A routine sweep of the outskirts of town had lead two of the Ghostbusters, Dr. Peter Venkman and Dr. Egon Spengler, to an isolated locale out into the depths of the forests that resided outside of the city. Dr. Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore remained at the firehouse in the event of a call which gave Peter and Egon more freedom to perform a thorough investigation while chronicling the naturally occurring psychokinetic energy within their jurisdiction.

Peter sighed inattentively as he drove the back-up vehicle known as Ecto-2, a white pick-up truck, detailed with the 'no-ghost' logo, emergency light bars and sirens, came with a large cab and bed for hauling equipment. The truck's headlights shone through the treeline as the two scientists tracked and recorded every paranormal reading an anomaly.

"Can we head back yet?" Peter asked as drove along the dirt trails through the forest. "This is so boring..."

"Soon Peter." Egon had a PKE meter in his hands and was directing Peter through the trails. An interesting reading had appeared on the meter's display and was too tempting to resist. "As soon as we finish examining this new reading. It shows a powerful residual energy that could-"

Peter dramatically let out a deep, sleepy yawn to rudely interrupt Egon. "Fascinating Spengz. It really is."

Egon gave Peter a disapproving glare but didn't remark on the unkempt behavior. It was to be expected for the abrasive psychologist to make an unprofessional statement or show no interest in the work at hand when a pretty young woman wasn't directly involved.

"Turn right here." Egon directed as he held the meter up toward his window and the reading intensified. "It's only a few yards away."

"Friend or foe?" Peter asked in a tired tone as he turned down the correct path.

"Unknown."

"Okay... How about animal, vegetable or mineral?"

"Once again," Egon repeated as his eyes stayed transfixed on the meter's display. "unknown."

"And you call yourself a scientist." Peter quipped as the headlights of the truck illuminated what appeared to be a rocky hillside jutting upward from the ground. "Dead end."

"Not quite." Egon set the PKE meter down on the dashboard as he pulled a powerful flashlight from the storage cabinet behind their seats. Turning on the light he rolled down his window and shined the beam along the ground toward the hill and located a boarded up entrance. "This is an abandoned mine."

"And I'm sure it was abandoned for a good reason." Peter sharply stated. "We're not going in there."

"The sought resources had been evidently harvested in their entirety." Egon retorted quickly." And yes, we are."

"No way Spengz! Haunted houses, creepy hotels, abandoned hospitals, spooky museums, ancient crypts and decrepit asylums are one thing; but putting me underground in a haunted mine shaft is where I draw the line!"

"Claustrophobia?"

"No!" Peter's face turned a little red as he turned away from Egon and stared at the trees outside the truck. "I just don't like being underground. There might be animals in there... Like bats."

"It'll only take a moment." Egon opened his door to the truck as he picked up the PKE meter. "We just need to confirm that the mine is the source of the PKE signature."

"Can't you figure that out from here?"

"Unfortunately no. The meter confirms the source is in this general vicinity but until I can find the direct origin point of the source I can't map our jurisdiction properly."

"...Fine." Peter all but pouted as he finally agreed to explore the mine. "But if I see one bat you're on your own, pal!"

"Very well." Egon wasn't all fazed by the idea of potentially exploring a haunted mine alone. "The sooner we document the mine the sooner we can leave."

"Why didn't you say so?" Peter asked as he climbed out of the truck.

Egon gave his friend an annoyed stare. "In a previous statement had said just as-"

"Yeah, yeah. Come on..." Peter insisted bitterly as he approached the boarded up entrance of the mind. "Let's get this done."

Using the flashlight to guide their way Egon aimed the beam at the four aged, worn and decaying wooden boards the barred the entrance to the mine. Decades, if not a full century of neglect had left the boards vulnerable to weather, time and the local fauna. The nails that had once been sharp and shiny were now rusted, loose and threatening to fall away and let the boards crash to the forest floor at any second. Warping of the boards had created large enough gaps for the two men to peer through and look inside at the entrance of the mine.

As the flashlight beam swept over the dark cavern a single drop of water fell from the crumbling ceiling dripped onto the rocky floor audibly.

"Charming..." Peter critiqued as gazed inside. "Dark. Damp. Cold. Reminds me of home."

"Funny." Egon sat the flashlight down on the ground and took hold of a central board with hands in a firm grip. "Help me pull these boards down."

"Does this count as breaking and entering?"

"No." Egon pried the end of the first board loose and moved his hands to the opposite end. "This is trespassing."

"Oh, well," Peter grabbed onto the board and aided Egon in removing it entirely. "at least we have a proper term for our crime." Dropping the first pried open board to the side of the entrance he grabbed onto the second board. "I'm sure the police will appreciate it, too."

Steadily the two Ghostbusters worked together to pry loose the remaining three boards until all of the rotten, moldy, insect bitten boards were piled together near the entrance. With the entryway now clear the two men were able to take their first steps inside the long abandoned tunnel and breathe in the chilly, murky air.

Peter took in a deep breath and coughed as the cool air stung his lungs and nostrils. "Is this the famous 'fresh air' that the nature lovers are always talking about?"

Egon picked up the flashlight and powered up the PKE meter once more. "We should be able to get an accurate reading within a few yards."

"Good. Hate to have to walk the entire mine with the other guys, such a waste of magnificent scenery."

Focusing on the glowing display of the meter Egon took the lead and used the flashlight to illuminate the ground to ensure he didn't trip over any loose stones, fallen boards or accidentally step into any ankle-snapping divots caused by erosion.

Bits of loose earth rained down from the ceiling. The wooden beams that once buttressed the walls and ceiling were just as aged, worn and warped as the exterior boards that blocked the entrance.

An interesting reading on the meter led Egon into the depths of the mine and grew stronger with each step. The source of the psychokinetic energy was several yards into the main tunnel and seemed to localize at a massive circular chamber that branched off into five additional paths.

"Curious." Egon stooped down and held the meter over a large crater in the center of the chamber. His voice echoed within the chamber and trailed down the tunnels in all directions. "The energy seems to be originating from this point."

"And why is that curious?" Peter asked as earth fell down and rested in his hair hair. Running his hands through his locks he brushed the earth particles out and he looked up at the eroding ceiling with mild concern.

"Usually psychokinetic energy manifest points revolve around densely populated locations or site of intense supernatural activity."

"Uh-huh..." Peter feigned interest as he stared at the ceiling as the earth continued to rain down and dust over his hair and shoulders.

"For such a potent source to reside in an abandoned location without a history of supernatural rituals or tradition. Perhaps the mine wasn't truly abandoned from a lack of resources. Perhaps it was abandoned because-"

A massive piece of the ceiling came loose and crashed down on the ground a few feet behind Peter.

"We should discuss this outside!" Peter insisted as he grabbed onto Egon's arm and yanked him up to his feet.

"I concur!" Egon didn't resist the gesture as he and Peter made a run for the entrance.

The ceiling began to crumble further as a massive crack snaked along the tunnel walls and the ceiling, quickly gain speed and surpassing the two fleeing men with a devastating 'snap'!

Peter skidded to a stop a massive beam broke free of the rusted hinges that held it on its supports near the ceiling. "Look out!"

Egon stopped fast and held up an arm over his eyes as a massive dust cloud erupted from the disturbed soil.

"We need to-" Egon paused midsentence as a second beam supporting the ceiling, positioned directly overhead, broke free and fell with a powerful blow. The beam collided with Egon's chest and shoulders knocking the physicist to the ground before snapping free and crushing down on his right leg.

"Egon!" Peter called out hearing the commotion and barely seeing it through the dust cloud. "Where are you?!" Falling to his hands and knees Peter crawled along the ground and felt for Egon, finding his leg pinned beneath the heavy beam. "Egon!"

Motionless on the tunnel floor Egon was silent as the mine continued to collapse all around him.

Peter crawled over the beam and leaned his ear down near Egon's chest to listen for a heartbeat then moved closer to his face to feel for any breaths against his skin.

"You're still with me, good..." Peter looked to the ceiling as a massive chunk of earth fell freely and threatened to bury Egon and himself alive. Positioning himself protectively over Egon's chest and face, using his arms to brace himself against the impact, Peter made a quick decision. "Come on pal, we need to get out of here!"

Peter rested back on his heels, dirt and rocks falling from his back and shoulders as he put his hands under the heavy beam and attempted to lift it from Egon's leg.

"It's gotta... budge!" Peter persisted as he futilely struggled against the heavy lumber.

A second cave-in caught Peter off guard! A support beam from the tunnel wall behind him fell loose and smashed harshly into his back between his shoulders. As he gasped for his escaped breath he leaned back further and sat on the floor of the tunnel fighting to breathe in all the dust and enclosed space. The opposite beam gave way soon after and smashed down onto Peter's left shoulder, pinning him down where he sat, helpless to push the cumbersome obstruction aside with only one free arm.

"Sp-Spengz?!" Peter called out in a desperate hacking breath. "Spengler!"

No response.

The mine was quiet as the collapse ended, the dust settled and all motion ceased. The only sound was Peter's pained panting breaths as he sat trapped on the floor of the mine tunnel, unable to free himself or to help his downed friend.

...to be continued...