Ghosted by Accident 2
Chapter 2: The Job That's Not What It Seems
Morning After the Pranks
Jake woke up groggily the next morning, still finding traces of confetti on his pillow. His phone buzzed on the nightstand—an email notification. He lazily grabbed it, scrolling through the subject lines. One caught his eye:
"Calm Horizons – Job Opportunity."
Jake raised an eyebrow. He barely remembered applying for jobs online last night, but here was an email from what sounded like a mental health consultancy offering him an interview.
"Well, at least it's not another prank," he mumbled, deciding to give it a shot.
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The Interview
Later that afternoon, Jake found himself standing outside a modest brick building tucked between a coffee shop and a dry cleaner. The sign on the door read *Calm Horizons Counseling* in neat, polished letters. The place didn't scream 'fancy corporate office,' but Jake figured that was a good thing.
Inside, the receptionist smiled warmly and directed Jake to a back office. He was greeted by a tall, older man with thinning gray hair, dressed in a well-worn suit—Winchester Mann.
"Jake, is it?" Mann's voice was smooth but filled with a subtle intensity that made Jake a little uncomfortable.
"That's me," Jake replied, extending his hand.
Winchester shook it, a gleam in his eyes as if sizing Jake up. "I've read through your resume. You're studying psychology, correct? That's exactly the kind of expertise we could use here."
Jake nodded, still not entirely sure what this place was about. "So… what exactly would I be doing?"
"Oh, a variety of things. We help clients with… unique issues. Things that most people wouldn't understand or know how to handle," Winchester said cryptically. "It's not your standard office job. Are you open to fieldwork?"
"Fieldwork?" Jake echoed. "I mean, yeah, sure. I guess that could be interesting."
Winchester's smile widened. "Excellent. I think you're going to be a perfect fit. How about we give you your first assignment?"
Jake blinked, surprised at how quickly things were moving. "Uh, yeah. Sure."
---
Jake's First Assignment: The Haunted Mansion
Jake left the interview with a surprisingly light heart. Winchester had given him an address to visit, a mansion owned by an elderly widow named Mrs. Calder. According to Mann, she was experiencing strange disturbances in her home that had her deeply distressed. Jake assumed it was a case of severe anxiety or some form of grief-related stress. Easy enough, he thought.
With his new job confirmed, Jake decided to stop by the office one last time to pick up some basic tools Winchester had insisted he take—tools he said would "calm the client's nerves." Jake was handed a strange-looking handheld device that beeped and blinked with little lights. Winchester had called it an "EMF reader," but Jake wasn't sure what that meant. He shrugged and pocketed it, assuming it was some sort of therapeutic gadget.
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At Mrs. Calder's Mansion
The mansion loomed over Jake as he stood at the front gate, feeling a little out of place. It was a classic Victorian-style house, with weathered stone and ivy crawling up the walls. The house looked like it could be in a horror movie, but Jake brushed off the uneasy feeling.
Mrs. Calder greeted him warmly but with visible anxiety. As she guided him through the mansion, she spoke of objects moving on their own, footsteps in the attic, and whispering voices at night.
Jake nodded thoughtfully, all the while convinced this was a case of deep-seated trauma manifesting in odd ways. "It sounds like your mind might be playing tricks on you," he offered, trying to sound professional.
Mrs. Calder didn't seem convinced. "It's not in my head, young man. I swear I've seen things!"
Jake gave her a sympathetic smile. "Let's do a walkthrough. I'll set up a few things to make you feel more comfortable."
He pulled out the EMF reader, thinking it was some sort of calming tool, and walked through the house, holding it up as if he knew what he was doing. The device began to beep softly.
"That's strange," Jake muttered. "I guess it works?"
The beeping grew louder as he approached the dining room, where a large chandelier hung above an ancient-looking table. Suddenly, the EMF reader blared and the chandelier started to swing, creaking loudly.
Mrs. Calder gasped, backing away. "It's happening again!"
Jake, convinced it was a coincidence, tried to stay calm. "It's probably just the wind or something." He glanced at the windows—they were closed. The chandelier swung more violently, and the EMF reader started flashing bright red lights.
Sweat began to form on Jake's brow. 'What in the world is this thing?' he thought, still trying to rationalize everything. He waved the device around, unknowingly aiming it directly at the spirit causing the disturbance. With a loud screech, the chandelier stopped, the room fell silent, and the device powered down.
Mrs. Calder, trembling, looked at Jake with wide eyes. "You… you stopped it!"
Jake blinked in surprise. "Uh… yeah, I guess I did."
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Back at the Office
Later that evening, Jake returned to the office to report his success. Winchester Mann listened intently, his expression one of barely concealed excitement.
"And the chandelier?" Winchester prompted.
"Yeah, it was swinging like crazy. But then that device you gave me just started beeping and flashing, and everything stopped." Jake scratched his head. "I don't really know how it worked, but Mrs. Calder seemed pretty happy with the result."
Winchester's smile broadened. "I knew you were the right man for the job, Jake. You have a real talent for this."
Jake chuckled nervously. "I'm just glad I could help. But what exactly was that thing I was using?"
Winchester waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, just a tool to help you detect… disruptions in the environment. Think of it as a psychological aid."
Jake shrugged, accepting the explanation. "Well, as long as it works."
Winchester leaned back in his chair, watching Jake with an almost predatory interest. "You've done excellent work, Jake. There will be more cases like this in the future. Some might seem… peculiar at first, but I'm confident you'll handle them well."
Jake nodded, feeling a strange mixture of pride and confusion. "Thanks. I guess I'll be ready."