Ghost Hunting 101

☆Nineteen ☆

T/W: Mentions malevolent presences and conversing with spirits.

***

"Billie, are you positive there's no way for you to convince those malevolent spirits to leave?" Nolan asks. Billie gives him a shrug.

"They're not living brings, Nolan," she says patiently. "When a spirit has been wandering around between the planes, they longer they're there, the more they lose their humanity. There's no reasoning with them." 

Nolan blows out his breath, running a hand over his baseball cap, looking more and more frustrated.

"We can't just..." He stops, twirling around so his back is towards Billie. She waits patiently, as Nolan struggles through his thought process. "I can't just leave these people, telling them I can't help them. It's not right."

He twirls back, facing Billie, looking completely crestfallen. She's never seen Nolan look so defeated before. It cuts her deep, in her heart.

"We need to find a way to get rid of these spirits," he says, his voice growing determined and strong. "I'll find a way to help them."

"Nolan, I admire your strength and determination," Billie murmurs, reaching out to grasp one of his hands. "But you have human limitations. There's only so much one can do."

Nolan nods, gently tugging his hand free from Billie's and giving her a sad smile.

"True," he admits. "But I'm not leaving here until I've tried everything in my power to stop this."

***

"Okay," Nolan says to his team. "We need to come up with a solid course of action for helping Holly and Evan Mitchell."

"And how, exactly, are we supposed to do that?" Sid asks.

"We do what we do best," Nolan responds.

"Uh, Nolan?" Lennox is trying to keep a straight face, but is losing his composure. "We already investigated. That's not gonna help."

"Brainstorming," Nolan continues as though Lennox hadn't spoken. "We'll toss around some ideas and see what sticks."

"Call Ghostbusters?" Lennox can't resist and cracks up. Nolan just shakes his head.

"Billie doesn't have any suggestions?" Lola asks, glancing over at the woman.

"None," Billie answers before Nolan can.

"What about a seance?" Avery asks. Nolan looks to Billie for the answer on this one.

"That could be..tricky," Billie says carefully.

"You don't like that idea?" Avery asks.

"I'm not opposed to it," Billie replies. "However, since most of you aren't used to it, it can be frightening."

"Especially in this case," Avery murmurs. Billie nods gravely.

"What about a..what's it called," Sid says, frowning thoughtfully. "A cleansing? Would that be plausible?"

Billie hems and haws for several minutes, mulling it over.

"They had clergymen come in," Lola speaks up. "If they couldn't cancel out the negative energy, I'm not sure a cleansing would, either."

"It doesn't hurt to try, does it?" Sid argues. He looks to Nolan, silently pleading with him. Nolan shrugs, looking at Billie.

"I guess it's worth a shot," Nolan says. "What do we have to lose?"