Haunted Hotel (Pika, Open)

A Teen Titan had been called in to deal with a most...unsavory situation. Guests had been reporting strange sights and sounds the last few days. The owner of the "Inn the Way" was a definite believer in the paranormal, and he was certain that a ghost was in his building.

He wanted it gone.

As somehow seemed appropriate, the night was darkened by a thunderstorm. Suddenly, with a flash of lightening, the Titan appeared in the doorway. The owner screamed before realizing this was the person he had been waiting for.

"Thank goodness you've come."

Metamorphi walked through the doorway while lightning flashed behind him. Funny timing that. The light from the lightning would make him seem like a large, muscular silhouette, so it was understandable that the man would be frightened. Once the light faded, the man would recognise him as one of the cities most well known crime fighters. Meta nodded to him Why did you come to us for help? I'm not exactly an expert in ghost hunting

"Well, I called an exorcist, but he was on vacation. The Teen Titans were the only ones I could think of to help. Please, follow me."

The owner lead Meta to a specific room. "My security cameras have seen this door opening and closing by itself. One of the keycards has gone missing. Here's the spare." The man handed Meta a keycard to unlock the door.

If Meta used the card, the door would indeed unlock, but the deadbolt on the other side would only allow the door to open about an inch.

The owner stood back. Way back.

The man explained that he tried to get an expert, but couldn't find anyone available, so the only other people he could think of to help were the Teen Titans. Meta nodded, then followed him to the room, where he explained that the door opened and closed by itself. He then gave Meta a spare keycard for the door. Meta unlocked the door, but was only able to open the door an inch. Meta crouched down and peered through the opening.

The lights were turned on inside the room. Nobody was in sight. However, a girl's voice came from inside. "Um...don't come in. I'm...um....I'm showering."

The owner shook his head. "Nobody is staying in that room right now. The ghost is trying to trick you."

The girl spoke again. "Um, yep. I'm a spooky ghost. Boo."

The owner was gripped with horror and ran away, going back to the front desk.

"So yep. You better close that door, dude. Nothing to see here. Just a ghost taking a shower. You'd better leave or I'll...haunt you? Yeah."

Meta looked in and saw that the light was on, but no one was in. What kind of ghost turned the light on? They then heard a voice, but it sounded like it was just a girl. Meta suspected that something was up, but he didn't have any proof. The owner then said that nobody was staying in the room and it was a ghostly trick, but Meta wasn't convinced. The 'ghost' then confirmed that she was a 'ghost' which terrified the owner and made him run away.

Meta sighed, his time was being wasted here. The girl then told him to go away or she'd haunt him. Meta was terrified. Meta sighed before speaking First off, you aren't showering. I'd be able to hear it. Secondly, why would a ghost need to shower? They can't get dirty because nothing touches them. In fact, the water would just go through you. Thirdly, I'm not convinced for a second that you're a ghost, your acting is terrible. Who are you? Why are you here? Also, why are you pretending to be a ghost?

The door pulled itself shut. There was a sound of the deadbolt being undone, and then the door opened all the way. There was nobody inside, not that Meta would see, anyways.

"Oh. You're built like a truck, aren't you? Come inside, quick. I don't want that thing to get in here. Lock the door." There was a hint of fear in the girl's voice.

If Meta entered the room, he would see a small table littered with microwave dinners and cereal boxes. There were also several photographs of a family of three, a mother, a teenage daughter with green hair, and a little boy with black hair. Several pieces of paper contained a crude drawing of a lizard man.

There was a depression on the bed, suggesting that someone unseen was sitting on it.

"Look, I'm not a bad person. I'm just out of luck at the moment. I don't like doing this, pretending to be a ghost to get a free place to stay. I don't have any money. I don't have a job. But I need to find someone. You can call me Shy. What's your name?"

The door then shut. Before Meta could do anything else, the girl then unlocked the door and opened it to let him in. The girl then commented on his build before asking him to come in quickly What thing? The hotel owner? He did as said anyway, coming in and locking the door behind him.

He took in his surroundings, picking up one of the family photos, examining it, then he put it down and looked at the drawing of the lizard man. He saw the imprint on the bed, finally able to tell where exactly she is. She then went on to explain that the reason she was tricking the hotel owner into thinking she was a ghost was because she needed a place to stay. She explained that she was looking for someone, then introduced herself as Shy before asking his name.

Meta sat down in a chair My name is Metamorphi, but just call me Meta. So, this person you need to find, is it the lizard man? Or the woman or the child in the family pictures. You are the teenage girl, right?

The girl appeared, sitting cross-legged on the bed. She was wearing a red hoodie, black pants, knee-high brown boots, and a white mask over her face. "Yep. That's me. I'm looking for my brother. The lizard guy is just some weirdo who is also hanging around this hotel. Nobody else can see him, though, because he's invisible all the time. He usually sleeps in the lobby. He scares me. He keeps studying everybody who shows up, like he's looking for someone specific."

Shy pulled her knees up and hugged her legs. "He's up to something bad. I just know it. But I'm too weak to stop him, and nobody else can see him. I think he's getting annoyed with me. I'm afraid he might attack me if I leave this room."

The girl revealed her true appearance, or at the very least she went visible, her identity was hidden by a mask. She then confirmed Meta's suspicions by saying that she was the girl in the picture and that she was looking for her brother in the picture. She then went on to explain that the lizard man was a weird guy who was hanging around the lobby and studying everyone. She suspected that he was up to no good, but couldn't do anything about it. She also feared that he might attack her.

Meta went closer and would slowly move his hand to her shoulder, in case she was nervous about being touched, then would put his hand on her shoulder if she let him Don't worry, I can help. If you can see him, you can help me get rid of him.

Shy thought about his offer. One of then could see the lizard, and one of them was tough enough to fight him. If only they could fuse together into one really powerful person, they could probably win. As things stood, Shy doubted they stood a chance. Playing a game of hot or cold was one thing, but a fight was fast paced. Shy couldn't give directions that fast.

But maybe she didn't need to. It all depended on what her ally could do.

"Are...are you a Teen Titan? Do you have any powers?"

She thought about his suggestion for a minute, then asked if he was a Teen Titan and if he had any powers. Meta nodded, taking out his communicator and showing it to her. He then held his fist up and turned it into metal I can do this with any material I've touched. I could probably turn into something I haven't touched if I know all of it's properties

Shy smiled, impressed. "Yeah, we can work with that. I've been thinking a lot about this lizard guy. I think his powers work different than mine. You know how chameleons can camouflage themselves? Must be something like that, just much more advanced. The point is, if we can cover him in something, we will be able to see him."

Shy jumped off the bed and picked up a white bag from the floor. "A bit generic, I know, but I did pick up some flower at the store." Pick up was the right choice of words. She certainly hadn't paid for it. "I was afraid he was going to attack me, so I got this to protect myself. After all, if other people can see him, then they can fight him, too."

The girl paused for a moment. "I'm a little nervous. But I'll do this because you can beat him. I hope. Don't expect too much backup from me. He can see me. Thermal vision or something I'm guessing. But surprise is the only weapon I have. You ready?"

She waited for his response, and for him to open the door and go out first. Hopefully he wouldn't have too many questions for her. There were a lot of things she wasn't proud of, and didn't really want to talk about her past few days in Jump City.

Shy seemed impressed by Meta's display of his powers. She then went on to explain that the lizard guy's powers probably work like a chameleon's, which made sense considering the reptile theme, and that they could make him visible by covering him in something. She then showed him a bag of flour, saying that she got some to protect herself with. Meta noticed her visibly pausing and was about to ask her what was wrong, but then she said that she was very nervous, but she was willing to do it because he was fighting.

Upon being asked if he was ready, Meta nodded Yeah, of course. Turn invisible again and lead me to him. He then stood up and walked over to the door, waiting for her to get ready.

Shy nodded. It would be best if nobody saw her. Extra people asking questions would just get in harm's way. She turned invisible. A moment later, her invisible hand held Meta's. She opened the door and led him down the hallway.

Four guests in dripping wet raincoats hurried down the hallway, leaving a wet trail behind them. There were several other trails of water that a keen eye might notice. One of them, however, led to a small puddle in the empty corner of the main lobby.

Shy, however, could see things that other people couldn't. Standing above the little puddle was the lizard man. Seven feet tall and covered in green scaly skin, the lizard man had long, sharp claws and thin, deadly teeth. It was terrifying that such a monster could be so close to people without making itself known. The lizard's yellow eyes focused on Shy. Shy looked back, meekly.

Her legs were shaking. This monster could probably break her in half within a second, but she had to make it so Meta could see it.

Ripping the bag open, Shy threw the flour at the Lizard.

The lizard's form was revealed, caked in a thin layer of flour. It turned mushy in some places as it mixed with residual moisture on the lizard's skin.

With a furious roar, the Lizard jumped at Shy, claws outstretched. Shy scampered away before slipping on the wet floor and landing on her face. She hoped that Meta could take this guy.