Story cover:

This is based on the prompt: Your Death of the Halloween Vault 2 contest on CoffeeCommunity profile.

'Death is lurking, watching, nearing. Crimson spellbound blood is to be shed. Powers are sought. If I was you, I'd mind where my feet take me tonight, dearest, for darkness craves your death and shadows expect to be fed. Haunted houses are where they hunt.'

A lady ruggedly swathed in layers of black, silver trinkets and opaque veils cascading to her hips. The sight of the hunched figure paired with the nasal voice left her trembling for days.

"Aradia, we're still going, right?" The inquiry snapped her out of vicious thoughts, vision unfocused prompting successive blinks to finally make out the concern on her friend's pinched face.

"Yeah," she cleared her throat, fake firmness to hide the lack of confidence and hesitance coating the simple word.

I could die tonight, she thought. But, also, it's Halloween. Some people loved to prank others, getting too real with the persona they're dressing as. Her friends have been excited about the ghost hunt they've planned for a while. She was too...before the visit from the cloaked lady.

She shouldn't take her seriously. Maybe it's not even a woman. A small smile spread, nodding to herself before skipping outside.

"Hurry up. It's almost midnight!" Alexandra shouted. Apparently, that was when spirits were at their peak, highly active and responsive. She grimaced, dragging her legs.

"We're here," he whisper-yelled. "Get your equipment, people. We're about to embark on one of a lifetime adventure."

"Don't jinx it, D." Aradia muttered lowly, knuckles white from clenched fists.

It was eerily quiet inside, the hair on their bodies erect and on watch. No one dared speak, the eeriness undisturbed except by reluctant careful steps. The lack of response was a disappointing relief.

After roaming around for a while, they decided to leave when a slight creak behind forced Aradia to slowly turn to check. Nothing. But, when she turned to her friends, there was nothing as well.

Her heart skipped a beat. Her breathing quickened. "Guys?" Her hands shook, the stutters resonating around the dingy place. No one answered her calls. "This is a sick joke, guys."

She cursed under her breath. "Haunted houses are no joke, mortal." A hard voice cut through the stillness. Doors slammed shut, the synchronicity forcing a sharp yelp. The room's temperature abruptly dropped, her teeth chattered.

Spinning in circles was useless. You can't see ghosts. "We're sorry, please don't harm us." Her pleas were barely audible over hollow unintelligible scratches, whispers and screams bouncing around.

The EMF meter in her hands went crazy and a tiny crack was heard before it stopped working. She tossed it away when a sudden force pulled her back and she slammed hard against the wall. The noises stopped. "You smell delicious. You stay, they leave intact."

Her lungs protested for some air, fingers clawing at her neck. "Okay," Aradia wheezed before unconsciousness overtook.

"Let's commence the feast, fellas." was the last thing she heard, her final thought being: maybe, I should've listened to that creepy lady.

Word count: 500.

*Shudders* Yes, it's the same Aradia from The Death Whisperer, lol. The one shots are related but there is no full story.

Yet.

Maybe, someday, after I'm done with Rieka (check it out if you'd like, it's a book about supernaturals as well) I'd give it a go.

Thanks for reading. Hope y'all enjoyed. 💜

Dreams. Xx