise complete stranger. Idiot.

After agreeing to her suggestion with a head nod, the two began to approach the cabin in front of them, carefully ensuring there were no ghost pokemon ready to just jump out at them from the window or door. Ezra grimaced at the dilapidated cabin’s shattered front windows and ajar door, already feeling immensely uncomfortable with the situation. This place was NOT safe.

Ezra cautiously climbed the front two steps of the porch, each step creaking louder than the next, and inched his way to the door. From where they stood, they could see that the door was barely hanging onto it’s rusted hinges; one good push would sending it flying back. ” Let’s stay close together.” With the door ajar, Ezra could peak his head in and get a general sense of the inside’s layout. From what he saw, it was mainly empty, with the exception of a few pieces of outdated furniture. ”You ready Freddy?”

---

- mission
- @someone 

Ezra offered a quick nod before pushing the door open with a light shove. The door’s hinges wailed out in pain as the door swung inward, revealing the first floor of the cabin. Due to the severe lack of illumination, their sight was restricted to the small amount of light being allowed in through the now gaping door. Spooky.

A exasperated sigh left Ezra’s lips as he released his only fire type Pokémon, Melon, from out of his ball. The charmeleon released a low cry of excitement before following his trainer’s instruction to light the path forward with his lit tail. “At least we have a torch now...” With a small circle of light now guiding their expedition, the two reluctantly plunged into the unknown together.

The first thing worth noting was that the entrance immediately split off into three different directions: a small room to the left, the living room, and a Wooden staircase to the right. “Le-let’s just go forward, yeah?” While he would typically ask for suggestions, he feared both for his mental and physical safety too much to climb up those ancient stairs. And, well, if Serena wanted to venture off individually, that would be a decision she would have to make alone.

Each step they took bore out a loud, painful creak from the boards below, making Ezra shrink deeper and deeper into his jacket each time it would bellow out. Without warning, the television suddenly flicked on, brightening the living room with it's glow. Quiet static displayed on the screen. "Was...was that you?"

---

- Serena Malcolm

Serena's response sent a chill down his spine. If it wasn't her, the culprit here was clear... Ezra shook his head. Sure, he was scared shitless, but he knew there was no escaping their fate. The mission was the exterminate the ghost. Hiding from it only prolonged their eventual encounter. So, with a heavy sigh, the man balled up his hands into fists before hollering out, "C'mon ghostie! Come out of hiding n' face us!"

Crash!

To the right of them, a lamp 'fell' off the side table, shattering. "Ye-yeah?" Ezra puffed up his chest, doing his best to mask his fear, though his attempt was futile. His emotions were as clear as day. Quivering legs, raised brows, widened eyes, stretched out lips - he was exhibiting every sign in the book. "You can do better than that! C'mon!"

Before he could say much more, random items within the living room began to fly across the room, creating a swirl of chaos. Books were being flung to their left, the tv continued to flick through the various channels of pure static, and small decorations were being thrown  every which way. It was absolute madness. Ezra was forced to hunched forward in an attempt to dodge the flying objects, though, a few still managed to find their way to him.

Once everything began to subside, he unraveled himself and began to look around the room, hoping (not really) the villains of this story would show themselves. And they did. Floating a few feet in front of them were two smirking Misdreavus. With a yelp, Ezra leapt backwards, instinctively clinging onto his accomplice. The two Pokémon giggled before disappearing once more, ready to cause more havoc.

After releasing his position, Ezra immediately took a huge step away from Serena, a sheepish grin apparent. "Ah, my bad." His gaze then turned back onto the mischievous ghost Pokémon. With a quick decision, he released Sol, his Espeon, from her home. "Let's get this over with," He huffed before directing the Pokémon to aim at the two floating Ghosts.

---

- Serena Malcolm

When running from Hunters, Nickits often hide themselves in thick logs scattered throughout their homeland. They know once they go too deep inside, both the hunter's rifle and their Pokémon cannot reach, achieving the only bit of safety available for them. But, a good hunter isn't fazed by tactics like these. When their prey hides, they simply force them out - whether it be through inducing a fire from within the log or through provoking the creature further.

Today Ezra was that hunter.

With the jimmies still rattling his bones, he took in a whiff of air, and shouted, "Sol, use future sight." The Espeon simply purred in response to the command. Then, like switch flicking on, her eyes lit up with purple psychic energy. The process had started.

Unbeknownst to anyone besides the duo, several vortexes were forming in various places throughout the room, directed towards every inch of space. It would take a minute, but once set up, Sol would blast chunks of electrified concentrated energy into one of the vortexes near her. From there, it would implode and spew out from every other portal, like bullets firing out of a gun. These ghosts weren't escaping anything today.

---

- I know we hit 5/5 but im thinking we wrap up this encounter then have one "bye bye" post each.
- @serena