The Ghost Hunters and The Familiar Strangers

Carlos thought for a while about what Tessa could mean, and after thinking so much, it finally hits him. "Dang it!" He said forgetting Dalton was next to him and giving him weird looks. I have to find a way to undo this before it's too late. He thought. But first I need to think of a way to get Tessa out, once she's out, I can think of the rest.

~~~

"What do you mean by saving Carlos now is a bad idea?" Amelia asked Riele.

Riele looked at each of them before speaking. "If Carlos is being kidnapped by Dalton, believe me, it's either he is dead or Dalton has bundled him up and kept him somewhere. Looking for Carlos will be like looking for a needle in a haystack." She said.

Everyone thought about what she said but none of them could accept it.

"We can't just assume Carlos is dead or in the land of no return.." Tamara said. ".. we should find out that truth ourselves and not base this on assumption."

"This is not an assumption... I was there so I know precisely what I am talking about."

Amelia shook her head trying to get her brain to work with her now. "Dalton can't kill Carlos because he needs him." Amelia reminded them of what Tessa said. "Carlos is being held hostage... not dead, there's a big difference."

Riele folded her arms trying to hide her irritation. She needs to think of something. She thought as she looked at Xen who was in deep thought. "How about we let Xen decide what to do..." She held his hand. "... I am pretty sure he will know exactly what to do." She stroked his hand as Amelia glared at her.

"Well, Xen..." Tamara said looking at Xen. "What do you decide we do? Continue with the chip Jason has or believe Riele who has been there before?" Tamara threw the question at him.

Xen looked at everyone, it was at this point he wished he wasn't a leader but when he realized this was reality, he sighed. "I... um... think... we'll put Carlos's rescue mission on hold." He said as Amelia looked at him dumbfounded. "As you say," Jason said as he kept the chip inside the shelf.

"Are you guys kidding me right now?" Amelia asked. "This is Carlos we are talking about you guys... he is like a powerful weapon and if wield in the wrong hands, do you know how dangerous that can be?" Amelia tried to get everyone's attention but they were busy looking for ghost seers in trouble. She moved closer to Clarissa. "Tell me you know this is a wrong idea." Clarissa looked at her.

"Xen has been of help to us for the past seven years and his decisions have never been wrong. I know he knows what he is doing... all we need to do is trust him."

"Don't you guys think this is wrong?" Amelia asked loud enough for everyone to hear. "Just a few hours ago.. you..." She pointed at Xen. "... were talking about how saving Carlos is the priority and now your ex appears out of nowhere and you are taking back everything you have planned? Who the hell is she for her to come and change things for us, uh?"

Xen walked up to her with rage in his eyes. "Leave my girlfriend out of this! You hear me." Xen yelled. "You don't call the shots here... I do."

Amelia looked at everyone expecting them to say something, anything but they just kept looking at her and staying mute.

"I guess I am the only sane person in this room. If this is how ghost hunters behave; leaving one of their own to suffer while they play the safe card... well for your information... I am leaving." Amelia said as she walked to the exit. "I just hope when you realize I am saying the truth, then it wouldn't be too late." And with that, she turned and left.

They called her but she never turned back to respond to them. Is she making the right choice by leaving? She doesn't know but one thing she knows is leaving Carlos behind is the wrong choice.

After Amelia left, Xen and Riele went inside the room while Devon, Clarissa, Norman, Tamara, and Jason were staring at each other. They didn't know why but they felt miserable.

"Is anyone feeling miserable like I am or is it just that I have a weak heart?" Jason asked.

"I am feeling miserable," Clarissa said as they murmured amongst themselves. The conversation seems to be a no-ending one. Tamara looked at them as she banged her hand on the table causing total silence. Everyone turned to look at her knowing she has a plan or something.

She raised her hand trying to get their attention and when she did, she answered them saying, "I know we are feeling miserable but let's not forget that we have a mission and that's to save other ghost seers like us. If Xen has decided not to save Carlos for now, I am sure that's because he is trying to come up with the best plan. We wouldn't have been here if not for Xen... so please, let us trust him like we always have... doubting him right now won't do us any good besides having more ghost seers will make it easier to save Carlos. What do you guys think??" She asked.

They all sat down to think about it and they realized she has a point. More ghost seers can make saving Carlos and Tessy easier.

"I agree," Jason said raising his hand.

Norman and Devon raised their hands. "I agree." They said in unison. Everyone turned to look at Clarissa and when her eyes met theirs, she sighed.

"I don't know guys," Clarissa said with a little sadness in her voice. "I think Amelia has a point. We should save Carlos first before Dalton does something to him. We have no idea what Dalton is asking him to do that's if he is been held hostage as Amelia said."

"But Xen is the brainbox of the ghosthunters," Jason said.

"And Carlos is the heart." Clarissa stood up and tried to get ahold of herself. "Without Carlos, we wouldn't have come this far... his ideas, creation, weapons... is what has kept us this far. Yes, Xen is the brainbox, I agree but Carlos is the heart." She turns to face them. "I stand with Amelia... Carlos should come first."

"If you stand with Amelia, raise your hand," Xen said appearing from the room. He moved closer to them with Riele right beside him. Everyone became silent. "I said, if you stand with Amelia.. raise your hand."

Clarissa slowly raise her hand up as Xen turned to face her. "We are going to look for more ghost seers and if you aren't ok with that, you can leave just like your friend did." He said referring to Amelia. "Xen!" Jason and Tamara called as they were shocked at his attitude and utterance.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Xen turned and glared at them causing them to shut up and when they did, he turned his attention back to Clarissa who couldn't help but feel shocked. "Choose!" Xen commanded startling the hell out of everyone in the room.

"I don't know what has gotten over you Xen but the Xen I know would think things through before concluding and not just make an irrational decision based on what his ex-girlfriend says." Clarissa looked at everyone before looking at Xen. "I stand with Amelia."

"Then you know what that means," Xen said pointing at the exit.

Clarissa nodded and left.

"Anyone else??" Xen asked turning to face the rest. The rest of the members rushed to get busy looking for more seers.

All the while, Riele was smirking as she gave a smile of victory. I better tell Dalton about this so he can start preparing.

~~~

Amelia hasn't had any ghosts visit her yet and she was enjoying the peace this way she can get enough rest and think of a plan. She was just about to prepare dinner when she heard a knock on the door. She stood still for a while thinking she won't hear the knock again but it was heard again. She grabbed a mop as she slowly went closer to the door. "Who is there?" She asked but there was no reply. "Who is there?" She asked again twisting the handle as the door opened revealing Carlos and Tessa. Amelia froze as the mop fell from her hand. Carlos quickly locked the door as he dragged Amelia to the sofa where he made her sit. Amelia was dumbfounded and her eyes were fixed on them that she didn't move a muscle. "It's good to see you too," Carlos said as Amelia noticed some bloodstains, cuts, and bruises on Carlos. She slowly turns to look at Tessa only to find her feeding herself from the food in the fridge.

"What happened? How did... how did you guys...?"

"Shh!" Carlos placed his fingers on her lips shushing her. "I will explain but not now. First, we need to warn Xen about Rose."

Amelia became shocked. "R.. rose?" She asked.

Carlos nodded. "That girl isn't whosoever she is... that girl is Rose."

"What? But how??" Amelia asked when she heard a knock at the door. Everyone became tense even though Tessa froze at the spot with the food in her hand. "Are you expecting someone?" Carlos whispered.

Amelia shook her head as she went to check who the person is. "No one must know we are here," Carlos warned as he hid while Tessa disappeared.

Amelia opened the door only to her surprise, she saw Clarissa standing at the door wearing a long face. "Clair," Amelia called as she pulled her in. "What happened?"

"Xen told me to leave because I told him that you were right that um... saving Carlos should be our priority and he just yelled at me and told me to leave like the years we spent together meant nothing to him." Clarissa sobbed as Amelia hugged her. "I hate that girl... I do. How can that be his ex-girlfriend? Like how can he date someone like her? Was he blind when he was making his choices??" Clarissa asked wiping her tears.

"That is because she is not his girlfriend," Carlos said coming out from his hiding as Clarissa stopped crying. She slowly turned only for her to meet the shock of her life. Right in front of her was Carlos and a few seconds later, Tessa appeared. She opened her mouth to say something but no words were coming out. Amelia helped her close her mouth but Clarissa left it open again.

"Hi Claire," Carlos said as Clarissa froze.