"Authors note this chapter is based on
The Extreme Ghostbusters episode Grundelesk. 

"Mom, dad I'm home." I replied as I rushed into the fire house we called home. Which was also the headquarters of the Ghostbuster's.

"How was your sleep over? Did you have lots of fun?"

"I guess so." I replied with a shrug.

"Catherine what's wrong? What's on your mind?"

"I was thinking about the creature that everyone keeps seeing. How can you be sure that it's not a Grundel?"

"Because honey there is only one Grundel and your mother and the others re-captured him years ago." My father replied.

"But how can you be sure that he's still there?" I demanded.

"Because no ghost can escape the containment unit, they have to be let out." Papa Egon replied.

"I thought you said mom had to re-capture the Grundel?" I asked confused.

"Well..." My dad rubbed his hand across his neck not sure how to answer.

"I did. You see honey, when I was a young girl, your father was taken by the Grundel."

"What happened?"

"Your father was too high sprited and wasn't turning into a Grundle as fast as the Grundle would have liked. The Grundel placed him in a cocoon to help him mature into the kind of child who turned into Grundel's. However, the Grundel didn't enticipate being captured, so there Your father remained where He fully transformed into a Grundle. Years later, He hatched from the cacoon and started going after the children of the town." Mom paused.

"Honey are you ok?" My dad asked her placing a hand on her shoulder as he looked at her in concern.

"I'm ok. Where was I? Your father had started going after the children of the town. I wanted to get some answers and so I suggested that we talk to the Grundel. Egon immediately shot the idea down. I'm sure you know why."

"Because of rule number one of the Ghostbusters handbook: Never open the containment unit."

"Precisely. However, I had to get answers and I knew that only the Grundel could give them to me." My mom replied. "So I convinced Rolland to help me. We went against Egon's direct orders and after setting up a containment field in which to hold him we tuned in his frequency.

Flashback

The Grundel lets out a huge yawn as he appears in the containment field. "I was having such a lovely nightmare. It was all about you." The Grundel said pointing at me causing me gasp. "Made you flinch."

"Look Grundel, we need some information! What can you tell us about your partner in crime?"

"Now what would make you presume that I, the Grundel have a partner? You wouldn't be trying to trick me would you?"

"I... I need to know. Are there others like you?"

The Grundel smiles at me. This is personal isn't it? Why are you so interested in me humm?" The Grundel asks turning his back on us definitely.

"I... I don't know..." I reply shaking my head.

The Grundel turns and smiles at me. "I do. Kylie."

"He knows your name? How?" Roland asks in confusion.

"Of course I know her name. After all, I use to watch her sleep. Such fond memories. Come out and play child, come out and play... Kylie, you were strong. You refused to come out and play. So instead I pay your little friend Jack a visit."

Suddenly, a vision of Jack turning into a Grundel flashed through my mind. "NOOOO!" I scream both in my vision and in the present. "I remember now, you took Jack!" I said angrily."

"Only because I couldn't have you Kylie."

"Where is he?! What did you do with Jack!" I demand a little too loudly...

What do you mean someone's in the house?"

"Sounds like Egon. Why I haven't seen his smiling face in years."

And your not going to see it now." Roland replies.

"No, Jack!" I reply trying to get Roland to stop.

"Are you crazy? Egon's coming."

"Pity. Guess you'll never know about Jack." With that, the Grundel disappears back into the containment unit.

That was too close. Who the heck is Jack?"

My friend. My only friend. He was seven years old when he disappeared.. Jack never came back. No one believed my story. I must have blocked it from my memory. Until now."

"I'm sorry Kylie. But the Grundel, he could be messing with your mind. Egon said that all the children who were transformed into Grundel's returned to normal. So why not Jack?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"Find our some other way, this is too dangerous." Roland replies.

Later, after another encounter with the Grundelesk creature who I now suspected was Jack I was determined to find out what had happened to him. Why was he still a Grundel? So I snuck into the firehouse and tried to do what Roland had done. He found me but instead of blowing the whistle on me like I thought he would, he helped me re-hook up the unit.

"I knew that I'd find you here."

"What are you going to do? Rat me out? You don't have to help you know. We even remember?" I reply bitterly.

"I want to help. The creature on the bridge, that was Jack wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Ready when you are."

"Do it."

"Ah, back is soon petulant child? I missed you too. Pined for you even."

"Cut with the chatter creep. I saw Jack tonight."

"Oh. I see." The Grundel replies seemingly disappointed.

"Why is he still a Grundel? Why is he different?!"

"I knew Jack wasn't a keeper. Unlike the others he of strong mind and will. Your influence no doubt. So I placed him in a cocoon of sorts to let him mature, develop, gestate. Little did I know Egon and his cronies were about to do me in... So there Jack remained in that tree. Until recent events."

Relase Jack NOW!"

"And how are you going to make me do that? You've got nothing to offer me, except my freedom."

"No deals Grundel!"

Relase me first. After all Kylie, if I were free could trap me all over again.. Isnt that what you want? Revenge?"

"No. I don't want revenge. I just want Jack."

"Then me go! You must release me, you want to release me... You will release me..." The Grundel said no longer looking at Me his gaze fixed on Rolland's younger brother.

"Now there are two Grundel's loose."

"Because of me." After being scolded by Egon we determined what the Grundel's next move would be. It lead us straight to Roland's house and his younger brother Casey. Roland was shocked and concerned when he discovers the window open and his brother gone. We spit him running off in the distance. The others were able to chase after him and Jack but the Grundel had hidden under Cassey's bed and when I turned to leave, he grabbed my leg. He threw my proton pack out of reach.

"Alone at last. How I've waited for this moment Kylie. Ten long years."

"You don't scare me! You can't make me one of yours."

"I don't have illusions. I just want to watch you sleep. Forever...."  I tried to escape but the Grundel soon held me in his grasp.

"No!"

"No one touches my family! Or my friends!" Roland demands angrily and soon the Grundel was trapped.

"Kylie, A friend of yours?"

"Jack."

"Kylie."

"Why don't you just kiss him...." Edwardo grumbles.

End of flashback.

"Why are you so interested in the Grundel? Is there something your not telling us? Have you seen the creature who is responsible for these kidnappings?" My mom asked me.

"No. No, I haven't I was just curious." I replied lying through my teeth. I knew if mom knew the truth that she'd never let me out of her sight. "Thanks for telling me all about The Grundel. I'm sure your right. It can't be him." I replied with a smile. Now convinced more then ever that the creature I had seen was knows the Grundel. "There's got to be a way to figure out what this creature is perhaps if I..." I wasn't able to finish my train of thought my mom interrupted me mid sentence.

"Catherine, I want you to promise me you won't go looking for this creature, nor will you go anywhere near the containment unit." My mom replied.

"I promise mom." I replied crossing my fingers behind my back. I didn't care what they said this creature had to be the Grundel. No wonder he was so interested in me. I reminded him of my mom. "Papa Egon, can you show me how you know which ghosts are in containment?" I asked Egon the next morning.

"Each ghost has its own frequency just like humans have DNA. We record the frequency do we can tell what ghosts we've captured." Papa Egon replied.

"What does the Grundel's frequency look like?"

"Catherine, I don't think we should be discussing this. Your more like your mother  then she cares to admit. You need to put this idea of the Grundel out of your head. I'm not going to let you near that containment unit. It's too dangerous." Papa Egon replied sternly.

"Can't you check on his frequency without having to go to the containment unit?"

"No. Your not going to rest until you figure out who is taking your friends are you?" Papa Egon asked with a sigh.

I smiled "nope."

"Fine. I'll check the containment unit, but you have to stay way over there. If I see you move away from those steps, I'll shut it down faster then you can bat an eye." Papa Egon said with a sigh.

"Thanks Papa Egon! Your the best!" I replied giving him a great big hug.

Turning on the frequency unit he turned it to where the Grundel's frequency should have been. "That's odd." He said with a frown.

"What's odd?"

"Never mind. I'm sure it's nothing. Aren't you suppose to be getting ready for school?" Papa Egon asked me.

"I get the hint, I'm going, I'm going. Have a good day Papa Egon." I replied with a wave as I entered the school bus. Upon entering the bus I looked for Marie but she was no where to be found. "Where could she be?" I wondered. My answer came during home room.

"Class, I'm sorry to inform you that Marie like so many others has gone missing. If anyone has any idea where she might be please contact the local authorities immediately." My teacher told us as class started.

"Oh no, he got to her. I've got to stop him somehow. Perhaps if I offer him a deal..."

"Is there something you wish to share with the class Catherine?" My teacher demanded.

"No Ma'am." I replied lowering my gaze a little to hide my embarrassment.

"Then kindly shut your trap and pay attention." My teacher replied causing my classmates to snicker at me.

I frowned this was going to be a long day. The Grundel who was watching me from the shadows chuckled. Based on my attitude during school, it seemed that I was starting to become like a child who would be willing to come out and play. The Grundel could tell that adults were starting to irritate me. Perhaps it was time for him to pay me another visit.

Meanwhile, back at ghost buster headquarters Egon was sharing his discovery with the team. "Catherine is obsessed with figuring out what this creature is that her class mates keep seeing. So she had me check the containment unit."

"You let her near the containment unit?!" My mom replied angrily.

"No. I had her stand as far away as possible. I ensured that She couldn't see how I turned the machines on or off. As I was saying, I was checking on the Grundel frequency to make sure he was still in the containment unit when I stumbled across something rather troublesome." Egon replied.

"Troublesome? What do you mean troublesome?" My mom asked in concern.

"While the frequency for the Grundel is still
in the containment unit, it doesn't seem to be the same frequency as before."
Egon replied.

"Egon are you telling me that the Grundel might be free?" My mom demanded and as Egon nodded my mom began to hyperventilate.  "How is that possible?"

"Calm down Ky. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation right Egon?" Eduardo asked.

"I'm not sure. That's what's puzzling me." Egon replied. "But one thing is for sure, if he is free then he is out for revenge."

At this my mom started to hyperventilate once more and she blacked out momentarily. "Kylie, honey, are you alright?" My dad demanded as he rushed to her side.

"Yeah. What happened?"

"You fainted." Eduardo replied with a smile.

"That doesn't sound like me." My mom replied.

"Yeah well, I guess Egon's news startled you enough to cause you to feel faint."Eduardo replied with a smile.

"This isn't funny Eduardo!" My father replied irritatedly.

"What news?" My mom asked confused.

"You mean to tell me you don't remember our conversation at all?" Edwardo replied semi shocked. "Ah Egon, I think there might be something seriously wrong with Kylie, I mean besides the fact that she married a man named after a nursery rhyme." Eduardo replied with a laugh. "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick...."

"Eduardo now is not the time for jokes." Egon replied.

"Yeah." Scolded Slimer.

"Oh shut up you slime bucket!" Eduardo replied.

"Why you!" Slimer replied angrily.

"That's enough! The two of you need to behave we have more important things to deal with then having to break up fights between you." Egon replied.

"Sorry." Slimer apologized lowering his eyes to show his regret.

"Apology accepted Slimer." Egon replied.

"Apology accepted Slimer." Mocked Eduardo as Egon walked off. "Your just a big kiss up you know that?" Eduardo replied.

However, rather then argue Slimer rushed to Kylie's side and patted her hand in an effort to comfort her.

"Ok, so we don't know for certain if it's the Grundel. One thing we do know, we have to keep a close eye on Catherine from now on. Whatever this creature is, it might eventually target her."

"Don't worry Kylie, we won't let anything happen to Catherine." The group replied.

"We should take turns watching her. However, she must not know we are watching her or she'll know something is wrong." My mom replied.

"Speak of the devil." Eduardo replied as I walked through the door.

"How was school?" Egon asked as i set my backpack down.

"I don't want to talk about it." I mumbled.

"Oh boy, that usually means that someone had a bad day. What happened? Did you fail a test? Did your teacher give you detention? What was it?" Eduardo asked.

"Mind your own business!" I growled pushing past the group.

"Catherine, tell us what's wrong." My dad asked as I rushed past.

"I said I don't want to talk about it! Now leave me alone!" I replied slamming my bedroom door shaking the entire building.