Alarm clock ringing off the walls, the chimera let out a groan. Did yesterday really happen? That chocolate cake really came alive and tried to burn the house down. Maybe it's possible he dreamt that whole thing. But, the chimera shook his head to such. If only it were a dream, that was wishful thinking! This was his life now, and he was definitely living in it.

Memory of the incident flashing through his mind, the college graduate let out a barely audible screech. Huffing, he took a deep breath. He should have listened to that blog post and suggested a different flavor of cake to bake! But, no, the birthday girl just had to be stubborn! She couldn't have tried to ask for something else.

Shrugging, the chimera reached for his phone as he lifted himself up from his covers. It's best to not blame the other party on this. They didn't even believe the rumors. It's fine, they didn't know. Maybe it was his fault for accepting the job. Right, of course, he's the one to blame here, he should have just said no, and this wouldn't have ever happened.

Combing through his bookmarks, the chimera clicked the paranormal food ghost blog once more. Maybe the anonymous blogger had more to say about this. But, such had been far from the case. New entry burying the others, he clicked on the most recent contribution added. Title being rather abstract as usual, the hyena let out a sigh. Whoever this person was, they sure enjoyed being cryptic, that's for sure. Entry titled, Monuments of food and drink could be a death wish waiting to happen, sweat broke down the young adult's cheek. Come again? Eyeballing it, he could feel his will begin to sway.

<Monuments Of Food And Drink Could Be a Death Wish Waiting To Happen> Anonymous

"Thank you to everyone who has dealt with the chocolate cake food crisis, you have my gratitude for dealing with it weather you nominated yourself to join me on dealing with the problem or not. For now, the issue has mostly been dealt with. There are no more chocolate cake monsters nor ghosts that have been popping up. However, please refrain from dealing with these issues without bringing it up to me first.

But, there are now bigger fish to fry, or rather, bigger monuments to fry instead. It has come to my attention that food and drink monuments are also a major reason for concern. From what I gather, they can be possessed by food ghosts at the same rate as food and drinks. They are armed and dangerous. Should one come across these beings, contact me. For now, I will share what ones are currently known to be possessed that require immediate attention.

I have been hearing various reports regarding the Largest Teapot in the World is possessed and is injuring or nearly killing many guests with dangerously hot tea that is over three hundred degrees fahrenheit or as the rest of the world beyond America would put it, one hundred forty eight degrees celsius. Visitors have been left with third degree burns and have been hospitalized.

I would appreciate it someone, or a team would nominate themselves to join this investigation. It is recommended you bring a blade with you just in case, as things might get more hostile the more people agree to join. Although it is more than likely it'll just end in a game of chase. If you are interested, write in the comments below. I will be contacting people twelve hours after this post is live.

And, to all those who are not taking these investigations seriously, you shall be dealt with. This is not a game, this is a serious issue. Remember that there are people out there being severely injured, and it's possible in the future, people might even be killed. Thank you to all who have been taking this mission seriously. We will be in touch soon."

Eyes wandering back to the first paragraph, the chimera broke into a sweat. Did this anonymous person know he went out and dealt with the chocolate cake monster? Ah, no, he's done for now, isn't he? Absolutely toast. Cooked into rotini and tossed into the bin. Maybe he shouldn't have done that without contacting the anonymous blogger after all.

Largest Teapot in the World mentioned, the hyena wondered. Where in the world is that monument? He swore he had heard about it before. Typing such name into the search widget, the chimera let out a sigh. Oh, great, it's in the United Flop of America! West Virginia, more like West Trashginia! No wonder they were dealing with food ghosts there, their tea was probably low quality cheap garbage.

Finger hovering over the comment box, the chimera pondered. Should he join the investigation? But, he shook his head. Why go back to the United Flop of America for? All their food there was second rate and processed to the moon and back! But, he knew he couldn't just let other people get hurt. Three hundred degrees fahrenheit, that was close to lethal, wasn't it? Shouldn't he do something? It wouldn't be a good idea to let anyone else get hurt.

Reading the timestamp, the chimera typed away. This blog post was posted two hours ago. Maybe he should join. Spotting four other comments already there, he dropped down his own. Well, he supposed he still had a couple more days before his odd job business started. He still had some time to kill doing some other things.

Putting his phone down, the hyena placed his finger on his chin. What should he do today? Maybe he could go to the mall and check out the restaurants there. Or, maybe he could go shopping at the home goods store and buy some new kitchen supplies. He could use a new spatula and frying pan. But, where even was the nearest home good store? Beats him. Who knows if Barrazoni factory store was still open?

Hearing a rather loud knock on his door, the hyena let out a groan. Ugh, if Deigr or Coiote were here to bother him, they can make their own coffee! They can forget him ever brewing them any ever again after what they said about his cooking! They didn't even try it! Maybe if they had, they wouldn't run their stupid mouths! Hopping towards the entrance, he twisted the knob.

"Hey, Siorc, yer friend's on the phone," Varg said, landline stretched out in front of him. "They wanna know if it's cool they stop by to ask you something."

Question coming his way, the hyena blinked. Which friend was Varg talking about? If it was a friend from college, maybe. It's not like he had anything better to do. But, if it was that anonymous blogger who somehow got their phone number, forget it. Reaching for his tablet, he scribbled away as fast as he could.

[Depends, who is it?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"Yer friend Yinlong," Varg responded. "Ya know, I'm s'prised they're callin'. Don't they usually text you? Must be important if they're callin'."

Varg mentioning it must have been important, the hyena wondered. What was so important? Was their noodle shop in trouble? Maybe he should go there and eat a few bowls and help them out get a bit more money. Going to the homegoods store can wait! There were definitely more fish to fry here that mattered more. Scribbling away, his words almost became others.

[Tell them I said yes, that's fine, they can stop by.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Aight, I'll say that," Varg said. He then placed the phone back over his ear. "Yeah, Siorc said you could come over." There was a short silence between as he said such. "Oh, yer gonna come in the afternoon? Aight, see ya then. Peace." He then turned back towards Siorc. "What's fer breakfast? I'm in the mood for some ham and potato hash, but it's cool if ya wanna make somethin' else."

Suggestion coming his way, the chimera wondered. Did they have enough ham for that? Maybe he should go out and buy some more after Yinlong stops by. But, maybe there'd be enough for three people that could suffice for now. And, besides, that sounded like quite the tasty dish. Maybe it wouldn't hurt making that.

[I don't mind making that. But, is Pira home?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"Nah, he had to go to work early today 'cause his boss wanted him to take a few extra shifts in exchange for expanding the room upstairs," Varg said shaking his head. "He ain't gonna be around in the early mornings for the next couple days."

Hearing such, the chimera's head sunk. This house was getting emptier by the day. Hase, Leah and Natalie were still at the acting camp thing, and his parents were still away. Would it soon just be Varg and he alone in the mornings? Maybe it would be. Everyone was adults here now after all, he should have seen that coming.

[I'll make it in an hour, if that's alright with you.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"No rush," Varg responded. "I'm gonna tune my guitar in a bit anyway and bust out some tunes."

Brother stepping away, the hyena broke out into a sweat. Man, this house was that empty, huh? Guess Varg was thinking of starting a punk band again. How many times did this mark that he tried and failed at that? Countless, he supposed. Oh, well, maybe this time he'd get his lucky break after all these years.

Scurrying through his clothing drawers, the hyena let out a sigh. He really needed to go to the department store and buy some new clothes. But, would there be any cute tops in his size? What if there were some shirt ghosts, too? Ah, no, what a silly thought. There was definitely no such thing. He needed to stop letting his imagination run wild!

Clicking the lock closed on the restroom door, the hyena prayed to the skies above that Deigr and Coiote were out of the house. Didn't these two have jobs or something, or were their careers now annoying devoted girlfriends? Maybe that was their true goal in life, being nothing but a little obedient wife to their husbands! Whatever, not his problem anyway. They can continue to be their partner's little armrests for all he cared.

Searching the lower cabinet for a bath bomb, the chimera let out a sigh as nothing screamed out to him. Honestly, he could have sworn Natalie often soaked in here with one of those things, was he wrong? He ought to go to the home goods store and buy some. Oh, well, so much for relaxing before baking breakfast. Turning the knobs, the thoughts rolled in a like a pebble.

As the rushing waters dropped down upon him, the words food monuments haunted flashed through his head. So, these food ghosts could even possess food and drink landmarks, huh? How incredibly depressing. He should have known that was possible from the very beginning, but oh well, how was he supposed to know that? This problem was new to him!

Loud cheers and splashes shaking the window, the college graduate held in a groan. He swore, those neighbor kids were outside twenty four seven! Did they ever stop jumping in that pool? But, he dropped such thought. Eh, whatever, what was wrong with being active? He was wrong for being so critical over them in the past.

Shampoo bottle nearly empty, the chimera tried with all his might to squeeze out the tiniest little dollop that remained. Maybe he should go to the home goods store after Yinlong comes over. He could use a new strawberry scented bottle right about now. Quickly washing the suds out, he dashed off towards the mirror.

Dark orange shirt with a bucket of fried chicken on it and fingers with a cross shape besides them with text beneath it reading, Not Sharing My Wings With You, the chimera stared at the discarded shampoo bottle in the garbage bin. If he bought a strawberry scent, wouldn't that attract food ghosts to him? Maybe he should consider buying scentless ones instead.

Denim skirt soon beneath him, the hyena tied his hair upward into a pretzel braid style. Spritzing in the hairspray, he wondered. Would this look be good enough? Maybe he didn't look that great in this after all. Shrugging, he returned to his room. Light brown matching chicken wings hairpins and earrings clicked into place, he reached for a book on his manga shelf. Time for a good old classic magical girl.

Flipping through Magical Sugar Coffee Cat, the food enthusiast let out a somber sigh. Man, why did this series have to get cancelled for? It had an interesting premise. Coffee owner by day, magical girl by evening. How did they not have a hit on their hands? He'll never understand those publishing companies standards. When he writes his best selling memoir someday as the best cultural restaurant owner in the world, he'll definitely sell millions! People sure were allergic to anything good, weren't they?

Hour swiftly passing, the chimera dashed off towards the kitchen. Ham and potato hash, that would take about ten minutes to make, right? Finding a recipe on his phone, he cracked his knuckles. This dish had peppers in it, he sees. He supposes he's fine with that. Ingredients out on the table, he placed the potatoes cut in half on the stove in a pot. Cook the potatoes first, huh? He supposed he could work with that.

Dousing the creature in cold water, the chimera placed the onions and bell peppers onto the pan next. Butter melted like it was ready to die, he looked at his timer. They had to be cooked for about five minutes, right? He supposed that would be more than long enough. Timer going off, he read the next step.

Mixing the potatoes, ham, salt and pepper, the chimera let out a quiet sigh. Would this be enough? Maybe he should add some sauce into it. But, he knew if Varg wanted any, he'd add some himself. Tossing the hash back into the pan, he whistled as the creature had begun to turn brown. Hurrying and placing them on the plate, he brewed the coffee. Setting the table, he waited. Familiar footsteps coming forward, he unfolded his hands.

"Smellin' them bell peppers, didn't know we had any," Varg said sniffing away.

[Sorry, did you want me to use another kind of pepper instead?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"No, yer good, the spicier, the better," Varg responded. "Time to eat!"

Varg nibbling away, the hyena stared at the plate in front of him. He put in enough peppers, right? Squirting down the ketchup, his fork twitched around the plate. Spice kicking in, he almost ascended to heaven. Man, he bought the best ingredients as usual. The roasted ham, the potatoes, he can't believe how well these things tasted mixed together! Everyone else was definitely missing out. Sighing, he stared at the calendar on the fridge. When would Natalie, Leah and Hase return from that camp?

"Why are ya starin' at th' calendar on the fridge?" Varg asked. "Somethin' wrong?"

[I'm just wondering when Leah, Hase and Natalie are coming back is all.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"I think their camp's finishin' in like, two weeks," Varg said. "Dunno." He then bit down into the hash. "These pep'ers really hit the spot." He stood up as he said such. "I'mma gonna fire up the guitar now. Knock on m' door if ya need anythin'."

Cleaning up from breakfast, the chimera returned to his room. Reading the second volume of the magical coffee shop owner manga, he let out a sigh. If only there were more manga out there that combined food with magical powers.