You Did Good

Eight

"Is there anybody here who would like to talk to us? Phoebe?"

Silence.

"Phoebe, are you here?" She repeats. "I'm Renata, and these are my friends Benji and Seth. We just want to get to know you a little."

The static crackles no response.

"Maybe your box is broken." She shrugs. She reaches out, handing in back to him.

"NO."

Her face falls. "What was that?"

"That was a spirit!" Benji declares, his face lighting up. "It said 'no'."

"No? No to what?"

"DON'T LEAVE."

She stumbles back, looking to Seth. "No way." She glances to Benji. "Are you messing with me?"

"RINDY."

"You're fucking with me." She throws the spirit box at his chest, her hands flying to the cross around her throat. "You're definitely fucking me."

"I swear to God I'm not." He insists. "What did it even say?"

"'Rindy'." She glances to her boyfriend. "I thought I told you not to tell anyone about that."

"I didn't, I swear." Seth sighs.

"Is anyone going to add me to the loop?" Benji asks.

"TEENAGER."

"Fuck off." She tells the box. "You're seriously not messing with me, Benji? You really didn't make it say that?"

"How would I possibly do that? It's a radio."

"I don't know." She runs her fingers through her hair, letting out a unsettled breath. "I swear to God, that's creepy as hell. No one knows that I used to go by that but Seth." She glances back to him. "You swear that you haven't told anyone that?"

"Babe." He shakes his head. "I swear on my mother's life."

"Then what the heck-"

"YOU'RE NEW."

"Yes! Yes, we're new!" Benji shouts in excitement. "Who are we speaking to?"

More silence. Around them, the house sighs.

"Renata, you need to ask."

"What?" She shakes her head frantically. "No. No way."

"PLEASE...TALK."

She sighs. "I'm not going to like this." Reaching out, she takes the spirit box from his hand. "Phoebe, are you here? Is that who we're talking to right now?"

"...HERE."

"Holy shit." Seth laughs.

"Is it only you here, or is there more than one of you?"

"There's no way..." Seth drawls.

"MUL...TIPLE....P...PEO...PLE."

"This is insane." Renata whispers. "Is it you and another evil spirit?"

"NO."

Benji's eyebrows scrunch. "Who else could be here, if there's more than one?"

"Did you not listen to your creepy ghoulish girlfriend?" She asks. "Elise could be here, too."

"I thought you didn't believe in this stuff?" He smirks.

"Well something is obviously talking to us." She hisses. "That's absolutely wicked."