Later that day, by nightfall to be more specific, Stan was driving in a cab, taking him somewhere into the woods. When they had reached a cabin, the cab stopped. Stan payed the driver, and got out. What he noticed, as he walked to the cabin, were two cars parked in front. One of them, judging from a sign on one of it's doors, was from 'Happier Times Centre'.
"What do you suppose that means?" Ginger asked him.
"Dunno." Stan replied, "Maybe they're bringing granny back home."
"And when exactly did the 'accident' happen?" Ginger remained sceptic about this, "Shouldn't she be home by now?"
Stan looked back at the article, only to find out that Ginger was right. It appeared that the accident had happened a long time ago, so indeed, she should be back by now.
"Maybe rehab, or something." Stan explained, although in the back of his mind, he too thought there was something fishy about all this.
As they walked closer to the frontdoor, they both noticed some kind of a statue, made out of wood and sheets, and so obviously a boobytrap.
"Whoever lives here is either real carefull, or really stupid, setting up some shitty thing like that!" Ginger remarked.
"I dunno, Ginger." Stan thought out loud, "Maybe, whoever built this 'boobytrap' had made it so clear on purpose, in the sence of a joke.
Ginger didn't think it was really funny. Stan didn't care much about it, and headed straight to the frontdoor. There was no doorbell, so he knocked instead. It took a few seconds before someone answered. It was a small, blonde girl, not even older then Stan.
Stan greeted her: "Hi, I..."
"Who are you?!" the girl sounded threatening.
Stan wasn't really upset by this, so he continued: "Do you know anyone named Brigitte? Brigitte Fitzgerald?"
The girl suddenly shifted her mood: "Yes! She's my companion!"
Stan was surprised, but he didn't want her to notice: "... Right. Anyway, she's an old friend of mine, but I haven't seen her in..."
"He tried to seem friendly, as he approached her." the girl suddenly started.
If it were in Stan's nature, he would say 'What the fuck?' at this moment.
"He made his cause of action seem..." the girl continued.
"Now look!" Stan interrupted her, "If I in any way... how should I put it... harassed you, I'm sorry. But like I said, Brigitte's an old friend of mine, but I haven't seen her in years, so..."
"If that's the truth, then how'd you know she's here?" she asked him.
"Read enough newspapers, drew conclusions, and..." Stan explained.
"She's not here!" the girl interrupted.
"What do you mean?" Stan was confused, "You just said she was?"
The girl got scared: "I mean she lives here, but she's not here now!"
"Oh." Stan understood, "Would you mind if I wait 'till she gets back?"
"No problem!" the girl said.
It seemed funny to Stan how quickly this girl shifted her moods. It was like she was trying to hide something.
As he entered the house, he noticed two pedlocks on the floors, keeping the way to the basement locked. He also noticed a flashlight on the drawers.
"Why is the floor locked?" Stan asked the girl.
"Because!" she didn't give him much of an explanation.
"I don't suppose you hide your dead bodies down there." Stan laughed, given her reaction.
The girl got both scared and angry: "No I don't!"
Stan was surprised at this reaction: "It was a joke!"
Once she understood the joke, the girl forced a laugh.
"I'm Stan, by the way." Stan told her.
"Call me Ghost." the girl said.
"Next thing we know, she's only a figment as well." Ginger remarked.
"So, er..." Stan finally began, "... how's life here. I mean, did Brigitte ever..."
"Oh she's been a great help." the girl, or Ghost, replied, through interruption, "Whenever I need her to do something, she does it, no problem. I do have to do things to keep her quiet however, she never really listens to me."
Stan somehow knew there was something wrong about this: "Really!?"
"Yes!" Ghost replied, "She's like a sister to me!"
"... Right." Stan had some difficulty with taking all this, "Can I use the bathroom for a minute?"
Ghost pointed him the way there as she replied: "Sure, it's down the hall over there."
Stan was allready on his way there, when Ghost asked him something else too: "Can I get you something in the meantime? Want some juice?"
"Juice is fine." Stan answered.