Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a cold December day in New York City. It was a few weeks before Christmas and already, the city looked like the Spirit of Christmas itself had thrown up everywhere. Stores were decked out in red, white, and green with huge sale signs, people dressed in Santa costumes stood at almost every corner with donation buckets, and the huge Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza was already up and lit.

At their firehall HQ, the Ghostbusters were in the process of putting up their decorations. Janine Melnitz's desk was already covered with garlands and other fun little decorations. The railing of the stairs leading up to the second floor were wrapped in fake, pine garland with lights wrapped in them. Upstairs, Janine was putting some decorations up in the kitchen and also had gotten out the tree lights and ornaments as the guys had gone out earlier to pick out a tree.

The fiery receptionist had just carefully set down a box of ornaments when she heard the garage door open. She headed downstairs and saw Ecto-1 pull in. With the tree loosely tied to the roof and half hanging off the car. The engine went silent and Winston Zeddemore got out of the driver's seat.

"I told you tying it to the roof like that was a bad idea Ray." the former Marine huffed.

"Well, what other choice did we have?" Dr. Ray Stantz asked clearly annoyed, "It was either that or stuff in the back with Peter and Egon."

"And Peter and I were very adamant about not doing the latter." Dr. Egon Spengler added as he began to untie the tree.

"Plus, we voted on the matter and it was three against one, so sorry Winston." Dr. Peter Venkman said as he helped Egon.

"We had to stop twice because it almost fell off." Winston noted.

"Maybe if Ecto-2 had been fixed by now, we could've used that instead of a hearse with sirens on it." Peter snarkily replied.

"And we told you Peter, that replacement part won't be here until after Christmas." Ray replied, glaring at his friend.

"Well, it better hurry up..." Peter muttered.

"Gentlemen, I suggest we save this argument for later and focus on getting this tree upstairs and decorated." Egon sternly suggested as he gave his friends an icy look.

"Oh hey Janine." Ray said, finally realizing she was there.

"Hey Ray, find a good tree?" Janine asked as she sat down at her desk.

"Yeah, we found a nice one." Ray cheerfully replied.

"After about an hour of looking at all the trees they had..." Winston muttered under his breath as he untied one of the knots.

"Well, I got the lights and ornaments out, so you guys can start decorating." Janine said.

"Thanks." Peter said as he walked over to Janine's desk. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Did you and Tiyah get the 'other' decorations?"

The 'other' decorations Peter was referring to were not holiday decorations, but rather birthday decorations. They were for the surprise party the guys were throwing for Winston's 35th birthday on December 17th which was next week. Janine had been helping Peter, Ray and Egon plan the party along with Tiyah Clarke, Winston's fiancée.

"Yeah, she'll bring them by Sunday." Janine quietly replied.

"You're a life saver Janine." Peter said.

"Well, you can say thanks by adding another zero to my Christmas bonus." Janine replied with a snarky tone.

"Well, we'll see about that." Peter replied coyly.

"Keep in Dr. Venkman that one of your colleagues happens to be my boyfriend." Janine said with a mischievous smile.

Peter considered that for a moment before answering. "Alright then, you can expect another zero on your paycheck this month."

"Thanks Peter." Janine replied with a triumphant look on her face.

"Peter, get over here and help us!!" Ray yelled as he, Egon and Winston attempted to get the tree off of the roof of Ecto-1.

Peter walked over to the car and began to help the guys. Janine just watched as the four Ghostbusters tried to move the tree without damaging it or Ecto-1. After about ten minutes, they got the tree off of Ecto-1 and proceeded to carry it towards the stairs with Peter and Winston holding the back while Ray and Egon held the front. They began to carry it up the first few steps which led to the landing. Then came the hard part of turning the tree around the corner.

"Alright, now turn." Ray said as they began to turn, "Turn, Turn."

"I can't turn anymore Ray!!" Winston exclaimed as he was uncomfortably squished against the railing.

"Well, lift it up!!" Ray replied.

Peter and Winston worked to lift up the end of the tree.

"Alright, now pivot." Ray said as they began to ascend the main staircase, "Pivot. Pivot!! Pivot!!"

"I'm pivoting Ray!!" Peter yelled.

The boys then proceeded to ascend the stairs. Finally, after 20 minutes after arriving back with the tree, the guys managed to get into the living room and set in the stand designed for a live tree they had bought.

"Finally, we got this stupid thing back." Peter said exasperated as he flopped down on the couch.

"And we did it without damaging it or Ecto-1." Ray added cheerfully. Egon then walked in with a measuring cup full of water.

"Watcha' got Spengs?" Peter asked.

"Water mixed with a bit of plant nutrients. It'll keep the tree alive and healthier longer." the physicist replied as he poured the water into the stand.

"Should we start decorating?" Ray asked.

"Sure, why not?" Winston shrugged.

"Hey Janine, wanna come help us decorate the tree?!" Peter yelled down the stairs.

"Be up there in a minute!!" she yelled back.

The guys began unpacking the boxes of ornaments and unrolling the roll of lights. Janine came upstairs and helped Ray wrap the lights around the tree. After about an hour, the tree was decorated from top to bottom in multi-colored lights, shiny and festive ornaments, and a red and green underskirt covering the tree stand.

"Well, that looks really good." Ray beamed, "All that's left is the star."

"I'll do it." Janine said as she grabbed it, "Oh Egon, can you help me?"

"Of course I can." Egon replied. He lifted her up into his arms bridal style and she placed the golden star on top of the tree.

"Nice job Janine." Winston said.

"Thanks. I had this handsome man's help." Janine smiled as she wrapped her hands around Egon's head and kissed him deeply and he returned the gesture.

"Alright, alright, don't make turn a hose on you two." Peter teased.

"Oh crap!! I gotta get ready for my date with Tiyah!!" Winston exclaimed as he looked at his watch, "I completely lost track of time!!"

"Chill out Z, you've got time." Peter reassured, "Plus, Tiyah's a patient and understanding person."

"Speaking of which, I'm gonna head over to Jenny's and check on her, she hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days." Ray said, referring to his new fiancée Jenny Moran.

"Oh no, is she ok?" Janine asked with concern.

"She says it's a stomach bug, so nothing to worry about." Ray replied before turning to Peter and Egon, "Are you guys doing anything tonight?"

"Dana's helping out with something at Oscar's school tonight, so no." Peter replied.

"Yeah and I'm already going out with Monica tonight." Janine added.

"Alright, well you two behave yourselves and try not to destroy the firehall." Ray said playfully as he walked down the stairs.

"Bye darling, see in you the morning." Egon said as he and Janine kissed.

"Will do." Janine replied as she walked downstairs to grab her things. About ten minutes later, Winston bounded out into the living room cleaned up and wearing a clean suit.

"See you guys." the Marine said as he ran downstairs.

"Have fun Winston!!" Egon replied.

"Yeah, we won't wait on you!!" Peter mischievously added, causing Egon to elbow him.

"What?" Peter innocently asked.

"Must you always?" Egon asked annoyed.

"It's my job." replied the cocky psychologist.

Egon just rolled his icy blue eyes and headed into the lab.

Thankfully, Winston was able to make it to Tiyah's place on time. The two headed to a fancy restaurant in Soho called Raven & Rose. After eating, they took a walk in a nearby park to admire the Christmas lights hanging in the trees, bushes and lampposts. Since it was cold, they stopped at a small cart selling hot chocolate and got two hot cups topped with whipped cream.

"What's so funny?" Winston asked as he noticed that Tiyah was giggling.

"You've got whipped cream on your nose." Tiyah gleefully replied.

Winston slightly blushed as he wiped it off with a napkin. The two then found a bench to sit on and discussed their future.

"Can't believe we're just two months away from our 'second' wedding." Tiyah said.

"Yeah, but no one else but the guys and a select few others knows it's our second." Winston said.

"Well, second or not, I'm just happy we're having another chance at a marriage and reclaiming what Tiamat took from us." Tiyah said as she leaned into the Marine's strong shoulder.

"Me too Ti." Winston replied as he looked up at the stars. He then heard Tiyah softly sigh.

"What's wrong baby?" he asked worriedly.

"I don't know..." the schoolteacher said looking at the stars, "...After everything that we've been through, supernatural or not, I feel like something else bad is gonna happen."

"I know how you feel baby, but I assure you that nothing else will. Besides, you know that anytime something supernatural happens, the guys and I always manage to find a way to deal with it." Winston said reassuringly.

"I know but.." Tiyah started to say, but Winston took her hand.

"Hey, you know it would take more than a Class 2 ghost or even the Sumerian goddess of chaos to keep me from marrying you." Winston said smiling.

"Yeah I know. Cause you're more stubborn than a mule Winston Ramsey Zeddemore." Tiyah replied smiling as she and Winston kissed.

After a little bit, the couple decided to call it a night. They got in a cab and drove back to Tiyah's apartment. Winston then told the cab driver to wait a second and led his soon-to-be wife (for the second time) up to her apartment.

"Thanks for the wonderful evening Winston." Tiyah said as she took Winston's hands.

"You're welcome baby." 

"Oh and I have a surprise for you, but you're gonna have to wait til your birthday to see it." Tiyah said mischievously.

"Can I at least have a hint?" Winston asked arching an eyebrow.

"Nope." the schoolteacher replied as she opened her door, "Night Winston."

"Night Tiyah."

Winston walked back downstairs and got into the waiting cab. On the way, he had the driver stop at a local mini mart to grab some things for the firehall. Since the mart was only a couple of blocks away from the firehall, he told the driver he would walk back. After finding a few snacks and drinks he and the guys liked, he paid for the items and began walking back to the firehall. After about a 10 minute walk, he arrived back at the Ghostbusters' HQ.

As he stopped to open the door, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and a shiver go up his spine. He almost had the feeling that something was watching him. Something sinister. Winston turned around but saw no one behind him. He simply shrugged it off, thinking it was just the cold weather. He then walked into the firehall, closed the door, then locked it.

However, across the street standing in a dark alleyway was a ghostly figure dressed in black with glowing green eyes. He sneered as he saw the Ghostbuster. He had dreamed for years of getting back at him. Now, revenge seemed to be within his grasp. He evilly smiled at the thought.

"Time's up Winston Zeddemore." the figure thought to itself, "Now you will pay the price of your bloodline..."

To be continued...

Chapter Text

The next morning, at a construction site in Brooklyn, workers were just arriving for the day ahead with cups of hot coffee in their hands. After talking and mingling for a few minutes, the men began to power up the various types of machinery, heavy or not, and let them defrost after a cold night.

Across the site, in a large trailer office, the manager of the construction company himself walked in with a cup of coffee whilst grumbling something about the cold. Edward Zeddemore, or Big Ed as he was known, was a large, heavyset man in his mid-60s. He had black hair and a beard that were speckled with gray and dark brown eyes that could either kill you or lighten up with laughter. His face, which was somewhat similar in shape to his son Winston's, was weathered from years of bracing the elements and had a few scars on his hands from various accidents.

Edward wore a long-sleeved yellow shirt with several pockets, black pants, and heavy duty work boots. He slipped off his thick brown winter coat, stuffed his gloves in the pocket and hung it up on the coatrack. And although his wife Anna had died over 15 years before, he still wore his wedding ring along with a silver crucifix that was a gift from her around his neck.

He sat down at his desk which was covered in blueprints, reference photos, other pieces of paper, and a couple of pencils, rulers and other stationery items. On a shelf above were several photographs: one of him, his wife and his son, another with just him and his son, one of his late wife, and another of his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. He sat in silence for a while going over some blueprints and other documents. About an hour later, Edward felt a cold blast of air hit his back. He turned his head and saw the door slightly open.

"Damn door..." the construction manager muttered as he walked over and closed it.

After making sure it was tightly shut, Edward turned around to go back to his desk, only to come face to face with a ghostly figure dressed in black with bright green eyes. His face paled and his body froze with fear. The ghost smiled evilly.

"Hello Edward..." the figure said in a sinister way.

—————————————————————————

Meanwhile at the firehall, the four Ghostbusters were still gradually waking up. Peter stumbled into the kitchen with bleary green eyes and messy brown hair. He saw Ray, Egon and Winston already seated at the table with cups of coffee and various reading materials. Ray and Winston were both glancing at something in the newspaper while Egon was reading a book on quantum mechanics. The three looked up and noticed the still half-asleep psychologist.

"Mornin' Pete." Winston said.

"Morning Z..." Peter mumbled as he walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee.

All of a sudden, the alarm rang throughout the building, signaling that a call had just come in.

"Seriously?!" Peter exclaimed, "I haven't even had my coffee yet!"

"Don't worry, this shouldn't take long." Ray reassured as he gently pushed Peter towards the bunk room.

After quickly changing into their underclothes, the four slid down the fire pole and rushed to put on their jumpsuits.

"What do we got Janine?" Egon asked as he rushed over to her desk.

"A spirit with glowing green eyes and all dressed in black at a G & K construction site in Brooklyn." Janine replied as she handed Egon a sheet of paper.

"Wait, did you say a G & K construction site Janine?" Winston asked.

"Yeah, why?"

Winston's face turned several shades lighter. "That's my dad's construction site!" he exclaimed. He quickly jumped into the driver's seat and started Ecto-1.

"Come on Venkman, you can put your shoes on in the car." Egon said as he tugged Peter by the sleeve of his jumpsuit.

Peter muttered something inaudible under his breath. After piling in, Ecto-1 flew out of the garage and down the street, almost sending the guys flying out of their seats.

"Whoa, slow down a bit Winston!" Ray exclaimed.

"Yeah, I know you're worried about your dad, but it won't do him any good if we die before we get there cause you wouldn't slow down." Peter added.

"Sorry guys..." Winston said, his hands gripping the steering wheel and his dark knuckles turning white.

Ecto-1 flew through the streets and around corners all the way to Brooklyn. When they got there, there were met by a man in his mid-40s wearing an orange hardhat.

"Thanks for coming out Winston." the man said.

"Where's Dad Charlie?" Winston asked with urgency.

"And what happened?" Ray added.

"In the trailer." Charlie replied as he pointed towards it, "We heard some banging noises, so me and a couple of the guys went to check on him. But when we opened the door, we saw Big Ed being cornered by a ghost dressed in pitch black with these freaky glowing green eyes."

"Did the ghost say anything?" Egon asked as he slipped on a proton pack.

"He asked Ed 'Where is he?' and Ed said you're not getting him." Charlie replied, "We then tried to rescue Ed, but the ghost told us to leave and blasted us out of the trailer. Several of the guys got hurt and are in the hospital."

"It'd be best to get yourself and the others away from trailer in case something happens." Peter suggested.

While Charlie went to gather up the rest of the workers, the guys carefully made their way to the trailer where Winston's dad was being held hostage by an unknown entity. They ducked beneath one of the windows and could hear voices but were unable to make out what they were saying. Winston tried peering into the window, but found the view blocked.

"Can't see, the window must be blocked." the Marine said frustrated as he ducked beneath the window again.

"Got anything on the meter Spengs?" Peter asked.

Egon turned on the meter and immediately it began going crazy. His icy blue eyes widen as he looked at the screen.

"Gentlemen, it seems that Winston's father is being held hostage by a Class 7 entity." the physicist said grimly.

Winston's dark eyes almost popped out of his head and he had to bite his tongue to keep from yelling. "A WHAT?!" he quietly hissed.

"We're in so much trouble..." Peter muttered.

"Let's not waste anymore time, power on." Ray said as he switched on his pack.

The four men snuck around to the door of the trailer. Winston then blasted the door off its hinges and they barged in.

"Let go of my dad!" Winston yelled. The spirit turned around to face him.

"Winston, get out of here!" Edward yelled.

"You..." the spirit snarled as it glared at Winston.

"Throw 'em!" Peter yelled.

All four men fired a stream of positively charged energy at the ghost. The streams grabbed him for a few seconds before the ghost released a wave of energy which not only caused the guys to go flying out of the trailer but also ripped off the entire wall. Debris flew everywhere and the other construction workers ran for cover. Peter, Ray, Egon and Winston had flown back at least several yards away.

The spirit flew out with Mr. Zeddemore in its grasp. The spirit was a man, possibly African-American, with dark gray skin, a beard and mustache, and glowing green eyes. He almost looked like he was from the 1800s as he was dressed in a long black tailcoat, a matching suit and a long billowing black cape. He also wore a black top hat, a necklace of lion's teeth, held a cane in his right hand, and had a lit cigar in his mouth. His gaze seemed fixated on Winston for some reason.

"Yep, it's a Class 7 alright." Ray confirmed as he looked through his ecto goggles.

"So, how do we stop him?" Peter asked.

"Let's try communicating with it first." Egon suggested as he and the others stood up

"Are you sure Egon? We already know it's hostile." Ray replied.

"I'm aware Raymond, but as you know, Class 7s are highly intelligent plus we should try and minimize the amount of possible destruction of the surrounding areas." Egon noted.

"Let me talk to it, it has my dad after all." Winston said.

"Be my guest." Peter replied.

"Be careful Z." Ray cautioned.

Winston walked towards the spirit who still held his father in his grasp. His eyes intently studied the Ghostbuster as he walked ever so closely towards him.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Winston boldly asked.

"My identity is not for you to knowWinston Zeddemore." the spirit replied with a Southern sounding, almost Creole accent.

"How...how do you know my name?" Winston asked in shock.

"I've always known who you are. And your father too." the spirit replied.

"Winston, get out of here!" Edward yelled before a black mist covered his mouth.

"Quiet you bastard!" the spirit hissed.

"Let him go!" Winston yelled.

The spirit's eyes glowed brighter and objects began flowing around it. "I don't believe I will..." he growled.

With a wave of his hand, objects flew violently towards the Ghostbusters. They managed to dodge the flying arsenal of deadly objects. Rocks and sharp pieces of metal flew everywhere and several shards had lodged themselves into one of the bulldozers.

"Whoa, this guy is not playing!" Peter exclaimed.

"Peter, Ray, Winston, keep him distracted!" Egon yelled.

"Egon, what are you doing?!" Ray asked.

"Just trust me!" the physicist yelled back.

"You heard the man, shoot 'em!" Winston yelled.

The three Ghostbusters shot at the ghost again. While they were doing that, Egon snuck around some piles of dirt and debris and came up behind the ghost. He took a proton grenade out of his jumpsuit pocket and pressed the button. He threw it at the ghost, and as far away from Edward as possible. However at the last minute, the ghost turned around and batted the grenade away. It landed behind a pile of rubble and exploded. Dirt and debris went flying everywhere.

"Jesus Christ Spengs, were you trying to get yourself killed?!" Peter hissed.

"And my dad?!" Winston added.

"My apologies gentleman, but it was the only thing I could think of that could disrupt the entity's power enough to trap it." Egon replied.

"Well intentions aside Spengler, I think you pisses him off even more." Ray interjected as he looked at the ghost. The ghost's eyes were ablaze with green fire and his aura darkened.

"You'll pay for that." the ghost snarled as more debris began floating around him.

"Move!" Peter yelled.

The ghost waved his hand and the debris flew fast and violently towards the team. Peter, Egon and Winston were able to avoid it, but a piece of metal flew past and cut Ray's lower leg and left a deep, bleeding laceration.

"Ah!" Ray cried as he fell to the ground.

"Raymond!" Egon yelled. He and Peter quickly rushed to the engineer's side. Using Ray's pocket knife, Peter cut a piece of his jumpsuit off and pressed against the wound.

"How...bad...is it?" Ray gasped as he gritted his teeth in pain.

"It's pretty deep. Just try not to move a lot." Egon replied.

The trio then heard a deep laughter. They turned and saw the ghost floating towards them with a slight grin on his face.

"Take over for me Spengs." Peter said. Egon placed his hand over the wound to stem the bleeding while Peter stood up and aimed his neutrona wand at the entity. But before he could fire, a voice yelled out.

"Stop!" It was Winston's. He quickly stepped in between the ghost and his friends.

"Z, what are you doing?!" Peter exclaimed.

"You already knew my name and my dad's." Winston said as he stared at the ghost, "And you said you've known who I am for a long time. That, and your fixation on me, says that your vendetta is with me."

"What are you implying at?" the ghost asked as he took a puff of his cigar.

"Let my dad go and you can have me. I won't resist." Winston replied stoically.

"Winston, no!" Ray yelled.

Edward tried yelling something, but all that was heard was muffles that no one could understand. A wide, sinister grin appeared on the ghost's pale face.

"You've got a deal." the ghost replied in an evilly gleeful way.

"No!" the other three Ghostbusters yelled.

The black mist that had surrounded Edward dissipated and he fell to the ground. More black mist swirled around Winston and formed a tight grip around him.

"Now, you will pay for the sins of your bloodline Winston Ramsey Zeddemore." the ghost said.

Black mist began to swirl around the two. Peter and Edward lunges towards the spirit and Winston, hoping to save the former Marine before he vanished. But they weren't fast enough as the ghost and his victim disappeared before they could reach them, leaving only a proton pack behind.

Winston was gone.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Peter, Ray and Egon stood in shock at what had just happened. They had just witnessed their friend being taken by an evil entity who seemed to have a personal vendetta against the Marine. Uncertainty and worry for Winston filled the air around them, Ray even forgetting the deep cut on his leg.

Edward tried to process what had happened. He had just seen an evil spirit, who had attacked him and his workers, take his only son to who knows where. Shock, anger, worry and a whole range of emotions raced through his mind. However, he quickly regained his composure and walked over to the three scientists

"Please tell me what the hell just happened!" Edward exclaimed.

"Uh, a ghost took Winston?" Peter sheepishly replied.

"Yes, I know that Dr. Venkman!" Edward replied, "I just want to know who the hell took my son and where they are!"

"And we will Mr. Zeddemore." Ray replied as he tried to reassure the distressed father, "Winston is our friend and brother and we will do whatever it takes to find him. He'd do the same for us." Ray then grimaced as he was reminded of the bloody, painful laceration on his leg.

"But first, we need to get back to the firehall to treat your injury, Raymond." Egon said as he and Peter helped the engineer up off the ground. "I don't want it to get infected."

With Peter's help, Ray limped over to Ecto-1 with Egon following behind carrying the proton packs belonging to him and Winston. Peter helped Ray into the car and then helped Egon put the rest of the equipment away. But before they could leave, Edward came over to them.

"I'm coming with you three." he firmly said.

"Mr. Zeddemore, I don't think that's-" Ray started to say.

"Listen Dr. Stantz, Winston is my son, and I will do anything to get him back even if it means going through the depths of hell itself." Edward interrupted as his dark eyes narrowed, "Thus, I'm coming with you."

The three scientists looked at each other. They knew very well that Edward, much like Winston, wouldn't sit behind when someone he loved was in trouble. Not to mention Edward was a somewhat intimidating figure.

"Fine..." Ray sighed, "Get in."

"Now I know where Z gets his stubbornness from..." Peter whispered to Egon who was in the driver's seat.

"If anything, Dr. Venkman, he gets it from his mother." Edward remarked as he buckled in.

Egon turned the ignition, and the old hearse came to life. The incomplete team of Ghostbusters and Winston's father quickly took off for the firehall to start their search for the kidnapped Marine.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkness and a bone chilling cold was the only thing Winston was aware of. The air around him was frigid, dry, and musty. He could faintly hear water dripping somewhere in the background. He could feel a firm pressure on his back as if he was laying down. Winston slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at a stone ceiling. He turned his head to the side and saw he was in a dimly lit room with stone walls like a prison cell. He sat up and found he had been laying on a stone bench. He got up to investigate his surroundings only for him to feel a yank on his hands. It was then he realized that his hands were bound in chains attached to the wall.

"Where the hell am I?"

"You're my prisoner." Winston turned towards the doorway. Or what was supposed to be a doorway. The spirit who had taken him easily floated through the translucent barrier that shimmered purple as he passed through. "Welcome to the Bastille de la Mort, Winston."

"Bastille de la Mort?" Winston asked as the spirit floated up to him.

"It means 'Bastille of Death' in French." the spirit replied as he took a puff of his cigar and blew the smoke into Winston's face.

"How original..." Winston muttered before speaking up, "But there are two things I want to know: who are you and why do you have a vendetta with me?"

"You ask many questions." the spirit commented, "First, my name is Baron La Croix. And second, you were the key to fixing a great injustice against me."

"Whatever you think I did to you, I didn't." Winston boldly stated, "Hell, I don't even know you man."

Baron La Croix stared at the Ghostbuster for several minutes, his glowing green eyes boring into Winston's warm, brown eyes. Then, out of nowhere, the vengeful spirit whacked Winston in the side with his cane. It threw him off balance and he fell to the floor, hitting his head on a sharp stone and leaving a bleeding cut on his forehead.

"What the hell was that for?!" Winston asked.

The baron was silent for a few seconds before answering. "You have her eyes."

"Whose?"

"Your mother's." La Croix hissed.

"What does my mother have to do with any of this?!" Winston exclaimed.

"It is because of her crimes against me." La Croix replied darkly as he got up in the Marine's face. He then smiled sinisterly. "And now that you are here, justice has been served."

"You took me because of someone else's so-called crime against you?" Winston asked in disbelief, "What 'crime' did my mother commit?"

"That is not for you to know." La Croix replied as he drifted out of the cell, "Enjoy your stay, Winston. It's going to be a long one." With that, the vengeful baron disappeared.

Winston sighed as he sat down on the stone bench. He wiped away some of the blood that was running down his face from the cut. He tried to make sense of the whole situation and tried to figure out what crime his mother had possibly committed against this spirit that led to her only son being imprisoned. The air was dry and cold which made him cough. The coughs made his left side scream in pain, probably had several injured ribs from the baron's cane.

"Guys...I hope y'all have a plan..." Winston hopefully thought.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baron La Croix glided down the dark hallway lined with prison cells, his black cloak billowing around him. He smiled to himself, happy about the fact that he had finally gotten retribution after so many years. However, his victory was interrupted by a female voice coming from aa cell.

"You bastard!" the voice yelled, "You promised you wouldn't go after him!"

La Croix then turned and floated into the cell where the voice came from. Inside the cell was the spirit of an African-American woman. She had dark hair with a couple of gray streaks, warm brown eyes and wore a white dress. She glared at the baron with fury.

"I never promised I wouldn't go after him, Anna..." La Croix sneered as he got in the woman's face.

"Yes, you did you liar!" Anna yelled, "We had a contract!"

Baron La Croix let out a deep, amused chuckle. "You were always too trusting. You almost never stop to think about someone's true intentions."

Anna's ghostly form paled. "What did you do Jean?"

"I never promised to leave your precious son alone forever." La Croix replied amused, "I only promised to leave him alone until his 35th birthday."

"But his birthday isn't until next week!" Anna protested.

"Close enough." La Croix said dismissively.

"You lied to me, you son of a bitch!" Anna yelled.

"Do you really think I was going to keep my word, Anna?" the baron said sarcastically and a little demeaning, "But don't worry, you and your boy will be reunited soon enough and then can spend the rest of eternity in my dungeons."

Baron La Croix then drifted out of the cell and disappeared. Anna, horrified and angry that she had fallen for the baron's lies, sat down on the stone bench and started to cry. Her contract that was supposed to protect her son had now cursed him to an eternity in this prison. All because of her trusting nature and her supposed 'crime' against Baron La Croix.

"Oh Winston, I'm so sorry." Anna said through her tears, "This was supposed to keep you out of this mess, but all it did was drag you into it. And now, Jean's gonna do who knows what to you. All I wanted to do was protect you. And now, you're stuck here cause of me..."

To be continued...