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HILL HOUSE, THEN
IT WAS NORMAL to see ghosts in the Hill House. Everyone did, whether they knew it or not — but not Camille. Instead, the spirits came to her in visions. She saw them in her dreams and whenever she closed her eyes. Sometimes, if she was lucky, she'd dream her parents watching over her. She'd see them clutching each other tightly as they watched their only daughter lay comfy in her bed. And, other times, they were absolutely horrifying.
Millie often saw the bent-neck lady, just like Nell did; but only when her nightmares were at their worst. The lady was a mere silhouette and she sat above Camille, on her bed — she had no face, no outstanding features. The lady would just stare down at her, before reaching her hand out to touch her. Camille couldn't move, she could only watch as the bent-neck lady's claws reached out to touch her.
"It's just a dream," she chanted to herself, as she felt sharp nails trail from her neck up to her cheek. "It's a dream, it's a dream, it's a dream."
Although she couldn't see her face, Camille could almost feel the lady's menacing grin. The bent-neck lady's hand went back to her neck, lean fingers wrapped around her throat. Camille couldn't move or breath, she could only pray that she'd somehow shake herself awake. She tried to tell herself it wasn't real, but it sure as hell felt it.
Somehow, amidst the swirl of panic, she'd woken up. She sat up with a start, taking in several deep breaths as she desperately clutched at her chest.
"Are you okay, Millie?" Luke's soft and tired voice asked from the bed next to her.
Camille couldn't answer, for she had something else entirely on her mind. "One. Two. Three—" she counted aloud with her eyes closed.
"Camille?" he asked again, putting on his glasses.
"—Four. Five. Six. Seven."
As Camille reached the seventh number, Nell suddenly began to cry. She screamed at something that seemed to be standing at the foot of her bed. Though Camille couldn't see what stood ahead of Nellie, there was not a doubt in her mind that the bent-neck lady had made her second appearance of the night.
Camillie jumped up from her bed, passing Luke's, before getting into Nell's. The second she climbed under the covers, Nellie hugged her tightly, squeezing her as tightly as she could, as if she were afraid Camille would somehow slip from her arms. But she didn't mind, Camille knew her friend was scared. She just held her back, not faltering at the tears and snot that began to stain her nightgown.
"It's okay, Nellie," the younger girl cooed. "She's not going to hurt you. The bent-neck lady, can't hurt you when I'm here."
Camille's words didn't seem to console Eleanor. Her cries were still loud and full of terror, and all Camille could do was hug her tightly and hope she would be alright soon. It didn't take long before Hugh and Steve came running in, making up some lie about big brother's having the powers to scare ghosts away. Clover was never naïve enough to believe it, but she knew Nell would. Then they'd leave with partings of "Goodnight" and "I love you" and the children would lay down again.
