Jack Orin and The Death Dome

I hate poltergeists. It’s nothing against them, but they're very difficult to get rid of. I thought to myself as I pierced my gaze up the apartment stairs. The stairs are dirty and rotting away as if neglected for some time.            “Make sure not to break anything. I have expensive china up there” the older lady said from behind. I looked back to see the old lady whose apartment I was about to enter. She had a million wrinkles edged to her face. She wore a garb most likely from her homeland in Korea. Her daughter, who hired me, stood behind her. “Mama let him do his job. Getting that thing out is more important.” “That China has been passed down for generations. I will be damned if that breaks. He breaks it and he won’t see a cent from me.” I began my climb up the stairs while the two bickered. I guess the daughter didn’t tell her that I was doing this as a favor to make up for late payments on my dry cleaning.            The air was thick. Whatever this poltergeist was, it was old. As I got to the top of the stairs, I looked upon the three doors before me. The daughter mentioned that the two other apartments were abandoned and the one on the far end was theirs. She also mentioned that whatever had been happening in their apartment affected their neighbors so much they decided to end their lease early. Unexplained shadows and other unexplained instances would usually drive anyone away.            As I got closer to the door, it opened. “Well, that’s not creepy,” I muttered to myself as I entered the apartment. The apartment was cold as if someone put the thermometer below 32F. It was dark as if the apartment was eating any light that dared enter its domain. The door leading into the apartment leads to both the kitchen and the living room. Both places were across from each other with only a small passage to the outside to divide them.            “I sense your power; do you sense mine?” A voice said that seemed to surround me. The voice was masculine with a deep Japanese accent.            I was a bit taken back by the reply. Poltergeists do not usually reveal themselves in such a manner. What made it more interesting was the fact that I couldn’t sense him. I was beginning to think that this poltergeist was much more than it seemed. “Seems like my skills are a bit rusty. Why don’t you show yourself so we can have a proper conversation poltergeist?” “POLTERGEIST!?” I sensed a rush of energy penetrating through the air. I barely dodged the energy as it surged inches from my face, making a small cut on my cheek. I spun around and held out my hand towards the area the energy emerged from. Su ni ty jefu. Ghostly vines emerged from the ground shooting towards the direction of the energy.            I heard laughter as I heard a slashing sound and my vines disappeared from my view. “You seem to underestimate me, sorcerer. Let that be your final mistake.”            Energy started to radiate from all directions. I instantly recognized this attack. I quickly bit my thumb until I tasted blood and slammed my hand down on the ground. Tuno cubi talhalla. A green mist surrounded me just In time before sharp sticks of energy penetrated the mist from all sides. Both the mist and the energy disappeared in seconds.            “Impressive sorcerer, but how many more tricks can you pull off before your blood meets my blade?”            “Hopefully, all the tricks necessary.” I tried to gain a sense of its presence or energy but to no avail. “That attack just now, I recognized it.”            “Did you now?” the voice said with doubt.            “That attack was Japanese. From Mino provenience. Whistling wind if my translation is correct.”             “So, the fool does recognize the attack; impressive. This, however, will not prevent me from slaying you.”             Yi wen tunipyi. A bright glowing sphere appeared in front of me. “If your so confident in your skill, then come at me.”            Energy radiated once more, but as soon as the energy came close, the sphere reacted and drained the energy in itself. “guess that took care of that.” I said with a grin            The energy in the sphere reacted violently and thrashed around. “This prison will not hold me; I will be free.” The voice stated            “Be silent,” I said annoyingly. “I think there has been a misunderstanding here, and I'm here to correct it.” I walked with the sphere towards the outside of the apartment and go back down the stairs to where the others were sitting. My dry cleaner's reaction was priceless, but her mother did not look amused.            “So, why are you giving me a new lamp?” She asked in a condescending tone.            “Mama, stop being rude.” She then turned her head towards the sphere. “What is that?” She then jumped back as the sphere violently reacted.            “This is the cause of your problems,” I said as I moved the sphere towards them.            The grandmother moved her head closer to her daughter and put her hand to the side of her mouth as if to speak to her daughter privately. “Don’t pay this man. This is clearly a scam.” She said in a not-so-quiet voice.            I dropped the sphere, and as soon as it hit the ground it shattered. The area’s temperature dropped about 20 degrees to a slight chill. The being trapped in the sphere appeared in front of us. As soon as he was visible, I saw that my suspicions were right. The being was Japanese, standing a few inches taller than me, hair in a ponytail, and was wearing light shogun armor. He was not old, but middle-aged, but old power and magic radiated from his presence.            “You are a fool to free me, now you shall.” But before he could finish his sentence, the mother walked closer and examined his features.            “Great Grandfather?” She asked in disbelief.            The figure was taken back a bit, but he also examined her as well. “Aiko?”            Tears began to fall on the mother’s cheek as she nodded yes in reply. Both figures began to hug furiously.            The daughter just looked at me with confusion. “What’s going on?”            “Family reunion, now go say hello to your great-great-grandfather.”            She hesitated but began to slowly walk towards the ghostly figure. The mother began to happily introduce her daughter to their lost family member.            I saw that my work was done and began to slowly leave, but before I could reach the stairs that led to the first floor, the ghostly figure appeared in front of me. “Where do you think you’re going?”            I reached into my pocket, grabbed a red licorice candy, and took a bit out of it before talking. “I was leaving, my work is done. There is no need for us to quarrel anymore.”            The figure shook his head. “There may not be a need to fight, but I have questions of my own that need to be answered.”            “We have questions as well?” The daughter and the mother said in unison.            I let out a deep breath. “Most of the questions can be answered if the both of you talked, but if you want me to help, I can. What’s the first question?”            The mother was the first to speak. “How is my great grandfather still here with us? I was told he died when I was just a small girl.”            I looked at the great grandfather “Want to answer this question.”            He looked at Aiko and began to rub his head. “It’s complicated. When I was older in my years, you were just born. I never thought I would live to see my grandchild, let alone my great-grandchild. I was told by a spirit that I was chosen to live on beyond natural years because of my actions as a samurai. That once my spiritual body was gone, a new life would begin. Everyone was happy about the news, and I was happy to be given the opportunity to protect my family further. After my death, the spirit gave my son a pendent. She told them that I was tied to it and that if they needed me, they would only need to rub it and I would appear for as long as they needed me. I have been used many times since then.”            “When was the last time you were used?” Aiko asked.            “It was by your parents. A group of people who looked to cause trouble came at them with weapons I had never seen and in a place, I did not recognize. I disposed of them quickly and stayed with them for a bit. They told me about the upcoming war and that they were no longer in Japan, but in America. They also said they sent you to live with relatives in a place called California. I stayed with them for a few days, then went back until I was needed again. That was the last time I was summoned.”            Aiko gave a sad smile. Her face was filled with dread as she spoke. “My parents died a few days after that altercation. They told me they ran into a group of people and that it was taken care of.”            The shock of the ghost was visible. “How did they die?”            “It was in a car accident. A driver lost control and hit them both. I was told they did not suffer.”            The figure just stood there in silence. As he began to process the information given to him, “I am sorry I failed to protect your parents. I have failed as a guardian of this family and I have disgraced my honor.”            Aiko shook her head. “You did not disgrace anything. You have clearly protected this family when it needed you and do not blame you for that accident.” She then turned to me. “So, Mr. Orin, I have a few questions for you.”            I nodded in response.            “Why did my great grandfather begin to haunt this area?”            “Well, his spirit is trapped into a specific item, which is not only the basis of his power but what binds him to our mortal plane. It can only be activated by the touch of someone from the bloodline. So, most likely you accidentally rubbed the item by accident releasing him. Since he did not know his location or the location of his family, he most likely began to protect the area until they return.”            The figure nodded in agreement.            “So, how did you know he was family or that he meant no harm to us?” my dry cleaner asked.            “Because of how he acted when I appeared. He held a conversation and bantered with me. Poltergeists don’t do that, they're just angry spirits. Not to mention, his powers were a different set and had magic emanating from each attack. Lastly, I saw a similar being a long time ago before, so it didn’t take long before putting two and two together. I just needed to see his actual form to confirm my theory,” I said.            “So, what happens now?” My dry cleaner asked.            “Keep him or set him free; that’s honestly up to you. The object I gave you holds him; break it and he gets to rest. Either way, my job here is done. I will be heading home now and making myself some tea.”            “That’s it?” Aiko asked.            “Pretty much.” I look at my dry cleaner as I begin to get ready for my departure. “I believe my debt is repaid. If you need help, just give me a call on my number. Although if you do keep your ancestor, you will be well protected from those who go bump in the night.”            She smiled at me and nodded her head. “Thank you.” She then turned to her mother and great, great grandfather. “Let’s go upstairs, we have a lot of catching up to do.” Then they began to head for their apartment together.            I watched them as they walked away and smiled. It wasn’t every day that family was reunited from the great beyond in a positive way. Usually, it involves an exorcism or something more disruptive. After a few moments, I turned and walked down the stairs. As I went up to the door, I stopped and pulled a brown leather bag from my pocket. I stick my thumb into it and pull it away. Red dust appeared on my thumb from the bag and I made a small circle on the door. After finishing, I quickly wipe away the remaining dust and take a deep breath. Utia momonso. I whispered. They instantly glowed a bright red. I then opened the door and saw my home. “I love magic”. I then walked in and shut the door behind me, but before I could do anything, I heard a knock at the door.