A/N: I am absolutely adoring where this story is headed, and I've loved researching the location (Camden, NJ, U.S.) for it. I don't really know why I chose Camden, I just came across it online and did a little research and I fell in love and I hope you guys will too. It's not a very pretty or safe place, but it's got a lot of character and a ton of potential for great storylines!

**Oh and disclaimer: I still don't own these characters or the books they originate from.


Riley

Chapter 7: Ghost Town


Bodhi's deep, warming chuckle echoed through the barren city streets. Sometimes I wished people could hear us, just to feel like we were actually apart of their world, but on these streets I was more than relieved that we went unnoticed.

"So you're expecting something out of like Hocus Pocus in there?" He asked disbelievingly, amusement lighting up his features.

"Well I don't know!" I laughed back. It felt good to laugh; I was getting tired of being scared every time a shadowed figure moved along the streets. I know they can't hurt me, but it's still scary as all hell here. And nightfall made it horrifically worse.

"I mean how can two people live in a singular creep-central house yet not know the other is within the same freaking walls? What other excuse could there be other than they're both off doing some stupid rituals huddled over a cauldron in a feeble attempt to call each other back from the dead, ignorant to the fact they remain within twenty feet of the other? Now that would be funny. You know, like in the dark, I totally feel bad for you, but you guys are idiots, kind of way."

"Well I guess we'll find that out soon enough," He shook his head and rolled his eyes playfully, still smiling.

Geez, this was taking forever.

"That is if anything ever happens around here!" I called out into the darkness, my only reply coming from beside me as my partner shushed me. I threw my hands up in the air, frustrated beyond belief. Who knew how long we'd been sitting on this stupid, deteriorating rooftop?

"They must be two pretty stubborn people to be able to avoid each other like that, yet still be so clueless." I mused while staring at the abandoned building before me.

I turned back to look at Bodhi. He quirked an eyebrow and a charmingly smug half smile gradually spread along his lips. He stared at me.

"What?" I narrowed my eyes, suspicious of his sudden change in air. It was, for lack of a better word, unarming, to see such a cocky, playful, and mischievous glimmer in his eyes, opposed to his usual uptight and business-like manner. His smile only grew.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about stubborn or bratty behaviour, now would you?" He looked pleased with himself. Typical.

"I never said bratty, thank you. But ha-ha, prize observation mister know-it-all guide," I spat back at him. His chuckle turned into a full-out laugh, which only fueled my annoyance. So not cool.

"Oh just relax, Riley. I'm only messing with you. It's nice, you know, being able to… I don't know, just be normal."

I couldn't have set it better myself. But no way was I going to let him see that.

"Normal coming from the two ghost kids on a midnight stakeout waiting for some gathering of lost souls to appear out of thin air," I retorted half-heartedly. "And don't get too used to it, we a have a job to do, remember?"

He exhaled. Then once again, just like our previous fight back in the Here and Now, he gives me a tired look and momentarily gives up. Just like that. What was with him lately? Was he really that determined to do this whole friendship and cease-fire thing? I opened my mouth to try and get some kind of reaction out of him, but the words slammed to a halt in my throat when a trail of light zoomed past me, nearly knocking me off balance, despite already being sitting down.

"What in the heck was-" I start.

"Shush," Bodhi whispers demandingly. "Riley, look…" He mumbled, trailing off. He sounded mesmerized. I don't blame him. There had to be hundreds… From all around us, shimmering trails of light zoomed past, all heading straight into the house we sought to enter. They all varied in shades of colour. But it wasn't just light – it's energy.

"Bodhi, they're auras," I whisper excitedly. Finally something was happening! "It's their energy, they're flying. Is this what we look like to other souls when we fly too?" I wondered aloud. Where the heck were all these ghosts coming from?

"These people must all be trapped here too," Bodhi answers my thoughts. "But it's like they come out for some kind of gathering at night."

Music began vibrating from the walls of the place. My head darted from side to side, scanning the area and waiting for someone to notice. Nothing. Was it just this particular side of town that was abandoned?

Seeming to follow the exact same train of thought I had been, Bodhi pointed to someone down on the sidewalk. "Look, that person right there. He's looking right at the house, he hears it. But how can they create something that people can hear?" He asked. His confusion matched my own. Suddenly, something dawned on me.

"Bodhi," I turned to him. "The people we've been seeing on the streets tonight, how do we know they were alive? Maybe they just didn't care that we were up here. Maybe they're all…" I trailed off.

His lips parted ever so slightly, allowing a subtle gasp to escape. "It's a true ghost town," He muttered, awestruck. His eyes lit up once again, illuminating his marvelous smile. Just as quickly as it appeared, it dropped right off his face. "But how do we know? The people we saw during the day were surely alive, I could tell. But how do we tell these ones aren't?"

"They have auras!" I announced excitedly. "I don't know about you, but I can't see the living's energy. They aren't justenergy, Bodhi – but we are."

The man on the street peeled his eyes off the house and looked around, his gaze eventually scanning upwards landing on us. He was wearing what almost looked like a suit, but very less like a businessman and more like the pictures I used to look at of my great-great grandfather. In fact, he looked about the same age as him too; I almost thought it was him for a second. Neat. I took a leap of faith.

"Hello, sir!" I called out to him. Bodhi whipped around to face me, his eyes darting between me and the man below in sheer panic.

He simply stared at me for a moment. Eventually a rather confused yet friendly smile warmed his face as he called back to me. "Hello up there, little lady," His accent made me giggle, and Bodhi elbowed me in the ribs. I shot a look at him. What? I couldn't help it, he sounded like an old-timey radio host that you'd hear in black and white films.

"Oh, just follow me" I nodded my head toward the man and motioned for Bodhi to come with. He just stared in disbelief. "Bodhi, please. Trust me just this once." He sighed and floated down first, leading the way. When we landed, he stood slightly ahead of me, blocking me from the gentleman's view. The man clad in the retro gear spoke first.

"Interesting rags you folks got on," He noted. His hair was combed back and greying and a fat cigar hung from his mouth. It reminded me of Bodhi's green straw habit. I went to speak but Bodhi cut me off. Ugh, that grated my nerves. Why did he always have to be in control of everything?

"Yes, well we're just passing through," he explained, obviously not trusting the man fully. "What is this place? Where are all the living people?"

The man chuckled slightly, his tone amused. "Well Sonny, look around. Doubt anyone would be willing to live on this particular street anymore, especially at night time. Sometimes it still gives me the creeps."

"How many souls live around here? Any why do they all seem to gather in that house?" I asked, stepping around Bodhi. He gave me a pleading, hurt look and grasped my arm in his hand. The contact shocked me with electricity and I bit my lip to keep in a confused gasp that threatened to escape. He just kept looking at me. Wait, was he protecting me?

Old Guy raised an eyebrow. "Gee, ya sure are the curious couple, aren't ya? I'll letcha in on it, anyway. Ya see, many of us around here chose to stay after we passed on. Personally, it just broke my heart to see what has become of this place and I want to be here when it makes a comeback." He explained proudly. Poor, delusional old man.

"As for the matter of this here house," He continued, "Seems there's a fella here who knows how to throw quite the party. Does so every single night since I can remember. I always take a stroll down here around this hour, makin' sure the youngsters don't get into the kind of shenanigans I got away with as a young man," he laughed.

I found myself smiling in return. I knew I couldn't save him, it wasn't my job, but it still stung. He seemed so sweet. My job remained inside the currently vibrating walls across the street.

"Wow, this place is fascinating. Thank you, sir," Bodhi replied for me. Old Guy extended his hand and Bodhi grasped it, shaking the man's hand sternly, in a very business-like manner. They were very similar, I noticed, in their stature and poise. Maybe Bodhi's just an old soul, which would probably explain why he insists upon being such an uptight guy all the time.

The man looked at me and tipped his hat, shooting me a wink only I could see. A blush radiated across my face.

"And doll," He said quietly, blocking his face from Bodhi with his hat, as if to speak to me privately, "Get some new rags for you and your guy here, alright? Can't have ya stickin' out like a sore thumb on these streets." He said in a mock hushed tone.

"Will do," I replied, also dramatically hushing my voice. I could hear Bodhi's foot tapping impatiently. "And he's not my guy, by the way."

The tapping faltered for a beat, then continued.

The man straightened out and placed his hat on his head, glancing between the two of us, his gaze landing on Bodhi's hand, still clutching onto my arm with a firm grip that never once loosened.

"Hm. Ya could've fooled me," Old guy muttered playfully, once again sending a wink my way, but this time I was totally embarrassed. He nodded towards Bodhi and my partner nodded back sternly in reply. He walked off into the abandoned, empty darkness.

I glanced down at my arm to where Old Guy had been looking and cleared my throat.

"Care to release me?" I asked with a snarky tone.

"Only if you quit dragging me to these unnecessary, stressful situations," He replied shortly, finally letting go of my arm. The tingling feeling leaving along with it.

"We needed information Bodhi. I had to give it a shot," I explained softly. "I just asked you to trust me, just for once."

He looked down at me, his expression foreign to me, almost like he was looking at something fragile on the verge of shattering. "I do," He replied, his voice taking on a tone even gentler than mine. He blinked repeatedly and cleared his throat, looking off toward our destination across the street.

"Shall we?"