"This is a very terrible idea," I announced as I stared at the oujia board on the table. "Remind me why we're doing this again?"
Lloyd sighed as he took a seat on the other side of the small table in the scroll room, gazing at the board with a indifferent frown. The aged, engraved wood had an air of supernatural warning that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It would've been different if I still thought that ghosts didn't exist, but after the encounter when Lloyd got possessed by the resident master of wind, Morro, my beliefs did a whole 180°.
"Zane seems to think that if I face my fears, the nightmares will stop," Lloyd murmured, lifting his index finger to the candles to light them. I watched as a spark spat to life from his bare skin and caught aflame on the waxy string. He let out a weary sigh. "We've exhausted all other options."
My brows furrowed in concern as I stared at his tired face. The eye bags had grown worse and he would repeatedly wake me from his tossing and yelling. I too, was losing sleep from his nightmares - but I couldn't tell him that. I didn't want Lloyd to feel worse than he already clearly did.
The green ninja stared at the board with a disgruntled frown, the warm green of the candles flickering their light against his skin. Sympathy left my heart aching - no matter how bad of an idea I thought this was, no matter how afraid I was of the consequences - if Zane thought that this was our last option, then by god I'm going to take it.
I shivered as I switched off the light and took my seat across from Lloyd, sending him a reassuring smile. Reassuring, despite the anxiety spiking along the nerves beneath my skin.
"It'll be okay," I promised, reaching across the table and grabbing his hands. His grip was warm in mine. "I'm right here. I'll stay right here the whole time."
Lloyd held a sigh, red eyes jumping to mine as they found me through his lashes. He gave a small, crooked smile.
"Thanks, kitten," he murmured. He swallowed. "Do you think... do you think Morro will answer?"
I furrowed my brow in thought as my gaze drifted down to his hands in mine. Last we'd seen of the ghost, he vanished into thin air after neglecting to slip through the rift during the Yin Yang Eclipse. His reason for letting himself fade away rather than pursuing a new life still left me wondering if there was more I could've done to convince Morro. He should've taken that second chance. But he didn't, simply because I was in love with Lloyd and not him.
It's far too heavy for a seventeen year old girl to deal with. I hoped that Morro would appear tonight so I could cuss him out to his face - who does that to a person?! It made me lose even more sleep, guilty that it was technically my fault that Morro decided what he did.
Even though Lloyd told me it wasn't my fault.
Even though he reminded me time and time again that it was Morro's own decision.
"I'm not sure," I answered truthfully. "Morro was supposed to be sealed away until the next Yin Yang Eclipse - but does that only mean that he can't get back to this realm himself? Does it still count if we summon him?"
Lloyd was silent, chewing on his lip. My hands tightened over his.
"We... we don't have to do this, Lloyd," I reminded gently, dipping my head to catch his downturned gaze. When his red eyes caught mine, I gave him a fleeting, worried smile. "It's fine if you don't think it's a good idea. There's always other options."
"No," Lloyd shook his head and puffed out his chest for a deep, settling inhale. "I can do this. I've got you with me."
I squeezed his hands with mine. My warm smile returned.
"Of course you do," I murmured. "Always."
Lloyd sent me a shaky smile before clearing his throat and removing his hands from mine. They met again at the planchette that sat on the middle of the board, fingertips lightly touching the wood of the pointer.
"Ready?" Lloyd asked, whispering. I gave a quiet nod, mentally preparing myself. I held my breath, waiting for him to begin. "... what do I say again?"
I smiled a little at his lost expression, staring at me in total confusion.
"I can do it," I offered, watching as the green candlelight flickered warm against his pretty face. "I've watched enough Buzzfeed Unsolved to have a basic idea."
Lloyd silently nodded, watching as I greeted whoever may be in the room with us and said my name, before guiding the planchette to spell it out. Then I introduced Lloyd and spelled out his name.
"Is there anyone here with us?" I asked, heart pounding in my ears. I could feel Lloyd's knees shaking against my own. The candlelights flickered. Our gazes caught.
But the planchette remained still.
"Is there anyone here with us?" I repeated, eyes wandering around the darkened room. My vision played tricks on me, as did my brain. They found creatures staring back at me from the shadows and imagined a chill running down my spine.
And yet, the planchette remained still.
