The grand, opulent halls of the Northwest Manor echoed with every step I took. I was here to investigate reports of a ghost causing havoc, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. The Northwests had a long history with the supernatural, and their mansion was no stranger to ghostly occurrences.
Pacifica met me at the entrance, looking more tense than usual. Beside her, Philipstein stood with an air of disdain, his arm possessively gripping her waist. She smiled when she saw me, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hey, Dipper,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”
I nodded, trying to ignore Philipstein’s piercing gaze. “No problem. What’s been happening?”
Pacifica started to explain, but Philipstein cut her off. “Objects moving, strange noises, the usual ghost nonsense. Just handle it quickly, commoner.”
I bit back a retort and focused on Pacifica. “Show me where you’ve seen the most activity.”
Pacifica led me through the manor, with Philipstein trailing behind us, his grip on her unyielding. As we reached the library, I couldn’t help but notice how close she was standing to me, almost as if seeking comfort.
“So, this is where it started?” I asked.
Pacifica nodded. “Yeah. Books flying off the shelves, cold spots. You know the drill.”
I began setting up my equipment, and as I did, Pacifica started playfully bickering with me about my methods. “You sure you know what you’re doing, Pines? You don’t want to end up being chased by a ghost again, do you?”
I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips. “That was one time, Pacifica. And I’d like to see you do better.”
Philipstein scowled. “Pacifica, stop interacting with the help. It’s unbecoming.”
Pacifica’s face fell, and she reluctantly turned to Philipstein. “Sorry, Philipstein. Can you go check on the kitchen? Make sure everything’s ready for tonight?”
He looked annoyed but finally released his grip. “Fine. But don’t waste your time with him.”
As soon as he left the room, Pacifica let out a deep breath and turned back to me, her posture relaxing. “Thank God he’s gone.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he’s a real piece of work.”
Pacifica smirked. “You have no idea. It’s exhausting.”
I set up my EMF reader and thermal camera, feeling more at ease now that Philipstein was out of the room. “You don’t have to put up with him, you know.”
Pacifica sighed, leaning against a bookshelf. “I know. But my parents have this whole arrangement. They think he’s perfect for me because of his family’s status.”
I nodded sympathetically. “You deserve someone who treats you like an equal, not a possession.”
Pacifica smiled, a genuine one this time. “Thanks, Dipper. That means a lot.”
Just then, the EMF reader spiked, and the temperature dropped noticeably. I tensed, readying myself. “Looks like we’ve got company.”
Books began to fly off the shelves, and a cold wind swept through the room. Pacifica stepped closer to me, her bravado slipping away. “What do we do?”
“Stay close and don’t panic,” I said, pulling out a vial of salt and drawing a protective circle around us. “This should keep us safe.”
The ghost appeared, a shimmering figure in old-fashioned clothing, looking more annoyed than malevolent. It seemed to be searching for something.
“Excuse me!” I called out. “Can we help you with something?”
The ghost turned to us, its expression softening. “I am looking for a locket. It was taken from me.”
Pacifica glanced at me, then back at the ghost. “I think I know where it might be.”
We followed her to a dusty corner of the library, where she pulled out an old, ornate box. Inside was a delicate silver locket.
The ghost’s eyes brightened. “Thank you.”
With a final, grateful look, the ghost vanished, leaving the room warmer and more peaceful.
Pacifica turned to me, relief flooding her face. “You did it, Dipper. Thanks.”
I smiled. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Just then, Philipstein stormed back into the room, looking irate. “What’s going on here? Have you dealt with the ghost?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s taken care of.”
He scoffed. “Good. Now, let’s leave these commoner duties behind and focus on more important matters, Pacifica.”
Pacifica rolled her eyes as he walked away. “Sure, Philipstein.”
Once he was out of earshot, she turned to me, her expression softening. “Thank you, Dipper. For everything.”
I nodded. “Anytime, Pacifica. You know where to find me.”
As we left the library, I felt a renewed determination. Helping Pacifica stand up to Philipstein was just the beginning. This summer was proving to be more challenging than I’d anticipated, but with friends like Mabel, Wendy, and now Pacifica by my side, I knew we could face anything together.
