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gurugirl · 6 months

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The Séance Experience

ghost!harry | ghost!reader | horror | dark

Summary: A pair of spiritual mediums decide to host an underground seance on Halloween morning at the old abandoned Styles’ house, well know for being haunted. Things go awry. Not everyone escapes.

A/n: I'll have warnings listed below but just know this isn't for everyone! Read at your own discretion! This is dark and horror based. If you'd like some background on the story read the original one shot - On Halloween Morning but this can be read as a standalone.

Word Count: 9224

Warning: 18+ only, smut, dubcon, death, violence, murder, ghosts, evil spirits, use of Ouija board, horror, dark content

Cooper had been planning this for nearly a year. It had meant a lot to her. It wasn’t just a gimmick to make a quick buck and trick gullible souls like one would think. No, she was a real spiritual medium. Sensitive to energy from the presence of the dead among the living, as well as entities of the evil kind. And every time she passed the old Styles house she felt it call to her. It truly was a cursed graveyard, now home to dead souls and dark spirits alike.

Almost everyone had heard of what happened in that house on Halloween morning in 1968. An entire family was slaughtered. At first, the police didn’t know who did it but eventually determined it was the 20-year-old son, Harry Styles, who had killed himself after killing his entire family in their beds.

But it didn’t end there. Over the years people would sneak into the house and many would never be heard from again. And there was never any evidence of anyone being in the house. A missing person without a body is hard to investigate. Police had gone in numerous times to check out calls when neighbors heard screams or family members were concerned when a loved one never returned. Nothing was ever found except usually a few loose boards and pried-open windows or doors but they always chalked that up to squatters coming and going or the occasional thrill seeker.

All those missing people who’d gone in and never come back out led Cooper to believe the house was inhabited by a dark force. Not just ghosts of the dead. It could be common for a home to turn into a cemetery of sorts when people had died on the premises. But it wasn’t common for a home to harbor the darkness of evil and to lure and then collect the souls of the living.

But she still needed to go in there and make contact somehow. There was an intense pull. Something drew her in, called to her, and it only got stronger as time went on. She became obsessed with the house. Read every news article she could find, all the missing people connected to Styles house, police reports, and supposed first-hand accounts of those who had escaped (she knew to take most of those stories with a grain of salt).

She found out as much as she could about the original family members, especially Harry Styles, who she was sure was the cause of all the chaos that had surrounded the house for over half a century. Even in death, he was something to be reckoned with. There was some talk, accounts of old friends of the Styles boy before his violent passing, that he was evil. That he had a violent temper, and that he was into the worship of a malevolent spirit called Angra.

Then, after learning all she could, she put out a small ad in the paper, just to get some interest from other psychics and seers like herself. Anyone who would take seriously the idea that the Styles house was haunted and in need of someone to go in and communicate to the dead or to whatever kind of spirit it was that held domain over the premises. Perhaps they could do some good.

A few calls and texts came in. Most of them were just curious and nosy. Finally, one was like her. A spiritual empath and guide. He was interested in joining her in reaching out to the home and the spirits within. But he also had contacts with others who would consider themselves psychic or clairvoyant. He was in the business of healing and reading for a living. Cooper was hesitant at first but the least she could do was meet up with the man and get a feel for him in person.

When Bran arrived (she imagined Bran was short for Brandon but never bothered to ask) and sat down across from her at the diner off Spring Street in Chinatown, she looked up from her phone and smiled at the man, “Hi. Thank you for coming,” she reached her hand out to shake his and immediately she felt it. He was deeply intuitive and came with a wealth of psychic energy. But she still needed to be sure of his intentions because she was picking up something a little off with him.

They discussed the things they’d seen and felt over the years and shared stories amongst themselves that most would scoff at. Bran told her about his small business. He knew a lot of people who would be interested in doing a séance at the old Styles house.

“I need them to all be sensitive to what could happen. To be aware. I don’t want just anyone coming. I don’t want this to be a free-for-all and have disrespectful people who just want to have a thrill for fun. It needs to be people vetted and serious.”

Bran nodded with a somber expression on his face, “Of course. I can get the word out to the right people and to my group of contacts. I can already think of a handful who would be interested in joining and would take this very seriously.”

She nodded, “That’s great. Because the more of us the better. This house is seriously dangerous. That’s another thing I want everyone to know. That people who visit the house don’t always come out.”

He took a bite of his tuna fish sandwich, “Well I don’t want to scare anyone off but I’ll tell them if you think it's necessary.”

Bran was a tall ghostly pale man. His eyes were sunken and dark, his nose long and pointy and his skin was smooth and free of any inkling that he could grow facial hair. In all honesty, he looked underfed. He was only a few years older than Cooper herself yet despite his smooth skin, he appeared to be 20 years her senior. He wore a brown corduroy, long-sleeved button-down shirt with loose-fitting, navy-blue athletic pants that dragged the ground. And Birkenstocks. He was balding at the front and his hair was already going white.

She reached out to some others, in hopes that she’d find someone she could truly trust. There was just something about Bran that didn’t sit right with her. She knew to listen to her intuition. She knew not to ignore the little warnings going off in her head, but there weren’t that many people like her. And even if he was a bit sketchy, he was truly like her and she knew it deep down.

So, the séance would move forward with Bran and whoever he could find along the way. She would keep her eye on him and make sure he stayed in line, but he was her best option, unfortunately.

She did not have a good feeling about what was to come.

30 minutes before Halloween

Harry and Y/n were preparing for their yearly Halloween ritual when they were disturbed by boards being ripped from the back door of their house, “They’re early.” Harry said.

“Well, early is good, right?”

“We can just have some fun. Fuck with ‘em a bit,” Harry grinned and thread his fingers into hers.

“But we can keep them, though?”

“Of course my love.”

Often when humans came into their home, Harry and Y/n’s favorite game was to lure the unsuspecting souls toward them with the delicious sound of sex. Make them think they’d caught someone fucking when in reality, they’d just fallen into their trap.

Peeping Toms would peek into the bedroom door and see two lovely beings going at it, bed rocking, skin slapping, moaning… the whole nine.

Sometimes Y/n would seduce whoever it was, or maybe Harry would do the seducing, depending on the preference of their new victim. And people were dumb. They had no idea that they were being groped and kissed and fucked by a ghost. Worse than a ghost. Something dark and sinister. Something that was about to claim their soul and their life.

“Fuck, Harry…” Y/n was on top this time. Rolling her hips over him, one hand pressed into his chest, her other yanking at his long hair to keep his head down. He kept trying to flip her over but Y/n wanted the top this time.

“There we go… Good boy… just stay down. Let me ride you,” she moaned and worked her wet pussy back and forth.

“What’s that sound?”

“Fuck. I don’t know.”

Rick and Jacob began to unload their suitcases to start setting up for the séance. Just a few things were really needed. Signage was taped to the side of the house so the rest of the group knew where to enter. A table was set up outside the door (after the boards were pried off and the doorknob smashed in with a hammer). Candles would light the pathway to the basement, which is where their friend Bran told them they’d be holding the séance.

“There it is again. Hold on…” Jacob held a hand up as he stood from his position over his suitcase.

“Shit. This isn’t good. I’m getting a vibe man…” Rick whispered.

Both men stood silently and listened to what sounded like…

“Someone’s having sex?”

“Holy shit… I don’t think it’s human because I’m picking something up, but shit…”

“It’s a trap.”

The rhythmic clank of the bed and Y/n’s moans of pleasure grew louder. And both men knew it was a trap. Knew it was dangerous to go further but it was like they were in a trance. Without another word, the pair began to follow the sound up the hallway until they could hear the mattress bouncing.

And as expected, the door was pushed open just enough so both men could take a peek inside and feast their eyes on what was happening before them.

“You’re gonna regret this,” Harry smacked her bottom but it only made Y/n laugh as she ground over him harder.

“I never regret fucking your brains out, Harry,” her tits swayed as if made of real, warm human flesh.

Harry lifted his thigh and put his feet flat onto the mattress in another attempt to roll them over so he could get on top but before he got any momentum the two onlookers watched as the female slapped the face of the man under her.

She took her hand out of his hair and wrapped her palm around the front of his neck, pushing him down further, “Fucking said stay still.”

Harry loved it. Loved having someone to play with. He’d really gotten the answer to his prayer to Angra with her when she was led to him the year prior. From the beginning she was perfect. A little more spicy than he imagined but he liked her this way. She was always mad at him, which led to lots of fighting but then of course lots of sex as well. He never adored anyone when he was among the living. But Y/n? He adored. She was his gift. His eternal mate. They were bonded and even when she was smacking him around he couldn’t get enough.

Y/n squeezed tighter around his neck and Harry grinned at her, his eyes going wide at the sensation. He would have spoken back but he was busy feeling the euphoria he only got from his mate.

Rick nudged Jacob and jerked his head in a motion for them to leave but Jacob put his finger up and continued looking in.

“Like what you see?” Y/n sang out as she raised her hips just enough so the men could have a nice view of her pussy riding up and down Harry’s big, evil cock. She turned back to look at the door and made eye contact with both of them as she kept rocking over Harry and held him down with her hand on his throat.

“Fuck! Shit!” Both Jacob and Rick stood to run but before they could even make it to the kitchen Y/n was standing before them naked, holding her hands out, “Where are you going? I can’t believe you just left in the middle of the show we were putting on for you two. You didn’t like it?”

“I think these two have a special gift. That’s why they didn’t just come in and join us,” Harry spoke behind the pair causing them to startle and turn to see Harry right behind them. Also naked.

“You know? You’re right. That explains it doesn’t it?” She stepped in toward Jacob who looked like he was about to piss his pants. She drew her long finger over his collarbone and walked around his frame slowly. Inspecting. “You’re special aren’t you?”

She looked up at Jacob as she stood back in front of him.

He shook his head and looked at Rick, who was in the same state as Jacob.

Y/n’s finger pressed into Jacob’s chin and she pushed his head back so he was facing her, “Keep your eyes on me. Don’t you like this? Look…” she gestured with her free hand along her body. “You don’t want any?”

Jacob quickly shook his head again and Harry leaned in to speak to the man who’d just rejected his mate, “I’d say yes if I were you. Because this will be the last time you ever get to touch her in this way again. And you’re going to want to touch her once you belong to the house, belong to us. So yes is the answer. Not no.”

Harry stood up and placed his hands at Rick’s shoulders and squeezed, giving him a bit of a neck massage, “And you. You can have me. I can just feel the gay energy rising off your prick right now,” Harry whispered into Rick’s ear. He was trembling. Absolutely terrified. Both men were.

“See? This is all just about a proper introduction and welcome to our home. Come…” Y/n grabbed Jacob's hand and led him toward the bedroom where she and Harry had just been.

“I really like a man who lets me do all the work. Just lie there and enjoy. Okay?” She pointed at the bed but Jacob didn’t move. All of his senses were firing off. Run, hide, fight, give in… This was unlike anything he’d ever experienced and he’d considered himself someone very sensitive to spirits. But these two. They were different. He could feel the power coming from the male and the female ghost. He knew he was no match. In fact, he was sure none of the others, who would be joining him and Rick in the next twenty minutes or so, were also no match.

“What are you?” He finally found his voice.

“I’m Y/n. This house is our domain. We feed it and we take care of it. We’ll all get to know one another a little better once everything is said and done. Then you’ll understand more.”

She didn’t want to waste any more time as she saw Harry behind her with his prey. Harry was already sucking at the man’s neck, making his move.

“Come sit with me… what’s your name?”

She took his hand and led him to the bed, “Uh… Jacob.”

“Jacob,” she spoke his name like she was already having sex with him, “A nice Christian name. I hope you know God can’t save you here. You’re mine. So you might as well enjoy this.”

Harry kept his eyes on Y/n and Jacob as he cupped Rick’s crotch, “Oh? Does being scared turn you on?”

It did in fact. Rick’s connection to the dead was more than just a spiritual guiding. It was physical. He got turned on anytime he used his gifts to contact the unliving.

Y/n had slid her hand up Jacob’s thigh and made sure he kept his eyes on hers, “Just keep looking at me. You’re doing so good for me.”

Jacob’s chest began to rise and fall heavily as the hot naked woman got nearer and nearer to his crotch. He tried not to let the way she looked human and so supple get to him. It was a façade. Yet her breasts were soft and round, her nipples hard, and her tummy looked like he could nuzzle into it. Her thighs and legs were long and silky. She was breathtaking. She looked more like an angel than the evil thing she really was which had him confused.

“It’s okay to be confused, Jacob. Just let me take care of you. Let me show you why you came here tonight. The real purpose of your life. It’s all led up to this very moment. You and me, Jacob.”

His gaze dropped to her plush lips and that was her cue, “Do you want to try a kiss? See how real and warm and wet it is?”

She licked her lips as his eyes plunged to her mouth and then her pretty tits. But before he could nod she already had her mouth covering his. And that’s all it took for Jacob to surrender. She tasted real. She felt real. He put her hands up to her breasts and gently squeezed as she laughed into his mouth, “That’s right. Feel me. Enjoy me.”

Harry moaned as he pressed Rick’s lips down over his cock. Rick was much easier to convince. All it took was Harry’s dirty words in his ear and his lips on his neck and he was a goner. Rick had been turned on before he’d even stepped foot into the house.

He had one hand at the footboard keeping himself steady as he used his free hand to guide Rick over his cock. But he kept his eyes on Y/n as she kissed the other man and he groped her luscious tits. Harry tended to get jealous a bit. Sometimes more than others but he never enjoyed being a cuck. Because Y/n was his. But he could admit, it was awfully fun playing with their captives.

She backed away from the kiss and grinned, “See? So nice,” she thumbed at his bottom lip and then pulled at it, “I know it feels real. And it is real in a way. I’ll feel just like a human and for me, I’ll get pleasure if you’re good. I know you’re thinking a ghost won’t feel this since we’re technically, dead,” she laughed, “But I always feel it. Harry and I fuck every day and it’s just as good as when I was alive.”

Jacob didn’t move an inch, “Don’t you want to make a woman feel good, Jacob?” Harry grunted, “She’s offering you something special and you’re just sitting there like a dope.”

Y/n shushed Harry, “He’s just nervous my love. Either way, we’ll get him naked,” she turned to look at Jacob, “I want you to take all your clothes for me. Can you do that for me, Jacob?”

The man nodded and with shaky hands began to take his clothes off.

Y/n smirked at Harry who had his mouth dropped open. Rick was pretty good with his mouth, he had to be honest, “Don’t forget the balls there Ricky poo,” Harry pulled Rick by the back of his hair to drag him off his dick before pushing his head lower to which the man quickly began to kiss and lick.

Jacob pulled his shoes off and then his pants down his legs before looking at Y/n.

“Take your underwear off. Can’t very well fuck you if you keep yourself tucked away,” she pointed at his black briefs.

Jacob looked toward Rick and Harry and then to Y/n, “I’d… uh… like some privacy maybe. Feels weird having them in here with us.”

Harry pushed Rick’s forehead, causing him to fall back onto the floor with a thud, “You want privacy with my girl? I should rip your throat out for even thinking you’d be allowed that kind of indulgence.” Harry rounded the bed and walked up behind Y/n, putting his lips on her neck with his eyes on the intruder. “No. You get no privacy in this house. Everything that happens here happens under my watch,” he spoke as he dotted kisses along her skin and up to her jaw.

Y/n laughed and turned in Harry’s arms, “He doesn’t know any better, Harry. Just… go back to your toy and I’ll go back to mine. Ignore the ignorant comment he made,” she stroked her nails down his chest. But she knew the look in Harry’s eyes. He wasn’t going to let this go that easily. He was in a mood, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Because soon, it would be Halloween morning and they’d be quite busy.

Harry walked away from Y/n, back to where Rick was still on his knees on the floor. He dragged Rick up to stand, “Remove your clothes as well. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

With both men naked and looking as if they were about to be devoured by a bear, Y/n hummed and circled around Jacob, “Lie on the bed for me. You’re free to jack off if you want. I’d actually prefer it if you did,” she gestured toward to the bed and the man hesitantly climbed up and laid himself flat as he was told. “See, I need you to stay hard for me, and sometimes when a man gets really scared he can tend to go limp. So I just need you to let go of all your thoughts and stroke your cock and just be in the moment with me. Can you do that, Jacob?”

He swallowed loudly and blinked his eyes as he kept them on Y/n who knelt next to him on the bed, waiting for him to answer, “I… I don’t know…”

She ran her cool hand up his sinewy thigh and brushed her fingers over his cock, “I know you can do it. You’re halfway there. Just submit to me, Jacob. Do as I say and this will be a lot less painful for you. In fact, you might even enjoy it if you let all those rational thoughts in your head disappear into nothingness. I need you as dumb for me as possible. Let me do all the thinking.” She squeezed his cock before straddling his thighs and grabbed his hand, pulling it down to his prick, “Here you are. Here’s your penis. Keep it in your hand and jerk yourself slowly. I know it’s a hard task but I believe in you, Jacob,” she spoke darkly. The insult was missed by no one in the room.

Harry had Rick bent over the footboard, his ass bare and open for him as he kept his eyes on his mate while she sat over Jacob’s face and placed her hands on his chest. She kept her own eyes on Harry’s as she began to rub her pussy over the stranger.

“Not bad…” she laughed, “But I want more tongue.”

Harry groaned as he pushed himself into Rick. The man cried out in pain at the sudden intrusion. And Harry had gone in dry so it was quite unpleasant. But Harry didn’t care about Rick’s pleasure. He was too busy watching Y/n. He didn’t like it when she enjoyed herself too much with anyone but him.

“No. No, no, no, Jacob. No good. You’re really not good at this are you?” She lifted herself and peered down at the man. “I feel bad for all the girls you attempted this with. Let’s try something else.” She climbed off of him and stood next to the bed pointing at Harry, “Can you be done with him already? I need your assistance over here.”

Harry grinned as he rammed himself into Rick one more time, causing a howl to fall from the man’s chest and he gripped the footboard with white knuckles.

“Ricky poo, it was a pleasure. Truly. It’s time for you to meet the rest of the house, now,” he spoke darkly to the man as he brought his slender fingers up to Rick’s neck and began to squeeze. Rick’s face grew red as he began to shake and struggle to get free from Harry’s grasp. But Harry had him pinned and he was far stronger than Rick.

Jacob lifted his head to watch in horror as the evil spirit began to choke his friend but Y/n sat on his chest and blocked his view, “Best not to look, Jacob. Focus on me and keep stroking your cock. I see you’ve been slacking off a little.”

Rick’s face turned from bright red to purple as the air was blocked from his lungs. Harry tightened his grip even more until the man was slumped and his neck was crushed.

Harry grunted as he dropped the man to the floor and then looked to Y/n, “Done.”

She gestured with her finger, a come hither motion as she opened her legs up, still sitting on Jacob’s chest, her back to his face, “Let’s show poor Jacob how it’s done,” she spoke teasingly.

Y/n climbed off Jacob’s chest and turned to look at the sad man, “Sit up, back against the wood. I want you to watch this. And even though you’ll never be able to use these newly learned techniques I think it’ll be enlightening for you nonetheless.”

Harry grasped Y/n’s hips as he dropped to his knees and pulled her to the edge of the bed so her ass was hanging off, “Got a good view, Jacob?” He eyed the man teasingly before dipping into lick over her cunt and moaning at the taste.

Y/n stuck her fingers into Harry’s hair and looked at Jacob, “See where his tongue is going? That feels so good. That’s the hood of my clit. That’s a spot a lot of terrible lovers don’t ever think about. I bet you’re one of them aren’t you, Jacob? No idea where the clit was before now?”

Jacob shook his head, “I know what the clitoris is! Please this is… I won’t tell anyone. Please let me go…” he sat up further and pressed his hands into the mattress as if he were about to push himself off the bed.

“Stop!” Y/n’s loud growl along with her grip on his cock had him immediately stopping. He hadn’t expected her to reach out for it like that, “Sit the fuck back and watch my pussy get licked by a pro. Unless you want me to tear your dick off? I will if you’d like. Just try that again and find out what happens.”

Jacob put his hands up and leaned his back into the board behind his head and looked to the floor at Rick lying lifeless. He was trembling and his heart was pounding in terror.

“And why do you keep defying my rules? Stroke. Your. Fucking. Cock. I need you hard for what I’m about to do. So chop chop!” She laughed and then looked back down to Harry sliding his tongue against her. His eyes were on her. She loved when he’d get on his knees for her. He did it often.

“Fuck… I don’t want to come yet,” she moaned as she pushed at his head, “You’re too good at that she smiled. “I want to come on Jacob’s cock. Really give him a special going away before the house takes him.”

Harry sat back onto his haunches and scowled at Jacob who was slowly pulling at his cock.

“What is it, darling?” Y/n placed a finger under Harry’s chin to turn his attention back to her. She knew what it was. Knew how jealous Harry would get when she’d play with other people. Cooing at him she leaned down to kiss him and reached a hand out for Jacob’s leg, “Aww… don’t be jealous. You know your cock is my favorite. Your lips and your hands… Baby, this is just for fun. You are forever.”

Harry clenched his jaw and shook his head at her condescending words, “Can I be inside of you too?”

Y/n laughed as she straddled Jacob once again, “Sure. You wanna share a hole with him or have your own?”

Harry got behind her with Jacob lying flat as he put himself between the man’s legs and reached his arms around to pinch Y/n’s nipples, “I’ll fuck your ass while you fuck his skinny prick with your cunt. Give you something to feel in one of your holes at least,” he laughed sinisterly.

Y/n laughed with him as she looked down at Jacob, “Is that okay, Jacob? Mind if I have two cocks inside of me? I will need a little something more because you really are a bit underwhelming,” she flicked at his shaft. Her words were filthy and rude.

“I umm… Please, I…” Jacob wined as Y/n took his hands and held him down by his wrists.

“Oh? Begging already? Well, that’s certainly a good sign,” she laughed dryly before lifting her hips to allow Harry inside of her first.

He gripped her hips harshly and began to slowly push in, her anus stretching out before him and she moaned. Jacob was lying still under the pair as they began to move together, his hands pinned down.

“Fuck me… Harry your cock is the best. Oh shit!” She turned to look over her shoulder and nearly forgot all about the man under her. The man she was supposed to be playing with.

Harry began to fuck into Y/n as his thrusts had her rocking back and forth. She moaned and clenched and hissed at the feel of Harry poking into her.

“Oh fuck!” She panted as she leaned in down to give Harry more access, her face only inches above Jacobs. She looked down at the man and grinned, “You never got this kind of response from anyone, did you? Can’t use your tongue or your prick properly. Poor man. We’re doing you a favor here. And all the women you might have tried to get into bed in the future as well. No more disappointing sex from you I’m afraid.”

Harry was pleased that she hadn’t put Jacob inside of her. He pounded himself into her harshly and made it so that she wouldn’t be able to angle herself enough to get the human’s prick anywhere near her pussy.

“Goddamn! I might not even want your prick anymore, Jacob. Ahhh!” She let out a guttural moan, “It’s too little for me anyhow. No fun in that…” Her words came out in punched breaths as Harry rocked into her.

Harry laughed as he heard her give him insult after insult. The bed was squeaking and the candles along the edge of the room flickered.

Y/n looked at the shadows on the wall and gasped when she saw the spirits arrive.

“It’s midnight. Let’s get this over with…” she said as she released one of Jacob’s hands and pressed her palm down over his throat.

Harry leaned in and placed his fingers over her clit and thrusted in harder and faster.

“Oh fuck! Yess… Make me come, Harry. I want all the spirits to see this.”

Suddenly Jacob gasped and his muscles tightened in his release. He hadn’t even meant to but the restriction of his airflow and some strange involuntary physical arousal had taken over. He poured out over his tummy as Y/n reared back into Harry’s cock with a gasp.

“Oh, he’s coming, my love!” Y/n laughed before groaning at Harry’s stiff cock slipping out of her.

Harry pulled her off of Jacob and angled her hips up as he sat back onto his haunches, “This is my fucking girl! Her body is mine!” His chillingly sinister voice sobered Jacob right up as Y/n’s hand loosened its grip with the new angle she was in.

Harry began to fuck into her pussy rapidly. His groans grew louder as he railed her deep.

Y/n coughed out a moan, “The best cock I’ve ever had, Harry. Right there. You’re gonna make me fucking come. Don’t stop!”

Harry pushed his thumb into her ass as he plunged into her pussy repeatedly. Jacob was caught in fright, unable to move to speak as his own throbbing cock splashed his come all over his tummy so he was a wet sticky mess as he watched the pretty ghosts fucking between his legs.

“Shit!” Y/n reared back into Harry and gripped her hands over Jacob’s thigh, her nails digging into his skin.

The scene of Jacob lying untouched with come on his tummy and Y/n and Harry orgasming together was watched by the ghosts of the house as midnight meant it was Halloween morning.

When the pair had finished and were slowly moving together in their come down Y/n looked at Jacob with a pout, “Sorry, Jacob. You didn’t get the chance to feel my pussy around your tiny cock. My lover here kind of took over and you’re a bit of a bore.” She laughed as the dark shadows grew near to the bed.

Jacob turned his head as he saw the obscure silhouettes moving in and began to croak out in distress but his neck was sore and his voice was caught in his throat.

Harry pulled Y/n with him off the bed as the spirits descended over Jacob until there was no body left and Jacob’s fate was sealed into the house.

Y/n turned to Harry with a smile, “The morning has arrived. I can already hear the rest of them. They’ve come. Let’s go play.”

“Where are Rick and Jacob?” Cooper could see two suitcases opened but nothing was done. Candles were still wrapped in paper, the planchette was still inside, and nothing had been set up. “This house hasn’t been cleansed either. I’m going to need to prep it and set intentions here.”

Bran looked around the space and cupped his hands over his mouth, “Jacob! Rick! You guys here?”

Cooper quickly stood up and grasped Bran’s forearm, “Shhh! This isn’t your home. You cannot come in and act that way. You need to be respectful of those at rest.”

“No one’s at rest in this house. Can’t you feel it? Today is their holiday. They’re preparing for a party. A feast. They knew we were coming.”

Cooper sighed and turned to look behind her as Marin, one of Bran’s acquaintances, bent down to start pulling items out of one of the suitcases, “Well, either way, we need to get set. Russ is coming in with the table and I’ll bring the chairs down to the basement. We’ll have people coming soon.”

When Cooper saw the table leaning up against the outside of the house with the chairs next to it she knew right away something bad had happened. Rick and Jacob were meant to come and set up everything. Cleanse the house, set intentions, light candles, and have the table and chairs set and ready to go. It shouldn’t have taken long. Yet nothing had been done.

The last two invitees arrived as Cooper went from room to room with a candle and spoke a protective prayer, asking the spirits for their permission and to safeguard them from the evil that lurked.

She could feel the house as if it were alive. Every room had a story, a haunted retelling of the horrors that had happened over the years.

“I invoke light and pure intention. I am a clear and kind channel. Light is my guide. I will not harm and my request is for knowledge and safe passage.”

Cooper repeated her words as she descended the stairs to the main floor, already feeling the way the spirits in the home were at odds within. Some were receptive, some were not. She knew this could lead to trouble if everyone inside wasn’t on the same page. If they weren’t sensitive and receptive.

She lit candles to guide everyone into the basement of the home. The rest of the people who had been invited to join would be arriving shortly for the séance.

Bran, Marin, and Russ had set up the table and chairs, put the black cloth onto the table with candles in the corner, and Cooper’s old Ouija board and planchette atop.

She took a deep breath to center herself and felt the chill of the spirits all around.

“Bran?” She held her candle close to her heart as she stepped down into the basement and looked at the tall man.

Without responding to her verbally he turned to look at her. The shadows that cast over his face made it hard to see his expression.

“Jacob and Rick are still here. I can feel them. Maybe we can draw them out. I can’t tell if they’re alive or not.”

Bran nodded, “I can also feel them. I don’t know what happened but this house is full of darkness and despair. Are you open?”

Cooper nodded, “Yes. I feel the guiding of the good spirits here. I’m protected. You?”

Bran looked at a dark corner of the basement and back to Cooper, “I don’t know. I keep lighting that candle and it keeps getting blown out. Something here is trying to warn us.”

Marin suddenly ran into a chair and gasped, “What the fuck!”

“Are you okay?” Cooper rushed toward the young woman who shook her head in disbelief.

“Something just pulled me into that chair and whispered but I couldn’t understand. I… I’m okay. I think.”

Cooper looked down at the chair and back to Marin, “Have you spoken your intentions to the house? Are you protected?”

The young woman looked at Bran and then back to Cooper, “Protected from what?”

Cooper set her candle at the edge of the table and gazed toward Bran, “You told everyone about this house, correct? About its past? What to expect?”

Bran cleared his throat as three young men suddenly descended into the basement, laughing and speaking loudly.

Cooper pointed as she kept her eyes on Bran, “Who are they?”

Bran took Cooper’s arm and pulled her away from Marin, “Observers. I found a group who were interested in coming to watch.”

Cooper yanked her arm from Bran and walked toward the three men, “Excuse me, you three will need to leave. It’s not safe for you here. I’m sorry that you were misled–“

“Who are you?” One of the men laughed as he took in Cooper’s appearance wearing a shawl and hood as if she were some old witch.

Bran interrupted, “They’ve paid to be here. They’re not going anywhere, Cooper.”

“Paid? Why would you charge anyone? What are you trying to do here? This isn’t some game!”

“Calm down. Nothing will happen to them. I’ll see to it.”

Cooper scoffed and rubbed her hands over her face, “How many outsiders have you invited?”

“Just four.”

“Four outsiders? Bran, they can’t be here. Two of our own are already gone. Maybe dead.” Cooper began to raise her voice. She knew it was a bad idea to get Bran involved. She felt it from the beginning that he was up to no good. There were only meant to be eight people in total for the séance.

The fourth outsider made her way down as well as Russ and two of the others Cooper already knew.

“We can’t do this. Not like this.” Cooper rushed out her words and grabbed for her board at the center of the table but Bran stopped her, putting his hand over hers.

“We will. The show must go on. I can already feel them. They want to be heard.”

Cooper shoved Bran away, “You’re making a big mistake. I’m out. This is reckless.”

She wanted her board and her planchette but she could already tell the evil that resided in the house had already gotten Bran. He was channeling the dark and she needed to leave before it was too late.

As she took the stairs up to the main floor the basement door slammed closed and everyone in the basement had their attention on Cooper.

“No one leaves this home, Cooper. Don’t you understand? The spirits are already among us,” Bran’s voice crawled through the chilled air of the damp, dark basement and one of the outsiders laughed.

“Fuck. This is creepy as shit. Worth every penny.”

“My cellphone doesn’t work at all down here. Not even the camera. Dude! What kind of show is this?”

“It’s not a game! It’s not a show!” Cooper’s voice wavered as she held onto the banister and made her way back down the stairs to join the other 9. She already knew the house was locking them into the basement. She wouldn’t be getting out by turning the knob. It would be useless for her to attempt it.

Harry and Y/n watched from their shadowed corner with pleased smiles. Bran was right. No one would be leaving unscathed, if at all. The ten living souls trapped in the basement were now theirs.

“This is going to be fun,” Y/n whispered as they watched the humans gather around the table and another candle blew out.

“Shall we begin?” Bran spoke loudly. An old fixture above the table flickered on, casting light down over the board, making the edges of the room appear darker.

Evil had arrived. Cooper knew it and she knew some of the others could feel it as well.

“Everyone, welcome. Tonight, we are in the presence of greatness!” Bran’s voice boomed as he stood at the table and lifted his arms upward, the features on his face morphing as if he were a decrepit old man, “You will be witness to the experience of a real séance tonight. You may see or hear things that frighten you but if you stay connected with us and keep your mind open you are bound to enjoy yourself.“

“Stop!” Cooper shouted, “There is something evil here and the four outsiders are acting as skeptics,” she looked toward them and continued, “It’s breaking the bond we might have together and this is dangerous. I need to…” She lifted her candle blowing out the flame, “I bind you evil!” She sat her candle down and tore her shawl, ripping a long section off. With the candle in her hand, she began to wrap it with the torn material, “Evil spirits, trouble us no more. I bind you from doing harm to others or to yourself. Your actions will only be for the highest good.”

She repeated the chant as she wrapped the candle and one of the outsiders laughed quietly.

Bran slowly moved behind Cooper and placed a hand on her shoulder as she continued her binding spell, “Useless. The spirit is already here. You cannot stop it, Cooper.”

She could feel it was useless but she needed to try. Sitting the half-wrapped candle down she looked at everyone in the room, “Everyone! Take your candle and repeat after me,” she tilted her candle toward the one next to hers and relit the flame, “Repeat!”

“Elements of the sun, elements of the day, please come this way,” she looked around the room, and only a few repeated, “Please everyone. I need you to all repeat. This is a protection spell. You may find this funny but in just moments things will be getting very serious and this is the only thing I can do for you now. Please…”

Repeating the first part of the spell she noted that still only a few repeated, but she continued, “Powers of the night and day, I summon thee. I call upon thee to protect me!”

The three men who were last-minute invitees chuckled and whispered amongst themselves. The fourth outsider, a middle-aged woman, seemed to take Cooper’s instructions more seriously.

“Hold your candles up,” Cooper demonstrated and she heard Bran sigh as he walked around the group slowly, “I infuse the power of the flame so that it may burn away all negative energy. We pass through the smoke so that it may protect and shield this home.”

The sound of Bran clapping slowly drew attention back to him, “Are you quite done? It’s time to give the people what they’ve come for.”

Cooper knew her bindings weren’t going to work on everyone, if at all, but she had to try. She didn’t have the proper equipment in reach and now that four of the people in the room were skeptics it damaged the circle of empathy and the channel of openness.

“Come. Everyone, have a seat at the table. Let’s begin.”

All but the three young men seemed hesitant. Pulling up chairs and looking around the table Cooper knew this wasn’t going to go down how it had been planned. Cooper was meant to kick off the séance. She was supposed to be the medium, the vehicle for communication but it was clear that Bran was going to be doing it now.

“The spirits are already here trying to make contact. I want everyone in our circle to place a finger on the planchette,” Bran spoke as he touched the wooden stylus.

Everyone reached across the table, chairs dragging over the cement flooring closer to the table and fingers were placed on the planchette at Bran’s direction.

“Spirits, we are here. We are listening. I feel your energy all around. Give us guidance. Show yourself!”

Cooper closed her eyes and felt the chill of something along her back and breeze along her neck. Slowly, everyone in the circle began to gasp or mumble something under their breath about having felt the wind.

“Shit!” One of the guys laughed in surprise and turned in his chair to look behind himself.

“You,” Bran pointed at the man who had just laughed, “What is your name?”

Cooper could see the shadow behind him. Something, someone, was already there and it had already selected its first victim. It wasn’t a surprise that it would be a skeptic. A person who would not know they were being hunted. Ignorance is not always bliss.

“Fred,” he answered. The light above the table flickered softly and Cooper was surprised none of the outsiders found it odd that an old, abandoned house with no electricity had a light working. Marin’s face told Cooper she was absolutely terrified.

“He’s chosen you first,” Bran spoke darkly.

“What?” Fred laughed again and let go of the planchette.

“Do not let go from the circle!” Cooper shouted but it was too late. Suddenly Fred was pulled away from the table, his chair dragged into the dark shadow of the edge of the room and his cries for help were quieted nearly as soon as he had begun to scream.

The woman who had been sitting near the men started to panic, letting go of the circle and standing, “What is happening?”

“Don’t break from this circle! Keep your hands on this planchette. It’s the only thing we can do to protect you,” Cooper rushed out her warning.

One of the men got up from his chair and turned toward where Fred had been dragged, “Fred?”

“Please sit! Come back to the table!”

A candle that had been placed on the floor was suddenly illuminated and there were sharp inhales of breath and gasps as everyone in the room witnessed Fred’s limp body hanging from the ceiling.

“No! What the fuck?” The man turned to look at everyone at the table and pointed toward his lifeless friend, “What is this?”

The woman who was standing began to grasp her neck and struggle when a dark figure appeared behind her. She was being choked and pulled into the corner where Fred was hanging.

The third man stood and looked at Cooper, “This isn’t funny anymore.”

The overhead light flickered and illuminated everything behind the man and by the time everyone at the table could warn him, it was too late. The light fizzled out and then the room was left only lit by candles. The glimmer of the fire danced finickily on each of the wicks and cast an unstable glow over four outsiders who were hung in a row in the corner of the dark basement.

Gone.

There were only 6 left.

“Now that they’ve been taken out of the equation,” a strangely upbeat-sounding voice spoke. Raspy, dark, unmistakably male, “We can get down to business tonight.”

From the shadows appeared a tall young man with dark curls and nearly clear, jeweled eyes, and a young woman next to his side. Harry was pleased to be taking over this get-together.

Bran stood up and just as he was opening his mouth to speak Harry took the floor once again, “No need to speak. This won’t take too long. And the Ouija board’s not necessary. Contact is made. I am the spirit that dwells in this house. This is my domain and you all have trespassed.”

Everyone was stuck in silence as they watched the haunted pair near the table. They looked just as alive as everyone else there if you didn’t pay close attention. If you didn’t know better. But if you were someone like Cooper you could surmise that they were sinister beings. Not quite dead but certainly not alive.

“I apologize for trespassing,” Cooper spoke softly, “I tried clearing the energy and making my presence known in the most gentle–“

“You’re cute,” Y/n spoke with an eerie smile, “Nothing that happens in this house is nice or gentle. You’ll see soon.”

“You haven’t met spirits like us before, Cooper,” Harry stated, “But we’re so glad you couldn’t shake the call of the house. We knew you’d bring us some company. You did very well to listen.”

Cooper shook her head trying to wrap her thoughts around what they were telling her.

“We didn’t need the four extras,” Y/n commented, “But the house will make use of them.”

“What are you going to do with us?” Bran spoke finally, still standing in his spot as he looked at Harry.

Instead of responding Harry just smiled toward Bran as a shadow covered his face from above. The room was already dark but soon Bran’s figure was completely shrouded in darkness. His mouth opened wide to shout but no sound could be heard.

“That… that is what we are going to do with most of you.” Harry watched on as Bran’s face contorted and the darkness slowly pulled him from the table in silence. As if he was disintegrating into smoke.

“But why?!” Russ stood up and his metal chair fell back into the cement floor.

“Because it’s part of the deal,” Harry’s voice was dark as he began to pace slowly behind everyone at the table, “Angra requires sacrifice. The house needs life. We take care of the house and feed it with the souls of the living.”

“Angra,” Cooper spoke the name quietly to herself. She knew of Angra. Angra was a high deity of destruction. A demonic force of greed, wrath, sexual deviancy, and envy. And he was there in that home, and it was clear he was orchestrating everything from the handsome ghost, Harry.

“That’s right, Cooper,” Y/n smiled, “This is his playground, and Harry and I get to keep it all running like a well-oiled machine. It’s fun for all of us, really.”

Y/n pulled at Cooper’s hand suddenly, “Stand back,” she whispered as Cooper was moved away from the table.

The moment Cooper was out of the circle she felt a cottony soft cocoon surround her. Her arms were pressed down to her sides, her legs melded together, unable to bend or part, her mouth sealed closed, but her eyes and ears opened as she watched and heard every one of the people at the table struggle and scream when they were being dragged away by dark shadows until they disappeared.

Harry and Y/n only stood and watched with scary grins and hands intertwined. The flickering of the candles intensified and a howling wind blew through the basement and brushed over Cooper’s face before there was nothing but blackness and the smell of damp cement and smoke from blown-out wicks.

“You need to understand what’s going to happen now, Cooper,” Harry’s voice could be heard but he could not be seen. “You are bound to this house and you will not be able to deny your desire to return here every year.”

Finally, one candle was lit, and then a second one. Harry and Y/n each held a candle in their hands as they stood before Cooper.

“It’s going to follow you. It might take a week. Or maybe just a day or so, but you’ll recognize the scent, the draw, the torment,” Harry's disturbing words crawled over Cooper’s body. She was still unable to speak or move. “But you’ll get used to it and soon you’ll enjoy coming to visit us.”

“Oh, and maybe you can bring some really attractive people for us. Yeah? Because… Jacob and Rick? I mean…” Y/n laughed and her flame jumped as if her breaths were real, “We make due, but sometimes it’s nice to really enjoy the body before we give them over to the house.”

It didn’t make sense to Cooper, what the ghosts were telling her. She was frightened and desperate to escape but she was stuck.

“Are you ready to be released, Cooper? Are you ready to finally begin living, to finally be free of the mundane?” Harry grinned and suddenly the basement door at the top of the steps was shoved open and Cooper found herself dropped to the cold floor. There were no lights. No candles, no table or chairs. It was as if nothing had ever happened in the basement.

With shaky hands and limbs, she gathered herself and began to ascend the stairs, gripping the railing as tight as she could and looking behind her in search of the spirits or the bodies or anything that was after her.

But the moment her feet hit the wood floor beyond the basement door she ran toward the exit. The door was open and she rounded the corner and dashed to the front in a panic as she reached for her cell phone to call the police. Inside the house, her cell phone had been dead. But the moment she stepped out it functioned normally again.

The house looked so unassuming in the daylight. So old and in disrepair, but it didn’t appear anything like what it really was. And the daylight was surprising. Y/n was expecting it to only be around 1 in the morning but according to her cell phone, it was already 9:30. She must have passed out in the basement for hours before finally getting out of the house.

As she was questioned by the first cop on the scene she couldn’t shake the feeling of needing to stare at the house. She recalled the warning from Harry. That something would follow her. Something would continue to draw her to it.

She didn’t know why she was chosen but her fate was sealed. She was just glad she was still alive. Harry and Y/n were also glad she was still alive. They would be waiting.

The Halloween Call (can be read as a short follow up to this one shot)

Cop!Harry takes a call to check out the scene of crime at an old abandoned house, well known as the Slaughter House with a grim history.

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kwritingbooks · 2 years

Text

Storm’s Calling

your phone’s dead, your car’s dead, but the small grocery store’s lights are very much alive at this time of night. given the ghastly storm beating down, you don’t really have much other choice but to run inside. but who might be waiting behind those doors?

tags: sci-fy, thriller, angst

word count: 4.2k

my masterlist here

The rain was pelting harshly at your windshield as you stared blankly at it. Exhaustion had seeped into every crevice of your body; all you wanted to do was be home. You supposed that tiredness had translated into not paying attention to your car's needs, too.

Shocking.

Except, the fatigue of the week looked to be the least of your concerns now as your dead car sat idly in a grocery store's parking lot with a heavy storm beating down on you and your useless vehicle.

"Fuck," you finally mumbled out as you beat your hands against the steering wheel. "Fuck!"

It was the only word that seemed to fully encapsulate your predicament, and even then it didn't seem to do it justice.

Your eyes trailed over to the store that still had its lights on. Strangely, you were surprised it was still open. Just before your phone died, the numbers on your device read out just past midnight, and you didn't know many stores that had hours like that anymore. Especially given how this place seemed to actually be in the middle of nowhere, along with about two other cars in the lot with you.

Maybe they were broken down just like yours. Stranded in a strange town on their way home from a work trip, consumed with stress and the aching of their own messy bed, too.

"I'm gonna have to go in there, aren't I?" You whispered to yourself as if someone else was supposed to answer that for you.

You knew the answer though.

There was no one coming to rescue you like those movies showed when you were growing up. And given the rough wind and lightning outside, as well as very minimal street lights, a movie much more daunting would have been more fitting than a rom-com. Something you did not intend to sit and wait for to happen.

And you didn't even have an umbrella.

Of course.

Reluctantly, you shoved your keys into your purse and wrapped your cardigan more tightly around your body before slinging the driver's side door open. One step out was a sudden wake up, immediately getting pummeled by the rain above.

The door slammed shut, but it was muffled by the sound of lightning clusters above. It even lit little flickers of light against the dark pavement as you hurriedly rushed to the entrance.

Splashes of water hit against your ankles, soaking your socks and shoes in the process. You could feel your pants grow heavier as the bottoms collected the rest of the water that didn't splash everywhere else.

You didn't care too much though, the end was near. The fluorescent lights were getting closer. The chime of the entrance bell was already ringing in your ear with anticipation.

Your arms were reaching out for the handles before you even made it there, anxious to at least be surrounded by not so much noise. You didn't even care that it was radio music that you typically would skip through playing in the building either. Anything was better than being outside stuck.

Not that inside stuck felt all that great either.

You scanned your eyes around the store, practically begging to meet anyone's eyes. There had to be someone with a phone you could borrow to order an Uber, or even you could maybe beg one of my friends to drive the hour that was left of your drive to come and get you.

They were all pretty heavy sleepers though.

So you'd just deal with that Uber cost and leaving your car in a random parking lot later. Tomorrow. You just needed to get home first, and then you would figure it out.

"Hello, welcome to Corner Mart," a voice from behind said cooly.

It startled you, causing your heart to quicken up even more than it was before as you spun around.

A young guy, probably about your age, stared back at you. He had a beige apron over his clothes, which was just a white t-shirt and a pair of grey slacks. He held his hands in front of him with a slight crook to his head as he seemed to examine you.

An eyebrow of his crooked once he noticed how crazy you must have seemed: soaking wet, out of breath, and looking lost.

"Hi, um, do you by chance have a charger? Or a phone I could borrow?" You stammered out.

You shifted on your feet, adjusting the bag on your shoulders while you continued to both stare at each other. You couldn't tell if what you were feeling was unsettling or not. Maybe it was just in your head, but something just felt strange. And it didn't even seem to be from the guy standing in front of you.

If anything, the more you watched him, the more you realized he was actually not that bad to look at. Handsome, even.

Very handsome actually.

"No cellphone, but we've got the company phone." He blinked his eyes kindly back at you, sending a small wave of relief through your body.

At least he didn't seem the crazy type.

Without much else said, he led you toward one of the only three checkout lanes. He fumbled with something underneath your view, and you tried not to look as impatient as you felt.

But, it wasn't like there were any other customers that needed help. As if they would even be as in dire of need as you were right now anyway.

He pulled out a phone that looked about a decade older than it should have been, but you tried not to judge too quickly.

Ubers were definitely out of the question with that dinosaur, though.

"Do taxis come out this far? This late?" You asked, flicking your eyes intensely from the phone to his face.

His expression seemed a bit confused, like he didn't know what you meant by the question. That only elevated the annoyance bubbling inside of you. If only he realized all the shit you had been through the past week with work and now this.

"Er..." He trailed off as he looked at the buttons. "Not sure." He shrugged his shoulders.

Another "fuck" loosely slipped from your lips without realizing.

"Is everything okay? I can maybe help. I don't have shit else to do," he shrugged his shoulders again, but apologetically this time. If it wasn't for his soft tone, you might have considered lunging at him from his laissez-faire attitude.

Not that that would have been productive, you knew that. Or appropriate.

"It's my car." You breathed out an exasperated sigh. "It's dead. I've been ignoring getting the engine checked for a couple weeks now, and I guess this is the consequence."

He hummed with a sly smile across his lips. He rested his elbows on the table with his chin tucked neatly in his palms.

Your eyes crinkled as you surveyed how he was looking at you. What was so funny? How was any of this funny?

"That engine light exists for a reason," he said as he pushed himself off the counter to come back around.

You could feel the heat rise to your cheeks.

"Wow, you work at a grocery store and you're smart. Isn't that something?" Your eyes continued to lock onto him, even with his venturing somewhere else. A light laugh escaped his mouth without you trying to be funny.

"You're funny," he remarked.

You incoherently grumble curses under your breath in response.

"So can you help me..." You trailed off as you squinted your eyes to his name tag. "Henry?"

"Harry," he quickly corrected.

"Okay, Harry. So are you able to help me?" You tried your best to keep your tone light and airy, like women's magazines taught you from a young age on how to speak to men when you wanted something.

He thought for a moment, and you almost envisioned the little mice in his head spinning the wheels with each quick step of their feet.

"I'll call Steven, he might be able to help." Harry replied, as if to himself, while he walked back to the phone he just left. "He's a mechanic down the road. Only one in town, too."

"He'd be able to help me out this late?" You questioned, stepping closer to the register, as if a paying customer. You tried not to sound like this was the best news in the entire world, but it sure felt like it at that moment.

"Maybe. I never really know with him. He's a bit unpredictable." He casually replied as he tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder, dialing random numbers I couldn't place.

Only a couple seconds passed before he pressed his fingers to hang it up, repeating the dials once again. Little veins in his forehead began to creep up as he had to hang up and retry again.

"Do you remember his number?" You didn't mean for it to sound like you were scolding him, but that was definitely how it seemed. You cleared your throat to try and rectify it.

He slammed the phone down for the last time, shaking his head. "Phone's are down."

You were sure the blood fell from your face and left you bottom heavy, wanting to fall to the ground at a moment's notice.

"What do you mean down? I was just on mine earlier before it died!" I croaked out, trying to hide the sobs that wanted to pour out as hard as the rain outside was.

"Sometimes it just goes out. Probably a power line, I don't know. I'm just a grocery store worker after all." He shot a brief look at me, pegged lightly with annoyance but that soon faded to another sly grin.

You ran a shakey hand through your wet hair. Examining your nails, you thought through your possibilities.

I could sleep in my car, you thought. Wait until the morning and maybe the lines will be back up. More customers will have come in by then, and someone is bound to have a cellphone, right?

"Um..." You trailed off, looking behind you towards your car that had yet to move.

God, it looked scary out there. Even if there wasn't a violent thunderstorm going on. This would've made a perfect horror movie starting point.

Now all we needed was a scary masked murderer to walk in at any second...

"Ma'am?" Harry asked.

You shook your head, coming back out of your daze as you looked back ahead again. He had moved from behind the counter again, now directly in front of you. You didn't even hear him move, so your heart picked up from the startle.

"Yeah? Sorry," you let out as a hand rubbed at your temples. "It's been a long week. You don't have to call me ma'am though. My name's Y/N."

He smiled back, taking a couple steps away to lean against the conveyor belt. "Nice to meet you, Y/N." He nodded his head. "I'll be here all night if you want to wait it out in here. Probably safer."

You sucked in a sharp breath through your nose, your body stiffening at the thought. A quick glance over your shoulder back to your car solidified what he said. It really was safer in here.

You were pretty hungry, too.

You ended up finding a pre-made sandwich in the deli section. You made sure to double check, even triple check, the expiration date just to make sure it hadn't been sitting out as long as that phone looked to have been.

It was nothing special. Ham. Cheese. Small slice of lettuce and tomato (which you took off).

You ate beside the greeting card section. It was the warmest area you could find against your still dampened body and clothes. You had taken off your soaked cardigan as to let it dry by one of the store's industrial fans that Harry brought out from some back room.

Since then, you hadn't seen him much besides small stolen glances as he faced different products in the aisles. You tried to keep your head down and focused on your own tasks, even a task as small as eating your sandwich, as to avoid his eyes. Not because you didn't want to look at him, but because his contact sent a surge of heat against your cheeks. It made your stomach flutter ever so slightly when the corners of his lips would curl into a smile as he darted his own eyes away from you as well.

You felt like a little kid again.

Was it because of the situation? Was this your way of filling your time? Crushing on some random worker in a deserted town?

You picked one of the cards that had a bouquet of flowers on them. Cursive letters twisted together to form an "I'm sorry for your loss." You quickly placed it back in its spot, not wanting to think about that.

Your eyes scanned the rest of them, reaching for a more cheerful pattern. It was bright red with little pink sparkly hearts dotted all over. You took a guess that it was Valentine's related. You brought it closer to your face to read the presumably cheesy one-liner that would be attached.

"I extend my heart to you, sending love and peace to you during this hard time," you read aloud. A frown immediately replaced your once curious features, quickly putting it back again.

Your eyes zoomed along each one, searching for something that didn't make you want to cry in a corner. They all reminded you of your grandma, who had died just a few weeks ago, adding onto the already stressful time you had had. It was part of the reason you wanted to go on that work trip. It was a chance to get away from everything—from everyone sending you their well wishes. If only there was a polite way to tell people to fuck off and leave you alone.

Was there any card for that?

The answer to that was no. They were all about mourning the loss of a loved one.

Every single one.

My condolences.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Your sandwich no longer sounded as it did a moment ago. You tossed it directly in the bin across from you, happily walking away from the depressing rows of cards.

It was only a small section dedicated to cards. Maybe they were out of birthday ones. Maybe they didn't get restocks often. Maybe that even meant not many people died here, so those weren't needed like the others. It was just Mother's Day recently after-all.

You laughed to yourself as you watched your feet move ahead of you. Of course you had to make everything seem so dramatic. It was the one thing you could always count on.

"Coffee?" Harry's voice broke out, startling you for what felt like the millionth time that night.

You stopped in your tracks, the smile wiping briskly off your face. You stood only a few inches from him. If you hadn't stopped when you did, you would have most definitely rammed your body into his, spilling the coffee that was cupped nicely in each hand all over the both of you.

You looked down at it for a moment, wondering the chances of it being spiked. You were too desperate for warmth and caffeine that that thought soon dissipated into nothing.

Remember? He's not crazy.

You might be, though.

You extended your hand towards the cup, not having stepped away from the rather muscly guy ahead yet. His muscles protruded in a way you hadn't noticed before. The sleeves of his shirt seemed tight against them, but perhaps it was just the closeness that made everything seem magnified.

"Uh, thank you." You cleared your throat with a weak smile. "I'd love some."

He smiled wide, exposing a deep set of dimples on either side. "Thought you might. You look cold."

You took a step back as you looked your body over. Small prickles of goosebumps sprinkled themselves against your arms and legs. You weren't sure if they had been like that the whole time or if they just sprung up since he showed up this close.

"Thank you,” you hummed out, pressing the cup to your lips with a small swig. The coffee felt like a tight hug from a loved one, enwrapping your body with an accompanying warmth as well.

You could feel his eyes on you, watching as you continued to take another drink out of the cup as he did the same. Relaxation filled your body with each sip. The anxiety of the night, the week, the month, was soon feeling less uncontrollable. This little moment of bliss in midst of the chaos was like a breath of fresh air.

Words flowed out of you like they hadn't in years it seemed. It first started as normal chit-chat, talking about your job and then your work trip. Then, it soon turned into deeper things you hadn't even told your friends yet. It was weird how everything came out so effortlessly. You weren't even scared you were saying too much, even though you probably were.

It wasn't like he knew anyone that you did. You didn't know anyone that he did. You were both strangers to each other, and maybe that was why it was so easy.

He listened with open ears, nodding his head as you spoke. He waited patiently when you had to take a deep breath, fighting away the tears that wanted to spill from your eyes. He listened better than any of your friends at home would have listened.

And you listened to him, too. It was like you both needed this. Seconds passed that turned into minutes, minutes that soon turned into hours. You were both sat criss-crossed on the floor, way after the storm had already seemed to pass. All that was left was a light rain that still softly hit against the cement outside.

Sunlight soon flashed through the big windows, alerting you that time really had passed—and quite a bit of it, too.

"Oh, shit. What time is it?" You questioned, looking over Harry's shoulder.

Both of your empty coffee cups were still beside the two of you, tipped over at some point during the conversations.

He looked over his shoulder, a light laugh dripping out of his mouth before he turned back around with a shrug. "Morning it looks like."

"I should be getting home. The storm is gone, too," you said quietly, unsure yourself about leaving yet.

He sat up, using his knees as leverage. He extended one of his hands in your direction, pulling you up with one quick swoop.

“Y/n?” His voice sounded hollow, worried even. You crinkled your eyebrows at him.

“Yeah?”

“There’s something I should probably tell you.” He scratched at his arm, looking over his shoulder like someone could have been eavesdropping.

Was this where he told you he lied about the phone being down? That he didn’t actually work there? That this was where you now had to die?

Your heart hammered heavily against your chest. You felt like you could vomit.

“What is it?” You said through gritted teeth.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek as he stared directly at you. A darkness seemed to cast over the two of you as if the past few hours hadn’t existed at all. The previous weight it had lifted seemed to fall back down all at once again.

“Harry?” You trembled out. You couldn’t help the anxiety that overwhelmed you now. He looked like he wanted to throw up himself.

“You can’t go home,” he rushed out, avoiding your eye contact.

You felt your heart stop, fighting to keep you alive.

“Harry, what the fuck do you mean I can’t go home? Are you kidnapping me here?” Your anxiety was turning into anger. You wanted to run, fight your way out, run all the way home if you had to.

You weren’t staying here.

“No, no. I’m not holding you hostage.” He waved his hands in front of him, like he was trying to find the right wording himself. His eyes were squeezed shut as he thought. “Like…”

“Like what?” You couldn’t help the anger that spilled through your words. “No, actually, I’m done listening to this. I’ll find a ride on the way home. Thank you so much for wasting my time, Harry.”

Without anything else said on your end, you pushed past him right through the door. It chimed just as it did hours ago when you pushed in, soaking wet.

You mumbled similar curses again under your breath. All that time you thought you really found someone who was listening, not wasting your time. You thought it was someone who was just trying to make your time less miserable, actually. You could’ve been home by now. The storm had stopped awhile ago, but he was just another selfish twat that probably wanted something else out of it, holding you up as long as he could to reel you in.

“Prick,” you cursed out loudly.

You gave your car a pat, as a bit of a farewell, as well as “I hate you for putting me through this.”

But then you felt a sudden onset of dizziness hit you only about five feet away from your parked car. It probably didn’t help the hunger that gnawed at your stomach. Those few bites of sandwich mixed with coffee could only hold someone over for so long. But that idea quickly subsided when everything went black.

You weren’t sure how much time had passed when your eyes managed to pry themselves back open. Florescent lights glared back at you, radio pop music ringing in your ears.

“What?” Your hand reached up to rub at your head, feeling a small knot that had begun to form.

“You passed out,” Harry replied matter-of-factly. “I tried to tell you, but you left too quickly.”

You sat up on your elbows, the blurriness in your sight not fully gone yet. “You carried me all the way back here? Were you watching me that whole time?” Even in the grogginess, your attitude was back just as forcefully as before.

“No, I haven’t moved.” Harry leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he looked down at you.

“Well how else did I get here?” You motioned around the empty store. “Not like there’s anyone else here!”

“There’s not anyone else, just us.” He crooked his head to the side, like what he was saying was the most rational thing in the world and not the most confusing.

You buried your face in your hands, wanting to scream. This was making your head hurt.

“Harry. If you don’t start making sense in less than a minute, I’m running out those fucking doors again.” Your face was still partially buried in your hands, smoothing them out in your hair.

“We can’t leave. It just brings you back here.” He said solemnly. “Trust me, I’ve tried.”

You glared at him, darting your eyes between both of his. You were looking for something but unsure what of. Insanity? Maybe?

Without much else thought, you ran out again.

Past the door.

Past the lights.

Past the car.

Bam.

Your headache hurt worse this time around, eyes opening to the same view you had just tried to argue out of.

“What the fuck!” You screamed out. “Harry, what the fuck is happening!”

“I don’t know how to say this,” he began.

“At this point, just say it! I’m tired of these weird fucking riddles or whatever this game you’re playing is. Just tell me!” You shouted with vigor.

“We’re dead.”

Your breath stopped. Your heart stopped. Your body stopped moving. You just stopped.

“W-what?” You stammered to no one in particular. “That’s not possible.”

“That’s what I thought, too.” He switched positions, no longer leaning against the counter and knelt closer to you. He brushed a piece of hair out of your face, trailing a finger along your forehead.

Out of the back of his pocket, he brought out a mirror, shining it back towards you.

What stared back looked like a version of you, but not really you. A long scar started and ended from one side of your forehead from the other. Tiny scratches sprinkled in various places, some with bits of glass still stuck inside. Why did it look healed?

You reached up, expecting to feel it, but the pain didn’t spread. It didn’t pulsate. It didn’t bleed.

“What? H-how…” You whispered to yourself, pulling out a shard of glass without even a tickle.

“I wish I knew, I’m sorry.” His face peered over the side of the mirror, but you averted your gaze from him.

“What…what do we do then?” You dropped the mirror from your grasp, it landing with a thunk in your lap.

He let out a deep breath, his eyes trailing along the floor. He looked up at you once more.

“Guess we’ll find that out together I hope.”