ghost hunter

2 falls and a fire

I rolled my eyes at Lucy's comment, unable to suppress the smirk that danced on my lips. "The ghost is just saying she's cold, Lockwood," I murmured, layering my words with sarcasm. "It's probably part of her death loop, repeating the last moments of her life. Jeez, you act like Lucy's the only one here who can listen to the dead." Despite my teasing tone, I knew how crucial it was for us to stay collected.

Lockwood shot me a look that was a mix of amusement and annoyance. I could tell he was tempted to retort but chose silence instead. He understood, like I did, that we needed our wits about us in the mess we'd stumbled into. Together, we began to approach the haunting figure, our eyes quickly scanning the shadowy room for any disturbances that could signal danger.

"You're doing well, Lucy," Lockwood said softly, stepping closer to the railing, his voice almost a whisper. "Keep it up."

Just as Lucy attempted to focus, the atmosphere shifted drastically. The ghost suddenly shrieked, a sound that sent chills racing down my spine, and lunged right at Lucy. I knew I wasn't imagining the fear that lit up Lucy's face as she stumbled back, the railing giving way beneath her weight. My heart dropped as she teetered precariously on the edge.

Without a moment to think, Lockwood sprang into action, his hand shooting out to clasp Lucy's wrist just in time. "Val!" he shouted, his voice strained with adrenaline as he pulled her back from the brink. Meanwhile, my rapier gleamed in the dim light as it arced through the air, aiming directly for the ghost's chest. The specter recoiled, hissing as it realized its attack had been thwarted, giving Lockwood a precious heartbeat to drag Lucy back to safety.

Our hearts pounded as we watched the ghost fade back into the shadows, the air thick with tension. Lockwood didn't dare release Lucy; his eyes darted over her face, searching for any sign of injury. "Are you okay?" His voice was tight with concern, and I bit my lip, the protective instincts igniting within me.

"Nice save, Locky," I managed to say, my tone gruff and shaky as I kept my rapier poised, ready for any sudden moves from the ghostly figure. I couldn't help but glance at Lucy, her frame still trembling in shock as she clung to Lockwood's arm.

Inside, a twinge of something cold and uninvited seeped through me—jealousy. "We can't have you breaking your neck, Lucy," I teased lightly, though deep down, my concern was genuine.

Lucy took a shaky breath, nodding, her wide eyes betraying the fear that lingered. "I'm okay," she replied, her voice higher than usual as she attempted to regain her composure. "But maybe we should figure out which way to go before the ghost decides to play tag again."

my gaze hardened as I watched the ghost disappear into the shadows. A chill ran down my spine, and I shifted my rapier, pointing it firmly toward the open door of the study. "Let's check in there," I said, my voice steady despite the slight tremor in my hand. It felt ridiculous to be shaking now, but the death glow emanating from that room was undeniable.

I narrowed my eyes, stepping back a little, and glanced at Lucy. "You stay here," I instructed, the firmness of my tone leaving no room for argument. "Keep talking to her. Maybe we can figure out what she wants before she decides to get handsy again."

Lockwood, always the protective type, loosened his grip on Lucy's wrist, but didn't let go entirely. "No, Val," he said, turning to Lucy with a gentle smile that immediately made me feel a pang of annoyance. "If you're not feeling up to it, Lucy, we can head back."

I could see the conflict warring inside him; he was right in a way. We did need to keep moving, especially after witnessing that ghost's unsettling behavior. But the idea of leaving felt wrong. This was a job we couldn't let fester. It was against everything we stood for — against our rule of never leaving a job unfinished, especially when there was a dangerous ghost lurking about.