Chapter 16:

Staying alive in Slimerland

Feb. 7, 13, 16 2001

Egon saw colored lights flash around him, as he seemed to be falling backwards through a tunnel. He landed on his back in some pinkish slushy like substance. "Where am I? This doesn't look like the lab anymore." Slime goo started engulfing his pants leg. "Slime" he said as he slowly made his way up to a standing position "or quicksand" The slime covered his shoes "I better keep walking or I'll drown in this stuff." The gushing sound with every step made a sick feeling inside the pit of his stomach. "It feels like I smashing hundreds of bugs as I walk."

He had to stop a few times to catch his breath. "What is this place? Did I make it to a new dimension? Wow, if I did, this would be a great discovery but how to tell anyone? How to leave? The land is nothing but a puddle of pink jell-o-slime gooey substance. Um..." He noticed he was wearing his protective gear. "I was glade I let my uncle convince me into wearing this suit. How did he know that something like this would happen?" Slime oozed off him. When he touched it with his gloved fingers, it reminded him of the first time that Slimer slimed Peter. Soon tears started dripping down the side of his face.

"Will I ever see that face again?" He believed there was no way back. Something whizzed by Egon's shoulder. "What the?" Things started hitting and making dents in the slime around him. The voice of a ghost could be heard.

"Get him, no human in our land. They destroy things, even us. We must stop and kill him." Egon turned his head and cocked his ears like a weary animal being hunted. The figures of three ghosts started towards him. They were armed with guns of some sort. Egon tried to run but the slime covered his shoes. He was unable to move anywhere.

NY:

The firehouse was so quite. Ray was upstairs watching cartoons and Winston was working on Ecto-1. Janine sat at her desk twirling the phone cord around her fingers as she was talked to Monica, her best girlfriend. Monica was talking about being in the New York area in about a week and wanted to meet up with Janine and Joshua.

"Sure, I think I would like that. Joshua will be away though. He's out of town on a business trip but we could get together and talk. Maybe have a girls day out."

"That's sounds great! We could go shopping all day."

"Sounds fun to me. Nothing much exciting happens around here."

"Hey, I got to run have a meeting in a minute. Talk tomorrow and plan it out."

"Yes," Janine was cut off by the click of the phone. She placed it back on the receiver and it rang again.

"Hello...He's not hear. Can I take a message?...Sure Harryet I'll tell him you called...bye." Ray came sliding down the pole. "Was that a call for us?" he inquired excitedly.

"No, it was one of Peter's girlfriends."

"Oh," he looked disappointed.

"Why?"

"I just wanted a call to break the silence around here. I miss Egon's scientific analysis of every sentence someone makes," he looked up with wide eyes, "And even Peter's jokes and insults about us."

"Yeah, I miss that too but I don't know why. It's been too quite here. I was thinking about going to the park for a while. Do you want to come?"

"Sounds great! There's nothing else to do. Not even any more cartoons to watch." Ray went over to Winston and told him he was going to the park with Janine. Winston smiled and continued working on Ecto.

Slimerland:

Egon began to slowly sink into the slime. First his ankles...knees...shoulders, and finally his head. He noticed that a purple ghost was pulling on him.

"What are you doing?" He yelled.

"Sh... do you want to die?"

"Well, no. Not really." Back, on the ground level. "That guy is never going to make it under there. He will have to surface and when he does we will kill him."

"That's right Roco we will get him."

"Good they left. We can swim under here to my house where you will be safe." The ghost took Egon's hand, "It will be alright." Egon hesitated

"Sure." He was hopping that he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life. He had never trusted a ghost before.

What other choice do I have? None. I just want to get out of here. This maybe the best chance I have. I must learn what this place is and how it works. When they reached the ghost's house it surfaced to see if they where followed by the "green gang". No sign of them anywhere.

"Clear." Egon was lifted out of the slime and taken to a clear castle. "This way." The ghost opened the door and they both stepped in the darkness.

"It's kind of dark in here."

"I know, let me see what I can do." The ghost left Egon in the doorway and lit the fireplace. "Better." An orange glow lit the area enough for Egon to see.

"Much."

"It's safe in here." The ghost and Egon talked some.

"Am I going to get out of here?"

"Not to say. I don't know."

"Oh," he sighed loudly as he sat back in the chair and closed his eyes. Within

minutes he was sleeping. The ghost thought of a way to let him see what was happening while he was gone. It went off and went digging in the library looking for his spell book.

"I found it. Now what do I need. A mirror. Um..." Egon stirred. "Where? Oh" he sighed. "I thought all this was a dream."

"I see you awake." Called the ghost with all his things.

"Ahh..." Egon screamed.

"Calm down Egon. I friend."

"Oh, yeah, yes I'm better but..."

"I know you want to go home."

"Yes, I miss all of my friends in New York."

"I found a way to see them." The ghost smiled at Egon. "Look hard in the mirror and see."

"What?" Egon took the mirror by the handle from the ghost. He looked in it but all he saw was his reflection. "All I see is my reflection."

"Concentrate harder. Clear your mind Egon." Egon thought hard. His reflection disappeared and a picture slowly formed. Trees, grass and a lake came into focus.

"It's the park. So." Egon was about to give up on this idea. "What's this got to do with any of my friends."

"Just watch, there's more." Egon rolled his eyes. He really didn't believe that he would get to see any of them.

(We are looking at the park though the mirror that Egon is holding in his hands.)

Ray and Janine walked towards the lake. Trees swayed and dirt flew in the wind. Janine came closer to Ray and wrapped her arms around him. He turned and hugged her.

"What the?" Egon called as he stared at the two of them.

"This is where," she remember to use his secret name, "Joshua and I met a couple of months ago."

"Really." Ray said staring at her.

"Yes, that's one reason why I wanted to come out here today. It would have been our four-month anniversary of our first date today." She started sobbing, as her mind started remember that day.

"You miss him don't you?"

"More then anyone knows." Egon smiled at that. For he, missed her too. She looked up, Egon I still believe you will be back. Come home to me. I love you! She and Ray sat in silence and watched the ducks go by.

"It's so peaceful out here." Ray remarked.

"Yeah, romantic. That's why I took Joshua out here. I thought it would get him in a more relaxed mood. It did the trick." She looked over at Ray. "Now I'm never going to feel that way again with a guy."

"You will give it time. Joshua must have meant something special to you."

"I feel in love with him the first time we met years ago. He walked back into my life and then, just like that left again. I thought this time he would stay." Sniff, Sniff. "Now I'm alone once again, I feel like I failed."

"Now, now Janine. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Then why do I feel so bad?"

"I don't know the answer to that." He gave a weird look. "But, I do know that you have more faith in yourself then you believe."

"Maybe." She sighed.

"Maybe?" he looked at her, "I know you do." She smiled. She was glade that Ray came out to the park with her. She started to find comfort with him. "If any man is going to make you feel bad like this, then you don't need him."

"I know, I know. I thought that Joshua had a change of heart but I guess not. I thought he cared about me. I know I cared for him, a little too much I see. I thought this time was right and that he would stay with me. See how much I know about men." She laid her head on Ray's shoulder. He reached up and put his arm around her.

"There, there Janine." She sniffed some. Peter, where are you when I need you? I can't do this alone. Help me. Please come home soon and bring Egon with you. Drips of rain started to fall. Then bigger and harder ones.

"Let's go, Janine. It's hailing out here."

"What Ray? Right." He knew that she was thinking about Joshua. When they arrived at the firehouse Winston had dinner cooked, well Chinese food, it's what they called dinner.

"Hey, guys. I was watching the weather report and it looks bad. Janine you might want to stay awhile to see if it gets any better."

"Man that looks good. I wish I had Chinese food." Egon said out loud.

"That must be you favorite food."

"Yeah it is." He paused, "I can't believe what I'm seeing."

"Is it good or bad."

"A little of both. I know how Janine still feels about me but she thinks that I let her down again. I just can't believe she told Ray all that. He might catch on to us."

"Oh, she's you secret lover?" the ghost asked intrigued in Egon.

"Yes, and I miss her so much. That's why I want to get out of here so bad."

"Give us time and we may find a way." Egon didn't have much hope in that, not unless someone had found away to follow him. He thought that was unlikely that his uncle ever would.

Winston turned on the TV and watched the newscast. Janine was looking for her keys when he ran downstairs.

"Janine, the roads are too icy for you to leave. I think you better stay with us. Just for tonight." A pause, "You can stay in Egon's bed if you want too." He thought that would convince her to stay and cheer her up some.

"Well," she opened the door and saw that her car was buried in snow. "All right, I don't think I can get my car out of the snow anyway." They went up stairs and watched "I dream of Genie." That was one of Ray's favorite shows to watch at night. He had gotten the guys hooked on it. Janine went to the bunkroom and took a shower. She found Egon's pajamas and put them on. She inhaled the sent of her man on his cloths. The smell calmed her down some. Sleeping in his bed might make me forget all my worries for the night. She pulled back the covers. Soft sheets she thought I wish he was here in them with me. She sighed. She climbed in his bed and looked at the ceiling.

"I wish I could hear her thoughts." Egon sighed. "She would be thinking about me. I just know it." The ghost floated up to him.

"Wow, she beautiful. No wonder that you want to get back to her."

"Yeah, I loved her the first time that she was in my class. We went our separate ways for three years and now have been together for 7 years, well were together."

"And you will be again."

"I don't know." He looked over at the ghost, "I hope that someday I will be in her arms again."

"You have to believe that Egon. I know that there will soon be a way."

"Maybe."

Peter was so glad to see Egon. Egon came running towards him across the empty field. Wind was blowing the tall grass around.

"It's good to see you, Spengs." Peter yelled. Egon didn't answer him. "You ok buddy?" Peter slowed down into a light walk. Egon reached behind him. "Good a surprise for me."

"You know it." Egon lifted a gun and pointed it at Peter. Peter was shocked and put his arms in the air. "Relax Egon, you wouldn't shoot your best friend would you?" All Peter saw in Egon's eyes was a black stare. It's like he's posed or even a zombie. Why would he want to kill me? There's something wrong here. I know he would be grateful someone came after him. I see how much love there is in our friendship. Egon walks closer and closer to Peter. Should I run? I don't know if I have to. Maybe it's just to scare me. If that's the case it's working all right. Egon cocked the gun back and pointed it at Peter.

"This is for getting into my business." He pulls the trigger. The shot hits Peter in the left shoulder. "And this is for forcing me to leave the women I love." He fires again hitting Peter in the other shoulder, which knocks him to the ground. Egon now standing right over, Peter looking down. He held the gun right over Peter. "Noooo..." screams Peter. He looks into Egon face and sees no mercy, only the hatred of a mad man. "I love you, my friend. Don't kill me like this. I don't deserve to go out like this by my only best friend. You are my family."

"This is for telling me I'm not a suitable parent." He places the gun over Peter's face and fires. "I had too."

To be continued...