Chapter 2
Both Erin and Holtz were in the family dining area. Which reminded her of a school cafeteria, long picnic style tables in the center surrounded by booths. Holtzmann walked a few paces away from her, scanning the area with her ‘ectogoggles’ each time Erin threw a glance at her it looked like she was looking in a crowd for someone. Having her nearby was a comfort.
Erin paced carefully through the rows of tables and chairs, her fingers tightening around the handle as she passed the stage, though the curtain was drawn she still felt uneasy knowing there was a small band of animatronic animals. It was a ridiculous fear of hers but the way her life was going recently anything was possible.
Erin gave another look at Holtz just as she had looked her way, her goggles taking up most of her small face. They looked like something a snowboarder would wear, only with blinking lights. Holtz gave her an excited grin and a thumbs up, which Erin reciprocated.
Holtzmann was buzzing with excited energy. Her new Ectogoggles were working perfect, every few seconds Holtz would see cold flashes of blue patches of walls cold spots the goggles recording her journey, one of the fun features she’d added. Eagerly awaiting this alleged big bad ghost. She had gotten the idea to have them record after hearing an off the cuff comment in an interview they did about maybe attaching GoPros to their proton packs. A light in Holtz’s head clicked on and had the prototype built hours later.
And they were fantastic by the way, they made her feel like a dystopian bounty hunter harvesting lost souls. Holtz hummed Styx’s Renegade to herself brandishing her proton wand like a rifle. Keeping Erin’s spectral looking image in her peripherals for safe keeping. Sweet sweet Erin.
Holtz loved it when she and Erin paired off together. For a handful of reasons, at first it was just an opportunity to push her buttons, try to get her to loosen up or at least make her squirm, which was hilariously easy and just as fun. Uptight people were her favorite to screw with, and Erin was a bit of a special case to her. With the very little, very terrible, things she knew about her she couldn’t just let this person back into Abby’s life without a little hazing first.
She’d tested it out a few times to make sure, a weird dance here (she didn’t dance like that to just anyone), a wink and a smile, even getting her to try untested weaponry Holtz had decided Erin was a good egg in her book. But now she just genuinely liked hanging around Erin. Letting her sit close to her on the couch when they watched movies, letting her steal popcorn from her bowl.
Or how Erin didn’t seem to mind when plucked her mug out of her hands and stole sips of her coffee each morning. She made better coffee. Friends shared stuff she would reiterate. But Holtz's favorite thing about Erin was how she was always willing to listen to her ramblings no matter how dumb or irrelevant they were. Holtz would launch off on long winded tangents and Erin would sit patiently and listen intently. And she laughed at her jokes, most of the time. Holtzmann was relatively new to the whole more than one friend thing, this honeymoon stage of new friendship was exciting.
No one else besides Abby and Doctor Gorin had ever really been impressed by her inventions before and that gave Holtz a startling sense of pride. Every time she had something new, she had to show Erin first. Abby had pointed that out one afternoon when Holtz had been very disappointed when Erin wasn’t around to see her new ectoshield.
Abby had watched her skeptically when Holtz had sulked back to her work bench where she waited for her friend to come back. Bounding to her at the doorway like a puppy happy their human was finally home, to show her the new toy. And just as she had hoped Erin was impressed and grateful for this new hope of shielding herself from being covered in slime again.
Abby had teased her about it and in her own defense Holtz had just said she needed Erin to test it for her since she was the one that got slimed the most and would appreciate it. She was that good of a friend if she did say so herself. Later she’d caught Abby and Patty talking later about it on her way to the kitchen. She’d stopped short and listened while Abby told Patty how she’s noticed Holtzmann may have a little crush on Erin.
“I mean the flirting aside, she doesn’t even show me her prototypes.” Abby had sounded pretty pleased actually.
“Yeah I think our Holtzy has a little crush on Erin. For reals now you know. She hasn’t set anything on fire intentionally for days.”
“I don't even think she knows she's got one though."
"I don't think either of them do, bless them. But I’m glad they're getting along so well Erin had gotten so stiff I thought she’d break in half eventually." They both laughed happily but Holtz had slunk back into the hallway and up to the roof instead. Thinking about what they'd said.
Crush? Nah Jillian Holtzmann didn’t get crushes, crushes were for dudes and children. She’d scoffed to herself. Erin was her friend. Her very dear new best friend.
Holtz pressed the record pause button and pushed up her goggles and glanced over her shoulder again, watching Erin walk past the stage a little too carefully. Like she was afraid something was going to pop out at her. Holtz watched her do a strange dodging kind of dance through the seating area with a warm fondness for that wonderful dork of a friend of hers.
Crush?
Holtzmann shook herself and caught up to her and hopped towards the stage giving Erin a little startle. Holtzmann poked the proton want into the curtain and gently peeking inside. Four animatronic animals stood inanimate. It clicked what Erin seemed to be afraid of here.
"Ten bucks that at least one of those comes to life tonight.” Holtzmann said over her shoulder with a wicked grin. “Wouldn’t that be bananas?” Erin gave her a semi horrified look.
“Don’t say things like that, you’ll give the ghost ideas.”
“It’s cool sweet cheeks you got an armed escort right here tonight.” Holtz flexed one of her arms Erin rolled her eyes and looked away acting annoyed. God she was cute, had she always been this cute?
Erin patted Holtzmann’s arm humoring her. “That makes me feel so safe.” She said brushing past her. Holtz gave the curtain another poke and bounced along behind Erin.
Holtzmann hummed to herself again, her mind switching gears. There were ghosts a foot. The whole place was almost dead silent save for a few ambient noises of the rain that had begun to fall outside and the gentle hum of their proton packs. So far they knew it had to do something with mirrors, and the unfortunate thing for them was that there were mirrors everywhere.
Most were around the top of the walls as accents. Mirrors were used as an interior design tactic to make rooms look bigger. As if this place needed to look bigger. Through her goggles the mirrors just looked like wiggly blue cold spots. If the ghosts were coming from there, they were going to need a better strategy.
“Don’t you hate it when they play hard to get?” Holtz removed her pack and set it on the floor before hopping onto one of the tables crosslegged. “Sometimes a good strategy is let them come to you.” Erin took her pack off too and stretched out her shoulders.
Holtz stared back at Erin through her goggles Erin was a bright reflective figure in her sights. Quietly keeping to herself the way she did, a comfortable silence followed. Even in the middle of a haunted building she felt comfortable, what a gift. But she wanted to talk though, ‘talk to Erin must’ the voice in her head pestered. She had an idea.
“Say Gilbert, wanna play a game?” Holtz said abruptly peeking under her goggles, Erin cocked an eyebrow in response.
“A game? What kind of game?” She sounded kind of suspicious, Holtz couldn’t blame her. Holtz had a history of asking her cryptic questions that ended up with being handed something unstable and or dangerous. Holtz held her hands up as a gesture of peace.
“Nothing dangerous. Since we may be waiting around for a bit, I’m thinking two truths and a lie. We each tell each other three things and one of ems gotta be a lie. And we gotta guess which is which.” Erin looked a little skeptical. “Humor me, getting bored here.”
“Alright.” Erin perched herself on the edge on one of the tables. Nice.
“You first.”
“Okay…” Erin made a thoughtful sound her eyes roaming upwards. “Okay. I played violin for six years and almost pursued that instead of physics.” Holtz nodded, she could see that, she’d never heard or seen her play but it seemed feasible. Erin continued. “I’m lactose intolerant.” Nope, Erin loved cream in her coffee and strawberry ice cream. “And I used to have a dog named Corky.” She sounded a little sad with that one.
“Well that’s a hard one. Ima go out on a limb and say the lactose thing.”
“Right. You’ve been paying attention.” Erin said in her teacher voice. She meant well but Holtzmann couldn’t help but freeze up a little, feeling a little caught. Was it weird she knew all of that right off the bat? She cleared her throat.
“Scientist. I’m astute.” Pointing at herself squirming a little, quickly jumping back to their game. “Nice. Okay my turn.” Holtz drummed her fingers along her knees. “When I was little I wanted to be a dinosaur.” Holtz ignored the immediate look of endearment Erin gave her. “I’m actually legally colorblind. Anddd I have an irrational phobia of aquatic life. Go.”
“Aw come on I gave you easy ones.”
“Come on I’m waiting.” Holtz wiggled eagerly.
“Okay. The dinosaur thing sounds like you so yeah that’s true.”
“Yep. I wanted to be a velociraptor. Those little dudes ran so fast.” Making little clawing motions with her hands. “Keep going.” Erin thought long and hard for a moment so Holtzmann, feeling genrous as always, gave her a little clue by tapping her pair of glasses hung over the collar of her jumpsuit.
“Colorblind?” Erin drew out with an exaggerated wince hoping she wasn't wrong.
“Ding! I’m not really colorblind. Just a bit photo-phobic. I used to get crazy migraines. These help. Plus they look cool, I mean come on.” Holtz tittered tossing her head with flair.
“So a dog huh? Dogs are great tell me about em.”
“Yeah, Corky. I had him when I was little. He was a little black dog, some weird mutt. I loved him so much.” Erin smile nostalgic. “He would do this thing where he would chew only the left shoe and hide the right one. It drove my dad crazy.” Erin laughed then her smile faded a bit, Holtz sensed the story wasnt going to end well.
“Did something happen to him?”
“We uh…had to get rid of him.”
“Oh. Sad face. Why?” Erin looked down at her hands, pensive.
“He’s actually the reason why I think the old lady haunted me.” Holtz stiffened with this new information. There was a reason Erin had been haunted? She'd just assumed it was a random occurrence. She leaned forwards listening with her full attention. “See the old lady next door kept chickens and her favorite was this rooster. And one day it got out into our yard and Corky got him before I could stop him. I think she blamed me for it.” Holtz was shocked. That was the reason the crazy ghost stalked little Erin for months? For something she had no control over.
“That wasn’t your fault.” Erin just shrugged. “How was that your fault?”
“I dont know. But I mentioned that in one of my sessions and my therapist and parents had agreed for me that getting rid of Corky would help. It didn’t. Honestly all I wanted was nightlight and someone to believe me.” The same therepist that told her parents she was attention seeking. Holtz couldn’t stop imagining a small Erin cowering in her little bed trying to will the ghost away. Her poor little dog taken from her. Young teen Erin being bullied and socially alienated by her peers. And Abby to rescue just in time. All of that torment over a damn rooster.
“Holtz?” Her voice quiet Holtz tried to staunch the anger building but she couldn’t help it.
“What a shitty thing to do to a kid.” Holtz spat out with more venom than she meant to Erin's eyebrows shot up not expecting that kind of response.
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” Shaking her head dismissively the way she had when she had told her and patty about the ghost girl story. Holtz was unconvinced but Erin was adamant. "Really, I'm okay. You don't need to feel sorry for me. Corky went to a good home. Promise.” Erin didn’t seem angry or sad thinking about her dog just then but Holtz couldn’t help but feel bad for bringing it up. “Thanks though. Means a lot.” They sat there in the semi-darkness for a bit in silence. Erin sat up leaning forwards swinging her feet off the ground in thought.
“So you’re afraid of fish?” Erin finally said turning the conversation back in Holtz.
“That was a mistake wasn’t it?” Holtz grimaced. "Shh Abby doesnt even know about this."
“Fish though? Like gold fish?”
“No no, goldfish and little bowl fishies I can take in stride. It’s the big, freaky ocean dwelling beasts.” Using her hands to make a wide gesture. “Scales, gills, dead eyes eugh.”
“So like, if we went to an aquarium would you be like freaked out?” Erin asked thoughtful Holtz shook her head.
“Not entirely, tide pools are pretty cool. So are manatees.”
“Right.” Holtz could see the wheels in Erin’s mind going again. Half waiting for Erin to suggest going to the aquarium. That actually would be nice just she and Erin. Wait what?
“You know Abby plays the flute.” Erin suddenly stated with a mischievous smile.
“Reallly?"
“Mhm.” Erin leaned in waving Holtz over as if she had a huge secret. Holtz leaned in and Erin. “Marching band.”
“Shut up.” Holtz flew back in pleasant shock, Erin leaned back pleased with herself holding up two fingers indicating how many years Abby had marched in a band.
“Fantastic. I’m gotta know more.” Holtz pulled the walkie talkie off her belt and Erin all but launched herself on her reaching for it.
“No! She’ll kill me!” Holtzmann grinned grappling with Erin for her walkie talkie, she considered letting Erin grab hers just so she could take Erin’s instead with no real intention of talking to Abby, just yet at least.
But Holtz’s fun was cut short when a sudden static filled her ears wiping the grin off her face. Leaving her a little dizzy and an incredible need to pop her ears. Holtz blinked hard and shook her head. Not realizing she’d gone limp in Erin’s arms.
“Went sideways there for a second.” Holtzmann asked a little louder than necessary her voice sounding unnaturally far away.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Erin’s arms still around her Holtz steadied herself and pulled away.
“You hear that? Just now?” Holtz’s voice sounding strange in her own ears. Erin stared back at her and shook her head. Huh. Holtz stuck a finger in her ear and wiggled it a few times hoping to dislodge the pressure in her ears. "Like tsssssss sound."
Holtz put her goggles on and looked around carefully. Something was trying to make itself known without showing itself. Then she spotted it the same spook trail from before. Fast and blue it flew past her and into the next area. Holtz swept up her pack and went after it leaving Erin behind. She watched it fly up and over into the vent above the prize counter. Holtz climbed atop the counter reaching high on her tip toes, trying to peek into an air vent. Unfortunately out of her reach. Even with the added inch her boots gave her. She could still hear it though, whatever it was. The static forming into a tinnitus tingling her ears.
Erin approached her curiously while Holtz tapped at the grate with the barrel of the wand. Holtz glanced over her shoulder spotting Erin’s figure in her goggles.
“So it’s gonna be like that huh?! Punk!” She said smacking the grate a few more times with the gun barrel. Holtz leaned back sliding her goggles back up over her head letting out a frustrated puff. “You didn’t hear that? That hissy static sound?”
“No I'm sorry?” Holtz didn’t answer, she did kind of piss off a haunted mirror that shoved her off a counter earlier. Holtz’s shoulders drooped.
“Nevermind its gone." Annoyed Holtz slid the goggles off again and let them dangle around her neck. Erin was looking up at her, her face hard to read. "What?"
“Must you climb on things?”
“I like to be tall.” Holtz stated simply. “Not all of us have legs for days.”
“Get down from there you’ll put an eye out.”
“You’re not my real mom.” Erin sighed and tugged at Holtz’s pant leg. Holtz gasped hard suddenly causing Erin to jump.
“What?!”
“A marshmallow canon.” Holtzmann pointed out in an excited whisper. With a wide grin she waved an excited finger at the shelf. She paused a moment face serious. “You’d think they’d miss this?”
“Holtzmann.”
“Because it’s totally not worth this many tickets, thirty tops but two hundred that’s just robbery.” Holtz continued ignoring Erin’s demands to come down. Holtz gave Erin a challenging look, and slowly reached for the box while continuing eye contact. Rolling her eyes Erin reached up and tugged at Holtz’s pants some more.
“Holtzmann. Come on. Down. Down now.”
"Fineeeee." Holtz went to climb down from the counter, but wavered the static returned this time with a strange hum. It filled her ears throwing her off balance. Suddenly Erin was beneath her holding her up from falling off the counter. “Shiitt.” The frequency of the hum was pulsing. Holtz leaned against the counter as the pulsing let up. Trying to assure Erin she was fine. Erin’s hovering, which would normally be more than welcome, was actually kind of beginning to irritate her. Which was actually unusual and unsettling. "There it is again."
"Whats it like?"
“It’s like…striking a tuning fork in my ear.” Pinching the bridge of her nose waiting and hoping for the throbbing to let up. Fighting it off like an oncoming migraine. Looking up past Erin’s shoulder to see immediately something strange and rather unnecessary.
“Oh now they’re just showing off.” Holtz murmured unimpressed. Erin straightened and looked behind her. A stack of chairs arranged in an elaborate stack ala Poltergeist. Where had the folding chairs even come from?
“When did that happen?” Erin squinted at the newly formed tower in confusion and surprise.
Through her goggles the chairs showed up as a coolspot, Both Erin and Holtzmann crept closer to the sudden pyramid of folding chairs. The legs of each chair smeared with ectoplasm. This ghost, ghosts plural maybe, were the precocious type. Precociousness was dangerous and only charming when Holtz did it. Anything could happen. Mind games, gas lighting, flying objects.
Holtz reached for her phone. Raising it slowly without looking away and snapped a picture.
“Really?”
“Snapchat.” Holtzmann sniffed.
“Right snapchcat.” The two of them stood side by side in silence staring back at this sudden structure unsure what to make of it.
“I’m gonna touch it.” Holtz finally said.
“No. No touching. Remember what happened when you touched the last thing?”
“Allrigghht. You touch it then. I’ll supervise via snaps.” Holtz said seriously pointing her phone in her face. Erin waved her away. “You know, you should check your snapchat more often. I’m comedic gold.”
“I don’t have a snapchat.”
“Oh reaaalllyy.” Holtzmann waggled her eyebrows and took another picture of the chair pile.
With an incredulous look Erin took out her phone and swiped through her apps. “You’re right. I do.” She shot Holtz a dubious look. “Well how about that.”
“Ghost did it.” Holtzmann said automatically. “See. Little ghostie on the front.” She said innocently pointing at her phone. Erin gave her ‘the dammnit Holtzmann look, she’d inherited from Abby, she loved it. She watched Erin tap on her story and watch a bunch of pictures flash one after the other.
“You’ve been taking pictures the whole time?”
“Yeah-huh. Look, us loading up the car. Me with the omnious thermostat.” The second picture was Holtz standing in front of the thermostat pointing to the numbers pretending to look worried. The next few were of her taking pictures of the mirror. The last picture was Erin standing in front of the chair pile.
“And that’s you finding this thing.” Holtzmann had clandestinely set everyone up with a snapchat she was surprised neither of them had noticed. Except Kevin, she was best snap buddies with Kev.
“You should look at Kev’s you'd love it. Lots of dog filter.” Holtz cajoled elbowing Erin’s ribs, Erin elbowed her back hard. It may have been dark but Holtz could practically hear her blush. Quickly she pulled Erin in by the waist and pointed her phone at them.
“One more, c'mere!” Holtz threw up a peace sign, Erin stood awkwardly for a moment then threw her arm around Holtz's shoulders to her very pleasant surprise, so the wide dimpled smile was genuine. “That’s going on the workstagram.”
Continuing to ignore the dull ringing in her ears she switched her phone for her walkie talkie. She winced at the static from the speaker.
“Rainbow Road to Miracle Mile do you read? Over.”
“I’m assuming that’s me.” Abby answered after a moment. “What?”
“Check your snapchcat.”
“I don’t have a snapchat.”
“Yess you dooo.” Holtz cooed into the speaker and waited. There was a pause.
“Dammit Holtz!” Holtz stifled a laugh while Erin just shook her head but smirking away with her. “Oh hey when did that chair pyramid happen?” Her tone abruptly changing.
“Just now. We’re investemagating it.”
“Holtzy when did you do this?” Patty asked "What did I tell you about messin with my phone?"
“Ghost did it.”
“Same ghost that downloaded that damn pokemon game?”
“Ten four Mama Bear.”
"Pokémon..." Erin mumbled then quickly tapped at her phone, then gave Holtz a displeased look. Holtz bit her smile and shrugged shamelessly.
"You think there's any Haunter in here." Holtz whispered to Erin pulled her phone away and elbowed her in the ribs again.
“How you doing on that side anyway? You’ve been quiet. See anything?” Erin asked wandering away, she bent closer and poked at one of the slimy chair legs.
“We….caught one actually.” Abby said like they were already supposed to know that.
“What? Just now?”
“Like ten minutes ago." Patty said sounded confused. "We told you over the radio. You guys said okay and keep to going.” Erin suddenly shot up straight and looked back at Holtz alarmed. Holtz shook her head frozen mid snap.
“Oh. Right. Yeah…of course….forgot.” Erin said quickly with a shakey nervous laugh. Smooth Gilbert.
“You okay? You sound weird.”
“Fine good we're fine. Right Erin. Nothing painful or suspicious happening here." Holtz said too quickly shooting a look at Erin for backup.
“Distracted by you know, ghosts and snapchat….” Erin made a face failing to sound casual.
“Are you sure?” Patty asks sounding rightfully unconvinced. "You sound kinda freaked out."
“Yeah we're fine! You should come see the pyramid thirteenth wonder of the world.”
"ookay..." Abby didnt sound convinced in the slightest either, confused but dubious.
“We're gonna….keep trucking so…bye.” They stared at each other stunned. It had answered for them, in their voices. It left Holtzmann feeling wrong, more off than she already felt. She was almost offended.
“Maybe we should turn these off for a little bit.” Erin said quietly her voice wavering.
“Yeah let’s do that.” Holtz agreed tuning off her radio while Erin did the same. “Is it just me or does this feel a little more sinister than normal.” Erin nodded looking shaken for a moment but with curiosity in her eyes.
“It spoke for us.” Erin’s voice was a harsh whisper. “In our voices. Oh my god.” She gripped her radio in her hands looking back at Holtz, both begining to break out in the same wide smile.
“I know. This is.... kinda awesome. ”
"Right?! Voice imitation what a break through. Think if they could imitate our voices I wonder if they could copy appearances." Erin was cute when she was excited. Holtz couldn't help contain her wonder either, the scientist in her wanted to experience it for herself and study it. Being excited about junk like this probably wasn't normal but or healthy but they neither cared. "I’d be way more excited about it if I wasn't so freaked out."
Holtz jerked her head as the sound began to pulse again this time it hurt a little. Erin chattered on but the static somewhat drowned it out. It almost felt like the beginning of a migraine, god that’s all she needed. Making it hard to concentrate and how damn cold the room was wasn’t helping. She could feel her mood slipping. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to attention.
“Holtz are you sure you're okay?”
“Yeah. Gimmie a minute.” Holtz suggested rubbing her left temple with her thumb. “This thing wants to play hardball. Need a plan.”
“You just look like you’re going to pass out. Maybe you should sit…”
“Yes I’m fine! Jesus! Let me think!” Holtzmann snapped, startling herself. Wide-eyed she stared back at Erin looking just as shocked. “Sorry.....Erin." Holtz said quietly, embarrassed. She’s never snapped at any of them ever before. “Shit, I'm sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”
“It’s okay.” No it wasn't. Erin backed away giving her space, Holtz closed her eyes and took a breath trying to clear it head. The tinnitus let up a little bit the pain lessened but it was still there. She shook herself, Get a grip Holtzmann this is what the ghost wants. And clenched her jaw to keep the swell of unnatural agitation. Maybe she should stop saying things out loud and giving the ghost ideas. Holtz brightened a little with an idea of her own.
"Such a ding dong I totally forgot." Holtz said mostly to herself but turned to Erin who was distracting herself with the chair monolith behind her. "Erin. Darling. I just remembered something." Throwing on her best smile to desperately trying to sound normal. “Care for a field test?”