“If there’s anyone out here, could you give us a sign?” I asked slowly and clearly as I stared at the EMF reader that I held white-knuckled in the center of the dark room. Behind me, Josh held the night vision camera. He was supposed to give us a signal if he’d seen anything move or register on his screen, but so far, he hadn’t seen anything either.

“I think this might be a dead end,” Josh reached a hand up to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“It’s not a dead end, just give it a chance,” I said and reached blindly for the table, setting the EMF down on it with a soft thud. I’d begged them to come here. I knew it would probably be nothing, but the sightings and claims from the residents of Divine Creek Apartments were all the same. They all saw the same thing.

The shadow man.

Not a very convincing ghost claim, but when you add in the mysterious fire that destroyed the top half of the building, then it seemed a little more convincing.

At least it did to me. They said it was a gas leak, but the building didn’t explode. That’s what’s supposed to happen with gas leaks, right?

“I’m just saying that if we were going to get anything we—” The chair that my hand was resting on slid out from under the table with a loud scraping sound. I yelped and stumbled backward into Josh who swore as the heel of my boot found his exposed toes. “What the hell are you doing?” He barked as he righted me and knelt to inspect his foot with the camera.

“T-the chair!” I managed to squeak out. “It moved!”

“You moved the chair, Kara.” He said flatly and rolled the camera back two minutes and stood up, leaning closer so that I could see it too.

Just as I sat the EMF down on the table, we could hear Josh murmuring about this case being a dead end, and then there was another faint sound, completely inaudible, like a whoosh of air, and immediately afterward, the chair I was holding slid back. My elbow bent with it as if I had indeed pulled it out. “I rest my case.” He grumbled and played the rest of the clip out so we could continue recording.

“It wasn’t me!” I protested, snatching the EMF back up off the table. “What about you, Izzy, did you get anything?” Behind Josh, Isabelle sniffled slightly.

“I’m not really sure,” She admitted trying to hide the slight tremble in her voice. “But I don’t want to stop recording until we leave. Just in case.”

“Come on! This is a bust! And I’m hungry.” Josh panned the camera behind him to look at Isabelle. She placed a hand over her stomach as it grumbled its agreement.

“I’m game.”

I sighed and gave Josh a rude gesture, knowing full well he couldn’t see it.

“Fine. Let’s go,” I said patting Josh’s shoulder as I passed him. “Burgers on you then.”

We grabbed our flashlights and gathered up the rest of our supplies. We weren’t professionals or anything, not even close. Ghost hunting was something that Isabelle and I had talked about doing for years and when Josh heard we were planning to spend out summer checking out the local haunts, he insisted on joining us.

With everything packed up, we made out way down the short hallway to the main exit.

Divine Creek was pretty much abandoned at this point. Most of its tenants didn’t come back after the reconstruction of the second and third floor apartments were finished. While it sucked for business, it made our investigations much easier since we didn’t have to ask people to let us set up shop in their apartments on the off chance we might catch a ghost. Most people, it seemed, weren’t okay with that.

Stepping out into the dim flickering light of the streetlamp was as bad as stepping into pure sunlight. I squinted hard against the sudden brightness as I rubbed my eyes.

How long had we been in there? I pulled my phone from my pocket and unlocked the screen. 2:45. It had only been three hours. I shook my head, shoved my phone back into my pocket, and followed the others to the black Jeep Wrangler parked at the far end of the parking lot.

“Do you guys want to go to Ernie’s?” Josh asked as he unlocked the driver's side door. Isabelle shrugged and opened the passenger side door, pushing the seat forward so I could climb into the back. Being the shortest of the group by two inches, thanks to Isabelles last minute growth spurt in eighth grade, I was stuck in the back seat. I didn’t usually mind though because that meant I didn’t have to force my way through a conversation with Josh.

It’s not like Josh is a bad guy, quite the opposite really. He volunteered at the old folks home every Sunday and wouldn’t hesitate to help someone in need. Josh was a sports guy, and it made up about sixty percent of his personality. I, on the other hand, was more of an introvert reader slash movie slash video game kind of person. I didn’t mind being outside, but I didn’t want to spend all day out there when I could be doing much more interesting things from the comfortability of my bedroom. Besides, someone had to keep Rikku company.

Honestly, Josh and I really only had one thing in common, and that was Isabelle. Isabelle and I may have grown up together and been inseparable out entire lives, but once Josh slid into the field goal, or whatever the terminology is, and threw out his shitty attempt at an Arnold Schwarzenegger impression, Isabelle was absolutely smitten. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she’s found someone that makes her happy, but I miss the sleepovers and our late-night adventures to Fiesta Tacos that she doesn’t seem to have time for anymore.

“Food sounds good, I don’t care where we go.” Isabelle said as she slid in and buckled her seatbelt.

Josh looked in the rear-view mirror at me waiting for my input, but I kept my eyes on the apartment building standing ominously to our left. I wasn’t sure what I had expected to find in coming here since the reports were all kind of bland, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that we didn’t get at least something concrete. The chair probably wouldn’t count as a form of activity for us since Josh’s angle did look like I pulled it out myself. But I swear I felt something in there with us.

My eyes drifted between the windows on the third floor. Something in the second window caught my attention and I pulled my Nikon out of my bag and held it out the window. Angling it up to the third floor, I zoomed in as far as the lens would let me. I couldn’t see anything but, just in case I was wrong, I snapped a couple of photos. Even though it was dark, and I couldn’t physically see anyone standing there, I still couldn’t shake the feeling that someone, or something, was looking back at me.

Isabelle reached back and placed a warm hand on top of mine. I hadn’t noticed they’d been trembling until that moment.

“Come back to Earth, Kara. Are you good?” I nodded slowly and finally peeled my eyes away.

“I want a milkshake.” I declared as I stuffed my camera back into my bag.

Josh snorted at that as we pulled out onto the highway. “Ernie’s it is, then.”

Ernie’s Diner was a small restaurant on highway 3 about twenty minutes outside of town. They were known for their deliciously thick malt milkshakes and their welcoming environment. Most of us in this area grew up in this diner and Ernie treated us like family.

The dingy white siding of the diner had seen better days, but the food more than made up for its outward appearance. The thought of the milkshakes alone had my mouth watering as we pulled into the parking lot. Josh pulled into a parking space in front of the door, and we all piled out unceremoniously. I grabbed my bag from the backseat and slung it over my shoulder before following the dynamic duo inside.

The bell above the door chimed as we walked in. Ernie looked up from the table he was wiping down and smiled brightly at us. He’s a tall, lanky man with thinning red hair and deep laugh lines etched in his pale face.

“Come on in gang, sit wherever you like.”

“Thanks, Ernie.” Josh said with a wave as he led the way to a table in the corner.

The only other customers were two burly looking guys that were chatting at the counter. Josh pulled a chair out for Isabelle who kissed his cheek as she sat down. Then he slid down in the one next to hers and draped his arm around her shoulders.

I tried not to roll my eyes as a sat across from them and hung my bag over the back of the chair beside me. I reached in to grab my camera as Ernie approached with a couple of menus.

“How’s it going tonight, kids?” He asked and passed out the menus.

“Not too bad, how are you doing, Ern?”

“My old knee’s been acting up today,” he said with a shrug. “But I can’t complain. What can I get going for you?”

“Can I have the bacon double and a chocolate shake, please?” I asked without opening my menu.

“Sure thing. You want cherry and whip on that shake?”

“Oh, yeah.” I said with a smile.

“You got it.” He scribbled the notes down on his pad and turned to the other two. “And for you?”

“I’ll have the bacon double too, with a coke. And she’ll have the regular double, no bacon, and a sweet tea.”

He’s wrong, she’s going to want the chocolate shake. Anywhere else, she’d have gone for the sweet tea, but she could never resist Ernie’s shakes.

“Actually, can I get a chocolate shake instead? I don’t want the cherry and whipped cream though.” Isabelle chimed in as if on cue.

I bit back my smile as Ernie jotted it down and collected the menus.

“I’ll have those drinks out for you in a jiffy.” Ernie said.

“You always order sweet tea.” Josh mumbled after Ernie was out of ear shot.

“I know, but the chocolate shakes here are my favorite.” She smiled at him and shrugged it off.

“I didn’t know.” He toyed with the silverware placement with is free hand, a clear sign that he was uncomfortable with this situation.

“That’s okay, you got my burger right though, I hate bacon.” She nudged him playfully in the side and the corners of his lips curled upward.

“Which is bizarre, but I still love you.” He winked at her, and she shrugged again.

“I like what I like.”

I smirked and shook my head as I scrolled through the pictures from the apartment complex. This one was the living room of apartment 2A. There was a brown leather couch, a small oak coffee table, and an old box tv on an oak tv stand. There was a framed Star Wars poster hanging on the wall to one side of the tv and a bookshelf to the other side that was loaded down with stacks of comic books and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures. The room looked like it came straight out of the 90’s. The next couple of photos were of different angles of the same room.

The next room was from the kitchen. There was the round table that we’d stood around with the four mismatched chairs. The next one was of Isabelle and Josh looking at the room through the night vision camera. Then there was one of them sitting at the table chatting before we got started. The smile plastered on her face was the brightest I’d ever seen it. I flipped to the next one and it showed Josh leaning against the table checking the settings on his camera. My thumb hovered over the next button but before I pressed it, something in the corner of the picture caught my eyes. I pressed the zoom button and in the doorway behind Josh was a faint outline of a shadow. I couldn’t zoom in any closer, so I leaned into the camera to try to get a better look at it.

There was a clunk as Ernie set the milkshake in front of me. I yelped and jerked back in my seat, dropping the camera onto the table. Josh burst out laughing at my reddening face.

“Sorry about that.” Ernie murmured. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He sat down the other two drinks and a plate overflowing with crinkle fries.

“No, you’re okay, Ernie. I’m just a little tired.” I said with a small smile. Across the table, Josh scoffed and sipped from his coke.

“Well, this will perk you right up.” Ernie said as he set a bowl of jalapeño queso next to the fries.

“You remembered!” I said excitedly.

Isabelle grinned broadly and dunked a fry straight into the molten cheese.

“Of course I remembered. You girls have been coming here since you were eight years old and never once ate your fries without it.”

Isabelle piped up, “Thanks, Ernie, you’re the best.”

Ernie winked and walked back towards the counter where the two guys were still talking animatedly.

“Is that good?” Josh asked with a tone of uncertainty as he watched Isabelle eat another queso dipped fry.

“Try it!” She dipped one and offered it up to him.

He hesitated, looking between us. I arched a brow in challenge as I dipped my own fry and ate it.

“Are you scared of a little spice?” I asked with a small smirk spreading on my lips.

“Of course not, I’m not scared of anything.” He scoffed and picked up a fry.

“Alright then, Mr. Bravado. Prove it.”

Isabella nodding encouragingly and he slowly dipped his fry into the queso and, after letting out a breath, he shoved it into his mouth. His brows bunched together while he chewed, like he was trying to figure out whether he liked it. Then he swallowed and stared at the bowl of queso in absolute wonder.

“I told you it was good!” Isabelle laughed.

“You were right, you’re always right.”

And don’t you forget it, I thought. I ate another fry and pinched my napkin to wipe the grease off before picking up my camera again. I pulled up the photo I had been looking at before I embarrassedly got spooked by the milkshake glass clunking onto the table. The shadow in the doorway behind Josh was just his shadow casting behind him from the flash. I sighed and put the camera down. I should have known it wouldn’t been anything serious.

“What’s wrong?” Isabelle asked as she noticed the defeated expression on my face.

“Eh, it’s nothing. I was just going over the photos from the apartment.”

“Did you find anything?”

“Of course she didn’t, that’s why she looks like that.” Josh added unabashedly.

“Thanks, Josh.” I muttered and pulled my milkshake towards me. The glass left a trail of condensation behind it. I took a sip, the cold malt chocolate splashing onto my tongue sent chills running up my arms.

“I’m just saying you thought the chair was something and it wasn’t, so it’s not surprising that you didn’t get anything on film.”

“Just because you didn’t think the chair was something doesn’t mean it wasn’t.” I snipped back.

Josh rolled his eyes and thankfully, Ernie reappeared with our burgers before he could respond. I took a huge bite of mine, almost groaning at how good it tasted. If you were to ask me what my favorite food was, I would tell you without hesitation that it was burritos. You can do anything with burritos, whether its breakfast, dinner, or dessert. But Ernie’s bacon doubles were a very close second.

“This was a good idea.” Josh said as he took another bite.

“It so was.” Isabelle chimed in. She took the tomato and onions off her burger and set them on the edge of her plate. Then she used her spoon and drizzled a little of the jalapeño queso onto it before putting the top bun back on.