Papa eyed the investigators suspiciously. "Gertrude, them ghost people are here," he yelled. Gertrude came to the door.

"Ghost, Toast! Where have you been! I just called Colon and he said you hadn't come in to work today."

"We had other things to do," Toast stated flatly. Ghost bounced from one leg to the other. Papa pointed at him with his gun.

"What's wrong with you, boy?"

Ghost looked startled by the question. "Oh, um...I" he began. He cleared his throat. "I'm fine. Just hyper." He said it slowly, and carefully, like he was afraid of messing up. This only made Papa and Gertrude more suspicious.

"Can we come in?" Toast asked, but the way he said it made it sound more like a demand.

"No," Papa said. 

"The kids are sick. You don't want to risk it, it's already killed them each twice," Gertrude added in. Toast still didn't emote and Ghost started fidgeting even more. Gertrude smiled and started to close the door, but Toast grabbed it.

"We'll be fine. Let us in."

"I said no!" Papa shouted. He shot Toast in the chest and slammed the door closed before Ghost could react. He locked and then locked the backdoor. "Something's wrong with 'em," he grumbled. He turned to the table that everyone else was still sitting at. "All of ya get in the basement. Now."

"Why?" Billy asked. Papa's serious tone scared him, Papa didn't use that tone unless he was certain something was very, very wrong.

"Just go. Now!" he barked. Everyone shot up and bolted for the basement. Sue was the first one down, as he tripped on the top stair and fell right to the bottom. Sally bounced down the stairs and, unfortunately, stepped on Sue's stomach before he could get up. Billy followed after, also stepping on Sue. Then came Phil, who helped Sue up. Dan was right behind him. 

"Are you alright?" Dan asked. Sue nodded.

"Yeah, I've dealt with worse. One time we forgot to feed Freddie and I went out to pet him...it was messy," Sue said. Dan and Phil, not sure how to respond, just winced and walked over to Sally and Billy. Spencer was glaring at them, his face and his hair almost the same color.

"WHAT ARE YOU NERDS DOING IN MY BASEMENT!" 

"Papa told us to come down here!" 

"OH NO. I ALREADY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT SHADOW THING YOU MORONS CALL AN UNCLE. THEN THE TWO BRITISH GIANTS GET A ROOM DOWN HERE! AND THEY GET ACTUAL BEDS AND FURNITURE! I DON'T WANT YOU ABSOLUTE NERDS DOWN HERE! IT'S INSUFFERABLE ENOUGH THAT THE MIGHTY SPENCE, GREATEST MIND OF ALL TIME, HAS TO LIVE IN THIS TRASH DUMP!"

"QUIT YELLIN'!" Papa yelled from upstairs. Spencer went quiet but continued to give everyone the stink eye. 

"At least go into the other room! I'm trying to win a fight against this kid whose been taunting me on World of Warcraft!" Spencer whisper-yelled. "Go now! Go!"

Dan and Phil didn't need to be told twice. They were very glad to have a wall separating them and the acne ridden ginger. The Acachalla siblings, however, stayed back to torment Spencer some more.

Back upstairs Papa and Gertrude were watching the doors carefully. Papa had his shotgun loaded and ready to fire and Gertrude had her crowbar raised. They waited for something to happen. For Ghost to try and sneak in, for Toast to try and break a window, something. 

But nothing happened.

Which only made them more anxious. 

A bird chirped from somewhere nearby. Chirp chirp.

Waiting.

Chirp chirp.

Waiting.

Chirp chirp.

Why was nothing happening?

Chirp chirp.

Maybe they left.

Chirp chirp.

Maybe there was no reason to be worried.

Chirp.

They must be gone, right?

Wait.

Why'd the bird stop chirping?

BANG!

Hi! So sorry I've been inactive in updating! And sorry this is so short! I meant to post this sooner but (prepare for an onslaught of excuses) Who Killed Markiplier happened and then school started up agin for me like right after and then I got sick. I'm still sick, actually. My throat feels like I swallowed a cheese grater.  Also sorry if this isn't a very good chapter. Like I said, a lot happened, Plus my brain doesn't always work right when I'm sick. Okay, now I'm just rambling. Again, so sorry!