Chapter Text
Alice Harlowe has never had an easy life. She was thrown around different foster homes from the age of three after being taken away from her biological parents. School was never a kind place for her, she was too different even for the "weird" kids, an outcast among all peers. The isolation had followed her everywhere she went, including when she left for university on a full scholarship. But with the isolation, came something else. Something that hid in the shadows of her life, in the places where she couldn't reach. It only got worse as she got older. She had noticed it around the age of eight, something that seemed to watch her. Back then she believed it was a guardian, now it was only causing problems.
Whether she was being haunted, she didn't know. But what she did know that whatever this thing was, it was there. And it was real. Alice had heard of the Warrens when she had reached her teen years, their investigations had intrigued her, and she had followed them ever since. If this thing was paranormal; they were the one who could help her. However, the Warrens were retired now and were no longer taking any cases. With a lack of religion, she felt like she couldn't ask the church for any help. So, she learned to live with it. Only that proved to be easier said than done. Whatever it was craved her attention and did anything to get it. Most days, she couldn't leave the house which threatened her scholarship with every day she missed. She found herself falling behind in her classes too, falling asleep during lectures, poor memory, low ability to function. It was a struggle to live. She felt completely helpless.
That was, until, the Warrens were going to lecture at her university. Despite their retirement, they were still presenting on the paranormal. For the first time in what felt like forever, Alice felt relieved. If she could get some questions answered, then maybe she could handle this herself. That morning, she fought to leave her dorm as hard as she could. The freedom was rewarding. She walked to the lecture hall with her head held high, feeling more capable than she ever had before. There wasn't many people in the lecture, a few small groups were scattered around the room but that was all. Apart from one girl with dark brown hair and the sweetest eyes Alice had ever seen who was sat at the back by herself. Alice smiled at her as she walked past before taking a seat at the very front.
The entire lecture amazed her, to the point where she made notes and she never did that. She found herself listening to every word that they said, taking all of it to heart. It hadn't occurred to her how much she liked this stuff, well not the fact it was happening to her but hearing about it was amazing. As the lecture came to an end, the Warrens asked for questions. A few people raised their hands, but many asked simple questions about some of the cases the Warrens had worked on. After a few questions and answers, Alice worked up the courage to raise her hand.
When chosen, she took a moment before asking. "Can spirits manifest because of trauma?" Most of the people in the room turned to look at her which made her shrink back in her seat slightly.
Ed Warren perked up at her question, straightening his posture as he answers. "It depends on how the trauma effects the person and the spirit. Usually, the spirit is already present, and the vulnerability of that person can encourage it to show itself. But in a way, yes, I suppose it is possible.
Lorraine Warren nodded along with her husband's answer, but her expression said something that Alice didn't quite understand. The woman seemed to be looking at her, then behind her, then back at her. Alice ignored it, hoping it wasn't anything serious before raising her hand again.
"Does a spirit have to be attached to a place? Or can it be attached to the person?" She asked when being called upon again.
This time, it was Lorraine who answered. "A spirit doesn't have to be attached to a place; they usually are but not always. They can attach to a person if they feel a connection or if the person is willing. Once that person has that attachment, it is difficult to get rid of it, but it is possible. We've seen and done it many times before."
Alice raises her hand again, she had too many questions, all of them needed some sort of answer if she had any sort of chance. "Can spirits take on an identity? For example, a child's imaginary friend?"
Ed and Lorraine shared a look with each other, a silent conversation going on between them. "Why don't we let everyone else go and you can come down and we'll answer any questions you have?" Ed answered calmly.
"Oh-" Alice felt a wave of panic hit her, she grabs her bag and stands up. "Um... T-Thank you for the offer, but it's not anything of importance. Thank you for your time." Quickly, she climbed up the stairs and left the lecture hall, passing the girl with the sweet eyes on her way out.
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Judy Warren had tried to focus on her parents' lecture, but her mind was on something else. Someone else. The girl with the red hair at the front to be exact. There was something about her that just seemed so... Familiar. Like Judy had seen her before, but many times rather than only passing her in the street once. A silent connection was threaded between them, and she couldn't remember why it was there or how it got there.
When the girl had passed and smiled politely, Judy noticed that it hadn't quite reached her eyes. The room had become colder when the girl had walked in, noticeable to the point where it sent a shiver down Judy's spine. Something wasn't right. She could sense it, and, after sharing a quick glance, she knew her mother had noticed it too. For the entirety of the lecture, she kept her eyes on the girl at the front, trying to figure out what was going on. It was as if there was a second presence with her, one that seemed to loom over her disguised as a shadow. It hid itself well, which is what concerned her the most.
The girl's questions had only been conformation of Judy's judgement, her urgency to leave even more. The darkness shifted around her as she passed again, doing something that Judy had never seen before. It was protective, possessive. This prompted another look between Judy and her mother. Lorraine gave her a small nod, everything being said with a few moments of eye contact. Quickly, Judy slid out of her seat and pushed her way out of the lecture hall's heavy door to go after the red-haired girl.
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Alice leant against the wall outside of the lecture hall, pulling out a rolled cigarette and her lighter. She absolutely hated smoking, she always had, but it was the only thing that had ever worked for her to relax. Carefully, she lit the end of her cigarette and took a drag, letting out a long breath to expel the smoke from her lungs. Her questions needed answers, but how was she supposed to ask them in a way that didn't ask for help? Why did these things always happen to her? Why-
"Hello." A soft voice interrupted her thoughts, making her turns to see who it came from. Alice was surprised to see the girl with sweet eyes looking back at her.
"Hello." She responded, not knowing why she was talking to her.
The smiled at her answer, seeming somewhat relieved. "You had some good questions in there, why didn't you take the offer to stay and ask them?" The girl's head tilted a fraction to the right in curiosity.
"I- Um..." Alice wasn't sure how to answer. She brought the cigarette back up to her lips as she thought. "I don't know. They're just- Random questions, I'm just curious about that sort of thing. I wouldn't want to bore them with my hundreds of questions." Satisfied with her own answer, Alice took another drag from her cigarette.
The girl nodded slowly, brows furrowing slightly. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind; it is their job after all. Plus, I'm sure they'd love to answer any question you had... Smoking isn't good for you, y'know? They proved that a while ago."
"You never know, they might hate questions." Alice laughs to herself quietly. "I know, I don't do it often. Only every now and then. Want one?"
"No, thank you. For any reason? Stress maybe?"
"Sometimes, yeah. Nothing much though. Like I said, I don't do it a lot so I'm okay. I appreciate the concern."
The girl with sweet eyes looked at her for a long moment, doing what Alice could only describe as analysing her. "Those questions are about something going on with you, aren't they?"
"What? No. Of course they're not." Alice shifted on her feet uncomfortably.
"They are. I know they are." The girl didn't take her eyes off of her. "Why don't you want to ask?"
Alice sighed. "Because It's not going to change anything."
"They'll help. They always help those who need it."
"My problem seems to be a bit different. I wouldn't expect you to understand." Alice glanced at the end of her cigarette, noticing that it was burning too far down. With another sigh, she puts it out.
The girl with sweet eyes watched her put it out, her posture straightening at Alice's comment. "What's your name?"
"Alice... Alice Harlowe." She looks at the girl again, slight confusion clear on her face. "And you are?"
"Judy, Judy Warren." Judy smiled, holding her hand out for Alice to shake.
"W- Warren?" Alice's face seemed to go through the five stages of grief within ten seconds. She briefly looks at Judy's hand but doesn't reciprocate the gesture. "I'm sorry. I can't shake your hand... And I apologise for anything and everything I have said."
"Why can't you?" Judy's hand returns to her side, her expression still soft.
"It's dangerous. For you at least." Alice shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"Dangerous? How are you dangerous?"
"It's not me it's... I can't talk about it right now." Her tone shifts to something of annoyance, but not towards Judy.
"When can you talk about it?" Judy's voice remained gentle, her sweet eyes not showing anything but concern.
"I don't know." Hating her own bluntness, Alice pushed off of the wall and stood up straight, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I should get going. It was nice talking to you, and it really was an amazing lecture on your parents' part so all good feedback." She laughs awkwardly, stepping away.
"Wait, please." Judy grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from her back and scribbled something down on the paper. "Here. Come talk about it tomorrow. To me, my parents, all of us. Please." She held out the piece of paper for Alice to take.
Hesitantly, Alice took the piece of paper. "I'm not making any promises."
"Please? Just think about it at least." Judy pleaded. "We can help."
"I promise I will think about it. It's nice to meet you, Judy." Alice pocketed the piece of paper, her eyes meeting Judy's.
"The pleasure is all mine, Alice."