Grim Reefer

Anyway, basically what happened is that Livvy lives in this rural southern backwater town and works this boring fast food job everyday. One day she decides to check out this old farm house way back in the fields along the highway. She drives past it everyday on the way to work, and thinks about what might be inside. So one day on a day off she goes and tries to explore. It's surrounded by beautiful nature so it's not completely a bust if it doesn't work out.

She noticed it's on a pretty big piece of land, with some of the woods on its side of the wired fence, a tank for wildlife, an abandoned barn, and Livvy even walked past a creek. Going inside it seemed pretty normal for an abandoned house, decrepit and old. The wood was obviously rotting and there was a foul smell that had to be mold. She looked through some drawers, finding framed pictures, and documents from the early 1920s to mid 30s.

Livvy was a little bit jumpy already, on this creepy house, but screamed as she looked up from the paper. A woman with pale skin, dark dead hair and eyes that were entirely black, like holes in her face stood in front of her, black liquid streaming from her eyes, nose and mouth. Her entire face seemed to be almost blurred, distorted, her features twisting. The ghostly figure lurches forward, grabbing her wrist loosely.

"Please, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Whatever I did I'm sorry! Please stop! Please!"

Livvys heart practically stopped and she screamed, falling backwards and sprinting out of the house, looking back every few feet even as she reached the middle of the field. It was a horrifying encounter. And it ended up haunting her dreams, for the next few nights she could see the woman's warped face, begging for whatever it was to stop.

Against her better judgement, Livvy goes back to the house. She just had some strong morbid curiosity, driving back up there on an off day. She steps in, now more apprehensive. She freezes as she walks through the main hallway, seeing this same woman on the floor now, sobbing. It's less shocking seeing her the second time, especially in this state. She decides to try and talk to her, it was worth the risk of her wrist being grabbed again.

"What's wrong?"

It took only a few minutes for the crying figure to respond, looking up at her with her black, lifeless eyes.

"He killed me. I thought we were a happy family, but he killed me."

"Your... husband...?" Livvy assumed, not treading as lightly as she meant to.

"No, my dad." The ghost answered, her voice ringing some kind of ethereal echo. "We used to have a farm here, everything was fine, I swear! and then he killed us. I don't know why... everything was fine until then. I just don't know what I did wrong..." she trailed off.

"I'm sorry." Livvy replied simply, saying it softly. She meant it of course, but also she didn't know what to say. How do you respond to that?

"Nobody deserves to be..." she can't believe she's saying this, "murdered."

PThe corners of the ghosts creepy, warped mouth lifts in a kind of smile. It's creepy, but slightly endearing.

"Thank you. It's nice to hear after so long."

They can't help but talk. Livvy couldn't stop herself. Even if she was a ghost, it was nice to have someone to talk to. She lived alone in a single wide, usually only leaving the trailer to go to work and go run errands. They talked for hours, about themselves, their lives (or their afterlives), and their families. The ghosts name was Gigi, she was just a simple farm girl that wanted to know why her father had hurt her so badly. Livvy could relate to it in a way, she was no contact with both of her parents. Eventually she leaves, mind racing after hanging out with a ghost.

Because her life is so monotonous, she can't help but visit the house a third time, now kind of excited. It had been a long time since Livvy had any real friends or someone to talk to.

As she carefully opens the creaky door, Gigi pops up immediately, greeting her happily. They get to talking again, the ghost giving her a tour of the house. The last room they visit is the den, full of bookshelves.

Curious, Livvy picks up a book. It was old and worn but still in pretty good condition despite being from the 30s. "Molly, Molly, Mandy" was once boldly printed on the front, now the only words visible on it. She opens it, coughing when the dust flew up into the air. It encapsulated both her and Gigi in the cloud of dust, sending her into a kind of haze. The room started to spin, both of them looking their balance.

It looks different all of the sudden. The room wasn't dirty and dusty, it looked well kept now. All of the books vibrant covers now clearly visible, the lace curtains were a bright white instead of a stained beige. It was as if everything was magically repaired in just a few seconds. This once abandoned house now looked to be full of life, the sunshine beaming through the farmhouse windows.

A woman got off the floor, rubbing her head. She had dark brunette hair and shining brown eyes, wearing a shapeless floral dress and sensible boots. Before Livvy could open her mouth in confusion she could see the resemblance in the woman's face.

“It's me, Gigi. Sorry, I didn't realize the dust could do, the thing.” The ghost said, standing up quickly.

“The thing?!” Livvy asked, exasperated, gesturing towards the cozy but confusing environment. “THIS, THING?”

“Um, yes, well, sometimes I can sorta… go back in time and… live how I used to. It doesn't always last super long but it's nice.”

“Live, how you used to?” She parroted, mostly trying to process her time travelling casually with her new ghost friend.

“Well, sort of,” Gigi mutters, picking at her fingers. “I mean, my family is never here, and everything is very still. There aren't even our cows and chickens. But I can still go and take a dip in the creek or sit in the field. It's nice to feel the sun on my face, even if it isn't the real one.”

So yeah, um, they hang out in this like past world for a little bit and stuff...