Incoming Chat from: Dave@tandtengineering.com

Hi, this is Cameron. How can I help you?

Cameron? How are you still doing live chats – I’d heard you died. Is this someone pretending to be Cameron because that’s really sick. I know he was the best live chat person on here but come on! Some respect!

Hi Dave, no, it’s still me, Cameron.

But… you died. Right? That wasn’t just a nasty rumor your coworkers were spreading?

Well, yes, I did die, but…

Wait… I’m chatting with a dead guy? You’re a ghost?

I mean, sure, if you want to be technical…

You died. And you’re still working at Initech?

Yep. Woke up, went to my computer, logged on, and here I am.

You’re in hell. You realize that, right?

Old habits die hard, I guess.

Ooh, that’s bad.

Too soon?

You’re the dead one. You tell me?

I mean… it could be worse, right? At least this is work from… well, not home anymore I guess… work from grave?

Dude, that’s messed up. Hell.

There’s no fire or cloven-hooved demons with horns and pitchforks. Can we really call this hell?

Wait until you don’t get a paycheck.

Crap. I hadn’t thought about that.

What’s your plan, man? I mean… you’re dead and still working. What’s, like, your end game?

I… I don’t know.

Can you get out of there? I mean, you’re logged on… can you do some, like, ghost surfing the web?

Let me try. BRB…

<chat idle>

OMG, that worked!

You so went to porn sites, didn’t you?

No… I totally didn’t. But, uh, I’m not sticking around here.

Wait! Quick question, man: How do I reset the time codex master?

In the primary window?

Yeah.

File → Preferences → Primary display → codex, choose the tab for “Master” then make sure “retain settings” isn’t checked and then hit “reset.”

Jesus, that’s not intuitive. They need to make that clearer!

Not my problem! I’m dead and out of here!

Hey, Cameron?

Yeah?

Thanks. And good luck in the afterlife!

Thanks Dave! Thanks a lot.

And if you happen into the database of the credit bureaus…

You got it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, this Live Chat is, like me, going to be dead.

<Live Chat is offline. Please feel free to drop us an email at info@ Initech.com>

You’d think after five years doing 31 Ghosts I’d have the rhythm of the month down. You’d think that I’d know when things get crazy and when there’s a lull and plan stories accordingly… Yeah, not so much. The next two weeks look to be quite crazy for me and I have no idea what stories are going to look like. It’s going to be fun, though!
Also, I was going to find a new picture for this story, but I found this one I used… geez, forever ago and except for the iPhone that I’m sure is in a museum somewhere, it kinda works. But, OMG, that thing is ancient! Anyway, make sure to check your “For You” page…

“Hey Sis,” Tina said to Maria as she walked into the room through the wall. “Martin, how’s it going?”

“Just having dinner,” Martin said. “Want to join us?”

“Nah,” she said. Then, eyeing the amber liquid in the glass in front of him she asked, “What are you drinking?”

He picked up the glass and swirled the ice and orange peel. “Old Fashioned,” he said and took a sip.

“Wouldn’t you prefer a negroni. Sbagliato. With Prosecco in it,” she said in a pronounced accent.

Maria set her fork down loudly. “Christina Diaz,” Maria scolded, “Have you been obsessing on TikTok again?!”

“I mean… I’m not obsessing…” Tina said as she looked around the room, avoiding Maria’s hard stare.

“Tina, don’t you know they track you with that app? They use your viewing habits to determine a profile of you and then they know everything about you!”

“Maria,” Tina said conspiratorially, “I want to let you in on a little secret… I’m dead.” She nodded for emphasis. “They can track this ghost as far into the ether as they like.”

Meanwhile, in an office tower in AVIC Plaza, Beijing…

“Sir, we have a match!” The young man announced waving a paper in his hand

“Are you sure?” his boss stood up from his desk and took the paper, studying it.

“It’s a perfect match,” the young man said. “One hundred percent certainty.”

“Hmm…” his brow furrowed as he scrutinized the figures. Then he stopped, looked up and made eye contact with the young man. “Send it downstairs.”

“Down… downstairs, sir?”

“To the Zero Floor.”

The young man swallowed audibly. “Yes, sir,” he said and hurried back to his desk where he keyed up the profile that had been flagged, brought up the transfer screen and selected “Zero Floor” from the destination drop down. “Are you certain?” a popup warned. A chill ran down the young mans back. He’d heard stories about the Zero Floor, and about what could happen if you displeased those that dwelled below the basement… He drew in a deep breath, clicked “Yes”, and said a prayer for his soul.

Down below the basement where the elevators stopped was another floor. After it had been constructed and a ritual performed, the Zero Floor had been sealed up – there was no physical access to the Zero Floor. Not by the living, at least.

The light of a monitor turning on disturbed the sepulchral darkness. “New Profile Match,” flashed on the screen. A translucent hand moved a mouse and clicked the “Open” button. The name “Tina Diaz” showed up along with a number of trending numbers.

Another translucent figure floated behind the one at the desk and reviewed what the first was reading. The first figure hissed unintelligible sounds and the dark mass that approximated the head of the second figure nodded in agreement. Then it spoke, “Yes, she is one of us. We will track her down…”

“Are you ready?” the man asked the woman in the black dress.

“Yes, Hal, thank you. Let’s get started.”

Hal looked around at the five other participants and gestured to the round table with candles already burning. He waited until everyone was seated. “Thank you all for coming. I think I speak for Genevieve when I say we are all still reeling from losing Leo. It turns out the Great Almani couldn’t escape a heart attack,” he paused and a murmur that could have been a sad chuckle went around the table. “However, Genevieve was clear that her husband vowed he could escape death itself and return to communicate with the living. And, in fact, he stipulated this gathering in his will.”

Hal nodded to the man standing by the door who dutifully dimmed the lights.

“I’m no medium,” Hal said. “And lord knows Leo did his best to discredit as many as he could. But I’ll serve as our voice tonight. Please. Let’s all join hands.”

Each person took a hand of the person next to them.

“I want you to think about Leo, about what he meant to you, about who he was. Focus your minds and act as a conduit so we might contact Leo.” Then he affected a more commanding voice, “Leo Almani, your friends and your wife have gathered here to contact you so you can fulfill your promise to communicate from beyond the grave. Please, Leo, give us a sign you’re here.”

Everyone was quiet. Everyone waited. And waited. And waited.

“Leo, please, if you’re here, give us a sign – knock on the table, speak in one of our ears, knock a book off one of the shelves.”

There was silence. No one spoke. No one moved.

This went on for an hour – Hal asking Leo to make a sign and nothing.

Finally, Genevieve broke the silence. “I don’t think he’s going to communicate, Hal,” she said sadly. “If you’re here, Leo, know you’re loved and we hope you’re at peace.”

A murmur of agreement and the other members started to get up and move out of the room.

However, this went differently from a different perspective…

“Leo Almani, your friends and your wife have gathered here to contact you so you can fulfill your promise to communicate from beyond the grave. Please, Leo, give us a sign you’re here.”

“I’m right here, Hal,” Leo stood behind him. When no one noticed he said more loudly, “I’m right here! Hello! Anyone? Hello? Come on!”

“Leo, please, if you’re here, give us a sign – knock on the table, speak in one of our ears, knock a book off one of the shelves,” Hal said.

“I’m trying, Hal! Jesus, I’m trying!” he tried knocking on the table but he hand repeatedly passed right through it. He went to the bookshelf and tried to push a book but, again, his hand passed right through it. “Damn it!” He cursed.

Leo was panting with exertion from running around the table waving his arms in everyone’s faces, yelling profanities, jumping on the table at one point. Finally, Genevieve started “I don’t think he’s going to communicate, Hal,”

Leo stood behind his wife, “I’m right here Genny! Can’t you hear me?!” He pleaded.

“If you’re here, Leo, know you’re loved and we hope you’re at peace,” she said.

Leo started to cry. He walked through the wall out of the building and into the alley behind the club that had been reserved for the séance.

A woman in a long dress leaned against the wall and laughed as Leo emerged.

“You!” he recognized her.

“One of the ‘fake mediums’ you supposedly ‘outed’? Yeah, that’s me,” she laughed.

“You…. You can see me?”

“Not so fake now am I, Leo?”

“You have to go in there! You have to tell them I’m really here!”

“Leo, you didn’t believe me when you’re alive, and I only came here to laugh at your ghost,” she turned and started down the alley.

“But, but…”

“Guess you can’t escape this!” she laughed as the kept walking.