Ghostbusters Short Stories

Resurrection

"This shouldn't be too hard, quick investigation, possible capture. Got it?" Ray tightened his grip around the thrower he held. Unadulterated excitement always pulsed through him before they went on a bust. The rush that never wore out, because they always changed, and adapted.
Dr. Stantz had an unappeasable fascination with the paranormal, as did Spengler. Although Ray couldn't quite place it, Egon was in for something else. Sure the curiosity was there, and the drive, but something else haunted him, reigning over him. He was an enigma, probably part of the reason Janine was so interested in him.
Ray suspected there was more to the relationship than what was apparent. Things he had overheard, quick slips of the tongue in their conversations. Probably quick slips of the tongue in other things he didn't want to know about. They were careful though, and surprisingly Peter hadn't caught on.
"Got a reading on anything yet?" Winston asked as he shouldered a proton pack, letting out a grunt as the full weight of the equipment settled. He knew that his back was going to kill him, just like it did every time he wore one more than an hour. Back on his grandfather's farm, he carried bags of feed all the time, but this city must've made him soft. Too many twinkies.
"I've got a strong reading coming from the south entrance of the building." Egon replied, nonchalantly. "I suggest we head there first and check the other reading next."
Peter was already heading down the sidewalk, not wanting to take longer than needed. "Come on, I got a nap to get back to."
Egon cut a glare at him, however Peter couldn't care less. Peter was number one in his world, and no one else came close to second, or at least that's what he put on for everyone else. He was damaged, he knew. Parents that didn't care enough do that. Parents that want you for money do that. Meeting Egon and Ray in that school was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He knew they wouldn't turn on him, no matter how bad it got. They had almost died together, many times, that sure had a way of bonding people.
"Alright, Dr. Spengler. What next?" They all crowded around the back entrance.
Egon brought the PKE meter to where he could see it, which admittedly was pretty close, and analyzed the readings. "Inside the building, right here close."
Ray tried the door. "They call us for a bust but don't give us keys."
Peter backed up a few paces. "We'll take it up with the insurance." Then charged at the door, kicking the lock in.
"Man, you got some anger issues." Zeddemore followed Peter into the dark building.
Egon wondered why the clients called for a building like this. It was a large tenement that was empty, and in disrepair. The most dangerous thing in this building might be rats, or some crazed homeless man with a broken beer bottle. It seemed like a waste of time.
"I know we're all thinking it." Winston looked around the cramped hallway the entered. "So why are we even here?"
"Because the clients paid us $15,000 dollars in cash and in advance to investigate an abandoned building that might not even have anything." Peter explained, matter of fact. "It's a profit profit. No loss. It's perfect."
"Don't you think maybe this is a little creepy?" Winston tried to be the voice of reason, even looking at how much money he stood to make. "We never even met the people. What if they're setting us up for something."
Egon took the lead as he scanned the walls and floors, ignoring the peeling wallpaper, mold, and numerous other health violations this building posed. "Zeddemore, we do creepy for a living. Stranger things have happened."
Peter was at the end of his rope with the small talk. "Alright, where do I go, what do I do? I'm overdue for that nap."
Egon looked over the readings again. "You and Ray, take the upper levels. Winston, check out the second floor and level, I'll take the basement."
"See ya," Peter gave a mock salute as he headed for the stairs, then he saw the stairs and groaned. "Egon, is there an elevator?"
"There is, but it's not coming anytime soon. The power has been cut for a year and a half."
"How many levels?"
"Seven."
Peter let his head fall back, groaning even louder. "I hate you."
"C'mon Pete," Ray clapped a hand on Peter's shoulder. "Let's go. If we find anything we'll radio in."
Egon nodded, and watched everyone disperse. He felt the slightest guilty for sending everyone to the top floors, and with more ground to cover than him, but he wanted to investigate the basement himself. Puzzling readings showed up on the PKE meter and he didn't like what he saw.
He waited until everyone was gone, like he was committing a crime, then carefully made his way down the dark, creaky staircase. He knew that if he mistepped the whole staircase would collapse under his weight, and he didn't want to risk paralysis.
When he reached the concrete floor he allowed himself to breathe, trying to focus on what was next. The readings. They had varied a considerable amount when he scanned over before. Curiosity got the best of him, and he couldn't help wanting to investigating first. If he needed Ray or anyone, he'd just radio.
"Hmm." Egon mused over the new set of data. More stable energy levels, but still too much of a deviation to be a ghost or other entity, or at least one he had ever seen.
He surveyed the basement of the building. Cold, dark, and damp. He didn't want to think about how much damage the load bearing members of the building had sustained and how much abuse the building could possibly take before imploding.
For an abandoned building though, there seemed to be a faint light coming from a door frame of the room off the main area of the basement. He switched on his flashlight.
There was a lot of clutter. Boxes, bags, and a coffin.
Egon couldn't understand why there'd be a coffin. Then a scent caught the slight breeze that drifted through the basement. A scent so overwhelming Egon almost threw up.
Decay.
What did he stumble into?
"Guardians of the spirit realm, hear and guide my plea."
A pause.
"Bring back my beloved so he can once again live."
The readings suddenly made sense. The unstable data, jumping all over the meter.
"I sense a disturbance..."
Her footsteps were falling dangerously close to that door.
"Shit."
Egon ducked behind a box right as the door opened. She observed the room, her line of sight drifting right over his hiding place.
"Hmm,"
The door squeaked shut.
Egon couldn't call for backup, couldn't run, and couldn't hide forever. Eventually she'd come back and he'd be here hiding like a coward. Whatever she was doing, he had to stop it before the spirit she was trying to bring back arrived. He crawled out.
She hadn't gone back inside, and was waiting for him. Her dark eyes looked him over, and landed on the Ghostbusters patch sewed on his jumpsuit. She knew who they were and what they did, and connected it with what she was doing.
"Now you must die."

Written 10/2018