baby, you're a haunted house!

It felt good to say, first and foremost. But if it hurt Becky while she's already leaking blood into Jonathan's sink, well, why the hell not?

Spirit laughs. Becky is holding herself back. Spirit does not need to do the same. Her laugh is pitchy, a little hysterical.

"Oh, my god, of course I do, that's what I just said—"

Becky's hands are around her neck. That alone would make her grin eagerly, sick in the head, unable to distinguish violence from love from plain old fucking. But now her windpipe's being crushed, too. Hate seems to strengthen Becky more than muscle would.

Her head hits the wall, which means she's out of it, which means tears are pricking her eyes—itches that she cannot scratch.

Instinct means she grabs at Becky's wrists. Usually, when she does this, she's encouraging someone to choke her harder. Like Jon, for instance.

or maybe that's just becky.

either way, she shouts, "FUCK!" and ducks away, attempting to throw spirit to the floor without losing her own balance. it doesn't quite work. rebecca stumbles into a worktable. she risks a glance away from spirit. on the table is a petri dish full of gritty, blue-grey powder (that's the unrefined powder version of fear toxin, meant to be absorbed by the skin, less potent but quite useful when one wants to inspire long-term anxiety or paranoia) (jonathan used to send her love letters covered in it) (like anthrax), various bottles of solvent, and a few capped and toxin-filled syringes. she throws the petri dish at spirit.

I can see your hand shaking.

All I want to do is save the children…not destroy them.

May I ask you a somewhat personal question?

Do you have an imagination?

Truth is very seldom understood by any but imaginative persons.

It's most unfortunate, for I have no room for them…neither mentally nor emotionally.

Does that seem quite heartless?

A rather large, rather lonely place.

They need affection and love…and someone to whom they can belong and who will belong to them.

What does that signify, if I trust you, if you trust me?

Just when I thought I'd got the whole situation settled... [He/She/They] died mysteriously.

Whatever happens, you must handle it alone.

Didn't you hear? Someone is calling your name.

Are you afraid of reptiles?

I've been watching the road, waiting for you.

Oh, we will have fun together, won't we?

I had no idea. I never imagined.

Half the rooms are empty now, locked and empty.

As I was coming through the garden, I heard you call [name].

Promise now that you won't go away.

I was so afraid. But, I didn't have much choice.

What's the good of being popular down here…with only pigeons and me?

[He/She/They] had the devil's own eyes.

There's nobody else. Nobody at all.

I seem to be carried away quite easily.

Big rooms get bigger at night. Do you know that?

I always look in the dark.

If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Where would the Lord take my soul to?

Wouldn't the Lord just leave me here to walk around?

Isn't that what happens to some people? Just wandering?

Whatever was that?

We must pretend we didn't hear it then we won't imagine things.

Sometimes one can't help…imagining things.

Didn't you say last night that [name] was coming home?

It's a spider…and it's eating a butterfly.

They said, [He/She/They] is an injury to the others.

Are you afraid [he/she/they] will corrupt you?

Oh, I've been longing for these holidays.

Somehow - I don't know - I was afraid it might be different.

It must be a misunderstanding, a mistake.

How did you know I was there?

This is a very old house. Things creak.

What do you think about while you're lying awake?

It's a bit sad though…when people don't have time for you.

Don't be frightened. It was only the wind.

Oh, then you must have seen him. The man who was standing here.

I've been quite alone except for my greedy friends.

It was a man. He was looking at me.

I'm tired. I haven't been sleeping well.

One can never believe, [name]. [He/She/They] invents things, imagines them.

I'm afraid today isn't altogether my day.

A strange place, new responsibilities. Takes a bit of getting used to.

Is there anyone living here that I don't know about?

Oh, if only everything could go on just as it is now.

Too small for you to have secrets?

Secrets require a privacy that our little home did not provide.

You hide, and I'll seek. We can go all over the house, can't we?

Did I frighten you?

Let me go! You're hurting me!

God, you're white as milk. What happened?

I saw him! Don't tell me I didn't, because I did!

He was staring past me into the house as if he were hunting someone...

I know where I've seen him. A picture. There's a picture of him.

A miniature in a cracked glass in the attic. Yes. That.

You see, he's dead. [Name] is dead.

It does, doesn't it? But I can't help it, you know.

I can't leave them alone, not after the other night.

Put it out of your mind. Pretend it was part of a dream.

Do you think I want to believe that? That it was just the darkness, a nightmare?

A man, or something that once was a man…peering in through the window, looking for someone.

It's daylight. And I know I saw him.

You're upsetting yourself over nothing.

Tell me, how did he die?

It doesn't do to speak ill of the dead.

If only you could have heard his scream when he dies...

I was afraid for them. You think I'm imagining it, but I saw it.

Look, they're dead, gone. There's no point in telling tales of what's over and done with.

Over and done with. But is it?

[He/She/They] said that once, when [He/She/They] was on the lake, there was a hand waving on the bottom.

[Name], where did you learn that song?

God, you gave me a heart attack sitting there in the dark!

Today, down by the lake…there in the broad sunlight…I saw the other one.

A woman dressed in black. In the lake.

They are both playing or being made to play some monstrous game.

I've been so frightened. I've felt so alone.

We must try to learn what it is these horrors want.

The answer must lie in the past.

It was more like a sickness…a fever that leaves the body burned out and dry.

There's things I've seen I - I'm ashamed to say.

Rooms…used by daylight… as though they were dark woods.

There was too much whispering in this house.

The innocents deceiving us.

I'm just trying to put it together to understand.

[He/She/They] grieved till there was something crazy in the eyes.

I used to hear foot steps, wandering all over the house, sobbing.

Haven't we worse to fear than a scandal?

What good would it do telling the vicar our secrets?

We can go on no longer without help.

They are not living with us. The ghosts. We have no part in their real life.

There are things that I haven't told you…that I can't bring myself to tell even you.

What do you think they're saying?

They're talking about them. Talking horrors.

So far these monsters have kept their distance. But they intend coming closer..

What should I say, that they have friends who would frighten them out of their lives?

I know, he'll think I'm insane…or that it's some stupid trick to get him to notice me.

How did [he/she/they] die?

Oh, I'm sorry, I-I should never have told you.

I'm left with no choice. There's nothing else to be done.

From now on, we must never let them out of our sight.

They can only reach each other by entering the souls of the children… and possessing them.

They live and know and share this hell.

I think I know how we can save them.

They must be made to admit what is happening and we can cast out those devils forever.

What shall I say when his feet enter softly…leaving the marks of his grave on my floor?

Haven't they taught you? Knock before you enter.

Somebody's walking in the garden.

What were you doing? You saw something?

I'll tell you the real, true reason. But I wonder if you'll understand.

It was a shocking thing to do, wasn't it?

Yes, I-I did hear something.

What are you hiding under your pillow?

Its neck. Someone had broken it.

Poor thing. I'll bury it tomorrow.

I thought someone was watching me.

How did you get here?

I always come here when I want to dance, when I want to be alone..

Where is she? You know you can see her!

She's dead and buried.

I can't see anything! I've never seen anything!

I like it when the fire does that. Don't you?

Now do you believe me? Now that you've seen?

I've known a vile tongue or two in my time but never have I heard such obscenities.

You felt they weren't really dead.

It was like a pendulum… and I could feel it swinging my way.

He wanted to reveal himself and ask for my help.

But to wake a child out of a bad dream, is that a cruelty?

A body can only judge themselves.

Did you send them, or did they take fright and run away?

What am I afraid of, [Name]?

I'm not a mind reader, I've told you that before. But I do sense things.

This house upset [him/her/them].

Why did you want to be alone with me?

What do I know? Or rather, what is it that you want to know?

Don't shout. Don't be so angry.

I'm sometimes stupid and I make mistakes…but I'm not cruel.

Whatever you've done, I'm not against you.

It must be…because I'm different.

I said things. Sometimes I hurt things. Sometimes at night when everything was dark - They screamed.

They said I frightened the others.

When…did you first see and hear of such things?

I made them up. They just came into my head.

Shall I tell you who taught you the things you've done, the things you've said?

You're afraid you might be mad.

It wasn't you. That voice, those words…they weren't yours.

Say his name…and it will all be over.

You're wrong! You're insane!

He's dead! Please, he's dead!

He's here, and you must say his name!

Where? Where are you devil?

You drool in your sleep.

Don't you dare sleep in those clothes!

Did I wake you?

You're going to end up with a sore neck if you sleep like that.

You're supposed to turn off the alarm clock, not break it.

Are you always this grumpy in the morning?

Keep your cold feet away from me!

The bed's big enough for both of us.

You can rest. I’m here.

Just how many pillows do you need?

Now that you're awake, can you let go of me?

Oh, so even you get bedhead.

You talk in your sleep, you know.

When was the last time you slept?

You kick in your sleep.

If you're not tired why do you keep yawning?

You were having a nightmare.

I'm going to smother you with a pillow if you keep snoring.

Would you stop stealing all the blankets?

I can leave the light on if it helps.

You can use my shoulder as a pillow if you like.

I hate morning people.

Please tell me your not just now going to bed.

Do you often have nightmares?

Five more minutes…

Ugh, somebody turn off the sun.

Can I sleep here tonight?

Can you even find your bed in this mess?

You’re exhausted. Go to bed.

You don't need more coffee, you need a nap.

You can have the bed, I'll take the couch.

You look way too comfortable for someone who has to be at work in twenty minutes.

You're warm. Don't move.

You always look so peaceful when you’re asleep.

Your desk is not a bed.

You sleep, I'll keep watch.