A Spirit Between Us (bxb)

Chapter 35 - The beginning of the end.

It was time. 

The tension was palpable as Jake stood at the edge of the football field, the brisk winter air biting at his face. The dark figure of Finn approached with an unsettling calm. Jake's heart pounded in his chest as he glanced nervously at the goalpost, where he and the others had prepared the setup. The faint crunch of snow beneath the Mimic's boots sent chills down his spine.

The others were waiting at the edge of the field, hidden behind the bleachers. Archie, Lyla, Katherine, and Finn's parents watched silently as the interaction unfolded. Finn's mother clutched her husband's arm tightly, her knuckles white with tension, while Katherine's eyes remained fixed on the Mimic, her expression a mix of focus and dread.

Archie's chest tightened as he watched Jake and the Mimic move closer to the goalpost, which was illuminated only by the candles surrounding it. He didn't trust the creature's calm demeanor. It was too quiet, too composed. This thing–this monster–had spent weeks tormenting them, pushing Archie to the brink. It wasn't like the Mimic to simply comply.

Jake stopped a few feet from the goalpost and gestured toward it. "Alright, this is the part where you cooperate."

To everyone's surprise, the Mimic raised its hands in mock surrender, a twisted smile spreading across Finn's face. "Oh, don't mind me. I'll play along."

The gang exchanged nervous glances from their hiding spot. Lyla leaned toward Archie, her voice a hushed whisper. "Why is it so... compliant? This thing's been a pain in the ass for weeks, and now it's just... letting us tie it up?"

Archie's jaw tightened, his green eyes locked on the Mimic. "It's too confident. It knows something we don't."

Lyla's brows furrowed, worry etched across her face. "You think it's a trap?"

"I know it's a trap," Archie muttered, his fists clenching at his sides. "But we don't have a choice."

Meanwhile, Jake moved cautiously around the Mimic, pulling the ropes tight as he secured its wrists to the goalpost. The Mimic didn't resist, its eerie smile never faltering. It even leaned back against the metal bars, as if settling in for a show.

"Comfortable?" Jake asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The Mimic tilted its head, its empty eyes gleaming under the stadium lights. "Quite. You know, I've been looking forward to this moment."

Jake took a step back, unease prickling at his skin. "Yeah? Why's that?"

The Mimic's grin widened, a grotesque imitation of Finn's usual smile. "Because you're all so predictable. It's adorable, really. You think this is the part where you win. But it's not."

Jake's stomach churned as he glanced toward the others, who were stepping out from their hiding place. Katherine led the group, her expression steely as she approached the goalpost. Archie and Lyla followed close behind, their faces set with determination, while Finn's parents lingered a few steps back, their fear palpable.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Archie said, his voice sharp as he stopped a few feet from the Mimic.

Katherine stepped forward, holding the worn ritual book in her hands. She flipped it open to the marked page, her fingers trembling slightly as she scanned the ancient text. "Everyone get in position." she instructed, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

The Mimic's gaze shifted to Archie, its smile faltering for the briefest moment. "You're awfully eager to play hero, aren't you, Archie?" it sneered. "Do you really think you can save him?"

Archie ignored the taunt, focusing instead on the task at hand. But his resolve wavered as the Mimic began to laugh, the sound low and menacing, growing louder with each passing second.