For the next four days Charlotte went to the firehouse after school.
Eleanor always went with her. She would listen intensively because she wanted to know what everything was and how it worked.
Charlotte had always put on the yellow cap, which pulled on her hair. But that wasn't what was bothering her. Yes, it did get annoying after a while, but not like the questions did. There were so many. Some of them got personal. Very personal.
But some of them were pointless and obvious like "Do you know how your parents died?" or "do you know if your parents were in a cult?"
'How am I supposed to know if they were devil worshipers? I don't even know their names,' she thought one day.
Charlotte had had enough.
Sitting in the wooden chair, Charlotte, looked up at Peter.
"You know the drill," said Peter handing her the cap.
"No," said Charlotte.
"It will only take a second-" began Peter.
"I said no!" shouted Charlotte.
Peter's head snapped to the left, as a red hand print appeared on his right cheek.
"Ow!" exclaimed Peter, as the same thing happen to the other side.
"It wasn't me," said Charlotte quickly as she stood up.
"Yeah right!" snapped Peter as he rubbed his sore face.
Egon walked over to Peter. "I'm starting to see a pattern here," he said, examining Peter's cheek.
"Like what? Me getting pushed or slapped by ghosts?" asked Peter.
Egon turned to Charlotte. He lightly pushed her. Nothing happen. He pushed her a little harder. She stumbled back. Her brow scrunched together.
Egon stumbled back. His nose started to bleed before falling on his bottom.
Charlotte was wide eyes. She reached out to help him. But instead an invisible force put him on his feet.
"It wasn't me." whispered Charlotte as she ran up the stairs. Ray followed her.
Eleanor handed him a tissue. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm doing just peachy over here," said Peter.
"I don't get it," said Egon, pressing the tissue to his nose. "If it's not her doing it, then who is?"
oXoXoXo
Charlotte reached the top of the stairs, when Ray grabbed her arm.
"Charlotte," said Ray.
Her face was turned away from him.
He cupped her face with his hand, so she would face him.
Charlotte's eyes were red, but there were no sign of tears.
Ray looked at her for a moment before saying, "I know this is really annoying. But the research here would help a lot of people."
Charlotte bit her lip. "It's not that I don't want to help. I… do, but I would like to know what all of this stuff is. I mean, what does this mark mean? Am I from hell? Or just a girl who got unlucky?"
"If you promise not to get mad I'll show you," he said holding out his hand. Charlotte took it and smiled.
oXoXoXo
Back in the lab:
Ray walked in with Charlotte behind him.
Charlotte was looking down. Her hair covered her red face. Suddenly the lab smelled like a stormy sea.
Egon's eyes widened. He almost dropped his bloody tissue. "I think I've figured why all of this paranormal activity happens to Charlotte," asked Egon. "Remember when she talked to the monster and those ghosts?"
"How could I forget?" asked Peter, as he rubbed his shoulder remembering the pain form when he hit the sewer floor.
"Ghosts respond to her emotions," said Egon.
"Well so do all ghosts to everybody," said Peter. "What makes her so special?"
"It must have something to do with her birthmark," said Egon.
The Ghostbusters's secretary Janine came running into the lab. "Guys! The buzzer isn't working and there's that monster again. It's just running around the block."
Charlotte darted past Janine and up the stairs.
"Come on," said Ray, as he ran up the stairs. The other three followed.
Charlotte was running toward the front door as Ray caught her arm.
"Stop running away," he said.
"But I called him here," she answered.
"You what?" asked Peter, standing next to Ray.
"I didn't mean to," explained Charlotte. "It just popped in my head."
"That seems to happen to a lot of people here," said Peter, looking at Ray.
"Why aren't you suited up?" asked Ray.
"Well since ghost girl is here, I thought she could handle it."
Ray rolled his eyes. They heard the monster's roar. But it sounded more like a call, rather than one of dominance.
Charlotte wriggled out of Ray's grasp and ran to the front door. She yanked on the knob. Her hair flew from her face. Her black dress fluttered around her knees as she ran outside.
Egon came running up next to Peter. He was fully suited up. "What happen?"
"Ghost girl called the monster," explained Peter.
Ray ran out the door.
"Come on," said Egon as he and Peter ran after them.
When they reached the stone steps. They saw something that shocked them both.
oXoXoXo
The beast was on its back, while Charlotte scratched its belly.
The monster's long tongue was hanging out of its mouth. Its glass teeth bared her reflection. Its hind leg was going a mile a minute, creating a soft thudding noise somewhat of a very quiet earthquake.
"No way," said Peter, as he stared at the beast.
The beast glared at him, and growled. Charlotte gave him a stern look. He went back to looking like he was in doggy heaven.
"Peter come look at this," called Egon, who was standing next to Ray. He was holding a brown rectangular box. Charlotte's birthmark was marked on it.
A crowd of people had formed around the Ghostbusters's building. They were staring at the black haired girl and her…pet.
"Maybe we should go inside," said Ray.
"Good idea," said Egon.
Ray walked over to Charlotte. "Come on, let's go inside." He helped Charlotte up.
The beast whined from lack of attention.
"What is that thing?" screamed a red headed woman.
"Something you wouldn't understand," replied Ray, turning back to Charlotte.
Charlotte was kneeling next to the monster. Her hand was petting his head. "What about Spot?"
"Who's Spot?" asked Ray. Peter walked up.
"What's taking so long?" he asked.
"Charlotte wants to take Spot. Whoever... That…is," said Ray trailing off, as realization hit him and Peter.
"No. No. No. No," said Peter shaking his head.
"Charlotte…," said Ray.
Charlotte put her arms around Spot's neck. She looked at him with sad eyes.
"No, not the eyes," said Ray looking away. But he wasn't talking about Charlotte. Spot's blue and green eyes were big and glossy. Peter rolled his eyes.
"Fine," huffed Ray, giving in.
oXoXoXo
Later in the lab:
Eleanor stared fearfully at Spot, who was sitting obediently next to Charlotte. Spot purred as she petted the top of his head, to his neck then back in that order.
Egon was holding a box cutter. Peter was suited up as he was held a proton pack. Though they had checked it with the PKE meter, there was very little activity. They just wanted to play it safe for they could never be too careful with Charlotte.
Egon gave a nod to Peter who did the same. Ray was holding a PKE meter, in case anything changes.
Egon slid the box cutter along the tape which had no notes or return addresses labels on it.
'Of course not,' thought Peter, the first time they examined the box.
He cut open the box and peered inside. Nothing popped out. Instead it was just blackness. Egon put his hands inside the box. He felt cotton. He lifted his hands. It was a black cloth. No it was a dress.
As he lifted the rest of the dress, a little box fell onto the table.
Ray scanned the little box. It had a very little reaction. Ray looked up at Peter who gave a nod. Spot came over and took the box into his mouth. He trotted back over to Charlotte. He sat in front of her, and dropped the little box in her lap. Charlotte patted his head. She wiped the little drool off it, with her sleeve.
She opened it. There was a ring with a purple gem on it.
She looked up at Ray with her big blue eyes. She looked back down and handed him the tiny box.
When he tried to touch it, it zapped him. It bounced on to the floor. Spot picked it up with his mouth and put it back in her lap.
Egon walked over and examined it. "I am not familiar with this particular stone."
Eleanor glanced at her watch "Oh my gosh! Father McCoy is going to be pissed!" She said standing strait up.
Egon got a rag and picked up the box. He put it on the table.
Charlotte stood. "Good bye Ray."
"Bye Charlotte."
Spot whimpered at the sound of her good bye. Charlotte kneeled again and whispered something in his ear. He licked her face.
"I told Spot to do whatever you say," explained Charlotte as she followed Eleanor up the stairs.
The three Ghostbusters's slowly turned around. Spot was looking at them like the first night he meet them.
"Spot, sit," commanded Ray. Spot did just that.
"He is not sleeping in my bed," said Peter.