Sorry for the wait, guys! As I expected, this workweek was crazy busy! I survived though, thank goodness and I was finally able to think up some more ideas for this story. I'm really excited to share more of it with you, and I'm thankful for those who have been keeping up with me so far. Hope you enjoy this chapter, and don't forget to review! :D
"Keira? Keira…"
A voice drifted down to where Keira lay sprawled on the ground. Her mind was full of static and she cringed as other voices broke through to her.
"Miss Jackson. Slow movements only." A voice that sounded like Egon's directed her.
"Keira! Oh my God…are you alright?" Matt's voice sounded right next to her ear. She cringed and felt herself pull away from him.
"Geez, are you trying to make her deaf?" Venkman snapped.
"Sorry…" Matt whispered, sounding farther away. Keira shifted slightly, afraid to open her eyes for fear that the dizziness would strike her back again.
"It's okay, Keira. Whatever it is, it's gone for now." Ray's voice sounded softly on the other side of her. She moaned and then slowly opened her eyes, blinking at the warm lamplight around her.
"S-sorry…to sound cliché…but what happened? And where am I?" Keira groaned.
She sat up a little too quickly and fell back against her elbows. Ray had a hand on her shoulder and he eased her back against something soft. She chanced a quick look behind her and could see that she was leaning against a small armchair down in the lower level in the library.
"You fainted." Egon said bluntly. Keira blinked up at him confusedly.
"I've never fainted before." She said, before thinking about the previous night's strange ordeal. Egon shrugged.
"Boy, this week is just full of firsts for you, isn't it?" Peter said lightly. Keira winced.
"We got PKE readings nearly identical to that of the missing ghost as we headed for the stairs, and then just as suddenly as it appeared it was gone." Egon said, looking at the meter in his hand.
"Then this guy-" Peter nodded towards Matt. "…started heroically yelling for help and luckily we were still close by."
Matt flashed the man a sheepish glance and then cast his worried gaze back at Keira.
"But how did my fainting spell have anything to do with whatever readings you got on your meter?" Keira asked confusedly, still trying to regain the clarity in her head.
"We think you were attacked by the ghost…again." Winston interrupted before either Egon or Ray could reply.
"But…I didn't see anything." Keira said.
"Neither did I." Matt confirmed.
"Well, it's just a theory." Ray said. He glanced at Egon who was still flipping through the meter thoughtfully. "We might want you to come back to the firehouse with us for a few tests if you feel up to it later today."
Keira blinked in confusion and flashed a worried look at Matt. She struggled to sit up slightly so that she could see everyone.
"Tests? What kind of tests?" She asked fearfully. Ray smiled knowingly at Egon.
"Just a few cautionary procedures. Nothing serious." He said reassuringly. Keira wasn't so sure. She glanced up at Matt who was still watching the Ghostbusters in awe.
"I…don't know." Keira said. "What do you think is wrong with me that I need to be tested?"
"Well, mentally speaking, a reader of your nature could be labelled as highly imaginative and you could possibly be just letting that run away with you." Egon suggested. Keira tried to make out if that was a compliment or not.
"But on the other hand, fainting spells don't just happen from something as small as a person's imagination." Ray said seriously. Egon nodded.
No.
Keira looked up to see where the voice had come from but it didn't belong to any of the men surrounding her. She looked at her hands, noticing that they were trembling.
"No…I guess they don't." She said slowly in reply to Ray's comment.
She could feel the atmosphere in the room growing colder and she struggled to stay conscious. She couldn't faint again in front of them, they'd insist she come back with them for tests when she really didn't want to.
"…Keira?"
She glanced up as Matt said her name. She forced back the lump in her throat and tried to shake the dizzy feeling away.
"What?" She asked quietly. Matt looked up at Ray and the other Ghostbusters worriedly.
"I said, maybe you should tell them about last night."
Lie.
Keira leaned forward, closing her eyes briefly as a wave of nausea came with the sound of the voice.
"I was supposed to meet Matt for dinner last night…but…" She started. She paused as a shrill ringing began to sound in her ears. "…I was a little late getting ready to meet him."
The four Ghostbusters stared from the girl on the floor to her fiancé. Matt shook his head frantically.
"No… she…"
"…Matt!" Keira cried out as the ringing intensified. He swung his gaze to her and then looked back at the Ghostbusters for help.
Egon quickly knelt next to the girl, his meter shrieking.
"Ray, there's something here."
Ray leaned down to peer over Egon's shoulder and then studied the girl in front of him. Keira tried to hide her discomfort, to no avail.
Stop fighting me…
"…I-If I come by after work, would that be okay?" Keira offered. The ringing ebbed away quickly and she was finally able to catch her breath.
"Sure." Ray said. He glanced at Egon who was staring at the meter worriedly. Keira shakily took Matt's hand as he pulled her to her feet. The dizziness was suddenly gone and she looked around skeptically, listening for any sign of the voice.
"Yeah, we've gotta get going. Things to do, people to see." Peter said casually. He flashed Keira an amused glance as she stared at him.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright until then?" Winston asked. Keira met his eyes warily before feeling herself nod.
"I can stay with her for a while." Matt spoke up. The four Ghostbusters looked at the man and Peter rolled his eyes. Keira smiled halfheartedly.
"I doubt Cindy will let you stay here for the rest of the day," She said, still leaning against him. "But thank you."
"So, what happens now? Are you just going to leave it to chance that the ghost won't come back?" Matt asked nervously, wrapping his arms around Keira protectively. Ray shook his head.
"We'll try to come by tomorrow sometime if nothing shows up when we meet with Keira this afternoon."
"Just call us if you get something before then." Winston said, directing his words to Matt. Keira frowned as she glanced briefly up at Matt who nodded.
"You can never be too careful." Ray said. He motioned towards her. "Come on, you can walk us out."
Keira grabbed Matt's hand and followed the four Ghostbusters as they made their way out of the small sitting room and towards the shelves leading to the stairs. As they reached the stairs, Peter and Egon both stopped and motioned Keira and Matt ahead.
"Don't need you having another fainting spell. That could be a nasty fall." Peter said. Keira smiled wearily and pulled Matt up the stairs with her.
"What's wrong?" Matt asked. He gently squeezed her hand and she realized that she had tightened her grip around his. She made herself relax slightly and then sighed.
"I just want this day to be over." She said softly. Matt fell into silence as they crossed the library, leading the Ghostbusters towards the entrance.
"Uh…Mr. Houston?"
As they passed the front desk, Cindy's voice stopped them. Matt looked at the head librarian curiously. She pointed towards a table full of elementary-age children. They were causing a bit of a distraction for other visitors, loudly giggling and throwing papers. Their teacher obviously hadn't cared to notice.
"Could you take care of that for me? I think they'd listen to a young man like you better than they would an old woman." Cindy smiled and Matt smirked.
"Sure thing, Ms. Drummond." He left Keira with the Ghostbusters and jogged over to the table of kids who were already quieting themselves at his approach.
"Nice guy. Good with kids?" Ray asked. Keira glanced up and saw that he was talking to her.
"Oh…I guess so." She said. She felt herself blush slightly as Ray smiled at her.
"Good trait to have." Winston said. He frowned at Peter as he leaned towards the girl, nudging her with his elbow.
"How many are you two planning on having?" Peter interrupted. Keira was taken aback by his joke and drew away from the men slightly.
"He's just teasing." Egon said, shoving Peter away from the girl. "Come on, we've gotta go."
Keira went to the door with them, opening it for them as they filed past her. Ray was the last to exit the library and he paused on the stairs with Keira as the other three Ghostbusters headed for their car down at the curb.
"You're sure you'll be okay until this afternoon?" He asked. Keira stared at him carefully, wanting to tell him about the voice she'd been hearing. She shook her head, imagining his possible reaction to her 'voices in her head.'
"I'll be fine." She said. She decided to fake ignorance about the ghost haunting her. "The ghost is downstairs, right? I'll just…try not to go down there if I can help it."
Ray stared at her worriedly then shook his head.
"Maybe."
Ray turned and headed down the stairs to where the other three men had unloaded their equipment and started the car. Flashing lights rotated on the roof of the old ambulance/hearse and Keira could see Peter playing with the siren inside. People walking by stopped and stared, waving at the Ghostbusters.
"Keira?" Ray called as she was about to turn back into the building. She whirled around and saw that he had stopped on the steps and was watching her carefully.
"Yes?" She said back.
"You will call us?"
Keira frowned to herself and looked at the other three Ghostbusters at their car, waiting for Ray to unload his proton pack into the back of the hearse. They all were studying her curiously as well. She looked back at Ray and nodded.
"I will." She said. Ray nodded and slowly descended the stairs and walked to the car. Keira turned and headed back into the library, confused as to why the Ghostbusters were suddenly so hesitant about her.