Chapter Text
Beep! Beep! Beep! The alarm was swiftly shut off by Brightney, yawning as she sits up in bed. She rubs her eyes, reaching her arms out. She grabs her switch, pulling it down as her lightbulb lights up her dark room, shining her light on her messy room. Some bills and books (of course) scattered on her desk, a spilled cup of pens as well. Her own not so little bookcase of her favorite books, rug that needed to be vacuumed, and her closet decorated with pictures of her and her friends and such.
Brightney grabs her glasses from her bedside table, wiping some smudges with her pajama shirt then putting them on her lampshade. She blinks as she looks around her room, sighing before hopping out of her bed, hearing her back pop slightly as she stands. “Okay. First thing’s first on the to do list, tidy my room.” Brightney speaks to herself, already starting a list of things she wanted to do that day.
- Tidy room
- Get dressed
- Get breakfast with Tisha
- Set up the bookstore
It was pretty basic, but she didn’t have much to do today for once! It definitely felt weird to Brightney but she could always find a way to keep herself busy after all.
Her lamp tail lightly wags behind her, as she starts organizing her papers on her desk, collecting some that fell song the floor along with some pens and dropping them in a hand-painted mug that Toodles made for her. Brightney smiles at the memory, seeing Toodles so proud as she helped Rodger with some yard work.
She turns the mug to show the bright yellow smiley face, her smiling at the object in return. She sets the papers aside, neatly aligned with each other. Brightney opened the window in front of her desk, careful not to knock her monitor over. A nice warm breeze blowing into her room, summer was approaching quickly, when Brightney’s little hometown of Gardenview got many tourists. Busy season for her bookstore!
She glances at the rug, she could vacuum after she opened the store, grabbing a duster on top of her closet and dusting her bookshelf off. After a bit more tidying, Brightney was satisfied with the cleanliness of her room. She grabbed her phone, unlocking it and checking the time, 7:31… She threw her phone on her bed, searching her closet for what to wear today.
Brightney picks out a long sleeved shirt along with a sweater vest. She grabs a pair of flared jeans as well. Brightney quickly gets ready, grabbing a lightbulb shaped bag as she grabs her phone, house/shop keys, glass cleaning rag, and wallet. She opens her bedroom door to her small living room, just a TV over a fireplace with a couch and coffee table, along with her kitchen being attached to it as well.
She grabs her slip-on shoes off of the little rack she has, easily putting them on as she quickly clicks Tisha’s contact and letting her phone ring as she opens up her front door and walks down a flight of stairs.
Ring, ring, ring, click! “Good morning, Brights.” Tisha’s voice comes on the phone, a smile appearing on Brightney’s face as she goes through her “Staff Only” door.
“Good morning to you too as well, Tish!” She responds, walking out from behind the counter to check in and out books. “Breakfast at Shortcakes’ right?”
“Uh-huh! I’m almost ready to head over there, you’re closer to there though. Make sure to save a seat.” Tisha confirms, Brightney nodding along to Tisha’s words as she unlocks the true front door to her bookstore, locking it behind her again as she stuffs her keys in her bag.
“I will! I probably won’t get any food till you get there.” Brightney responds, already starting to walk over to the Shortcakes’ Dinner.
“Thanks for that! I’ll try to be as quick as a tidy up, see you soon!” A click is heard as Tisha hangs up the phone, Brightney pulling the device from her ear as she scrolls through social media, seeing mostly pictures of friends and such, the occasional book account posting a review.
Then before she knew it Brighttney could see the bright open sign of Shortcakes’. Turning off her phone and putting it in her pocket as she opens the doors. Some of the more elderly toons were already chit chatting about, the pleasing aroma of breakfast foods wafting throughout the place.
The host notices Brightney, going through the usual small talk before leading Brightney to a table. She sits down, thanking the host for a menu. She goes to look at her phone, seeing a photo of Tisha in her car popping up in their text chat, ‘coming over, get me coffee pls <3’ popping up soon after making Brightney chuckle.
It only takes a few minutes before the diner’s bell rings, a blue tissue box coming over and sitting across from Brightney. “Phew, sorry I was late. My car was a mess!”
“By mess you mean the usual fast food bags and occasional paper scattered around? Oh what a disaster! ” Brightnet jests.
Tisha lightly hits Brightney’s shoulder, rolling her eyes. “It was a mess to me, ‘kay?” She retorts, taking off her bag and setting it aside on the seats. Tisha grabs a menu, looking over it.
“You get a new thing every time we’re here. You haven’t found anything you’ve liked yet?” Brightney inquires, looking over her own menu.
Tisha shrugs, not looking up from hers, “I have, the veggie omelet here is the best thing easily.”
“Then why do you get something new?” Brightney asks again.
“Pfft, I love a routine as much as you do. You can’t be doing the exact same thing everyday.” Tisha chuckles, finally deciding on something and dropping the menu from her face.
“For your information, I don’t do the same thing everyday. Plus, a routine is nice! I know what’s going to happen or at least a basic outline. It’s comforting.” Brightney sets aside her own menu, not like she needed it.
Tisha just shrugs and smiles, the waiter coming by and taking the twos order, writing down the answers before walking off. “Hey, whatever makes you happy, Brights. But anyways, summer’s coming up. Ready for the busy season?”
“Ugh, tell me about it! I love that so many people want to visit my little bookshop, and I get a lot more donations at the time, but oh my sparks! The amount of people who think that they can just go back to their hometown with their books! I’m not government funded here? Hellooo? ” Tisha laughs as Brightney finishes her rant.
“Tell me about it. More people equals more idiots I have to clean up after, literally. ”
“Haha! Being a nurse is not for the weak.” Brightney adds on top. Tisha nodding in agreement. Their waiter then brings the two their drinks, Brightney some green tea and Tisha some coffee. Not black of course, too bitter.
The two thank the waitress before going back to chatting. Mostly about anything, which was surprising a lot when you’ve been friends since you were teens and living in a small town. The two’s food arrives after a while of talking, and start to eat, their chatter dying down a bit.
After some time, Tisha remembers something, quickly swallowing her food before asking, “Brights, have you heard of the rumors kids are spreading around?”
Brightney rolls her eyes from behind her glasses, “What is it this time? Last time some older kids convinced Toodles that aliens were going to snatch her up.” Brightney groans, moving her fork around her plate.
“Ugh, glad we were never like that but anyways,” Tisha waves her hand, leaning her arms on the table, “apparently some kids have been spreading some rumors of a cult? Something that worships the dead or some movie shit like that and can bring ghosts to life.”
Brightney just chuckles, “Oooh, how spooky. Ghosts though? Really, they couldn’t come up with anything better? Ghosts aren’t even real.” She states. Tisha just shrugs, taking a bite of her food.
“For someone who loves her horror stories, you’re quite dismissive of the supernatural.” Tisha says.
“Well I know that you don’t believe in stuff like that.” Brightney responds, “Other than like the full moon making people more reckless.” She adds with a giggle.
“It does! It’s like werewolves but for people who think they’re immortal.” Tisha groans, laughing as well.
The two eventually finish their breakfast and chatting, paying for their respective meals and walking out the door. “Let me drive you home, I know you're eager to get back to your to-do list.”
Brightney nods her head, rubbing the back of her neck, “We need to hang out less.” She jokes, following Tisha to her car. Tisha just shrugs in response, unlocking her car and entering it as Brightney does as well. Tisha starts the car, already backing out of her parking spot, “Ghosts though? Really? Have any of these kids seen these ‘ghosts’?” Brightney breaks the brief silence.
Tisha chuckles, “I don’t know. I don’t work with kids, the closest is Toodles but the rumor is mostly going around with the older kids.” Tisha says, driving along the early morning roads of the town of Gardenview. “You seem very fascinated by this for some toon who doesn’t believe in ghosts.” Tisha adds with a light smile.
“Just interesting. I mean, we used to make up and believe some weird rumors when we were kids. Not much for kids to talk about in this place.” Brightney explains, looking out the window of the car.
“Hmm, fair.” Tisha nods in agreement.
It didn’t take long at all for Tisha to drive to Brightney’s bookstore, stopping in front of the building. “Here’s your destination, see you soon!” Tisha waves goodbye as Brightney exits the car. She waves bye as well watching Tisha’s car drive away.
Brightney takes a deep breath, smiling as she unlocks the door and walking over to flip the little ‘Open/Closed’ sign to the open side of it. She quickly gets started, going behind the counter and sitting in her spinny chair as she logs into the little desktop checking all the checked out books so far. A few were overdue, as usual and to Brightney’s slight annoyance but nothing a quick email could fix or letter could fix. Still, she could be annoyed about that. How hard is it to just set a reminder the day before?
Brightney sighs, shrugging her shoulders. It was hard work basically running a mini library but she loved her job with all that she could! Work hard, play hard, right?
The day continues perfectly on schedule in Brightney’s head, the couple of regulars who just chat with her or check out a new book, the couple of donations, writing emails, reorganizing books, dusting shelves, etc, etc. It was the same thing mostly everyday, a simple routine that Brightney had down to a T. That’s when she hears the little chime of the door opening, “Welcome! I’m Brightney Fullinscent if you have any issues come over to-” The bell chimes again, Brightney turning her head from her computer screen to catch a glimpse of the figure that left so quickly.
“-me… Huh.” Brightney notices the new book in the donations. Just a drop off, not uncommon of course, most visitors did the same but not even a small hello.
Oh well, the more donations Brightney can get the better! She turns her head back around, peacefully going back to playing solitaire on her computer.
The day continued all the same, the sun finally setting across the town. Brightney was already closing up shop, sweeping the floors, vacuuming crumbs, making sure the bathroom is clean. Then the donations! Brightney’s favorite part of the day, seeing books of all kinds and sizes that other people wish to share when their enjoyment had its run. She grabs the little bag she uses to carry the books, makes it easier, books get heavy very quickly.
She looks at all the books that have been donated, only a few but it still meant a lot to Brightney. A children’s book here, romance novel, graphic novel, and…
A decently large black covered book with obvious fake and flaky gold detailing. Only one word was written on the cover, dark red almost like it was written in blood, “ ‘Occult’...” Brightney says to herself. No cover art, no author, well loved she could guess from the wear and tear just from the cover alone.
She picks the book up, it was pretty thick, definitely 200+ pages from what Brightney can tell. With her interest piqued she sets the book aside while she puts away the new books. It was a horror or at least a thriller novel for sure with the name “Occult” the cover helping prove that idea. Brightney swiftly gets done setting all the new-ish books in their place, going back over and carrying the strange novel . She opens the back door behind the counter going up the stairs and into her living room, slipping off her shoes and placing them on the small rack next to the door, along with hanging up her keys.
After getting changed into some comfy pjs and making a quick dinner. Brightney sits on her bed, the full moon shining through her window giving her enough light to read the book without many issues.
“If you wish to learn the dark secrets continue further, do not press further if you wish your mind be untainted…” Brightney mumbles, chuckling a bit, a dramatic writer this is going to be a fun read.
Brightney flips page after page, surprised by the number of errors in this book almost like it was written in a haste. She didn’t know if that was just a flaw of the book or if it was on purpose, either way it was always fun to laugh at what misspellings and grammatical mistakes managed to slip through an author’s writing.
That’s when she stopped on a page with a bunch of rituals, which she assumes, each having weird and frankly silly names. “Occult” was formatted strangely, nothing that Brightney had ever seen before. A ritual catches her eyes, tilting her lamp tail closer to the writing of it.
“In the moon’s light, you shall have the rite… Something, something. Presences near and afar will come for a job. Figures reveal, bow down to them, kneel…” Brightney mumbles, head resting on her hand while the other holds the book open.
A series of clatters is heard as Brightney feels her bed shake, only briefly though. She looks around the room making sure nothing fell, which nothing did. Must’ve been a shockwave from somewhere else, nothing out of the normal. Brightney turns her head back to the book, continuing reading.
“Floating ghastly things not meant to be seen, show themselves hoping to be freed… Hm, lots of rhyming in here. Wonder what this mysterious author is trying to get at.” She comments, shivering a bit. Did the air conditioning turn on? Brightney couldn’t hear the rackety thing going off, a gust of wind from her window grabs her attention.
“Shoot, forgot to close that.” Brightney realizes, putting a bookmark in the book before shutting it and putting it aside. She gets out of bed, footsteps padding against the wood. She reaches over her desk, shutting the window down with a small slam. The cold still persisted however, hell it even seemed colder!
“Ugh, I just need to check that air conditioner. Hopefully I don’t have to call a repairman.” Brightney groans turning around only to be met with… eyes? Standing in the shadows of her room, in front of her door, but as quickly as the thing was there, it was gone in a blink.
Brightney blinks more, taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes, “Huh, I’m not even that tired yet. A trick of my light I suppose.” Brightney explains to herself, rubbing whatever smudges there may be on her glasses before putting them on her face.
The eyes are right in front of her.
“Boo.”