Riley and Val oneshots

The devil's lair

Pov Nobody

The moon hung low, casting a ghostly glow over the desolate landscape. Riley and Val, high school friends drawn to the macabre, stood before the foreboding silhouette of the old mansion. Rumored to be cursed, it had been abandoned for decades after a series of horrific murders. They both relished the thrill of exploring the unknown, but this time, the darkness seemed to whisper a warning.

"Are you sure about this?" Riley asked, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to sound brave. 

Val, holding up a flashlight with a mischievous grin, replied, "Come on, it'll be fun. Besides, no one ever really gets hurt in stories like this... right?"

They pushed open the creaking door, the sound echoing through the hollow structure. The air was thick with decay and cold, as if the house itself were exhaling centuries of suffering. The flashlight beam cut through the oppressive darkness, revealing cobwebs and dust-covered furniture. 

"This place is so creepy," Riley said, her eyes darting nervously. 

Val chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "That's the point! It's like being in a horror movie. Just imagine us as the brave heroes!"

They explored room after room, each more unsettling than the last. In one room, Val found an old mirror covered in grime. She wiped it clean, revealing their reflections. "Hey, check this out!" she called.

Riley approached, but as she looked into the mirror, her heart raced. Val's reflection grinned malevolently, a stark contrast to her real, anxious face. "Val, something's wrong," Riley said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Val turned, seeing nothing unusual. "It's probably just your imagination," she said, but her voice wavered slightly.

Reluctantly, they continued their exploration, finding a staircase leading down to the basement. Riley hesitated, feeling an icy chill. "Maybe we should just go home," she suggested.

"No way," Val insisted. "We're already here. Let's see what's down there."

With a final, nervous glance, Riley followed Val down the stairs. The basement was pitch black, save for the beam of their flashlights. Shelves lined the walls, filled with dusty old books and strange artifacts. In the center of the room stood an ornate chest, its surface carved with cryptic symbols.

"This is it," Val said, her excitement palpable. She pried open the chest, and a foul stench wafted up. Inside were leather-bound books and a human skull.

Riley recoiled, covering her nose. "This is disgusting. We should leave."

Val, however, was entranced. "Look at these books. They're old, really old. I bet they're worth something."

A low growl rumbled through the room, vibrating the floor. The basement door slammed shut, and the temperature plummeted. Riley's flashlight flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move of their own accord.

"What the hell?" Riley exclaimed, panic rising in her voice. "What's happening?"

Val's eyes widened in terror. "I don't know, but we need to get out of here!"

The shadows converged, coalescing into a towering, grotesque figure with glowing red eyes. The creature's voice was a guttural growl, speaking in a language that chilled Riley to her core. 

The creature's eyes locked onto Riley. "You... You belong to us."

Riley's breath quickened, and she felt an invisible force close around her throat. "Val!" she gasped, struggling to breathe.

Val's eyes glazed over, and she began to chant in the strange language, her voice distorted. Riley's eyes widened as Val's body contorted unnaturally, her limbs twisting into horrific angles.

"No, Val!" Riley screamed, trying to reach her friend. "Fight it! Please!"

The creature's laughter filled the basement, a deep, mocking sound that made Riley's skin crawl. Val's body writhed, and the creature's voice echoed, "Your friend is mine. Now, you shall join her."

Riley's mind raced as she remembered the symbols on the walls. Desperately, she grabbed one of the books and flipped through its pages. She found a symbol—a ward against possession—and frantically drew it on the floor with chalk.

As she completed the symbol, the creature roared in pain, its form flickering. Val, still under the creature's control, lunged at Riley, but the ward held. The creature thrashed, its form writhing and twisting as it struggled to escape.

Riley chanted the words from the book, her voice trembling but determined. The creature's screams filled the room, a chilling blend of rage and anguish. With a final, agonized cry, the creature was expelled from Val's body, dissipating into a dark mist.

Val collapsed to the floor, unconscious and pale. Riley rushed to her side, tears streaming down her face. "Val, please be okay," she whispered, shaking her friend gently.

Val stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Riley..." she mumbled weakly. "What happened?"

"You were possessed," Riley said, her voice breaking. "We need to get out of here."

As they made their way out of the mansion, Riley couldn't shake the feeling of eyes watching them. The laughter of the creature echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder that the darkness had touched them. The mansion, now silent and still, seemed to breathe with an ancient, malevolent life.

When they finally emerged into the night, the chill of the autumn air felt like a frail shield against the horrors they had endured. The darkness had marked them, and the echoes of that night would haunt their dreams forever.