I sadly do not own ghostbusters

"You know there is witchcraft in your blood"

The words had been swirling around in Egons dreams. An argument constantly had with his mother and continued by Ray. He was a man of science as far as he was concerned what was considered witchcraft by one generation was merely science they didn't understand at the time. There was always a logical answer, and yet since his mother's passing a month ago he couldn't seem to shake those words. What was generally taken as a playful jest at his oftentimes serious demeanor was now almost sounding like a warning. Was it really? Or was it stress and grief changing his perception.

He had been putting off going to her house to clean things out, not for lack of help but because he just wasn't ready for that. Emotionally speaking he always had adifficult time with stressful situations. Ray and Pete had be extremely helpful when planning final arrangements but he wasn't sure how they would handle this. Part of him just wanted to hire a company to take it all away and be done but deep down he knew he couldn't do that even if he did not intend to keep it he couldn't just send it away without seeing what was there. His mom was bestowed with many family heirlooms and antiques after the passing of several other family members including his uncle cyrus who had only been gone a year prior to her passing. It seemed like his family had managed to average one death in the family per year with exception of some distant cousins he had no remaining immediate family. A fact he nearly dreaded to think of. Even for him the subject of one's own mortality could be pretty intimidating especially since his job gave him a glimpse into the possibilities there after.

Busting jobs had been pretty quiet recently however business at the bookstore was at an all time high. Seems the occult and the supernatural were the current fad with the younger crown and Ray's Occult was one of the few stores that wouldn't kick them out, a business decision that worked out in their favor as many other the "loitering kids" eventually saved up the money to buy the books they were spending their time there reading. Ray had even allowed for the now empty overflow room to become a meeting space for group meetings. This was something Egon felt was playing with fire as it seemed to blur the line between a healthy fascination and the beginnings of a fanatic cult, however it was not his call he just helped with the shop when things were slow at the firehouse. For the past few week now there were three young women who were at different time always in the shop always while he was working and they always found a reason to come talk to him. It started out as small talk "how's the weather, do you have this book, ect." but this week the questions became more probing and personal. Things people who aren't at least on familiar terms should be asking about. He had addressed the issue to ray who laughed it off with 3 star struck women who happened to be fond of him but, after the current line of questions he couldn't help but think it wasn't exactly some idle fascination. He figured it might be best to just ignore them until they got the message and left him alone. He wasn't trying to be an ass and while all three were very pretty he just wasn't interested and didn't really see anything good coming from giving complete strangers personal information.

The silent routine went on for about 2 weeks before the three stopped coming to the store all together. Ray wasn't particularly happy that egon had scared of not one but 3 potential customers but he also understood that it wasn't all his fault. He had finally managed to talk Him into going to his mothers for the weekend to at least start going through the items she left behind. It wasn't an easy feat either as he went so far as to say its too busy to leave the store, thankfully there was a simple solution. Ray owns it ray decides when its open so he posted they would be closed for a few days leaving Egon with absolutely no way out. No on likes cleaning out a loved ones house it can be a bitter and painful experience but it will only get harder if he didnt deal with it. Besides who knows what they would find. His family had a really rich and exciting history whether Egon believed it or not his mother often spoke of family members that were associated with witchcraft and even witch hunting which Ray often teased was not that much different from Egons ghostbusting work, so maybe she was onto something. He had to admit he was gonna miss her as well. Mrs Spengler was a wonderful and caring woman who was quickly trying to feed and care for anyone she felt needed it. Several summers while in college Ray would stay with Egon rather than go home. For him the place was practically home. He quickly finished tossing a few things in his back and headed for the car where Egon was waiting looking like he was headed to the gallows rather than his mother's house. He smiled and placed a hand on Egons shoulder "Cheer up Egon you have a whole weekend away from Peter." a voice carried from the office nearby " Hey! I heard that. Maybe you won't find that as funny if i change all the locks while you are gone." Egon managed a small smirk. Even he couldn't help but smile when someone messed with Peter. Perhaps Ray was right maybe he did need to get this over with and neither of them were getting any younger so why wait. It was a 4 hr drive from new york city but ray swore he could make it 3 with a short generally meant add at least an hour and a half because Rays shortcuts never ended up being shortcuts. Sure enough the 4 hour trip took 6 but they managed to find their way there eventually with Ray cursing his map most of the trip. They stopped at a diner and were able to get directions from a waitress who mentioned that the new highway that came through cause some of the roads to change and offered Ray a new map complete with her phone number on the back. Flattered and a little bit flustered with the gesture Ray thanked her paid the check and they left. From the diner it was only an hour or so away from the house and after being in a car most of the day

Egon could honestly say he was happy to see it knowing there was a comfy bed waiting for him at the end of the day. As they exited the car something in the air made the hairs of the back of his neck stand up. He couldn't quite tell what it was but he felt like something wasn't right, like they were not welcome here. He had never experienced that before. He was aware that theneighbors had never been too friendly with them and that everyone mostly kept to themselves. As he grabbed his bag from the trunk he was startled by a sharp gasp let out by Ray who wasalready up the drive to the poarch and had frozen at the top step. "E...Egon… you um…. Might wanna take a look at this…" He hurried with his bag up the drive to meet Ray.

There on the front door someone had painted in red the Word traitor followed with a black pentagram it looked recent too. If this was someone's idea of a joke it wasn't funny. It was about dusk but there were neighbors out and about sitting on their porches and taking walks. The paint still glistening, told Egon someone had to have seen someone at his house He wanted answers now. Without a word he turned and walked down the drive to the neighboring house where he had just seen someone walk in the door.

As he approached the door he saw the inhabitant peek out the window draw the curtains and turn off the lights. He knocked anyway but there was no answer only silence. He continued to pound on the door. Finally a young woman brandishing a baseball bat opened the door. "Don't you know when you aren't welcome?" she spat at him. he wasn't in the mood for this. Someone had to know who painted on the door. He was stressed and tired and frankly not in a pleasant mood this was just the icing on the shitty cake. He snatched the bat from her hands "maybe i'm just a little stubborn right now, i saw you sitting on your porch, so who did you see on mine because my door is painted and it's still very wet so i find it pretty hard to believe you didn't see anyone around." ray had raced over when he heard the commotion not sure if he should step in or not. Without so much as a sound there was suddenly a large figure on the porch holding Egon up byhis throat. A low rumbling voice spoke "you would do well to leave now." as if he was a rag doll,the figure tossed Egon over the hedges and onto the sidewalk. Ray stood terrified when the figure turned towards him "You….. Keep your friend in check. Finish your business and leave" Ray didn't have to be told twice he quickly ran to collect Egon who was still trying to pick himself up off the ground. Ray could see his hip took most of the impact and was bleeding through his pants his shirt was also torn at the elbow and the wrist… ew that didn't look good. While nothing was broken through the skin it was definitely not right. Egon was now up and had wheeled around to see the other houses on his street had all gone mostly dark and no one was outside now. There was an eerie almost haunting feeling in the helped Egon to the house before they made any more trouble.

Egon was shaking although Ray couldn't figure if it was fear or anger at this point. He didn't get a good look at the person who tossed him off the property but the looked huge almost inhuman from his perspective and while Egon wasn't the strongest guy around he also wasn't exactly easy to toss around. He was searching around thekitchen for the first aid kit he knew had been there. Egon sheepishly shuffled in and sat at the kitchen table. It was only now in a better light that ray could see just how scared Egon his left side from his hip down his pants were torn revealing a scrape from most likely the pavement it didn't look too serious but it did look painful. He found the kit and turned to look at the full damage. He saw there on egons throat a thick black imprint of a hand. It almost looked burned into his skin. He noticed Now that he was gasping for his breath tears streaming as he almost looked like he was pleading with an imaginary being who was showing him no mercy. He had begun to lose all color. Ray ran over dropping the first aid box on the floor. It was almost as if the clattering sound had scared he invisible attacker away. The mark on his throat had now turned a purple bruised color as the grip on his throat disappeared. Egon put his head in his hands letting out a small frightened whimper. It seemed like everything and anything Egon had been holding back emotionally let loose right there.

He turned to Ray his face gaunt and distressed. "We have, I have, made a horrible mistake coming here. We need to do what we can and leave. I can't explain it but its like some force wants me gone one way or another" Egon was shaking horribly and nearly rocking on the chair. Ray had seem him upset but never like this. Whatever was happening here he felt the woman next door had something to do with it. Maybe they should have brought some gear. Perhaps she had actually managed to train a ghost as her personal bodyguard. "What or who tossed you off the neighbors porch? Tell me about it maybe we can call Winston and Pete and…" Egon had begun to shake his head. "No this isn't something they need to deal with. We need to finish here and go forget what you saw on theporch it was not meant for you to see."

Its been a while since i nave done anything fanfiction let alone ghostbusters fics. Hope you enjoy theres pleanty more to come