“I’ll never forget that day. My name is Cade Mayson, and this is my journal I write just in case the aliens capture us. I think they want to destroy us all, but for some reason they can’t yet. I don’t really like writing that much, because to write I have to sit down and be still. How do I know this? Well, I tried writing this while playing tag, but my writing looked like this:
So I guess I’m stuck sitting down and writing, as fast as I can, but writing really fast didn’t work so good either. Anyway, I have to write this, so here goes nothing. I’ll never forget that day, when school ended, and I played tag with Blake on the way home. I let him get close three times, and all three times I got away. The best part was when I ran up the side path toward a big burger stand. A lot of people were there. There was no way through. Blake thought he had me. But he didn’t see the small boat running along the channel next to me. I kept slowing down so we were even. Then, just as he was about to get me, I jumped in the boat, and sped to the other side. I laughed all the way home, but I stopped when I got inside, and saw all the furniture gone, except for in my room. My parents were gone, and they took everything with them, except me…
But I think they’re on a secret spy mission to figure out how to destroy the aliens from the inside, and they’re sending me clues. I think the time is coming when the revolution will begin, and we will reunite to fight them together. In my school in Cashes Dade, before the aliens destroyed it, I saw a small painting of a massive tower lit up under a bright, dazzling light shining from the top down reaching almost every corner. The golden lights across the surface and in the windows glowed in the dark. It wasn’t there before. My parents told me about this tower once. They saw it on one of their business trips. It was pretty much the only thing they ever told me about their business trips. Now all the sudden I find it in a hidden hall? I think my parents put it there, knowing I would find it…
Last year, when we fought our battle against the aliens in the mountains, and won, and they couldn’t catch me either, I was really fast. I faked them out so many times I think they’re still chasing me. You should have seen it. I was like a blazing fire that disappears, like a blazing ghost, no, a ghost on fire. That doesn’t make sense. Ghosts can’t catch on fire, so…what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the battle. I saw a clue, a big one. Actually, I didn’t see it, I heard it. I heard a lady singing in the distance, and I thought it might be my mom. She sang opera, with no real words, just pure music soaring through the mountains. The last thing my mom told me was, ‘Take the bridge.’ Our friend Casey told me he heard my mom once in a furniture store where he helped finish chairs. He heard her tell someone else about a bridge, a bridge that connects across great distances. The bridge was music…
Now, I just got this letter:
Cade Mayson,
A new play run by the aliens is about to begin in Dayascade. But the students are in grave danger. The aliens have a sinister plan for them. I need your help; you and your friends. I know who you are. My country needs the Glittering Fountain. The aliens stole it. They have it hidden deep in the school. They’ll only bring it out on stage during the play. That’s our chance. We must make a great escape with this before all the stars go dim. We have to save the students, help them escape the punishment. If you help me pull this off, I’ll lead you to the one you’re looking for, someone who knew your parents, someone who can help you on your quest. Meet me at the top floor balcony of the Devon in Dayas Caradames on Sunday night, April 17th at 11:00.
This is what I’ve been waiting for, exactly what I’ve been waiting for, to talk to someone who my parents would have shared their secrets with. Blake and Drew think it’s a trap, but I don’t. I think it’s my chance to finally solve this mystery…
Sometimes I still remember what it was like with my parents. They didn’t talk to me that much, especially about their business. I heard a lot of whispering. I would get close, but they would walk away. We didn’t spend much time together. I was busy, playing tag, playing other games, exploring, scaring my neighbors…Well, they were gone a lot too. They didn’t seem like they wanted to talk to me, especially at the end, and sometimes I wonder about that. Sometimes I wonder why they were like that. But there’s something missing, something mysterious about it all that I just can’t quite figure out…
It’s time for the next mystery challenge. We’ll head back out to Cashes Dade and join Josiah, Casey, and the ghost strikers for the story about the fort at Ghost Peak which is now under siege. Josiah is looking for his dad’s final message to him. There is a secret power in this mountain that can be used to defend the fort against the aliens, making it too strong for them to destroy. The clues will be there. The four lines that Josiah’s dad told him about the mountain are the main clues. Is it a stone? Is it a jewel? Is it a mineral? What do you think? This is what he told him:
“You will find my final message at Ghost Peak
There is a mysterious power the aliens seek
Look closely and wait to see the pieces appear by light
Then you can solve the puzzle to hold the fort at night”
If you haven’t read chapter one, go back and check it out. Leave a comment below if you think you know the answer. Can you solve the mystery?
Josiah’s bright eyes shot back and forth between the two crowds of dark ghosts pressing in on both sides.
“I have a shooter and some powder,” he said, turning to Cade, Blake, and Drew. “I’ll blast an opening, we can fly through.” Blake gazed at the piles of large dusty rocks lining each wall. Dark gold lights flickered in a slow rhythm, barely cutting into the tunnel’s center.
“I have a better idea,” he said. “Blast them, then we cut through the rocks.” The ghosts waited on both sides.
Cade nodded. “We’ll lose them.” Josiah pulled out his small cylinder shooter. “Me and Blake left, you and Drew right.” He struck a match. He pointed it ahead, then spun around, shooting out a narrow blue fire into the ghosts. The kids split off. Dark gold lights raced by. Several ghosts reached for Josiah.
He blazed past. A ghost cut right in front of Drew. He slid to a stop. He looked around frantically.
Ghosts fell into the narrow space ahead of Cade and Blake. Blake jumped from rock to rock, flying past the reaching ghosts. As he jumped over another one, it just caught his left shoe. He tripped.
Cade jumped over a rock. He slid between two others. Several ghosts rushed in on him. He started up. They reached for him. A cool rush struck them as he dove down. Then Cade sped past the rocks, into the wider tunnel ahead. Three more ghosts suddenly popped up directly ahead.
Drew stared at them with fiery intensity. He backed up. Then he stumbled back, slid down, wildly grabbing at the rocks. The ghosts rushed in on him. With a crazed yell that shook the hall, he exploded out, throwing several smooth, oval shaped stones directly at them.
The ghosts fell back as Drew sped past.
Blake put his hands out. He landed on the next rock on all fours. The ghosts moved in. Then with a kick he knocked one back, launching over another, before scrambling ahead.
Blake and Drew hurried ahead, catching up to Josiah before disappearing into another tunnel just ahead of Cade.
Cade gazed up the left gloomy wall, then the right wall dimly lit by a few wide-spaced dark gold candle clusters. Then he stared directly at the ghosts, and slowly broke a wry smile. He started straight ahead, faked left, faked right, then went hard and fast diagonally to the left.
The three ghosts moved toward him. He got down low, prepared to dive. The ghosts closed in. Then Cade shot off to the right while they slid left. With a bright smile, he raced ahead down the curving tunnel before disappearing into a dark opening.
Loud booms started rocking the narrow, dark tunnel, in a constant series, one after another after another. Josiah gazed up anxiously, shielding his eyes from the falling dust.
“They’re really going after us,” Drew said in a low voice. Blake and Cade just nodded. The kids hurried down the tunnel winding back and forth, sloping down. Dead whistles echoed out behind them.
“Go, go,” Cade urged. Dim, dark gold light slowly spilled into the widening tunnel. As the heavy barrage continued, the kids jogged ahead into a cavern, with candle clusters lining the curved walls to the left and right. Blake stopped and gazed back down the tunnel.
A slow chilling rush came through, entering the cavern. “They’re after us, they’re after us.”
“They’re in the right tunnel,” said Josiah, jogging toward the dim, blue flashing tunnel entrance on the right wall ahead. He whistled three short, fast notes into the tunnel. Cade gazed into the center entrance leading into a wide tunnel. Dark shadows curving sharply to the left and down flickered to the rhythm of the overpowering booms.
Blake pushed past flickering dark mist entering the cavern running over to the far left entrance leading to a narrow, slick dark tunnel with steps leading up high. Clanging sounds echoed in the right tunnel. The blue lights quickly receded.
“We have to go in one of these,” Josiah said, talking fast, pointing to the two tunnels further left. Cade gazed deeply into the center tunnel, the dark flickering wall curving sharply to the right and up. “They both lead out.”
“They’ll be in here any second,” said Blake, as cool winds pushed past him from the right. “Let’s just take the left one.”
“Either way they’ll chase us out there,” said Cade. “We need to get them lost.” He took another long gaze into the center tunnel, then spinning back he said, “This one. They’ll get turned around in this one.”
The other kids gathered next to him, looking in.
“Looks good to me,” said Blake. “Let’s go.”
“Not yet,” answered Cade.
“Not yet?” asked Drew. Blake held his arms out wide.
“Let them catch up.”
“It’s not a game,” said Josiah.
“It’s cool,” said Drew, “he does this all the time.”
“He has a good reason, right Cade?” He stared up at the shifting shadows up high with every strike. “CADE?”
“Oh yeah, there’s a reason.” Dark spirits entered the cavern.
“Now would be a good time…”
“We lead them in here, lose them, follow me,” said Cade, before shooting off into the dark tunnel heading right. The other three followed close. Strong booms rained down over them. Blake glanced back. Dark ghosts chased after them.
“How we losing them?” asked Blake.
“Just keep going right,” said Cade. “We’ll disappear soon.”
“How?”
“In the shifting mists.” Dim blue light appeared ahead. Cool winds rushed past them. Dark, flickering mists fell over them moving left like massive curtains falling down. Blake glanced back. All he saw was empty dark space. Small intense flashing lights appeared in a narrow high opening far ahead in the distance.
The kids jogged up the long rocky slope. Drew flinched with every striking boom. The others just stared ahead with grim expressions. After awhile, they began to hear faint singing cutting through the relentless rocking. Callie’s sweet, steady voice rang clear.
She sang a slow rhythmic song with a slow rising melody, her strong, peaceful notes reaching out, reaching higher, reaching through the alien storm. Drew stopped flinching. The kids listened to Callie’s song as the booming grew distant.
Brilliant lights flashed at various points in the narrow dark opening. The kids stopped at the exit. They got down low behind a large rock. Blazing blue alien ships flew fast across the sky in wild loops. Some dropped fire balls. Others shot down blazing blue fires.
Several ships dropped down like vultures. Josiah gazed up at the square blackstone fort top, a short distance slightly up slope to their left. David remained standing still, leaning over the front edge of the balcony. The DadeStar flag lit by fast flashing dark orange lanterns remained completely still.
Three lines of intense flashing blue fires rained down across the upper left slopes. David gently waved a red light in his left hand. Soldiers appeared from under the neon blue glowing Sunday Evergreens. They fired out dark orange cannon fires up at the lower ships. Explosions in the sky pushed them back. Several more dropped down low over the slope above.
A small series of cannonfire shot out at them. Casey Cardade flew straight across the slope in the opposite direction of the firings. The alien ships drew back. One drifted to the left. Casey dove down behind several rocks. More dark orange cannon fire shot out driving the ship back. Slim, dark shadows fell away fast down the slope.
An alien ship flashing in brilliant white and gold lights dropped down suddenly from the sky to the rocks. It dropped a fire bomb. The rocks exploded in a bright flash. Josiah watched with a grave expression.
“What if they got him?” he asked.
“No way,” said Blake. Cade gazed around at the lower slope. A slim shadow blazed down slope, disappearing into a cluster of large stones. Cade just smiled and shook his head. He turned his gaze back up to the fort top. David stood still, now with both hands on the balcony edge, staring out across the lower mountain.
In a sonic rush, all the ships shot off in various directions, leaving the night sky empty. A chilling silence fell over them as they emerged from the tunnel to check out the damage.
Later that night, Cade, Blake, Drew, Josiah, and Casey met with David and Callie in a secret meeting room near the top of Ghost Peak. After having snacks at a round table, dimly lit by a bright gold candle cluster at the table center, and dark orange lanterns hanging from the blackstone wall of the room.
The room was embedded into the mountainside with a large, rectangular dark blue glass window looking out over the lower mountains in a blurry, misty dark blue haze under the black night sky.
David, with a mildly athletic build, sat at the left corner facing the window. Blurry moonlight lit up his short brown hair and strong, chiseled face. Callie’s bright face lit up in pure shine, with the light glittering through her dark, curly hair as she sat next to him. Casey and Josiah sat to their right looking directly out the window, while Cade, Blake, and Drew sat with their backs to the window.
“How did we hold up?” asked Josiah.
“They knocked out two of our five key stores,” said David. “Three soldiers were seriously hurt. We have a lot to rebuild tomorrow. We’re running out of time. If we can’t get the tunnel back to Cashes Dade completed where we can send in more food and supplies before we run out, we’ll lose the fort. By the way, you guys did a good job keeping the ghosts from finding the mines.”
Josiah stared at David questioningly for a long moment, then said, “That’s not all is it?” David turned his strong gaze out the window for a moment, looking at the dark ripples flowing across the night sky over the dreamy waves of mountain peaks below.
“We’re losing support,” he said quietly. He met Callie’s concerned gaze for a moment before turning back to Josiah. “The people are losing hope that we can hold this fort, and some don’t believe it’s worth holding at all.”
“You think they’ll attack again soon?” asked Josiah.
“I believe so,” answered David. “They’ve been trying to find our weak points, trying to figure out how our fort is laid out through the mountain. I think tomorrow night they’ll come back, and hammer us.”
“That’s why we’re here,” said Cade. He downed his third cup of red juice before adding, “There’s a secret power.”
“I don’t know about that,” David answered, “the aliens seem to believe we’re holding this fort to protect some kind of gold minerals that can form intense weapons, possibly strong enough to overcome the power holding the new Cashes Dade at the mountain top.”
“My dad knew the mountains better than anyone,” Josiah answered quietly. “If he believes there’s something powerful here, there is.”
“What’s this gold mineral?” asked Blake, leaning far back in his chair.
“It glitters like stars in the distance,” David answered, “then when you get closer they move away. It’s difficult to find their exact location.”
“Tomorrow we’ll explore the mountain,” said Cade. “We’ll find whatever it is.”
“What do you know about this mountain?” asked Blake, grabbing the table suddenly as his chair almost fell back.
“From bottom to top there are five key locations,” said Callie. “There are the deep pools that reveal a lot in reflections. Then the narrow tunnels with the glass walls cut through above that. Higher are the deep water channels that rise and fall, changing the shapes of the stones and minerals. After that are the high shelves and then toward the top the high steps.”
“Sounds like we have a lot of ground to cover,” said Drew.
“Take it one step at a time,” said David, “and take your time. Look at each stone, jewel, or mineral really close.”
“Doesn’t sound like we’ll have much time,” said Cade, tapping his shoes rapidly on the dusty ground.
“Don’t rush it,” said David, “or you’ll never find it. If I were you, I would spend time with the miners. They know this mountain better than anyone.” Josiah’s eyes lit up. Blake’s chair came crashing down, almost launching him onto the table. Cade just shook his head with a sideways smile.
Later the next morning, Cade, Blake, Drew, and Josiah crept into the massive caverns inside the base of the mountain. Creamy blue lights streamed through various tall, narrow openings in the outer walls cutting down into the murky darkness.
A long row of large, rectangular pools appeared up and down the cavern. Small blue and white speckled dusty rocks crunched under their feet. Drew picked up one and tossed it into a dark blue pool. The small ripples died out fast.
Blake gazed up the empty high blackstone wall. Josiah suddenly jogged up between two pools. He started singing a low, moderately paced song.
“Do you think there are any stones or jewels in these pools?” asked Drew.
“Only one way to find out,” said Cade. Josiah spun around sharply after hearing a loud splash.
“Are you crazy?” asked Blake.
“Aaaaaoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrr.” Cade gasped for air, struggling back to the pool’s edge.
“What’s his problem?” asked Drew.
“It’s March. It’s freezing in there,” said Blake. Cade struggled out of the pool, and sat on the rough ground shivering uncontrollably. Blake just shook his head. Josiah hurried over with a pile of slim, dark arrow shaped stones. He lit a match, then placed it gently on the pile.
“You think those will start on fire?” asked Blake.
“Not on fire,” said Josiah, “but they’ll smoke.” Blue lights flickered around them. Strong winds rushed down through the openings. A sharp chill crossed over their feet.
“Dark spirits,” Drew whispered.
“They’re in here somewhere,” said Blake. The kids looked around the empty, whistling cavern. Dark shadows flickered in several upper tunnel entrances. “We better go after them.”
“I’ll stay here with Cade,” said Josiah as the smoke started up. “You guys check it out and we’ll catch up.” Drew picked up one of the slim, dark arrow shaped stones and tossed it far into the next pool. Small ripples slowly expanded, more and more until forming small waves. In the center the water turned blood red.
“Woah, look at that,” said Drew pointing. The kids stared with intense curiosity at the red lit water. “Maybe these stones have the power.”
“We already use them,” said Josiah, “but we can study them more later.”
“What were you thinking?” asked Blake, looking down at Cade huddled by the smoke.
Pale, empty ghostly faces reflected across the dark glass wall in the narrow tunnel. Blake and Drew crept along the narrow tunnel. Three bright, sparkling torch lights quickly passed by a crossing just ahead.
“It’s on now,” Blake whispered with eyes lit. The kids jogged ahead. Flat, octagon shaped gray stones crunched under their shoes. They got down low at the corner. They peered down the long narrow tunnel. Dark figures reflected in the shimmering blue wall.
Drew turned to Blake flashing a wild eyed expression that startled him. Whispers shot back and forth ahead. The kids crept up the tunnel. A few black rough, gravelly stones poked out among the dusty ground. Empty ghost faces appeared momentarily in the wall.
The kids stopped when they saw the dark spirits huddled. They listened intently to the whispers.
“Will this work?”
“They’ll be convinced.”
“All of them?”
“Enough of them will believe what they’re seeing, and the leader of the fort will be forced to give it up.”
“My name is Josiah Mardade. Maybe you haven’t seen me, because I’m too fast and I never stop. But you’ve probably heard me singing; on your way to school, on your way to your job, in your kitchen, past your window, well, I don’t go right by your window, unless you’re on the side of a mountain, but then again, well never mind. Maybe you haven’t heard of me, but you’ve probably heard about my dad, Todd Mardade.”
“You’ve probably seen his face on the shirts we made that say Revolution in blood red. He had long, scraggly hair and a rough face. He had a quick temper, but he wouldn’t stay mad that long, then he would go back to being really calm and quiet. In the picture there’s a dark shadow across his face, because he liked working in the dark.”
“Everyone knows his last words, when they made their final decision to destroy the alien lights making so many sick, when he turned to the others and said, ‘Let’s roll.’ But it turns out that wasn’t his true final message.”
“I’ll never forget the last morning I saw my dad, because I knew it was the last time I would see him. How? I could see it in his face. He told me about the mission. He told me they had to stand up to the aliens. He said the seven of them talked it over and believed they had no other choice. Too many kids were getting sick. But really, I could just tell by his face.”
“He took me out to our balcony. He said we needed to talk. My dad didn’t talk that much. I think he told me more in that hour than he had all my life! He told me if he became a ghost, he would be in the mountains. So I go to the mountains a lot. I climb like he did, just straight up. We blaze trails for real.”
“He told me never to stop singing, so I sing all the time. He told me not to let the aliens put out my light, so I sing really loud. But he said there was one more message he had for me, but couldn’t tell me yet. I don’t know why he couldn’t tell me right then. He said I would have to find Ghost Peak and there I would find his message, his final message.”
“When I help out in the mines, I work really hard, and people ask me why I work so hard all the time. My dad used to work in the mines, and he worked really hard, like endlessly, he never stopped. He was relentless. So when I work like that, it makes me feel like him, and it feels like he’s close.”
“I still remember what he told me about Ghost Peak. He said there’s a mystery about that mountain, a mystery we need to solve before the aliens do. This was before the aliens destroyed our country completely, before we started to rebuild Cashes Dade on the mountain peak, and before I found Ghost Peak, and the fort that stands there. But the aliens found it too, and they’re trying to destroy it so they can find the secret power. Right now, we are the only country fighting them. We don’t have much power. What if they find a way to overpower us completely? Cade Mayson thinks they will do something terrible to us. He thinks they will ruin who we are. So we need to solve the mystery. This is what my dad told me about Ghost Peak:
“You will find my final message at Ghost Peak
There is a mysterious power the aliens seek
Look closely and wait to see the pieces appear by light
Then you can solve the puzzle to hold the fort at night”
“I wondered for awhile why my dad didn’t tell me his final message right then, but now I know why. He knew I would need many messages as I grow up and for the rest of my life, but he wouldn’t be there to give them. He knew he needed to leave one that I would seek, that I would find at the right time. If I would have known how much I would miss his voice, I would have listened to him talk every chance I got. I went to Ghost Peak to hear my dad one last time. But I didn’t get to hear his voice. As usual, it wasn’t something he said, it was what he did.”
It’s time for the next mystery challenge. We’ll head out to Cashes Dade and join Josiah, Casey, and the ghost strikers for the story about the fort at Ghost Peak which is now under siege. Josiah is looking for his dad’s final message to him. There is a secret power in this mountain that can be used to defend the fort against the aliens, making it too strong for them to destroy. The clues will be there. The four lines that Josiah’s dad told him about the mountain are the main clues. Is it a stone? Is it a jewel? Is it a mineral? Leave a comment below if you think you know the answer. Can you solve the mystery?
The blue tinted crescent moon appeared momentarily. Sleek, arrow shaped dark clouds passed over. A blurry image appeared as a sharp, triangular blue alien craft appeared. It hovered silently between two tall, jagged peaks. The massively wide, five mile high mountain called Ghost Peak glowed soft blue in the silent night.
Young, bright energetic singing cut the silence. It flew straight up the slope, flying through the lower forest of sleek, tall triangular shaped Sunday Evergreens glowing neon blue. The fast, tall 13-year-old blazed up the slope, singing out in rapidly changing melodies. Bright blue light lit up his short, blonde hair flopping slightly to the side, with some strands falling low to his bright, energetic eyes.
His fast-paced dancing song grew quieter as he entered the open fields. He ran low to the ground, charging fast up the slick grass.
From low in the shadows at the tunnel’s entrance, Cade gazed with a calm intensity up at the top front balcony of the small, square fort made of rough, oval shaped black stones, lit up under dim blue moonlight. Barely lit by a row of dark orange lanterns was the DadeStar Flag. David Mayer stood to the left. His dark silhouette didn’t move in the strong winds. Callie Mayer stood to the right.
“It’s about to start,” Cade whispered, turning to see Drew one inch in front of him. “They’re…” Cade jumped back. He just shook his head. Drew glanced around confused. “They’re in position. See any ghosts yet?”
Blake bounced from the large slanted stone just up the slope behind them.
“Not yet,” he answered calmly. The alien ship lit up in bright flashing white lights. They flashed in a random, frenetic pattern. Cade glanced up at the fort top. David remained still. The DadeStar flag remained still in the passing winds pressing against the steep blue shimmering mountain slope. The alien light grew brighter, slowly into a pale gold sphere between the mountains.
Just then, two ships streaked across the sky, one left, and one right. Three more distant ships like glowing blue triangles appeared in the blaze. A fiery blaze shot out from within the lights. It struck the bottom slope, lighting up the neon blue glowing trees called Sunday Evergreens. The kids fell back in a sonic rush.
Drew caught a glimpse of two ships flying past high overhead. Fire balls appeared all across the sky.
“Get back, get back,” said Blake, waving them back under the tunnel. Cade intensely watched the dark blue crashing sky. Strong booming rushes shot across the sky in multiple directions. Fiery blue streaks appeared for a moment. Blake and Drew peered over the edge of a rock. Fires rained down all down the steep rocky slope below down to the slick, empty green fields.
Blue rays shot down at a lower fort wall built with the oval shaped rough black stones. The entire wall crumbled to the ground.A heavy boom rocked behind them. Cade looked back at the fort top. The DadeStar flag remained completely still, held by a pile of the oval shaped rough black stones within the long, arched shadow of the front gate. David’s silhouette remained unmoved. A bright cluster of lights appeared in the sky beyond the two peaks, over the distant lower rounded peaks. Several more rays of blue light shot down and struck lower parts of the fort.
Soldiers rushed out from behind the broken walls. Two more heavy booms from the other side rocked the mountain. David raised his arms out wide, holding two dim blue candle lights. Jagged blue lights glowed within the long, arched shadow. Soldiers got down low and took positions. Alien ships flew around in the fast-moving sky.
Quiet, energetic singing cut through the crashing booms. The youthful echoes of various sounds blended more and more as it headed straight for them.
“It’s him,” Blake whispered. “Be ready.” A bright flash like a closing curtain across the sky lit up Josiah as he slid to a stop in front of Blake, Drew, and Cade.
“They’re heading for the breached fort,” he said, talking fast. The kids looked over to the soldiers. They fired several small cannons shooting out dark orange fires up into the clouds. Several ships fell back, their lights flashing in a circular rhythm.
“There’s a smaller group moving up this way. I think they’ll enter any opening they see. We need to lead them here.”
“We’ll light this up,” said Blake, “make it look like an alien strike.”
“Then we fake them out, draw them away from the miners,” said Drew. Several more explosions rocked the mountain side. Large rocks cascaded down the steep slope on their right. The kids got down low behind a small rock cluster just inside the tunnel.
Blake gazed up at the sky. Alien ships flew around like fireflies. Fires rained down. Heavy booms shook the mountain, one after another, in a relentless assault. Josiah looked over at the fort top. David remained still, standing strong, lit up by the fiery lights falling around him. Callie turned and walked to the back corner of the balcony. She gazed down below, her back to the falling fires.
Blake watched the lower rocky slope intently. “I don’t see them yet.”
“You will soon, got your match ready?” asked Josiah. Blake nodded. A calm, steady angelic voice began singing in the distance. She sang a melody slowly rising, gently falling, but holding out.
“It’s Callie,” Cade answered. Her voice had a mysterious strength. Her song played out clear even among the constant booms and chaotic lights. “She’s singing to the kids.” Dark shadows pushed up through the large stones below.
“It’s them,” Drew whispered.
“Showtime,” said Cade with eyes lit. Blake lit the match, then tossed it in a nearby pile. A small bright flash lit up the tunnel entrance. The four kids jogged inside. Heavy, chilling darkness fell over them. Josiah lit a dim, blue candle. They rushed further inside.
The wide tunnel sloped sharply to the left and down. Booms rocked the deep mountain hall.
“Right here, right here,” said Josiah. “Okay, grab a tool and start working. Blake, you know what to do?”
“Yeah, when I see them I’ll yell out really loud, THEY’RE HERE!”
“No,” Josiah answered with a thin smile, “tap the wall three times when they’re after us.” The kids pretended to work. Strong booms echoed through the tunnels. Dust fell on them in the dark. Cade tapped his shovel in a crazed pattern. Blake struck the hard stone wall in a steady, fast rhythm. A strong chill overtook them.
The air moved. Cade heard the clanging three times. Josiah’s light flickered out. Cade struck a match. Dark figures appeared in the dim gold light moving in on them fast. The kids took off down the slope. An overpowering boom struck just overhead.
They sprinted down the slope falling away to the right. Cade glanced back. Dark spirits rounded the corner. Josiah whistled out three fast, short notes. The tunnel split left and right. Cade led them slowly right, then shot fast to the left. The tunnel swerved back and forth. Dark orange lantern lights spaced far apart began to appear on both sides of the wide, winding tunnel.
The slope turned steep going up. Even dark shadows passed by their sides. Dark orange lights blurred by. A series of heavy booms rocked them. The ghosts closed in.
“Go, go, go,” Cade urged.
“We need to lose them,” said Blake. The tunnel slope evened out. Dark orange lights streaked past. Josiah let out three longer, drawn out whistling notes. Chilling winds rushed past them. Bright orange lights flickered far ahead. Winds started pulling them back.
The kids leaned forward, sprinting faster. Drew glanced back. Dark spirits came sharply into focus.
“They’re gaining on us,” he said anxiously. Cade glanced back.
“Be ready, follow me,” said Cade. Dark orange lights blended together on both sides. The lights flashed out ahead in a steady rhythm. Cade slowly drifted to the right. He ran an inch from the right wall. He glanced back and waved the other three over. “Almost there,” he said.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Blake urged strongly. Drew glanced back. Dark spirits reached out toward them.
“Hurry, hurry,” he called out.
“Time for super sonic mode,” said Blake.
“You asked for it,” said Cade. He leaned forward, shooting out even faster. A slim, quietly singing figure flew past. “Not again.” Cade shook his head and powered faster, leaning almost parallel to the ground. Blake bit his lower lip and powered straight ahead.
Cade pulled out a small stone. The kids moved in on the bright orange lights. Cade threw his stone ahead along the wall, dragging the lights momentarily. In a sudden flash, he shot left, disappearing into a narrow bright gold lit tunnel.
The other three followed after. “Go, go, go,” Cade whispered ahead. Bright gold candle clusters flew by. Drew glanced back at the empty, still circular tunnel. Dark shadows flashed past the tunnel entrance. The kids sprinted down the tunnel curving left, sloping down.
Josiah whistled out three longer, more drawn out notes.
“We lost them,” said Drew. The four of them smiled and bumped fists. The tunnel split. The kids turned up the right tunnel, sloping back up. Widely spaced small gold candle clusters streaked past, disappearing into heavy darkness. Several more booms rocked the hall. They passed a dark opening.
Deep black shadows passed over them from the rocky clusters and piles along each wall.
Cade turned the corner ahead. The other three slid to a stop right behind him.
“What are you doing?” asked Blake. Cade pointed ahead. Dark spirits blocked the tunnel ahead. The kids spun around to see more fall into the tunnel behind them.
Austin Candor is always on the move, in more ways than anyone, especially the aliens, even realize. He’s a bright, energetic kid from the Kingdom of Dascade Iris, City of Camdaysiah. He rarely sits still. In fact, he rarely sits at all. Some of his teachers don’t like him because it makes them dizzy watching him constantly shuffling his feet, swaying back and forth, pacing the back of the classroom. But he’s really smart and creative with fun ideas. He’s relatively short and slim with short dark brown hair that shifts slightly to the right over part of his eyes. What he’s known for though is his hair, the colour that is. He always has his hair a different colour, usually bright, often glowing in the dark. He’s been up to something lately. Well, he’s always up to something, but lately he’s really been up to something secret. He traveled somewhere. No one knows where. He was on a secret mission, and it had something to do with trying to hurt the aliens, but no one knows what that was. Now, the aliens stole a special fountain that belonged to his kingdom, one that helps students heal from various illnesses. They took it to the Kingdom of Dayascade, City of Dayas Caradames to their top school called Lincon Bereen. It’s being featured in a new school play and Austin’s going to sign up for it. He’s been secretly exploring the school a few months before the play is set to begin. There’s something sinister about this play. There’s a kid, one of the WhiteStar Ranked Students, who’s secretly working with the dark spirits. Austin refers to him as the ghost. Who is it?
Find out what happens in the next book called:
MYSTERY OF THE COLDOR CRYING GHOST
Get ready to go on a mission and solve an intriguing puzzle to find a ghost. But that will only be the beginning. First, we will look at the kids who might be the ghost, the one secretly working with the dark spirits on a sinister plan. They will be presented in alphabetical order by first name. Check out the clues and see if you can figure out who it is. Also, we will see a mystery showing our ghost strikers in action trying to defend a fort against the aliens. There’s a mysterious power to the fort that can lead them to hold out strong against the aliens and gain power in the war. Get ready, because the revolution is about to explode.
When the aliens arrived to DarkCorner Land, they displayed their awesome power, and then declared themselves to be the new leaders of every kingdom. They also run the schools. Imagine if your principal was an alien. Maybe you think they are. But for the kids in DarkCorner Land, their principal really is an alien. They have strict rules and demand the kids do a lot of work. They have some harsh punishments for those who fail, but there are great rewards to those who achieve the highest grades, those who earn the top ranking of WhiteStar. They are allied with the aliens, and in many ways, the greatest threat to Cade and his friends.
Ben Janshen is a strong, athletic kid. He has blonde, swirling hair and bright green eyes. The first thing you notice about Ben is his eyes. His friends call him eagle eyes, despite the fact his long distance vision isn’t that good. He just has a way of staring at you that feels like he can see right into you. He talks slowly and dramatically, his voice slowly rising, as he tends to describe things in great detail, trying to give you a grand vision…
Ben is from the Kingdom of Caladaria, City of Dayas Caradas. You can find it on the map if you click on the page called DARKCORNER LAND. It’s a kingdom in the west, just down the river from Cashes Dade. It’s considered one of the strongest and most elite kingdoms in DarkCorner Land. They’re known for having the best restaurants, food items, and elaborate dinner parties.
Here’s one hint about Ben. What might be his greatest strength, may also be his greatest weakness. The clues are there, see if you can figure it out. Leave a comment below if you think you know what it is. Do you know?Do you think he’s the ghost?
Josiah Mardade is a bright, energetic kid like an exploding star. It’s what the second name of his kingdom means and why kids like Cade, Blake, and Drew call themselves DadeStar students. But it’s mysterious how Josiah is always smiling, always bouncing, always singing. Finally, earlier in the fall, a kid asked Josiah why he isn’t sad, why he seems to be so happy all the time. This is what he told him:
“On the morning of Bloody Friday, my dad took me out to our balcony overlooking the channel down below. He kind of stared out for a long time, then he turned to me and said, ‘We’re marching on the DadeLuce Fountain today. We’re going to try to destroy it. I don’t know what’s going to happen to us.’ He looked up and said, ‘We’ll probably go to war soon, and we’ll have to regroup in the mountains.’ Then he looked at me, and he told me in a really low tone, ‘You have to promise me something. Don’t ever let them change you. Don’t ever let them break your spirit. No matter what happens, keep singing.’ And I promised him, and that promise was the last thing I ever said to him…”
It’s time for another feature on this mysterious kid from Cashes Dade, but before we go on, it’s time to reveal the answer for the last mystery challenge. Did you figure it out? Do you know which path is the way to find Ghost Peak? Here is the answer:
It is the rocky slope.
Were you right? Leave a comment below.
Josiah is an interesting kid to sit by in class. You might get distracted a lot, but at least you won’t be bored. He’s always doing something, usually behind a stack of folders that look like a city skyline. He plays around with every object on his desk, which may include toy soldiers, packs of gum, really small boxes no one knows where they came from, and small snacks. Josiah always has snacks on him, always. What he likes to do the most is have fights between his pencils, snacks, the toy soldiers, whatever. He gets really into it, and even seems to get really upset when a certain object “loses” the fight. Even when you remind him that he does the fight and decides who wins, he just stares back at you confused.
Josiah is a singer, but more than that he is a musician. He sings all the time, under his breath during class, and during many times when he’s not supposed to be singing or making any noise. But he’s also always moving, always kind of bouncing to some music playing in his head. He taps his feet in a really fast, bizarre pattern that changes at random times. It’s impossible to track his movements. His feet move so fast they seem to disappear…
Cade is a master at avoiding getting tagged in tag. Josiah is a master at getting people in tag. Hopefully someday we will get to see them go head to head. Josiah is incredibly fast. What’s crazy is how fast he accelerates. At first, you think you’re getting away, and you’re getting further and further ahead. You think there’s no way he can catch you. Well, he has you right where he wants you, because he will accelerate like you wouldn’t believe and catch up to you in a flash. He also has a way of knowing right where you are, even when he’s far away and hasn’t been watching you at all. There seems to be no way he could have seen where you went or where you are now, but all the sudden he’ll make this incredibly sharp turn, and you’ll be too shocked to get away…
“Josiah, you have to find Ghost Peak. They hold a key secret there. Ghost Peak may be the key to winning this war. If I don’t come home today, make sure you get there, and find my message…”
Cade Mayson and his ghost striker friends have been watching the aliens all through the fall. Several new towers have gone up. Mysterious lights play to the rhythm of loud, booming music throughout the mountains during the moonlit nights. They believe the aliens are working on something secret. It could be a new weapon, perhaps something that can break through the defensive fires that protect the new Kingdom of Cashes Dade at the top of the mountain. Josiah believes they are secretly experimenting with students. But he’s more concerned with what the aliens are looking for. They want to discover the secret of Ghost Peak. Cade, Blake, Drew, and Josiah are determined to find it first, because something powerful might be found there, and if the aliens get it, the revolution might end before it can begin…
It’s time for another mystery challenge. If you haven’t yet, go to LIST OF POSTS at the top of the site and check out MYSTERY OF GHOST PEAK: PART ONE AND PART TWO. Have you figured out yet which path the kids should take that will lead to the secret peak in the distance? Leave a comment below if you have a guess. Check out the Daycoyer Prophecy below to learn more about the alien invasion, what’s happened to the students like Cade, Blake, and Drew, and to learn the secret of Ghost Peak. More about this will be revealed in the next post including the answer for which of the five paths leads to Ghost Peak. There is a key clue in the prophecy. Can you find it? What secret will be revealed?
DAYCOYER PROPHECY
Kids play soccer on a wide field under a calm sky
Others build sandcastles under the shade up high
When a brilliant flash shoots out over every school
Green fires turn the day’s warmth into a chilling cool
First they will deceive all the parents about a great threat
When they look to the aliens as superior all will be set
They will shine light on the few students who follow their way
They won’t care at all what students on the outside have to say
From the beginning, they will decide where each student will rank
When they were called trouble makers that’s when they sank
The aliens pretend to light up the best way with intense beams
But what they’re really doing is trying to crush their dreams
At night, a dark storm will cover all the nations in shadow
But in the western sky, in the three dark stars will appear a glow
There is a secret being held by the ghosts under the hidden peak
The way there is by following the close, yet distant dream you seek
The bright singer flies so fast you can’t see him stop
The crazy ghost kids can’t be kept from reaching the top
The kid with fire in his eyes can’t be told there’s no way
He’s determined to take the most daring path to make them pay
When the blazing students find the ghosts, a secret will be revealed
They hold a secret many forgot for how they can be healed…
His dad’s last words were “Let’s Roll.” His dad loved exploring and finding distant, remote peaks before he gave his life defending his country from the destructive alien lights. Now he’s going on his own explorations, climbing by the light of the moon, and dodging ghosts.
All summer long, in the new Kingdom of Cashes Dade, a legend has slowly been born, about a kid who sings brightly from the remote peaks late at night when the moon burns blue. As the kids watch, ghosts slowly rise up from the misty meadows, and begin to move around. They appear to be dancing in the moonlight. The brighter the moon gets, the faster they appear to dance. Then the kid’s energetic singing echoes out across the mountains. No one can ever figure out where he is. No one ever sees him. But they can hear him, and so do the ghosts, because that’s when they stop dancing…
Josiah is a bright, active 12 year old who likes climbing, running, anything that involves moving. Josiah dreams about reaching the highest and most remote peaks in the world. He wants to explore and find things no one has ever found before. Mostly, he wants to discover secrets, secrets the dark spirits seem to be hiding. He also just really likes climbing. Are you like him? Do you like climbing? You see, even though you might not live close enough to climb any mountains, you might be more like Josiah than you think, because he climbs…everything. He climbs to the tops of tables, to the top of his desk, shelves, up walls to the roofs of homes if he can figure it out and get enough footholds. He definitely climbs trees and has built some really high (and really sketchy) tree houses. He even built a really, and I mean really, rickety bridge from two distant trees. No one besides him has ever been brave enough to try it. But what’s intriguing is not so much what he climbs, but how he climbs…
If you go climbing with Josiah, don’t tell him to pace himself. He will just stare at you, completely confused. He doesn’t seem to know what that means. When Josiah climbs a mountain, he starts off by shooting off like a rocket. He doesn’t do trails. He doesn’t work his way up, winding back and forth, no, he goes straight up, and he goes around…nothing. He flies over rocks. If a tree is in the way, he’ll push through it. He goes crazy fast up the mountain, but then he crashes. When you finally catch up to him, you’ll find him sprawled out in some awkward way, completely exhausted. He even complains about how tired he is and how hard it is to climb that fast. You would then think, “He’ll take it slower the rest of the way up.” But you would be wrong. After about a half hour, he sprints up the mountain again, flying up the slope. Then he crashes again, only to start it all up again. It definitely confuses the ghosts when they try to track him down.
Josiah doesn’t just climb, he sings as he climbs, but only at certain times. He sings with bright energy and really fast. For him, the faster the better, with notes always rising higher and higher. Josiah hates, not dislikes, not is kind of annoyed by, but hates slow music. He gets really agitated with slow songs. He just can’t stand them. He kind of bobs from side to side, taps his feet rapidly, and even waves his hands as if that will speed up the song, but it doesn’t work. He sings the most when he reaches the peak. He usually only sings when he finds a narrow point between two large rocks so his music will echo out through the mountains. He wants the ghosts to hear him, but not see him…
Josiah’s teachers didn’t think he was that smart because he struggles to understand complicated subjects, but no one else can figure out he reaches some of the high points he does, or how he builds bridges across trees, or how he sings across the mountains while remaining unseen. The dark spirits always stop dancing when he sings. They start drifting up the slopes desperately trying to find him. What is Josiah trying to find? Is he trying to find a key secret, or does he think he might meet the ghost of his dad? Why are the ghosts so interested in finding him? The clues might be in the lines of his song:
Cade Mayson continues his mission to find the clues he believes his parents are sending him to begin the DadeStar Revolution against the aliens. If you want to learn more about the series and check out information about the first book, check out the page BUY THE BOOKS. Otherwise, you can read on to learn more about the next book in this series and check out a bonus mystery challenge at the end that will offer a key clue about the mystery in this next book.
Cade Mayson still believes his parents really joined the aliens on a secret spy mission. He’s determined not to miss the key clue he believes they’re preparing to send him. But now, the aliens aren’t just trying to destroy Cashes Dade, they’re coming after him.
New alien lights made many students in Cashes Dade terribly sick. The aliens couldn’t care less how many students would have to miss the Spring Games. They claimed the lights were a medicine, exposing those students who are just lazy and disruptive.
Seven citizens protesting the lights were shot dead on Bloody Friday. Cashes Dade declared war. Now they’re surrounded by the aliens, trapped in the mountains’ underground network. The kids heard someone whispering with the dark spirits, prepared to spy for the aliens. All they could see was a dark orange star patch meaning it was one of the seven army leads.
Cade, Blake, and Drew will have to step up their detective skills, their stealth, but most of all, their determination to fight back. How can Cashes Dade break through the trap? Which mountain can they find protection from the aliens? The key will be revealing the spy. Can the kids solve this mystery before it’s too late? Who is it?
Check out the Cardaya Prophecy to see the clues, then check out the Suspect’s Profile to see if you can figure out who the spy is.
CARDAYA PROPHECY:
The dark enemy will take advantage of what we all crave
The fences that protect them could become their grave
The ambitious one will fly through the night too high
Dark storms always hide their trail across the sky
A dark secret passes through the moon-lit sea
They are not as superior as they seem to be
Finding the blazing star in the sky will make you free
Look for the mountain among the spiral galaxy
The swinging lantern in the settling dark is the key
Staring at the brilliant light will confuse what you see
Take one step at a time while you focus on what’s key
The blazing ghost will step up to enter the great fight
Dark curtains will close on them from out of sight
The way through is by charging ahead even in the darkest night
Turn to the glowing, the green ghost singing in the moonlight
SUSPECTS PROFILE:
Austin Camdade:
*Third position in the Army
*Dreams about exploring new places
*Into mountain climbing
Bennie Maysher:
*Second position in the Army
*Dreams about being great war hero
*Into horse racing
Carlie Madsher:
*Seventh position in the Army
*Dreams about becoming legendary actor and playwriter
*Into reading and writing
Christy Caldade:
*Fifth position in the Army
*Dreams about owning a shop for rare and special minerals
*Into mountain climbing and exploring
Jonathan Cayson:
*First position in the Army
*Dreams about owning library of amazing, rare books of great discovery
*Into mountain climbing and reading, discovering
Julie Cassher:
*Sixth position in the Army
*Dreams about making unbelievable discoveries of rare and amazing jewels
*Into making and putting together puzzles
Ryan Cardade:
*Fourth position in the Army
*Dreams about playing big concerts and playing legendary guitar solos
*Into music and shooting
Now it’s time for the final mystery challenge. If you haven’t been following them, check out the first one by clicking on the post titled: WHAT’S HIDDEN IN BRENNAN’S PAINTING? The final word and overall sentence that reveals what is behind the aliens’ destructive fountain lights will be revealed after the next paragraph so don’t scroll down too far. The answer will appear directly below the next paragraph. The final clue is how Cade finds the mountain. The clue will be seen in how he responds. That will be the key…
From time to time, while the citizens of Cashes Dade are hiding in the underground network of the mountains, Cade Mayson slips away to explore the tunnels. One night, he set out to find a mountain peak called “Secret Key Peak.” They say it’s really hard to find. Cade jogged up the winding tunnels lit by dark orange lantern lights. He moved fast, jumping high on random rocks set throughout, while tapping his sides in a fast, energetic rhythm. Then he came to a three-way split. One tunnel went down to the left lit by neon green lanterns. Another one went down to the right lit by swaying gold candle clusters flickering in a fast pace. Another one went straight ahead lit by dark orange lanterns. Cade thought for a moment, then took the one with gold candle clusters. He raced up the winding tunnel until reaching the end. He climbed up a rocky slope to the top, shaped like a key. He gazed out and saw an alien tower directly ahead. It was a massive dome with green lights flashing rhythmically to a slow, steady booming. Glittering stars flew around inside the deep blue glass over the top. Dark, tall figures drifted around inside. Cade started bouncing to the beat, tapping his sides rhythmically. Bizarre alien voices called out back and forth. They were trying something, but they couldn’t quite get it right. They couldn’t make it work. It just didn’t sound right…
The final word is: MUSIC
Aliens hate students’ determined, energetic music.
Cade Mayson will discover a secret in the shiny key
The aliens have been trying to destroy the BlackStar Ranked Students of Cashes Dade. They are the ones classed as failures; lazy and disruptive. They claimed the intense, bright neon green lights were meant to save them, but only if they were willing to work hard and follow their One Way to succeed. They don’t allow students to learn in their own ways or be creative. But a bright, fast-talking, fast-singing, fast-moving 12 year old named Josiah Mardade found his own way to quickly overcome the terrible illness. It all happened during a bizarre fire fight with the aliens. His recovery was incredibly fast and mysterious. His dad, Todd Mardade, made a secret plan with six others to destroy the fountain lights. It’s time for another mystery challenge where we will check out the alien battle Josiah was involved in, to figure out the key word in the prophecy at the end. This word will be another clue for what’s really going on with the alien fountain lights. When you have all the words, you will have the answer, but the answer will lead to bigger questions. Now the aliens are coming after Josiah. Why? What does he have that they want? The key clue is revealed by the words Todd said to the other six right before they made their decision to risk their lives to protect their people. You see, the question is, what will you be? The people of Cashes Dade will never forget them, when he turned to them with strong defiance and said, “Let’s roll.”
When the seven citizens were shot dead, including Todd Mardade, Cashes Dade declared war on the aliens. Ever since the first alien attack on Cashes Dade a year and a half ago, the people of Cashes Dade, led by Todd, have been developing their massive underground in the mountains west of Cashes Dade. They built all the tunnels and undeground chambers many years ago when dark spirits began haunting the land. But after the attack, many people went to work strengthening the structures and stockpiling food, supplies, medicines, and weapons in secret places. It’s basically a massive, complicated maze where they can hide from the aliens. When the dark spirits are sent in to capture them, they can run to another secret location in the underground. Most of the tunnels are lit by dark orange lanterns, some by dark gold-lit chandeliers, and others by deep blue lantern lights. The people made the tunnels really confusing and hard to follow, thus easy for Cade, Blake, and Drew to mis-direct the dark spirits trying to find the people and key supply locations. It’s also great for endless games of hide and seek.
On Friday night, after the murders of the seven protestors, the leaders of Cashes Dade held a secret meeting deciding to declare war. They got the citizens ready to move out fast, set up their cannons, and began shooting at the alien towers on Saturday night. The sky was calm and quiet as sleek blue clouds slowly streamed across the sky. Moonlight barely broke through various points down to the slick dark green field spread before them. Josiah hid down in a trench with a group of soldiers who were good friends of his dad, with the mountains behind them. The distant alien tower glowed in a fiery green haze in the silent, chilling night. Josiah just stared out with an empty, distant gaze, shaking with sharp chills and a strong fever. Then he gazed up at the breaking moonlight rhythmically flickering through the passing clouds. High in the distance, through the passing waves, a shooting star blazed across the dark sky.
In a sudden flash, the alien tower went completely dark. The soldiers watched and waited. As they watched the calm flowing sky, seven blurry green sleek triangular alien crafts slowly appeared just hanging still in the clouds. A distant eerie whistling sound played out over the field sounding like it was slowly falling. That’s when Josiah suddenly jumped up with eyes lit. He started running up the line, singing a bright, energetic song with a fast-paced rising melody. Then the Cashes Dade dark orange fires lit up the sky…
When the alien towers burn the night
When they put out the last light
When they try to crush every student’s dream
When they shoot out their intense, searching beam
When they overwhelm the sky with confusion and dark
When the rejected creative student sits alone at the park
When cold darkness overwhelms in relentless waves
When all you can do is dream of living in the graves
When the alien’s burning white eyes stare down at you
When you feel like there is nothing more you can do
Remember what the defiant leader said before the end
It was a call to turn from despair, the loss of a friend
It was a call to be energetic, to live in the light
The sign to reveal the truth is the star shooting through the night…
The citizens of Cashes Dade are hiding in the mountains, trapped in the underground, surrounded by the aliens. But the enemy is also within. An alien spy is among them, secretly trying to take them down. But Cade Mayson and his friends are on the case, and the greatest revelation may come at an unexpected time, in a concert…
The prophecy hints at someone from Cashes Dade preparing to turn on them, preparing to give them up to the aliens. Ghostly whispers are heard in every distant, dark corner. Cade, Blake, and Drew are running constantly, trying to keep track of everything the seven Army Leads are doing and saying, but it’s hard to keep up with everything that’s going on. The aliens are coming after them with everything they have.
Ryan puts a lot of energy into the underground concert where they plan to play Bloody, Bloody Friday for the first time. Is he focused on sending a message to the aliens? Or is the concert meant to be some kind of distraction? The prophecy also refers to a ghost singing in the moonlight…
Its time to check out the seventh and final suspect. There is no significance to the order of the suspects in these posts because they are being presented in alphabetical order by first name. Ryan Cardade is one of the seven Cashes Dade Army Leads. One of them has to be the spy, because someone was seen by Cade and his friends, talking to the dark spirits in the tunnels, getting ready to give away Cashes Dade’s key secrets. They couldn’t be seen or heard clearly enough to be identified, but a dark orange star patch was seen on their shoulder marking them as one of the seven leads. Now that we’ve seen all of them, leave a comment below if you think you know who it is. Cade, Blake, and Drew are on their way back to Cashes Dade to help out their people in their war against the aliens. Will they be able to figure out how to break through? The prophecy hints at a mountain they can escape to where they will be protected from the aliens. But the key to solving this mystery will be figuring out which one of these seven army leads is the spy. Who is it?
Ryan Cardade is somewhat awkward with short, wild dark hair shooting out every which way.
He is rough, wild, and kind of crazy.
He is really into music and loud crashing sounds.
He talks pretty calmly and to the point.
He takes the fourth position in the formation for the army leads.
He is a really strong fighter. He’s great at holding the line and firing powerfully at the enemy.
Ryan owned a guitar shop in Cashes Dade. He loved to make the most unique and loud guitars possible. He dreams of playing legendary concerts while playing legendary guitar solos.
One time Ryan was working on a new guitar he called “Hell Crasher.” I’m not sure exactly what that was supposed to mean, but basically, it was meant to be loud. He was on stage at the grand blue crystal concert hall dimly lit by dark orange chandelier clusters through the three levels, preparing for a concert that night, most of all testing out this new guitar. They don’t have electricity but they have a way of mixing certain powders that amplify the sound in the guitar. He kept trying it out on stage, playing strong, powerful chords that shook the arena, but every time he did the same thing, just walked away shaking his head. “It’s not loud enough. It’s not loud enough. I want this place to feel like it’s about to collapse.” He mixed stronger powders into it. Several people warned him about it, but he just waved them off. He played several chords, and the guitar started on fire. “You’ve got the hell part right,” one guy said close by. Ryan shot him a fiery intense look. Then he went back to work.
It’s kind of a mystery how they make their instruments play so strong and loud, a mystery that even the aliens are trying to figure out.
Around the time of the concert, Cashes Dade scouts see a lot of activity happening around a massive, green-lit alien complex. They see dark spirits streaming in from various directions, sleek, triangular shaped alien ships in fiery blue glows flying through the deep blue streaming clouds landing somewhere near the top of the stretched, curved complex. Dark golden lights glow like slow moving flames inside the grand windows. Sour horns blared out loud and strong, shaking the walls. A sonic boom overtook the sky, shutting out every other sound. Blurry moonlight spilled across the high rooftop where several lead aliens met, preparing for an announcement…
The final clues are Ryan’s three best known quotes:
