The room was mostly dark, save for the streaks of white, cloudy sunlight that cut into the otherwise gray room, illuminating the messy contents within. In the center was a queen sized bed, with space for two, though there was only one figure hidden beneath the covers. Around the bed, the room was slightly messy, a pair of slacks hung over the foot of the bed and a pair of dress shoes sat haphazardly by the closet. On top of the nightstand sat a digital alarm clock, its green digits one of the only visible sources of color in the room. Next to the clock laid a black block of plastic and glass, fiercely vibrating as it tried to get the attention of the room's inhabitant.

Slapping the phone with his hand, Jacob drew it towards him and answered, his eyes not even bothering to open. "Ah, Hello Jacob." It was Sol, his boss and taskmaster. A friendly enough guy, if not one with terrible timing. "I hope you're not to terribly busy. Ms. Blackwood needs some assistance with a guardian spirit at the local Wal-Mart-"

Jacob hung up the phone and immediately rolled over to return to sleep. A few seconds later, his phone started ringing again. Jacob was half tempted to ignore the phone call, but as much as it annoyed him, Tanner still was his boss. Reluctantly picking up the phone with a sigh, Jacob pressed the piece of plastic against his face.

"This is a terrible idea of a joke, Sol." the tired man grumbled.

"Oh I assure you Mr. Mcalister, this is no joke, there is indeed a guardian spirit going rampant at the Wal-Mart."

"Today was supposed to be my day off Tanner." Jacob reminded him irritably. He was vaguely aware of the almost irony in this situation because it was in fact Tanner that had insisted that Jacob took today off anyway.

"I wouldn't have called you if we didn't need you." Sol replied in his ever even voice. "Oh, and please do hurry. Apparently the spirit is kicking over cars." Sol added, almost as though it was an afterthought.

With a sigh Jacob pulled himself out of bed and quickly dressed himself in one of his work suits- a dark steel gray one with a white shirt and red tie, which was secured to his shirt with a silver tie-bar. Running a brush a grand total of twice through his hair, Jacob pulled on a pair of brown leather shoes, and pulled his leather shoulder holster over his shirt. Unlocking a strongbox on his dresser, Jacob slid his pistol- black with a titanium plated slide, into his right shoulder, and his two spare magazines into his left. He threw his jacket over his shoulder and proceeded out of the bedroom. 

It was early in the morning, so Jacob crept quietly through his own home and towards the door, so as not to wake up his daughter. In the silence of his home, the slightly creaky floorboards seemed to be even creakier than normal. Despite that, Jacob managed to reach the door with relative quietness, and had just unlocked the door's deadbolt when-

"Daddy..? Is that you?"

Jacob winced and silently cursed himself as he turned to find his daughter, Amanda, sticking her sleepy head around the corner, staring him down with a pair of sleepy eyes. Still wearing her pokemon pajamas, Amanda rubbed at her eyes, a lock of hair sticking out of her head from static and sleep.

"Sorry sweetie, daddy has to go to work, the others need some help." Jacob said in a quiet, almost apologetic voice.

"But... but we were supposed to go to the park today." Amanda said sadly. Jacob winced. Since Tanner had previously given him the day off, Jacob and his daughter had planned out an entire day together, involving a trip to the park, followed by the mall, and then dinner at the nearby IHop, which for some reason Amanda loved. To say Amanda looked disappointed was a bit of an understatement. Rather, the little girl looked almost devastated that she was no longer able to spend the day with her father. 

"I- I'll be back in time for dinner, and then we can go to IHop, I promise." Jacob assured her. Amanda responded by miserably walking away back towards her room, leaving Jacob alone at the door. Jacob sighed and exited his home. He quickly climbed into his car and drove off towards the Wal-Mart with the Guardian Spirit in question. If Guardian spirits understood english, Jacob would have some choice words for this day-ruiner. Otherwise, Jacob wondered if spirits were also vulnerable to silver bullets.

The Wal-Mart was easy to spot- the giant guardian spirit inhabiting part of the Wal-Mart sign was similarly easy. Pulling up in his car next to where the others were, not bothering to park in any actual parking spot, Jacob lazily climbed out of the car and walked to where the others were. Already there was Morgan, she wasn't human, that much was certain, but Jacob wasn't certain what type of occult she was- it felt rude to ask, and Jacob assumed she'd tell him when she thought it was a good time. Either way, Amanda seemed to like her, and his daughter seemed to be a supernatural judge of character. Also there were Beth and Emma, two of PHI's resident witches, knowledgeable in the occult. Jacob while friendly with both of them, was rather wary of Beth's work involving the occult. However, Amanda seemed to adore both of them, and would willingly follow either of them wherever they told her to go- which reassured and worried Jacob in equal measure. Also there was Miller, Jacob's usual partner for most cases. Robert was very much like Jacob and the two got along well. 

"It appears the only one missing from our merry little band is the invisible one," Jacob mused, referring to Mandy, whom while not invisible, was difficult to spot because of her habit of blending in to the background very easily- even when there was no one else in the room.