Yellow sunlight diffused through thousands of leaves, shadows cast by the gnarled bark of an oak tree, and the shot practically made itself. Dave lined up his camera and adjusted the apertures, gently sliding his hand around the focusing ring until he was sure the image would live up to his exacting standards. It was an old fashioned model, but film was so much better than digital. Honestly, they didn't compare-- the saturation of color alone was reason enough to never even touch modern tech. Dave was an artist, he wasn't there to fuck around.
'There' being the local cemetery. He didn't exactly want to piss off the ghosts or whatever. Bro would never let him hear the end of it.
Just the thought of his older brother trying to trap a malevolent spirit in a doll, and then what he'd do with said Chucky ass... A horrible shudder went down Dave's spine and he made his footsteps even lighter, giving the headstones a wide berth.
Look at me, not stepping on anyone by accident, totally respectful, not haunt bait by any stretch. He whistled a merry tune to emphasize his nonchalance, some christmas carol, for the ironies. It was July, that was a thing, right? Christmas in July? Dave had no idea, Bro barely celebrated it in December, he stuck a tree on top of the tv and left it at that. Presents were never wrapped, delivered with shrugged shoulders.
Dave lifted his camera and snapped some more pictures, the way the light reflected off of a marble headstone almost looked like water.
Dave didn't start, but he did lower his camera slowly and turned his head towards the chipper voice.
He blinked behind his shades. "Hi."
She curled her fingers in a wave and smiled, showing dimples, and tilted her head. It was a little hard to see through the veil she was wearing, it slightly blurred her features. Dave hadn't ever seen a hat like it, black and wide brimmed, a red rose stuck in the band. Her entire outfit was black, which was cool, but it was literally Texas in the summer. Even Dave gave his hipster skater boi routine a rest when it was that hot, he was even wearing shorts, god help him.
"That's a nice camera, you taking pictures?" She pointed with a lacy, gloved hand, the wide sleeve of her dress draping so low it almost brushed the grass. "What am I saying, of course you are, what else do you do with a camera?"
Dave kept his poker face as she tittered, she had to be sweating. He was sweating, and he'd been deliberately sticking to shady spots. "You got me, and here I was tryna keep it on the dl."
"I'm a smart cookie!" She pointed to her cheek and winked like it was an inside joke they were both supposed to know. Dave stared more. "Well, as long as you're being good, I suppose that's fine for you to snap some shots."
"Yeah, cool." He literally hadn't thought he couldn't, there weren't any signs saying No Flash Photography. This is why you are so getting haunted.
"I'm Aradia!" She offered, as though he asked, folding her fingers together and letting them rest at her midsection. "Aradia Megido."
"Nice to meet you Dave, remember, be good and we won't have any problems!" She waved goodbye, another wiggle of gloved fingers.
"Word." He nodded, and turned back to the path.
He'd only taken a few steps before he thought of something funny to say, and turned back to shout it behind him before he shut his mouth with a click.
The cemetery was completely devoid of life, it was like Aradia had never been there, the grass completely undisturbed. Dave took a step back in alarm, and Noped his ass all the way out of the cemetery gates, hands in his pockets, eyes forward.
