I shift the car into park and turn to my sister. "You ready for this, Selene? Because I'm definitely not."
Selene flips the visor down to check her makeup. "You need to chill out, Raven. It's not that big of a deal." She applies another coat of her favorite MAC lipstick.
My jaw drops. "How are you so calm about this? We're about to meet the TAPS team, go on an investigation with them, and be on TV!"
My sister whips the visor back up into its closed position and turns to face me. "I took an Ativan this morning; I'm all good." She smiles contently. "Why didn't you take one? You knew you would be freaking out. Look at you, you're shaking!"
"Because I didn't feel like being drugged up the first time I met them!" I let out a shaky sigh. "C'mon, we need to get in there for the briefing."
Selene and I exit our vehicle, grab our ghost hunting gear out of the trunk, and make our way to the hotel where the TAPS team is staying. My ears are being crushed from the pressure and each step is rickety.
We finally reach the conference room. I try my best to slow my breathing. We drop our belongings so we are not presented to the camera with duffle bags weighing us down. The producer counts down from five and then we open the door, entering the room together.
"Guys," Jason begins. "We are going to have two guest investigators on this trip. They are both from around here and have their own ghost hunting team. Meet the sisters, Selene and Raven!"
Selene and I wave awkwardly. I scan the group from left to right: Donna, Brian, Tango, Steve are sitting in chairs with Jason and Grant standing in front of them. I notice two empty seats next Steve.
"Girls, why don't you take a seat next to Steve," Grant offers.
Selene leads the way, forcing me to sit next to Steve since she knows that he is my favorite. I am so going to get her later! I cross my right leg over my left to keep my leg from bouncing and I hope that Steve does not notice my quivering body.
I try my best to focus on what Jason and Grant are saying—we are going to a supposedly haunted church in the older part of Grand Rapids, Michigan—my hometown. But part of me feels like I am emitting an anxious vibe.
Jason and Grant finish their meeting and just as I am about to bolt from my seat, Steve catches me. "Hey, I'm Steve," he says in a friendly tone, holding out his hand.
"Raven," I greet back, taking his hand. I catch his eye and a chill runs down my spine—but in a good way… I guess?
"So you guys are sisters?" Tango butts in.
"Yeah, we are," Selene answers, leaning forward.
"Who's older?"
"I am," Selene says proudly.
"Oh please, by less than two years." I roll my eyes.
"I like your tattoo." Steve points to my left forearm.
"Thanks, I like yours too." I blush slightly.
"Butterflies… any meaning behind that?" He asks.
"Eh, you'll have to learn about that at a later date…."
"Alright, guys, we're ready to roll out!" Grant announces.
"Like the Autobots?" I ask jokingly. Everyone just stares at me, confused. "You know the Transformers? Optimus Prime says roll out…?" My voice sinks to a low mumble. "Never mind."
We arrive to the old church; it only took a few minutes to get there. The ride over was sufficiently awkward. Selene and I rode with Tango and Steve. It was basically silent the entire time.
The four of us climb out of the car to meet the rest of the team in front of the church. "Before Grant and I meet with the owners for the tour, I'm going to split you up in groups of two. Let's see… Donna and Brian, Selene and Steve and then Raven and Tango. Get acquainted and then we'll be back to help set up."
"Looks like we're working together tonight," Tango says to me with a grin.
"Yup," I smile humorously.
Steve opens the trunk so that Selene and I can sit down in the back. We both pull out our phones so we can text our parents and friends to let them know that we are fine. Just then, I spot Brian coming over.
"Oh God…" I murmur.
"What?" Selene asks, head whipping toward me. I nod my head toward Brian. "Oh… oh God!"
"Hello, ladies. My name is Brian and I'm part of the tech crew on the investigations."
"Nice to meet you, Brian. I'm Raven and this is my older sister, Selene."
"Wow, I would have never guessed that you two were sisters! You look nothing alike!" Brian exclaims. He eyes my bright red curls and then Selene's jet black locks.
It is true. Selene and I look nothing alike. I have round features, while Selene has sharp. I am almost six inches taller her than her 4'11" stature and we have two very different demeanors. Most people just think we are friends.
Donna comes over. "So, I guess Jay and Grant are looking for a few more investigators to join our team…"
"Oh really?" I ask, genuinely surprised. Then it hits me: what if they ask Selene and me? That would be a dream come true! But I shouldn't get my hopes up… we're still young and somewhat inexperienced compared to the rest of the team.
"All right, we're all set. Let's get to this," Grant says happily, coming over to the group.
Selene and I stand in unison. She goes for her favorite piece of equipment: the thermal cam. I stick with an EVP recorder and a handheld camcorder. I take one last look at Selene, silently wishing her luck and she returns the kindness.
Tango, a few crew members, and I enter the church and go straight to the sanctuary. We set up a few cameras at different angles throughout the room. The lights go out and we take our places in a pew in the front row.
"So, apparently, voices are heard in this area," Tango explains. "And the lights tend to flicker at the same moment during every sermon."
"Creepy," I state bluntly. I move the camcorder across the room, scanning for any possible orbs or apparitions. Wouldn't that be something? Finding an apparition on my first hunt with TAPS!
"So, uh, your sister…" Tango murmurs.
"…Yes?" I ask, raising a brow.
He clears his throat. "What's her story…? I mean, is she single?"
I bite my lip to keep my jaw from dropping. We are here like five minutes and Dave already wants to ask out Selene? Well, isn't this interesting. "Yes, she's single," I answer skeptically. "But she's not looking for a relationship right now."
"Oh… oh, well that's cool." There is disappointment in Tango's voice and my heart sinks the tiniest bit.
"But, you never know," I assure him. "Now, let's start an EVP session…" I turn the recorder on and set it down on the pew in between Tango and me. "EVP session: Tango and Raven in the sanctuary," I say clearly.
We go through the basic questions: is there anyone here with us, what is your name, are you male or female, do you know that you are dead, how did you die, et cetera.
Two hours in, it is our turn to man the command center. We pass Steve and Selene on our way to the van and I flash a smile to both of them. Selene just rolls her eyes and Steve smiles back at me. I climb into the van first and Tango follows me. The cameras are no longer glued to us; leaving the two of us to find something more interesting to film.
"So what do you do for a living… I mean, besides this," Tango asks.
"I actually work at a bakery. I specialize in cupcakes." I grin like a total dork.
"Oh, sweet! And what about Selene?"
"She, um, works at a convenience store."
"Cool—wait, what was that?" He points to the monitor next to me. The battery of the camera is draining. Tango immediately grabs his walkie-talkie. "Tango to Steve, Tango to Steve," he says into it, trying to stay calm.
"Reading you, Tango, this is Steve."
"The batteries are going in the cameras in the attic; might want to check that out."
"Copy."
Tango and I talk more as we eye the monitors to see if anything else is happening throughout the church. He seems like a genuinely cool guy and I enjoy being partnered up with him. I feel bad that he likes Selene and she's so high strong on not having a relationship.
"Okay, that's it. Let's wrap it up." Jay says over the walkie-talkie.
Tango helps me out of the back of the van and we go to help take down and put away all the cameras and the sound equipment. I pass Steve multiple times and I smile happily at him and he really just turns the corners of his mouth upwards. I'll take it.
"Okay, everyone, great job tonight. Let's go back to the hotel and get some sleep," Jay says, clapping his hands together. "I want Selene, Raven, Steve and Tango on analysis tomorrow. Now head out!"
I wave goodbye to everyone and slump my way to our car. I slide into the passenger's seat, put my seatbelt on and then it is light's out for me!