Pumpkin Pie 9
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE: Real World AU
Challenges: Pumpkin Pie 9 (cobwebs), Green Tea 11 (autumn), Papaya 10 (why me?)
Toppings & Extras: Whipped Cream (Jay is just 8, Jez is almost), Chopped Nuts (RWAU)
Word Count: 876
Rating: PG
Summary: A year older and hopefully a year smarter, our intrepid heroes go ghost hunting again. Or, also known as, Bri is afraid of something after all.
Notes: Fall 2006. The ‘follow-up’ to Salem Witch Trials and ghost hunting.
“Is everyone ready?” Bri asked and received nods all the way around. He especially eyed Russell Darcy, who was here on Jay and Jez’s invitation - something about a play and getting in trouble. “We might encounter some truly fearsome ghosts.”
Sorin snorted. “We survived Vlad and his stupid friends last year, I think we can handle whatever orbs Beau finds this year.”
Beau grinned, sporting the camera slung adventurer-style over his shoulder. “Did Ren tell you that we’re searching the old Newman house this year?”
Mick scowled. “I don’t like it. No one’s lived there for years.”
“We’ll be fine,” Bri said airily and bounced off towards the house in the dark.
The others exchanged glances and followed. They reached the old house in no time flat and clustered together, staring up at it.
“Who’s going first?” Ani whispered.
All eyes turned to Bri, whose great idea it was in the first place. “Oh fine,” he said, carefully going up the back steps. He hesitated and then carefully pushed the door open and poking his head in. A moment later, he sneezed, withdrew his head and grinned at them. “Looks good,” he reported and disappeared inside. One-by-one the others followed.
Bri was waiting for them in a room instantly identifiable as a kitchen, even in the dark. Jessie rummaged in the bag she brought and passed out glo-sticks to each of them. “So we can see at least a little without being obvious,” she said, obviously proud of herself. For the next few seconds, all that could be heard was the crack of bending glo-sticks before a soft light slowly permeated the room.
“We might as well split up to explore. At least groups of three,” Ren said. “And try and be careful.”
“Don’t be a worrywart, Ren,” Jez said, flashing him a cheerful grin.
It took only a minute for them to split into smaller groups and head out into the house. Colin, Bri and Beau conferred briefly and then decided to head upstairs. They cautiously tread the old stairs, listening to them creak but hold underneath them. Beau snapped off a picture or two, not too afraid of the flash being seen here in the interior of the house.
Bri was leading the way and he turned left at the top of the stairs…and immediately let out an ungodly shriek, flailing and jumping backwards. He would have gone head over heels down the stairs if it hadn’t been for Colin catching him.
“Get it off,” Bri yelped, swatting at the air as he jumped around, regaining his balance.
“Get what off?” Colin asked, eyes darting around in panic as Beau calmly snapped pictures.
“Are you guys okay up there?” Ren’s voice floated up the stairs and out of the corner of Colin’s eyes, he could see the glo-sticks illuminating Beau’s two brothers and Sorin. He could also see others converging.
“It has to be on me!” Bri continued, pawing now at his face and clothes.
“What? What’s on you?”
“Did he find a ghost?” Ry asked.
“The spider! There was a spider web and I didn’t see the spider so it has to be on me.”
Beau lowered the camera and then burst out laughing. “You’re scared of spiders, Bri?”
“Only big ones in haunted houses,” he whimpered, still patting at himself.
Jessie hopped up the stairs, pulling out a flashlight as well that she flicked on. “Stand still, Brighton,” she ordered and, as soon as he stopped wiggling, she ran the flashlight beam down his front and then back. “There’s no spider on you.” She turned the flashlight on the cobweb he’d hit. “If I had to guess, there hasn’t been a spider here for years.”
Colin snickered. “You could go wait outside while the rest of us check the house.”
“Even if we don’t find a ghost, we can say we did,” Beau added, unable to resist a dig either as he held up the camera, “Bri certainly looks like he saw one.”
Their friend glared at them. “None of you are the least bit funny,” he said haughtily.
“Everyone’s afraid of something,” Ry said grimly. “Bet you all are too.”
Colin noted it was interesting to watch the expressions on various faces. Ani and Sorin both went pale, even in the dim light, and looked down at the ground. Stella grabbed Jay’s hand, wide-eyed. Mick scowled darkly off over Ren’s shoulder. His sister looked defiant, like she was trying to deny it, but he knew she wasn’t exempt from Ry’s ‘rule’. Russ, Jay and Ren all looked a bit embarrassed, like they were very, very glad their fears hadn’t been exposed like that. Beau just seemed apologetic and Jessie put her arm around Ry’s shoulders.
“C’mon,” he said suddenly, thinking of his own fears, “we’re not going to find any ghosts standing around here being loud. You know we have to be quiet. Now let’s spread out and find some ghosts!” As soon as the others had spread back out, he turned to Bri. “You okay?”
Bri was still bright red but he nodded. “Jessie gave me her flashlight. No more spiders, promise.”
Colin grinned. “And no trying to back down stairs without looking either.”
Looking relieved, Bri returned it. “Deal!”
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Pre-NIEE: Real World AU
Challenges: Pumpkin Pie 9 (cobwebs), Green Tea 11 (autumn), Papaya 10 (why me?)
Toppings & Extras: Whipped Cream (Jay is just 8, Jez is almost), Chopped Nuts (RWAU)
Word Count: 876
Rating: PG
Summary: A year older and hopefully a year smarter, our intrepid heroes go ghost hunting again. Or, also known as, Bri is afraid of something after all.
Notes: Fall 2006. The ‘follow-up’ to Salem Witch Trials and ghost hunting.
“Is everyone ready?” Bri asked and received nods all the way around. He especially eyed Russell Darcy, who was here on Jay and Jez’s invitation - something about a play and getting in trouble. “We might encounter some truly fearsome ghosts.”
Sorin snorted. “We survived Vlad and his stupid friends last year, I think we can handle whatever orbs Beau finds this year.”
Beau grinned, sporting the camera slung adventurer-style over his shoulder. “Did Ren tell you that we’re searching the old Newman house this year?”
Mick scowled. “I don’t like it. No one’s lived there for years.”
“We’ll be fine,” Bri said airily and bounced off towards the house in the dark.
The others exchanged glances and followed. They reached the old house in no time flat and clustered together, staring up at it.
“Who’s going first?” Ani whispered.
All eyes turned to Bri, whose great idea it was in the first place. “Oh fine,” he said, carefully going up the back steps. He hesitated and then carefully pushed the door open and poking his head in. A moment later, he sneezed, withdrew his head and grinned at them. “Looks good,” he reported and disappeared inside. One-by-one the others followed.
Bri was waiting for them in a room instantly identifiable as a kitchen, even in the dark. Jessie rummaged in the bag she brought and passed out glo-sticks to each of them. “So we can see at least a little without being obvious,” she said, obviously proud of herself. For the next few seconds, all that could be heard was the crack of bending glo-sticks before a soft light slowly permeated the room.
“We might as well split up to explore. At least groups of three,” Ren said. “And try and be careful.”
“Don’t be a worrywart, Ren,” Jez said, flashing him a cheerful grin.
It took only a minute for them to split into smaller groups and head out into the house. Colin, Bri and Beau conferred briefly and then decided to head upstairs. They cautiously tread the old stairs, listening to them creak but hold underneath them. Beau snapped off a picture or two, not too afraid of the flash being seen here in the interior of the house.
Bri was leading the way and he turned left at the top of the stairs…and immediately let out an ungodly shriek, flailing and jumping backwards. He would have gone head over heels down the stairs if it hadn’t been for Colin catching him.
“Get it off,” Bri yelped, swatting at the air as he jumped around, regaining his balance.
“Get what off?” Colin asked, eyes darting around in panic as Beau calmly snapped pictures.
“Are you guys okay up there?” Ren’s voice floated up the stairs and out of the corner of Colin’s eyes, he could see the glo-sticks illuminating Beau’s two brothers and Sorin. He could also see others converging.
“It has to be on me!” Bri continued, pawing now at his face and clothes.
“What? What’s on you?”
“Did he find a ghost?” Ry asked.
“The spider! There was a spider web and I didn’t see the spider so it has to be on me.”
Beau lowered the camera and then burst out laughing. “You’re scared of spiders, Bri?”
“Only big ones in haunted houses,” he whimpered, still patting at himself.
Jessie hopped up the stairs, pulling out a flashlight as well that she flicked on. “Stand still, Brighton,” she ordered and, as soon as he stopped wiggling, she ran the flashlight beam down his front and then back. “There’s no spider on you.” She turned the flashlight on the cobweb he’d hit. “If I had to guess, there hasn’t been a spider here for years.”
Colin snickered. “You could go wait outside while the rest of us check the house.”
“Even if we don’t find a ghost, we can say we did,” Beau added, unable to resist a dig either as he held up the camera, “Bri certainly looks like he saw one.”
Their friend glared at them. “None of you are the least bit funny,” he said haughtily.
“Everyone’s afraid of something,” Ry said grimly. “Bet you all are too.”
Colin noted it was interesting to watch the expressions on various faces. Ani and Sorin both went pale, even in the dim light, and looked down at the ground. Stella grabbed Jay’s hand, wide-eyed. Mick scowled darkly off over Ren’s shoulder. His sister looked defiant, like she was trying to deny it, but he knew she wasn’t exempt from Ry’s ‘rule’. Russ, Jay and Ren all looked a bit embarrassed, like they were very, very glad their fears hadn’t been exposed like that. Beau just seemed apologetic and Jessie put her arm around Ry’s shoulders.
“C’mon,” he said suddenly, thinking of his own fears, “we’re not going to find any ghosts standing around here being loud. You know we have to be quiet. Now let’s spread out and find some ghosts!” As soon as the others had spread back out, he turned to Bri. “You okay?”
Bri was still bright red but he nodded. “Jessie gave me her flashlight. No more spiders, promise.”
Colin grinned. “And no trying to back down stairs without looking either.”
Looking relieved, Bri returned it. “Deal!”