As night falls, the new alien tower glows bright green. Then the sour alien horn blares out across the mountains. Dark spirits crawl through the lower mountain slopes, called by the alien horn. They enter the tower through the grand flashing entrance. The top level slowly lights up in a dark golden light that spills out through the massive oval green glass windows around the circular room. Dark spirits fill in and stand throughout the room. They raise their arms high. They stare up at the brilliant gold flashing lights. Then instantly the tower goes dark. The mountains go completely silent. Nothing moves in the total stillness. A dim yellow light appears high in the sky. The dark spirits remain completely still, just staring at the light. That’s when the music starts…
It’s time for part two of the mystery challenge. The mystery to solve in this story is, how do you get to Ghost Peak? Which is the way? Is it through the forest, the rocky slope, the river, the hills, or the misty field? Leave a comment below if you think you figured it out. Did the ghost strikers pick the right path? Tell us why you think your path is the right one. Now, it’s time to join them. Will you find Ghost Peak?
The sleek, blue triangular alien ship hovered low under the dark blue clouds racing across the night sky. Gold lights flashed in a slow rhythm. Cade, Blake, and Drew stood at the edge of the ridge looking out toward the neon blue glowing Ghost Peak.
“You think he’s out there?” asked Drew. Bright, energetic singing echoed out across the dreamy landscape.
“Don’t you hear him?” asked Blake.
“Yeah, he’s singing again.”
“So where else would he be, on the moon?” Drew glanced up at the bright, clear blue shining moon appearing close, yet distant casting a blurry bluish-gold light down to the dreamy landscape.
“So is he there?” asked Cade. Drew shook his head in dismay. The alien ship drifted toward them. The kids hit the ground fast. They laid in the dewey, cold grass while the alien ship slowly moved past, with a low whistling. The ground vibrated as the ship glided off to the right. The kids looked out over the edge toward the peak.
“I heard you can only see it from a distance, but then it disappears,” said Blake.
“You have to find the right way,” said Cade, “then when you get really close you see it.” Far to the left was a forest of glittering green evergreens called Fardays. The grass underneath the forest was soaked. Next to it on the right was a wide rocky slope with massive boulders reflecting blurry, bluish-gold light. Right down the center toward the peak was a wide, rough river with choppy waves. The waters reflected gold flickering lights. To the right were empty, bare green hills twisting and turning toward the peak. Further to the right was a wide, empty field with various blue mists rising up from the grounds, but then fading away.
As the kids listened, they heard Josiah’s fast-paced singing echo out:
“The moonlight burns bright blue
Then the night fires cross the two
That’s when the Ghost Peak appears
But the only way is through your tears”
The kids struggled to see in the falling dark. Two sharp whistles shot out behind them.
“That usually means they’ve spotted us,” Blake said in a low voice. The kids turned to see two dark ghosts standing on the hilltop behind them. A group of dark spirits lined up on both sides.
“Showtime,” Cade whispered with a smile. Blake looked across the lower landscape sharply. Drew glanced back. The dark spirits moved in mass toward them down the slope.
“The misty slope,” said Blake. “We’ll lose them in the mists.”
“Cool, let’s go.” The kids flew over the edge. They sprinted down the slope. Bright blue mists kicked up around them. Dark spirits moved in a line toward them. The heavy blue mists rolled across from left to right. Whispers sprang up on both sides close behind. “Left, left.” Cade swerved sharp left. They ducked low into rising blue mist. Drew glanced back. The dark spirits moved in a fast wave toward them.
“They’re not closing in,” said Drew.
“We can’t just outrun them,” said Blake. Cade gazed ahead at the blue mists kicking up at various points. Then he glanced back at the wide-spread line of ghosts moving in fast.
“Fast, fast, fast this way,” said Cade angling sharp to the left up the slope.
“They’re gaining on us.”
“Be ready.”
“What’s the plan?”
“We’ll stop cold, let them pass right by.” Josiah’s bright singing bounced up and down, but rising slightly. It faded out, then returned strong, then faded again. “Go, go, go.” The kids sprinted faster. Ghostly voices shot back and forth, calling out. Drew glanced up. The alien ship appeared in a sudden rush. It dropped fast further down slope ahead. The kids ducked down in a heavier blue mist cloud. “Now, now.” The three of them slid to a stop. Cade pushed them together. The dark outlines appeared. “Right, right,” he barely whispered. They shuffled right and curled into a ball. Two ghosts slid past them on both sides. Cade gave a sharp nod. They jogged back up the slope. After the kids got back to the ridge, they turned around. Ghost Peak was gone. Josiah’s singing went quiet. Heavy, chilling darkness fell over the mountains, hiding the moon and the ship.
“Where do you think he is?” asked Drew. Then they heard singing coming from the distance, coming from where they saw Ghost Peak, but it wasn’t Josiah…
