A throbbing pain in his right side was all Dr. Egon Spengler could feel as the waking world slowly returned to his tired, foggy mind. Futilely Egon tried to lift his head as he laid flat on his back but the effort was in vain. Feeling too weak, too tired to attempt to move he kept as still as possible as he tried to regain his physical strength while trying to piece together his memory of the events that transpired before darkness overtook his mind.

The last thing Egon could remember was a painfully loud explosion and hearing a voice while he and the other Ghostbusters were tracking down an elusive specter in the abandoned subway tunnels...

Tracking the ghost through the subway had been a difficult task, but not impossible. Dr. Raymond "Ray" Stantz took the lead with a PKE meter, walking down the old tracks with Dr. Peter Venkman, Winston Zeddemore and Egon himself following close behind. The lengthy dark tracks were illuminated only by the four flashlights in the skilled hands of the intrepid Ghostbusters.

"I think it's down the Western tunnel." Ray pointed into the expansive darkness with the PKE meter. "But since this tunnel loops back around we should split up. Two go down the Western tunnel and the other two go down the Eastern tunnel."

"Loops around?" Peter asked with an arched eyebrow. "Just in case the engineer gets lost and needs to make a turn?"

Ray gave an amused glance. "For maintenance Peter. Now, I'll head this way with Egon-"

"And Winston and me will go the other way." Peter finished Ray's sentence dismissively. "Alright, alright. Come on Zed, the sooner we catch this ghost the sooner we can get out of this dank tunnel."

"Lead the way!" Winston followed Peter down the Eastern tunnel with his flashlight trained at the ground while Peter's light shone on the ceiling of the tunnel overhead. "I hate being underground."

"You and me both!" Peter chimed in as the duo disappeared down the tunnel together.

Ray and Egon practically mirrored the motions of Peter and Winston as they used their flashlights to illuminate the ground and ceiling. The sound of dirt, stone and old metal crunching beneath heavy boots echoed with each footstep down the tunnels.

"Let's see," Ray focused the PKE meter toward the far end of the tunnel. "we should run into the ghost before we run into Peter and Winston. If not then I think we'll have to call this bust a bust."

"I sincerely hope we will not waste our time exploring the bacteria riddled underground without leaving with some modicum of data to analyze."

"Yeah, we need all the data we can get." Ray agreed anxiously. "You know it's been a while since-"

A loud rumble in the tunnels caused Ray and Egon to stop midstep along the dark track. Old bits on concrete, brick and dust floated downward in a wispy cloud.

"What was that?" Ray asked as he pointed his light straight up at the ceiling and watched the dust dance about in the bright beam. "That come from above us for sure."

"It's not a passing train." Egon confirmed. "It was a singular eruption that-"

A second rumble twice as loud and twice as violent shook the entirety of the tunnel causing both Ray and Egon to lose their balance and fall to the tracks. They dropped their flashlights as they fell, one of which broke upon impact with the metal track.

"Spengler!" Ray shouted over the thunderous noise as he struggled to keep track of his colleague.

The ground beneath the track began t buckle as the violent tremor continued to rock through the underground passages. The neglected ground began to divot and erode as the relentless shaking against the steel and concrete was merciless against the dilapidated ground.

"Ray?" Egon yelled as loud as possible as he tried to brace himself up against the smooth wall of the tunnel, only to feel his leg sink into the ground. "Ray!"

A massive explosion shook the tunnels in a catastrophic burst of energy, heat, smoke and light.

"Egon!" Ray looked to where he last saw his friend with the single flashlight only to see a figure disappear into a newly formed hole in the ground. "Egon?!"

As Egon fell through the ground the violent shaking of the tunnels continued on and heavily damaged the subway tunnels in the process. Landing hard on his side on the ground in a large opening beneath the tunnel Egon saw bright flashes as pain seared into his side and a heavy impact on top of his body knocked the wind from his lungs; leaving his breathless and unconscious in the darkness.

The faint voice of Ray calling out for him was the last sound Egon heard before he fell into a deep unconsciousness.

The nearly unbearable pain that ached in Egon's side flared and brought him out of his thoughts and back into reality. Still unable to lift his head or open his eyes Egon used his other senses to try and identify his current environment.

Cold. Egon knew he was severely injured from the incredible amount of pain he was experiencing, but being so cold was indicative of significant blood loss. His whole body was cold, save for the burning pain in his side, and there was a firm pressure on his back.

A table? Or perhaps a bench.

It was quiet with only the faintest echo of water dripping down into a growing puddle in an unseen distance.

The air was still and smelled of smoke and dust.

The tunnel. Egon was still somewhere inside the tunnel.

Egon's fingertips fluttered as he regained enough strength and awareness to move his hands. Using his left hand Egon lightly pressed his fingers against his injured side and was startled to discover that there was something already pressed against the raw wound. Rather than pressing into a bloodied injury his fingers felt the warm, soft fabric of something wrapped over his injury. His jumpsuit was removed from his chest and arms, the were sleeves tied around his waist. The black t-shirt beneath was tattered and full of holes, the lower hem pulled up to expose the white bandages wrapped around his side.

Bandages. Someone had found Egon, they had helped him. He wasn't alone.

Partially opening his eyes Egon found himself staring at the dirty ceiling and a single dim light swinging from the ceiling over his head. Without his glasses he could only see so far before everything was a single blur.

Egon was laying on his back on a bench inside some small metal compartment.

The sound of a large metal door being slid open caught Egon's attention. He couldn't see anyone approaching but he could hear the heavy thuds of boots marching ever closer to his direction.

Watching the figure approach Egon kept silent and waited patiently.

A strong hand rested on his chest as the figure knelt down beside Egon. Egon's vision, though hindered from the loss of his glasses, steadily cleared enough for him to make out the intensely focused features of the figure who was watching over him.

"W-Winston?" Egon's voice was hoarse from the choking dust filled atmosphere.

"Egon!" Winston's stern face had softened in relief. "Thank God man, you're still with us!"

"What... What happened?" Egon could see stubble growing on Winston's chin and dark bags under his eyes indicative of time and lack of sleep.

Winston took his hand away from Egon's chest slowly. "Turns out that ghost we were tracking lured us down here. It was a trap."

"Trap?"

"Yeah man, we were stuck down here for a while. Going on four days now."

"Where is Ray and where is Peter?" Egon asked weakly. "Where are we?"

"First thing's first, you need to take it easy. When you fell you landed on some sharp metal and it punctured your right side. It looks like the debris managed to miss everything vital but it's still a bad injury."

"How did you get the bandages? We're still in the tunnels, correct?"

"Yeah. Right now we're holed up inside an old subway car. Pretty sure we're in a maintenance section of the tunnel." Shifting his weight so he could sit on the floor of the car instead of balancing on his knee Winston continued explaining the bizarre events that had unfolded. "Ray had found a way out of the tunnels and went to find help. But when he came back he was alone, all he could do was bring back medical supplies until someone could find us."

"Where is Ray now?"

Winston grew silent and bowed his head. "I don't know. He... He went out on a supply run two days ago. I haven't seen him and I can't raise him on the radio."

"And Peter?"

Winston visibly flinched at the uncomfortable question. "Egon, we never found Peter after the tunnel collapsed."

"What?!" Egon tried to sit up but Winston quickly put his hands on Egon's shoulders and pushed him back down on the bench. Wincing noticeably as the movement aggravated his injury Egon quickly lost his strength and tried to relax.

"Easy! Don't move or you'll start to bleed again!"

"But... Peter..."

"We'll find him, I know we will. The problem is when the tunnel collapsed a wall of debris separated us, I got stuck on one side and got stuck on the other. I was able to backtrack through the tunnels and I found Ray digging his way through the mess in the tunnel to keep you safe inside of this subway car."

"Ray?"

"He saved you." Winston kept his voice level as he spoke. "When he finally found you he had used his own hands to keep your side from bleeding out, he must've been sitting with you for hours before I finally found you. Only then did he let go just long enough to clear a path to this subway car."

"You stayed with me for four days?" Egon was trying to piece the puzzle together. "And Ray has been missing for two while Peter has yet to be found? You should've went looking for Peter..." Egon shut his eyes and let out a mournful sigh. "It was a mistake to waste all your energy in saving me, Peter could be-"

"No way, we both know that Peter Venkman is too stubborn to just roll over and die like that. He found a way out of the tunnels, I can feel it!"

"If it's been four days since the collapse and both Peter and Ray had gone for help, then why has no one come?"

"Because..." Winston was struggling to keep his mental stress from overwhelming him. "The ghost has... It looks like the ghost has turned everyone on the surface to stone."

"To... stone?"

"Yeah, that's what Ray said. It looks like we're the only unaffected people left in New York City."

Egon was having difficulty trying to comprehend everything Winston was telling him but his overall fatigue was too exasperating for the physicist to deal with. Closing his eyes Egon was beginning to blackout once again. "What about... equipment?"

"My PKE meter was busted in the collapse, so was Ray's." Winston put his hand on Egon's shoulder and squeezed just enough to get his attention without hurting him. "We couldn't find your meter and your proton pack was damaged like mine was. Ray took them both with him when he went to find supplies."

Egon manged a subtle to confirm that he had heard what Winston said.

"Hold on, don't close your eyes." Winston urged as he reached into a cardboard box sitting beside the bench where Egon was laying. "Ray brought some medical supplies, water and food. You've been unconscious for almost four days straight, you need some water." Pulling a clean bottle of water from the box Winston opened the top and helped Egon to sit up slightly in order to take a drink. "You need this."

The rational, logical portion of Egon's brain told him that Winston was right and that he needed to keep hydrated; but the emotional, empathetic portion of his brain was too focused and worried about Ray and Peter to want to take care of himself.

"Just a little." Winston coaxed as he put one hand under Egon's head and held the bottle to his lips.

Much to Egon's surprise the effort to take a simple drink seemed too taxing for his damaged body. With Winston's help Egon was able to down the much needed water, the dryness in his mouth thanks to the dust and still air quickly fading from his taste.

"Thank you."

"No problem." Winston helped Egon to lay down again. "I'm going to go look for Ray and Peter. The radios still work but I haven't been able to make contact with anyone just." Handing a radio to Egon Winston stood up and checked the battery on his flashlight. "Not much power left but it's better than nothing. I'll be back in two hours."

"Winston?"

"Yeah?" He turned to look back at Egon one last time.

"Thank you for saving my life."

"You're welcome. Just do me a favor and hang on until we can find a way out."

Egon only nodded as Winston left the subway car through the same door from whence he entered. Keeping a firm grip on the radio Egon reluctantly stayed behind.

Feeling useless and tired Egon could only lay alone in the dim lighting with his eyes closed.

"Ray... Peter." Egon muttered his friend's names. "Winston... Janine. Please be alright."

Winston shined his flashlight through the debris littered tunnel as he carefully tread down the tracks in search of either Ray or Peter. The tunnel exited through a small connection where the Eastern end of the tunnel connected to the Western end. Having already checked the Eastern tunnel thoroughly for Peter multiple times Winston decided it was time to check through the Western tunnel again for any sign of his missing friend. It seemed unlikely that Winston could have possibly overlooked Peter, but if Peter had been injured like Egon then the odds of missing a long figure laying among the debris were pretty high.

"Okay now," Winston resumed his rhythm of sweeping the tunnel with the flashlight while also calling out for his missing friends over the radio. "can anyone hear me? Come in!"

A quiet response over the radio gave Winston much needed hope. 'Winston,' Egon responded weakly. 'I can hear you. You're right, the radios do in fact work.'

"Man, glad to hear your voice." Winston replied happily. "Listen if you need anything for the pain or... Well, whatever. Just let me know I'll take care of it."

'Thank you, but I believe you've already done everything you can for me. Now you need to do everything for Ray and Peter.'

"Don't worry, I'll find them. I swear it." Winston refused to stop searching for his colleagues but didn't want to leave Egon alone for too long. "And then I'm going to get you back up to the surface."

Dripping pipes hung down from the cracked ceiling while exposed wires protruded through the crags of the tunnel walls. The tracks had been bent and warped beyond repair in the violent tremors. The dust had long since fallen to the ground but the air was still stagnant and dry with each breath taken.

Approaching the barricade of ruin and debris that had separated himself from Peter, Winston used his flashlight to check every inch of the tunnel and examine the unnatural divots that had been formed in the walls and ground from the ethereal earthquake.

No sign of Peter. No equipment, no blood, no body.

"Man, where'd you go Peter? Please tell me you're not buried under the wall..." Winston muttered as the flashlight beam swept over the carnage of the tunnel's ground, sides and ceiling. The beam shone over a deep gap near the ceiling and a glistening item caught Winston's attention. "Hello? What the hell is that?"

Stepping closer to the curious item, balancing precariously on a mound of broken concrete and stone Winston peered up into the gap and examined the item. "Ah-ha!" The screen of a cracked PKE meter was shining downward, the device strategically wedged in the cap. "This is the exit Ray must've been using!"

Taking a closer look at the gap Winston spotted the partially exposed rungs of an old iron ladder. "The ladder was buried at the top. Ray couldn't get back down! Uh-oh, I need to get Egon and get out of here before the ladder is buried completely!"

Turning quickly Winston jumped down from the debris pile and jogged back down the tunnel. Clicking on his radio he decided he needed to make contact with Egon. "I sure hope you're conscious," Winston held down the 'talk' button without breaking stride. "Egon I found a way out. We need to move before we're cut off entirely."

There was no response from the other end of the radio.

"Egon?" Winston tried again to hail his friend. "Come in! Please tell me you heard that."

'Winston.' Egon's voice finally responded in a groggy voice heavy with fatigue. 'I heard you. How much time... do we have?'

"Not sure, but I'm heading back right now. We need to get out and try to find out where Ray went."

'Any sign from... Peter?'

"No." Winston's voice naturally lowered in emotion. "But we will. I know it!" There was no further reply from Egon and Winston took his hand from his radio. "I hope..."

Keeping an eye on the structural integrity of the tunnel for any sign of further collapse Winston made the treacherous journey at an impressive pace. Leaving Egon behind was not an option, neither was moving on without knowing what had happened to Peter during the collapse or where Ray had gone after escaping the tunnels in seek of help.

Returning to the subway car Winston was able to slide open the metal door and make his way back over to Egon who was drifting somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness. The wounded physicist was still clutching tightly to the radio in his hand despite all outward appearances of absolute weakness.

Putting his hand down on Egon's chest Winston gauged how well Egon was breathing and with it an idea of strong the injured man was. "Egon? You with me?"

"Y-yeah." Egon's heavy eyelids open partially. Glassy eyes struggled to focus on Winston's face. "I'm conscious."

"I know you're still hurting," Winston's thoughtful brown eyes looked down at the white bandages wrapped around Egon's abdomen. "but we have to get out of here."

"I agree." Egon remained still on the bench in attempt to conserve his strength for the time being. "But once we're out of the tunnels where do we begin our search for Ray?"

"The box of supplies." Winston pulled the cardboard box over to himself with one hand. "He took it from the hospital and it's been labeled. We have a location!"

"Excellent." Egon slowly lifted one arm outward toward Winston. "Perhaps Ray knows where Peter is as well."

"Yeah, I bet you're right." Winston leaned over Egon and took his arm, draping the heavy limb over his shoulders. "There's no sign of Peter anywhere, he could've escaped the way Ray did."

Stifling a groan of pain Egon closed his eyes shut and braced himself in anticipation of the impending agony that was sure to follow.

"That's it, easy." Winston helped Egon to sit up very slowly to ensure that the movement didn't accidentally re-open any of the deep lacerations concealed beneath the white bandages. Pulling Egon's tattered black shirt down over the bandages Winston eyed the injury for any sign of further bleeding. "Lean against me."

Egon struggled to stand but with Winston's help he was able to find his footing. Shifting most of his weight onto his left leg he tightened his arm around Winston's neck like a lifeline.

"Okay, one step at a time." Winston encouraged as he carried Egon toward the opened door of the subway car. Adjusting his posture to accommodate Egon's height in comparison to his own Winston guided his colleague out of the subway car and down onto the littered ground. "Watch your footing. I'll lead and keep the flashlight on the ground. I know you can't see well without your glasses so I'll keep my pace slow, and you follow behind me."

Egon nodded and took a step back as to follow behind Winston instead of walking beside him. Putting his hand on Winston's shoulder Egon kept himself at arms length as he was blindly guided to safety. "Lead on."

"The track is uneven and there's a lot of large chunks of concrete all over the ground. It's going to be a clumsy walk but it's not too far to the ladder."

"Ladder?" Egon asked weakly.

"Yeah. I'll help you climb up. No problem."

"You sound so sure of it."

"Hey, I'm a marine, remember? Basic training revolves around getting a buddy out of a tight situation. I aced it."

"No doubt."

The tunnels continued to drip with leaking water. The echo of stone being ground underfoot as well as the tumbling of small bits of concrete and clay being kicked aside accompanied each foot step. The dim light of Winston's flashlight grew steadily duller as the depleted batteries began reaching their limit.

"A few more yards." Winston stated confidently. "How're you holding up?"

"I'm okay." Egon was moving much slower than he normal walked but he knew Winston wouldn't leave him behind. "I'll feel much better once we're outside of the tunnel and back on the surface."

"You got that right!" Winston pointed the flashlight up at the ceiling until the same glint from Ray's wedged PKE meter glistened again. "And there's our way out. Look."

Egon looked up at the dull light and the shine of the meter's display caught in the beam. "The ladder?"

"Yeah. I think I can move enough of this debris away without causing a second collapse for us to get through. It'll just take a minute."

Egon let his hand slide away from Winston's shoulders as he pressed his back against the uneven, cold tunnel wall. Sliding down the wall Egon sat on the uncomfortable tunnel ground beside the track. He couldn't see what Winston was doing but he could hear large pieces of concrete being tossed aside and he could hear Winston's deep breaths as he worked fervently to clear the path back to the surface world.

"That should do it." Winston wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his dirty jumpsuit sleeve. The opening to the ladder had been widened considerably but it would still be a difficult climb due to the limited space and Egon's limited strength. "It won't be easy but we can make it."

Egon extended his hand outward and felt Winston grab ahold firmly. After being pulled up from the ground and onto his feet Egon stumbled a little only to be caught and supported by Winston's second hand.

"You good?"

"Yes." Egon's shaking voice betrayed his confidence. "We need to get out of here as quickly as possible."

"Let me check the ladder, I want to know how much weight it can still hold." Winston slowly took one arm away from Egon, eyeing Egon warily not wanting his injured friend to collapse. Taking a firm grip on the lowest rung of the ladder he pulled down on it, shook it and pulled himself up until his full weight was pressing down on the ladder. Small flecks of concrete broke away into a dust cloud but the ladder seemed to be holding firm. "As long as we climb slowly the ladder should hold."

Climbing back down from the ladder Winston took Egon's arms and put them on his shoulders. "Hold tight onto my shoulders like this. I can climb up and carry your weight at the same time."

"Are you sure?" Egon was rightfully cautious of the damaged ladder. "Shouldn't we climb one at a time?"

"Normally I'd say 'yes', but you're hurt and we can't risk a second collapse separating us. We go together."

"Very well."

Winston turned and put his hands down on the lowest rung again. "Ready?"

"Ready." Egon put his hands on Winston's shoulders as he had been instructed and held tight.

Moving one hand at a time Winston pulled himself and Egon up from the ground of the tunnel as he began the unsteady ascent up the ladder. Once he was high enough Winston put his boots down on the rungs and used his entire body to climb the ladder. Egon held tight around Winston's shoulders and concentrated on keeping his grip. Too weak to climb alone and too weak to offer any assistance he kept silent to allow Winston full, unhindered concentration and each of his precise movements.

The opening around the ladder began to narrow the higher up the two Ghostbusters climbed. It was dark but not blinding as the light shining down through the wide opening at the table of the ladder began to intensify with a promising warmth.

"There's Ray's PKE meter." Winston noted as he climbed up past where the device had been wedged into the wall. "Yeah, no mistaking it. The meter was placed here for a purpose, it wasn't dropped."

Egon wanted to reach out and grab the meter but he didn't dare lessen his grip for even a second. "How do you know for certain?"

"Because the meter is lodged into the wall inside of a crack by its handle. Someone put it there."

"Sounds like a trail marker for us to follow."

"Exactly." Winston huffed as he continued the treacherous climb toward the light. "About half way there, just hold on a little longer."

"As long as you do the same."

Using one hand to push aside bits of concrete jutting out from the walls around the ladder Winston was able to continue climbing at a brisk pace with little difficulty as his training had given him invaluable physical discipline and stamina. The light above was brighter and warmer as the duo ascended the ladder at a respectable speed.

"I can smell fresh air." Winston commented optimistically.

"This is New York." Egon joked lightly. "Fresh air is impossible."

"Compared to being trapped in a subway tunnel for four days anything smells fresh!"

"Fair enough."

Reaching the top of the ladder Winston managed to heft himself and Egon up and out of the tunnels and back onto the sidewalk of the street surface. Taking a knee on the sidewalk Winston helped Egon to sit down and take a moment to rest as even the act of holding on was too much for his injured body to bear at the moment.

The sidewalks and streets were covered in statues. Statues that were once living people turned to stone by some kind of ethereal power. The city was quiet and bathed in stillness. Even the birds in the trees were silent as their stone prisons quieted their songs. An eerie heaviness weighed down on the entire city as the lack of life seemed like a waking nightmare.

"How's your side?" Winston asked as he stared at the white bandages visible through the tears in the fabric of the black t-shirt.

"Sore as hell. But I don't think any movement caused further damage."

"That's good." Winston shifted his weight from his knee and sat down on the sidewalk beside Egon. "As soon as you're ready we'll head over to the hospital. Maybe we'll find Ray."

"Or perhaps Peter." Egon sighed and winced as the deep breath ached at his healing side. "Regardless we must locate the ghost and understand what type of energy it used to cause... this."

"What would we even call this?" Winston asked as he took in the horrific sight. "When Ray told me everyone was turned to stone... I don't know what I was expecting to see, but this is something I can't even begin to explain."

"I can't give a definitive answer until I have more data to form a hypothesis."

"Hopefully Ray will have some answers."

Egon wrapped his arm tightly over his side as he struggled to push himself up from the sidewalk and stand. Winston helped Egon to regain his balance and used the improved lighting to check Egon's complexion and his eyes.

"We just got out of there man, pace yourself."

"I'm fine." Egon looked down at the exit to the tunnel with his blurry eyes. "Fortunately the original maintenance access tunnels were never removed when the subway was renovated. It's likely Peter found an access tunnel elsewhere and escaped before we did."

"Wouldn't surprise me. Peter is pretty clever." Winston took Egon's arm and draped it around his shoulders. "The hospital is about six blocks away. Once we're there we can get your side taken care of properly."

The wind blew coldly through the deathly silent streets. The quiet was almost deafening as it was an ambience completely to foreign to the city itself. Traffic lights flickered back and forth between red, yellow and green but no cars drove through the streets nor did any feet scamper through the crosswalks. TV's in department store windows were nothing but static and buzzing. Radios were did not emit or capture any incoming broadcasts.

"I hate this." Egon admitted in a low voice.

"So do I."

"Ray's missing, Peter's missing, the entire city has been afflicted by this ghost and we don't know where to begin searching."

"Try to keep focused on the hospital." Winston urged as he caught sight of the bright red cross symbol indicating the hospital only a few yards away. "First thing we're going to do is get you patched up."

The doors to the hospital still had power and easily slid open as Winston and Egon approached. The waiting room was filled with dozens of people who too were turned to stone. Each person frozen in position, completely oblivious to the fate that had befallen them. Doctors and nurses stood beside patients who were either laying down on tables or sitting in chairs in the waiting room.

"Creepy." Winston observed as he helped Egon walk through the waiting room and toward an exam room down the corridor.

Finding only one room without a depressing statue already inside Winston helped Egon to lay down on the exam table. The glass door of a supply cabinet in the exam room had been broken open and many supplies had been removed.

"Looks like this is where Ray got that box of supplies." Winston addressed the damage as he rummaged through what was left. Picking aside glass shards he took stock of the remaining inventory. "Bandages, painkillers, antibiotics. Yeah, this is everything Ray had already brought back down to the tunnels."

"You stated that Ray had gone in search of help." Egon remembered the conversation from the sanctuary of the subway car. "It's possible he left the city in search of aid."

"Nah, I don't think so." Winston put the gathered supplies on a small rolling table and wheeled it over to where Egon was laying. Pulling up Egon's shirt Winston began to carefully unwrap the bandages with a controlled touch. "Ray wouldn't leave the city in a time of crisis."

Egon looked at the radio that he had kept hold of in a death grip. Pressing down the 'talk' button he called out for any possible contact with another living being, anyone, somewhere in the expanse of the stilled city. "Ray? Peter? Do you copy?"

"Good idea." Winston finished removing the bandages and expose the raw wound beneath. Wanting to keep Egon distracted from the unpleasant ordeal he'd soon endure he encouraged Egon to keep talking. "Maybe now that we're on the surface our radios can reach out further."

Egon waited a moment before calling out again. "Ray. Peter. Please respond."

Winston listened to the soft static over the radio as he cleaned out the significant injury and kept Egon from moving around too much.

"Can anyone hear me?" Egon asked in a calm, level tone. "Please respond."

There was a high pitched whistle over the radio before an indistinguishable voice responded. '...-gon?' There was a brief pause. 'Egon is that you?'

"Yes!" Egon nearly shouted. "Winston and I are out of the tunnels. We're at the hospital. Where are you?"

Heavy static garbled the response. '...outside the...' Static repeatedly cut out the vague communication. '...heading to... Have you seen...?'

"Hello? Please repeat, you're breaking up."

There was no further communication as the high pitched whistle sounded off for the second time and the radio fell completely silent as the battery died.

"Damn." Egon set aside the radio and laid down flat on the table.

"Take it easy," Winston finished cleaning up the wound and was no re-wrapping Egon's side in clean bandages. "at least he knows where we are and that we're okay."

"Yes. You're right." Egon looked down as Winston finished taking care of the nearly debilitating injury that had kept Egon from moving about without assistance. "How severe is the injury?"

"Looks like a mild infection has begun to set in." Winston helped Egon to sit upright. "But considering you've been underground in a dirty tunnel filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of different strains of bacteria; I'm not surprised."

"Fortunately we have nearly unlimited access to antibiotics."

Winston gave Egon an amused smirk as he picked up a vial of penicillin and used a syringe to draw a small dosage to administer. "How much?"

Egon tried to eye the syringe but his inability to see clearly without his glasses he had to rely on Winston's good judgement. "Let's start with two-hundred milligrams."

"Got it." Winston rolled up the short sleeve of Egon's shirt and swabbed a cotton ball drenched with alcohol over the skin on the side of his bicep. "It's been a while since my emergency medical training, so sorry in advance if this hurts."

Egon did his best to relax his arm as the medication was injected. "Don't worry about it. Think of this as practice for your own injection."

Winston retracted the used needle and tossed it in the garbage can. "What do you mean?"

"You were exposed to the same bacteria as I for just as long. You may have suffered an injury without knowing and are currently at risk for an impending infection."

"Precautionary shot?" Winston asked with a mild grimace.

Egon only nodded.

"Right. Better safe than sorry." Winston loaded a second syringe with the medication and prepared his own arm for the injection.

From outside the exam room the sound of frantic, heavy boot steps charged toward the room. Winston instinctively put himself between Egon and the opened door in an attempt to protect his injured friend. As the sounds became louder the duo prepared for the intruder to either rush past the room or into the room; neither man knowing who or what to expect.

"Guys!" Ray's voice sounded off as he rushed to the opened door and braced himself with both arms against both sides of the door frame. His hands were wrapped up in tarnished, torn bandages smudged with dirt and dried blood. "You're okay!" Ray's jumpsuit was dirty, tattered and torn up along the cuff of the sleeves and ankles. There was dried blood stains on Ray's right brow and lower lip. His eyes were just as dark and heavy with fatigue as Winston and he too had stubble growing along his chin. "Thank God..."

"Ray!" Winston let his guard down and took in a deep breath. "Where've you been, man?"

"I..." He looked past Winston and over to Egon. Moving from the door frame over to the exam table he put his hand on Egon's shoulder. "Egon! You're really awake!"

"I'm fine Ray. Winston told me everything that happened. Thank you." Egon patted Ray's arm to reciprocate his relief in finding his friend alive. "Now, please tell us where you had gone."

"Oh, that..." Ray's relieved expression turned to disappointment. "When I escaped the tunnel the exit I had taken began to collapse and I knew I wouldn't be able to get back down with additional supplies without causing irreparable damage. I tried to make contact over the radio but I couldn't get through. I figured if I left the PKE meter in the tunnel you'd be able to follow me."

"Yeah, we found it." Winston confirmed. "What were you doing while we were still down in the tunnels?"

"Well, I went to explore the city and see if anyone else had managed to escape the petrification spell when I stumbled across the ghost that caused this whole mess!"

"You found the ghost?" Egon asked with an arched brow. "Where did it go?"

"It lead me all through the city, it took hours to chase it down only to lose it in the Bronx."

"The Bronx?" Egon pulled down his t-shirt. "Did you see anyone else in the city unaffected by what you called the 'petrification spell'?"

"No. It looks like we're the only ones who escaped the ghost's attack."

Winston offered his arm for Egon to lean on. "Is Ecto-1 out front?"

"Yeah. Fortunately all the gas pumps are still functioning so we're good to go." Ray rubbed at the back of his neck anxiously. "We may have to pay almost a hundred dollars to four different stations, by the way."

"We'll worry about that later." Winston let Egon continue to lean against him as he and Ray walked down the hospital corridor toward the exit. "Did you stop by the firehouse?"

"Not yet. As soon as I saw the ghost I took off after it. I didn't have time to check in."

"Then that's our next stop." Winston opened the rear passenger door of Ecto-1, which was parked hastily in the front of the hospital. The engine was still running. After helping Egon to sit down he took his position in the driver's seat."

Ray joined his colleagues in the car, joining Winston in the front seat. "So I take it no one found Peter in the tunnels?"

"Yeah." Winston pulled away from the hospital parking lot and carefully wove his way through the stopped cars lining the streets. "But we're pretty sure he found his way out."

"I hope you guys are right." Ray lamented as he looked back over his shoulder to Egon in the backseat. "I'm just so glad you guys got out of there. I'm sorry, I should've gone back but-"

Egon gave Ray a firm but non aggressive reply midsentence. "It's okay Raymond." He only addressed Ray by his full name when he was conveying a more serious, unquestioning nature. "We know you would never abandon us. Seeking out the ghost was a logical decision."

"I just wish I knew where Peter was. If he's hurt and alone-"

Winston interrupted quickly and with a stern tone of voice. "No. Don't talk like that Ray. Don't let your mind go there."

Ecto-1 pulled up in front of the eerily silent, dark firehouse. As was the fate of the city was the fate of the firehouse. No life within.

"At least we don't have to worry about Peck or anyone else getting in our way." Ray mentioned as he fumbled with the door handle of the car.

"Yeah," Winston agreed as he exited the car and proceeded to help Egon climb out of the backseat. "too bad Peter isn't here to enjoy Peck being turned to stone."

Egon was exhausted and barely able to stand without assistance. "We should check on the containment unit and be sure that it was damaged by the powerful psychokinetic energy unleashed by the ghost."

While Winston helped Egon walk up to the large doors of the firehouse Ray clumsily opened the door and pushed it inward as wide as possible. Silence and darkness greeted the trio as they walked cautiously inside the old brick structure.

Ray spotted Janine's desk with a heavy heart. "Janine..."

The loyal, fiery receptionist had also been turned to stone. She was sitting behind her desk with the phone pressed to her ear. An expression of oblivious contentment frozen over her statuesque face.

"Don't worry Ray." Egon spoke up softly. "We'll help her."

A loud 'crash' echoed from the basement causing the three men to become as still as the surrounding statues themselves. Something unknown was lurking below their feet.

"Gentlemen, we're not alone." Egon realized ominously.

...to be continued...