Spider Quinn 24 Something Unnatural Part 3

 

Each of them quickly found their seats.

 

Daria and Quinn’s seats were to the right of the first base, with Trent and Jamie’s to the left of third.

 

“We have a good view at least,” Daria said to Quinn over her phone.

 

“Therefore, one or more of us should see where the ghost would appear from.”

 

“I sure that we’ll see something.”

 

“The teams are coming out now, call you later.”

 

Daria put the phone away and focused on the field around the pitcher’s mound.

 

 

The game started well enough, but the ghost appeared nearly fifteen minutes after the initial pitch.

 

“Returning after last night, the ghost is interrupting the game.”

 

 

Quinn was in a position such that she noticed something right before the ghost appeared.

 

But she wasn’t the only one.

 

 

Immediately, the game was halted and the announcer soon started directing people to leave the stadium slowly.

 

“The ghost is still there,” Daria said as she grabbed her phone. But instead of Quinn or the guys, she called... “Sandi!”

 

“I saw it on the TV. I’m coming now.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“I can be there in six minutes.”

 

“You don’t need to take a car,” Daria said with slight annoyance in her tone.

 

“Using Mother’s,” Sandi responded.

 

“With her permission?”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

Quinn quickly moved through the stands. The ghost was still on the field, throwing the balls. She took out a polaroid camera and quickly took a couple of photos. “But you’re staying at that spot? Why? Enjoying the panic in the crowds? Or is it something else.”

 

 

Trent knew he had to do something. He tried calling Daria, but there was a busy signal. ‘I suppose I could call Janie, so she could show up as the Shadow.’

 

“Hi Trent, I suppose the ghost has appeared?”

 

“Yes, a few minutes ago. The spectators are leaving the stadium slowly, but the ghost is just standing there near the mound.”

 

“And you want me to come as the Shadow?”

 

“Yes. In case we need more people and your gadgets can probably help.”

 

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

 

 

After calling Sandi, Daria made her way towards the broadcaster’s booth. ‘If there is anywhere where there would be a good view of every part of the field, it would be there,’ she thought.

 

As she got close she saw someone inside, who wasn’t the usual radio announcer. ‘I’m sure he left. Then her phone rang. “Quinn?”

 

“The ghost is still near the mound,” Quinn said. “I have taken several photos and he hasn’t moved much.”

 

“But he has moved.”

 

“Only a little.”

 

“Like he could be expecting something,” Daria said.

 

“Like the vigilante heroes?”

 

“That’s most likely it.”

 

“I’m sure some of them already know,” Quinn said.

 

‘Like Dafoanairi and the Enigma,’ Daria thought as she entered the booth. “I’m at the announcement booth. Someone’s here.”

 

“Do you want me to come there?”

 

“Keep an eye on the ghost for now.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Daria hung up and approached the other person.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Daria Morgendorffer. I have been looking into the strange stuff that’s happened in Lawndale since SpiderGIrl first appeared.”

 

“Rhea Tomlinson,” the other said with her hand held out.

 

“One of the Sun-Herald’s sports reporters,” Daria realised.

 

“The most prolific,” Rhea confirmed.

 

“I see that you’re not modest.”

 

Rhea burst into laughter briefly. “No, I’m not. I guess you don’t read many of my articles.”

 

“No. I’m not that interested in sports. I’m only here because of the ghost.”

 

“Ah!”

 

“And the ghost is still around the mound,” Daria commented.

 

“Near the trap door to the old stadium.”

 

“You know about that?”

 

“From word of mouth stories mostly,” Rhea answered. “The Council isn’t usually forthcoming with the old plans. Not even with Penelope.”

 

“You mean, Mrs. Jericho?”

 

Rhea sighed. “Yes!”

 

‘I see there’s some rivalry there,’ Daria thought as she looked at the screens. The ghost was starting to move. She looked into the stands and saw that most of the people had left. ‘Most of those remaining are probably as curious as us about the ghost.’

 

“I’m not sure you’re going to get much out of that.”

 

“Maybe not, but I’ll try for the moment,” Daria said.

 

 

At the same time, Jamie got down to the field and looked at the ghost from the side line. “Certainly a costume of some sort,” he said.

 

The ghost turned towards him.

 

He gulped “You shouldn’t be interrupting baseball games.”

 

 

“What is he doing?” Daria asked as she looked at what Jamie was doing.

 

“Is that Jamie White?” Rhea asked.

 

“Yes. I know he’s a member of the school’s football team.”

 

“Nearly as reckless as Kevin Thompson.”

 

“I see his reputation is well known,” Daria commented.

 

Rhea laughed again.

 

 

Quinn saw the ghost move towards Jamie. ‘I have to get there quickly, but not as SpiderGirl.’

 

 

The ghost threw a ball at Jamie, but he dodged it, and the ball bounced off of the side. ‘Just a flaming ball,’ Jamie thought.

 

“No more games!” the ghost said.

 

“As in no baseball?”

 

The ghost then charged.

 

 

Daria looked on and then saw both the ghost and Jamie shimmer and vanish. “Did you see that?” she asked Rhea.

 

“Yes. Where have they gone?”

 

Daria looked at the equipment. It was complex, but she was sure she would be able figure it out quickly. She glanced at the time. ‘Sandi should be here in another two minutes.’

 

 

Jamie found himself in the old stadium.

 

“This isn’t good,” he said as he looked around and saw that he was in one of the locker rooms. There had to be a way out. He left the locker room and found a long corridor and part of the foundations of the modern stadium above.

 

 

The Enigma pulled up into the emptying parking lot close to the entrance. She then texted Dafoanairi (who she was sure was still acting as the ordinary Daria).

 

Enigma: I have arrived.

 

Dafoanairi: Good, because the ghost has taken Jamie.

 

Enigma: He has? What happened?

 

Dafoanairi: Jamie went down to the pitch and tried to argue with it.

 

Enigma: I’ll be right in.

 

 

Daria turned her attention from her phone, back to the equipment.

 

“Was that Jamie?” Rhea asked.

 

“No. It was the fourth vigilante,” Daria responded. “Besides, I doubt there would be a signal down there anyway.”

 

“Oh, of course,” Rhea said. “Wait! You know the fourth vigilante?”

 

“In a way,” Daria answered carefully.

 

Rhea was then silent as Daria worked the equipment.

 

 

Daria found the feed and rewound so that she saw Jamie and the ghost. “I’m going to go forwards slowly.”

 

Rhea nodded.

 

 

The Enigma found an emergency exit and used her telekinesis to open it from the other side. She dashed inside. ‘Right. Jamie has been abducted. Should I search for him? I might need the locate ability later.’ She decided that she would risk it.

 

 

Daria got another text.

 

Sandi: I’m using my search ability to find Jamie.

 

Daria: Are you sure that’s a good idea?

 

Sandi: It would take a while otherwise.

 

Daria: Go ahead.

 

 

The Enigma grabbed an energy drink from her satchel and downed it.

 

“Findu mann sem heiter: Jamie White!”

 

She found Jamie in the old stadium looking for a way out. But she also was focused enough to find a couple of routes to him.

 

 

Daria read the message from Sandi and then called Quinn. “Quinn, the fourth vigilante has found Jamie.”

 

“That’s good, right?” Quinn asked.

 

“She’ll get to him before anyone else, and her powers are a good defense against those flaming balls.”

 

“That’s a good point. Still, I’ll try to find a way down.”

 

“Don’t try to do it by yourself,” Daria said in a protective tone.

 

“I can handle it.”

 

‘She’s going to do it anyway,’ Daria thought.

 

 

Quinn hung up from Daria and approached the spot where Jamie had been. ‘But how to web it without being seen?’ she wondered. Even so, she examined the play surface and found the seems of the trap door. ‘Why would there be trap doors around this stadium?’ It didn’t make sense to her.

 

 

Daria looked up from the screen again and saw that Quinn was looking around the spot where Jamie last was.

 

“It looks like she’s going to try to follow him,” Rhea said.

 

“She’s going to be careful about it,” Daria said.

 

“Aren’t you concerned?”

 

“Of course I am. But Quinn’s capable.”

 

 

The Shadow pulled up in the Shadow Car as close as the vehicle could get. The floodlights still lit the outside of the stadium, but she found a spot they didn’t cover as well. “So, new stadium, built on top of the old one,” she mused. “Not creepy at all.” She then fired a grappling hook to climb up to the roof, which was still closed against the forecast rain.

 

 

The Enigma soon ran into Jamie.

 

“Who are you?” Jamie asked.

 

“The fourth vigilante.”

 

“Right. But you have a name, right?”

 

“Yes. The Enigma, but I keep it secret for a reason,” the Enigma responded.

 

“Right. The other heroes know, right?”

 

The Enigma sighed. “Yes, but lets get you out of here.”

 

“Back up to where Daria and Quinn are?”

 

“Yes. The ghost is still causing problems.”

 

“Ah ha!” Daria said as she found the moment the ghost abducted Jamie. She saw that there was a second trap door at the spot.

 

“But why are there at least two trap doors on a baseball field?” Rhea asked. “It makes no sense.”

 

“I have no idea either,” Daria admitted.

 

“I guess it’s something for Penelope to look into,” Rhea said with a sigh.

 

“You’re rivals aren’t you?”

 

“What do you think?”

 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Daria responded.

 

 

Trent got a text from Jane.

 

Janie-Shadow: I’m now up on the roof. Status report?

 

Trent: Jamie tried to confront the ghost and was abducted into the old stadium.

 

Janie-Shadow. Then I’ll make my way down there.

 

 

Quinn managed to get the trap door open. “But Daria will worry,” she murmured before sending a text to Brittany about the situation. Then she slipped down into the understructure.