Page 72 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

A SHROudEd PAST

freaked out about Amelia, and was seeing things. I didn’t ask too many lead. If they ask around, hunters may discover that ghostwalk-
questions. I was too busy waiting for the ghost to show up. ers know a lot about death and ghosts, and that no two groups
When that sepia color washed over the room, we all got nervous, Even are exactly alike. Some of the haunted may even claim they’ve
Paco’s ghostwalkers tensed a bit. Marjorie looked ready to bolt, but she held visited an unearthly realm, a type of Underworld, that’s filled
her ground. Amelia appeared, and Paco’s team went into action. Tanvi cut with ancient spirits who’ve been dead for millennia. Though
his hand and ropes of blood wrapped around Amelia. The ghost thrashed some hunters may try to dismiss this, no one can contest that a
and yelled, until Paco cut his own hand and bled on her face. Then, Amelia ghostwalker knows ghosts better than any hunter, and has the
started to talk like a normal person, or at least a sane one. right tools and abilities to deal with them — more than any hu-
Fifty years ago, Amelia was investigating a woman who was spot- man, hunter, and some monsters, too.
ted performing dark rituals in her basement. According to her neighbors, As frightening as their abilities are, ghostwalkers are clearly
Norma charmed every person who talked to her, but Amelia wasn’t better at dealing with ghosts than they are at doing anything
fooled. Unfortunately, Norma was prepared when she arrived. Amelia else, as if they were built or brought into being for this single
was killed in the house and Norma ritually bound her ghost to be a purpose. Not only can a ghostwalker see and communicate with
guardian. Norma, according to Amelia, still lurked beneath the house. them effortlessly, even the weakest amongst them can reach
Paco called Norma an Abmortal, and asked us if we wanted to out and touch any ghost. Some can even sense when ghosts are
help take Norma down. Everyone — including Amelia — agreed. I won’t using their powers, and which type they’re using, too.
lie, the thought of going into a fight side-by-side with Amelia, scary as Amongst ghostwalkers, though, there are those who have
her ghost was, was exhilarating. Monsters...on our side for once! powers that far outstrip others of their kind. These powers
Finding the hidden basement was easy with Amelia’s help. I was enable them to control ghosts, empower ghosts far beyond what
shocked to find Norma was badly-scarred and was down there waiting any normal ghost could ever be capable of on its own, make a
for us. The ghostwalkers used their blood to make Amelia even stronger ghost visible to anyone, or even give a ghost a physical, solid
somehow, and she launched herself at Norma. My cell opened fire. form. Some ghostwalkers can restrain ghosts with ease; even
The ghostwalkers twisted into nightmarish forms and attacked, too. In draw on the ghost’s powers to use for themselves.
the end, it was Ayana who killed Norma. She drew the scissors from For all these reasons and more, when a ghost appears
Amelia’s eyes, and shoved them into Norma’s chest. in the presence of a ghostwalker, that spirit may be quickly
After that, Paco led a little ceremony for Amelia, talking about neutralized…or become more dangerous than before. Hunters
her life, and at the end she vanished in a flash of light. I actually cried aren’t sure. After all, if one ghostwalker’s presence can
when I saw her go. strengthen a ghost, what effect would the presence of a whole
Before he left, Paco smiled and told us to be careful. Then, the gang have on it? The thought frightens many hunters, and
ghostwalkers piled into their van and left. I’m guessing they are on a some ghostwalkers, too.
vigil just like us. If our cell runs into more ghost problems, I hope they’ll
show up to help. Without Paco and his crew...I’m not sure we couldn’t A Shared Enemy
take down Norma by ourselves. I got a letter with Andre’s name. Just his full name and the place
— Reported by Jesse Knight, Park Avenue Investigation Squad. he was killed on a sheet of paper. No one saw me kill Andre. His body
Sometimes, the most dangerous thing about an investigation has not been found. I did it neat, clean, and tidy. He deserved to die;
isn’t the haunting. Many hunters will examine hauntings over he broke the rules. Parked in a handicap spot. Besides, he was eating
the course of their Vigil, and may be surprised when they chips in his car. Sloppy, messy, chaotic.
discover what a ghost can do, and what drives that spirit to take Then, a letter arrived with Maria’s name, that sow. The police
action. For hunters, however, a haunting can become even more still think she ran away. Who was watching me? Who sent the letter?
unpredictable when ghostwalkers arrive at the scene. At night, a pair of invisible hands pulled the covers off of my bed.
It’s not uncommon for odd or eclectic groups to investigate My lamp moved. My books were thrown off their shelves. Taken from
a haunting. At first blush, these groups may appear to be similarly their place. My room was sloppy, messy, and chaotic. I threw everything
structured to a hunter cell, and share the same goal. Ghostwalkers out. Went outside, and saw the names of the others written on the wall
act as mediums. They may be trying to help redeemable ghosts of my house. Someone has invaded my house. He? She? Rearranges my
move on, or may attempt to contain or destroy hostile spirits. furniture when I am away, takes from their proper place. I can’t sleep.
Like hunters, these odd mediums do their best to protect the It is not proper. They had no way of knowing I did those things. It
living by keeping the dead apart from them. is not fair. It is as if a non-existent God told someone what I did. They
Other times, a rival group of ghostwalkers appears who cheated. Sloppy, messy, and chaotic. I have not slept in a week. They
are driven to make the situation worse. They may try to free a want me to make a mistake, to slip up, but I’ve made none. I won’t kill
vengeful ghost trapped in a tenement, or kill a target that the when they are watching, and they can’t watch me forever.
ghost is angry with. They may try to put down hunters who Can they? Wait...I think someone’s here.
want to deal with the ghost, and force the spirit to stop preying — From a handwritten note found in the house of Stephan
on the living. These mysterious figures tend to have an eerie Glyn, a prime suspect in the murders of 16 people. Glyn’s en-
way about them, and often do whatever it takes to stop anyone tire skin and a great deal of blood were found near the note.
who interferes with their schemes — including hunters. The Cheiron Group has since recovered the bio-waste.
To best assess the situation, hunters may want to conduct Other than ghosts, curious onlookers, and ghostwalkers,
interviews and follow the Loyalists of Thule’s or Network Zero’s hunters are most likely to run into slashers when investigating a

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