Mutated Ectoplasm

Hopefully this chapter comes in at a good time for all of you. Things have been hectic, but hopefully this will help in the mean time. Also, I have an announcement at the end of the chapter, so make sure to read the notes there too.

Either way, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

A ghost circus would've sounded insane to Karkat before the accident, but everything was possible nowadays. He honestly wondered why he didn't think of it before.

Oh, right. He was still vainly hoping for some sense of normality in this world, despite their being none.

Things had quickly gone to shit at the reveal of all of those ghosts at once, the entire crowd trying to run over each other to the exits. The ghosts were causing as much havoc as they could, trying to grab people or throw things at them. Thankfully, no one had been touched and the ghosts were oddly not using any powers other than flying.

"Guys, we need to get these people out of here!" Karkat dodged an elbow that would've knocked any normal person out, keeping close to his friends. "Try and keep some ghosts away, I've got an idea!"

"You better know what you're doing! I knew this place was fucking creepy!" Sollux swung at a ghost that tried to go for his hair, getting a good shot at their face. "Ha, should've phased through that, jackass!"

"These ghosts are way too quiet! Something doesn't feel right about all of this!" Aradia was right. The fact that they weren't using their full powers was strange, and none of them seemed that responsive. "We'll do our abest but hurry up!"

Karkat quickly went invisible and intangible, heading towards the exit most of the crowd was heading towards. It was too small, and it looked like some people were going to be trampled underneath, so he floated above, grabbing the flaps of both sides of the tent. He turned them intangible as well, the crowd flowing through them automatically with no further restraint.

Most of the crowd cleared out before he let the flaps go, letting him have time to transform. He could see Aradia and Sollux slip out as well, the latter having his phone out. Karkat figured that was fair. His dad would probably have to get in just to make sure shit didn't go wrong.

That would have to come later, though. He'd have to mitigate whatever damage was happening now.

Karkat flew around the tent, checking that there weren't any more stragglers behind. He kept an eye on every single ghost that moved and was horrified to note that a few people had gotten caught before they'd escaped. They were brought towards Clopin, shoe seemed disappointed.

"Five motherfucking people? Jeez, we usually get triple that. Are you guys off your game today?" Clopin swung his staff around, huffing. "Disappointing haul, but maybe we got some rich ones tonight. Otherwise this shit was a bust."

"Dad, are we gonna get this going or what?" Gamzee walked on in, looking bored. He was followed behind a taller boy with similar looks, a skull bandanna covering the bottom of his face. "I don't think we got the time for this."

"Kid, we always have time to take hostages. It's how we get our money anyway." Clopin patted his son on the head, moving closer to the civilians. He just smiled at them while they trembled, and it was a terrible, toothy one. "Now, if ya'll wouldn't mind telling me who your next of kin is-"

Karkat figured he should nip this in the bud now. Pulling out the thermos, he aimed at the ghosts holding the people hostage and sucked them in before Clopin could even blink. When the ringmaster stopped, eyes widening and raised his staff as everyone got to their feet, he threw an ectoblast at his feet. It caused the man to take a few step backs, eyes moving to where the shot was fired.