Money?

"So? Can I know now?"

Hellen chuckled as she looked at his eager expression. She said in a reproachful tone, "Lock the door properly, see if everything is alright. I am not going to run away. See if the gate has been locked in safely."

"I've already checked, don't worry. Can you please tell me now?"

There was no one on this side of the town at this point of time. The road was empty, darkness was seeping in. In a few dozen minutes the street lights would start flickering to turn on. Hellen still made sure to look around before she explained,

"The ghosts, well, there's nothing much to be honest in this. It's simple, apart from their abilities which sets them all apart. There is a different set of abilities which are common in all ghosts as a whole. Basically, each ghost you meet will have 1 unique ability, that is, different from all ghosts and another ability which would be one of the two, which is common in all ghosts.

"It is phaseless and enhanced mental defense. A ghost will always have either of the two abilities along with one unique one. Enhanced mental defense is as its name suggests, it would have heightened mental defense, supers who have mind oriented abilities are less suited to dealing with these kinds of ghosts. As for phaseless, these kinds of ghosts have the capability of temporarily transforming its body such that it would phase through any kind of thing. For these kinds of ghosts, supers who have physical oriented abilities are less suited to dealing with them."

Aiden listened to her with rapt attention while carrying a bunch of supplies he would need while staying over at his neighbor's house. Hellen continued,

"You geddit? If we can see how the ghost travels, it would be easier for us to determine which ability it has. It would actually be pretty bad if we happen to be up against the phaseless kind of ghost. We don't have any mind oriented nor physical oriented supers among us, but we can still do physical attacks. It is what we will be depending on. So it would be pretty bad if we're up against a phaseless ghost since we would have more work on our hands to time our attack with precision so that it actually lands on it."

Aiden narrowed his eyes, deep into thought as he nodded to her explanation. The more he learned about who he was up against, the more difficult it felt. The more despair emerged in his heart. He knew he had a trump card now, an ability, but still, ghosts had two. Every ghost had two. Plus they were fucking immortals, immortals who healed themselves, you could never hurt them and retreat to plan and return, employing a wheel tactic. The ghost would have already recovered by then, resetting all their hard work.

Hellen unlocked the gate of her lawn and proceeded to check her plants before unlocking the door to enter her house. It was only 7 in the evening, the reason they had dinner early was in case dealing with the ghost took time. Considering that, Hellen only filled small bowls with dry fruits to munch on and placed them on the table while informing Aiden to eat them if he felt like.

She checked the state of her house, visiting several rooms before she explained to Aiden, "I'll take out the equipment needed to proceed with our information gathering. If you think of anything in the meantime you can let me know. If you want anything else just take it, don't be shy."

Aiden had already grabbed a few almonds, grinding them in his mouth as he listened to aunt Hellen. He replied, "Why don't I help you with the cameras?"

Hellen gave him a wide grin, a smile too sweet if he were to think about it and said, "Of course I'll be putting you to work. I simply want to find where I kept everything first. It's been years since I last did it, you know. I'll call you when I am done finding all the equipment. Make yourself at home in the meantime."

She quickly turned and walked away upstairs after saying her piece. Not even a minute had passed did Aiden hear her voice again from upstairs, "Aiden? Can you please pass me the broom? It should be in the kitchen. Just throw it upstairs."

He did as she instructed. A heavy thud was heard as the broom landed somewhere upstairs. But he still heard aunt Hellen reply, "Thank you."

Almost instantly, the feeling was back. The exact same feeling he had back in the alley when he chanced upon a murder. It was the second feeling to be exact.

The first was of a void being opened up inside him. The same void which was filled as soon as he got the ability, the feeling of an empty lunch box filling up. And as soon as the void was filled, he had the second type of feeling. The feeling of spending money to fill the void. 

Aiden stood still near the stairs, deep in thought.

Yes! It feels like money. Well, something equivalent to it anyway. But instead of spending it. It felt like I earned it this time. What caused it? What helps me earn this money? Is it of any use? Let's see what all I did.

Aiden recollected everything he did today, trying to remember every small detail he might have missed. Ultimately though, he settled upon the stupid thought left.

Could it be because she said thank you?

When you eliminate all the options you think are not viable, the only one left has to be an answer no matter how implausible it may seem. He thought for a bit and shouted, 

"Aunt! Do you want anything else? Should I bring you a duster too?"

A loud reply was soon heard, "I don't have a duster!"

"I can bring it from my house!"

"Why would you go back there again?!"

"To bring the duster!"

"No idiot! Why would you go back just for a duster?! I am not in such dire need of it! The broom works just fine!"

"Aunt! You forgot something! If the ghost comes into your house before all the equipment is in place it would be useless! We would get no information! The ghost follows me, remember? It's important that I go back!"

By this time, a series of footsteps were heard as he saw her on the top of stairs. She looked at him dead serious in the eye and said,

"Fuck! How did I not think of that?" She heaved a sigh and continued, "I've gotten rusty."

He offered no reply to her and simply informed that he was leaving. He hadn't even turned around when he heard her speak again,

"Wait, what will I need a duster for after I am already done finding all the equipment and setting them up to see the ghost which would follow you as you return? Idiot!"

"Uh —" His mouth opened, and closed again. If duster becomes useless, she won't thank me for it right? He then continued in an unsure voice, "I can bring you chocolates?"

Hands crossed beneath her breasts, she looked down at him and completely ignored the peace offering as she said, "A nice trick you found to escape work. Smart indeed."

Aiden had no reply to that as fell into thought again, How do I get her to thank me?