Redemption's Overrated

11. Old Habits Die Hard

TW: Drinking, Manipulation

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"All right, I have to go now. Schlatt is gonna be looking for me."

"Ok..." Blight replies sadly, reluctantly slipping out of our hug. "Are you sure you can't stay and tell me more? Niki should be back soon, then you both can tell me stories!"

"NO!" I shout, startling the ghost girl. Niki coming back with me being here is literally worse case scenario. "I mean... I don't think you should tell Niki that we're talking about these things."

"Why not?"

I put a hand on her shoulder, resisting a shiver as my hand comes in contact with her ghostly form. "Remember? You were too scared to talk to her about it because you thought she wouldn't tell you the truth. Who's to say she wouldn't lie to you again? Besides, the two of us don't get along the best, and I'd hate to lose one of my friends because of something false she told you."

"But Niki's been pretty nice! You could be there to make sure she's telling the truth."

"She wouldn't let me be around while you talk about it. I tried to arrange something for us to talk earlier, but she refused to let me see you."

A distraught look appears on Blight's face. "What? She never told me. Why wouldn't she let me see you?"

"I don't know. I think she has an old grudge against me."

(a/n: I feel so bad writing this about Niki she's so amazing and this is genuinely hard to write STUPID PLOT NECESSITY- Niki if for some reason you are reading this please forgive me-)

Blight mutters a few swears even I would rather not repeat. "Are you sure she wouldn't want you here? She's so nice to me, I think she'd be able to forgive you."

"I've tried. The thing is, it was all just a misunderstanding that caused this. Niki just refuses to listen."

"That doesn't sound like her..."

"Blight," I grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. "I need you to listen to me. You can't trust Niki. You said it yourself when we first talked after you became a ghost."

"If I can't trust her, why don't I just come live with you then? If she's really as bad as you say, wouldn't it be unsafe for me to stay here?"

I smile sadly at her. "I'm afraid you can't come live with me. That might make Niki super upset and unstable, and I don't want her to hurt you. You can't let her know that you know what she's like. If anything bad happened to you, I could never forgive myself."

"So I'm just supposed to pretend that she's not manipulating me?"

"That's the only way you'll stay safe. Just keep acting like a happy little amnesiac and you'll be fine."

"Ok. If you're sure that's best..." Blight still seems slightly unsure. I pull her into one last hug.

"Don't let her know, ok? I'd hate one for one of my only friends to get hurt because they didn't listen to me."

"I will." She squeezes me tightly, sending another round of shivers coursing through my body.

"Alright, I really have to go now. Remember-"

"-tell Niki nothing." Blight finishes my sentence confidently. I chuckle and pat her on the head.

"Bye, kid."

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I sigh as I walk into my house, already exhausted from the events of today. I slam the door shut, satisfied with the feeling.