The next day moved agonizingly slowly, as there was little for us to do besides wait and watch. Madame Pestis and Johnny had been assigned to a full-time search for the unknown ghost's earthly remains. He would have to be pretty foolish to bring them into the park, so the two of them were starting in the parking lot and doing slow circles farther and farther outward. It would still be searching for a needle in a haystack, but we had to start somewhere. The ghost would anticipate this move and know that his days were numbered, but we still had to make sure that these little pranks didn't turn into anything more serious in the meantime.

Six of us were stationed throughout the park. Ghoulmaster patrolled Movietown, as that area included our residence and the stage where Dead Man's Party would begin. I had the entrance and the areas around Main Street, Shadow Falcon had the corner with Frontierland (the safari was still closed and the animals looked no better), Annabel had the corner with Kingda Ka and the new rides, Norma had walkways in the area of El Toro, and Chester of course had the kiddie rides and the surrounding areas. Hopefully he wouldn't get distracted going on the kiddie rides himself. Nothing, nothing, nothing must happen to the children.

I wondered where the "unsub" would strike next. First the free parking and directional signs, then minor malfunctions on the rides, then animals getting agitated, then the rides and music starting up after closing when there was still an audience in the parking lot. The animals may well have only been agitated from a spiritual presence here that they weren't familiar with. But only a couple species had been fidgety for a day when Johnny arrived here. All of these things seemed so trivial, almost immature. Such obvious attention-grabbing. But whose attention did he/they want to grab? For what? None of the seven of us knew a whole lot of people anymore, dead or undead, as evidenced by the fact that we all chose to protect an amusement park for the foreseeable afterlife. Were these occurrences meant to attract the attention of the humans, or us?

But human nature is nothing if not adaptable, and, in typical crowd mentality, the mortals appeared oblivious to the events of the last two days. I saw the mortals at their best and worst at the entrance to the park: irritated after waiting 45 minutes in the entrance line for the privilege of paying $65 a person to get in (just wait until they see the Flash Pass prices, or the fact that everyone now has to buy combo meals starting at $10.99 and can no longer buy fries or a burger just by itself), but those looks turn into the joy of possibilities, as they grab a map and run for their first ride. I didn't envy Annabel her position at the more popular rides, including Green Lantern and Superman, as those were obvious targets if more mischief were to occur, but I also figured that Main Street also had a big target on its back. It is probably the most densely populated area, and if anything happened at the gatekeeping center…no one would be able to get out.

I felt a sudden, much cooler gust of air, and noticed that the concession stand lines were getting longer. It was dinnertime, and still nothing. Frustrated, I began my rounds again, answering Ghoulmaster's telepathic question about everyone's status. 5:45 and all's well. The anticipation was almost unbearable.

I briefly left my post to help out with Dead Man's Party next door, as Ghoulmaster and I had agreed upon. Security was never sufficient there, and we usually prevented a few accidents or minor fights. I sent a gust of wind onto a nearby family with young children, and stood behind the mother, quite literally breathing down her neck. She felt a vague presence and decided to take everyone home. Good. Chills by day are appropriate for children, but not the fright by night.

I resumed my post and did an immediate walk-around, relieved but still antsy to see everything as it had been. I relayed my status telepathically, as everyone else did. Ghoulmaster once again attempted to communicate telepathically to whatever ghost was out there, but received no response.

I climbed one of the Main Street posts for a bird's eye view. From over a loudspeaker I faintly heard, "One, Two, Three, let's fly," and a couple of fools were dropped from hundreds of feet in the air and left to swing back and forth until their momentum slowed them down. I gagged on my own decomposing flesh. I wouldn't do that ride even though I'm already dead.

I looked over to Bugs Bunny land and had a hunch.

Get off the kiddie ferris wheel, Professor.

Wha-? I'm up here for a higher vantage point! This will be the most targeted ride if something happens in my section, and I need to already be at the top to be of any use!

I tuned out the rest of his speech, rolling my eyes, and then became aware of whispers quickly growing into a hum of human speech. I whipped my head around in alarm as a few shrieks started, then one longer scream.

The Main Street Fountain was having a problem.