* GHOSTRESS

                       madison   poses   in   front   of   the   camera   amidst   the   mirthful   laughter,   blowing   a   kiss   to   the   lens   along   with   an   exaggerated   wink   ( whether   it   was   all   for   the   camera   or   also   for   d,   she   wouldn't   reveal.   where   was   the   fun   in   giving   it   all   away   on   a   silver   platter ?   )   before   resuming   her   natural   composure   ( which,   on   the   best   of   days,   wasn't   exactly   serious   or   collected ),   trying   not   to   stumble   in   the   encroaching   darkness   that   swallowed   them,   the   lights   emitting   from   their   torches   and   the   flickering   beams   of   the   camera   their   only   vision.   d   always   followed   her   lead,   and   it   filled   her   heart   with   a   thrill   she   can't   or   won't   name.   " they're   being   awfully   quiet   tonight,   don't   you   think ?   do   you   think   they're   afraid   of   us ?   i   do   have   a   pretty   scary   war   face,   truth   be   told.   or   maybe   they've   just   seen   my   freshly   woken   up...   no,   no,   i   look   lovely   when   i'm   freshly   woken   up "   she   grins   again,   happy.   " what   do   you   think   is   the   reason ? "

                      grin   grows   from   icy   lips,   madison   feeling   a   rare   thrill   growing   inside   her.   " you   haven't   been   down   there,   have   you,   in the   upside   down ? "   where   they   had   to   go,   as   far   as   she   knew.   " you   know,   i've   been   researching   this   all   my   life,   the   paranormal.   i've   encountered   all   kinds   of   monsters   -   vampires,   werewolves,   the   invisible   man,   the   tooth   fairy...   this,   this   feels   different. "

                  madison   stubbornly   shakes   her   head,   even   though   kat   can't   see   it.   " come   on,   do   it   for   me,   pretty   please ?   you   just   have   to   talk   a   little   bit.   it   doesn't   take   much,   and   it'll   be   fun,   pinky   promise   !   it's   like   putting   together   a   monologue,   only   you're   trying   to   get   invisible   entities   to   care   enough   about   you   that   they   want   to   make   contact.   it's   really   not   that   hard.   you   can   tell   them   a   story   from   your   childhood,   or   make   one   up,   or   anything   else   !   be   creative,   i   believe   in   you ! ".

peals   of   laughter   echoing   like   a   forgotten   symphony   burst   from   pink   lips,   hands   rising   to   cover   rose   petals,   perhaps   in   a   failed   attempt   to   stifle   the   giggles,   joyous   tunes   subsiding.   " you   definitely   are "   she   replies,   slender   fingers   positioning   themselves   on   either   side   of   her   head,   flexing   as   if   they   were   kneeling   before   the   king   of   demons.   a   glint   crosses   mads'   eyes,   then,   and   she   laughs   again,   realising   what   a   fool   she's   acting.   which   is   a   good   thing.   sometimes   she   got   carried   too   far   in   her   investigations.   too   deep.   she   needed   an   anchor,   and   eddie   was   an   anchor   like   no   other,   armed   to   the   teeth   with   indestructive   charisma   and   twinkling   rings.   "   if   the   demon   slays   you,   i   hope   he   spares   me.   i   had   nothing   to   do   with   this, "   she   points   out,   smile   curving   her   painted   lips.   "   i've   been   doing   this   since   i   was   a   little   girl   and   you're   the   only   one   who's   ever   been   bold   enough   to   stand   up   to   them.   that   makes   you   either   very   brave   or   very   stupid ".

her   cheeks   swell   with   puffy   air   of   protest,   lips   tightening   into   a   thin   line,   and   she   opens   her   mouth,   determined   to   say   something,   but   a   new   thought   plants   itself   in   the   verdant   garden   of   her   brain,   and   the   trajectory   of   her   words   change.   " is   that   a   subtle   way   of   telling   me   that   i   don't   usually   act   normal ? "

                  a   small   smile   spreads   across   her   features,   a   smile   that   tries   to   be   comforting   but   in   truth   fails   at   its   humble   job,   strands   of   mischief   threading   through   the   lines   of   her   lips.   "   if   they're   not   friendly,   then   we'll   just   have   to   teach   them   some   manners "   the   blonde   comments,   infusing   as   much   indifference   as   she   can   into   the   words,   cold   blood   pulsing   in   her   veins.   she's   encountered   dangerous   ghosts   in   the   past,   and   there's   no   way   she'd   let   them   hurt   chrissy.   "   do   you   believe   in   them ?   do   you   believe   in   ghosts ?   most   people   dismiss   them   as   a   tale   to   scare   children ".

                 "   MAYBE   NOT,   BUT THEY CAN   pull   your   shirt   over   your   head "   she   states   with   utter   confidence,   letting   out   a   chuckle   that   spreads   around   their   darkened   surroundings,   like   a   beacon   of   comfort.   " you   can't   ask   not   to   be   scary   when   you're   born   with   eight   eyes   and   eight   legs,   but   it's   not   their   fault !   maybe   the   spider   is   just   trying   to   get   close   to   you   because   it   wants   to   be   your   friend.   haven't   you   considered   that ?   or   maybe   it   wants   to   guide   us   to   the   ghosts.   a   spider   guide ! "   

‘      it’s   horrifying,   chilling…   just   overall   not   good.      ’ / @cheersleader