Loyal Old Demon, Brave Little Human.

The Whaley House.

Shane sat in the passenger seat of a car, his camera out to film the road as Ryan drove. Shane had offered to drive, but Ryan didn't seem all that keen on the idea after Shane told him that he didn't have a license. The two had landed in San Diego a while ago, and Ryan had been nervous from the moment he landed. Shane kinda was too, but not for the reason Ryan was. Shane had left his telepathy on since the plane landed, simply because he had heard, more than a few times, people's thoughts of Ryan, who was dressed well and carrying equipment. It had taken Shane a moment to even figure out why they were so cautious, but then he noticed it. Ryan was probably one of the darker people there, and his nice attire was getting him some looks. So Shane had stayed close and kept his telepathy on for any warnings of violence. Nothing had happened, thankfully, and Shane had filmed a couple of other things as they went. Mark was also nervous, though he probably passed better than Ryan did, however Mark seemed much more aware of the people around him. Shane saw him casting glances at those Shane could hear less than savory thoughts from. He kept close to Mark to. TJ had talked to Shane a little, but it had been hard for Shane to talk outloud and listen in his head. When the pulled up to the house, Shane was at least glad it was on a busy street. Tension relaxed in his shoulders, and the group filmed a bit, before the owner came and gave Shane a key. Ryan chatted with him briefly, but the man didn't seem interested in conversation after seeing that he had talked to Ryan on the phone instead of Shane. They walked inside quickly after that. The group found a nice place to film, and Ryan began to talk. Shane listened intently as they spoke, and admittedly, had grown rather fond of the voice Ryan seemed to put on when he talked like that. They told the story of the house with Shane's interruptions.
"This dude's son died, his baby died, and someone heard that and was like, "Aw that's tragic."
"Oh, he grieving, he's probably not paying attention to that store of his."
"Yeah, let's burn that down."
"Monsters living in this town" Ryan joked, and Shane gave him a smile, which Ryan returned before continuing his story. It wasn't long, however, before Shane spoke up again.
"It seems like their followed by doom."
"Yeah, I mean they're really just getting boned by fate right now."
"Yeah."
"This is just not a good time for them."
"It's not pleasant."
After the story Ryan began to talk about the ghostly inhabitants, but Shane stopped him.
"Do you think that since you believe in all this stuff that you'll have a higher chance of becoming a ghost?" Shane knew the truth, but was slowly beginning to realize that he was just more interested in Ryan's answer, than the accurate one.
"Oh yeah, I think so. I'd be a pleasant ghost. I'd, like, pour people tea and stuff like that."
"What." Shane was startled by the response his friend gave.
"Or I'd do chores around the house. They'd be like like, "woah, all my laundry's folded, how 'bout that? Thanks Ryan!" Then I'd tip my cap and I would tap dance out of the room."
"You sound fun." Shane said, overall very humored by what Ryan had said.
"Yeah, that sounds great, right? Wouldn't you like to be haunted by me?"
Ryan smiled a bit, and began reading.
They made a couple of jokes as Ryan talked about the spirits of the house, and at one point, even the camera crew laughed as the name Yankee Jim was mentioned Admittedly, Ryan seemed tired from the trip, and was quite nervous about the house. Shane hadn't minded it though. He could see a couple spirits, or sense them more accurately, but was no where near as concerned as the Sallie House. He followed Ryan around the house, and they began to investigate the house. They started in Violet Whaley's room, but Shane saw no one. He kept his eyes open, carefully making sure they were still his normal carmel brown, but chatted with Ryan. After a while of silence, Shane faked a yawn, mainly to mess with Ryan.
"We're in a bedroom, that's fair."

The next room they explored was the theater. Also nothing. Shane knew he could feel spirits, and was beginning to wonder if his telepathy, which was still active and keeping a careful watch for anyone who might be coming in, was making the spirits nervous. He begrudgingly switched it off, since he knew that if Ryan didn't get anything, there would be mo fun. The stood up after a moment and wandered into the courtroom.
"What do you feel in here?" Shane asked Ryan.
"I feel, a little bit like I am being watched, but I don't mind it." Ryan answered. Shane could see why. The figure of a man in judge's clothing sat atop the chair in the center. At least two others hung around different areas. They watched Ryan and Shane with stares of someone who was deciding guilt or innocence. Ryan walked over a corner where he made a comment about it being a vortex. Shane didn't see one, but he did admit that there was something in the corner. As Ryan sat down, Shane watched a woman walk into the room, her footsteps completely silent, and slowly make her way to the chair at the end beside Ryan.
Shane began to talk to her. "Spirit, if you're here and you're angry, Ryan would like to feel a shiver up his spine?" He watched as the woman paused for a moment, and for a split second, they locked eyes. Hers widened slightly, at the knowledge that Shane could see her, and one of the others in the room got up and vanished. She continued her walk now, this time keeping a wary eye on Shane. Fair enough. The judge who was sitting behind Shane lifted himself into the air slightly, and poked at his light. Instantly, the light died. The woman sat down soon after, the chair under her creaking slightly. She waited a moment, then moved her pale hand to brush against Ryan's spine. Ryan was more than a little startled. The woman glanced at Shane momentarily, and Ryan spoke up. "I know you don't believe me. I can see the look on your face right now."
Shane simply shrugged, and Ryan stood up, walking over to Shane and the rest of the crew, which was following silently, and gave Shane the indication he wanted Shane to sit in the chair. The woman stood up, and went through the wall as Shane walked to the chair, and Shane sat down by himself. He waited a moment, closing his eyes in mock concentration, before saying, "I don't feel particularly strange. It's not a great chair." Ryan simply chuckled, and the group stood up to go to their next location. Another ghost who hadn't been in the courtroom watched them from the stairs. This time, Shane pretended not to notice. They continued to walk outside, the ghost of a bald man following behind curiously. They walked to the yard, where Ryan explained that a plaque for Yankie Jim was hanged here. At this, the ghost's figure flickered from impassive to angry, then back. Shane tried not to notice as the form continued to flicker from a bald man in period clothing to a man in rags, his neck hanging unnaturally at a 90° degree angle. His eyes changing from mischievous but friendly to downright malevolent. Shane continued pretending he couldn't see the ghost, but he prepared to test him.
"You know, if I were him, I would haunt this place." Ryan said. He paused for a moment, and Shane could see the ghost flicker again. "You know what, Yankie Jim," Ryan started, "I hope you're riding a speedboat up in heaven."
The ghost cracked up, his form flickering back to his friendlier disposition and he gave the two a friendly grin. Shane had to fight returning a smile.
"Oh you know he's got a great speedboat up in heaven."
Ryan smiled. "You were ahead of your time Yankie Jim. Rest in peace." The ghost gave the two another kind smile. Then, Shane noticed something. From above, a light colored shape began to descend from the clouds. Shane swore in his head, and shivered. Ryan noticed.
"You wanna go inside?"
Shane shook his head, admittedly a bit quickly and hurried inside as the light descended to Yankie Jim, and the man dissapeared. Shane was happy for him, but as he got inside, he was more thankful to not be in the same space as that fucking angel. Ryan and the others walked in after him, a bit confused, but didn't push the subject. The crew walked to the parlor, where they planned to spend a few minutes investigating. Shane saw a couple of ghosts as they entered, two girls, an older woman and a younger girl. Shane assumed they were Anna and Violet. He tried to pretend like he couldn't see them. They talked for a moment, and the girls slowly edged closer to see Ryan and Shane better. Anna floated now over Shane, and her hands made contact with Shane's back. He did his best not to shiver as Anna stared in surprise. Violet took a step back too. Her hand wasn't slipping through Shane. Instead, it had touched Shane as if he were a ghost as well. The two girls became very interested very quickly, and Violet swept out of the room, and came back with a man with a mustache. Thomas. Shane fought off a laugh as the three began to poke Shane. Finally, he mustered enough strength to speak to Ryan.
"Why don't we try it one at a time so it's more private? Just each of us try to do five minutes alone." Shane said as Violet poked his neck.
Ryan nodded. "Let's just do it before I change my mind."
"I'll go first."
"Alright." Ryan moved so Shane was by himself. "Five minutes... You're an idiot."
Ryan closed the door, and Shane let his horns climb out from his head. The ghosts let out collective gasps. Shane simply watched them and put his finger to his mouth. Then he pointed outside, to the crew, and whispered softly. "Mine."
The ghosts nodded, and Shane let his human figure appear again. He turned on his equipment, and sat in the room, now alone as the ghosts had left rather quickly, and waited. When it was Ryan's turn, Shane felt confident that he would be safe. Shane teased Ryan from through the closed door, more to help him relax than anything. Shane was a bit unsettled by how terrified Ryan was of ghosts. He was surprised when Shane heard Ryan yelp, and his hand instantly went to the handle to open it, but TJ stopped him. From inside, Shane could hear Ryan ask
"Was that one of you guys messing with me?"
"No?" Shane answered. Ryan began muttering, and Shane ignored TJ's warning. He opened the door, and saw Ryan in the room with his hands on his head in surprise. He lookd around at the empty room, and relaxed. Ryan explain he had heard a whisper, and Shane was thankful. Simply because he knew at this point, Ryan had misheard something else. Thankfully. The crew laughed a bit as the cameras were shut off, and the two left the building and went to their hotel for the rest of the night, before leaving to go home. Shane gave a couple of people dirty looks as they eyed Ryan and Mark with unearned caution. They had left for the airport early, and were home by noon, which Shane was happy about. He spent the rest of his day simply unpacking and relaxing. He got a text from Ryan later about meeting for dinner, and Shane agreed. He was getting ready when a text from TJ came in.
TJ~ Hey Shane, I have to ask...
TJ~ You and Ryan?
Shane's face heated up, and he scrambled for a text back.
Shane~ What do you mean?
TJ~ Oh, come on Shane... I didn't notice until last night. You were really panicked.
Shane~ Fuck you. He is my friend.
TJ~ whatever man...