Rod Says Hi
Dustin landed the tour bus roughly on the road in front of the hotel, jostling the others. Ezra had been hurled out of his seat. Lying face down on the floor, he mumbled, "Perfect landin', Dustbin! I give it a ten…out of fifty!" Using his palms he pushed himself up, pulling his lips off the floor with a loud POP!
"Not one of my smoother parking jobs," the driver grinned bashfully. He reached over and grabbed a lever, gave it a tug, and made the door swing open. "Thanks for flying Dust In the Wind Airlines!"
"Pfft!" Courtney scoffed as she smoothed down her hair. Her face was a nauseas tint of green. "That wasn't dust I left falling in the wind."
Louder than the grumbling coming from the back, Carolyn yelled, "Hurry! We haven't got much time!" She dashed out of the bus, with Dustin and Courtney right behind her. The hitchhikers brought up the rear of the line.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel was a rectangular, salmon colored building looming an imposing thirteen stories, standing tall and regal. A sign across the front of it flickered the name. The first and third 'O's as well as the last 'E' and first 'T' remained dull and unlit. Sparks shot out from the sign occasionally. On the front left side of the building was a huge scorch mark that extended just past the TOWER portion of the name. Bits of the salmon plaster had fallen off and the bricks that had been underneath prominently shown. The outside of the Gracey mansion, despite its toppled birdbath, wild roses, and unkempt lawn, was in a nicer condition.
"Do you see that?" Carolyn pointed as they passed through the iron gates. Dustin looked up from a bronze plaque he had been reading that stated "Est. 1927 A. D." She continued, without waiting for an answer from him. "There used to be a structure on the left front side there. It's where part of the elevator shaft was. It was struck by lightning and just vanished."
Peering at it, Dustin mumbled, "It almost looks as if it was torn off." His eyes catching a new detail, he asked, "That open space there, that's the elevator shaft, right?"
"Yes." She continued leading them up to the hotel doors. It was a maze of steamy gardens, with each patch of plants identified with a little bronze plaque. "I'm afraid that's where your friend is heading." She bit her bottom lip, tears welling in her eyes. "This is such a disaster, and it's all my fault!"
Squelching the terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach, Dustin offered, "Well, at least you're trying to fix things now."
"Although it's probably too late and her guts are splattered everywhere," Phineas piped up.
"You're not helping!" Dustin, Carolyn, and Courtney all shouted at once.
"Well exsqueeze me for being a realist!"
Finally they approached the doors of the motel. The inside was cool and smelled musty, reeking of dust with a hint of mildew. A Persian rug, too faded and dirty for the pattern to be clearly seen, lay on the thin maroon carpet, leading from the door to a large counter. To the left of the entryway was an unfinished game of mahjong. At the very back of the room, was a large crest with "H. T. H." on it. Above it, wings spread and talons out, was the statue of a hawk. Beneath the bird was a fireplace.
"This is the lobby," Carolyn clarified.
Looking at a board covered in keys that adorned the wall behind the large counter, Ezra quipped, "Gee, ya think?"
Gus swung his chain, gathering momentum, then he let it go and flung himself behind the counter. He crashed into the wall, knocking down most of the keys. Jumping out of the pile, he waved one key triumphantly. "Found the sauna!" he cackled.
The one mortal in the group rolled her eyes. "Okay," demanded Courtney, "where do we go now?"
Suddenly, what had appeared to be a part of the wall slid open, revealing a small library.
"That looks like a clue."
The group entered the room and the hidden door closed. "Hmm," mused Courtney. "That's only slightly familiar. Dustin, I think you guys may have a lawsuit on your hands."
Like the gallery, the panel seemed to vanish back into the wall. This room had more in common with the Gracey attic than the stretching room, though. On one small table on the right side was a model of a ship. Above the bookshelves, cobweb covered bric-a-brac lined the walls. A glaring, golden-eyed bust watched from the left side of the room. Unlike the mansion's doorless chamber, though, this room did have a window. Through it, the group watched as the sky darkened and lightning flashed down from the clouds. Thunder crashed and everything went dark.
A small television set that had been sitting silently on a bookshelf flickered on. An outline of a plump man appeared on the black and white screen. Then a man walked into the outline, his profile matching it perfectly.
"Good evening," he began in a stuffy, nasal voice. "For tonight's show—"
The man was suddenly shoved aside. "This is my time, Alfie!" cried a much thinner man in a black tuxedo. "Shoo! Go away! And take your dumb line with you!" He grabbed the profile outline and tossed it off camera. Judging by the "Oof!" that followed, he hit the other host on the head.
The new host, Rod Serling, straightened his black tie. Then he let his arms fall and clasped his hands. As usual, his dark hair was immaculately combed and slicked down. "You're traveling through another dimension—a dimension not only of sight and sound but of—"
"Ooh!" cried Phineas. "Night Gallery! I love this show!"
Serling scowled at them. "I'm trying to give you some exposition, you twit! And it's not Night Gallery! It's The Twilight Zone!" Bongos and violins mysteriously played at the mention of the name.
"Oh!" Ezra exclaimed. "I remember that show! Wasn't there an episode where a psycho dressed as Santa tried to get into this woman's house, and she'd just killed her husband?"
"No, that was Tales from the Crypt," Phineas corrected. He brightened. "Can we get the Crypt Keeper instead? I like all those bad puns and his costumes."
"Please shut up!" screamed Courtney. "There are more pressing matters at hand, here!"
"Thank you," groaned Rod. He cleared his throat and continued, and as he spoke, he faded away to be replaced by an image of the lobby, but it was bustling with activity. "Hollywood, 1939, among the glitz and glamour—"
"They didn't have T. V's. then, did they?" asked Phineas. "I mean this is a little off time frame wise, isn't it?"
Unable to take any more of the nonsense, Dustin growled, "Please, just the essential facts! Our friend is in danger! We assume she's in one of the elevators!"
Somberly, Rod explained. "It was on Halloween night of that October that five passengers entered a common service elevator." The screen showed Carolyn, Sally, Emmaline, Dewey, and Gilbert standing in the elevator. It cut to the outside of the hotel, showing it get struck by lightning. When it showed the figures again, they trembled as electricity coursed through their bodies. The elevator dropped, zooming downward, but seemingly vanishing before it could crash.
Dustin put a reassuring hand on Carolyn's back as she tucked her face down against his shoulder, refusing to watch the replay of her death.
"These five passengers vanished." Rod once again appeared. "Trapped forever in…" The theme music played. "The Twilight Zone!" As lightning streaked across the window and thunder roared again, the television set turned off and the lights turned on. Another door opened and the group ran out.
o.O
They entered the basement, the same room where Myrriah had woken up. Around them, machinery hummed and electricity crackled. A discarded radio hissed out static filled songs from the thirties.
"Now what?" asked Ezra.
"Now you join your friend!" Dewey materialized and punched him in the face, sending him reeling back. Dazed, Ezra shook his head and staggered back up.
Phineas came up behind the bellhop and slammed his carpetbag against him, making him tumble. "Don't hit him, you little geek!"
Then Emmaline smacked Phineas with her own huge purse. She was promptly knocked down with a blow from Gus's ball and chain. "Yay for blunt objects!" cried the dwarf.
Meanwhile, Gilbert had picked a fight with Dustin. He disappeared and reappeared around him, dodging every punch the coachman threw. "Your precious Master Gracey can't save you now!" He smacked Dustin on the back of his head and then vanished as the bespectacled spook whirled around.
Courtney and Carolyn were trying to figure out how to stop the elevator. The sign above the doors that showed which floor the elevator was on was lit, its arrow indicator flipping back and forth spastically. "There has to be some kind of emergency stop button, right?" cried the mortal.
"Actually, there's a lever," a high-pitched voice said helpfully. The two turned to see Sally Shine, holding the brake in one hand and a book in the other. The little red tome had no title on the cover. "But it seems to have been experiencing some technical difficulties." She swung the lever at Courtney, but the young woman ducked in time and the break hit the wall and stuck.
As Sally grunted and tugged at her would-be weapon, Courtney snatched the book from her grasp. Flipping through, she found something promising and quick. Sally rushed at her and she spit the verse out quickly.
"Wind and rain, slip 'n' slide…Who writes this stuff? Send the mortal to the outside!" Rather than poofing Myrriah safely to the hotel grounds, Courtney was transported. "AW CRAP!" She realized when she looked down that she was teleported sans book. "MONKEY FUDGER!"
o.O
Myrriah and Little Leota watched, their curiosity almost equal to their fear. The doors had opened and all around them were shades of hotel rooms, a glimpse of the Hollywood Tower Hotel in its glorious past. The elevator continued moving forward, taking them down a short hall. Around them, various objects floated by. A clock with a spinning hand, a large eyeball that opened, a marionette…
"Well," Myrriah mused, "this is trippy. If you ever wondered what pain killer induced dreams were like, they're sorta along these lines."
Lightning flashed in front of them and the doors closed again. Darkness surrounded them and the room lurched up. After its short ascent, it came to a sudden stop.
"I've got a really bad feeling," moaned L. L.
The elevator dropped.
Both girls floated up towards the ceiling, screaming. The elevator stopped and they hit the floor. It whooshed up again, the G forces pushing them down. A little ding sounded off and everything halted. The doors opened, showing the hotel grounds. Myrriah looked out to see the plants, the paths, and…
"COURTNEY!"
The brunette looked up. She had been pounding on the doors, trying to get in. At some point, they had been mysteriously—mysteriously meaning someone blonde and evil-- locked. "MYRRIAH!" she screamed. "Hang on!" Whatever smart comment Myrriah had to that was lost as the elevator shut and dropped again.
Bracing herself in the corner as they dropped, Myrriah shouted, "I've got an idea!"
"What?" L. L. hovered near the ceiling.
"Those doors have got to open again like that, right?"
"No, not really! It could have been a one time thing!"
Stop. "Oof!" Rise.
"If it does, I'm jumping!"
"I thought you didn't want to die!"
"Exactly!"
As Myrriah had predicted, the doors opened again, showing a tantalizing view of the gardens. Bruised and battered, she clutched her cane and staggered. She only had a second…
"You're not serious!"
Myrriah jumped. It probably wasn't the greatest plan she had ever had. Actually, it was downright stupid. But it was better than being flung from ceiling to floor repeatedly, right? Maybe the plants could break her fall and she'd come out with only a broken spine…
Her cane snagged on something. Looking up, she saw the handle had caught onto the bottom of the unlit third 'O' in the Hollywood Tower Hotel neon sign. Heart pounding, she tightened her grip. "Ohmygawdohmygawdohmygawd!"
Waving her arms, Courtney shouted again, "Hang on!"
"No duh!" Myrriah shouted back, weaving from side to side.
Searching around frantically for something to help, Courtney spotted a billboard. "West Coast 'Copters!" Whipping her cell phone out of her coat pocket, she quickly dialed.
Taking a cue from the blond, L. L. had jumped out as well. Floating beside Myrriah, she joked, "You look like that poster with the kitten." Dodging a kick from the mortal, the spirit snapped, "I'm going to help you!"
"Really? What should I do?"
"Hang in there!" She flew past Myrriah and down and back into the hotel.
o.O
Giggling gleefully, Sally watched the arrow above the elevator as it moved closer and closer to the basement 'B'. Once again, she was clutching Leota's speel book. "They should be getting back right about…" Ding! "…now!"
With a gasp, the fighting ghosts stopped and watched as the doors slowly opened. What Dustin had expected to see, he wasn't sure. A mangled body and a new ghost, perhaps. But he smiled when he saw nothing.
"What!" Sally shrieked, running to the elevator and peeking in. "Is this some kind of joke! Where are they? They need to be here so I can send their spirits to the Twilighty Zoney place!" Stamping a foot, she screeched, "This isn't fair!"
L. L. flew in through the wall and tackled the tantrum-throwing brat. Sitting on top of her, she punched her face. "Seems pretty fair on my end." Then she grabbed her throat and repeatedly smacked her head on the floor.
Watching the girls wrestle and beat the ectoplasm out of each other, the hitchhikers hooted and cheered.
"Kitten fight!" hooted Gus.
"Hey, E," asked Phineas, "as the responsible adults, shouldn't we break this up?"
"Are you kiddin'? This is freakin' hilarious!" He smirked. "And since when were we responsible adults?"
Bending Sally's thumb back and biting her wrist, L. L. tore the book from her grasp. "You stupid brat! How dare you think you could handle this kind of power!" Springing up, she distanced herself away from Sally, but not before getting in a good kick in the ribs.
"What—what are you doing!" Gilbert demanded, his hands on Dustin's shirt collar. The driver took the opportunity to vanish and grab Gilbert's arms and pin them behind his back. "Let me go, Dirtbin!"
"That's Dustbin! Er, Dustin!" Dustin growled. "No, Mr. Dust to you!"
Carolyn and Gus held back Emmaline and Phineas and Ezra sat on Dewey.
With a smirk, L. L. began to read aloud a spell.
"Ghoulies and ghosties this Zone has spat out,
Take back the entire horrible lout!
Put them where they belong,
As soon as I finish this song!"
"It's not really a song," Phineas whispered into Ezra's ear.
"Yeah, it doesn't even have a chorus—Oh!" A fierce gale whipped around the basement. The two hitchhikers were tossed off of the bellhop as he was torn out from under them. A sickly green light surrounded him and he was sucked into the elevator. Before he could even think of running back out, a green film like shield covered the doorway, keeping him inside.
Emmaline followed, then Gilbert, and then Sally. She kicked and spit and screamed and clawed at the air. "NO! NO! I CAN'T GO BACK! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! THIS ISN'T FAIR!"
Hugging Carolyn close to him, Dustin murmured, "I won't let you go. You don't belong with them."
Looking up at him with her pale blue eyes, she said sadly, "That's not really up to you to decide." She kissed his cheek. "I'm going to miss you, Dustin." The singer was pulled out of his arms and he reached out, grabbing in vain as she floated back towards an elevator.
Unlike the other elevator, though, this one filled with an intense white light. Running forward, Dustin had to cover his eyes. She smiled that wonderful smile that had ignited his crush on her.
"Where—" he began.
Carolyn put a finger on his lips to quiet him. "You're right. I don't belong with them." She gave him one last hug and planted a light kiss on his lips. "Thank you." The doors shut, a brilliant blue light emanating from out of the cracks and then the elevator soared upwards.
"Good bye," Dustin whispered.
"Wait," cried Dewey, "if she's going up, where are we—" The group of malevolent ghosts suddenly plunged. "AAAHHHHH!"
Clapping L. L. on the back, Ezra congratulated, "You did good, kid."
Dustin looked around the room. "Where's Myrriah?"
"Oh my gosh!" Little Leota shouted and she ran out with the others at her heels.
o.O
"Courtney! Courtney! My arms are killing me!" the myopic mortal yelled.
"Just a few more seconds!" her friend called back.
Right on cue, a loud thumping, like a frantic heartbeat, could be heard in the near distance. Leaves were twirled and the breeze was sent into a chaotic spin as the small helicopter approached.
"I don't believe it," Myrriah murmured.
From inside of the whirlybird, her older brother Cody saluted. "How'd you get yourself into this mess, sis?"
Frowning, she shouted back, "Does that really matter right now? Save me!"
Flying as close to her as he could, he tilted the helicopter onto its side, giving her an open invitation. Pushing aside thoughts of what could happen if she fell into the blades or missed completely, she swung forward and let go of the cane. Crashing into Cody's side, she let the tears she's been holding back fall. "I thought I was going to die!" Sniffing, she said, "I'd hug you, but my arms are like noodles right now."
Keeping one hand on the steering stick and putting the other around his sister, Cody grinned. "Whoa! You've got to tell me how you pulled that Jackie Chan stunt back there!"
"Cody, it's not that I'm ungrateful or anything, but what are you doing flying a helicopter?"
"Cool, huh?" He grinned boyishly, his long blond bangs falling in his eyes. "Well, I wanted to be a surfer here on the West coast, you know that." She nodded. "But after that squid accident with poor Reggie, I couldn't bring myself to ride the curls anymore. So I took some flying lessons. Got my license this afternoon. Ain't it great!"
"TREE, CODY! TREE!"
He steered out of the way in time. "Anyway, your pal Court gave me a call. Imagine my surprise when I found out my little sister was in SoCal and I didn't even know! Are you on some vacation? Meet a guy on myspace and decided to fly out for a rendezvous?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"No," she laughed. "It's a long story. Why don't you drop me off down there by the bus and I'll catch a ride back home."
"Okay, but promise you'll send a letter explaining all this." He landed as skillfully as Dustin had. "And tell Mom and Dad I said 'Hi!' when you see them!"
"Will do!" Summoning up enough strength, she gave him a hug. "Thanks Cody!" She carefully stepped out and Courtney rushed by her side to help.
"No prob, sis! Hey Court! Thanks for the call!"
Waving, the friends watched as the helicopter soared upwards and away, becoming a weaving speck in the distance. "Boy this day has been weird," Courtney huffed.
"You weren't even there for half of it. C'mon, let's head home."
Supporting her friend, Courtney got her to the bus. "I warn you, Dustin's not the greatest pilot."
"Anything's better than that elevator." She blinked. "Pilot?"
"How do you think we got here so fast? By driving?"
The coachman was already waiting for them onboard. Upon seeing Myrriah's weary face, he smiled. "Welcome aboard Dust In the Wind Airlines! Glad to have you back, kiddo."
"Great to be back. You don't serve peanuts on this flight, do you?" Myrriah asked, stretching out across a few seats in the back.
"No peanuts," said Phineas. "But the gum under the seat's pretty good."
o.O
Of course once everyone got back, George's aunt Victoria had to throw a party. Paul was sure to get plenty of pictures of dancing ghosts. Accompanying an article he would write for the Supernatural Geographic, they would provide just the advertisement Gracey needed to bring in new guests.
Myrriah had been treated to a few goodies. George had found a sturdy, intricately carved cane, adorned with ghoulish faces and serpents to replace the one presumably still dangling from the dull 'O'. After arriving back to the mansion, Phineas, Ezra, and Gus had rushed off. Within the hour, they had come back, driving an old hearse that had been abandoned in a junkyard. (That was their story anyway. Myrriah would be sure to check and see if any funeral homes were missing a vehicle.)
George had quickly hidden Leota's book, not telling another soul where it was kept.
In the ballroom, spirits spun in time as Mr. Baker the organist, the graveyard band, and the singing busts performed "Hotel California." (Skaggz's band was passed out on various couches.) Courtney and Paul slow danced, making sure to keep an eye on Alex. The baby was dozing in a wicker carrier while Emily fawned over her.
As Lily and George waltzed, the mistress asked, "Have you seen Nathaniel lately, George?"
Azure eyes sparkling knowingly, Master Gracey answered innocently, "Nope."
o.O
Meanwhile, Sally and her comrades fumed and grumbled at their bleak surroundings.
"This bites!" the child star pouted.
"Well, it can't get any worse, can it?" snapped Gilbert.
Then the alligator attacked.
o.O
Trying out her new cane, Myrriah limped out of the party and onto an adjoining balcony. Leaning against the cement railing, she gazed at the stars. After the bizarre day she had, this calm moment was a needed comfort.
"Hi," a soft voice said.
Myrriah turned and smiled wearily at Dustin. "Hi."
They watched the stars for a bit longer before Dustin spoke up again. "I'm sorry for what happened to you today."
"Not your fault." Pushing a lock of hair behind her ear, she blushed. "Thanks for coming to my rescue. Heh, sorry I had to be such a damsel in distress."
"You were anything but. Even the best of us can be taken advantage of." Staring down at his hands, he mumbled, "I certainly was." He sighed.
"I know you miss her. Maybe you'll be together again someday."
Dustin shook his head. "I liked her, I won't lie about that. But it's probably better this way. Perhaps we will meet again, but for now, I'm stuck here. Fate, I suppose."
"Maybe destiny."
"Hmm?"
"Destiny. It has a nicer ring to it. Fate just sounds like you're flung into something and you can't do anything about it. Destiny just sounds more positive, has a more 'happily ever after' quality to it."
"So you think I'll find my destiny here, hmm?"
She grinned. "Who do I look like, Madame Leota?" Smile and tone softening, she added, "I can't promise anything, but I can say this. You are a wonderful person, Dustin T. Dust. Fate—"
"Destiny," he corrected.
"Destiny is kind. She brings to those who love."
"That sounds familiar. Where did you get it?"
She shrugged. "Probably a Disney movie." She waved it away.
Dustin laughed. "You know, no matter how much you've grown, I think I'll always see that little girl with the huge glasses."
"Gee, thanks!" She tried to shove him, but her hand went through his shoulder. "Thinking of ever going back to your old duster and top hat?"
Looking down at himself, Dustin was suddenly reminded that he was wearing a zoot suit. "I'd forgotten about this. Ick! Yeah, I'll get my old clothes back from the attic. This just isn't me." Toying with the feather on his hat, he asked, "What are you plans, then? Are you going home?"
"Yeah. I'll probably stay with Court and Paulie for a bit, then head back home. I can't leave the shop closed for too long."
"Is it popular?"
"No, but if I don't stop in from time to time, the silverfish bugs take over and make condos out of the books." They both chuckled.
From inside the ballroom, Courtney shouted, "We're heading out, My! Are you following us?"
Turning to her friend, Myrriah answered, "Yeah." She gave Dustin one last hug. "Good night, Mr. Dust," she called over her shoulder as she walked away, her cane going tap with each step she took.
Dustin smiled as he watched the retreating young woman and then put his emerald green gaze on the cosmos. Destiny. He liked the sound of that.
o.O
A/N: Thus concludes "A TERRORible Haunting." I send out a very big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reviewed and read this story, and all of those people who kept an eye on it and encouraged me to continue. I know this story took so long for me to finish, and for that I apologize. Thank you again, everyone!