Captain Stanley assembled his troops in the kitchen before the shift ended to discuss the plans for the weekend.
"Okay, you guys have what we need to take to the station?" he asked looking around.
"Sure do, Cap, I got the extra paintbrushes and the rollers and stuff," Chet replied.
"Me and Roy got the extra paint that was needed. I think we'll have enough to get the job done," Johnny said as Roy nodded.
"How about you, Mike? Did you manage to get the food supplies organised with Marco?"
"All taken care of, Cap. I got everything set," Mike replied.
"Good. Alright, we'll meet back here around 7 AM so we can get a good head start. See you guys tomorrow."
Everyone was looking forward to the weekend after a horror week of multiple runs each shift. The guys had signed up for some renovation work on an old fire station that was to be turned into a Parks Visitors Centre.
After it was all fixed up it was going to be dedicated in the memory or Alan Carter, a fellow fireman who died in the line of duty. It was something a majority of firefighters in the county were pitching in with. Plus it gave the guys a chance to hang out together. They were going to stay overnight on the Saturday night and continue working through until Sunday afternoon.
The next morning found the guys all packed and raring to go at the station. Ready to move out. Roy was looking forward to a day or two away from the kids and Joanne. Lately he had found that he was short tempered and he and Joanne had fought a couple of times. Definitely an opportunity too good to miss.
Roy, Johnny and Marco took Johnny's jeep up following Chet in his old clunker of a station wagon with the Captain and Mike. Marco refused to ride with Chet after having to push his car six blocks to the basketball game last year. If it broke down again, he was having no part of it. The old fire station was way out in the boonies and he didn't relish the thought of pushing a car full of paint supplies up hill for a few miles.
The warm spring day was tempered with a nice cool breeze and the guys chatted to each other as they made their way out of the city limits and up into the hills. Roy wound his window down and closed his eyes as the breeze washed over him.
"Now this I could get used to. No traffic, no noise, no obnoxious human beings, just peace and quiet and clean air," he said, sighing.
"We should have left Chet behind then," Johnny replied, grinning.
"Yeah," Marco piped up, "He's obnoxious enough for ten people."
Johnny laughed and glanced at Roy who was smiling. They knew that Chet could be a handful at work but he was fairly laid-back off duty.
"Joanne didn't mind you getting away for a couple of days?" Johnny asked as they followed the winding road.
Roy hesitated for a second before answering. "No, she was happy to see the back of me actually. We haven't exactly been getting along lately. This break will do us both some good."
Johnny looked over again, this time with a look of surprise on his face. Since he had known Roy, he had never seen a more harmonious marriage. He shrugged. Well, not everyone was perfect. "You want to talk about it, Roy?" he asked.
"Not really, Johnny, at least not right now anyway."
********************
Captain Stanley was looking over the plans for the station. Each group that had gone up before them had done their bit and shaded in the areas that were finished on the map. Chet was being his usual boisterous self, giving Mike a hard time. Mike was silently wishing that he had not traded places with Marco.
"Ya know, they say it's haunted," Chet said mysteriously.
The Cap looked at Chet and rolled his eyes at Mike. Here it comes, he thought to himself.
"And why do 'they' say that Chet?" Mike asked.
"Well back in World War Two, this station was manned only by one fireman. He loved his job, it was his life. Well anyway, one day he fell down the fire pole and broke his neck. It was a week before they found his body. They say that on dark windy nights he prowls around the station making sure everything is as he left it. Like he did when he was alive."
"Chet, you are full of it sometimes. Why do you have to turn a great weekend away into a farce?" Mike asked.
"But it's true!" Chet spluttered.
Mike gave the Captain a knowing look and grinned. "Sure it is Chet. Want me to tuck you in and hold your hand tonight?" Mike quipped.
Chet grumbled under his breath.
"It's the next turnoff to your left, Chet. Follow the road for another five miles and we should be there" the Captain instructed.
It took another twenty minutes to reach the small building that was surrounded by tall cypress trees. There was a meadow behind it as far as the eye could see. It was in a sad state on the outside. The old paint had been scraped off and it had been sanded in places, a few boards had been replaced but not painted yet. That was going to be their major task this weekend. To put the primer paint on for the next group, so they could paint it the original colour of deep red with white trim.
They pulled up at the double carriage doors and got out. Johnny stretched and yawned. He was bushed already. Driving so far always did that to him.
"Hey, are we gonna stop for lunch first before unloading all this stuff?" he asked the Captain.
The Cap surveyed all the equipment in the two cars and shrugged. It wouldn't hurt for them to eat first. "It's okay with me. Mike, you are in charge of feeding us," the Captain said, smiling at Stoker. "I'm gonna open up the place while you get lunch ready. We are going to have to air it out some before we get settled."
"Okay, Cap", Mike replied, going around to the back of the Jeep and rummaging around for the cooler.
The others decided to check the place out with the Captain. He unlocked the small door set into the left carriage door and opened it noisily. He peered inside then stepped through the door. The others followed suit.
"I want to get these doors open so we can back each car in and unload that way. Roy, can you grab the right door and undo it? I'll take this one."
Roy nodded, and with some effort, both he and the Cap managed to get the doors open. Marco, Chet and Johnny were taking a quick look around the vehicle bay. The other groups had finished it and it looked brand spanking new.
"Hey look what I found?" Marco said loudly. He was standing in a small enclosed space that held the fire pole.
"I would get out of there if I were you, Marco" Chet said solemnly. Roy and the Cap walked over to where they were all gathered.
"Kelly! Don't start," the Captain warned him.
"Start what?" Johnny asked, full of curiosity by now.
Chet launched into the story for their benefit. The Captain shook his head and walked away. He wanted to check out the dormitory upstairs and make sure the plumbing was still working. The Captain had a good look around as he mounted the stairs to the sleeping quarters. This is where it was going to be a pain. The stairwell needed painting and the staircase itself was in dire need of a stripping and revarnish job.. He was too busy mentally drawing up a list to notice where he was placing his hand. "Oh gross!" he exclaimed as his fingers came into contact with something slimy. He held his hand up and inspected it. His fingers were covered in a gelatinous substance, like somebody had sneezed on his hand. He wrinkled his nose with disgust and shook his hand repeatedly to dislodge the mess. Being careful not to get it on his clothes, he stomped up the stairs to the gloomy hallway just in time to see the door to the dorm close firmly. The hallway was icy cold and he shivered.
"Who's there?" he called out. That's all I need, he thought to himself, an intruder to deal with. He approached the door slowly and stopped to the left of it. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it. The door wouldn't budge any more than a couple of inches, as if someone was leaning against it from the other side.
"Hey, whoever you are, you had better let me in!" Cap rattled the doorknob again and tried to push his way in. There was still some resistance on the other side.
"Okay, have it your way" he muttered under his breath. He took a couple of steps back, holding onto the doorknob and threw his weight against the door. He let out a yell as the door flew open and he landed on his stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
"Oh man," he groaned as he got to his knees and looked around the room. Getting to his feet, he inspected the room carefully. Apart from a few old bed frames and some rolled up sleeping bags, there was no one in sight. Nowhere for anyone to hide. Suddenly the Captain felt a sensation of being watched. He almost fainted when he felt a hand fall on his shoulder.
"Cap, you okay?" Johnny asked. He and Chet had raced up the stairs after hearing the Captain shout.
"Jesus! Gage don't EVER sneak up on someone like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" the Captain replied through clenched teeth.
"We heard you yell. Thought you might have hurt yourself," Chet said, eyeing the his boss carefully.
"Uh, it's nothing. The door was stuck and I kinda used a little too much force getting it open, that's all," he replied.
Chet raised an eyebrow at him. "You sure about that Cap? You sure it wasn't the ghost?" Chet asked doubtfully, trying hard not to grin.
The Captain shot him a look that said 'don't start'.
"HEY GUYS! LUNCH!" Roy yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
Captain Stanley squared his shoulders and walked out of the room with as much dignity as he could muster. Johnny followed, and as Chet left the room he glanced about. There was more to this than the Cap was telling, he was sure. This place was a prankster's paradise.
********************
They finished up lunch and unloaded the cars, stowing the painting gear in the vehicle bay. Captain Stanley split them up into two groups. Johnny and Roy stripping the staircase and washing down the walls on the stairway, the other three helping him with organising putting the first coat of primer on the outside.
It was hot tiring work and they were relieved when it started to get dark and they had to quit. Marco made up a quick dinner of scrambled eggs on the camp stove that was set up in the kitchen. After dinner, they hit the showers, enjoying the hot water as it loosened the knots in their sore shoulders and backs.
"Well, may as well hit the sack guys," the Captain said yawning. "We still got a lot to do tomorrow before we head off."
He got no argument from the others as they spread out the sleeping bags in the dorm and settled down for the night. Cap walked over and switched off the light. He jumped into his sleeping bag and zipped himself in.
"Whhhooo......", a low voice moaned in the darkness.
"Chet! Shut up!"
********************
Chet felt frozen. He snuggled into his sleeping bag, trying to get warm but it didn't work. Cursing, he unzipped it and got to his feet wearily. The place was quiet apart from a few faint snores and mutterings from the other guys. He stumbled around by the moonlight that was streaming in through the far windows, looking for a spare blanket.
He glanced out the window as he heard the wind pick up outside. The branches on the trees were dancing to and fro in the moonlight, as if they had a life of their own. He could hear the wind whistling through the cracks under the window sills and he shuddered. Chet came across a spare sleeping bad and bent down to retrieve it.
"Get out."
Every hair on Chet's body shot up. Swallowing hard, he stood up. He was too scared all of a sudden to turn around. There was someone standing right behind him, he was sure of it.
"Johnny, is that you?" he squeaked. 'Please let it be Johnny, please let it be Johnny'. The phrase ran around inside his head madly. He took a chance and looked over his shoulder, willing his eyes to stay open.
Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in uniform blues. Chet's jaw dropped. The guy was floating at least three feet off the floor! He was pale and gaunt but his eyes were glowing menacingly. Before Chet could act, the apparition began sliding forward at a great speed.
"GET OUT!" it screamed at him.
"OHHHHH!!!" Chet screamed back, backpedaling as it got closer to him. He tripped over the moving form of Mike Stoker and then the lights went out for Chester B.
"Chet, you okay?"
Chet groaned as he came to. He squinted as the torchlight hit his face again.
"Get that off me..." he said irritably. Suddenly his eyes flew open and he sat up straight. "I saw it! It was here!"
Johnny looked up at the others crowded around Chet. He shook his head. "Saw what, Chet? I think you put too much Tabasco sauce in your eggs tonight."
"Get off my back, Gage! The ghost! I saw the ghost!" he babbled desperately.
"He's finally lost it, Cap" Marco said, grinning at Chet.
BANG!!!!!
They all jumped with shock. "What the hell was that?" the Captain exclaimed.
"Someone's downstairs," Mike whispered, looking around for something to defend himself with. They grouped together, pushing the Captain out the door first. He reluctantly took the lead, shining the torch from side to side. They could hear movement downstairs. It sounded like someone was throwing the empty paint cans around. Chet's story was fresh in all their minds as the wind howled and lashed at the small building.
"Nothing to be scared of guys," the Cap said nervously. "We'll catch whoever it is and turn em over to the cops if we have to."
They reached the top of the stairs. A flash of bright white light lit the stairwell, almost blinding the six of them. They charged down the stairs and crashed into the Captain as he came to a complete stop.
"Roy, get the lights."
Roy walked carefully to the light switch illuminated by the torch. He flipped them on and they all looked around. Nothing had been moved. Everything was how they had left it before going to bed.
"I don't understand it. This place sounded like it was being trashed," the Captain said with confusion.
"Now do you believe me??" Chet asked them.
"Knock it off, Chet! That story of yours is getting really old" Johnny snapped.
"GET OUT OF MY STATION!" a voice boomed in the room.
They all jumped and looked around them fearfully. Chet almost passed out again. The lights went out in an instant. The torch the Captain was clutching dimmed, glowed again and then went out too. The room's temperature dropped alarmingly, making the men shiver.
"This is too much," Johnny muttered. "Who the hell was that and who turned out the lights?"
The guys backed into each other looking in every direction at once. Out of the far corner of the room, a globe of white light bounced towards them. It floated to the floor and grew in an elognated way. They watched speechless, as it took the form of a man.
"Ohhh not again...." Chet moaned. He couldn't take his eyes off the ghost as it floated towards them silently.
It stopped a few feet away and rose off the ground. It pointed at Chet and moaned, "Get out of my station. Leave this place."
"Uh, C-Chet, it's pointing to y-you," Marco stuttered.
"Me?? why me???" Chet exclaimed, perspiring with absolute terror.
"Yes, you," the ghost moaned. "Last chance, get out before it's too late."
Chet couldn't take it any more. He went to bolt for the carriage doors, but found himself rooted to the spot.
"I will count to three. If you are not gone by then, you will suffer the consequences."
The apparition moved closer to where they were standing. Chet felt five pairs of hands on his back. He was propelled forward against his will.
"Take him! He's all yours!" Johnny shouted. The others nodded and stammered in agreeance with Johnny.
"No! Guys, what are you doing???" Chet yelled. He still couldn't move under his own power.
"Time's up. Prepare yourself," the ghost intoned mournfully as it moved towards Chet. As the ghost approached him, Chet could see it changing from a human being to a decaying corpse, it's skin grey and mottled. It blinked at him and it's eyeballs disappeared, leaving two gaping sockets. The sockets began to glow a fiery red as it drew up to Chet and opened its arms as if to embrace him. It clamped a slimy hand on his shoulder.........
"NO! GET AWAY! DON'T TOUCH ME! HELP!"
"Chet! Wake up! Will ya wake up and stop yelling? CHET???" Chet sat bolt upright and shrieked at the top of his lungs, his eyes clenched shut.
"Calm down, Kelly! It was only a dream!", the Captain said forcefully. Chet tried to control his breathing and opened his eyes. He almost cried with relief. His friends were standing around him with concern etched in their faces. He looked around the room. The sunlight was streaming through the window, warming the room nicely.
"Geez, that must have been one heck of a nightmare, Chet," Roy commented. "You look like you shoved your head in a bucket of water, you're sweating that much."
"Oh hell," Chet said miserably. He untangled himself from his sleeping bag and grabbed a towel. "I'm gonna take a shower. I want to get this job done and get back home."
At breakfast the guys got the whole story out of him. All through the day as he helped finish the painting and packing up the gear, Chet felt extremely nervous. He was the first in the car and waited impatiently as the Captain locked the place up. Chet took off just as the Captain got in the car. He didn't look back.
A face appeared in the dormitory window. It watched as the cars
drove away.
The sound of laughter filled the room as it chuckled to itself. They
would
be back. And next time it would not be a dream....
