Warning: Mentions disembodied voices, full bodied apparitions, some creepy music and shadow figures.

****

Avery pulls up to the society, cutting the engine. She spots the team as they're loading up everything. Today was the day that Paranormal Monthly was planning on shadowing the team. Avery would be lying if she said she wasn't feeling a little bit nervous about this particular investigation.

She quickly exits her car, locking it before shutting the door and hurrying over to Nolan. He flashed that cute grin at her and instantly, Avery's nerves calmed just a tad.

"You ready for this?" Nolan asks. Avery smiles, reaching for his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I should be asking you that." Nolan chuckles.

"I'm ready," he replies. "Or as ready as I can be."

"Hey, just think about all the free publicity you'll receive from getting featured in the magazine," Avery says softly. Nolan nods, tugging his hand away. Immediately Avery is concerned.

"You're worried, aren't you?"

"It's just, this is huge, you know? I want everything to run as smoothly as possible. I don't want to give Paranormal Monthly any more reasons to doubt us."

"Hey," Avery murmurs softly, taking Nolan's hand again. "Everything will be just fine. None of us wants to mess things up. Not with so much at stake." Nolan stares into Avery's eyes and smiles.

"You're right. I'm just overthinking." Avery gives him a quick kiss.

"You are, but I still love you anyway." Nolan chuckles. The rest of the team joins them. Avery takes note that everyone looks a little tense. Nolan clears his throat, addressing his team.

"I know everyone's on edge about this, but just remember, our main goal is assist the client."

"We're gonna rock this," Lola says, smiling. Nolan chuckles.

"Damn right we will." The Paranormal Monthly staff van pulls up. Elise rolls down her window, smiling.

"Hope you're all ready." Nolan pastes a smile on his face.

"We are."

"Super. Let's hit the road!"

***
Two hours later, everyone is pulling into the gates of the Mount Valley Lodge. Avery stares curiously at the vast building.

"Damn. This place is huge," she comments as the van rolls to a stop in the lodge. Nolan nods, cutting the engine. Everyone quickly scrambles out, heading inside as the owners greet everyone. Nolan had called ahead, making sure it was okay to have the extra staff from Paranormal Monthly tagging along.

Nolan quickly introduced his team to the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Reilly. They seemed genuinely excited to have their place getting investigated.

The Reilly's recounted several of the paranormal experiences that both they and several guests and staff had. Avery found herself getting a little excited about beginning the investigation.

After the Reilly's were finished and had shown the team several hot spots for where the paranormal activity was most prominent, they immediately began setting up the equipment and then, figuring out how to split everyone into teams.

It's decided that Nolan, Stuart, Avery and Lola will go on one team, while Elise, Sid, Lennox and some of the other staff would go on other team.

They spilt up, Avery following behind Nolan as they headed into the grand ballroom, where there had been reports of shadow figures and music playing.

"Avery  Lola, Nolan and Stuart in the grand ballroom," Avery says into the recorder, as Nolan and Stuart scan the massive, empty room with the thermal cameras.

"Is there a Olivia or Harriet here?" Lola asks. "We heard that you both used to live here and were singers, who tragically died from smallpox."

Everyone was silent. Avery suddenly spotted a shadow figure, darting into the corner.

"Nolan, pretty sure I just saw something, over there." Avery points to the corner of the stage. Nolan holds the thermal camera over by that part. He notices something a little...off.

"There's definitely something hanging around there," he agrees.

"Olivia? Harriet? Is that one of you?" Avery asks. "If so, can you knock or make some kind of noise so we know?"

Immediately there is a sharp rap. Even Stuart looks impressed. Avery grins. "Is that Olivia?" Waits. Nothing. "Harriet?" Another sharp rap. Then...there's a faint hum of..music.

"Oh my God," Lola murmurs.

"Harriet, is there a reason you're still here?" Nolan asks. "Did you feel like you were taken too soon?"

Another rap. "Are you angry about that?" Silence. "If you're not angry, then what? Is Olivia here, too?"

Nothing. It's gone silent. Apparently Harriet is either not interested in communicating any longer or her spirit has left the room.

***

"Sid, Lennox, Elise, in room 345. There's been some reports of disembodied voices coming from here," Sid says.

"Is there anyone here who'd like to talk with us?" Lennox asks. There's a scuffling noise in the back room. Everyone heads in that direction. Lennox is scanning the room. They hear the sound again.

"Are you trying to get our attention?" Sid asks. "You have it." There's a disembodied voice coming from the bedroom. Sid and Lennox look at Elise, who nods in confirmation.

"Could you speak again?" Lennox asks. Again, there's a faint whisper. "Let's check the voice recorder."

Sid reminds it, listening through the headphones. His eyes go wide. He takes off the headphones, handing them to Lennox, who puts them on, listening. Lennox grins.

"Damn. That's awesome. Elise, care to listen?" She nods, accepting the headphones, slipping them on as Sid rewinds the recorder once more. Elise's face lights up.

"Excellent catch, guys." The voice on the recorder is saying: "Hello, my friends."

***
After a couple of hours, everyone regroups, sharing their experiences. Avery, Lola, Nolan and Stuart love hearing the voice recording and they tell about communicating with the spirit of Harriet in the ballroom.

"All right," Nolan says. "We'll switch it up again, two by two this time. Lola and Lennox. Sid and Avery. And Elise and Stuart."

"What about you?" Avery asks. Nolan gives her a little smile.

"I'm taking a step back. I'll be out here, with the camera crew, watching the monitors."

You're already starting, aren't you?" Lola asks quietly. Nolan nods.

"Remember, once this case is wrapped, I'm stepping down for a while. We all know it's for the best." Avery notices that Nolan looks a little emotional, but she also knows he's making the right decision.

"Okay, team. Get going." Nolan flashes a grin. "I know you'll make me proud."

***

"Sid and Avery in the West wing of the lodge," Avery says, using her flashlight to look around. Sid is scanning the area.

"There's been reports of shadow figures here, as well and occasional disembodied voices, like children's," Sid says.

"Is there anyone here who might like to communicate with us?" Avery asks. She thinks she sees a small shadow darting off, further down the hallway.

"I think I saw a child," she tells Sid, who nods.

"Pretty sure I saw it, too."

"If there's someone here," Avery continues. "You don't have to be scared of us. We only want to help you."

Another shadow in the distance. "Are you scared?" A faint knock. "Why?"

Another faint knock and...a voice. Avery looks at Sid. "Can you say that again?" Sid asks.

A whisper, close by. It sounds like...I want to go home. Avery's heart nearly breaks.

****

"Lola and Lennox in the grand ballroom," Lennox says. "Olivia? Harriet? Have you come back?"

Lola gets up on the stage, while Lennox circles the back of the room. "Harriet, we know you were here earlier. But either you left or weren't interested in responding," Lola says.

There's a sharp rap, just like before. Lennox jogs up towards the stage. "Pretty sure someone touched me when I was in the back," he informs Lola. She nods.

"Someone is definitely here," Lola agrees. "They're either being shy or stubborn. I'm not sure which."

"Harriet, you don't have to be afraid," Lennox says. "We just wanna help you, if we can."

A shuffling sound. Lola and Lennox look at each other. Then...the music starts. This time louder than before. It lasts about ten seconds before abruptly halting.

"If that is Harriet," Lennox says. "She's definitely trying to get our attention."

"Agreed." Lola gets off the stage. Just as her foot hits the floor, a shadow figure passes right by her and Lennox. They're startled briefly.

"Tell me you got that on camera." Before Lennox can reply, the walkie-talkie crackles. It's Nolan.

"Go for Lennox."

"Dude, I literally just saw that shadow figure on the monitor," Nolan says, sounding extremely excited. Lola laughs.

"Really? That's freaking awesome!"

"I know! I cannot wait to show the Reilly's," Nolan says.

Lola grins. "I'm just glad someone caught it."

***

After several more hours, everyone returns to the main lobby, brimming with tales and excitement about everything they witnessed, recorded and filmed. Nolan smiles proudly at his team.

"You guys were awesome," he says, beaming. Avery reaches out, grabbing his hand and smiling back.

"Did you ever actually doubt us?" Lennox teases. Nolan chuckles, shaking his head.

"Absolutely not. You guys are amazingly professional and I'm proud to not only call you my team, but my friends as well."

Stuart and Elise approach the team, grinning. Nolan's nerves float away. He's aware of the verdict.

"You guys really are an amazing paranormal team," Stuart says. "You guys just click."

"I agree," Elise says. "You know there was some..concerns, especially after that fake video got leaked on Miss Greer's blog. But I have no doubt in my mind now, you guys are the real deal."

Nolan smiles, extending his hand, shaking both Elise and Stuart's. "You have no idea how much this means to me. To us. Thank you."

Elise chuckles. "Don't thank us. You're the one who has something amazing here and you'd be crazy to give it up."

"We have no intention of giving it up," Avery speaks up, squeezing Nolan's hand. He smiles fondly at her. "I'm pretty sure the Sahling Paranormal society is gonna be around for a long time yet."