A/N- This is the chapter that I had the most fun writing. It had to undergo about five revisions though.

14- The Stage is Set

Chris, Rob, Hope and Mona made their way over to St. Peters' shop, unaware of the guests that stowed away.

"Fantine, don't lick that!" Cassius said.

"Why? It feels so nice," the fan replied. One moment later. Fantine backed away, face scrunched up.

"Hasn't anyone told you not to lick candles?"

"I'm not used to being around them." She replied.

In the other car...

"I'm worried about Blanky," Toaster sighed. "This is the first time I've let him out of my sight in a while."

"He's fine, Slots," Lampy assured her. "Kirby's looking after him."

The two boxes were carried into the shop. The humans had to leave. Hope and Mona forgot the lighter. Chris and Rob forgot the garlic.

Fantine and Cassius pushed themselves out of the box and scurried into the back room.

The hanging lamp twitched.

"Good evening," Igor began. "I never thought I'd have visitors." He got a closer look at his visitors. "Fantine? Cassius? What brings you back here?"

Lampy, Toaster and Radio left their box.

"And you've brought friends." He smiled.

"Mr. St. Peters thinks you're a ghost." Cassius began.

"Really?" Igor replied. He gave a slight chuckle. "A ghost? Me? Anything other than admitting my sentience."

Fantine pulled a book out of the box. "And look! He wrote a novel about us."

Igor lowered himself to Fantine's level. She showed him the cover. "Oh, dear. Why couldn't Mr. St. Peters pursue his writing career above mutilating appliances? I would've been a happier lamp if he did." He paused. "Wait, why am I the centerpiece of this cover art? I'm flattered that someone managed to capture my... unique appearance." He took the book in one of his cords.

"They're going to conduct an exorcism," Toaster said. Her voice shook. "The place is up for sale and..."

"Hmm, this gives me an idea," Igor replied. "Fantine, may I borrow the book for a moment?" Igor asked. "I'd like to do a bit of... research."

Fantine nodded.

The six humans (the four college kids plus Rodrigo and Elmo) grabbed a candle. Hope lit each candle. "Okay, on the count of three, we're going in there."

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

The door was pushed open, revealing a mostly empty work room. Radio sat in the vise, plug in the outlet. Igor remained still, back turned. The light of the candles was the only light in the room. The other appliances hid elsewhere.

"Oh, company. I've been lonely for so long." Igor said.

Hope backed away. She never expected the ghost to start the conversation.

"Are you the ghost inhabiting the hanging lamp?"

"Yes, I am."

"Who are you?" Hope asked.

"I am one who was killed too soon. For crimes that I did not commit."

Toaster gave a ghostly wail to add to the mood.

Elmo staggered backwards.

Hope glanced at Mona, then continued her speech. "Why are you here?"

"This shop was built on my grave."

Elmo wondered why this ghost was quoting lines from his debut novel.

Rodrigo whispered. "I don't know why, but this ghost has an excellent Peter Lorre impersonation."

Fantine peeked around the corner. The dim light let her sneak around unnoticed.

"What do you want?" Hope asked.

"What do I want?" Igor replied. He chuckled. "I want the man who disturbed my rest out of my sight."

Elmo glanced at Rodrigo, before swallowing hard. "Um, I have the paperwork in my truck." He said, dashing out of the room. Rob flipped the light switch by accident.

He glanced at Radio. "Wait a second, has this radio been on the whole time?"

Hope wrinkled her nose. "If I was talking to a radio program, why did it answer my questions?"

"Maybe something experimental," Mona asked.

"Whatever it was, it wasn't a ghost," Hope said.

Rodrigo and Elmo left to get the paperwork settled. The four college kids extinguished the candles.

Lampy and Igor were left alone in the backroom. "Before I go, I want to tell you something."

"I'm listening."

"Thanks for helping me out when my bulb burnt out."

Igor just smiled. "Oh, don't thank me. I wanted to help someone out. I most definitely don't want anyone to suffer like I had."

"Suffer?"

"Oh, yes. I was once a handsome living room lamp until I was re-purposed as the thing you see now."

"So, you're like the others?" Lampy asked.

Igor nodded. He looked over at the others. "It's best you should leave. You don't want to be stuck here."

Lampy hopped away to join the others. The kids were packing up the supplies. Radio had already fit himself into the box. Lampy and Toaster hopped in beside him.