━ NEUROSIS ━
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

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IT WASN'T LONG before Violet and Lottie had decided to head back to the cabin and rejoin the rest of the group. They both would've much preferred to have stayed down at the lake, the pair of them equally enjoying the brief peace and quiet.

But sadly, they knew they couldn't stay out there forever.

So, after walking back slower than needed, the pair had finally arrived back at the cabin. And their previous bubble of tranquility had been quick to burst, reality setting in on them once more.

"Have you eaten yet?" Violet asked.

"No, not yet." Lottie shook her head, looking over at the cooking pot. "What even is that anyway?"

Violet pursed her lips. "Deer... porridge."

"Deer porridge?" Lottie quirked a brow in amusement. "It looks like sludge."

"How dare you." Violet turned to Lottie with a faux look of shock. "You're telling me you haven't heard of the five star dish before?"

"I can't say I have, no." Lottie chuckled.

"I've never heard so much disrespect in my life." Violet jested. "You come into our restaurant without having knowledge of our signature dish?"

"You're right, I'm so sorry." Lottie teased. "God, don't tell the others. Whatever will they think of me?"

Violet hummed, pretending to think. "I supposed I could keep this between us... on one condition."

"Oh really?" Lottie's eyes narrowed playfully. "And what's that?"

"Well, you're gonna have to leave us five star review." Violet said, biting back a grin. "We have a reputation to upkeep here."

"I guess I'll have to." Lottie sighed dramatically. "I can't have my disrespect of your food getting out into the open."

"Then we have a deal." Violet held out her hand.

Lottie shook it with a small smile. "Pleasure doing business with you, Crawford."

"The pleasure is all mine."

The pair of them glanced down at their hands before looking back up at each other, both breaking out into a fit of soft laughter at their antics.

Although their laughter was abruptly cut short. The sound of a blood-curdling scream erupted from inside the cabin and the pair both looked over in the direction with wide eyes, rushing towards the group who all gathered outside.

Mari sprinted out of the doors, stumbling down the steps and almost falling over in a panic.

The girls hands were hurriedly patting down her body and clothing, small shrieks of fear leaving her throat. "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!"

Shauna and Violet ran over to Mari, attempting to assist with whatever was bothering her.

"Hang on, hang on." Shauna tried to search her clothes, but it was difficult with how much Mari was squirming.

"Get it off me!"

"Get what off?" Violet asked, brushing down Mari's clothes in hopes of finding the issue. "Jesus Mari would you keep still!"

"What happened?" Shauna questioned, her gaze working it's way over Mari's body.

"I don't know!" Mari started to explain between panic-struck breaths. "I-I was standing under the trapdoor and something crawled under my shirt!"

Violet let out a sigh and stepped back with a shrug. "I don't see anything."

"There's nothing there." Shauna nodded in agreement, doing the same. She put her hands on Mari's shoulder to calm her down. "Mari, it's fine. There's nothing on you okay?"

Taissa folded her arms across her chest, looking upon the girl in amusement. "Must've been the ghost."

Mari turned to Taissa, her eyes narrowing into a glare. "Don't say that!"

"Really, Tai?" Violet looked at Taissa sternly, her gaze silently scolding her. She turned back to Mari to assure her one last time. "Listen, it was probably just a spider or something, okay? I saw, like, six the other day."

Mari visibly shivered at the thought. "Great, even better."

"Guys!" Jackie suddenly piped up in excitement. "Okay, you guys, I just had a brainstorm."

"That's dangerous." Violet quipped, earning a couple of snorts from the group. She paused at the look Jackie was giving her and sighed. "Continue."

"Thank you." Jackie said before turning back to the others. "We should have a seance."

Violet gripped the bridge of her nose. "Point proven."

"That's a terrible idea." Taissa chuckled. "Also, we're not in middle school."

"But remember how fun that shit used to be?" Jackie asked. "Besides, maybe if we can laugh about this, then it would help."

"The occult is no laughing matter." Laura Lee stated, her tone nothing but serious.

"It's not the occult, Laura Lee." Jackie rolled her eyes. "It's a game."

Violet and Lottie exchanged a look, the pair of them leaning into one another as they each tried to suppress a snicker at Laura Lee's comment.

Jackie turned to her best friend for support. "Come on, Shauna, tell them. It'll be fun."

"Um..." Shauna looked around at them all sheepishly. "Well, I mean, it's not like we have anything better to do. And maybe this dead guy can give us some life advice."

A series of laughs escaped the lips of the group. Jackie smiled at the sight, knowing that she had managed to win them over.

However, Laura Lee was still not swayed by the idea at all. The blonde shook her head and walked back inside the cabin, no longer wanting to be involved in any part of it.

"So, it's settled." Jackie confirmed. "Tonight, the attic. We make contact."

"Contact with air." Violet mumbled.

And with that, the group all went their separate ways, picking up from where they had left off with their tasks.

Violet turned to Lottie who still remained at her side, eyeing the Matthews girl to figure out her thoughts on it all. "You okay? I know how you feel about the attic."

"Yeah... I think so." Lottie nodded, seeming a little nervous. "Maybe Jackie could be right? If we can make a joke about it then it could help?"

"As much as it pains me to agree with Jackie," Violet chuckled. "I think it could too."

"Are you gonna go?" Lottie double checked.

Violet smiled. "I'll go."

Lottie let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing. Violet ran her hand down Lottie's arm soothingly, coming to a stop once she reached her hand and squeezing it lightly.

"I'll be right there with you the whole time."

⋆༺♱༻⋆

NIGHTFALL HAD SOON taken over the sky, and the group had finished up their jobs and made their way back inside the cabin. Most of them followed through with the plan of the seance, all sat upstairs in the attic, which had been prepared by Jackie, in a circle.

Taissa, Laura Lee and Javi remained downstairs, all of them not wanting to take part in Jackie's idea for the night. Coach Ben was also amongst them, though he didn't care whether he had gotten involved with the seance or not. It was just physically impossible for him to get up there.

Back in the attic, Jackie made her way around each person in the circle. She had a small bowl in her hand, it containing a mixture of deer blood and dirt. Which she used to paint a small X on everyone's forehead.

"O keeper of this wild and hidden place..." Jackie said theatrically as she drew on Shauna's head. "...we anoint ourselves with blood and earth."

Violet's eyes followed the Taylor girl, raising a brow once she reached her. Jackie crouched down in front of her, dipping her finger into the mixture before looking back at Violet.

"Go on then, Picasso." Violet prompted with a smirk.

Jackie's lips twisted as she stifled a smile at Violet's words. She leaned in, gripping the side of Violet's face lightly with her free fingers as her thumb drew the mark.

The Taylor girl moved back slowly, her gaze moving down to Violet. "My best work yet."

Violet chuckled softly and Jackie stood up, making her way over to Travis. To Violet's right, Lottie stared at Jackie with a heavy gaze, pushing down her bubbling annoyance with a tightened jaw.

"Here." Jackie held out the bowl to Travis and waited for him to take it. Travis' face scrunched in distaste, earning an eyeroll from Jackie. "It's just dirt and deer blood. Classic witch recipe. Relax."

Travis let out a sigh and ignored his skepticism, he took the bowl from Jackie and drew the X on his head.

Jackie took a spot on the floor and looked around at them all, inhaling sharply before closing her eyes and raising her hands.

"Jesus, she's really going all out, huh?" Violet whispered to Lottie, who was sat closely next to her.

"I feel like I'm watching a play." Lottie covered her mouth to hide her quiet laugh. "Do you think she rehearsed this?"

"Oh 100%" Violet nodded. "That's why she was up here for so long."

"O spirit, we offer our sister as your instrument." Jackie started. "Come to us and speak your peace."

Shauna cleared her throat, preparing to speak. The Shipman girl was stood up, a piece of fabric covering her eyes and acting as a blindfold. She was holding onto a makeshift pendulum, which was really just a knife attached to a rope.

"It is I, Jacques." Shauna said lowly.

The group all laughed at Shauna's words, Shauna herself even let a small chuckle slip.

"Ask your questions." Shauna continued, deepening her voice. "The pendulum will answer them."

"Okay." Van was the first to step up to the plate. "Dead hunter guy... did O.J do it?"

Despite laughter erupting between them all once more, Jackie didn't seem as amused.

"Come on, guys." Jackie prompted. "Real questions."

"The veil is thin between our two planes." Shauna proceeded. "Ask what is in your heart."

"I'll go." Mari volunteered. "Is Principal Berzonsky screwing Ms. DeWine?"

They all looked towards the pendulum, waiting to see which direction it moved in. After a few seconds of aimless waving around, it changed it's pattern to a circular motion.

Shauna smirked. "It is certain."

"Oooh!" The group exclaimed.

"Can't say I blame him." Violet shrugged.

"I second that." Van raised her hand in agreement.

"Hunter guy," Akilah started. "If we hadn't crashed, would we have won nationals?"

Shauna's face scrunched with a tilted head, feeling the pendulum now waving side to side. The answer was no. A series of Boos and disappointed groans erupted from them all.

Violet rolled her eyes. "I don't like this guy anymore. His answers are shit."

The group spent the next short while asking random questions, laughter bubbling and bouncing off the attic walls. Even Lottie had seemed to relax with the more time she spent up there, which was enough to make Violet smile.

It wasn't long before the sound of steps on the ladder grabbed everyone's attentions. They all looked towards the attic entrance and watched as Javi wandered over, sitting down in between Natalie and Travis with a small smile.

A few seconds later, Taissa made her way up the ladder too. She didn't utter a word, too stubborn to admit she wanted to see what was so funny. Instead, she grabbed the chair in the corner and sat down.

"Um..." Misty decided to take a turn. She took a deep breath, looking around at the group nervously before deciding to utter her question. "Dear spirit, I need to know the truth. Does the person I like, like me back?"

Jackie smiled sweetly at her words. "Aww."

The pendulum returned to its circular motion, signalling the answer was yes.

Everyone turned to Misty with wide smiles, cheering for the girl. Misty covered her mouth and let out an elevated gasp, her body buzzing with excitement.

Lottie and Violet exchanged a knowing look, they knew exactly who Misty's crush was. Poor Ben.

"Okay. Next question?" Jackie glanced around the circle for the next volunteer.

Javi raised his hand sheepishly and Jackie smiled, sending a nod his way. The boy cleared his throat before asking,

"Are we all gonna die out here?"

The room fell silent at Javi's words, everyone's smiles quickly faded and were soon replaced with frowns as well as the odd light scowl. It was safe to say the lively atmosphere had been ruined. And after a question like that, there was no bringing it back.

Travis' eyes narrowed at his brother, silently scolding him for his question.

They all turned to the pendulum, watching in confusion as it drew a completely different pattern this time.

"Is that an eight?" Violet asked.

Van shrugged. "What's that even supposed to mean?"

"It's not an eight." Mari shook her head. "It's an infinity."

"Yeah, okay Aristotle." Van remarked.

Violet turned to Lottie at the sight of her moving in the corner of her eye. She furrowed her brows when she noticed Lottie looking over her shoulder at the window behind them, her gaze unwavering.

She placed her hand on Lottie's thigh, squeezing lightly to try and gain her attention. But she didn't move. Not an inch.

Before Violet even had time to try and speak, the window suddenly blew open and hit the wall with a loud bang. Lottie started to scream, nothing but pure terror leaving her lungs. The candles were all blown out by the strong gust of wind that entered the cabin and everyone recoiled in fear.

"Hey, hey, look at me." Violet rushed in front of Lottie, putting her hands on her shoulders to try and get the Matthews girl to look at her. "Lottie, look at me!"

But once again, she didn't.

Violet's eyes were wide with fear, she had never seen Lottie like this before. She was rocking herself back and forth, letting out shaky cries between staggered breaths.

Van crouched down at Lottie's side. "Guys, there's something seriously wrong with her."

Violet turned to Van, her eyes turning into slits of annoyance at her words. Van gulped at the look she received, deciding to refrain from saying anything more.

The Crawford girl moved her attention back to Lottie, tilting her head down so she could see her face more clearly. "Lottie talk to me, I'm right here! What's going on?!"

"It wants.... it wants..." Lottie let out. Her voice was pained, her face tightly scrunched. It was as if she was being forced to speak, as if she had no control over her actions.

"Violet what do we do?" Van shouted.

"I don't— I don't know!" Violet let out a frustrated grunt. She hated that she couldn't help her. That nothing seemed to pull Lottie from her drastic state. "Fuck! Let me think!"

"Lottie, I swear to god, if you're fucking with us!" Mari shuffled backwards in fear.

Akilah's eyes darted over Lottie's curled up body in a panic. "I think she's like... possessed!"

"Shut the fuck up Akilah!" Violet snapped harshly.

Shauna joined Lottie's free side, swallowing thickly as she bit back her bubbling terror. "Lottie, sweetie, what's going on? What is it?"

"What does it want?" Violet asked, brushing away the hair that had fallen in front of Lottie's face.

Lottie's eyes slowly reached Violet's, a devilish smile gracing her lips. "Hungry."

"Wh—What?" Violet blinked, her voice shook ever so slightly.

Lottie didn't reply to Violet's question. She sat up straighter and started to laugh eerily. But the sound that left Lottie's mouth was not the one Violet often heard, not the one that filled her with so much warmth. No, this one turned Violet's body cold. It was nothing but unsettling.

The Matthews girl turned to Shauna with a smirk, grabbing a tight hold of her wrist and looking down at her stomach. "It's in you already."

Shauna's eyes went wide and she ripped her wrist away from Lottie's grasp.

"Lottie, knock it off!" Taissa scolded. "This isn't a game!"

"Back off Tai!" Violet shouted at the girl. "She clearly isn't doing this on purpose!"

Unbeknownst to Violet, while she had her attention set on Taissa, Lottie was staring at her. She had an expectant look on her face, and the moment Violet let out her frustrations on Taissa, a wicked grin etched it's way onto her lips.

It was almost as if she was proud of Violet for snapping. Like she knew she would jump to her defence.

"Well, if you know so much, fucking do something!" Taissa yelled.

Lottie looked up at Taissa smugly. "She doesn't listen to you."

Taissa's face contorted. "What the hell..."

Lottie tugged Violet's arm, making her look at her. "So much anger..."

"What..?" Violet let out a breath, looking down at the fabric of her sleeve that was curled up in Lottie's fist. "What are you talking about, Lot?"

"It'll find you... soon enough." Lottie started to laugh once more.

With that, Lottie released her grip on Violet's arm, leaving the Crawford girl more confused and scared than ever. She started to mumble incoherent words once more, and the group were quick to realise that it wasn't English.

Violet looked down at Lottie in complete shock. Her voice was hoarse, it now turning deeper. Violet couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had no clue what was happening. How to stop it. But she was sure of one thing, this was not Lottie.

Not her Lottie.

"Is that French?" Van questioned.

Natalie stared at Lottie in disbelief. "Since when does Lottie speak French?"

"She doesn't..." Violet answered.

Shauna looked over at Jackie, a glint of hope behind her eyes. "Jackie, w-wasn't she in your class?"

"Yeah, but she— she sucks at French!" Jackie replied.

"Well, what's she saying?!" Mari exclaimed.

Jackie's arms flailed around as she spoke, "I don't know, I suck at French too!"

"Well damnit Jackie try not to!" Van bellowed in aggravation.

Jackie let out a stressed huff and planted her gaze on Lottie, her face twisting as she focused on the words tumbling from her lips. "Uh, he... he... No, no, it, it wants... something..."

"What? What does it want?" Violet pushed. "Jackie, hurry up!"

"I'm trying!" Jackie defended. She continued to listen to Lottie's words. "Uh, blood, I-I think she's saying blood."

Mari's body was practically shaking with horror. "Not the word I want to be hearing right now!"

Violet had plans to add Mari onto her list of people she's yelled at in the last five minutes, however she never got the chance. Because her focus was honed in on Lottie the moment the girl moved to stand up.

She tried to tug her back, to stop her, but Lottie pushed her away. Violet stumbled, her lips parting in perplexity while she watched Lottie make her way over to the window and plant her hands against it.

"Shit. More blood stuff? I don't know!" Jackie continued to translate. "Here? Here. She's saying here."

Violet got to her feet, approaching Lottie with caution. "There's blood where, Lottie?"

"You really have to be encouraging her, Vi?" Taissa's eyes blazed with frustration.

Violet ignored the Turner girl and continued to talk to Lottie. "Blood here, or out there?"

Lottie started to slip away from her twisted French words, switching back to English as she uttered, "You must spill blood. Or else..."

Jackie's throat tightened with worry. "Or else what Lottie?"

Lottie held her stare with the window, her chest rising and falling as quick pants left her throat. Violet's head cocked to the side, picking up on the way Lottie's stance became more sturdy, as if she was preparing herself.

"Lot... what are you doing?" Violet inched closer.

The Matthews girl remained silent, the only sound she made being one final breathy chuckle. She tightened her grip on the frame of the window and pulled her head back swiftly.

Violet eyes widened in realisation and she darted forwards to stop her. But she was too late. Lottie harshly smashed her head against the glass, it instantly cracking with the impact.

With a forceful grip, yet still being careful not to hurt her, Violet slid her arms around Lottie's waist and pulled her away from the window to stop her from causing any more harm to herself.

Blood was quick to stream from the cut that had formed on Lottie's head, it oozing down her face and pooling at her lips. Lottie's throat soon erupted with horrifying screams once more, so loud that Violet's face scrunched.

Yet Violet pushed her discomfort aside, because Lottie's knees suddenly buckled and she knew she had to stay focused. She couldn't let anything else hurt her. She wouldn't.

So, with that, Violet kept a strong hold of Lottie's body and carefully set the pair of them down on the floor. Lottie's back was against Violet's chest, her hands clawing at her own head as her menacing thoughts grew stronger by the second.

Violet pulled the girl's hands away from her head and Lottie adjusted her unyielding grip onto Violet's wrist. Wails continued to fire out of her mouth and her body curled up, turning her head to the side and burying it into Violet's chest.

The others had all rushed over, each of them trying to talk to Lottie, trying to do something, anything, to help. But it was of no use.

Because the more they'd shout at her, the more they'd try to reach out, the more Lottie would scream and push herself further back into Violet's embrace, as if she was trying to escape them.

Violet's gaze darted to each person, then back to Lottie, her jaw clenching at how much they seemed to be overwhelming her.

It was Misty that faced the brunt of Violet's outrage. She attempted to reach out to Lottie, hoping to soothe her, but before her hand could make contact, Violet slapped her hand away.

"Don't touch her." Violet warned, pulling Lottie closer.

"Violet she's just trying to help." Shauna said as gently as possible.

"I said don't fucking touch her."

Laura Lee suddenly appeared, hurriedly making her way over to them all. She looked down at Lottie, holding out a bible. "Begone, Satan!"

Violet's face scrunched. "Is that a bible? Are you seriously waving a fucking bible—"

"The power of Christ compels you!" Laura Lee continued. "Lottie! Lottie, stop!"

The blonde's pleas were of no help either. Nothing was getting through to Lottie. Laura Lee froze, her panic rising. She couldn't think straight, so much so that she didn't stop to consider her next actions.

Without another word, Laura Lee threw the bible at Lottie, the book colliding with her head and then falling onto the floor.

Violet's body attempted to jolt forwards, wanting nothing more than to make a beeline for the blonde girl. Although the sudden silence caused her to stay put.

Lottie had stopped screaming.

"Ow!" Lottie groaned. "What the hell, Laura Lee?"

Violet instantly looked down at Lottie who was still in her arms. She shuffled her body to the side slightly so she could see her clearly, her eyes scanning over her face.

"Lottie?" Violet cupped the girl's face.

Lottie's discomfort faded slightly, it now being replaced with worry when she noted the look on Violet's face. "Why are you looking at me like that? What happened?"

A breath of relief left Violet's mouth, her body visibly relaxing at the sight of Lottie. Her Lottie. She didn't utter another word, simply pulling Lottie in for a tight embrace.

Lottie didn't question it, hugging Violet back without a second thought and placing a careful hand on the back of her head to bring her closer.

Right now, she had no clue what happened, no recollection whatsoever. But she couldn't find it in her to care to remember.

Because it was clear Violet had been struck with panic and stress, and that took priority in her eyes. And she wanted nothing more than to comfort her.

"Seriously..." Mari said breathlessly. "What the motherfuck just happened?"

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[ AUTHORS NOTE! ]

that was so stressful to write yet so fun, i've been excited to write this chapter for a while icl... but anywho, shits getting real now. hope you guys enjoyed ;)

[currently unedited]