I really enjoyed writing the bit of suspense in this chapter, but I just wanted to remind you guys that if it starts to get to where it doesn't make much sense, just let me know and I'll try to rework everything to where people can better understand it. I'm my own worst critic when I'm editing, I think, so please forgive me! I hope you enjoy the chapter! :D

Keira was once again in the dreamlike state of Lucille's alley. Her heart beat painfully in her chest as the overwhelming sense of dread hung over her.

"No…no…no…"

Keira's voice squeaked as her eyes darted every which way to try and keep the shadowy corners of the alley in view. She pulled her arms up to her chest as a cold presence snaked through her veins.

"Lucille!" She shouted over the frigid breeze that blew through her dark hair. The distant street noises at the end of the alley were the only sounds she heard in response.

"Lucille…we've gotta go, sweetheart."

Keira whirled around and saw John standing beside her, his hand outstretched. Keira shakily looked down at his open palm and saw Lucille's hand take it slowly.

"No-" She said as she felt herself lean into his side fearfully. She tried to resist against the memory, but found that she could hardly even think her own thoughts.

"We shouldn't be here…" Lucille's voice came from her mouth.

"Why is it so much clearer this time?!" Keira cried out as she wildly looked around at the surrounding alley. The shadows seemed to stretch towards the couple as they headed down the alley.

"I know. I'm just meeting someone real quick before we go home. It's alright." John flashed her a quick smile and Keira felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

"It's not alright…" She whimpered, knowing that John couldn't hear her in the memory.

She turned her face back up to the sky, hoping that Lucille would be listening to her.

"Lucille! Don't you understand that it was all an accident?! You can let me go now…you should have peace knowing what happened!" She called. Her voice didn't seem to make a sound as the sounds of the nearby street drowned out her cries.

"…Keira?"

Keira's tear-filled eyes scanned the space around her as a familiar voice broke through Lucille's memory.

"H-Hello?" She called out.

She was still walking arm in arm with John, but her vision suddenly shimmered and she got a brief flash of the same alley, only with five other people standing in front of her. She blinked and then she was back in the memory watching as the two men crept out from the shadows.

"Hey, Beautiful…" One of the men said. Keira's heart was racing as she stared at the approaching men, knowing what would happen next.

"You think you can save her, Dr. Stantz…but it's too late. She's all but gone now."

Keira looked around and caught another flicker through Lucille's eyes. The four Ghostbusters were in front of her, Ray standing the closest.

"Ray?!" She called, hoping that Lucille's threats were all talk. The overwhelming lightheadedness she felt seemed to disprove that.

"She's bluffing."

Peter was staring at her sternly and then looked down at something in his hand. Ray looked at her hopefully.

"Keira…Keira, I know you're still in there."

"Ray…I am still here. I don't know for how long though…" She said, but she was suddenly cut off as the vision dissipated. She was running for the main street, escaping the alley and the fight ensuing between the two thugs and John Bennett behind her.

As she reached the street, she looked down the road and saw flashing lights in the distance a few blocks down.

"That's them – it's got to be!" Keira shouted to herself excitedly. She moved to wave her arms over to call for the Ghostbusters but realized that she had no control over Lucille's body back in the past.

"Lucille, please stop this!" Keira screamed as she felt herself turn back to the dark alley. Her eyes welled up with tears as she charged back towards the horror she knew was coming. She instinctively raised her hands ahead of herself, hoping to block the stab she knew would happen any second. When Lucille's hands in front of her did the same, she froze and was surrounded by a dizzying array of dark colors. She looked down at the hands in front of her and was surprised to see that her left wrist was bandaged.

"Keira."

She looked up and jumped when she realized that Lucille was standing in front of her, with her green dress shimmering in the spinning lights.

"…Lucille." Keira breathed as she lowered her hand to her side. Lucille smiled.

"I was worried I wouldn't be able to find you." She said softly. Keira blinked as the alley came into view once more, this time empty but no less intimidating.

"Why wouldn't you be able to find me?" Keira asked hesitantly. Lucille shook her head sadly.

"I was afraid it was too late." She said as she stepped closer. "That you would be too far gone to come back."

"Well…I'm not." Keira said slowly, keeping her eyes locked on Lucille. The ghost smiled in relief.

"Please wake up…"

Keira glanced up as Ray's voice surrounded her through the haze of darkness. Lucille too looked around her. Keira shivered and clutched her arms tightly around her middle.

"He cares about you." Lucille commented. Keira stiffened as she looked confusedly at her.

"So did Matt." Keira said. Lucille frowned slightly before running her hand through the dark mist floating lazily around them.

"I am sorry, Keira. I've made a horrible mistake…" She raised her bright green gaze up to face Keira, hurt in her eyes. "Being…dead for so long changes people. Longing….sorrow…madness. I saw it in myself only a few moments ago."

Keira shivered again, the cold atmosphere seeming to creep into her chest. She squeezed her arms tighter to herself, wincing at the pain in her left arm.

"I don't want to be like this any longer, Keira. It…scares me." Lucille confessed. Her eyes glistened emotionally as she looked pleadingly at Keira.

"What…what can I do?" Keira breathed.

"Keira, please…"

Keira looked up at Ray's voice, her heart hammering painfully in her freezing chest. Lucille hesitantly reached her hand out to Keira who stepped back at the sudden movement. The ghost smiled wearily.

"I'm not going to hurt you anymore. I'm sorry for…for everything. I shouldn't have used you like this." Lucille said, her arm wavering in front of her. Keira looked down at herself and her eyes widened as she realized that she was nearly transparent in the darkness. She lifted her bandaged left hand in front of her face and gasped as she could see Lucille through her palm.

"What is happening to me?" Keira breathed. Lucille stepped closer, her eyes pitying.

"You're dying. I'll help you get back… and hopefully your Ghostbusters can help you then." Lucille said, her voice even and reassuring. Keira was still studying her trembling hands fearfully. "You won't see me anymore, I promise."

Keira nodded slowly as she raised her tear-filled gaze up to the other woman. Lucille smiled sadly at her as she gently pulled her into a hug. Keira gasped and her breath caught in her throat as the cold suddenly overwhelmed her at Lucille's touch.

"I'm sorry, Keira." Lucille whispered as the colors around them seemed to dive down and consume them both.

"What happened?" Peter asked, kneeling down next to where Ray held Keira in his arms.

"She's still breathing…" Ray commented, sounding only slightly relieved. He pressed his hand against her forehead where, curiously enough, her skin was freezing cold in the late summer heat.

"What did you do to her?" Winston asked, still holding the dark matter generator that Egon had handed him. He looked down at the device, raising an eyebrow as he wondered if it had harmed the ghost just by being switched on.

"I'm not sure what's wrong with her…" Ray said slowly as he gently turned her face to examine her unmoving expression. Peter clicked the meter in his hand on and frowned.

"There's nothing there…" He said confusedly. Ray's heart skipped a beat as he held Keira closer.

"So…that means the ghost is gone, right?" Winston asked. He moved forward, following Egon whose proton pack was still attached to the generator in Winston's hands.

"Not exactly…" Egon said worriedly. He took the meter from Peter's hand and looked it over searchingly. "It appears that Lucille has once more retreated into Keira's unconsciousness…but there's something strange-"

Keira cried out in pain, causing the four Ghostbusters to direct their attention to her. John stayed back from the group, watching the possessed girl in terrified silence.

"Hey!" Ray exclaimed softly as he shifted the girl in his arms. Her pale face was twisted in agony as her eyes flew open. Her gaze landed on Ray for a long moment as she caught her breath. After a moment, she smiled in relief at Ray who tenderly returned her smile. He gently brushed the dark hair away from her face.

"I told you everything would be alright." Ray said. She exhaled with a soft laugh.

"And I…I told you what would happen if you interfered again." She said after a moment. Ray blinked and then his smile fell.