Ghost
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Catra whined as she followed Adora through the woods. Her flashlight had a soft yellow glow, despite not really needing it, it still offered a warm comfort in the otherwise creepy area.
Adora laughed from where she walked briskly ahead of her friend. "What? You're always feening for a reason to get out. And with all Hallows Eve here, this is the perfect chance to see if the rumors are true." She moved her flashlight left and right.
Rolling her eyes, Catra followed closely and tried to listen to their surroundings. "An old haunted house in the woods? Come on, Adora. It's scary stories the Sisters tell to keep us in line." A cracking sound behind them made her turn and search. "Though say they weren't just scary stories, we'd be walking right into danger."
"Only one way to find out." Adora moved a low branch out the way and smiled. "Look! There it is!"
Turning back around and rushing to catch up with her friend, Catra eyed what Adora was looking at. "Honestly? Didn't think it was real." She admitted, looking up at the large house.
It was barely holding itself up. The windows were broken, shutters either hung off dangerously or had already fallen to the ground. Panels hung off the outside walls, the paint chipped and discolored. The front door had two boards that bad been hammered in an X shape to keep people out, but the door itself was off the screws and caved inward.
Adora looked to her friend and smirked. "Think it's as haunted as the stories claim?" She asked, crossing her arms, clearly noticing Catra's slight fear of the place.
"With what, ghost? No such thing." Catra hated how her voice betrayed her, and her eyes scanned every window.
"Then come on. Let's go in." Adora challenged.
Catra looked away from the house finally, her brows furrowed. "Excuse me?" She questioned, even having heard the words.
Shaking her head, Adora pushed past the brush and towards the house. "Nothing to be afraid of, right? No such thing as ghost, you said it yourself." Her tone carried the tease with it as she heard Catra scramble behind her to keep close. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."
"Shut up! I do not need your protection." Catra argued, pushing past the other to take the lead and climb the three steps towards the door. Each one groaned as it struggled to maintain even her lightweight.
They both paused at the door, flashlights angled directly at it to glimpse inside. Most of what they could make out was dust and webs. There seemed to be a few things covered in what were once white sheets, but they've taken on a yellow color in the neglect.
A single glance at each other and both had ducked under the wood to enter the house. Every step earned a creak of the wooden floorboards. Their flashlights barely offered much comfort as the whole place was a cloud of dust. "So, where do you think the ghosts are?" Adora asked, looking into what used to be a sitting area.
"Probably hiding from your scary mug." Catra jokes, moving her light to shine up the staircase. "Alright, I'll be honest again. I'm not going upstairs."
"What? Why not?" Adora asked, walking to stand beside her at the bottom of the stairs.
Catra stomped her foot on the first step, getting a cracking sound in response. "That's why! This whole place is barely standing. Adding our weight? I'm not looking to break my leg falling through the stairs."
A groan sounded from upstairs, causing both teens to go silent.
Adora looked at the bottom step and then up the stairs. "Must have been a delayed reaction."
Another sound, a low drawn out moan.
"A-Adora? What's that?" Catra asked, pointing to an odd shaped dark figure at the top of the stairs.
Looking up, Adora pointed her flashlight to the top. But with the light shining, there was nothing there. She moved the light away, and the dark figure reappeared a few steps down this time. Both of them took a step back with a gasp. "Okay, not upstairs."
"Upstairs downstairs, none at all! We shouldn't be in here." Catra argued, grabbing Adora's hand. "Let's get out of here."
Adora let herself be led out of the house, keeping her eye on the dark figure that stood on the stairs. Once out, the cool air was welcoming after all the dust. Back at the tree line, the two looked up at the house, seeing the black figure had moved to a top window and watched them as they left.
"Do you think it was an actual ghost?" Adora asked as she moved a low branch out of the way so they could get through.
Shrugging, Catra let out a deep breath, seeming to relax the farther they got. "No, ghost aren't real. I don't know what that was." She looked back to Adora and then down at their hands still intertwined. Letting go quickly, she took the lead back home. "Let's not do that again. Especially during this time of year. The energy shifts, that could have been anything."
"Aw, were you scared?" Adora teased, moving to stand too close behind the other.
Catra blushed and flashed the flashlight right in Adora's face. "No! But you would have gotten hurt going up those stairs. You're clumsy and far heavier than me. You'd have gone directly through one of those stairs and I'd have to explain to the Sisters why your leg is broken. You'd get away with it, I'd be on latrine duty the rest of the year!"
Adora laughed at the outburst and pushed the light our of her face. "Whatever. It'd help with the plan to not get adopted for two more years. Then we'll turn eighteen, be kicked out, and run away together. Remember?" She blushed through a smile.
Shaking her head, Catra continued to lead the way back, but took Adora's hand in her own once more.