Starstruck: Episode 4, Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits, New Edition: Starstruck, #4

By R T Green

Some people will tell you they have fairies at the bottom of their garden… Mia and Becca have little aliens at the bottom of theirs!

The Starstruck series tells the story of Mia, Becca, and the six little people who change their lives. It's a contemporary fairytale with a kick, something a little different, and very much for adults only!

Check out the full Starstruck story on the rtgreen website

This is Episode 4 – 'Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits –

The Voyagers find themselves in panic mode after picking up an SOS signal from a tiny craft speeding towards Earth. It's one of their own, and can only have been launched from one place, and for one reason. But when they, together with Mia and Becca, go to meet it as it crash-lands, it isn't long until they discover it could not have come down in a worst place.
In a dark, spooky forest, the local residents are not at all happy someone has gate-crashed their private world. As strange and scary things start happening around them, the Voyagers and their human friends begin to realise they will have to fight something none of them understand if they are to stay alive.

* 'Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits' does contain scenes of a sexual nature.

Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wise Owl
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201347802

R T Green

The RTG mission in life is simple... to not be like everyone else! ‘Going Green’ has taken on a new meaning, in the book world at least. Whilst we applaud the original meaning (ebooks are a perfect way to promote that) we also try to present a different angle to it. The tendency these days is that if you don’t look and read like everyone else, you don’t sell books. Maybe there’s some truth in that, but we simply don’t do it. The RTG books have been described as a ‘breath of fresh literary air’, and, by those discovering us for the first time, ‘unexpectedly good’. We know many readers prefer the same-old same old, and that’s fine. It’s just not what you get from the RTG stable. Those who know about such things said it would take five years to become a proficient author... I scoffed at that. They were wise. It took six. It’s one reason why even today we remodel existing books, and will always do so. Right from the early years the stories were always good, but were put into words less well than they could have been! These days we have several series and a few standalones, the hit Daisy series most popular amongst them. In everything we do, the same provisos apply – Never the same book twice. If we can’t think up a good story, it doesn’t get written. The RTG brand is about exciting and twisty plots, a fast pace which doesn’t waste words, and endearing (sometimes slightly crazy) characters. We can never please everyone, but it works for us, and, it seems, for those who appreciate our work. Enjoy! Richard, Ann and the RTG crew

Book preview

STARSTRUCK

Episode 4

Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits

R T  GREEN

RTG Logo.png

Other books...

The Starstruck Series -

Starstruck: The Prequel

(Time to say Goodbye)

Starstruck 1: Somewhere to Call Home

Starstruck 2: The Disappearance of Becca

Starstruck 3: The Rock

Starstruck: The Combo – books 1-3

The Raven Series –

Raven: No Angel!

Raven: Unstoppable

Raven: Black Rose

Raven: The Combo – books 1-3

The Daisy Morrow Series:

The first one – The Root of All Evil

The second one – The Strange Case of the Exploding Dolly-trolley

The third one – A Very Unexpected African Adventure

The fourth one - Pirates of Great Yarmouth: Curse of the Crimson Heart

The fifth One – The terrifying Tale of the Homesick Scarecrow

The sixth one – Call of Duty: The Wiltingham Enigma

The seventh one – Christmas in the Manor Born

The eighth one: The Shanghai Shadow

The ninth one – Some Like It Tepid

The tenth one – Waltzing Matilda

The eleventh one – The Wiltingham Incident

The twelfth one – The Pointing Finger

The thirteenth one – Here Comes Santa Claus!

The fourteenth one – The Witch of Scraggy Bottom

The fifteenth one – The Coronation Complication

The Throwback Prequel: When Daisy Met Aidan

The Box Set – books 1-3

The Second Box Set – books 4-6 plus the Prequel

The Third box set – books 7-9

The Sandie Shaw series:

Book 1 – Murder at the Green Mill

Book 2 – Christmas in Chicago is Murder

Book 3 – An American in Windsor

Book 4 – Springtime in Chicago

Book 5 – Murder on the Miami Express

Book 6 – The Family

Book 7 – Murder Most Olympic

Book 8 – Two Sisters, One Ghost

Book 9 – The Sergeant, the Flapper and a Crossword

The Mega Box Set – books 1 - 6

Red Mist –

Season 1

Episode 1: Falling

Episode 2: Phoenix

Episode 3: Jealousy

Episode 4: Fearless

Season 2

Episode 5: Phantom

Episode 6: Desperation

Episode 7: Unbreakable

Episode 8: Evermore

When Billionaires Collide

Somewhere Only She Knows

Timeless

Ballistic

Cry of an Angel

The Hand of Time

Elsie: Mean Street

Wisp

Copyright © 2023 R T Green

All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

AN INTRODUCTION TO STARSTRUCK

Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits...

All For Nothing

Chapter 1

One week earlier...

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Would you like a free mega-bundle?

The RTG Brand

AN INTRODUCTION TO STARSTRUCK

Some people will tell you they have fairies at the bottom of their garden...

Mia and Becca have little aliens at the bottom of theirs!

Once upon a time in London...

OK, MAYBE NOT. ONCE upon a right here, right now might be more appropriate. Our fairytale is very much of the technological age, but still contains all the elements from the tales of a bygone time.

We’ve written the Starstruck series as a contemporary fairytale with a kick... and strictly for adults only! Those of you who read us will know I like the unexpected. Starstruck sure fits that description!

Mia and Becca’s fraught and emotional love story is blended with a big dose of adventure and fast-paced action, most of it brought about by six little people who come from a place far, far away...

What we now call fairytales were originally written a very long time ago, in dark ages when things we now look upon as shocking were considered perfectly acceptable. In more recent times, the tales were sanitised and watered down to make them suitable for children, the original scripts far too gruesome and horrific to be told to youngsters.

Nevertheless, full of blood and gore and sexual depravity as they were, they were penned to send a message. The innocent girl treated badly, the beautiful queen banished from her lands, evil ogres who never thought twice about committing heinous acts, wolves in sheep’s clothing, handsome princes who expected nothing less than to own the fairest in the land...

Sound familiar? Of course, many of our favorite stories are modern versions of very old tales. But with Starstruck, we’ve tried to do something a little more outside the box, and bring these traditional elements into a modern, urban setting. I’ve avoided the blood and gore, but most of the other fairytale elements are there.

‘Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits’ is the fourth episode of the Starstruck series.

Each episode can be read as a stand-alone book, but they are chronological, telling the story of Mia, Becca, and the six little people who change their lives forever. So to get the full ‘Starstruck’ experience, it’s perhaps best to read them in order!

‘The Prequel’ is available too. ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ is a shorter novella, and goes back to tell the tragic story of why the Voyagers had to leave their home, and how they only just escaped with their lives.

Please let us know what you think of the series, and as always...

Enjoy!

Richard and the RTG crew

Ghosts, Ghouls and Evil Spirits...

All For Nothing

THE SARONELF ESCAPE pod began to shudder as it hit the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere. Then the shaking grew worse, as ice crystals battered the tiny craft, making it buck and weave violently. To anyone inside, the noise would have been deafening.

The single occupant of the pod wasn't hearing any of it. A few minutes ago she'd lost consciousness, as the machine that provided air to breathe finally ran out of power, and gave up completely.

Two days ago her nutrition supplements had gone too. Twelve hours ago, she'd strapped herself into the left-hand seat, knowing she was close to death. She could see through the tiny windows, a planet growing bigger every hour as the pod headed straight for it.

A planet that looked like it had air and water. A world that would likely have saved her life.

But it had come too late.

A half-hour ago her spirits had been lifted, when a faint crackly voice had called urgently to her through the console speakers. Then the tears had come, as she realised she was now too weak to even lift an arm to the communications switch so she could reply.

The voice was still calling to her, every few minutes. She no longer heard it.

The pod's descent grew smoother. Spinning slowly round and round, it headed through clouds, and then back into clear warm air. Below it the Earth was waiting, with air to breathe, water to drink, and people she knew hoping desperately they could come to the rescue.

But as her lonely two-year journey drew to its close, her life was slipping away.

It had all been for nothing.

Chapter 1

One week earlier...

MIA AND BECCA HAD NEVER seen a grown man turn into a gibbering wreck so fast.

It looked like he was about to take the walk of death to the gallows, such was the state of him. Standing just outside the door to the back garden, he didn't seem to want to move any further.

'You ok, Jamie?'

'Um... yes, Darl. It's just a bit epic, you know?'

'Its fine Jamie, they don't bite,' Mia smiled some encouragement.

‘But I’m gay... do they know about such things?’

Becca looked at him wide-eyed. ‘So are we, Jamie. So stop with the lame excuses.’

He looked at the ground. ‘S’pose. But I look gay...’

‘Jamie...’

He took a few hesitant steps, and swallowed hard as he glanced towards the bottom of the garden where the summerhouse awaited him, like it was the portal to hell.

They managed about six steps, and then came to a grinding halt again. And Jamie turned back to the house.

‘What if they don’t like me? I can’t do this...’

Becca looked at Mia and winked, making sure Jamie didn’t see. Then she threw her arms in the air in pretend despair.

'Oh come on Mia, this is pointless. He's obviously not up to it!' she said loudly.

'Too right Bex,' Mia said, playing the game. 'I didn't realise Jamie was such a wimp!'

'I am here you know,' he said, sounding a bit miffed. 'And I'm not a wimp.'

'Yes you are,' Becca and Mia chorused, trying to hide the grins but failing dismally.

'Ah, ok... I see the joke. Clearly you can’t see I’m so petrified I could burst into tears any second.’

‘Give it a rest, drama-queen.’

‘Actually, he quite possibly could,’ said Mia, reaching for his hand deliberately like he was a little child.

He snatched it away indignantly. ‘Ok, ok. Let's get it over with, and prove I'm a big brave Jamie.'

He began to stride purposefully towards the Voyager’s hangar home. Mia and Becca had to move quickly to keep up with him. But then, just outside the door he stopped, and looked petrified again for a moment. 'They are expecting me aren't they? I wouldn't want to frighten them.'

‘Seriously? You can’t frighten anyone, Jamie,’ said Becca.

Mia threw her a scowl. ‘Is that supposed to help?’

‘Thought it might,’ said Becca sulkily.

Mia turned to Jamie, and sighed dramatically. 'They're all dressed in their Sunday best waiting for you.'

'Like hell we are,' Effie's voice crackled in her earpiece. 'Not easy getting clothes to fit around here, unless you're Barbie's sister!'

'Effie says they're eager to meet you, Jamie.'

'Guess this is it then,' he smiled. It was the most petrified, nervous smile Mia had ever seen on a human being.

She shook her head, unlocked the padlock, wrenched open the summerhouse door, and they shoved Jamie inside before he had a chance to turn and make a break for it.

It had been five weeks since Mia and Becca microwaved Jamie’s boyfriend Toby, and saved his life hours before he was about to lose it. It was thanks in part to Biff and his genius, but also to a throw-away comment from Mia, which led to the Voyagers finding a cure for the virus.

The real star however was little Angel, who was quite prepared to sacrifice herself to save the human race. The fact she came out the other side and returned to being the cheeky, slightly-wild and very impetuous Voyager they all love, had gone down in history as the Miracle of Acacia Avenue.

That five weeks ago, Jamie reached the end of his rope, watching the guy he loved slip away after becoming infected with the alien virus. He’d begged Mia that if she knew anything or anyone who could help, then to please to come clean and say so.

That five weeks ago she did come clean, and Jamie became only the fourth person on planet Earth to know that six tiny aliens were living in the space-station in the summerhouse Mia and Becca built at the bottom of the garden... which he had been told was just a Starstruck Technologies project.

They had to tell him, there was no choice. Jamie was far from stupid, and already suspicious. The Voyagers were a closely-guarded secret, but when tragedy was about to strike, secrecy had to take second place.

They all knew Jamie can't keep a secret to save his life. Although couldn’t might be a better word. He’d promised faithfully to keep quiet, recognising that some things just had to be hushed up. Even from Toby.

Toby had gone back to his place yesterday, for once without Jamie. A digital artist, he’d won a lucrative commission which had to be completed in a crazy short time. His only option was to shut himself away from the world, and Jamie, for a few days, and work silly hours. Today was Easter Saturday, a bank holiday weekend. Jamie, as a commercial banking manager, had of course got a long weekend off.

It was why the Voyagers, Mia and Becca decided it was a good time for Jamie to finally be introduced to the little aliens who had been living in his home longer than he had, and without him even knowing.

No one ever anticipated it would be so traumatic for him though.

He stood there with wide eyes, his fingers clenching and unclenching, not knowing what to say. So, totally out of character, he said nothing.

The Voyagers stood on the flat roof of the top pod of the space station, so they were almost level with his eye-line. They didn't seem to know what to say either, apart from Effie of course, who finally broke the awkward silence.

'You don't say much do you?'

That seemed to shake him out of the trance, and open the floodgate of words. 'Oh my god... oh my god... you really do exist...’

'Hello Jamie,' they all chorused with silly waves.

‘I... I can’t believe I’m in the company of aliens...'

'Shouldn’t that be angels?'smiled Biff. ‘But yeah, you are. Coop was pretty much the same when he first saw us too.'

‘Coop?' asked Jamie, still shaking his head in disbelief.

Mia answered. 'Ah, sorry Jamie. Not told you about him. He works for MI6. We met him when he came to the community hall for Jason Grubb's humiliation last year. He's the only other human who knows these little guys exist.'

Jamie found a speck of bravado, and leant over to peer closely at the six aliens in front of his eyes. 'Hmm,' he said thoughtfully. 'Maybe what’s so awesome, is that you're... like little dolls.'

'Dolls? And hey, we're not tiny,' said Milo, again, before anyone could stop him. ‘It's you that's huge!'

Effie gave him an evil look.

'What? He is...' Milo defended himself.

‘Shut up, Milo.’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘And don’t call me boss.’

‘Wouldn’t dream of it, boss.’

Jamie grinned, becoming Jamie again, and recovering his composure after the debilitating shock. But then he let out a high-pitched cry and stepped back in horror, as someone else suddenly appeared, standing right next to Alto.

‘Hello Jamie,’ said Bitz gruffly.

‘Oh... my... god. You’ve got a... vanishing dog too!’

‘Woof, woof,’ said Bitz.

Jamie looked closer, and smiled. ‘You’ve got six legs... and two tails. But you’re not a dog, are you?’

‘I like you,’ said Bitz. ‘Tickle me under the chin?’

Alto stepped in before things got out of hand, again. ‘Maybe not the best idea, Jamie. He’s a bit unpredictable around strangers.’

‘Hey!’ said Bitz. ‘I’ve changed, remember? I’m a nice doggy now.’

Alto looked like he was struggling to accept the apparent character reversal, but then explained to Jamie anyway. ‘He’s my flumbie. Back on Saronelf they were a much more advanced, intelligent version of your furbies. Then Biff got hold of him, added upgrade after upgrade, and now he’s a super-flumbie.’

‘I guess one of those apps was invisibility then?’ Jamie smiled.

Biff nodded ruefully. ‘Unfortunately, yes. So now when someone goes to turn him off, he just disappears.’

‘Hey!’ said Bitz. ‘I am here you know.’ Then he vanished, so he wasn’t. The voice from nowhere seemed to echo around the summerhouse. ‘I like your trousers, by the way.’

Jamie glanced down to his bright green skinnies, shook his head, and sucked in a deep breath. 'I want to say a big thank you to you guys for saving the human race. Although just saying thank you doesn't seem anywhere near enough.'

'Hey, it's fine,' said Frazzle. 'We had to save one of our own too.' He reached out to Angel, and she slipped her hand into his.

Jamie looked closely at the pretty blonde Voyager. 'And you, darling, are incredibly stupid... and incredibly brave. I really don't know how I can ever say thank you to you.'

She blushed, which isn’t easy when you've got pale green skin. 'That's ok, Jamie. The humans weren't getting anywhere with curing the virus. Well, I didn’t mean anywhere... just not anywhere fast enough, if you see what I mean. Sorry, not a criticism... just that you didn’t have the knowledge... not your fault. Anyhow, babbling aside, I just knew I had to do something.'

'Putting your own life on the line is a bit more than something, sweetie.'

She blushed an even deeper shade of green, and then took a deep breath. 'Maybe. Just promise me one thing, Jamie.'

'Anything, you know that.'

'Just