Claire, Georgia, and Danny aren't your average ghost hunters. Their hit livestream channel "Creep It Real" rakes in thousands of viewers each time they go live. But what their fans don't know is that the trio fake the hauntings they come across at e...
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Danny and I stay at Grimwood for a while longer. We wait until the workers take their first swing at the building, and just like that...there's nothing. I feel a pressure life off my chest and I just know.
It's over.
I'm not afraid to go home anymore, but I don't want to go home yet. We drive around town for a while. I roll down my window and let the wind whip through my hair. It feels different. There's no longer a chill that unsettles my bones. Rather, it's a freeing coldness that opens my pores and all of the darkness seeps out.
Before I know it, it's dark. The lights on the highway light our way to nowhere in particular. Part of me wonders if I'm holding Danny back — if there's somewhere else he wants to be. So, I turn to him and tell him he can take me home now. I lie even though I'd rather go home with him.
It's not long after when we pull up outside my house. He puts the car in park and we both sit here for a good minute. I look over at him, unsure what to say. I want to lean over and kiss him, but something tells me I shouldn't.
Despite all that we've been through together — and despite the day we shared — I think this is over too. And maybe that's for the best. I can't hold him back anymore.
"Thanks," I tell him. It's the only thing that seems remotely right.
He gives me a soft smile. "Goodnight, Claire."
"Night."
I get out of the car and wave goodbye, watching him drive off. As I turn toward the house, I don't feel fear or worry. Instead, I look at my childhood home with nostalgia and sadness. No fear. Not anymore.
Inside, the lights are off. Not a sound to be heard. I walk past the kitchen, not bothering to look for a note. I head straight for the one place I want to be. In my room, there's a pillow with my name on it, calling me for a restful night's sleep.
As I reach the door, my weight on the floor causes the floorboards to creak, and at that moment, I thought I heard a wheeze. I freeze in the doorway, my heart pounding in my ear.
That...wasn't what I thought it was. It was probably just the floor. But as I start to enter my room, I hear a low groan come from down the hall. When my breath catches in my throat, I hear her voice.
"...Claire..."
My head begins to spin, and I almost lose my balance. No, it's supposed to be over! I start to walk into my room, prepared to close the door and lock everything out and wait until morning. Wait until that damn manor is torn to the ground and then everything will be done! But even in my dizzying headspace, I know that whatever is calling to me won't give up until I give in.
And this won't be over until I do just that.
I move down the hall toward that lone bedroom, dark clouds hovering over my head. I pause in the doorway and peer in. Again, it's dark save for the night light glowing beside the bed. And in the bed is her.
