Written by Cranberry_Jo

Edited by theglitchproject

People say ghosts are a myth. They say it's for weak people who get scared. And then they puff out their chests and brag about their courage, begging for a reminder that in courage, there's no arrogance. But are ghosts really true?

If you asked Jace Washington about it, he would probably lie and say they are and he even saw them. He said that even to his closest friends. So everyone was confused. Was he saying the truth? And if he was, how dangerous was it for them to live in this world.

It started with a cold Tuesday night in Maple Town where the chilling winds seemed to bite those who faced it. Music came from a blue house, where the lawn was covered in plastic red cups filled with alcoholic drinks. In the inside of the house, a disco ball swung and rainbow lights were painted everywhere. Couples did their usual couple-thingy in the couches, some dancing together and a table in the corner was covered in food; a bowl of fruit punch, chocolate fountain, pizzas, burgers and chicken and different other delicacies.

It was surely fun, they thought especially when they were gathered around for a game of truth and dare without having any idea of where the game would lead them.

"Annabelle, truth or dare?" Jonathan asked, amusement clinging to his voice like fresh glue.

"Truth," she finally said, a little bit confused. Her pink hair stuck to her face with sweat and she was certainly tired but she still seemed to be the brightest bulb in the box, at least according to looks, even when drained of energy.

"Who was your first kiss?" the brunette boy asked and Annabelle blushed beet red while everyone present in the room wolf-whistled and cheered.

"Evan Richmond," she whispered, offering a sloppy smile to Evan who was currently beside his girlfriend. Everyone turned to him and the raven boy shrugged, lifting his cup in his right hand.

"That's...quite a surprise. Annabelle who hates jocks and Evan who's a jock?"

"I don't hate jocks, I just don't date them." she offered before clapping her hands. "Now my turn."

The game continued until the question landed on Jace, a platinum blonde with whisks of dry hair on the sides, sipping leisurely. He was usually quiet unless someone came to talk with him and he creeped them out with his ghost stories then. He lifted his head softly, asking what his question was.

"Truth or dare, Jacey?"

"Truth," he answered, without missing a single beat.

"Do you really see ghosts?"Bianca asked warily. There were some people groaning and Jace groaned himself.

"What's the point of asking me if you won't believe it anyway?"

"Because you never tell the truth." Bianca threw her hands up in the air, exasperated.

"I am telling the truth. I really see them. I can even see one behind-"

"Please don't tell me you will say a cliche line like you can see one behind her," Veronica jested and everyone present laughed, some saying stuff like 'burn' and 'savage'.

Jace threw her a nasty glare before asking "It's my turn now, right?" He laughed a little before turning to Veronica again.

"So Ronnie, truth or dare?" he asked in a sing-song voice.

"Dare," she replied confidently and got patted in the back like she was buying a Mercedes or something.

"I dare you to visit the Haunted House of Maple Town and stay there for a night."

The air turned cold. The Haunted House was not a matter of joke to them. Thirteen years, a couple died there due to a mysterious reason no one wanted to know and a few days later sounds of cries and loud whispers (although an oxymoron, but can happen) were heard. It's said the ghosts of that couple still roam around the house as they died early. Since then, people chose to stay away from it, except some arrogantly brave ones. And unluckily, Veronica was one of them.

"Dare accepted," she replied after a few moments of silence and an uncomfortable tension clung to the air.

"Ronnie, are you sure?" Annabelle asked in a worried voice. After all, Veronica was her best friend.

When Veronica nodded, she sat upright. "Then I will come with you."

"Annabelle, are you crazy? You can't go there," Jonathan decided panickedly. She was his friend as well. Actually, she was everyone's friend. So a lot of people expressed their worries.

"I have to go guys. I can't leave Ronnie alone."

"You don't have to come," Veronica mumbled.

"Shut up. If you were stupid enough to accept this dare, I am stupid enough to follow you."

"Same to you, Annabelle." Jonathan stood up with a serious expression.

"What?" she asked, confused at the brunette's words.

"I will come with you guys as well." He ended with a voice which meant no one can change his decision anymore.

"But John-"

"No more words, Annie." And with that, he took his coat and left. There were a few minutes of uncomfortable silence.

"Well, best of luck to you."

"Hope you come back alive."

"Don't go insane."

There were a few loose words of comfort before the party. Everyone started going their separate ways and no one seemed fully cured of what happened before them a few seconds ago.

"Don't go, guys. Let's have some fun," Jace jested, scoffing at how scared they were. "I am sure you will believe me after you come back Ronnie. That is, if you come back." And then he gave a maniac laugh at his own joke.

"Shut up, you psycho. All this is because of you," Annabelle screeched.

"Oh Annie, what a pickle you got yourself in. I surely hope you come back... in a casket."

Annabelle opened her mouth again but Veronica beat her to it.

"And I just wish the most painful and ugly death in existence, you asshole."

And with that, they left.

The next night, the trio were prepared in warm clothes, torchlights and cameras in front of the Haunted House of Maple Town. Annabelle was literally shivering with chattering teeth, her pink hair now in two braids, dressed in black clothing as if going to a funeral. Veronica had teased her about it but Annabelle proudly said this was her way of 'greeting' the ghost. If it didn't kill them first, that is.

Jonathan, who protectively stood beside her, had already started recording in her camera for thousands of viewers who would surely be full of wonder at the Haunted House.

"So, right now we are in front of the notorious Haunted House of Maple Town and as you can see, it looks outright creepy and is giving me chills even from here. Guys, please remember me if I die."

Jonathan was right. The house looked sinister and dark due to the wet rain and several trees were growing out from the small spaces, clinging to the house like poisonous ivy. The windows were dark and broken, and from the small crack, all that came out was darkness. Raindrops dripped down the ceiling in a rhythmic manner, making a sound against the muddy floor like a soft hammering. The house was made of dark stone and its aesthetic was of pure fear. When it already looked as grim as it did in daytime, what did they expect at night?

The church bell rang, indicating it was midnight. The pathway to the black door was wet and muddy and as they walked, an eerie silence stepped upon them with Jonathan closing his phone for a moment.

With shaking hands, Veronica touched the knob and it felt cold as ice to her hands. She wanted to run right at that moment, far, far away with her friends from this, but she couldn't do that anymore, not after foolishly accepting that stupid dare. She wanted to curse Jace Washington so badly.

The door opened with a creaking sound, like the start to a horror movie without popcorn. The trio stepped inside, their feet against the cold marble floor. Everything inside was dark and they lit their torches.

"As you can see, it's pitch black here without the torches and-"

Jonathan's commentary was interrupted by a cold, sharp gust of wind that sent Annabelle shivering again but this time it closed the door with a creaking sound again.

"Oh my gosh, did the door just close on itself?" Annabelle asked, fear lacing her voice.

"No it was the wind. You saw it," Veronica assured the pink haired girl and herself as well, trying to stay with logic. Because without logic, there's no way out of this.

"Besides, why are you scared? You are literally named after a possessed doll," Jonathan said, attempting humour.

"Shut up, John."

There was a moment of silence. "Guys, I think we should go our respective ways now. I will go upstairs."

The stairs in the living room were divided to two sides, one going towards the right and other towards the left. When Veronica confirmed she will be going to the right side, Jonathan took it as a chance to go towards the left where the couple used to sleep in. This meant Annabelle will be left alone in the basement.

"Do we really need to do this?" Annabelle asked in a shaky voice.

"I guess so. Stay safe, alright?" And with that, Veronica climbed up and John gave Annabelle a hesitant hug before climbing up himself.

The silence was painful to the pink-haired girl. Every moment she felt as if a cold invisible hand was trying to touch her leg and throw her backwards. Every moment Annabelle was scared that perhaps a shadow was following her and it would now appear in front of her. Creepy footsteps could be heard, although there was a chance those were of her friend's. Annabelle took a cautious step before jumping up with a small scream. She felt something fluffy and soft against her leg. It passed away quickly.

"What was that?" she trembled and a bead of sweat escaped through her face. She wiped it away with her sleeve before taking another step. The torchlight shook in her hands and everything appeared green.

This seemed like the kitchen. There was an old microwave and a fridge with no light. They seemed deserted and the smell of dead rats filled the air. Annabelle scrunched up her nose in disgust. Through the back of her eye, she felt something glowing yellow staring at her and her heart stopped beating for a second.

Was this going to be the end? With the torchlight in the middle, Annabelle wrapped her hands together silently praying to God. Taking a deep breath, she finally turned back.

And she turned back to give a heart-wrenching yell.

Something dark jumped up beside her and Annabelle felt it flying over her head before it landed on her right side. There was a sound.

Mew.

The pink-haired girl gave a sharp sigh with her hand over her heart, breathing again.

"Oh, it's just a cat. Just a freaking cat."

Upstairs, Veronica stumbled after hearing her friend scream. She stopped, turned back wondering if she should check on Annabelle. When it was silent for more than a minute, she finally chose to get down and see if she was alright when Veronica stopped dead in her tracks.

A soft tune was playing, too soft to even be heard if her hearing skills weren't as enhanced then. It seemed to be a piano and it seemed very distant. It was a very sad tune and it continued on. The keys sounded sharp yet soothing. The music had a hypnotizing effect on the raven and was making her a little dizzy.

Every moment, it seemed the pianist was coming closer and cold winds brushed against her. Whether it was the music, atmosphere or fear but Veronica felt as if she was unable to move. Her legs were glued to the ground.

With the last bit of her energy, the raven tried to grab it. What that 'it' was she didn't know but she tried. The music went on and there was a sound of soft laughter. A man's laugh. And as she tried to grab it again, the music stopped. And footsteps seemed to come closer.

Veronica's eyes seemed to close on itself and she tried to run again, but her legs didn't let her. She took a sharp breath in before...

Suddenly she felt a cold hand against her cheek. It was like the hand was out in the December chill for too long. She felt her hair getting tucked behind her ear and still Veronica couldn't move or scream.

The torchlight fell to the ground with a clattering noise and the sound of footsteps running away followed and Veronica just managed to let out a soft 'Jonathan' before she fell to the ground.

On the other side, Jonathan had a creepy feeling himself. He looked around, recording the room on his camera.

"This is the bedroom of the dead couple. Rumor is that they died here and the room is rather sinister. Is it really haunted as they say? Will I see a ghost here?"

He closed his phone and camera. And then it came, the gut feeling that told him something was behind him. Perhaps it was just a hallucination and Jonathan turned back to reassure himself.

There really was nothing. Perhaps all this haunted stuff was getting to his head. He got a lighter out of his pocket and lit a cigarette.

The window opened with the gust of wind. The smell was infested with rats and he scrunched his nose up and turned back again, taking a deep puff which sent his lungs burning. Jonathan coughed, the smoke in the air.

The wind blew again and a disgusted Jonathan tried to close the window. It would not be of much use since it was cracked but....

A rat climbed up the sill and the brunette jumped back about to yell when the cigarette fell from his mouth to the ground below. He cursed out loudly.

He rushed out of the room in anger to check on Veronica when he cursed again.

Veronica was lying on the floor, senseless.

"Oh shit. What happened here? Ronnie, Ronnie, wake up," he yelled, shaking the raven fiercely, but there was no sign of her eyes opening. He hurriedly checked her pulse.

"She's alive, she's alive. Thank God." He breathed out before calling out Annabelle. Footsteps climbed up the stairs.

"Oh my gosh, Veronica, what happened to her?"

"She fainted. I don't know why. Do you have water?"

Annabelle nodded before zipping open her bag to bring out a blue bottle of water. As soon as John took it, he pulled out the cap and sprinkled water on her face. After a few seconds, Veronica's pupils moved, a sign she was regaining consciousness.

Veronica woke up with a sharp jab in her head extending to her shoulder. Her head hurt like shit and her mouth felt dry.

"Do you want some water?" Annabelle asked. When the raven nodded, she took a big gulp from the bottle, a little bit water dripping down the corner of her lips.

There was a sound of rustling of dry branches. Instinctively, Jonathan ran to look down the window and saw a blonde opening the gate and running away.

"That asshole," he spit out, running a rough hand through his hair.

"What happened?" Veronica asked in a dry voice.

"It was Jace. He was probably here before us and I guess he jumped out through the window. What exactly happened?"

"I heard a piano and then-" And as the other memories flooded in and Veronica punched the air. "That jerk, I will kill him when we get back."

"Let's get back now. It's been a hell of a night here." Annabelle sighed.

"At least the mystery of Veronica's scare is solved. I don't think there's anything weird in this house. There's rats-"

"And cats," Annabelle shakily added.

"Either way, I think now we know the mystery of the haunted house was just a rumor."

"I guess we do," Annabelle and Veronica chorused.

And with that, the trio left the house with the intention of never returning there again.