Arthur's alarm was making an annoying high pitched shriek. He reached toward it, fumbling with the snooze.

Today was the day the Mystery Skulls 2.0 would take down team Tome Tomb, as Vivi dubbed them. It had taken a little longer than Arthur would have liked to get his prosthetic together, but the extra few days had been worth it. The interior cooling system and molybdenum plating would keep his arm intact under intense heating conditions and angry siren-wrenching.

Where is the snooze button? Ugh, Uncle Lance left the heat on all night.

The body harness was still an issue, but there was no setting the implant any deeper than it already was. Between work on the prosthetic and cobbling necessary talismans together, a week and a half had flown right by. He'd kept communication with Vivi limited to Gchat sessions, hoping to surprise her with a verbal greeting when they were ready to head out. Kay had been over nearly every day, working with him to make speech easier. In her presence he was at his most verbally collected, but even when she was absent he could stammer out broken sentences now. His sense of self was stronger every time; he was Arthur Kingsmen, and the Shiker's memories were just memories. Kay's voice might have bound him to her words, but it also bound him to the sense of who he was.

He coughed, shifting the blankets off with the sweep of a leg. He'd been pushing the snooze button for a solid minute, why wasn't it shutting off?

My alarm clock doesn't sound like that.

The thought barely registered before a hefty crash from his door sent him flying upright. Lance staggered in, his shirt pulled over his nose as smoke poured in after him. "Kid are ye daft, that's the fire alarm, what're you doin' still a'bed? Get yer arse out!"

Arthur grabbed his prosthetic off the table, tucking it under his arm and pelting after his Uncle. The living room was already crawling with flames, but there was a clear enough path to the door to make it out. The wail of approaching fire trucks swelled as they rounded the corner up the street. Lance tugged Arthur across the street, clearing a good distance from their house.

As he watched the flames lick up the side of the house, he had the weirdest feeling he should feel worse about watching something burn. According to Vivi, he'd nearly been burned to death once, so why didn't seeing fire bother him?

"Hey!" Lance snarled, hurtling back across the street. "Hey!"

"W-w-w!" Arthur groaned. He was rattled and it was still hard to talk. He followed his Uncle, who plunged into the bushes at the side of the house and emerged dragging a gangly redhead out of the shrubs.

"Leggo of me!" Aji swung a fist, but Lance caught the arm and twisted it behind her back, hauling her several yards back from the house.

Aji? What are you doing here? You weren't… He glanced back at the house fire, then back to Aji, eyes wide.

"Yeah, you cry, Kingsmen," Aji sneered. "Sucks you woke up. OW!"

Lance twisted her other arm behind her back, locking both arms in a secure hold. "Did you do this?"

"No," Aji sneered, "I don't remember anything about any fire, I must have had my memory erased. Oh dear, suddenly I can't talk anymore either. The matches must have magically lit themselves."

Heat crawled up the back of Arthur's neck. Aji had taken it way too far. "I d-d-did-dn't t-t-try to k-kill Lew," he whispered harshly. "You d-d-d-did this-is-"

"What do you know, it finally talks." She spat at him, wincing at Lance's grip. "Either you were faking it the whole time, or you really did become my sister's lapdog."

Arthur's prosthetic clattered to the ground as his arm swung back.

"Kid!" Lance barked, and Arthur's hand stayed where it was. "Don't go here. She's in enough crap as it is."

"No I'm not. You don't have proof," Aji muttered.

"Aji, ye've not been out in the world much if ye think arson isn't easy to spot. If ye left anything, it's arson. An' we found you by the house. An' we have two eyewitnesses to yer confession, me an' Artie."

"You gonna add in the fact that I did it because Arthur killed my brother?" Aji asked bitterly. "Or does that conveniently get left out of the story?"

"Yer carryin' on a war not even yer family backs, kiddo. Artie would'a never hurt Lewis if'n he could help it. If you lost sight'a that, not my problem." He hauled her to her feet. "What is my problem is pressin' charges. Minor or not, ye'v become a danger."

Arthur scooped up his prosthetic, following with a sinking feeling in his gut. As police cars pulled up behind the fire trucks, Mrs. Pepper's face flashed through his mind. Aji was fifteen, what was she doing setting fires? She came from a good home, right? If a bit secluded and reeking of mythology. Everyone else believed him, why didn't she? Mrs. Pepper was so concerned about something happening to Kay when he'd talked to her, but was something happening to Aji too?

He'd have Vivi bring her book on ancient deities on their little road trip. Whatever curse Mrs. Pepper had mentioned could have something to do with why his house was currently on fire. Right after he gave a statement or a written confirmation or whatever they'd ask him for.

…...

Vivi checked her watch. The van was loaded with everything they needed, what was taking Squire so long?

She checked again. She needed something for Arthur's talisman base, something he could keep out of sight. Hers…

She fingered the little gray box she'd pulled from Lewis' belongings. It weighed like lead in her purse, but she couldn't have imagined a better talisman base as long as Lewis really was the kind of guy everyone said. He would understand her taking it, he would have wanted her protected.

Squire had been right about waiting, of course, and the week had been well spent. Running Tome Tomb gave her back an income and a place to stay, even if she was living off take-out for now. Visitors loved Mystery as the store's new mascot and were quick to accept Vivi's excuse that Duet had left on personal business. After hours, she and Mystery pored through Duet's back room book collection. Duet's little "hobby" ran a lot deeper than she'd suspected; he had a veritable treasure trove of limited edition spellbooks and occult writings. Several volumes had pages ripped out, but there was more than enough information for them to formulate a good defense spell.

But, like any protective spell, it needed an anchor. Vivi's was already cast, but she needed Squire present for her to cast protection on his talisman.

"And you can deal with Duet and Chloe's pendants, Mystery?" She glanced at the back seat where he had stretched out.

He opened one eye. "Now that I know what they are, yes. I did not have enough time to react before. As long as we are dealing with Duet and Chloe on their own, it should not be a problem. One sniff of the Shiker, though, and we retreat."

She checked the glove compartment again. The credit card for the Mystery Skulls. Hers and Arthur's documentation as paranormal investigators. A black book with unfamiliar handwriting in it, detailing the Mystery Skulls' general expenses for the last dozen cases to give her a guideline on fair pricing. Clothes, blankets, first-aid kits, water, and emergency rations in the back of the van.

Her phone chirped, and she flipped it open.

Sorry I'm late. Had to give statement. Kay can't make it.

She frowned. According to earlier texts, Kay had agreed to join them on the trip to find team Tome Tomb. She texted back, Statement? Why can't Kay make it?

Kay's busy because Aji burned my house.

WHAT

Almost there. Bring your ancient deity book please.

Vivi stared at her phone before closing it slowly. "Aji's gone kerblonkers," she muttered, sliding out of the van. "Siren or not, if she's starting to pull stuff I'll break her arms. Nobody hurts Squire on my watch."

Locating the book was easy enough. Her personal collection was housed in the back near Duet's stash, but on a separate shelf. She pulled a large cloth-wrapped bundle from its carefully cleared spot. She'd had to suspend restoration on it due to precarious finances, but she hoped to resume work on it within a couple months. It could travel as long as she was careful with it.

As she exited Tome Tomb, she caught sight of Arthur scooting into the driver's seat. She slid in on the other side and Arthur flashed her a weary smile as he buckled in.

"So, no burns this time. You got out scot-free." She scowled. "Aji took it way too far. Tell me she's locked up."

"Sh-sh-she's l-l-locked up."

"Well at least there's that and she won't be after you for a while SQUIRE WHEN DID YOU START TALKING?"

"Wh-when my girlf-f-friend told m-me to." He flashed a cheeky grin, turning the key in the ignition.

"So it is true, then." Mystery slid up in between them. Vivi reached over, buckling the middle seatbelt around him. "You're in thrall."

"Thrall?" Vivi echoed.

"He's bound to obey her when she gives him a definitive order," Mystery clarified.

Arthur's grin turned sheepish. "G-guess so. H-has its b-benefits."

Vivi punched his shoulder lightly. "Good to hear your voice again, even if you're pulling an ongoing Porky Pig."

"Be-dee-be-dee-be-dee," he laughed, backing up.

"So Aji really did it. How's Kay holding up?"

Sighing, Arthur shook his head. "Sh-she's not. She s-said to call wh-when we get t-to our first stop. I'll f-f-find out more then."

"Oh, Squire, wait! I need your talisman base, remember? Something important to you."

"Ah." He put his foot on the brake and flipped open a panel in his prosthetic, withdrawing a long, pale yellow feather.

Vivi took it. "You sure about that? I mean, it looks cool, but it's not that durable. Where'd you find it?"

"K-K-Kay's," he said softly. "Sh-she gave it t-t-to me for l-luck. I'll k-k-keep it in m-my arm, it'll b-be safe."

Vivi turned the feather over in her hands, thinking of her own talisman. "Okay, Squire. My phone's in the bag. Open up the tracker app, and let's hit the road. I'll spell the feather for you."

Arthur pulled out onto the road as Vivi stroked the feather, murmuring over it. "L-looks like they b-b-booked it over three cities already. T-tell me we're gonna get a couple c-c-cases along th-the way, this could g-get pricy."

"Shh, concentrating!"

"R-right."

After a few minutes, the feather took on a slight sheen, and Vivi's chanting wound down. "There we go. Here." She tucked it into his vest pocket. "You can put it in your arm later."

"Wh-what's yours?"

"Um… something I found in Lewis' things." She swallowed, rubbing one hand over the knuckles of the other. "Let's just say I'm pretty sure it's a good base item."

Arthur kept his mechanical hand on the wheel, reaching over with his right hand to squeeze her arm. "I'm s-s-sure. He r-really cared a-a-about you." He swerved around a squirrel in the road, grabbing the wheel with both hands again. "Um, s-so. Wh-what else d-did you f-find out about him?"

"I couldn't deal with looking at some of his stuff, but I guess he kept his journals pretty private when he was with me, 'cause looking through them didn't bother me." She paused. "Well, they didn't make me sick, but they're disturbing. He's got sloppy sketches of a really weird skeleton, and most of his entries are about being sure someone is watching him, but not being able to do anything about it. And he keeps talking about how there's blank spots, and he can't remember what happened or where he got his scars."

Arthur frowned. "H-h-he always s-s-said he w-wouldn't tell me, b-but said it l-l-like he knew what-at it was. Y-you're saying h-h-he didn't r-r-remember it h-h-himself?"

"If his journal's telling the truth, he had huge blank spots, kinda like I do. What about you, did you figure out any demon stuff?"

Arthur bobbed his head. "S-s-some. Signing's s-still easier. Lat-at-ater? First hot-tel."

"Fair enough." Vivi reached for the radio. "Let's get some tunes going at least. It's gonna be a long drive."

Arthur hit the gas pedal as the edge of town came into view, and the motor revved in response. Vivi leaned back, one hand on Mystery's head, glancing out the window as trees passed by. Mid-song, the radio crackled, the song shifting to a familiar beat.

'Cause the world might do me in

It's all right 'cause I'm with friends

Guess I'm giving up again

It doesn't matter

Mystery's ears twitched. "Isn't this that song, Vivi?"

Vivi coughed. "Um, well."

"S-s-stood on a t-t-table in the P-Paradiso and d-d-declared we were th-the Mystery Skulls bec-cause it w-was your favorite s-s-song," Arthur snickered.

"We don't talk about that," she muttered.

Mystery butted her shoulder with his forehead. "Oh come now. Laugh at yourself a little."

The van lurched, throwing the three of them against their seatbelts. The engine cut out completely as they coasted to a stop, Vivi and Mystery shooting Arthur questioning stares.

"I… I m-m-meant to t-take a look at it…"

"Squire, we just started our trip!" Vivi threw her hands up. "Who knows what shape Chloe's in right now, or what's happening to her. We already delayed a week, can't you get this hunk of junk going?"

Arthur tried the key once. Twice. Three times. The engine only coughed at him. "N-need tools f-from the sh-shop probably."

"You can't check it out now?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You p-packed tools?"

Vivi blinked. "Um… clothes… and blankets…. but not tools…"

"Didn't th-th-think so. C-c-call U-Uncle Lance."

Vivi flipped open her phone. She shook it, pressing the buttons on the side. "Squire, my phone's dead."

"Wh-at?" He pulled his out, opening it. His screen was black as well. "Th-the heck is g-g-going on?"

"Not to interrupt, but perhaps the haunted house to our right will loan us a phone." Mystery raised a paw toward the passenger window. "Or perhaps we could inquire as to why it is interfering with our equipment."

Vivi glanced up. To the right of the van sprawled a two-story mansion that had seen better days. Purple light pulsed from its boarded up windows in a steady rhythm. "Ghosts don't mess with us unless we go looking for them, what's the deal? Come on, Squire. Let's see what the fuss is about. Maybe we can get in their good graces by helping them pass on."

…..

Note: THE END! Of this fic. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one. "THE WEIGHT OF LIVING"