Haunted

When 3AM came around, an eerie silence filled the Yeager home, even with the TV on. Mikasa led them down the dark staircase to the basement. The basement itself was very tidy, Reiner couldn’t see what Levi’s problem was. There was a small table in the center of the basement with a black wooden box directly in the middle. The basement was lit only by candlelight. Reiner had a hard time navigating through the basement to get to the table in the poor lighting. Everyone was seated (including Bertholdt) “So you said that Reiner opened his home to a spirit?” Mikasa asked.
Reiner nodded as he admired the dent in the basement floor.
“And now this spirit follows you?” Mikasa sighed
“Yes…” Reiner muttered.
Mikasa shook her head.
“And now Eren and Jean can see this spirit?” Mikasa huffed.
“The spirit has a name!” Bertholdt scowled as crossed his arms.
“First things first, we need to find out how we can break the bind the spirit has to Reiner.”
Mikasa said as she folded her hands on the table.
“And how are we supposed to do that?” Jean asked.
“By putting it to rest.” Mikasa said as she opened the wooden box.
It was an ouija board.
Mikasa moved the planchette to the middle of the board.
“Everyone, put one hand on the planchette, don’t move it under any circumstances or you will be possessed by the Devil.”
Reiner saw Jean grinning maniacally from the corner of his eye at the mention of possibility being possessed.
“Now, let us begin!”
Everyone put a hand on the planchette. Once they all spelt their names on the board, Mikasa stilled the planchette in the middle of the board.
“Are there any spirits with us tonight?” Mikasa asked. The planchette remained still. Reiner looked towards Bertholdt sitting next to him. His eyes were locked on the planchette with his brow furrowed as he tried to move it. Reiner saw Jean giving Bertholdt a thumbs up. Reiner nearly jumped out of his seat when he felt the planchette slowly moving up. Bertholdt was grinning ear to ear as his hand moved the planchette up to “Yes”. Reiner had to stop himself from patting Bertholdt on the back before remembering it would go straight through.
Mikasa gasped when she saw the planchette move.
“W-who’s here with us?”
Bertholdt still had a smile on his face as he slowly started moving the planchette.
“B”
“E”
“R”
“T”
“H”
“O”
“L”
“D”
“T”
Levi and Mikasa had shocked looks on their faces once the planchette stilled.
Mikasa was at a loss for words until Eren slugged her in the shoulder.
“Do you remember who killed you?” Mikasa blurted out.
Bertholdt looked like he was thinking for a moment until he started to move the planchette again.
“D”
“O”
“N”
“T”
“Don’t remember?” Levi suggested.
The planchette took even longer to get to yes as Bertholdt had to stop and take a few deep breaths and wipe sweat off his brow.
“Is he okay?” Eren asked with a look of concern.
“Why? What’s happening?!” Mikasa cried as she looked at the spot where Bertholdt was supposed to be.
“He looks like he just ran a marathon.” Jean said.
“Maybe we should stop, he looks really tired.” Reiner said as he tried to think of a way to help Bertholdt.
“Ok, but I have one more thing!” Mikasa said as she leaned back to grab something from the table behind them while keeping her fingertips on the planchette. She sat back down and placed a flashlight on the table.
“Bertholdt, can you please turn this on if you can.”
Bertholdt stared at the flashlight and gave Reiner a fearful look.
“You don’t have to do it if you’re not strong enough to do it.” Reiner whispered.
Bertholdt shot Reiner a small smile before reaching a shaky hand to the flashlight switch.
With a small click, a dull light shined over the candlelight. Jean and Eren high-fived each other with their free hands. Levi gave a sort of amused nod while Mikasa was almost bouncing in her seat. They quickly ended the seance and headed back upstairs to the kitchen. Eren was rummaging through the fridge as Jean passed around cans of Monster while downing his fifth can of the night. Bertholdt seemed to be slumped against the archway and was groaning in discomfort.
“Almighty Goth Sister, what wise decision must we make to put Slenderman’s soul to rest?” Eren dramatically asked as he pulled out a pint of ice cream.
Mikasa rolled her eyes. “I have a few ideas…”
“And?” Levi asked as he poured himself a hot cup of tea.
“The first thing that really comes to mind, is solving his murder.” Mikasa said.
Jean snot rocketed his Monster. “I’m sorry but did I hear you just say, ‘solve a 130 year old mass murder that nobody has managed to find a solid lead on?’”
Mikasa nodded.
“Well pardon my French, but how the hell are we supposed to do that?” Jean said as he wiped Mango Loco off his face.

After another twenty minutes of the group bickering, they had agreed to tell the rest of Jean and Mikasa’s group that were investigating the murders about Bertholdt during their next meeting. Reiner and Jean decided to leave the Yeager house after they found Eren and Levi making out in the pantry. It was pitch black outside with only a few flickering street lights piercing through the darkness. Jean decided it would be safer to go to Marco’s place and parted ways with Reiner and Bertholdt.
They walked in uncomfortable silence for a few blocks before Reiner broke the ice.
“So… you feeling okay after tonight?”
Bertholdt nodded. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”
“Can I ask you a question? You totally don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
Bertholdt turned his head to make eye contact with Reiner.
“Do… do you remember anything from when you died?”
Bertholdt went pale.
Reiner mentally punched himself.
Why did he think that was a good idea?
He got brutally murdered!
Of course he wouldn’t want to talk about getting his skull crushed with a sledgehammer!
“Bertholdt I’m so sorry-“
“No. It’s fine.” Bertholdt shrugged
“I just remember feeling…betrayed almost, then it was cold and I was all alone.” Bertholdt shivered at the memories.
“I’m sorry about what happened to you and your family.” Reiner said.
“Hey, look at me.”
Bertholdt looked up from the pavement to acknowledge the shorter blonde. Somehow his midnight hair was blowing in the night breeze.
“I promise I’m going to help find out what happened to your family, and help put your spirit to rest.”
Bertholdt’s brow furrowed. “But how?”
“We can’t do it alone, some of Jean and Eren’s friends that know more about the case can help us.” Reiner said.
“And with you here, we might be able to get some more information.”
Bertholdt shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll be much help, I’m useless anyway…”
Reiner stopped dead in his tracks. He was already a little surprised about Bertholdt’s comment earlier that evening but didn’t expect that Bertholdt would say something like that about himself. If Reiner could have grabbed his shoulders and given him a shakedown, he would.
“Listen to me.” Reiner said as he stepped in front of Bertholdt. “Never say things like that about yourself, understand?”
Bertholdt was a little taken aback by the shit eating glare Reiner was giving him.
“You’re not useless, look at all you managed to do tonight!” Reiner exclaimed as he threw his arms out.
“Y-you’re right, I guess…” Bertholdt mumbled as he stuck his hands in the pockets in his pants and stared down at the pavement.
As Reiner stepped off the sidewalk to cross the road, a sudden squeal of tires made look away from Bertholdt.
A car was about to hit him.
Reiner closed his eyes and braced for impact before he felt a pair of hands pull him back.
Reiner felt a jolt of pain as he put his wrist out to catch his fall. He heard the car speed away as he slowly flipped himself over. His wrist was throbbing as he looked for whoever pulled him back. There was nobody there but Bertholdt.
Who was staring at his hands?
Bertholdt was looking at his hands with wide eyes and his jaw dropped.
“Did you just pull me back?” Reiner asked.