Chapter 7
Madeline took a deep breath as she looked up at the massive house in front of her. The old Lohst house, where one of her teachers died a few months ago. She'd heard rumours it was haunted, and apparently the new owners were recovering from a death too. Add the fact that a storm had kicked up last night and stuck only around this house and this hill and you had one fucking creepy house.
She still wasn't going to back down though. She needed to sell these cookies to win the Broadway trip for her and Jenna, it was too perfect of a date to pass up.
Taking another breath and tightening her grip on her bag, Madeline reached up and rang the doorbell. It echoed ominously.
After a second, the door opened and a surprisingly handsome guy opened up. He seemed nerdy, but dressed all in black with a powerful confidence radiating off of him, Madeline was curious to say the least. If she wasn't totally committed to Jenna (This would be their third year together!), she might even consider flirting with this guy.
"Can I help you?" the guy asked with a smile, arching an eyebrow and looking her over. Her girl scout uniform suddenly felt dumpy and childish.
“Hi there. I’m here as a representative for the Girl Scouts of America to sell some of our cookies,” Madeline said with her trained salesperson smile. It won everyone over. “Would you like to buy some? I have some with me, and if I don’t have the flavors you want, I can come back in the next week with your cookies.”
"Oh, wow." The guy grinned. "I haven't had Girl Scout cookies in years." He hummed in thought for a moment. "Can you come in for a minute and show me? I don't remember the names so much as the packaging. And we can stay just by the door, I just don't want the packaging to get ruined by setting them out on the decking or if they get dropped or something."
“Well, I can just show you the booklet I have,” Madeline offered. “It lists all the flavors we have this year. Plus, we aren’t supposed to go into stranger’s houses.”
"I get it. I mean, it's just me who lives in this house but whatever." He looked her over again before his eyes widened. "Oh, you're probably my age. We'll probably be going to school together in the fall. I'll be in junior year, but only because I'll have to resit it thanks to a few issues last year." He smiled sheepishly. "I'm Jeremy. Nice to meet you."
Madeline raised a brow at Jeremy before glancing behind him, into the house. “Wait, you’re the only person who lives here? How? I know it was a cheap house, but you’re, what, seventeen?”
"Yeah, I am. It's... kinda complicated." Jeremy laughed. "But I'm the only person living here." He shrugged. "It's kinda awesome, really. No rules. Just my own." Then he paused. "Wait, did I get your name?"
Madeline shook her head, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell this guy now. She got a bad feeling rolling off of this house and him. “It’s Madeline,” she said though, and wait, why did she say it? It was like something made her say it.
Jeremy shot her a slightly surprised and a very charming grin. "Well, Madeline, would you like to come in for a drink then? Since we're not strangers anymore. And besides, it'll be nice to get to know someone in the area." She was about to decline, but he cut her off. "I've got soda. Or fresh lemonade, if you'd prefer."
“Uh, I’m not too sure. I have a strict schedule I need to keep for selling cookies today,” Madeline said. “I’m trying to sell over thirteen hundred boxes to win a trip for my girlfriend, so I can’t afford any distractions.”
Jeremy's expression fell ever so slightly, but he didn't stop smiling. "Oh wow, she's a lucky lady if you're so dedicated." He shrugged. "Can you gimme your number then, and the deadline? So I can place an order at some point. I don't want you missing out on your date if you're working so hard for it."
“Yeah, I just need to put my stuff down,” Madeline said.
As she went to get her phone, she couldn’t help but feel bad. This guy lived alone and he didn’t seem bad. In fact, he seemed really sad. Maybe he just needed a friend...
“Maybe I can afford to sit with you for a bit. I am ahead of schedule,” she offered as she managed to get her phone out.
Jeremy practically beamed, Madeline could almost see the sunshine radiating from the expression, before he stepped aside and let her in. "Thank you so much! Here, write down the details on the pad by the door, I'll go grab the drinks. What would you like?"
“I don’t drink soda, so lemonade would be nice,” Madeline said as she pulled up her number. She was bad at remembering her number, sue her. “Thanks.”
“Sure! I’ll be right back.” Jeremy bounced in place before dashing off to the kitchen.
Madeline’s has just put down the pen when she heard footsteps behind her. “Hello Madeline,” a voice whispered in her ear. She spun around but there was no one there.
“Who’s there?” she called as she quickly put her backpack back on.
“Who’s where, ginger?” The voice was right behind her. She spun around again and found a handsome but unsettling guy behind her. He kinda looked familiar (was he in the matrix or something?) but Madeline couldn’t help the terror that flooded her system. How did he just appear there?!
Madeline jumped and couldn’t help herself from screaming. She backed away from this stranger as she went to grab her phone, but she left it next to the notepad. “Stay back, weirdo.”
“Why? You came into my house.” The guy grinned, except his smile seemed to extend so far it came off his face. Madeline screamed and almost fell over.
“Let me out then! I’ll go!”
“But you came in.” The man loomed over Madeline. “That makes you mine. Everything in this house is mine.”
Madeline quickly scurried past the guy, ducking under his arms somehow. “Hell no, fuck no,” she cried as she snagged her phone.
“Leaving so soon, Madeline? What’s the matter?” Jeremy wandered over, carrying two glasses of lemonade. There was a sort of glassiness to his eyes, a hollowness to his voice and an emptiness to his smile. Even his movements were stiff and almost doll-like. How hadn’t she noticed before?
Madeline shook her head as she managed to get to the front door. She quickly opened it as the two came closer, screaming before she ran out. “Oh god,” she cried, barely managing to unlock her phone and call Jenna. No way could she keep selling cookies today. She needed her girlfriend.
Jeremy set down the glasses, shaking out his arms and trying to relax.
He grinned at Squip. That had been fun, right? Except Jeremy felt really bad too, Madeline seemed really nice. He hoped that she sold enough for her date.
“Well, I’d say she saw us!” he cheered anyway. Squip had helped him out so much (Jeremy was starting to feel really bad about what he did. It hadn’t even been a full twenty four hours and he was already missing and worrying about his dad and Marshal), the least he could do was indulge his friend in some scaring. That was fair.
“Oh, she certainly did. I’d say you’re shaping up to be a good ghost,” Squip said with a grin before patting Jeremy’s shoulder and then ruffling his hair.
Okay, that felt good. “Does this make me an honorary dead person now?” Jeremy joked, grabbing the lemonade and sipping at it. Marshal had made it yesterday for the big dinner, and it was really good.
“Yes it does,” Squip said before pulling a tote bag out of nowhere. “As an honorary dead person, you get this honorary tote full of goodies.”
“Oh wow!” Jeremy accepted the bag and looked it over. “Oh cool, it’s got Pac-Man ghosts on it.” He looked up at Squip. “Thanks!”
“Of course. Now, if you look inside, there’s some more ghost-themes goodies for you,” Squip said with a smile before taking the other glass and taking a long drink.
Jeremy reached into the bag and pulled out a beanie, slipping it on with a small giggle. “Thanks!” He felt the weight of the bag and found it was quite heavy. “I think I’m gonna sit upstairs and go through this. You gonna hold the fort down here?” Jeremy asked, looking up at Squip.
Squip gave him a thumbs up before finishing his glass. “Don’t forget to eat, by the way.”
Jeremy had forgotten, if he were honest. He hadn’t really felt hungry since last night, even if there were plenty of leftovers to have. “I’ll grab something on my way up.” He promised, finishing off his own glass and heading to the kitchen.
After quickly assembling a chicken salad sandwich, Jeremy headed up to the attic. He hadn’t seen Christine or Brooke since last night and he was a little worried.
Instead of following Jeremy up the stairs, the point of view stayed downstairs for a minute longer. Squip walked into view and grinned. “Oh, don’t worry, he’ll learn about the book. Everything will go according to plan.” Squip patted the point of view up the stairs. “Go on now, follow Jeremy. I have some work I need to do in private.”
There was a pause before the scene did shift back to Jeremy.
He knocked on the door up to the attic before unlocking it and heading up the stairs. “Brookie? Chrissy? Are you up here?” Jeremy called, a little hesitant. He wanted to give them time to tell him to leave, if they wanted. He knew they didn’t approve of him getting Squip’s help.
“Yeah, we’re here,” Christine called back with what seemed to be excitement. She was excited? “Come on up here.”
Jeremy smiled brightly and pulled the bag higher on his shoulder as he hurried up the stairs. As soon as he got to the top, he set down the plate and the bag, so he could (hopefully) give them both a hug. “Hi!”
Before he even saw them, Jeremy felt both ladies give him a hug. He was chilled to his core but he was happy with it. “Oh Jere-bear, how are you doing? We’ve been hearing so many screams,” Brooke said, cupping Jeremy’s cheeks as she fretted over him.
“I’m fine.” Jeremy assured her, covering her hands with his own and leaning into her touch. “Squip’s been teaching me how to be a scary ghost. I think he’s enjoying himself.”
“Are you enjoying it?” Brooke asked as Christine frowned.
“I mean, kinda?” Jeremy shrugged helplessly. “It’s nice that people have been noticing me but...” Jeremy didn’t like scaring people for the most part.
“Just say what’s on your mind, Jeremy,” Christine insisted oh so softly as she ran her hand through Jeremy’s hair.
“It feels mean,” Jeremy admitted. “I’ve only been going along with it because it makes Squip happy and he... he kinda scares me too.”
“He is scary,” Christine agreed. “Do you not want him around?”
“I don’t know.” Jeremy sighed. “He... I don’t know. He’s helping me, in his own way, and I’m... confused, I guess. I can tell he cares in some way.” He shrugged.
“Well, off of that topic,” Brooke said, squeezing Jeremy’s cheeks, “You have food. Eat and then show us what’s in your bag.”
Jeremy giggled softly and nodded, nuzzling against Brooke’s hands. This was exactly what he needed. He needed to just feel loved again. Christine and Brooke loved him, at least a little. Now that his dad and Marshal were gone, they were able to come down and spend time with him, but they were still up in the attic.
He sat down and picked up his sandwich. “So this is my ghost goodie bag, so I’ve been told.”
“Ooo, spooky,” Christine said as she looked over the tote bag. “What’s in here?”
“Well, I’ve got this cute beanie from it.” Jeremy pointed to the hat he was wearing before shrugging. “Otherwise, I have no idea. I thought I could come look through with you guys since you’re still kinda new ghosts too.”
Both ghosts cooed at Jeremy. “Would you mind if we helped you look over what else is in here?” Brooke asked.
"Please!" Jeremy nodded before eating some of his sandwich. It twisted horribly in his stomach and he made a face before taking another bite. He just had to force it down, then it would be fine. He was used to this.
“Is the sandwich bad?” Christine asked as Brooke dug into the tote bag.
"Just not hungry," Jeremy admitted. "But it's... I'm used to it. I just need to push through it and it'll be fine."
Christine frowned but nodded before Brooke caught her attention. “This is a weird book. The Handbook for the Recently Deceased...”
"Oh?" Jeremy peered over, spotting something on the back cover. He swallowed another uncomfortable bite of his sandwich. "It says that every ghost is supposed to get one when they first die. Did you get a copy?"
“No, I didn’t. Neither of us got one when we died,” Brooke said with a frown.
"Well, let's see what's in it." Jeremy suggested. "Maybe it's got something important..." A thought occurred to him. "Maybe it has a way for us to get in contact with other dead people." Maybe it would give Jeremy a way to get back in contact with Michael. Even if it was just, like, letters or something, he'd take it. He'd take whatever he could get if it was Michael.
Brooke’s eyes lit up for a moment before she shook her head. “Maybe... Let’s read through it first.”
"’Chapter One: the Netherworld,’" Christine read outloud. "'All ghosts should proceed directly to the Netherworld as soon as they receive this manuscript'.' Hey! We were never told that!"
"Isn't the Netherworld the name for the afterlife?" Jeremy asked, trying to remember what Squip had said.
“I think it is,” Brooke said as she seemed to look further down. “I think I know where some chalk is. Let me find it.” She got up and floated over to some boxes.
Jeremy picked up the bag and looked inside. "There's some sparkly green chalk here. Would that work?" He held it up for Brooke to see.
Brooke looked over and nodded. “Yeah, I skimmed and it said we needed any kind of chalk,” she said as she took the stick. “Thanks.”
"What are you gonna do?" Jeremy asked, picking up the book and trying to open it. He couldn't pry the book open. "Hey! It's stuck!"
Christine frowned as Brooke went to the attic wall. “It shouldn’t be,” she said as she easily opened it. "Maybe it's because you're still alive?" she suggested. Jeremy huffed before turning his attention to Brooke.
“I think it said that I have to draw a doorway,” she said, tracing an outline of a door on the wall that glowed. “And then I have to knock three times.”
She did and then stepped back. The outline of the door glowed brighter and swung outwards, bathing Brooke in purple light. Her face fell slack and her eyes glazed over.
"Netherworld..." she droned, starting to stumble towards the door. Jeremy shot to his feet and basically slammed into the door, shutting it as quickly as possible.
Christine helped with that, and as soon as the door was shut, she checked over Brooke. "Brookie?"
"Wait, what happened?" Brooke asked, blinking a few times before Christine pulled back and went over to the handbook. Before Jeremy could say or do anything, Christine shut the book.
"This is too dangerous. We need to read through things first before we try anything from now on."
"Pass it here." Jeremy made grabby hands for the book. "I'll read it if you guys open it." Maybe he could find something about how to contact Michael. Maybe he could even find a way to bring them together somehow, in this world or in the Netherworld.
Brooke looked at Jeremy with a concerned expression. “Is it because you’re looking for how to possibly contact Michael?”
Jeremy flinched. "No,” he replied a little too quickly. Then he sighed. "Okay, maybe."
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea, Jere-bear.”
"There's no harm in looking though," Jeremy protested quietly. "What if I could see him again? What if he doesn't have to be gone forever?"
“I’ve wished for so long to be able to talk to Chloe again,” Brooke said with a sigh. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“But why?” Jeremy asked. “I’ve basically been a ghost anyway! Why can’t I just see and maybe I don’t have to try and escape my life anymore?”
“Because you’re going to just want more and more once you see if you can do it,” Brooke said with a sigh. “This isn’t good for your mental health, for you to try.”
“My mental health has gone to hell anyway!” Jeremy found himself getting irrationally angry. He wasn’t sure quite why, he knew Brooke and Christine had his best interests at heart, but he was just so furious with them right then. “But fine! I’ll figure out a way myself.” He snatched the book back and stormed off to the stairs. If they wouldn’t help, maybe Squip would. He’d understand.
As he started to head downstairs, Jeremy heard voices from the living room. He ducked away with wide eyes, hiding away. Why were Marshal and his dad here?
“I’m telling you dad, we don’t need to exorcise the whole house,” Marshal whispered. “We just need to get Jeremy out and deal with that Squip ghost. The other two didn’t seem so bad.” Jeremy ducked behind one of the art pieces Squip had created during his take over. It was big and dark enough that he wouldn’t be spotted. No way could they force him to leave, this was where he belonged! He just had to bring Michael here and everything would be perfect!
“What if he doesn’t listen to us though? That guy ghost could be doing things to Jeremy, like possessing him. No way is he going to come with us unless we exorcise this whole place.”
“He said the ladies were his friends,” Marshal pointed out. Jeremy pressed himself closer to the art piece as the footsteps got closer. They seemed to be heading upstairs. Perfect. That meant they’d be away from him and from Squip. “Do you really think he’d ever forgive us if we caused the perma-death of two of his friends? We’re more likely to lose him.” At least Marshal cared enough for that. Maybe he was changing his ways, even if dad wasn’t.
There was a bit of silence. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Marshal.” Dad sighed. “Maybe we should see if we could find those two ghosts?”
“Let’s check the attic,” Marshal agreed. “That’s where Jeremy had been spending his time before all of this, I’ll bet that’s where they’re hiding.” The stairs started creaking quietly. “Even if we can’t see them, I’m sure they’ll help us.” Jeremy would have to be quick. If his dad and Marshal teamed up with Brooke and Christine, Jeremy didn’t stand a chance of getting Michael back at all. Just a minute more, and then he could go. So long as they didn’t delay in heading to the attic, of course. He hoped they didn’t, he needed Squip as soon as possible.
“Thank you, Marshal. I... I need to learn more than a few things from you,” Dad said before their voices started fading and their footsteps could be heard going up the stairs. Perfect.
Jeremy took a breath before hurrying to the living room.
“Squip,” he whispered, careful to not alert his family. “Squip, where are you?”
There was a tap on his shoulder and Jeremy flinched. “Sorry for scaring you, kid. What’s up? We whispering ‘cause your folks are here?”
“Yeah, they want to take me away.” Jeremy nodded. He looked up at Squip and held out the book. He sent out a silent prayer that he was right. “I need your help.”