Ray hid under the blankets of his bed tightly holding onto his Stay Puft
stuffed doll. He had run all the way up here to avoid all the voices he had
heard yelling at him.
"I knew it," Dr. Stantz whispered. "I can't do this."
"Ray, you screwed it up!" Someone yelled. "How many times have I told the correct way to do it?"
"You aren't smart enough to do this!" Another person yelled.
"You're fat!"
"Lazy!"
Ray covered his ears and squeezed his eyes closed as the insults continued. He prayed they would all go away. The covers were removed from over him and the young man looked up to see his parents.
"Mom? Dad?"
"You made us come all the way from the nice afterlife for this?" His father said. "You know I'm not so upset about leaving you."
"What? Dad, what are you saying?"
"He's saying, dear, that you really should stop acting like a child. You're over thirty years old and your chasing ghosts. You still read comic books, Raymond. Grow up," his mother told him.
"She's right, Ray." Dr. Stantz looked to his right and found his friends standing on the other side. "We really are quite tired of all this."
"Yeah, I'm tired of being your big brother," Peter added. "I don't need that kind of aggravation. I can't even talk about sex without you getting all pink around the ears and you have a girlfriend." Winston scoffed.
"Barely," Winston said. "She's been going out with me and Peter whenever you aren't looking. You're so easy to fool. If you didn't trust people so openly they wouldn't walk all over you, Ray. You poor son of a bitch."
"No," Ray replied. "You're lying."
"It's all the truth, Raymond," Dr. Spengler told him. "One of the few times we'd like to lie we can't because it's all true. You're nothing more than a child in a grown man's body. A freak."
"I'm not a freak," Dr. Stantz protested. "I don't want to be a freak."
"Face it. You are," Dr. Venkman responded. "You're so screwed up even the best shrink in the world can't help you. I wouldn't know where to start."
"I don't believe any of you," Ray said. "You guys would never say this." He looked at his parents. "You aren't really my parents. It's just a nightmare."
"Complete with nightmarish visions," Dani added as she sauntered up to his bedside wearing a skimpy sundress. She climbed into the bed with him and he gulped unsure of what to make of this. "Come on, Ray. You love me, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Than let's do it. I've already done it with Winston and Peter. I want to see how you compare to them."
"You're lying." Dani raised an eyebrow and half-smiled.
"Am I?"
"I don't know," Ray stuttered. He got out of the bed and walked away not looking behind him. "This isn't right. None of this is." He turned back around and saw Peter now in bed with her. They were kissing passionately. "Stop it."
"Face facts, Ray," Egon said. "You're not getting this. We just used you and now we're done. Go on your merry way."
"And stop trying to contact us," his mother put in. "I'm really tired of having a stupid son like you." Ray could feel tears well up in his eyes.
"Oh, yes!" Dani shouted. "You got it, Peter!" Dr. Stantz ran out of the bedroom slamming the door behind him.
"This can't be real," Ray said. "It's not real." He walked toward the living room and found his friends and girlfriend watching television. Ray walked up behind them slowly.
"So, do you think he knows?" Peter asked Egon.
"We dropped enough subtle hints," Dr. Spengler replied. "The letters. Packing his suitcases. Clearing away his personal items."
"Man, if he doesn't get it than he's definitely got more loose screws than we thought," Winston said. Dani snuggled into Peter.
"I can't believe he thought I loved him," Dani said. "He was just a pawn. That's what people like him are. Just something we use to win in life." She laughed than jumped on top of Peter and started making out with him. She started kissing his neck and her eyes fell on Ray. "Ray?" They all jumped up.
"We thought you were gone," Egon said.
"You're supposed to be gone," Winston told him. "We told you that we're tired of you screwing us up. It's not working anymore."
"What did I do?" Ray asked.
"You keep getting us nearly killed," Dr. Venkman answered. "I'm sick of hanging on to life and visiting the other side. I keep getting told to give you another chance and I'm running out of patience. I could only put up with you so long. You really messed up my college life."
"I could have done so much better myself," Dr. Spengler agreed.
"Dani?" She looked at him uninterested. "You don't love me."
"Why would I? You're dumpy, child-like, and a way to easy to fool. It was like I was hurting myself more than you."
"No," Dr. Stantz said. "You're trying to get to me again. This isn't real. My friends care about me."
"We were your friends," Winston corrected him. The black man shrugged. "No more. Get out, Ray."
"Such simple emotions." Ray turned to see the ghost using Peck's façade. "You're nightmares aren't as mayhem and blood filled, but they do bode well with me. In fact you're doing worse than the others."
"What are you doing to me?"
"It's what you're doing to yourself," Peck replied. "I happen to like it."
"I haven't felt like this since I was a child," Ray said. "I never wanted to feel like this again. I thought I never would."
"You probably shouldn't have feared it, Dr. Stantz. Dreams and nightmares have a tendency to come to life. You already let them know you fear Dani dying, but you didn't tell them that one day you'd think that you're little quirks would make them all kick you out. Or you'd discover some conspiracy that they were only interested in your mind and money. It was you who paid for this place to start it up. You gave it all your heart and now that's shattered. Don't you feel that?" Ray grabbed his chest in gasping pain and fell into a nearby armchair.
"Look, he's being dramatic again," Dr. Venkman laughed. "You really need to grow up, Ray."
"Let's get out of here," Winston said. "Maybe he'll be gone when we get back." They started leaving and Ray watched them go. Dani stopped in the doorway and went over to him. She smiled at him.
"You almost had me fooled," she told him. He breathed painfully as every breath felt like a crushing blow to his chest. "I once thought you were a man and you could take it, but all you are is that child who lost his parents and didn't know how to grow up. You are lazy, stupid, idiotic, and, well, just an all around freak."
"No, he's not." Ray looked around the skimpy dressed blonde in his face and saw the other blonde wearing one of his uniforms. "Take that back."
"Make me, bitch." The skimpy Dani twirled around and stared at the real Dani. "You should have stopped." She gestured over to Peck. "He even told you to."
"I came to save my boyfriend."
"He knows you don't love him. I told him. I did it with Peter right in front of him. His heart is shattered. You're out of luck."
"I'm not," Dani replied. She walked up to Ray with her doppelganger glaring. "Ray, this is me. The real me. I love you and you love me. I have not and never will ever do anything with Peter except give him the occasional hug and carry on a conversation. You're the man for me. You saved me." Dr. Stantz continued to breathe in pain unable to say anything. "You can save yourself."
"Please, he's too weak. He let words and actions be his nightmare. He can't live in life like that. I don't even know how he's managed." Dani glared at her twin.
"Because he has friends who care and let him know how much he means to them. You on the other hand are only here to be his worst fear. I'm the real Dani and I can fix this." She turned back to Dr. Stantz and kissed him.
Ray felt the pain in his chest slowly disappear. He was no longer feeling scared and alone. The Ghostbuster felt he had the strength to face anything. He stood up still kissing the young woman. Ray wrapped his arms around her and they continued for a long time until someone cleared their throat. The two broke apart and found Peck staring at them.
"Congratulations, young lady, you've managed to finagle one into your ranks," he said. "Of course, you cheated."
"Whatever," Dani replied. "You're going to let him go, right?"
"Wait," Ray said. "What's going on?"
"You don't believe in the nightmare anymore," Dani told him. "I managed to convince you that none of this is real."
"I guess that makes sense," Dr. Stantz responded. "Did you do that to the others?" Dani kinda gave him a defeated look. "What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you later. Let's get out of here." She took his hand and looked at Peck. He gave her a small nod.
(More to come.)
"I knew it," Dr. Stantz whispered. "I can't do this."
"Ray, you screwed it up!" Someone yelled. "How many times have I told the correct way to do it?"
"You aren't smart enough to do this!" Another person yelled.
"You're fat!"
"Lazy!"
Ray covered his ears and squeezed his eyes closed as the insults continued. He prayed they would all go away. The covers were removed from over him and the young man looked up to see his parents.
"Mom? Dad?"
"You made us come all the way from the nice afterlife for this?" His father said. "You know I'm not so upset about leaving you."
"What? Dad, what are you saying?"
"He's saying, dear, that you really should stop acting like a child. You're over thirty years old and your chasing ghosts. You still read comic books, Raymond. Grow up," his mother told him.
"She's right, Ray." Dr. Stantz looked to his right and found his friends standing on the other side. "We really are quite tired of all this."
"Yeah, I'm tired of being your big brother," Peter added. "I don't need that kind of aggravation. I can't even talk about sex without you getting all pink around the ears and you have a girlfriend." Winston scoffed.
"Barely," Winston said. "She's been going out with me and Peter whenever you aren't looking. You're so easy to fool. If you didn't trust people so openly they wouldn't walk all over you, Ray. You poor son of a bitch."
"No," Ray replied. "You're lying."
"It's all the truth, Raymond," Dr. Spengler told him. "One of the few times we'd like to lie we can't because it's all true. You're nothing more than a child in a grown man's body. A freak."
"I'm not a freak," Dr. Stantz protested. "I don't want to be a freak."
"Face it. You are," Dr. Venkman responded. "You're so screwed up even the best shrink in the world can't help you. I wouldn't know where to start."
"I don't believe any of you," Ray said. "You guys would never say this." He looked at his parents. "You aren't really my parents. It's just a nightmare."
"Complete with nightmarish visions," Dani added as she sauntered up to his bedside wearing a skimpy sundress. She climbed into the bed with him and he gulped unsure of what to make of this. "Come on, Ray. You love me, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Than let's do it. I've already done it with Winston and Peter. I want to see how you compare to them."
"You're lying." Dani raised an eyebrow and half-smiled.
"Am I?"
"I don't know," Ray stuttered. He got out of the bed and walked away not looking behind him. "This isn't right. None of this is." He turned back around and saw Peter now in bed with her. They were kissing passionately. "Stop it."
"Face facts, Ray," Egon said. "You're not getting this. We just used you and now we're done. Go on your merry way."
"And stop trying to contact us," his mother put in. "I'm really tired of having a stupid son like you." Ray could feel tears well up in his eyes.
"Oh, yes!" Dani shouted. "You got it, Peter!" Dr. Stantz ran out of the bedroom slamming the door behind him.
"This can't be real," Ray said. "It's not real." He walked toward the living room and found his friends and girlfriend watching television. Ray walked up behind them slowly.
"So, do you think he knows?" Peter asked Egon.
"We dropped enough subtle hints," Dr. Spengler replied. "The letters. Packing his suitcases. Clearing away his personal items."
"Man, if he doesn't get it than he's definitely got more loose screws than we thought," Winston said. Dani snuggled into Peter.
"I can't believe he thought I loved him," Dani said. "He was just a pawn. That's what people like him are. Just something we use to win in life." She laughed than jumped on top of Peter and started making out with him. She started kissing his neck and her eyes fell on Ray. "Ray?" They all jumped up.
"We thought you were gone," Egon said.
"You're supposed to be gone," Winston told him. "We told you that we're tired of you screwing us up. It's not working anymore."
"What did I do?" Ray asked.
"You keep getting us nearly killed," Dr. Venkman answered. "I'm sick of hanging on to life and visiting the other side. I keep getting told to give you another chance and I'm running out of patience. I could only put up with you so long. You really messed up my college life."
"I could have done so much better myself," Dr. Spengler agreed.
"Dani?" She looked at him uninterested. "You don't love me."
"Why would I? You're dumpy, child-like, and a way to easy to fool. It was like I was hurting myself more than you."
"No," Dr. Stantz said. "You're trying to get to me again. This isn't real. My friends care about me."
"We were your friends," Winston corrected him. The black man shrugged. "No more. Get out, Ray."
"Such simple emotions." Ray turned to see the ghost using Peck's façade. "You're nightmares aren't as mayhem and blood filled, but they do bode well with me. In fact you're doing worse than the others."
"What are you doing to me?"
"It's what you're doing to yourself," Peck replied. "I happen to like it."
"I haven't felt like this since I was a child," Ray said. "I never wanted to feel like this again. I thought I never would."
"You probably shouldn't have feared it, Dr. Stantz. Dreams and nightmares have a tendency to come to life. You already let them know you fear Dani dying, but you didn't tell them that one day you'd think that you're little quirks would make them all kick you out. Or you'd discover some conspiracy that they were only interested in your mind and money. It was you who paid for this place to start it up. You gave it all your heart and now that's shattered. Don't you feel that?" Ray grabbed his chest in gasping pain and fell into a nearby armchair.
"Look, he's being dramatic again," Dr. Venkman laughed. "You really need to grow up, Ray."
"Let's get out of here," Winston said. "Maybe he'll be gone when we get back." They started leaving and Ray watched them go. Dani stopped in the doorway and went over to him. She smiled at him.
"You almost had me fooled," she told him. He breathed painfully as every breath felt like a crushing blow to his chest. "I once thought you were a man and you could take it, but all you are is that child who lost his parents and didn't know how to grow up. You are lazy, stupid, idiotic, and, well, just an all around freak."
"No, he's not." Ray looked around the skimpy dressed blonde in his face and saw the other blonde wearing one of his uniforms. "Take that back."
"Make me, bitch." The skimpy Dani twirled around and stared at the real Dani. "You should have stopped." She gestured over to Peck. "He even told you to."
"I came to save my boyfriend."
"He knows you don't love him. I told him. I did it with Peter right in front of him. His heart is shattered. You're out of luck."
"I'm not," Dani replied. She walked up to Ray with her doppelganger glaring. "Ray, this is me. The real me. I love you and you love me. I have not and never will ever do anything with Peter except give him the occasional hug and carry on a conversation. You're the man for me. You saved me." Dr. Stantz continued to breathe in pain unable to say anything. "You can save yourself."
"Please, he's too weak. He let words and actions be his nightmare. He can't live in life like that. I don't even know how he's managed." Dani glared at her twin.
"Because he has friends who care and let him know how much he means to them. You on the other hand are only here to be his worst fear. I'm the real Dani and I can fix this." She turned back to Dr. Stantz and kissed him.
Ray felt the pain in his chest slowly disappear. He was no longer feeling scared and alone. The Ghostbuster felt he had the strength to face anything. He stood up still kissing the young woman. Ray wrapped his arms around her and they continued for a long time until someone cleared their throat. The two broke apart and found Peck staring at them.
"Congratulations, young lady, you've managed to finagle one into your ranks," he said. "Of course, you cheated."
"Whatever," Dani replied. "You're going to let him go, right?"
"Wait," Ray said. "What's going on?"
"You don't believe in the nightmare anymore," Dani told him. "I managed to convince you that none of this is real."
"I guess that makes sense," Dr. Stantz responded. "Did you do that to the others?" Dani kinda gave him a defeated look. "What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you later. Let's get out of here." She took his hand and looked at Peck. He gave her a small nod.
(More to come.)