I do not own Ghostbuster, Mork and Mindy, the Clapper, or any of the other references I have made. Ever.
I only own Angela and Katherine Reed.
Sighing heavily, Kitty shifted in her seat for eighth time that day, finding the once comfy spot were all the springs where bent out of shape, creating a divot in the couch cushions. Besides thinking that they need a new couch, Kitty thought it broken in, homey, almost rustic. Angie thought it was a piece of junk that they never should have picked up from the PTA thrift shop and fought to get the damned green-corduroy monstrosity up the four-story walk up. Only later that day did they realize that the elevator worked, having passed it five different times in moving.
Finding that comfy spot in the couch again, Kitty rubbed her hand through her greasy, unwashed hair as she watched the 18" color TV. The laugh track roared in hilarity as Mork tried to sit on his head, Mindy looking on in disapproval, arms crossed over her brightly colored sweater. Tilting her head from left to right, Kitty earned two deep pops from the joints in the neck, realizing pressure that had been building up over the day. It can be stressful, sitting on your ass watching old TV shows. Mork said something quick and almost entirely incorrect, before shoving the words 'nanoo nanoo' at the end, the laugh track playing once more to make people think this was actually entertaining.
Just as Kitty got comfy, finding that divot in the couch from this morning, the melodic ringing of a bell echoed throughout the busted apartment, the wallpaper still peeling itself away from the sheetrock. Sighing in annoyance, Kitty threw her hand behind her, her fingers wrapping themselves around the phone as she answered. He normal 'cheery' attitude was in full force as she shouted "Yellow?!" Into the receiver, hoping to scare whomever was on the other side of the phone call.
"Purple." Angie's sarcastic tone was impossible not to recognize, her voice ringing from the ear piece. A grin spread across Kitty's face. Finally, after all day of watching reruns of sixty's sitcoms, someone she could talk to.
"Hey – shouldn't you be on your way to the firehouse?" Kitty asked, glancing at the analog clock above the dark hallway. 9:25 PM.
"I would, but Bilson has been riding my ass all day." Angie said, sighing from sheer exhaustion. "He freaked out about a merger project that went under and now he has us running over time – Oh! Oh, yes ma'am I'll be able to send your package today. Thank you for your patronage!"
"Did you just have a stroke?"
"No." Angie laughed quietly. "Bilson just walked passed. Anyway, I was calling to tell you that I'm gonna be late."
"Yeah it's already nine thirty."
"Nine thirty?! Shit." Angie cursed, sighing deeply against the receiver. "Then I'm gonna be home later that I thought I would."
"No sweat, I know how those days can be."
"Speaking of which – how was your day?" Angie asked, knowing that it would be the last time they would get to talk that night. Sighing, Kitty tried to think of what she had done all day. Ignored the dirty dishes in the sink, thought a new product from the guys that brought you Cheeze Wizz, didn't take a shower, watched sixties and seventies sitcoms, and most importantly, didn't go out looking for a job today. Her productivity had dropped since being possessed.
Those are words you just don't think about together like that.
"You know, the usual." Kitty said, shrugging her shoulders at her sister that couldn't see them. "Though, I wasn't completely bored – Louis started the party at three this afternoon. Every now and then I can hear a bit of a Michael Jackson song."
"Oh god," Angie sighed, stifling a laugh between her fingers. "How many times did he play Man in the Mirror?"
"Too many times, Ang. Too. Many." Kitty said, hearing Angie's tired voice on the other end laugh. At least she could find it amusing, Kitty didn't ever think that song was going to leave her mind, being played almost on loop as Louis patently waited for his guests to arrive.
There was a pause on the other line; a faint sound of ruffling on Angie's side was accompanied by the sound of female voices whispering. The ruffle went away and Kitty could hear the voices again. "Listen, Kit, I got to go. Don't wait up for me okay?"
A draft, that's what Kitty thought it was. A shiver passed through her body, causing her to reach for the quilt grandma Pat made for them that hung carelessly over the back of the couch. Using her free hand, she pulled the quilt over her body, draping it over her long legs. "Not a problem." Kitty said, her thoughts getting back on track with the phone conversation. "I wasn't planning on anyway!"
"Gee, thanks!" Angie whined, sarcasm dripping from every word. The two of them said their goodbyes; Angie's slightly more heartfelt than Kitty's sarcastic one, as Kitty through the phone receiver over the arm of the couch, almost slamming the phone back into its console.
Turning her head back to the TV, she watched as her sitcoms turned to commercials; the annoying jingle of the 'Clapper' echoing on the empty walls of the apartment. 'Clap on! Clap off!' The paid actors sang together, you could almost hear the sound of their pair smiles. The blue light illuminated from the TV, lighting up the small living room as Kitty forgot to turn on the lights today. She even forgot to shower and change clothes. Forgetfulness, or just plain ole' not caring, seemed to be a popular theme among what Kitty did.
The hairs on the back of Kitty's neck stood on end, lifting the small, light hair up off of the goose bump ridden surface. An electric charge or something to that effect, waved over her. The air itself had charged, like the feeling during a severe lightning storm. A strong feeling came over her, adding to the goose bumps and electric charge in the air, a certain dose of paranoia as she felt like she wasn't alone. She closed her eyes, fearing the feeling of being watched more than the other symptoms. This wasn't real.
Kitty panicked, not wanting to go through being possessed again. They promised, she told herself, thinking back to when Peter and ray had been here, spending the night and parts of early morning trying to get her back from were ever she was. They didn't say it would come back, if this was even the same thing! What if this was a new thing, what if there was some sort of portal in her apartment that made it easier for spirits and demons to leave their world and come into ours? Slowing herself, she took a deep and well needed breath. As she exhaled, she felt a pressure on her shoulder, five individual fingers pressing on to her skin, cold to touch. Kitty's brown eyes opened wide, hoping for something human, a Jehovah's Witness, a little Girl Scout, a old woman selling bibles, a burglar, a murderer, a rapist; something! Kitty shifted her body weight, moving her knees underneath her for leverage, the sensation cold fingertips still on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath of faux-courage, Kitty spun around, facing behind the couch.
No one was there, she noted, staring back at the doorway. Louis finally had some people show up to his party, Kitty could plainly hear the sound of people talking to each other, the hit song Hot Night by Laura Branigan blasting on the stereo as you could faintly hear the chipper voice of Louis, introducing people in excruciating detail to the fellow patrons. The sounds of the party muffed by the 'thickness' of the walls, the heavy bass shaking the personal effects of the Reed sisters.
Swallowing her fear, she took another deep breath - breathing somewhat of a luxury today – as she built up the courage to face whatever currently shared her apartment. "Is anyone there?" Kitty said, her voice cracking under the fear in her voice. The attempt to sound strong failed; whatever was in here with her knew she was scared. She silently begged for nothing to reply, fearing the outcome if it had. This had to be a dream, she told herself, nothing but a dream.
"It's not a dream, Katherine." A disembodied voice rang out from the darkness, cackling. The voice seemed to have different tones, maybe even different voices all speaking at the same time. "This is every much real." Kitty could no longer feel her heart, it was beating so fast. This couldn't be happening – this wasn't happening! The Ghostbusters fixed this, why is this happening again? Her heart sank, her body following suit as she fell back down into the old couch, her body finding its way into the divot in the springs. This was happening, she told herself solemnly. This is actually happening.
"Come on Kitty. Come join us." The voice said, this time a nasally voice took the lead, speaking for the other voices as they cackled in background. Kitty shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears as she tried to hold them back. Whatever was here wasn't going to see her break down; they weren't going to see her weak.
Before being able to react, Kitty's hands were suddenly bounced at her sides, an invisible tightness around her small, frail wrists. Her legs locked down to the ground, as if glued. Kitty fought against the forces holding her down, a tough feat while tears run down your face. "Don't cry, we aren't going to hurt -" The voice said, toying with Kitty's fragile state. "- You."
Praying, Kitty started to recite the Lord's Prayer as best as she could remember. Sunday school being a long time ago, and even though she wasn't especially religious, she couldn't help but remember the saying 'there are no atheists in foxholes' . "Our father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Kitty cried, trying her best to wiggle free from the grip of whatever invisible force was holding her. The deep, groveling voice cackled once more. "That little nursery rhyme isn't going to work with me, sweetheart"
Work had to have run late, didn't it? Angie asked herself as she huffed down the street, her high-heel clicking on the concrete on the way to the Firehouse. Muttering to herself, she shuffled her bound feet down the street, holding her black jacket close as the zipper broke earlier this morning as she was getting ready. Out of all the days for things to go wrong, today was going to be that day.
First thing was showing up to work late; Angie's boss stared coldly at her as she emerged from the elevators, quickly taking a seat at her cubicle and not moving the entire day. Her boss, Bilson, had been in a rotten mood since earlier in the morning with a large merger project fell through. The company was on the verge of losing billions if someone hadn't come up with a good idea. "No one is leaving until we get this settled!" Bilson shouted over the office, and had repeated himself several times during lunch.
Even Jenna, usually upbeat and lively, had buckled down, hiding in her small four by four office space during Blison's rant. Angie took the hint, leaning over her chunky computer and typing on the large keyboard. Occasionally, Bilson would walk around the office, making sure everyone was doing some sort of work, even if he hadn't.
File this, print that, fax this over to this person; Angie took his orders with a grain of salt and sweet smile. She ran back and forth from his office, helping him out in away way she could. The faster 'projects' start disappearing, she thought, the faster I can get the hell outta here!
Eight o'clock hit before he actually let anyone leave, the building was all but abandoned in minutes, leaving only Angie, who was finishing up a quick report, and Bilson. He held his head in his hands, the reflection of the incandescent light bouncing off of his balding head. Knocking softly, Angie pushed the door open and slid the top half of her frame through. "Mr. Bilson?" Angie called out, pushing the filed report through the crack of the door. "I'm done with today's report."
"Thank you." He said lifting his head, exposing his now red and puffy eyes. Pushing the office chair back, he groaned with each step he took towards Angie as he plucked the report from her hands. "I apologize about today." He said, huffing slightly at his words.
"About what, sir?"
"About how I acted today. Today was just…" Blison paused, snapping his fingers to come up with the right word. "Today was just the day from hell."
Angie suppressed a laugh. "I know that feeling." She mumbled. Beaming an obviously fake smile at the man that made her day hell, she asked sweetly, "Is there anything else I can do you for, Mr. Bilson?"
Shaking his head, he waved her off, excusing her from his office.
She never ran out of building so fast.
Slowly making her twenty block journey through Manhattan, Angie huffed once more, holding her own arms to keep herself warm. A taxi would be great right now, she thought as her teeth started to chatter, a warm-ish cab of a taxi on a November night, the smell of curry as the drive spoke in a language she had only heard in Star Wars. Perfect.
Before long, passed the block or four of cursing at the New York taxi system, she had finally made her way to the neighborhood Egon claimed to be a 'de-militarized zone'. It wasn't as bad as he made it seem; though Angie could have sworn that person across the street just bought a human liver from a man branching a trench coat.
Finally coming across the old firehouse, Angie ran to the front door and rapped her fingers on the painted green door. She hopped lightly on the balls of her feet as she noticed the bright neon sign with a ghost peeking out from behind a restriction symbol. Hmm? Must be new, Angie thought as she released a deep breath. Kitty was always one for perception.
Quickly, the door opened as a small red-headed woman popped her head out from behind. "Hello, can I help you?" She said, her thick Queens dripping on every word.
"Umm – yes! Is Ray Stantz here?" Angie asked.
The woman shook her head, "No, he's out on a call – wait, you're Angie, are you?" She said, opening the door a little wider. Angie smiled as she bounced her head up and down; Ray had been talking about her, at least enough for the receptionist to remember. A slick smirk crawled across her lips, "I thought he was gonna miss you."
"I had a hell of a day at work."
"Join the club." She resorted before opening the door all the way. A warm breeze came in from the firehouse as she held the door open. "Won't you come in?"
Smiling warmly, Angie stepped through the door, like she had only weeks ago. It's amazing to think how much things had changed in that small time frame. Before, the Ghostbusters were nobodies, just looking for a single client – now they're off on calls all the time, by the looks of it. The firehouse had been fixed up, fresh paint on all the walls, new light fixtures and posts; the firehouse even looked larger, thought it might have something to do with an abstinent Ecto-1.
Clambering down the wooden steps, a nasally voice echoed off the walls, "Janine, who is it?". Pausing halfway down the stairs, Dr. Spengler eyed the new woman in the firehouse, looking her up and down. One of Peter conquests?
"This is Angie." Janine filled him in, rushing to the staircase. "The girl Dr. Stantz was telling us about." Nodding, he made his way down to the bottom step, still towering over Angie, as he offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"It's good to see you again, Dr. Spengler." Angie corrected as she shook his hand. Raising an eyebrow above his thick round glasses, he silently questioned her. "My sister and I were one of your first clients. You guys helped us with our little…" Angie paused, searching of the right word. Haunting? Ghost? Demon?
Dr. Spengler nodded slowly; the memories of that day rushing back to him. "I remember; your sister was the one we tested the Proton Collider on." Angie smiled and nodded, thought silently questioning what the hell a Proton Collider was. Janine coughed loudly, bringing herself back into the conversation. Egon looked over at Janine before pulling his hand away from Angie's. Suddenly, he was aware that after you top shaking hands with someone, you're just holding their hand and that can be seen as awkward.
Angie's brows furrowed, before watching Janine's expression change from when Egon was holding her hand to when he stopped, a sudden joy rushed over her soft features. "So, um…" Egon said, breaking the silence. "How has your sister been since? Any change of behavior? Signs of psychokinetic activity?"
Angie shook her head, recalling earlier this morning Kitty had regained her appetite, even asking for seconds on a set of pancakes. "Nope, not at all. It's like everything went back to normal!"
Kitty screamed as an invisible hand muffled her shrieks for help. She tried to wiggle out of the grips of the force, crying loudly – though her sobs were block out by the sound of popular music of Louis' stereo across the hall.
Angie's train of thought was interrupted by a rhythmic knocking, echoing throughout the firehouse. Egon's eyebrow shot up as his neck craned to the door, silently questioning who it could be at this hour?
"I'll get it." Janine sighed, bouncing down the stairs and towards the large door to firehouse. Her delicate fingers wrapped around the door handle as she yanked the door back, exposing a New York City police officer; a typical, smug NYPD look across his rough features. Janine eyed him up and down, "Picking up or dropping off?" She uttered, matching his scowl.
"Dropping off." He said quickly. Mentally drained from answering calls from every 'psychic' in the five boroughs, this police business isn't what she needed this late at night. "One moment." She sighed, closing the door in the officer's face, leaving him in the cold November air.
"Egon," Janine called out from the door, "There is a cop here - I think you might want to take a look at this." In that moment, she had Egon's full attention. He started to jog towards the door, picking up the pace as he got closer to the large garage door. There is no reason for a cop to be here this late at night, he theorized, unless Ray and Winston got in some trouble at the Hudson.
Angie weighed her options carefully, but curiosity got the best of her. She decided to follow Egon, keeping a few paces back so she wouldn't look like a little lost puppy.
Egon lightly grunted as he pulled the door open, once again showing police office behind the door. Egon's brows furrowed as he too eyed the cop before him. "You a ghost buster?"
"Yes." Egon said. With a simple jerk of the head, the officer started towards the quiet large van pulled in front of the firehouse.
"We picked up this guy and now we don't know what to do with him." The police officer explained, leading Egon and the lost-puppy Angie towards the back of this large van. "Bellevue doesn't want him and I'm afraid to put him in the lock up. I'm telling you, there is something weird about him. And I know you guys are into this stuff so we figured we'd check with you."
In one swift motion, the back of the door swung open, almost hitting Egon. Dazed and confused, Louis Tully sat in the back; his arms were restrained, held in place by a special strait jacket. His normally gel-ed hair now wild and unruly, as if he had lost a fight with a blow dryer, a certain look of frantic determination fluttered in his eyes as he leaned towards Egon, stopping before reaching him by the leather restrains and ankle cuffs.
"Are you the gatekeeper?" Louis asked, a hint of exhaustion on his breath as Egon waved a small PKE meter over the restrained man. The PKE meter went off the chart, bellowing out its signature high-pitched whine.
Curiosity once again getting the better of her, Angie peered around the side of the van. Her eyes grew three sized bigger as she covered her mouth, out of everyone in New York, she wasn't expecting to her neighbor. "Louis?"
Egon's attention snapped to Angie, "Do you know him?"
"He's my neighbor." She breathed, watching as Louis' head bounced back and forth between Egon and Angie.
"You'd better bring him inside." Egon suggested, making his way back to the firehouse as the arresting officer unlocked Louis' shackles.
Janine walked beside Egon, wrapping her arm around his. "You are so kind to that man." She said, peering back for a moment to watch Louis stumble out of the van. "You are such a humanitarian."
"I don't think his human." Egon stated, oblivious to the advances of the short, red-headed woman beside him as Angie walked beside Louis and the police officer as they strolled into the firehouse.
Egon hooked Louis to different machines, each one looking like they jumped out of a Frankenstein movie. He had been poked a prodded by every test and machine Egon had at his disposal. Running through the different theories in his head, Egon thought up all the things that this could be, besides the obvious mental breakdown. Egon fitted the final machine to Louis' body, strapping something that looked like a colander, wired with hundreds of electrodes to a large, filing cabinet sized machine in the corner. Janine and Angie stood back, using the couch as a makeshift barricade as Louis' wild eye expression eyed the lab.
"What did you say your name was?" Egon asked, repeating himself as he watched to computer screen. His PKE measures were off the charts, it seemed something every strange had happened. "Vinz Clothro – Keymaster to Gozer." Louis said, shouting his title with pride. Janine held his wallet between her painted fingernails, staring at the gawkish, toothy grin on his driver's license. "According to this his name is Louis Tully, lives on Central Park West."
His brows furrowed behind his round glasses as Janine handed him the leather wallet. Janine leaned towards Louis, ignoring the fact that he was grabbing for Egon's arm in an attempt to look at the wallet. "Do you want some coffee, Mr. Tully?" She shouted, like one would shout to an ailing elder.
Looking to Egon for guidance, Louis asked "Do I?"
"Yes, have some."
"Yes, have some." Louis parroted, nodding his head in confirmation. Janine and Angie shared a strange look, before she left to turn on the Bunsen Burner. Angie watched from behind the couch, silencing her snickers from behind her hand in front of her mouth.
"Vinz," Egon started, addressing the young Mister Tully. "You said before you were waiting for a sign, what sign are you waiting for?"
Louis swallowed, his eyes growing to an abnormal size as a child on Christmas. "Gozer the Traveller will come in one of the pre-chosen forms." Louis stated, drawing a deep breath as continued. "During the rectification of the Vuldronaii, the Traveller came as a very large and moving Torb. Then of course in the third reconciliation of the last of Meketrex supplicants they chose a new form for him, that of a Sloar." Louis swallowed again, getting too excited for his own good. Egon started to rub against the stubble growing on his cheek as he tried to make sense of Louis/Vinz' mad ramblings. "Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you."
The three of them stood in shock, mostly trying to comprehend what he just said. Angie was left scratching her head of all of this, what the hell is a Sloar? "Egon?" Janine called out, drawing him over with a finger curl. Egon nervously shifted his weight across the room, standing before Janine behind the couch. "I have a very bad feeling about this." Janine said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
Angie, silently excusing herself from the moment, slowly made her way over to the couch. The couch squeaked as it adjusted to the extra weight as Louis cranked his head towards her. Giving a shadow of a smile, Angie raised her hands above her head in surrender. The last thing she needed was to piss of some Babylonian spirit in habiting her neighbor's body.
That's something she never thought she'd be concerned about.
"There is something strange about that man." Janine said, pointing with her chin to Louis, who at the moment was sniffing a jar of popcorn. "I'm usually very psychic and right now I have this terrible feeling something awful is gonna happen to you." Janine expressed, staring up at Egon with pleading in her eyes. "I'm afraid you're gonna die." Janine, always the headstrong one, leaned her body into Egon's, wrapping her arms around his waist. Awkwardly, he returned the gesture, holding her before looking over at the crazed man; now handing the jar of popcorn to Angie, who accepted it kindly, flashing a bright smile. The spirit paid no mind to her kindness and went off in search of other objects to give. Egon's thoughts were elsewhere from the short red head holding him; he needed to find out what the hell was going on. He needed to find Ray.
The three humans in the room jumped at the phone ringing out. Even Louis/Vinz jumped, turning around to face whatever made that hideous sound. "I'll get it!" Egon shouted, pulling out of Janine's embrace and over to the phone.
"Hello?" Egon answered. Vinz, trying to helpful, picked up the rest of the phone and handed it to Egon. "Thanks, I've got it."
"Egon, it's Peter. I have news from the world of Gozer." Peter started
"What is it, Peter?"
"I'm here with Dana Barrett. It's seemed that the Goz' has been putting the moves on MY would-be girlfriend!"
"How is she?" Egon asked, watching as Louis/Vinz rubbed a slice of day old pizza on his face.
"I think we can get her a guest shot on Wild Kingdom. I just whacked her up with about three hundred CC's of thorozine - She's going to take a little nap now." Peter paused, considering his next words carefully. "She says she's the GateKeeper, does that make any sense to you?"
"Some." Egon replied, looking over to Louis/Vinz. "I've just met the KeyMaster. He's here with me now."
"Oh, wonderful, we have to get these two together."
Egon looked over to Louis as he began gulping down the boiling water from the Bunsen Burner. Egon shot a look of concern to Angie as she stifled a laugh behind her hand.
"I think that would be extraordinarily dangerous."
"Okay, well, hold on to him. I'll be over there in a little while."
"Good." Egon remarked, watching as Louis handed him a frying pan from the kitchen. "Thank you, Vinz." Egon accepted it, plastering on a fake smile before leaning behind him to Janine, who covered her agape mouth. "We have to find Ray. I need him here immediately."
Angie nodded, trying to stop herself from laughing at her possessed neighbor as he kept giving objects to people, handing Egon the lamp that was on the end table beside the couch. You know, in case he needed a lamp. But Egon was right, Angie mused, rubbing the back of her head-
They needed to find Ray.
A fresh update for you all.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you all like it so far.
My sister told me over the weekend that she had found my FF account.
She said she didn't read any of them, but knew that I had two FanFics and they were both Ghostbusters, which didn't surprise her at all.
Kitty is actually kind of based off her, so I hope she doesn't read it for my sake. (I don't think she'd like being possessed for most of the story.)
But if you are reading this: Hi Myka!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
~Pure.