The Sleepover

Rituals

"Arthur?" Katyusha asked, worry tinted in her voice.
Arthur waved his hands around, almost like he was trying to dispel the tension in the air. "I-it's not what it looks like, Katyusha!"
"...You never told me Ivan is...playing a paranormal game." She said.
The two were taken aback by how calm her reaction was.
"Please, don't freak out." Feliciano squeaked
"It's okay." She shrugged. "It's not the first time Ivan wanted to play such games. Even Natalya is into it."
"Really? Do tell the story." Arthur said, curious.
"Well...It all began when our mother got us a laptop for the first time."
-Flashback-
Katyusha walked down the hall, carrying a laundry basket. She knocked on Ivan's door.
"Ivan? Can I come in? I'm doing the laundry."
A muffled yes answered.
She opened the door.
"Oh, Ivan, Natalya, what are you two looking at?"
"Nothing, sestra. You may leave." Natalya's monotone voice responded.
Katyusha sighed and moved behind them.
Paranormal games
She froze. They aren't planning to... Are they?
"Ivan? What is-"
"Katya!" Ivan cried, shifting his body to cover part of the laptop. "Don't sneak up on people and look at what they are searching!"
"Sorry, I was concerned."
"I understand, sestra. But please don't do that again..."
"Okay, I promise.
-end of flashback-
"But I didn't keep that promise. I observed their search history for days on end." She sighed. "It appeared the games were getting deadlier since last month."
"What now?" Arthur asked. "They aren't going to snap out of it unless they find the thumb."
"We'll just have to wait." She said.
________________
Alfred tried to run away from the source of the voices. Note the tried.
Well, turns out, it was impossible.
So Alfred ran around the place, until he found Francis.
Francis was slouched against the wall, his hands holding his left side.
Alfred approached him cautiously until Francis noticed him.
"Ah, Alfred."
"Is something wrong, dude? It looks like someone scratched you."
"...Ivan, at least, who I think it was."
"Ivan? Dude, I know he's a bit messed up in the head, but he wouldn't do such a thing. Would he?"
"I don't know."
"Come on, we have to move." Alfred held out his hand and Francis carefully took it.
He helped him up and they walked very briskly.
"What is the rush, Alfred?"
"Damn voices won't leave me alone."
"That's what they do. Just don't look behind you when they annoy you."
"Right. Almost forgot about that."
___________
Feliciano stared at Arthur's bag.
"Arthur, what is in that bag?" He asked.
"...Well, I bring this when we have sleepovers. It's an ouija board."
"Why do you bring this to sleepovers?" Katyusha asked.
"Well,uh, nevermind."
Light flashed outside.
Arthur sighed.
"Cliche lightning strike."
"Would it be possible to contact spirits right now?" Feliciano asked.
"Would it be wise?" Katyusha questioned.
The two turn to Arthur.
He shrugged. "I never tried playing a paranormal game while another one is ongoing."
"Should we try it?" Katyusha asked.
"Why not..." Arthur zipped his bag open and placed each item down carefully.
He struck a match and lit the candle.
"Did anyone bring a phone?"
"Yes." Katyusha said.
"Turn it off. No distractions."
Katyusha reached in her bag and turned it off.
"Okay. Some reminders, be calm and respectful. And be polite. It makes it easier to work with the spirit." Arthur said.
The rest nodded.
"Okay. Now, let us begin. Fingers on the planchette."
They did what he said.
"Is there anyone in this room?" Arthur asked.
The planchette moved to yes.
"Are you a good spirit?" He asked.
The planchette moved to no.
They exchanged worried glances.
Arthur paused, before continuing.
"What is your name?"
No.
"No?"
No N A M E
"Surely, you have a name."
The planchette stopped moving for a few seconds.
"Take your time."
H E L P
The planchette moved rapidly.
"H-help?"
Yes. I N E E D H E L P
"Are you just one person?"
No.
"How many are you?"
1 0 0 0  S O U L S
Feliciano trembled. "A-arthur, I don't feel well..."
Arthur noticed this and tried to move the planchette to Goodbye, but it was stuck in one place.
It was as if something was blocking it.
"What do you want from us?!" Arthur yelled.
J O I N U S
Katyusha gasped. "Feli, your nose!"
"What?" He reached up and touched it. He looked at his fingertips. They were crimson red, like blood.
His nose was bleeding.
The planchette was doing figure eights now. The spirit's trying to enter their world.
Arthur used all his might to push it to goodbye.
That was it. The spirits were gone.
The three lay down, exhausted and scared.
Katyusha helped Feliciano downstairs to get an ice pack for his nose.
Atrhur stayed back, still studying the board.
He sighed, and stuffed the board back in the bag. He had newfound plans to burn that.
"Never again."