Egon woke up first. All he could feel was wetness. He couldn't see anything. Blindly, he felt around, searching both for Janine and for a clue as to here they were. Janine had to be here. He remembered grabbing for her, then a bright light, then...nothing. As far as he could figure, they were in a cave of some sort. But he had no idea where. Who have we angered this time? he thought wearily. His hand touched something warm. He felt further, and was greeted by Janine's voice.
"Watch your hands, mister."
He pulled back, his face coloring slightly. "You're here."
"Where else would I be? God, where are we now?" Why can't I see?
"I think we're in a cave. There isn't any light, and I can't see either."
"Huh?"
"You asked why you couldn't see."
"I didn't ask that." she said. Egon?
"What?"
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit...
"Janine, what is the problem?" he asked, getting frustrated. She's getting hysterical.
"I am not getting hysterical," she snapped. He jerked back. He hadn't said that out loud.
"Something's wrong," she said. I'm not talking to you.
His eyes widened. He didn't hear that. That came from inside his mind. That meant... Oh shit.
"My sentiments exactly." she said.
"Where are you?" he said, feeling around again. Something weird was going on and he needed to sort it out. He felt her touch his arm.
"I'm right here," she said softly. He grabbed her hand and stood up, bringing her with him.
"We have to find out a way to get out of here, or at least into some sunlight."
"What now?" Peter asked. "It's been quiet, we've been good. As far as I know, we haven't pissed anyone off too badly."
Ray led the three up to the third floor and into the lab. He rummaged through piles of papers and books. "I have no idea what's going on," he admitted.
"But why Janine?" Winston asked. "And why Egon? Why not one of us?"
"I suspect it's because he touched her first," Ray answered. "If I'd gotten there first, Egon would be here right now, trying to figure out a way to get us out of wherever we ended up."
"That still doesn't answer my question," Winston said. "What do they want them for? I hope it isn't anything too drastic."
Peter snorted. "Then they've got the wrong two people." Janine held on to Egon's hand, letting him feel his way out of this cave. She felt his hand tighten it's grip on hers and smiled. Well, this is nice, she thought.
"I don't see anything nice about it," she heard Egon say in the darkness.
She cursed softly. "I was being sarcastic," she lied, trying to figure out a way to get rid of this telepathy, and soon. She didn't know how long she could go without slipping up. And slipping up was definitely the last thing she wanted to do in front of Egon.
"There's light ahead," Egon said.
Janine could see it too. A small point of light that was slowly getting larger. After a while, they reached the opening of the cave. Egon stopped suddenly, staring at what lay outside.
Oh my God.
"What?" Janine asked, running into him. She peeked around him, and gasped. Outside was the lushest forest she'd ever seen. There were types of fruit trees, and foliage she'd never seen before. In the distance, she could hear a waterfall. She looked around, spotting several different types of birds and animals that didn't either seem to notice them or care. Her mind went back to her childhood lessons at Sunday school. Quickly she glanced down at herself, and sighed quietly. She was still wearing clothes.
Egon turned to look at her. "What?"
She shook her head. "Nothing."
"You were thinking about something. What?"
"It just...It reminded me of a place I learned about in Sunday lessons when I was little."
Egon looked back at the green. "Impossible, if there were such a place as Eden, it was placed somewhere in South America, I believe."
Janine sighed again. "I didn't say it was, I just said it reminded me of paradise."
Egon let go of her hand, and pulled out his P.K.E. meter. His attention was now into finding out where they were and if it was paranormal.
Janine found a rock and sat down, watching him. I swear he takes that thing everywhere.
He turned, and glanced at her briefly, and she knew he heard her.
Get out of my mind. she thought. She was surprised to get a response.
If I could, I would.
She got up off her rock and wondered off the opposite way. She needed to get away from him for a while. She smiled, there was something she never thought she'd hear herself say or think. However, she was being rhetorical earlier when she had wondered what he'd do if he knew what she was thinking. That last thing she needed was Dr. Egon Spengler digging through her thoughts. The thought alone gave her chills. She knew they wouldn't come out of this adventure unscathed. If they came out of it still talking to each other, she'd be shocked.
She stopped, looking around. Two things came to mind; that she'd wandered too far off,
she'd been lost in thought, and there wasn't any reprimand. Did their link only go so far?
Janine? Where are you?
She sighed. So much for that theory.
Janine!
Hold on, I'm on my way. she thought. Walking back the way she'd come, she headed back towards where Egon was. She stopped suddenly, feeling relief wash over her. She wasn't relieved about anything. Her eyes widened. Oh no, she couldn't even hope for that. He just had to be worried about her because she'd left without telling him where she was going.
She stepped into the clearing, seeing Egon looking around. He turned as she stepped out of the foliage. His expression went from relief to irritation. "Tell me before you leave suddenly, please," he said.
"You were busy," she stated.
"It's getting dark," he said, ignoring her last comment. "We need to find shelter before sunset."
"There's a perfectly good cave over there," she said.
He shook his head. "No. It could be occupied during the evening. We'll have to find other shelter." He started walking towards the west, leaving Janine no choice but to follow.