The air outside the van was thick with tension as the four of them stood there, staring into the night. The wind howled like the voice of the mansion itself, a chilling reminder of the danger that awaited them. The once-familiar sight of the old, decrepit mansion loomed in the distance, its windows dark and lifeless, like hollow eyes staring down at them.
Sam’s body, still possessed by the malevolent spirit, jerked sporadically as Colby held him tightly, keeping him steady. His heart ached at the sight of his boyfriend—his strong, confident Sam—looking so vulnerable and lost in the grip of the dark force. The black voids of Sam's eyes flickered occasionally, showing glimpses of the real Sam inside, but the entity that controlled him was far stronger.
"We need to hurry," Juicy said, his voice tense. He was gripping his flashlight so hard that his knuckles were white. "The longer we wait, the worse it’s going to get."
Josh looked at Colby, worry etched on his face. "You really think going back to the mansion will help him? I mean, the last time we were there… that place is evil."
"I know," Colby replied, his voice firm but shaking with fear. "But it’s the only chance we’ve got. Sam’s connected to it somehow, and we can’t just run. We’re not leaving without him."
Sam shuddered in Colby’s arms, his lips parting as the twisted voice broke through once more, a deep, guttural growl. "You think you can defeat me? You’re just as weak as he is, Colby. You cannot save him. You should have never come back."
Colby gritted his teeth, tightening his hold on Sam. He refused to let the spirit win. "We’re not giving up, Sam. We *will* get you back."
Josh and Juicy exchanged uncertain glances, but there was something in Colby’s voice—something raw, something filled with a determination they couldn’t ignore. Josh nodded slowly. "Okay, we do this together. We get Sam back."
The group moved toward the mansion, the journey feeling like a slow march to their doom. With each step, the air grew colder, the sense of unease growing stronger. Colby’s heart was heavy with both fear and hope—fear that they might not make it in time to save Sam, but hope that the bond they shared, the love between them, was stronger than anything that could try to tear them apart.
---
Inside the mansion, the temperature seemed to drop even further. The once-vibrant space was now filled with silence—eerily quiet, as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for their next move. The dark, oppressive atmosphere was thick, the shadows seeming to shift and writhe as though alive.
Sam’s body went limp in Colby’s arms, and Colby had to fight to keep him upright. The possession was wearing on Sam’s physical body, and the deeper the entity’s influence, the more it drained him. Colby could feel the cold seeping into his own bones as they ventured deeper into the mansion’s heart, toward the source of the darkness.
"We need to find the center of this place," Colby said quietly, looking around. "The source of whatever’s feeding off Sam. That’s the only way to break the curse."
Juicy took the lead, his flashlight cutting through the dark. "The last time we were here, we found that old room upstairs—the one that felt *wrong*. We should start there."
Colby nodded, holding Sam’s trembling form as they ascended the creaking stairs. Every step felt like it echoed through the house, each footfall reverberating in the silence, as if the mansion itself was aware of their intrusion.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Sam convulsed again, his head jerking back, the entity’s mocking voice filling the air.
"Too late," it sneered. "You will not survive this. He belongs to me now."
Colby’s grip on Sam tightened, and he leaned down, his voice soft but desperate. "Sam, I’m here. *We’re* here. Fight, Sam. *Please*."
There was a brief flicker in Sam’s eyes, a glimmer of recognition, and then his lips parted. The voice, though still twisted and harsh, softened for a moment. "*Colby*..."
Colby’s breath caught in his throat. "Sam… I’m not leaving you. Just hold on. Please. I need you with me."
Sam’s body lurched again, and the deep, guttural laugh returned. "You think love will save you? It is too late. You have no idea what you are facing."
But Colby refused to let that voice drown out Sam’s. He was *in there*, he knew it. He wouldn’t lose him to whatever dark force was trying to tear them apart.
"Keep going," Colby said, his voice low but determined. "We’re close. We just need to find the source."
Josh and Juicy led the way into the abandoned room at the end of the hallway, the air growing even colder as they entered. The walls were covered in old symbols, markings that seemed to pulse with dark energy. The air felt alive, thick with malevolent energy.
"This is it," Josh said, his voice filled with unease. "This is where we found the worst of it last time."
Colby’s eyes scanned the room, every inch of it feeling wrong. His grip on Sam tightened as he stepped forward, ignoring the rising panic in his chest. The room seemed to pulse, like it was breathing.
"We need to break the connection," Colby muttered to himself, more to keep his thoughts focused than anything. "We have to break whatever’s feeding off him."
Juicy stepped forward, his hands trembling as he reached into his bag, pulling out a small vial of salt. "I don’t know if this will work, but… it’s better than doing nothing."
Colby nodded. "Do it. We have to try everything."
As Juicy poured the salt into a circle, the room began to hum, the temperature dropping even further. The markings on the walls seemed to shift, and the shadows grew more alive, swirling in response to the salt.
Colby turned his attention back to Sam, whose body was now rigid in his arms. His skin was pale, his breathing shallow, and his eyes—those dark, empty eyes—glistened with tears.
"I’m here, Sam," Colby whispered. "You’re not alone. I’m not leaving you."
The entity inside Sam let out a deafening roar, and Sam’s body jerked violently, throwing Colby back. He landed hard on the floor, his breath knocked out of him.
"Colby!" Josh and Juicy shouted in unison, rushing to his side.
Colby scrambled to his feet, but before he could reach Sam, the entity’s voice filled the room. "You will all perish here," it boomed, its power radiating from Sam’s body, shaking the very walls.
The salt circle flared with a brilliant light, and for a brief moment, Colby thought they had done it. But the light flickered out just as quickly as it had appeared, and Sam’s body convulsed again, the darkness pushing back harder than before.
"No!" Colby shouted, falling to his knees next to Sam. He grabbed Sam’s hand, squeezing it tightly. "*Sam*, please… come back to me. I love you. I *need* you."
There was a long pause. The room fell silent, and for a moment, Colby was afraid the battle was over.
Then, just when he thought all hope was lost, Sam’s voice—a faint whisper—came through, barely audible.
"Colby… I’m… so scared…"
It was enough. The fight wasn’t over yet.
“Hold on, Sam,” Colby whispered, his heart pounding. “We’re not giving up. You’re going to make it through this. We’re together. Always.”
And with that, Colby held onto Sam, more determined than ever.
