"You're right," Max said, as Liz and Maria caught up. Together, the group headed up the hill.
"You're not getting into the spirit of this democracy thing," Michael said.
"Sorry," Max said. "I thought I could get him."
"We'll all get him," Liz said.
Max nodded. They were stronger together. "Anyone see anything?" he asked.
No one responded, but as they got closer to the top of the hill, Michael said, "I see him."
At the top, the figure stood still for a minute and stared down at them.
"Hey! Stop!" Michael said. For a moment, the figure seemed to be listening. It remained still, watching them. Then it disappeared from view behind the top of the hill.
Max kept himself super alert, watching for any signs of the figure. Michael turned to Max. "This feels like a trap, Maxwell." Max nodded. He felt the same thing. They had been playing the figures game up until now. He or it had led them through the house and out here.
"Should we just walk into it, then?" Michael said.
"Yes," Max said, keeping his voice low. "He'll think he has us, but we have a few surprises of our own." Max wondered if Isabel had even had a chance to use her powers on the figure.
"Do you think our powers will even work on ghosts?" Michael asked.
"If it really is a ghost, we'll find out," Max said.
"The way I feel, I wouldn't want to be that ghost right now," Michael said.
"I know what…," Max began.
"What are you guys talking about?" Maria asked, leaning forward.
Michael turned to her and said, "Advanced military strategy, nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about."
There was a loud smack, and Max didn't have to turn around to know what caused it.
"Kidding," Michael said, raising his hands.
When they were near the top of the hill, Max stopped the group and said, "Let Michael and me get a few paces ahead."
"Wait," Maria said.
"We're better able to deal with a threat," Max said.
"You know, alien powers and all that," Michael added.
"Liz, you and Maria will have our backs," Max added. Liz nodded, and he knew she understood.
"Okay, we'll check out the top, make sure he doesn't get by us," Max said.
The girls nodded as Max and Michael took the last few steps. Leaning down, they peered over the top of the hill, which was actually a peak of some sort. The hill on the other side looked steep.
"Careful, we don't know how far down it is," Max warned.
"Max?" Liz whispered from behind them.
"Nothing yet," Max said, getting up slowly as Michael did the same. He took a few steps forward, scanning the area for any sign of the figure. He took a few steps down the other side of the hill, when he felt Michael grab his arm. Then Michael pointed down the hill with one hand while he grabbed a tree with the other hand.
Max immediately saw what Michael was pointing to. This side of the hill was much steeper, more of a cliff than a hill, leading down to a good-sized stream at least a hundred yards down.
"What is it?" Maria said from behind them.
"Don't come up here, it's very steep," Michael said.
"Yes, it's very dangerous," a voice said from Max's right.
His head immediately pivoted to see the figure they had been chasing standing less than twenty yards from them. In the dim light, Max couldn't make out any of its features, especially with the hood partly covering his face. But it was a he… Max could tell that much from his voice.
"We want our friends, right now," Max said, his voice firm.
"Max?" Liz called, as the girls came close enough to see the figure. Max waved his hand and they stopped, just on the other side of the hill's peak.
Then the figure took a few steps toward Max and Michael.
"We don't want any trouble," Max said. "We just want to take our friends and go."
"You shouldn't have come," the figure said.
"In a minute you're going to wish we hadn't," Michael said. He was about to explode, Max realized. They couldn't afford that now, not until they had Isabel and Kyle safe. After that, all bets would be off.
The figure laughed, the sound high-pitched and unpleasant. Then it began to cough. When it was finished, it pulled back its hood to reveal its ruined face.
He's sick, Max thought. No, not sick, it looks like he's… dead. With his peripheral vision, Max saw Michael jump slightly at the sight and heard both Liz and Maria gasp. He felt a crawling revulsion himself. Was this person dead? Was he seeing a ghost? Or something worse?
"Hey, freak show," Michael said. "How about you tell us where our friends are and we don't hurt you." The creature just stared at them. "We're not impressed by your tricks or your scary mask. We're not afraid of you," Michael continued, taking a step forward and raising his right hand.
The creature was silent for a moment and seemed to be sizing them up. "Too bad," it finally said. "You should be."
The creature raised its own hand, and Max felt something grab him, something he couldn't see. Then he was
stumbling forward, down the side of the hill. He heard Liz scream, and then he was flying through space.
Liz felt something touch her and shove her backward. Her arms went pinwheeling behind her, and she knew she was going down. Then Liz hit the ground and rolled to a stop, her face pressing down in the wet leaves and mud. Turning her head, she saw Maria close by in the same position.
"Maria," she said. Her friend immediately turned in her direction and nodded. She seemed okay. "Michael!" she cried, starting to get up. Then something caught Maria's eye, and she looked forward and screamed. Liz pivoted her head and saw the creature heading toward them.
Liz thought that whatever it was, it looked too real to be a ghost… but it didn't look alive, either, since its gray flesh was literally falling off its face and hands. The hood and cape just made it look creepier. About five paces away, the creature stood, looming over them.
"What did you do to Michael?" Maria said. Liz was surprised to hear anger in her voice, not fear. Liz felt the same thing. She saw Maria starting to get up, and did the same.
"Don't worry, you will be joining him soon," the figure said.
There was a flash of movement, and a rock hit the creature on the forehead with a thud, then dropped to the ground. It was immediately followed by a good-sized piece of the creature's forehead.