As the elevator continued to rise higher and higher, nearing the top floor of the hotel, the building shuddered violently with each powerful gust of stormy wind that blew across the city. Lightning flashed through the dark sky as thunder rumbled with a deafening crash that caused the three occupants of the elevator to flinch and watch the flickering lights nervously.

"Are we there yet?" Peter grimaced bitterly as he too was becoming as nervous as Egon. Watching the floor numbers increase and tick on by, he powered up his proton pack once again "I'm getting bored."

"Not just yet." Ray answered as he too powered up his own proton pack. "But we can't just rush out there, we don't know what's waiting for us."

Egon didn't say anything. He was too preoccupied with trying to remember the dark details of his nightmare; his educated instincts telling him that even what may be considered insignificant could possibly carry the heaviest of consequences.

The elevator came to a jolting stop on the first floor, the entire elevator shaft shuddering and echoing with the howling wind of the strengthening storm that threatened to tear the building, if not the entire city, apart.

As the doors slowly opened with a high pitched 'ding' the overhead lights flickered once again, dimming the entire building for a few seconds before resuming its normal illumination.

"Come on." Ray led the charge as he stepped out of the elevator first. He checked his left and his right with his proton wand aimed and ready to strike anything that came their way. "It's clear. Let's move."

Peter rolled his eyes at Ray's overzealous nature. "Good, the twin girls from 'The Shining' won't get us as long as Ray's here." He paused just a few steps outside the elevator as he watched Ray carefully walk toward the doorway at the end of the hall that would give them access to the roof. Looking back over his shoulder he noticed that Egon hadn't budged. "Spenz, you forget how to walk?"

Egon blinked a few times as Peter's voice brought him back from his daze. "Just thinking."

"Stop it. You think too much." Peter refuted in a playful attempt to get Egon to smile, if not relax just a little. "Come on, keep up. Everything will be fine. We've beaten the odds before."

"Yes we have. But the odds still outweigh us. We can't afford to let our guard down." Egon stepped out of the elevator and stood at Peter's side. His pale face was covered in a fine sheen of sweat that glistened noticeably in the overhead light. "It almost took me down, remember?"

"I do remember." Peter replied completely serious, his tone steady and firm with each word as he spoke. "And I'm the one who refused to give up on you. Nothing against Ray or Dana by any means," sincerely he never intended to blame anyone for anything that had previously transpired. "but I'm not the one who's going to just surrender or run away."

Egon nodded in approval. "Neither will I." Powering up his proton pack he held the wand in a tight grip with both hands. "Promise."

Ray had waited for his colleagues to join him at the end of the hall. Having heard their conversation he offered his own vow of courage. "Same here. As long as one of us is willing to fight back then there will always be a chance."

Regrouping at the end of the hallway the three looked toward the door that connected to the stairwell that leads to the roof of the Mercado. The door had been shut automatically since Peter and Ray's previous entry.

"Hopefully it's still unlocked." Ray remarked as he put his hand to the metallic handle. "Ready?"

Peter and Egon just nodded with understanding as they aimed at the door with their proton wands primed.

Ray stepped to the side of the door, pressing his back against the wall beside the door frame. Pushing the handle down the door was set ajar from the frame. With a swift shove he pushed the door opened fully and turned his face away, just in case Peter or Egon opened fire.

"Nothing." Egon sighed as he lowered his aim. "We're clear."

Ray turned his head back to the opened door and let his shoulders sag as his tension eased. "Okay, let's keep moving."

Peter took the first step forward with Egon following. Ray stepped in line behind Egon. The trio walked into the dark, concrete stairwell and walked up the hard, gray steps with absolute focus.

The exterior door at the top of the steps was closed, but an aura of blue light flowed through the door frame and basked the door with an ethereal glow. The door shook violently on its hinges as the wind gusted harshly against the building and over the roof top. The sound of thunder was loud as if the door itself wasn't providing any form of sound barrier in the least. Bright flashes of lightning would sporadically brighten the aura all the more. A distinct heaviness in the air was cold, foreboding.

Tentatively Peter put his hand on the metallic handle of the door. Giving Egon and Ray a confident nod of his head he pushed the door open and was greeted with a powerful, icy blast of wind to his face. Putting one hand up to shield hid eyes from the drying, chilly wind Peter stepped forward and into the paranormal glow that beamed across the rooftop. Egon and Ray followed close behind as they too pushed themselves forward through the wind and onto the roof.

The storm swirled violently as it expanded in every direction further outward. Lightning flashed frequently, rarely giving time for one flash to dissipate before the next flash lit up the sky. Thunder roared loudly and shook the entire building to its base and continued to shake the surrounding block.

Looking upward and into the storm Peter, Ray and Egon stood side by side with their proton wands aimed and their eyes focused on every movement that danced through the clouds.

"Prepare." The same, deep voice that had threatened the Ghostbusters previously returned. It echoed as loud as the thunder from the storm itself. "The end draws nigh."

Ray swallowed nervously but didn't budge from where he stood. Peter and Egon stared with great intent at the storm as they tried to find the source of the voice. The trio kept their ground and showed no fear as they braved the unearthly threat.

A single bolt of lightning struck down from the center of the storm and struck the rooftop with a violent crash. A surge of static washed over the rooftop like a wave, causing the three men to flinch and shield their eyes once more.

From the smoldering crater of the lightning strike an orb of white light rose and hovered a few feet above the crater. Another energy filled the air causing the heaviness to become nearly insurmountable. The orb steady grew in radius with a pulsing aura, one that was eerily reminiscent of a beating heart.

"What's going on?" Ray asked excitedly. "A portal to the other side?"

Egon answered flatly as his gaze became transfixed on the expanding orb. "I believe so. Who ever had been lurking over the city is about to finally arrive."

The sound of shoes clicking atop the roof drew the men's attention from the orb itself to the figure who was walking toward them from behind the orb. "You are correct, Dr. Spengler." The female voice confirmed his suspicions. "I warned you about busting ghosts on hotel property now, didn't I?"

Peter's eyes widened with shock at the threaten voice from beyond the orb. "Friend of yours Egon?"

Egon's gaze heated into an intense glare. "Not exactly, but it all makes sense now." His tone became very terse as he put the pieces of the puzzle into place. "Who better to oversee the construction of the furnace, the construction of the paranormal battery than someone who works in the hotel itself? She is the receptionist of the hotel. She is the one responsible for everything."

...to be continued...