Ghost Hunting 101

☆Nine☆

T/W: Minor innuendo and frightening images, creepy laughter and shadow figures.

***

For the second half of the investigation, Nolan switches up the teams. He decides to have it girls versus guys.

"Lola and Avery can go together and us guys will team up," Nolan says.

"I hope you'll actually get some investigating done," Lola taunts, smirking. Lennox laughs.

"Maybe we should be investigating the boys instead of the ghosts," Avery jokes. Lola chuckles.

"Not a bad idea," she agrees.

"Hey, we're professionals!" Sid protests, looking grouchy.

"Yeah, professional screw arounds!" Lola says, grinning.

"All right, all right," Nolan jumps in before things spiral out of control. "Lola, you and Avery head up to the master bedroom. There's been reports of shadow figures in there. Us guys are going up to the attic. There's been reports of children's laughter in there."

"Sounds good." Avery studies Nolan's facial expression. He's so...intense during these investigations. She wonders what he does for relaxation.

The two groups split up, Lola and Avery heading to the master bedroom, while the guys head up to the attic.

As soon as they're in, Lennox immediately begins sneezing. Sid chuckles. Lennox tosses him a dirty look, while fumbling in his jeans pocket for some tissues.

"So the reports of this, are creepy children's laughter," Sid says, panning the camera slowly around.

"Is there a Sally Anne or a Jimmy up here?" Nolan asks. There's a small, scurrying noise in the back corner. All of them look at each other.

"Please don't let that be rats," Lennox whispers.

"Use the thermal camera," Sid suggests. "If there are rodents, they'll show up on that." Nolan aims the thermal camera in the direction of the noise, even though they haven't heard anything more.

"I'm not picking up any heat over there," Nolan reports.

"Sally Anne?" Lennox says. "Was that you?" Nothing.

"Jimmy? Are you here?" The scurrying noise sounds again, followed by some faint laughter.

"Jimmy, why are you here? Are you scared to leave?" Nolan asks.

More faint laughter.

"I'm picking up something on the camera here," Sid informs them. Both Nolan and Lennox, crowd close to Sid, who points out the faint, dark mass in the corner.

"It's gotta be Jimmy," Nolan says.

"I'm thinking so as well," Sid says. "Especially since we got an intelligent response almost immediately."

"Awesome!" Nolan grins. "I can't wait to show this to the client."

****

Meanwhile, Avery and Lola are having their own experiences in the master bedroom.

"Nolan said that there's reports of shadow figures in here, right?" Avery asks Lola, who nods.

"Let's just sit in here for a few minutes and see if anything shows itself," Lola says. Avery goes to sit down on a chair in a corner, while Lola takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

"Is there a Henry, Sally Anne or a Jimmy here?" Lola asks. They wait.

"Why are you still here?" Avery asks.