Chapter Text
Ghosts are spirits tethered to the mortal world by unfinished business or unresolved emotion. While countless souls pass peacefully into the afterlife, a small number remain bound to the earth, often in areas where the veil between life and death is unusually thin.
Visibility:
Only a limited group of individuals can perceive ghosts. Children are the most common among them, their perception dismissed by adults unable—or unwilling—to see what lies beyond the physical world. Occasionally, adults may also develop this sensitivity through trauma, near-death experiences, or extended proximity to spectral activity.
Classification by Cause of Death:
A ghost’s demeanor and early manifestations are heavily influenced by the manner of their death. There are four primary categories, corresponding closely to forensic classifications:
1. Homicide
2. Natural
3. Accidental
4. Suicide
Unlike forensic cases, there are no “undetermined” ghosts. Every spirit is acutely aware of how they died, even if they struggle to accept it.
Early Manifestation Period (First Three Weeks):
All newly formed ghosts exhibit heightened emotional and behavioral instability during their first three weeks of existence. Their actions and temperament during this time depend on their classification:
1. Homicide Victims
Behavior: Intense anger, screaming, violent outbursts.
Cause: Rage and injustice stemming from a life taken by another.
Notes: These spirits are unpredictable and may attack both living beings and other ghosts.
2. Natural Deaths
Behavior: Quiet mourning, subdued presence, low energy manifestation.
Cause: Awareness of life’s natural end.
Notes: Typically benign. They often fade quickly once they come to terms with their passing.
3. Accidental Deaths
Behavior: Confusion, denial, and repetition of daily routines.
Cause: Sudden or unexpected death.
Notes: These ghosts are often unaware they are dead. Discovery occurs when they realize they can no longer interact with physical objects.
4. Suicides
Behavior: Extreme emotional distress, crying, pleading, or expressions of rage.
Cause: Self-inflicted death, often coupled with regret or despair.
Notes: Among the most volatile types. Many do not stabilize after the initial three-week period and can remain trapped indefinitely in cycles of guilt, despair or anger.
Duration and Dissolution
Most who die never become ghosts. The conditions required—a thin boundary between realms and unresolved earthly attachment—are exceedingly rare.
Ghosts that persist longer than five years are considered permanent fixtures. After this time, they no longer show signs of fading and are effectively bound to their place of death or strongest emotional attachment.