Chapter 3
Erin Watched Holtz with the quiet curiosity she normally did when she was in her own zone. Instead of her normal buster bag, tonight Holtz brought a smaller over the shoulder satchel with smaller items. Holtz quietly dug through it, gathering a couple of small items in her hands. Mumbling things to herself as she did when she was concentrating on something having full conversations with herself in her head sometimes out loud.
Erin thought it best to keep her distance for now. She didn't need to be told twice.
She rubbed at her arms, chafing her sleeves at a futile attempt to get warmth. It seemed like the room got colder and colder by the minute Even the warmth from her proton pack didn't help. It was like the air was leeching heat from her. An irritating cold she couldn’t do anything about. Erin grew up in Michigan and lived in New York so she was no stranger to cold but this was ridiculous. That distinct feeling of being watched, familiar but unpleasant nonetheless.
Did it seem darker? If it was possible for a ghost to be passive aggressive this was it. Erin rolled her eyes at that thought.
“Okay,” Holtz said in a long exhale turning to Erin. “Get your pack on and come hither maiden.” She joked, but Erin could still hear a slight edge in her voice, she stayed cautious while Holtz beckoned coquettishly. She held up a flat little device with a green light and a small antenna Erin gave it a curious look.
“Remember the time we went to that B&B and that ghost would not get out of the wall?” Holtz asked, and Erin instantly remembered a weekend a couple of months back where a stubborn ghost of the old proprietor refused to let her business go.
"And we blew a hole through an 18th-century colonial?" Erin added, and by 'we' she meant Holtz.
"Yes.” Holtz held the device between her two fingers waved it in Erin’s face. "This little doodad here, name pending, is gonna send out a pulse and if it works the way I know it should, it should jostle whatever is in the walls a little loose, got it?” Erin took it and gave it a close one over. “So you take this and pick a surface any surface. Press that little button there and stand by.”
Holtzmann waited and shooed Erin off playfully with her hands. Erin immediately went to the wall near the prize counter where Holtz had seen the ghost go into the air duct. Carefully stuck the first device to the wall. Looking over at Holtz who did a little run and jump and slapped hers high up on the wall. Holtz gave her a thumbs up, Erin nodded and carefully pressed the button and backed away. The little green light blinked and the device began to buzz.
The two met back up in the middle of the room Holtzmann quickly shimmying back into her pack throwing on her goggles she braced herself, Erin quickly jumped to battle stance.
Holtz leaned over and tapped the small gun hanging on Erin’s belt. “Might wanna use this one instead.” Erin could hear a gentle hum and a tickle in her ears. Holtz was grinning maniacally looking over the wall like a large piece of art. It made Erin worry when she couldn't see something happening especially if Holtzmann was excited about it. Anything could happen. “It's working. Brace yourself shits about to get wild.
Grabbing her arm and giving it an excited shake. The walls and mirrors seemed to vibrate a moment then blue specters burst out of the wall and shot around them like angry bees. Holtz whooped with excitement yanking her walkie-talkie off her belt, “The swarm is loose! I repeat the swarm is loose." Erin tore the gun off her belt and immediately began shooting proton pulses easily vaporizing two and then a few more. Erin tore through the swarm with relative ease.
"Get em babe they’re all yours!" Holtzmann cheered bolting to the other side of the room chasing her own targets. Using her twin pistols gunning them down like clay pigeons. Holtz gave her a little salute with her right pistol.
About five ghosts grouped together like a school of fish and rushed forwards knocking over the chair pyramid, sending slimy chairs toppling over. Erin skittered out of the way, sliding on a slick of ectoplasm and falling hard to her knees.
Erin groaned at the pain and the cold goo soaking into her pant legs. She was definitely going to bruise later. They really should be wearing more kinds of protective gear, at least knee and elbow pads.
There was a strange tickle in her ears, while struggling to get to her feet a gentle whispering in her ears. A childlike whisper a shy whisper. Erin looked up just as Holtz blasted the last cluster of ghosts into oblivion and the whisper was gone.
Holtz's hand appeared and Erin took it without hesitation and pulled herself up with a wince, her knees creaking. Both huffing and sharing a celebratory double high five.
Skipping over to the wall Holtz peeled one of the devices away. “Who did a good job? You did yes you did.” She cooed proudly to it in the palm of her hand. Erin watched amused and relieved Holtz seemed more at ease now.
Erin turned away remembering her radio was still off, quickly turning it back on wincing at the small screech. She wavered whether to contact Patty and Abby when the room seemed to grow a little darker and colder. Rubbing her eyes like wiping fog off a window only to have it fog bag up again.
The presence was dense and cold, the same feeling Erin had felt in the bathroom Erin put a finger to her lips then pointed up. Holtzmann nodded understanding exhaling a whisp of fog. Soon something had caught Holtz's eye, one of the mirror plated load bearing pillars to their left. In the dark Erin couldn't really see. Holtzmann crept closer the glass had frosted over like the others and in addition to the darkness it was unclear if either of them had any reflections in this one. By the time Erin reached Holtz, she had her face nearly pressed to the glass when a loud slamming noise surprised the both of them. Two wiry hands pressed up to the glass,
"Whoa!" Holtzmann flailed tumbling backward. Erin caught her as she fell into her Holtz pointed to the mirror wordless and excited without looking back. She wiggled and flung herself forwards with excitement grabbing hold of Erin’s wrist and yanking her into a run. “Quick it’s on the move!” Holtz dragged Erin through the dining area past the arcade and towards the back by the bowling alleys. Erin couldn't see what Holtzmann was chasing.
"Where I don't see it!" Erin called behind her trying keep up and not trip as Holtz took a sharp left turn yanking Erin's arm hard. All the while looking upwards. Holtz dragged Erin through almost endless rows of arcade games.
"It's in the mirrors!" When Erin finally managed to sneak a glance upward she saw a dark shadow flashing across the line of mirrors lining the wall. It was traveling through the mirrors! Exciting.
Holtz took another sharp turn and another the low LED glow of the arcade games stand-by displays lighting their way. How big was this place? They even passed by Patty and Abby while running past the bowling alleys.
“It’scoolwereonitnoworries!” Holtz jumbled out waving at a confused Patty while dragging Erin behind her, Erin just gave them a wave. Holtz suddenly stopped, in the middle of the arcade Erin nearly crashing into her from behind. Erin barely had a chance to catch her breath and collect herself when Holtz threw herself into her.
"Uh oh, incoming hit the deck!" Holtz yelled throwing herself on the ground, Erin followed suit quickly as a couple more steel napkin dispensers flew past their heads.
In the dark Erin could make a faint shape hovering in the mirror. It was just a shape of a face with long wisps floating about it like long hair. When the ghost seemed to not get the results it wanted it shrieked loud and shrill and the mirror splintered.
A spray of cold ectoplasm rained down on them from above. Erin rolled out of the way just in time to scrambled underneath an air hockey table avoiding most of it. Dripping onto her fingers biting cold, Erin shook her hand.
Couldn't she go one job without getting slimed at least once? Holtz ripped a grenade off her belt and tossed it above her straight into the cloudy mirror. The ghost gave a shrill painful shriek and the light fixtures above them shattered showered them with shards of glass and in a puff of frigid air it was gone.
Seconds after two more ghosts Erin could actually see flew in through the walls and swarmed them. A proton stream shot over her from behind while Patty came bounding in, Abby a couple of paces behind.
They’d managed to only nab one, dragging it writing and whining into the ghost trap. While the second solidified into the shape of a little boy, dropped to the floor and ran off with a childish whine. Patty shot one last shot after him but he was gone.
"You think all those little ones are kids?" Patty shrugged Erin wiped her hand on her pant leg.
Holtzmann was staring upwards into the line of accent mirrors near the ceiling. The somewhat blank look on her face. “Holtz,” Abby called, she didn’t answer, giving her shoulder a little shake. "Hm?"
"You okay?"
“Yeah!” She cried again louder than necessary pushing up her goggles her eyes were wide and excited she turned directly to Erin. "Did you see it?"
"A little it was too dark."
"It looks like she's confined to the mirrors, but she moves fast."
"She?" Patty interjected in their back and forth, raising an eyebrow Holtz nodded excitedly her wide grin.
"I wanna draw it like one of my French girls!” Holtz said wistfully and everyone shook their heads collectively. "She's conducting this choir I know it. Maybe if we take her out it'll all stop, you know phantom menace style."
"It's worth a try." Abby agreed with a vague gesture.
"I wonder if she's the one that spoke for us or it was one of the smaller ones?"
"What did what?!" Abby and Patty both spluttered.
Hours had passed since they arrived and the Ghostbusters still hadn't got a hold on the main ghost. The women regrouped and compared notes of the past three hours. Erin and Holtz told their side about the strange noise and the swarm.
Patty and Abby had similar experiences, Holtz's device had rattled something loose on their end and they battled with their own storm of specters. Neither of them had experienced a painful sound though, nor did it seem as dark as Erin claimed it was. And all four agreed it was far too cold in there.
Suggesting maybe it was residual ley line output. Their greatest lead was the mirror which had been officially dubbed The Thing.
The best form of action they decided was to go back and inspect The Thing a little closer. Since the ghost seemed to be contained to the mirrors they should be able to wrangle it in somehow.
The inevitable happened. The sound of generic child-friendly music droned out breaking the silence around them.
The four of them turned in unison as the curtain on the stage slowly pulled away the stage show began to flicker to life. Eyes glowing green. Erin's instinctively creeping behind Holtz for comfort.
The four animal heads turned their way, she prayed furiously and silently that they wouldn’t move. They moved, they always do. With jerky movements struggling to get unmounted from the stage.
"You owe me ten bucks." Holtz murmured over her shoulder.
"I never agreed to that." Erin hissed pulling her proton wand off her pack Once the first one freed itself Patty was the first to react.
“Oh no! Not tonight.” Patty stepped forwards brandishing the wand and shot a quick shot at the center automaton it stumbled backward slipping off the stage Patty gave it another long shot and the robot shorted out and the ghost inside comes apart in a shimmering cloud. Holtz looked on with clear disappointment.
“You didn’t even give it a chance to stretch its legs.” Patty grabbed Holtz's shoulder and gave her a firm shake.
“Baby, not tonight.” Erin pushed the juvenile phobia away dodging a chair thrown by the bird creature Holtz hopped to her aid running straight at the fuzzy purple creature with the guitar, taking out its legs.
It only took a few more shots to get the other three immobilized. That too was ridiculously easy. It was almost like these ghosts were a distraction. The four smoking robots lay defeated Erin stared down at one giving it a little kick with her boot.
"Doesn't this all feel like....I don't know, a distraction? I don't feel like we're getting anywhere."
“Well, personally EG, I’m pretty sure none of those are the one whispering sweet nothings into my ear.” She mumbled mirroring Erin's kicking motion to the robot's leg.
Erin stole a worried glance at Holtz, debating whether or not to ask again if she was alright. Even at the risk of getting snapped at again. She shifted from one foot to another but didn't ask.
Once they returned to the bar area the change in the mirror is immediate.
“The cracks bigger.” Erin reached out and pointed “Look it's deeper.”The crack was indeed bigger and not just down the middle anymore. The crack splintered near the bottom and out towards the side. Plus it actually felt angry they could smell the ionization radiating from it.
Holtz's phone was already front and center, snapping pictures. One of just the mirror, then one selfie style looking overly worried. Patty and Abby discussing something among themselves.
Erin kept side eye on Holtz, she seemed okay for now, so Erin forced herself to relax for the moment. Brushing stubborn strand of her hair out of her face, in the commotion her bangs had slipped out from her hairpin. Erin slid off her proton back and leaned it against the wall, pulled the slipping hair tie out and letting her hair down.
Her hair was getting too long for her liking, now she had to pin her bangs away from her eyes and it was almost long enough. Erin had been glad that the color had started to come back as it grew in, but for now, she finally found a color dye she liked and even if it was a little more red than normal. Running her fingers through it and throwing the length of it over her shoulder.
She would need a haircut soon she mused to herself she hadn't had it this long in years. Erin heard Holtz make a strange noise from her left, turning quickly concerned. Holtz looking at her strange, she seemed okay but she had a look on her face she'd never seen before. Her phone hovering out in front of her. She looked up then awkwardly looked away suddenly interested in her phone. That was weird even for Holtz Erin thought. She gathered her hair and tied it up in a high ponytail and pinned back her bangs again.
Feeling a little better with her hair out of her face, Erin put her pack back on and wandered next to Holtz still busying herself with her phone.
“Hey Holtz, do those help in the dark?" Holtz looked up from her phone, processing Erin's question. Her face then lit up and she slipped them off and handed them over.
“Try em out. have a look." Erin took the goggles and slipped them over her eyes. She waited as her eyes adjusted. Everything looked much clearer and slightly purple. Every minute detail around her was so clear, from the texture on the walls to the outlines of the furniture.
Looking into the distance was just as clear as close up. The walls had lighter spots than others especially the mirrors they were brighter The large offending mirror looked cold and swirling.
Despite the coloring, Erin had never been able to see that clear in her entire life, she was impressed. By her smile, she figured Holtz noticed. Something was weird with her though there was a weak fuzzy halo around her head. She turned to her to see her bright purple figure watching her with a clear proud smile.
"These are amazing."
A flickering light in her peripherals immediately caught her attention. A small floating orb, glowing just above them. Erin carefully approached it, it didn't move away. There was no danger of sudden ectoprojection she felt, it was just an orb. It hovered and slowly descended towards her, acknowledging her presence.
"Hello..." The orb continued to hover then float closer. Erin outstretched her hand and it inched even closer.
"Made a friend?" Holtz crept up behind her looking in her line of sight. It seemed like Holtz could see it without the goggles.
"I don't know...Wait." She whispered. She felt a tickle in her ear the same small childish whisper. Erin sensed it was friendly or at least not threatening that was nice for once. This time Erin grabbed Holtzmann’s wrist and yanked her along with her.
"I guess we're leaving see ya later ladies!" Holtz called over her shoulder to Abby and Patty as they disappeared around the corner. It seemed to be leading them back to the children's area where the chair pyramid had been. “Not gonna lie I'm digging being on the other end of this!”
“Shut up and keep up!” Finally back in the children's area past the now toppled over chair pyramid. Erin stopped abruptly Holtz came skidding to a halt next to her.
"Look." Erin dangled the goggles around her neck the words "Keen" in green luminescent ectoplasm. Both stared at it for a long quiet moment.
"Jinkies." Holtz whispered in awe fumbling for her phone again.
"Keen. I don't get it." Erin walked closer to the wall while Holtz told Abby to check her snapchat again.
"Well, that's alarming. And vague." Abby commented.
"I don't like vague. I appreciate clear communication thank you." Patty added.
"We got a bit of a Scooby Doo mystery now gang." Holtz chirped into the radio. "Me and Daphne are on the lead."
"Holtzy always had a thing for gingers." Abby tittered and a laugh from Patty followed. Holtz coughed into her fist and Erin pretended not to notice.
About another half hour into their investigation of the friendly ghost and its message Erin lost track of Holtzmann again. How a grown woman could wander off like an overstimulated three year old still, managed to astound her. Erin had literally turned around for a few seconds and Holtz was gone.
Patty would jokingly suggest getting her one of those kid leashes or attaching a harness to Holtz while on busts. Not only would it keep her from wandering off in dangerous situations, it would also keep her from charging in recklessly in a fight.
Erin had laughed at first but the more jobs, night outings and shopping trips the leash seemed more and more like a good idea. That or bring back the 'Nonsense Jar'.
The nonsense jar was something that would live in infamy to the day. Patty and Abby had come up with one night after it was an accompaniment to the 'days without an incident' sign written on a small whiteboard on the wall which had started out as a joke.
Every time Holtz did something that qualified as nonsense, mostly something dangerous like a fire or explosion or spilling something corrosive Holtz had to put a dollar in the jar it hadn't lessened the number of incidents and Holtz had taken it in good humor until by the end of one month there was enough money for a round of drinks and then some.
After that Holtz seemed to be a little more careful, until the nonsense jar 'accidentally' broke, at the bottom of the fire pole. It was soon replaced with another, that seemed to disappear just as quickly as it was implemented. The 'nonsense' had let up so it was left at that, it hadn't stopped but let up nonetheless.
She hoped Holtz hadn't gone very far. She was already tired and annoyed from the cold. She just wanted this to be over so she could just go home and sleep until noon.
"Dammit Holtz. This time I'll make sure we get a plastic jar." Erin grumbled to herself. She should just go find the others let Holtz find them later.
Erin had been passing by the play area when she heard a thumping noise. The part where there was an elaborate connection of brightly colored tunnels kids could climb around in. Erin crept closer more loud thumping waiting for another ghost rumble but hesitated. Erin had a strange feeling and decided to test something out. Erin crept close and wrapped her knuckles on the closest tunnel. A knock replied back.
"Holtz?" Erin knocked on the tunnel again and waited, an elaborate set of knocks answered back. "Holtzmann??" Two knocks she assumed that was a yes. "Holtz! Get out of there!" There was on response and Erin sighed loudly. "I will bring back the nonsense jar..." Erin said in her best teacher voice, she'd never taught children before but wrangling in Holtz's attention span was the closest she'd get.
There was a scuffling sound Erin followed it "I broke the nonsense jars." Through the speaker of the walkie, her voice was low and defiant.
"That's one dollar." Holtz whined 'nooo' through the speaker "Two."
"Okay okay." Holtz's head popped out of one of the tunnel openings that led to a large open area with a large net. "I give! I can't afford another nonsense jar."
"Well, you could let up on the nonsense just a little."
"Don't try to change me."
"Why are you in there?" Holtzmann paused.
"I don't know how to answer that." She said with an innocent grin, Erin gave her an incredulous look. Tumbling into the net Holtz rolled over the net hung a few feet above the ground. Just high enough for Erin to stand beneath.
Resting on her belly, peering down at Erin through the openings in the net. Blinking up at her she gave her a look. "Here." Holtz stuck her hand out of one of the holes and dropped a token in Erin's upturned hand. "Tribute for the jar." Erin weighed it in her hand then slipped it into her pocket.
"I'll accept it."
"I also found a slinky!" Holtz hung her other hand through the net and let the plastic rainbow slinky bob and dangle. Erin batted at it with her fingers.
"I know why you like being partnered with me, I let you get away with shenanigans like this."
"Have I told you you're pretty today?" Holtz's other hand poked out and mussed her hair. Erin play swatted her hand away and looked up, one hand on her hip the other pointing a finger in Holtz's face.
"Hey, flattery will get you nowhere!" Wagging a finger for emphasis. Holtz peered down at her, her face obscured by the net and darkness, but her eyes clear and twinkling stared down at her.
"I'll wear you down eventually. Mark my words." Holtz tittered waving her own finger back. Erin reached up and they touched fingertips. "Phoooonee hooomeee." Holtz cooed in a raspy voice maybe Holtz really was an alien. Erin laughed, their fingers batting each other's playfully for a few seconds. This woman, so strange so endearing. Maybe she really was an alien.
"Who are you?" Erin questioned with fondness.
"I'm your best friend Holtzy!" She stated in an even stranger voice. "Your favorite."
"Oh is that right?!"
"Mhmm. You know it." They shared a look, suddenly Holtz blinked quickly and looked away, Erin heard her sigh. Letting her hand go limp arm swinging back and forth. Erin dropped her hand and stood back. Letting Holtz dangle there for a bit. A moment of silliness and stillness wouldn't hurt.
Erin enjoyed quiet moments like this with Holtz, where she was calm and relaxed and a different kind of silly. Like when Holtz would use Erin as a pillow during movie nights and fall asleep on her. Or first thing in the morning when they would share breakfast right after Holtz stole the first sip of her coffee. Or catching her eating peanut butter from the jar late at night when she couldn't sleep. Scolding her about how it's unsanitary and then sharing from the jar while they talked about nothing in particular.
Erin checked the time on her phone, it was almost nine-thirty they'd already been there for almost three hours. It just seemed to get colder and darker. Erin's eyes ached in the dark and her hands felt stiff from cold. It was already November, leaving the building wouldn't be any better.
But there was coffee and her purple snuggie waiting for her back home at the firehouse. Though Patty and Abby had teased Erin about her snuggie, Holtz appreciated it at once and stole it constantly claiming that "life's too short to pretend to hate blankets with sleeves". Maybe she'd get one for her for Christmas so she could get it back.
The sound of the slinky slipping from her fingers and hitting the floor pulled Erin from her thoughts. She looked down at the dropped slinky then back up at Holtz, her eyes closed face pressed into the net. her brow furrowed just a bit.
"Holtz?" Erin reached up again and poked Holtz in the leg a couple of times. "You awake up there?"
"Yeeeaaahhh just getting comfy." Holtz shifted, pulling her arms in and getting to her knees. She sounded uncharacteristically sleepy, just as sleepy as she felt. Uneasiness crept into Erin's stomach. "We should get a hammock, remind me to get us hammocks."
"Noted."
"Guess break times over, watch my slinky." Holtz rolled back up the net and back into the next tunnel. She waited for Holtz to find her way out. She listened to her clamber around tumbling sound and Holtz slid head first down the yellow tube slide. Erin met her at the opening Holtz looked up at her.
"Made a friend" Her arm snaked out of the tunnel and produced a small green fuzzy stuffed animal. "I couldn't leave him behind."
"Is this a giraffe?" It was bright green with pink spots about the size of her hand.
"He's whatever he wants to be." Holtz shimmied out of the mouth of the slide. Erin stuck out a hand and Holtz grabbed on pulling herself to her feet, Erin worried when she wobbled a little.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Peachy." Holtz looked up and gave a clearly forced smile. Erin's brow furrowed Holtz sounded winded. She suddenly realized how tired she felt and how close Holtz's face was to hers.
Her breath hitched, then a strong invisible force ran into them pushing them apart. Erin stumbled back and then another hard force slammed into her from her left side pushing her to the floor. With the wind knocked out of her Erin struggled to catch her breath.
Holtz was beside her crouched down, she'd scooped up the giraffe Erin had dropped in her fall clutching it close.
"Rude! Interrupt my moment will you!" Holtz turned away, cheeks red. She shoved the giraffe into Erin's hands. "Erin! Hold my son!"
"What? I cant-I'm not carrying this." Holtz gave her a look and a harsh sigh.
"Here” Holtz reached forwards and unzipped the front of Erin's jumpsuit. Erin gave a small shout of protest when Holtz stuffed the giraffe into the front and zipped it back up so that the little green fuzzy head was peeping out of over the neckline. “There safe and sound.” Erin gave the giraffe a resigned look.
“Why?” Erin gestured to the giraffe.
“Because you let me.” She said simply and did a little tuck and roll away. Erin's cheeks heated up despite the cold in the room. She had her there. Erin looked down at the giraffe's little innocent face that seemed to be starting up at her.
"Don't look at me like that."
Erin scrambled on her knees and to her feet grappling with her proton wand. Plastic balls began flying out of the pit and at them smacked with the hollow pieces of plastic hurt a lot more than Erin had expected.
Holtz seemed to be having fun batting them away like baseballs at a batting cage with her proton wand. That's when Erin spotted the ghost, a small corporeal figure of a boy sitting above the ball pit. Erin shot a stream up at him and he squealed flying up and away into the ceiling. all the floating spheres dropped to the ground like rain.
"Over there! Dang!" Erin pointed up her shoulders dropped "It was a kid, a little boy." Erin said quickly looking up where the kid had been.
Holtz looked up and teetered to the side and Erin automatically reached out to steady her. "Doesn't look like he wants to play with us anymore."
They shared a smile.
"Boys are dumb anyway." They both giggled Erin's grip tightening on Holtz's arms, her cheeks were still red. She looked like she was about to say something else but was cut off when she was suddenly yanked backward.
Then Holtz was gone.