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“It was a dark and stormy night.”
“Knock it off, Chim,” Hen scolded, more fond than annoyed, as she pushed past him on the narrow walkway.
It was that exact moment the sky decided to light up, and so did Chim’s face as thunder rumbled. “Come on, Hen. Look at where we are! And on Halloween no less! This place is straight out of a horror movie, it’s gotta be haunted!”
The house in question stood tall before them, complete with gothic architecture, chipping paint, and an overgrown yard of dead plants. Buck wasn’t willing to admit that it was giving him chills just looking at it. A bad feeling had settled in his gut when they first pulled up on the street, and it was getting worse with every step he took toward the front porch, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone about it. He refused to give Chimney the satisfaction. Halloween was always a strange night, full of punk kids and their “tricks” that usually resulted in a call to 911 to bail them out of whatever trouble they’d gotten into. Add onto that the full moon that was looming behind the clouds, and the whole night was a recipe for troublesome calls. It was easy to blame his anxiety on that, even if he didn’t fully believe that was the real cause.
“It’s not that scary,” Buck shrugged, leaving Chim behind as the older man hesitated on the sidewalk, gazing up at the house in awe.
“First a jinx, now ghosts?” Eddie scoffed, walking backward toward the house just to shoot Chimney an incredulous look. “Seriously? What’s next? Mermaids?”
“Hey, over eighty percent of the ocean hasn’t been explored!” Chimney shot back, indignant. “You never know!”
“Come on, Chim,” Bobby called over his shoulder as he went up to knock on the door.
The teasing comment Buck was about to give Chimney died on his tongue when the door swung open on its own, letting out a loud creak that almost sounded like a pained whine. Lightning flashed again, thunder rumbling a few seconds after, but no one moved or made a sound. The team all shared a look when no one appeared behind the door, and Buck’s apprehension increased.
“Did the door just open on its own?” Buck whispered.
“I told you!” Chimney hissed.
“They probably left it open by accident,” Eddie dismissed, though he was eyeing the door cautiously.
“Alright, guys,” Bobby scolded. “Jones, Lyndon, go around back. See if there's anyone in the yard, maybe in a tool shed. Dispatch couldn't get a specific location, so check everywhere.”
The two other firefighters nodded and took off through the overgrowth, grumbling to themselves about thorns on their way around the side of the house.
Tentatively, Bobby led the rest of the team into the house. “Hello? LAFD. We received a call from this address.”
They were met with silence, until a flash of lightning illuminated the house and thunder rumbled ominously, so Bobby led the team inside just as the rain started to fall. The foyer alone was massive, with weathered hardwood floors that were caked in grime and dust. A grand staircase stood before them, winding up the wall of the foyer to the open, loft-style second floor. From where they were, it was impossible to see very far into the darkness beyond the bannister, even with the street light shining through the windows above the front door. The massive chandelier above their heads caught the amber light, sparkling like diamonds and casting tiny rainbows across the floor, ceiling, and walls. It would be beautiful if the atmosphere in the house wasn't so unsettling. Underneath the staircase was a void of darkness, but the beams of their flashlights revealed a hallway that curved off behind the staircase. To their left was a set of french doors; some of the glass panes were cracked, while others were missing entirely, allowing Buck to peek through into the living room. Every piece of furniture in the room looked to be an antique, and everything was coated in a heavy layer of dust. To their right was the entrance into a formal dining room, with french doors in similar condition as the ones to the living room. One of the doors had been left open, revealing a glimpse of a long table with elegantly carved legs and matching chairs.
Chimney whistled in appreciation for the mini mansion. “Who called 911? Morticia Addams?”
“Dispatch said the call got disconnected just after they gave the address and said they needed an ambulance. We know nothing about the caller or why they called.” Looking around, Bobby found the light switch by the door and flipped it, but nothing happened. He flipped it back and forth a few times before giving up. “Okay, split up and search. Buck and Eddie, upstairs. Hen, Chim, we’ll search down here.”
Buck and Eddie moved up the stairs in sync, carefully avoiding steps that looked loose or ravaged by termites. The center of the second floor was open to the foyer, a dark wooden bannister was all that separated the two spaces. From up there, the chandelier looked twice as big and thrice as beautiful, its tiny crystal pieces sparkling even in the limited light. Eddie motioned toward the doors to one side of the space, so Buck gave him a quick nod of acknowledgement and headed for the other side.
“LAFD!” Buck announced, knocking on the first door he came to.
When no one called back, he turned the ornate crystal knob and revealed a bathroom. The sickeningly sweet stench of mold hit him in the face immediately, twisting his stomach. Pulling his collar up to cover his mouth and nose, Buck tentatively stepped into the room. The shower curtain seemed like it had once been a solid wine color, but now the bottom third was a solid black, and the rest of it was speckled with mildew. Pausing for a beat to send a prayer to the universe that nothing was about to jump out at him, Buck threw the curtain open to reveal nothing but a mold covered tub. Holding back a gag, he hurried out of the room and shut the door, coughing the stench out of his lungs. The musty smell of the rest of the house was fresh air compared to the bathroom, and Buck took a second to let the scent replace the sting of mold in his nostrils before he moved on to the next door.
Every room he went into was elegantly decorated, despite the dust and moth holes in almost every frilly bedspread and sheer curtain. The antique furniture all looked like it may have been carved by hand, and the wallpaper seemed to be original, based on the style and deterioration. It made him even more curious about who had called 911. Did anyone even live there? He couldn’t imagine how they could. And the more undisturbed dust he saw, the more obvious it became that the house had been abandoned for some time.
Eddie was checking out one of the other rooms when Buck reached the last door on his designated side. It was tucked into an alcove, facing the wall with the rest of the doors he'd already been through. When he touched the crystal doorknob, he ripped his hand back as if he’d been burned. All the other knobs had felt normal, if a little cool from disuse and a lack of heat in the old house, but this one was like it was made of ice. As quickly as he could, he grabbed the knob and turned, wrenching the door open with a bit more force than strictly necessary. A steep staircase was what greeted him, its wooden steps old but not as worn out from use as the others had been. His flashlight only illuminated the steps, not quite reaching past the opening at the top, but he assumed it was an attic. As soon as he stepped past the door frame, goosebumps sprang up all across Buck’s skin, and a shiver ran through his entire body. The air in the narrow passageway was at least five degrees cooler than the rest of the house. His gut twisted in warning, and Buck was not in the business of ignoring his gut. He turned on his heel, already about to shut the door when soft whimpers reached his ears.
Coming from upstairs. Because of course they were.
“Fuck,” Buck muttered, starting up the stairs despite the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. “LAFD, is someone there?”
The only answer he got was the low rumble of thunder and more whimpers. As he got closer to the top the cries started to fade, and the beam of his flashlight flickered and dimmed before cutting out completely. With another curse under his breath, he slapped it against his hand, but it stayed dead. He was sure he'd put fresh batteries in it that morning, as he did at the start of every shift. Regardless, he could still somewhat see thanks to the singular window and the glow of the moon behind the storm clouds. The top pane of glass in the window was cracked like a spider web, the bottom one broken diagonally and missing half. He supposed that explained the mysterious temperature drop. Moving carefully across the old wooden floors, he made his way over to the window to peer out at the back yard. It was somehow even more overgrown than the front yard, the weeds tall and frail, dying in the cool autumn air. It only added to the creepiness of it all.
Looking around the attic, it was clear even in the limited light that Buck was alone up there. The only things there were a couple of unmarked boxes and a few spare dining room chairs, all of which were covered in dust and spider webs. Whatever had whimpered, it must have come from outside, carried into the attic through the broken window.
Suddenly his radio crackled to life, but Buck could barely make out Bobby’s voice coming through the static in broken off syllables. Brow furrowed, Buck moved toward the stairs, squeezing the button.
“What was that, Cap?”
A cool breeze brushed across the back of his neck, but this time the chill that crawled down his spine was accompanied by the sensation of a hand on his back. Buck’s yelp of shock was barely audible in his own ears as the hand shoved, sending him tipping forward. Somehow he twisted around in a futile attempt to grab the bannister, and his back hit the steps hard enough to force the air from his lungs. The momentum sent his legs up over his head, and suddenly he was rolling, his entire body an explosion of pain as the darkness swallowed him whole.
…
“Buck? Buck!”
Eddie’s voice was the first thing that reached Buck through the darkness. The warm, soothing tone was all he needed to guide him toward the surface.
“What the hell happened?!” Bobby sounded terrified, like he was barely hanging onto professionalism.
That’s what Buck would like to know. He was laying on what he was almost positive was the floor, and at least Eddie and Bobby were gathered around him. Clearly he’d been hurt somehow, judging by the concern in their voices, as well as the throbbing ache in his head and back.
“I don’t know,” said Eddie, and Buck had a perfect mental image of the brow raise that usually accompanied the tone he was using. “I heard thumps and came out of the room in time to see him land at the foot of the stairs.”
“Thankfully, I don’t feel anything wrong with his neck.”
So it was Hen’s fingers that were poking him. Which meant that the pressure around his arm was a blood pressure cuff. She was being gentle, but as soon as Hen’s fingers brushed the back of his head, he recoiled with a groan.
“He’s waking up,” Hen announced, sounding relieved. “That’s it, Buckaroo. Come back to us.”
Buck didn’t really mean to grumble like an insomniatic teenager being woken up for school, but he couldn’t help it. His head was pounding, and all he wanted to do was fall back into the comfort of sleep to escape it. No matter the reason why he was unconscious and sore all over, he knew he’d be okay. His family was there, and he knew they’d take care of him.
“Come on, Buck. Open your eyes.”
Now, Buck would do just about anything Eddie asked. But when he sounded so concerned and pleading? There was nothing Buck would say no to. So with a resigned sigh, he finally pried his eyes open. When Eddie’s was the first face that Buck saw, he couldn’t help the curl of his lips. “Hi.”
Eddie’s eyes looked suspiciously glassy as he gave Buck a blinding, relief-filled smile. “Hey, clumsy.”
“What happened?” Buck asked, glancing around at his team gathered around him with concern plain on each of their faces. It made Buck feel a little fuzzy inside.
“That’s what we’d like to know.” Bobby raised a brow. “Any ideas?”
A bright light suddenly flashed in his eyes, and Buck hissed like a cornered cat as he turned away from it. Gentle fingers on his chin brought Buck back to face Chimney, and he shined the light again. “Do you know where you are?”
He wracked his brain to try and recall the answer, rubbing the dots from his eyes once Chim was done torturing him with his penlight. The last thing he remembered was… oh. Oh yeah. “A creepy house. On a call. I fell down the stairs.”
“Looks like you avoided a concussion this time, Buckaroo,” Chimney announced, patting Buck’s chest affectionately.
“You still need to go to the hospital, though,” Hen added. “I don’t like that bump on your head.”
“I’m fine,” Buck sighed, starting to sit up.
“Whoa! Hey, hold on, Buck,” ordered Chim, the hand still on Buck’s chest now holding him down. “We’re not done making sure you haven’t broken anything.”
“I think I’ve broken enough body parts to know that, this time, I have not,” Buck assured with a pained smile, shoving Chim’s hand away as he sat up. Be was definitely going to be stiff for the next few days, but he felt fine otherwise. “I can feel all my fingers and toes, you guys already ruled out a concussion, and nothing hurts worse than a bruise. I'm fine.”
“You’re still going to the hospital,” Bobby said, pinning Buck with his patented Dad Look when the younger man opened his mouth to protest. “That’s an order. Now, do you remember what happened to make you fall?”
Buck took a moment to think through the events, his gut twisting with unease the more he recalled. “I could’ve sworn I heard someone crying up in the attic, but it was empty when I got up there. I went to leave and…”
Should he even tell them? It was ridiculous, but he was so sure…
“What is it, Buck?” Eddie asked, laying a comforting hand on Buck’s knee.
Swallowing thickly, Buck shook his head. Whatever pushed him was most likely still up there, and he’d be damned if he let one of his team walk into its clutches just to investigate. “I guess I just hit a weak step.”
If the furrow of his brow was anything to go by, Eddie knew Buck was lying. He looked like he was about to call him out when Bobby unintentionally cut Eddie off with a tired huff.
“Alright. Well, I’m pretty sure whoever called was just playing a prank, so let’s get out of here and take Buck to the hospital. Chim, go grab the stretcher.”
“Don’t, Chim. I’m fine,” Buck insisted, while he failed to hide the misery his stiff muscles caused as he attempted to stand up.
“Sure you are.” Eddie rolled his eyes fondly as he and Bobby each hooked an arm under Buck’s, lifting him to his feet.
“Thanks,” Buck mumbled sheepishly.
He was sore, but steady enough that Bobby let him go with a gentle pat to his shoulder and headed toward the stairs with Chimney and Hen in tow. Eddie, however, Buck was sure would have stayed attached to his arm even if Buck had been able to do a cartwheel to prove he was okay. But as awkward as it made it to go down the stairs, Buck was not about to open his big dumb mouth and protest Eddie’s proximity, much less his delicate and caring touch. The entire way down, Eddie fussed over making sure Buck took it slow and watched his step in the beam of his flashlight. If it had been anybody else, it would have felt condescending, but Eddie only made him feel loved and cared for. Even Hen and Chim's snickers couldn't ruin his delight.
“What the hell?”
Buck’s stomach swooped with dread at the apprehensive tone of Bobby’s voice, and he froze at the bottom of the stairs. Bobby was furiously tugging on the cast iron door handle, but the front door wasn’t opening.
“It’s like someone’s holding it closed,” Bobby said, bewildered. “It’s not even locked.”
“Didn't we leave it open?” Hen asked as she and Chim hurried to help.
They grabbed hold of the handle beside Bobby, but even with their combined effort, the door still didn’t so much as rattle. Buck’s hands were starting to tremble as another chill crept down his spine. He didn’t know how, or what it was, but he knew that something was keeping them there. Most likely the same thing that had shoved him down the stairs.
“You okay?” Eddie asked beside him, his warm hands the only thing keeping Buck from shaking apart.
“Yeah,” Buck breathed, even though he knew Eddie could see right through it.
“This isn’t working,” Hen huffed.
“What do we do?” Chim asked. “All our cutting tools are in the truck.”
“We call for assistance,” Bobby said, grabbing his radio. “Jones, Lyndon, come in.”
“I’m keeping a saw in my med bag from now on,” Chimney muttered, earning an eye roll from Hen.
Brow furrowed, Bobby shared a confused glance with the rest of them when the radio stayed silent, as if it weren’t even on. “Dispatch, this is Captain 118. Please respond.”
“Do you think they can hear you anyway?” Chimney wondered, giving the door one last futile tug before he gave up completely.
“We can only hope,” Bobby shrugged. “Everyone, check your phones.”
Buck pulled his phone out, unsurprised to see no bars of reception at the top of the screen. Christopher’s beaming smile on his lock screen did little to comfort him as the rest of them announced that they didn’t have service either.
“Alright, I’m going upstairs to see if the signal is stronger there,” Bobby announced. “The rest of you, try to get the door open.”
“No!” The cold talons of fear clutched Buck's heart suddenly. He latched onto Bobby’s sleeve before the Captain could make it past him to the stairs. “We shouldn’t split up, Bobby.”
Bobby's brow furrowed. “Why not?”
A glance between each of his teammates and their concern for him was all the support Buck needed. Swallowing thickly, he tried but failed to make his voice come out steady. “I don’t think we’re alone here.”
“You think someone else is in here messing with us?” Buck felt Eddie tense beside him, instantly on edge and ready to fight. “Did someone push you down the stairs?”
Buck grimaced. “Not exactly some one, more like… some thing.”
“Oh my god, you think this place is actually haunted?” Chim chuckled. “Buckaroo, I was kidding. ”
“Well, I’m not.” He released Bobby's arm, but refused to let go of Eddie's hand. He needed the support for as long as Eddie was willing to give it. He assumed that wouldn't be for long after he said what he was about to. “There was no-one in the attic, but when I fell… I swear it felt like someone pushed me. I’m sure I felt a hand on my back. And now the door’s not opening? There’s something here, and it doesn’t want us to leave.”
“Look, Buck. I know you believe what you’re saying is true, but there are no such things as ghosts,” Bobby soothed, laying a comforting hand on Buck’s shoulder, but it did nothing to calm the nerves bouncing around in Buck’s stomach. “This is an old house, the door probably just got stuck when the walls settled.”
“That doesn’t explain how I was pushed, Bobby!” Buck cried, shoving the Captain’s hand off his shoulder. “I know what I felt!”
“And you also hit your head. How do you know you’re remembering correctly?” Bobby countered, not unkindly. “I’m going upstairs to try and contact dispatch.”
Tears sprang to Buck’s eyes as his gut twisted with dread. “Bobby, please. We’re more vulnerable if we split up.”
“I’ll be fine, Buck,” Bobby assured, giving Buck’s arm a squeeze before he started up the stairs. “I’ll be back soon. You guys keep trying to get the door open.”
Buck only hesitated for a moment. Before Eddie could stop him, Buck took off up the stairs after Bobby. “I’m not letting you go up there alone!”
The Captain paused near the top of the stairs, turning back to look at Buck over his shoulder with a raised brow and a fondly exasperated smile. “Fine, come on.”
Buck was only a few steps up the stairs when it happened. It was as if someone had shoved Bobby right in the center of his chest, sending him back with such force that there was never any chance for Bobby to catch himself. It took a second for Buck to realize Bobby was coming straight toward him, but he was too frozen in shock to move. Strong arms wrapped around Buck from behind and pushed him to the side, narrowly stopping the collision before it could happen. But Bobby continued to tumble, the sound of his body hitting each step on the way down embedding itself into Buck’s memory to become the score of all his future nightmares. As quickly as it started, it was over, Bobby landing on the floor with a sickening thud. Buck was pressed against the railing, Eddie’s arms on either side of him the only thing keeping him from falling as he looked down at Chimney and Hen rushing to their Captain.
“Oh my god…” Eddie gasped, voice trembling.
Bobby’s body was twisted in a nauseating, unnatural position on the hardwood floor, his head turned just a little more than it should be able to turn. Buck already knew, even before Hen pressed her fingers to Bobby’s twisted neck, but the look on her face shifting from terror to horror still tore Buck’s chest open and ripped out everything inside. Her mouth was set in a grim line as she met Chimney’s gaze, then Eddie’s. When her dark eyes finally locked with Buck’s, tears rolled down her cheeks.
“No,” he choked. It couldn’t be real. Maybe it was all a bad dream. Maybe he was still lying unconscious at the bottom of the attic stairs. Maybe he hadn’t even woken up that morning like he thought, and the whole day was one long dream-turned-nightmare. He slumped back against Eddie’s chest, which felt devastatingly real, as all of Buck's strength left him through a broken sob. Eddie guided him to sit on the step, holding Buck firmly to keep him from falling.
“His neck is broken,” Hen murmured, swiping the back of her hand under her eyes.
Pushing out of Eddie’s arms, Buck moved down the stairs carefully, fingers latched onto the bannister. He felt Eddie behind him the entire way down, staying close. In any other situation, it would have given Buck butterflies, but all Buck felt was crushing grief as he stared at Bobby’s lifeless body. As soon as Buck made it off the last step, his shaking legs gave out once again. Eddie grabbed him in time to guide him to the floor without hurting himself, but Buck barely registered it. The way Bobby’s head was twisted around was even more horrific up close, but it didn’t stop Buck from reaching out to lay a hand on Bobby’s chest. Where he should have felt a rhythmic thump and a gentle rise and fall, he felt nothing but stillness.
“How the hell did that happen?” Chimney asked softly, his voice breaking on the first word. “It almost looked like he was shoved.”
“It was the ghost.”
Eddie sighed. “Buck–”
“I’m serious!” he cried, turning enough to look back at Eddie behind him. “There is something in this house! And it wants us dead!”
His imploring gaze bounced between the three living members of his team. Chimney’s eyes were already red as he looked at Buck with pity. Hen at least seemed concerned, but Buck suspected it was more for his mental state than about the actual threat they were facing. Eddie was trying his best to regain his usual composure, but the sadness in his glassy eyes was deeper than the ocean.
“What if he's right?” asked Hen.
Buck's heart leapt.
“You actually believe him?” Eddie asked incredulously. “I'm sorry, Buck, but a ghost? Really?”
“We all saw it,” Hen countered. “Bobby practically flew off that top step. I’m not saying it was necessarily a ghost, but… that was pretty weird.”
Chimney sighed, digging his index finger and thumb into his eyes. When he lifted his head, he squared his shoulders, visibly shifting into Captain Han. “We have to get out of here. Hen, go see if there’s a back door. Eddie, Buck, you two take the dining room and living room. Try to get the windows open.” He pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll keep trying to reach dispatch and see if I can’t get the front door open.”
“Chim, we can't split up,” Buck insisted desperately. “When we split up the first time, I fell. Bobby tried to go off on his own, and…” he gestured helplessly to the body in front of him, swallowing the sob that threatened to come up.
“We don’t really have a choice here, Buck,” Chim pointed out, already turning his focus to the door. “We need to find a way out of here as soon as possible.”
Hen gave Buck a sympathetic shrug as she stood. “I’m sorry, Buck, but Chim’s right. Ghost or no ghost, we need to get the hell out of here.”
“Hen, please,” Buck begged, grabbing her hand as she passed him.
“I’ll be fine, Buckaroo,” she smiled sadly, pulling out of his grip and heading down the hall behind the stairs.
“Come on, Buck. You and I will stick together,” Eddie said, helping Buck to stand on legs that still felt like jello. “And not just because I'm concerned about your mental state.”
Buck’s eyes welled with sorrow and frustration, but he followed Eddie’s lead into the dining room. And though he was too overwhelmed by grief and fear to enjoy Eddie holding his hand, Buck still took much comfort from the contact.
The long mahogany table was gorgeous, even with a thick layer of dust on its top and in the details of its elegantly carved legs. Down the center of the table sat three brass vases that had surely gleamed once upon a time, but now were dull in the beam of Eddie’s flashlight. Through the floor to ceiling window at the end of the room, Buck could see their ambulance and fire truck still parked on the curb, turning the rain red with every flash. Being so close yet so far away from salvation was deeply upsetting, but only slightly more upsetting than Eddie letting go of Buck’s hand.
“Why don’t you believe me?” Buck asked, curling his arms around himself.
Eddie sighed, but didn’t turn away from his search for the lock on the window. “I don’t know what to believe, Buck. All I know is that Bobby is dead, we’re stuck inside a creepy ass house, and I just want us both to get home to Christopher.”
As soon as the words “Bobby is dead” hit his ears, nausea rolled through Buck’s stomach. He took a slow, deep breath to try and ease it, but it didn’t help. It still wasn't quite sinking in as reality, but it was true. It was just a fact, no matter how unfathomable it was. The sky was blue, fire trucks were heavy, and Bobby was dead. Buck leaned against the table heavily, his breath catching in his throat. Through blurred vision, he tried to focus on Eddie, tried to watch what he was doing as a way to calm himself. The last thing Buck needed at that moment was a panic attack.
After finding and releasing the lock on the window, Eddie curled his fingers under the lip and lifted. It didn't move. Letting it go, he flexed his fingers and tried again. He pulled, hard enough to let out a grunt of effort, but the window didn’t budge. Huffing in frustration, Eddie put his hands on his hips, glaring at the offending window. “Maybe it's nailed shut?”
Eyeing the brass vases beside him, Buck grabbed one, considering the weight of it in his hand. “This might work.”
Eddie turned to him with brows raised in question, a small smile tugging at his lip when he caught onto what Buck was suggesting. “Give it a shot.”
Once Eddie backed up to a safe distance, Buck wound up like he had countless times on the football field and threw the vase directly at the window. The relatively heavy brass clanked loudly against the glass and fell to the hardwood floor with a clatter. Where the vase had bounced off to, Buck wasn’t sure, because his eyes were stuck on the completely unmarked pane of glass still in the window.
“What the hell?” Eddie murmured, running his fingers over the glass in wonder.
Chimney's shout startled Buck, but it was the thud of a body hitting hardwood and the subsequent shattering crash that sent ice through his veins. His eyes barely met Eddie’s before they both took off across the dining room, skidding to a stop just outside the door. Buck’s stomach rolled, tears instantly blurring the edges of his vision once again.
The massive chandelier was now a crumpled heap in the center of the foyer. The crystal shards scattered across the floor caught the beam of Eddie’s flashlight, refracting into something that would be beautiful if not for the horror of Chimney lying beneath it, his unseeing eyes staring right at them. Blood pooled underneath his body, dozens of long crystal shards impaling Chimney's chest, limbs, and even the side of his neck. The way he was positioned in the center of the foyer, it was as if someone had pushed him away from the door and onto his back a second before the chandelier fell. Eddie carefully crouched beside their friend, searching for a pulse they both knew wasn’t there. After a moment Eddie blew out a sigh, bowing his head with a soft curse. Gently, he closed Chimney's eyes and stood, the shards of crystal crunching under his boots as he returned to Buck's side. Buck couldn’t tear his gaze away from the blood still dripping from the corner of Chim's mouth until Eddie stepped into his line of sight, grabbing his shoulders. He snapped out of it with a gasp, finally seeing Eddie’s face, and that’s where Buck found the emotions Eddie wasn’t outwardly expressing. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, even as they bore into Buck’s with a hard focus.
“We need to go get Hen,” Eddie said, giving Buck’s shoulders a squeeze before letting him go.
The mention of her made the realization hit Buck like a punch to the gut. “Why didn’t she come back when the chandelier crashed?”
The color drained from Eddie’s face. Grabbing Buck’s hand, he led them around the staircase where Hen had disappeared. At the end of the long hallway was an open door with only darkness beyond its threshold. Eddie led them into the room, his flashlight cutting through the shadows to illuminate what looked to be a sunroom. The far wall and the two adjacent to it were made entirely of windows, through which the overgrown backyard was illuminated with a flash of lighting. Four wooden lounge chairs were lined up across the length of the room, with white paint that was cracked and chipping away, and olive green cushions speckled with black mold. Judging by Hen’s med bag lying by the back wall, next to a small wooden table discarded on its side, it seemed that Hen had already tried to get out the same way he and Eddie had, and with the same amount of luck.
Buck pulled out his phone and switched on the light to look around, still gripping Eddie's hand for dear life. It was when he turned to his left that he saw it. At least seven feet up the wall, only a few feet from the door they'd just walked through, the wooden panels had been crushed in like a crater. Blood glistened on the splintered wood in the shape and size of a head, smeared like someone had slid down the wall. Buck's entire body tensed painfully as his flashlight beam trailed down the red smear, already knowing what he was about to see before the light landed on Hen sitting slumped against the wall. The amount of blood on the wall and glistening on the back of her head made it alarmingly obvious what had happened, but Eddie still rushed to her side. Buck stayed rooted to the floor, clutching the door frame to keep himself upright as he struggled to breathe through the horror and panic. Eddie’s fingers fell away from Hen’s neck covered in blood, and he looked up at Buck as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Closing his eyes against the tears only made more stream down Buck's face. He barely covered his mouth in time to muffle the broken wail that burst from his throat. Suddenly the door frame wasn’t enough to keep him upright, the weight of that much grief pushing down on him harder than gravity. He slid down the wall as sobs wracked his body, hard and painful, stealing the breath right out of his lungs. It felt like his chest was being crushed as he finally forced a gasp of air into his lungs, only for it to come right back out in a broken sob.
“Buck,” Eddie breathed, laying a careful hand on Buck’s shoulder. When he opened his eyes, Eddie was kneeling in front of him, tear tracks glistening down his face in the ambient glow of their flashlights. “We need to keep looking for a way out. Maybe one of the windows upstairs will open.”
“Don’t leave me,” Buck gasped, grabbing Eddie’s hand like a lifeline. “Please, Eddie.”
“I won’t.” With his free hand, Eddie gently cupped Buck’s cheek, thumb brushing his tears away. “We’ll stick together. Just like always.”
Buck leaned into the touch, nodding slightly. His family was broken beyond repair, but at least he still had Eddie. Buck wasn’t sure he’d have the strength to even stand if not for his best friend's solid presence and gentle hands.
Eddie started to lead them back down the hall, his fingers curled around Buck’s hand once again. Buck followed loyally, his mind racing through all the rooms he’d checked upstairs. The couple of bedrooms he’d been in had windows, as did that nasty mildewed bathroom. But then his mind flashed to another window he’d seen, one that they wouldn’t have to open. His gasp was enough to make Eddie pause and turn back to look at him.
“The attic.”
“What?”
“There was a broken window in the attic. It was missing a piece of glass. Maybe we can escape through there.”
Eddie gave him a soft smile. “You’re brilliant.”
Passing through the foyer had Buck’s stomach rolling once again as the coppery stench of Chimney’s blood permeated the air. As Buck squeezed Eddie’s hand, they carefully stepped past Bobby’s corpse to get to the stairs. In any other circumstance, holding Eddie’s hand as much as he had that night would have made Buck’s entire month. But in the face of the tragedy that had befallen their family that evening, all it did was comfort him. Knowing Eddie was still alive, still by his side, was all that was keeping Buck going.
When they reached the top, the door to the attic staircase was still open, and Eddie led the way to it. The second they were on the narrow staircase, the same chill from before ran down Buck’s spine. And if the shiver was anything to go by, Eddie felt it too. The other man looked back at Buck, and the silent question was plain in Eddie’s brown eyes. Was Buck okay? Hell no. If he were honest, Buck wasn’t sure he’d ever be okay again, but they had to do this. They had no other options if they wanted to get out of the house alive. And of course Eddie seemed to understand all of this without Buck having to say a word. With a nod confirming they were on the same page, they started up the stairs, Eddie clinging to the railing and both of them clinging to each other. When they got to the top, the attic was even creepier than Buck recalled. The clouds had parted, shining blueish beams of moonlight that passed through the barren trees outside. Their menacing shadows danced across the room with the howling wind, sending a shiver down Buck's spine. Eddie's flashlight flickered, just like Buck's had before, then went out completely. Confused, Eddie slapped the flashlight against his thigh, but the light stayed off.
“Look,” Buck said, tugging on Eddie's hand as he pointed to the window. The glass was still broken out of one pane, the other shattered, and hope flared within Buck.
With one last squeeze, Eddie released Buck's hand to get into position by the window. Turning away to protect his eyes, Eddie slammed his flashlight into the already broken pane with a loud crash, sending shards to the yard below as he cleared the frame. Buck watched anxiously as Eddie slowly stuck his head out the window, looking around below.
“Alright, there's a lattice about seven or eight feet down," Eddie said, turning back to Buck. "I’ll lower you down first, then I’ll follow.”
“What? No. You go first. What if that thing comes back for us, Eddie? I need you out of this house as soon as possible.”
“Then stop arguing with me and let me lower you down. The faster you go, the faster I follow.”
“I'm taller, I'll be able to get down on my own. You can't.”
“Oh my god,” Eddie huffed, rolling his eyes. “You're taller by two inches, Buck. Quit arguing with me and get out while you still can.”
At that point, Buck could no longer even feel the new tears when they welled up in his eyes, he could only see the blurriness. Eddie wasn’t going to back down, but Buck couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen to his best friend. “I can’t lose you too, Eddie.”
The tears in Eddie’s eyes caught the light of the moon. “And I can't lose you.”
Eddie was flung across the room so suddenly, it wasn’t until the crash of splintering wood that Buck tore his eyes away from where the other man had just been standing.
“EDDIE!”
He didn’t even register the pain of his already bruised knees hitting the wooden floor. The moonlight that stretched across the attic was dim, but the damage Buck could see was so horrific, it took every ounce of his strength not to break down screaming. Eddie had landed on the spare dining room chairs, his body shattering the wood on impact. Broken, splintered chair pieces stuck out from beneath him on all sides, but it was one piece in particular that stole Buck’s breath. Sticking straight out of Eddie’s right pectoral, a narrow chair leg glistened red in the moonlight. Eddie was opening and closing his mouth like he was struggling to find words or breath, most likely both, as he stared at the wood impaling him. He looked up at Buck with shock-widened eyes, frantically groping around with his left hand until he found Buck’s.
“B-Buck,” Eddie gasped.
“I’m here, Eddie. Just– just hang on, okay?” Buck whimpered, looking around frantically for something he could use to stabilize the wood. “I’m gonna get you out of here.”
Eddie shook his head with an unparalleled sadness in his eyes, squeezing Buck’s hand. “I-I’m not…” He swallowed thickly, which turned into a harsh cough. “You h–have to go.”
“I’m not leaving you behind!” Buck cried, all of the trauma from the night finally catching up to him and forcing the broken sob from his throat. “I can’t leave you.”
“Chris… needs you…”
“He needs you, too! I… I need you.”
Eddie smiled despite the tears falling from the corners of his glazed eyes, his teeth shining red. All Buck could do was sob as Eddie’s grip started to weaken.
“I’m sorry,” Eddie’s breath hitched. “I didn’t… t–tell you… sooner. I–I lo–”
Eddie’s breath caught again, his eyes going wide for just a second, before they rolled back into his head. As he released his last breath, his grip went slack, and Buck’s chest felt like it was being crushed by a ladder truck.
“No. No no no…” Buck wept, laying a hand against Eddie’s cheek, but his head just lulled to the side. An agonizing scream of anguish erupted from his throat. He doubled over, pressing his forehead to Eddie’s and clinging to his limp hand as he sobbed brokenly.
“You trespassed in my home.”
Buck’s breath caught in his throat. In any other situation, he would have thought the airy voice had just been the wind, but he knew better. The same chill he’d felt before ran down his spine. Slowly he sat up, turning toward the voice. The figure stood across the room from him, dressed in a tattered white gown, but he could see the window right through her body. Her hair was long and tangled, the blonde strands hanging limply on either side of her face. Her eyes were hollowed out, nothing but shadows, but still he could feel her staring straight at him. Buck’s grip on Eddie’s lifeless hand tightened, searching for that same reassurance and comfort Eddie had been giving him all night, but all it did was remind him that he was completely alone now.
“You must all be punished!” the woman screeched, and suddenly she was flying straight toward him.
Ducking down, Buck covered his head with his arms and squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact. But the impact never came. Hesitantly, Buck lifted his head, looking around the attic to find it completely empty. The demonic entity was gone. It didn't make sense, but frankly nothing had made sense that night.
With no idea if the ghost would return, Buck knew he needed to get out of there as fast as possible. Turning back to Eddie's body, Buck's heart lurched at the sight of him. His skin was still warm as Buck's fingers grazed Eddie's cheek, cradling his jaw tenderly. All he wanted to do was curl up beside Eddie and let the ghost take him as well, but he knew he couldn't do that. Christopher needed him, and damn it, that was why Eddie did it, wasn't it? Eddie didn’t just want Buck to take care of Christopher, he wanted Chris to take care of Buck. It made him love Eddie that much more. Pressing his lips to Eddie's cheek, his stomach rolled as the stench of blood tainted Eddie's comforting scent. With that, he pushed himself up on weak legs and went over to the window.
The only warning Buck got was the cool breeze on the back of his neck, and the goosebumps popping up across his skin. It felt like being hit by a car when the invisible pressure shoved him from the side. Suddenly Buck was weightless, flying straight toward the staircase. When his body collided with the steps, pain exploded throughout his body. But he didn't have enough time to acknowledge it before his head hit a step, and everything went black.
…
Buck’s eyes shot open, and confusion hit him harder than the ghost had. He was lying on the floor at the bottom of the attic stairs, his entire body throbbing. How did he survive falling down the stairs a second time?
When Hen leaned over him, concern written across her face, Buck’s heart practically leapt out of his chest. He was startled, yes, but most of all he was elated.
“You’re alive!” Buck gasped, sitting up so fast he barely felt the aches in his back.
“Whoa, Buck, calm down,” Hen soothed, grabbing his shoulders to try and push him back down. “You fell down the stairs. You need to lay still.”
“I’m fine,” Buck shook his head, pulling her into an awkwardly angled embrace. “I’m so happy to see you!”
“I'm happy to see you too, Buckaroo,” Hen chuckled, patting his back.
“What has gotten into you?” Chimney asked.
Buck's head snapped up to face the older man, blinking at him owlishly as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. Buck couldn't believe it. They both were alive. Immediately Buck let go of Hen and hopped up onto his knees, practically tackling Chimney in his eagerness to hug him.
“Whoa!” Chim gasped, stiffening for only a second before he hugged Buck back. “Okay. This is happening.”
After all he’d been through that night, Buck was more than a little tired of crying, but at least this time they were tears of dizzying relief and unbridled joy. He didn’t understand what the hell was going on, but Buck found he really didn’t care.
“This is all very sweet, but we need to get him to a hospital,” Bobby ordered, amusement clear in his voice.
Buck looked up at Bobby in surprise. The older man was looking down at him fondly, but Buck's shock must have been obvious on his face because Bobby's face quickly shifted to concern. But before Bobby could ask him what was wrong, Buck scrambled to his feet and threw his arms around Bobby’s neck, nearly knocking him over.
The older man chuckled softly, patting Buck’s back. When Bobby spoke, he kept his voice low enough for only Buck to hear. “I'm glad you're okay, Buck, but I think someone else needs a hug more than I do.”
When Buck pulled back from the embrace, Bobby nodded behind him. Buck's breath caught in his throat when he saw Eddie, who was watching him with a soft smile and glistening lashes. Suddenly Buck had the aching need to touch him, to know that Eddie was real and alive. In a flash Buck collided with him. Eddie let out a huff of surprise, but wasted no time wrapping his arms around Buck just as tightly as Buck clung to him.
“I heard you fall. When I saw you on the floor, I thought…” Eddie’s voice broke, but he didn’t try to hide it. He just nuzzled his face into Buck’s shoulder and squeezed him a little tighter. “Don’t scare me like that again.”
They held each other for a long moment before Buck pulled back to look at him. Buck's eyes fell from Eddie’s to his chest, right where the piece of a chair had been protruding what felt like only minutes ago. Gently, he placed his fingers over the spot. Against his palm he could feel Eddie's heartbeat, and all the tension bled right out of Buck. Eddie looked confused, but covered Buck’s hand with his own, squeezing his fingers. When Buck tore his eyes away from the spot, he found Eddie watching him intensely. Desire crackled in his veins, and he couldn't stop his eyes dipping down to Eddie’s lips for a fraction of a second. But it was enough to make Eddie’s eyes darken. He started to lean in, and Buck was pulled toward him like a magnet. Eddie's breath caressed his lips, and Buck's head spun.
The sound of Bobby pointedly clearing his throat shattered the moment, and Buck and Eddie sprang apart. Buck gave his Captain a shy smile, heat rising to his cheeks, as Eddie cleared his throat.
“If you two are finished,” Bobby said, not even trying to hide his grin. “We’d all like to get out of here.”
Hen and Chimney looked somewhere between confused and ecstatic, causing Buck’s flushed face to burn even brighter.
“Right. Sorry, Cap,” Eddie mumbled as he casually grabbed Buck’s hand.
Admittedly, going back down the stairs again was nerve wracking, but the care that Eddie showed Buck made it bearable. Eddie stayed glued to Buck's side, chastising him gently when Buck started to move a little too fast. But just like he did with Christopher, Eddie didn't make Buck feel incapable, just loved and protected.
As soon as the front door came into view, Buck’s stomach flipped, icey anxiety flooding his veins. Sensing the way Buck stiffened, Eddie shot him a concerned look, but Buck only shook his head. He wasn’t ready to talk about the dream he’d had, and he didn’t know if he ever would be. It wasn’t until Chim opened the door and walked out into the rain that Buck’s fear started to ease. But still, he clung to Eddie’s arm and kept moving, determined to make it out this time.
The second all five of them were past the threshold, it was like a lead weight was lifted off Buck’s chest. He could breathe again, and even some of his pain eased, but he still clung to Eddie’s hand as they made their way toward the awaiting trucks.
“In the ambulance, Buck,” Bobby called as he climbed into the Captain's seat of the engine.
“Oh, come on, Bobby,” Buck whined, unabashedly. “I’m fine, I swear.”
“Humor me,” Bobby smiled, but Buck could see the worry in the older man’s eyes.
Releasing a sigh, Buck nodded and started to pull away from Eddie to do as he was told. To Buck’s surprise, however, Eddie just held onto his hand tighter and walked with him to the ambulance. When Buck looked at Eddie in question, the other man simply shrugged.
“Someone has to make sure you cooperate with the doctor’s orders.”
Buck smiled. He didn’t need a babysitter, and Eddie knew that. But he definitely didn’t want to be alone, and Buck had a feeling Eddie knew that too.
“No making out in my ambulance,” Chimney ordered, pointing a scolding finger at them as he passed.
Buck huffed indignantly, half hoping Eddie might break that rule.
As Eddie opened the back doors of the ambulance, Buck couldn't help but look back at the house. His eyes were instantly drawn to the window above the front door, where he saw the silhouette of a woman with long, tangled hair. Buck's stomach swooped, his breath rushing from his lungs.
“Buck?”
Startled, Buck looked to Eddie, whose brow was pinched with worry.
“You okay?”
When Buck glanced back, the woman was gone. “Yeah,” Buck nodded, giving Eddie a smile he hoped was convincing. “Let's go.”
Eddie didn't look convinced, of course, but dropped it and helped Buck up into the ambulance. As soon as they were settled in the seats, Eddie unashamedly grabbed Buck's hand again, lacing their fingers together. Buck couldn't help but grin, his cheeks warming immediately. Hen gave them a soft look as she shut the back doors, slapping them twice, and the ambulance pulled away from the curb.