21. A team

James was given a room to stay in at the Roadhouse for the night. The small space was cozy, with simple furniture and a bed that seemed to call his name. He sat down on the edge of the bed, exhausted from the long drive. His body ached from hours behind the wheel, and he was mentally drained from everything that had happened recently. He lay down, staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing with everything he had learned so far.

Ash had said that they would be able to track the demon when it resurfaced, but James wasn't sure how long that would take.

'God knows when that demon will show up again,'he thought to himself. He couldn't just sit around and wait for the demon's next move. He needed to be doing something—training, getting stronger. He couldn't let this demon catch him off guard again.

James remembered something he had discovered about his abilities. He had realized that by absorbing the essences of ghosts, he could increase his strength and level up his powers.

He needed to be powerful enough to face this demon, or even stronger. He didn't tell Ellen or anyone else about his abilities.

They were helpful, yes, but he still wasn't sure if he could trust them completely.

Also staying at the Roadhouse and waiting around wasn't going to help him grow stronger. He had to get out there and start hunting supernatural beings. Not only would it help him train, but it would also be a chance to do some good, maybe even save people from angry spirits.

He wasn't sure what kind of ghosts he might encounter, though, or how to deal with them.

'I can hunt them by myself, but I have no idea what I'm dealing with,' he thought. He needed help—someone who could guide him, at least in the beginning. Ash might be able to help with that. He knew Ash was good at tracking strange occurrences, and if he asked, he could probably find out about ghostly activity across the country. It would help him level up faster.

But James didn't want to force Ash into anything. If Ash didn't want to join him on a hunt, he wouldn't pressure him. He needed someone he could trust, especially if they were going to be traveling together. Asking Ash for help was one thing, but pushing him into something he wasn't interested in could lead to bad outcomes. It wasn't worth it.

James spent a while thinking about what his next steps should be. He was in a dangerous world now, with demons and ghosts, and if he wanted to survive and protect the people he cared about, he needed to be ready. Training his abilities, hunting ghosts, and getting stronger was his only option.

Eventually, James closed his eyes, but sleep didn't come easily. His thoughts kept running in circles: the demon, his abilities, and everything that had led him here. The Roadhouse felt like a safe haven for now, but he knew it wasn't where he belonged. He had to keep moving forward, no matter what.

The next morning, James woke up early. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the small room at the Roadhouse. He lay there for a moment, thinking about everything—the demon, his abilities, and how he couldn't sit back and wait for the next disaster to strike. His mind raced with the decision he'd made the night before. He couldn't just be passive anymore. He needed to train, grow stronger, and take action. The demon wasn't going to wait for him to be ready, so he had to act now.

After a quick breakfast, James walked down the hall and knocked on Ash's door. When it opened, Ash stood there, still looking groggy, his messy hair and sleep-heavy eyes a sign that he'd just woken up.

"Hey, you got a minute?" James asked, trying to sound calm despite the tension he felt.

Ash blinked a few times, trying to shake off the sleepiness. "Yeah, come in."

James stepped into the room, his thoughts already prepared for the conversation. He had spent most of the night thinking about this moment. Now it was time to talk.

"I need your help," James began, meeting Ash's eyes. "I'm thinking about going on a hunt. I can't just sit here and wait for the demon to show up again. I need to be stronger. I thought maybe you could show me the ropes, you know—teach me how to hunt properly."

Ash leaned back against the wall, a skeptical look on his face. "You sure you're ready for that? It's not a small thing to be messing with, James. You're talking about ghosts, demons, all kinds of things that could tear you apart if you're not careful."

James nodded, his resolve firm. "I don't want to just wait around here. I've got these abilities, and I need to learn how to use them. I can't just keep sitting on them. I need to face this head-on."

Ash looked at him for a long moment, and James could tell he was weighing his options. He wasn't expecting Ash to agree right away, but he had to ask. "I know you don't owe me anything, Ash. If you don't want to help, that's fine. I can do it alone."

There was a long silence before Ash finally spoke, his voice a little softer. "You sure you're okay doing this alone if I don't come with you? It's not gonna be easy out there."

James gave a small, determined smile. "Yeah, I'll manage. I'm already in this world, right? I don't have the luxury of waiting around."

Ash rubbed his eyes, still not fully awake, but the seriousness in James' voice seemed to get through to him. "Alright, alright. I'll come with you. But don't expect it to be easy, and don't expect me to go easy on you. You're jumping into a dangerous world, and you need to know it."

James felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."

Ash sighed, still skeptical but now willing to go along with it. "I'm not gonna hold your hand, like a parent. You've got to be ready for what's coming."

"I know," James said, a little more firmly. "But I'm ready. I have to be."

Ash ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly more awake now. "Alright, then. Let's head out, but first, we need to talk to Ellen."

They made their way downstairs, and Ellen was behind the bar, cleaning a glass with a rag. She looked up as they entered, raising an eyebrow at their serious expressions.

When James explained everything to her, he could tell that she was clearly not pleased with the idea.

Ellen's frown deepened. "James, you don't know enough about this world to just start hunting. You'll get yourself killed out there. It's not as simple as picking a target and going after it."

"Yeah, it's not simple," James shot back. "But I can't just sit here. I've already stepped into this world, and I need to learn how to survive in it. I can't just wait for the next demon to find me."

Ellen sighed, clearly concerned. "You're not even fully aware of what you're dealing with. Ghosts, demons... it's not just about having abilities. You'll need weapons, supplies, and a lot of experience. It's not a game."

James said, his voice calm but determined. "I'm not saying I've got it all figured out. But Ash's going to teach me. I won't learn unless I start now."

Ellen shook her head, still concerned but resigned. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you. You'll need a lot more than just abilities and a weak resolve. Let's get what you need, but it's not going to be cheap."

James nodded, ready. "I'm not worried about the cost. Let's just get it."

Ellen sighed and grabbed her jacket, clearly unhappy but knowing there was no changing James' mind. "Alright, we'll go get you what you need. But be prepared. Things are about to get a lot harder."

With that, the three of them left the Roadhouse to gather the necessary supplies.

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