Haunted Memories
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeello my wonderful people! Yes you, the one who's saying "lol not me" cause I mean you.
This has been running around my head for about a week now and so here we goooooo.
Hope you like haunted houses.
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Liz waltzed into the decathlon practice, a sly smirk playing on her lips. "So," she stated, slapping a book down on the table, "I read that the best way to develop bonds between others is to experience fear with them. So I found a haunted house to visit on Saturday for a team building exercise."
MJ quirked an eyebrow. "Like, a fake one or an actual one that's been abandoned?"
"A real one." Liz sat down, excitement radiating off her. "Apparently there's a house that's been abandoned for about a decade. Story goes that there was a couple with a child who died unexpectedly. No one knows if the kid is alive, but they say that they haunt their old house."
Peter looked at Ned who was about to explode.
"Dude! This is going to be lit!"
"I don't believe in ghosts," MJ said simply. "But I do believe in the astral plane."
"Oooookay. So, meet at my house at Saturday at 5. We can explore while night falls."
"For someone who is generally so sweet, you're too excited for this." Cindy said.
Flash elbowed Peter. "I guess Parker won't be there. He's too chicken and he has that 'internship'."
Peter looked at the bully out of the corner of his eye, leaning back in his chair. "I'll be there." He scratched the back of his neck while giving Ned a knowing look. The guy in the chair nodded with an amused face. Peter couldn't get scared with his sixth sense.
"See you guys then. Now, onto the practice..."
********
The team stared at the old house. It was dusty, the once clean brick walls covered with ancient grime. The old curtains in the double bay windows hid the interior to the outside.
"20 Ingram Street, here we come." Liz marched down the driveway, brown locks escaping out from under the dark beanie.
MJ hesitated. Something on Peter's face was setting her off about the place.
They all walked into the dusty hallway, particles illuminated by the torches.
"This place is actually really cute, apart fro the dust. The people who lived here must have been really nice," Cindy said.
"Shame they died." Abe said sadly.
"Yeah." Peter's fingers lingered on a shelf. "Yeah."
"Chickening out Parker?" Flash smirked, keeping his distance from the old furniture.
"No. No, just... admiring the-the wood."
flash scoffed and continued down the hallway into one of the living rooms. White light filtered through the fading curtains, adding a soft edge to the forsaken furniture. Dust clouded the mirrors and frames, hiding the identities of the owners. Liz picked one up and wiped away the coating.
"Oh... look." She held up the picture. "It's the parents with their son."
A man with soft, brown eyes behind black frames smiled, his arm around his wife. Her soft, chestunt curls framed her narrow face, her green eyes twinkling. The small boy coulnd't have been more than 3 years old. His hazel eyes held youth and joy, accompanied by the broad smile.
"He has his mother's hair."
"Mm." Even Flash couldn't find something snarky to say. A solemn atmosphere hung over the group as they took a moment to remember the passed family.
Liz put the frame. Stepping back, her foot landed on a creaky floorboard, sending her jumping through the air.
"Oh my gosh." The team exchanged glances, glad the moment of terror had passed.
Or so they thought.
Soft, mournful notes drifted down through the roof, the melody holding memories of longing and sadness.
"Where's the ghost?" Flash grabbed the rusting candelabra from the coffee table, wielding it like a weapon.
"Flash, put Lumiere down and stop panicking. There is no ghost."
Flash placed the candelabra down tentatively, eyes darting around the room. "Okay, but we're sacrificing Parker first."
everyone turned to look at Peter.
He wasn't there.
"Peter?"
"Oh my gosh the ghosts took him!"
"Where gonna die, aren't we?" Ned asked MJ.
MJ paused. "Ghosts didn't take him. He's probably in one of the other rooms."
Liz herded everyone out of the room and pulled them into the kitchen.
"They had a teapot?"
"Who doesn't? Tea is amazing." MJ lifted up the lid. "Anybody want ten year old-" she sniffed- "berry tea? It's cold."
"I'll pass," Liz said. Her hands ran over the oak cupboards. "These are cute."
"How is wood cute?" Abe asked. The girls looked at him and rolled their eyes.
"It adds a nice cottage vibe. makes it feel mor-" Cindy cut off with a scream as the sound of a door shutting reverberated through the house.
"What was that?"
"Guys, relax." MJ closed a cupboard and dragged the team out. "Let's see what's upstairs."
The first room was obviously the boy's room. Soft, baby blue walls were faded with age, speckled with the occasional mold. The shelves were bare, stripped of any belongings that might have been there before. A dusty name plaque rested on the door, illegible due to the dust. While everyone moved out of the room, MJ stayed behind. She wanted to know what happened to this family. With her thumb, she wiped of the dust to reveal the name. The girl blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what she had read, then bolted down the stairs.
Liz turned at the sound of feet pattering on the stairs. "MJ?"
No response.
"Ok. So, two of our members are missing. You know what, let's just get this over with." She pushed open the door, revealing the old, musty library. A small grand piano rested in a pool of moonlight, but not dusty.
"See? No ghost, just a piano." Liz reassured the team, hiding her fear.
"But how did it play?"
Liz left the question unanswered. She didn't want to know.
"Look."
The team turned to find Cindy with a yellowing, lace-covered book in her hands.
"It's a wedding album"
She opened it up. "The wedding of Mary Teresa Fitzpatrick and... Richard Laurence Parker?"
"What?" Liz looked over Cindy's shoulder. "It can't be." She flipped through the book and stopped. "Is that... Ned, get over here."
Ned glanced at the photo. It was a photo of a young May Parker, or Reilly, since she wasn't married then, dancing with a handsome Benjamin Parker.
"That's May. No doubt."
"Oh my gosh." Liz's jaw dropped. "This is..."
They all looked at each other.
"The boy survived."
Liz turned and bolted through the hall. "PETER!? MJ!?"
"Over here!"
Liz slammed open a door to find a study. MJ was sitting next to Peter, a yellowed letter in his hands.
"You guys ok? Did you find a ghost?"
"No, but we found out who the little boy is."
MJ shared a look with Peter. "Congratulations."
"You knew!?"
"I read the name plaque on the bedroom door, then looked back at the photograph. There was no mistaking it. And he's really good at piano."
Flash burst in. "Liz! Wha- you just took off! With no explanation!" His eyes finally landed on Peter. "And why is Parker crying? Did you get scared?"
Peter sniffed, dabbing at his nose with the back of his hand. "No, just... reliving memories." He waved his hand and the room around him.
Flash blinked, confused. "So who was the boy?"
"Me."
Flash's eyes widened at Peter's statement. "You?"
Peter nodded. "This was my house. Before..." He trailed off, eyes studying the letter in his hands. "I found this. It was written for me for when I turn 15. Perfect timing."
Flash backed out of the room, trying to comprehend what had just happened. That little boy, with bright, hazel eyes and gorgeous parents, who lived in a well-furbished house and was clearly well off, was Peter? His eyes landed on a frame with the small boy. The smile had developed, but the base was still the same. And they eyes were definitely Peter's though his eyes twinkled less often. It was so hard to believe that of all of the houses, it was Peter's old home they chose?
Flash jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay, Flash?" Abe asked.
"Yeah, just..." Flash shrugged. "The boy survived."
"He did?" Cindy's eyes lit up. "Where is he?"
"In there." Flash pointed at the half open door. "It's a bit of a shock though."
Peter looked up as the door opened. "Hey guys." he winced as his voice cracked slightly.
Cindy's eyes widened with realization. "Oh."
Abe blinked rapidly. "Duuuuuude. That's rough."
Peter shrugged, his eyes far away. "It's weird, that's for sure."
Cindy hesitated, looking down at the album in her hands. "We found this."
Peter opened the delicate book, a rare smile appearing on his lips. "It's beautiful."
"Take it home."
Peter turned to MJ.
"May would love it."
Peter nodded, tracing the lace pattern. "We should probably go."
Liz nodded. The team shuffled out quietly where Liz's mum was waiting in the car. Peter gave one last look at his house, his childhood. A quiet, solemn serenity settled on him.
It almost felt as though he was being hugged by two on the other side of the veil.
He pulled the car door shut, holding the wedding album close to his chest, letting the memories of those golden days fill his mind.
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Ohmygosh I got chills writing that. Doesn't help that I was also listening to the most beautiful piece called Evelyn Goes It Alone from Christopher Robin
Stay safe mah dudes and also, who do you think is the strongest avenger mentally and emotionally-wise?
Love you all. Yes, even you. I love all of you.
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