To Witness a Ghostly Dance.
The haunted, the all seeing and the dead in spirit. Three teenagers in a town, town full of secrets, town full of dead girls. They wants them both, they want them too. Nothing and perfection are after a medium, the medium may be a death and a saviour to them both.
Words: approximately 5032
Cws: Spoilers for Gluttony Gods and stories connected to Gluttony Gods, ghosts, mentions of deaths, suicide, this was commissioned! creative liberty towards witchcraft and medium kind of
You were on a plane, a twelve hour long flight ahead of you. You were wondering how you’ve got to this point, leaving the comfort of your past life behind, leaving for a small town waiting for its end, for an apocalypse to make it holy and deserving of tears. Then you look at the boy next to you, the boy self-made, dug his way out of a girl shell, painted himself after the devil and taunted towns with his sin and decay.
You still remembered the day his rot invaded your life.
You were at school, a sad place full of people who wore ‘normal’ like a badge of honour and wanted to burn you on a stake like the witches from Salem. Being known as the weird one, the medium doing witchcraft and persuading the gothic lifestyle, it was like a death sentence for your social life and reputation. Not like you cared. You didn’t.
Your life was nice. Cards and spirit, fire and pendulums, spells and prayers. You loved it. Loved the ghosts you’ve seen and worked with, performing witchcraft was like playing with barbies for you, you did it since you were a small child and it never left you, it only grew stronger.
You didn’t need those ordinary people as your friends. They were empty, cared too much about how they're seen, talked about money, power and glory, nothing else mattered. They called you names, pointed at you and laughed, yet at the end of the day the most popular girls would come to you and ask for a love reading, the jocks would ask about their sports career. You should turn them back, tell them to fuck off, but digging out their secrets was far too exciting, if only you had someone who’d laugh at them with you.
And that’s when the apotheosis came into your life.
He and his decay. He and his boyishness found underneath a girl’s skin. Ronin Beaufort. Beaufort as in the devil’s heir, or that’s how he introduced himself to you. At first you didn’t care, another emo guy who’d turn into one of the others after a week. Or so you thought, The lack of interest left you the moment you saw the hoard of ghosts surrounding him.
Men with twisted necks, priests with broken limbs and crushed heads. Gore in spirit. Gore in murder. And he was the artist, proud of the work, proud of being a creator.
“I challenged God y’know.” He told you once, when you two sat in his father’s truck, you shuffled your cards while he smoked a cigarette. “I kill what He’s made, I turn somethings into nothings I bring ruin to what He created.” You stopped shuffling then, looked at him and laughed. Laughed at how amusing it was to you, a boy made into the devil. Boy made into a devil he’s not. He’d raise his eyebrow and ask why you’re laughing. “It’s ‘cause you’re more of a saint than you are a devil.” Your response was.
Another time, this time back at your house, in your room, on your bed. He was laying on his back and you were trying to communicate with a ghost, a spirit you didn’t know and wondered why it followed you.
“Hey.” He said, black irises looking at you like the void tried to consume you.
“What?” You asked, stopping the ghost seance. It won’t work if you’ve already broken it.
“Do me a reading, woudja?” A question you didn’t expect. He never cared about your witchery, he was only ever curious about the ghosts, the secrets you hid.
“Whatdya wanna know, Beaufort?” You asked, getting up and moving to your altar, a table with all your witchcraft and whatnot stuff placed on it. The only part of your room that wasn’t a mess, untouched by spirits, kept in an order by you. You picked up the cards, Marigold’s deck, mysterious and dark, for some hard to read. Just like the one who asked for the reading.
You sat on the floor, pat the spot in front of you. Ronin joined you, sitting cross-legged with his arms behind him. “How is my… ol’ friend doin’?” He said, with a hesitation in his voice when he said ‘friend’, there was something hidden deep in his heart. You didn’t ask.
“That friend’s name. I need it.”
“Oh.” He said, the confusion disappearing from his face. “Ther. Their name is Ther.” The way he said it sounded like he wanted to explain to the world what their name was, like the whole universe was calling them by a wrong name.
And maybe it was the truth.
You shuffled the cards. Three fell out. You placed them in front of you and slowly turned them around. Three black cards, white and gold details making for the only colours showing on the cards. The figures on them are skeletons, skulls and flowery details.
“What?” He asked, curious.
“Your friend’s doing bad.” You grabbed the first card and turned it around so he’d see better. “Nine of swords.” There were indeed nine swords on the card and a skull’s jaw, five of these swords with their blades turned towards the bone like they’re about to cut into it. “Mental and emotional turmoil, sleepless nights and anxiety. They’re stressed heavily about something.” You didn’t look at him, turning around another card. “Hermit reversed.” A figure sitting on a rock, wearing a tunic. The skeleton held a lantern in its hand. “They feel lonely and isolated, they either don’t have friends or the people around them are fake.”
You smiled at the last one after you turned it around for him. “The devil, huh?” He picked it up and looked at the image of two skeletons, one with a fake areola over its head and a snake around its neck making its way to the other skeleton to choke it. They were holding hands, as if they just signed off a perfect deal.
“Thinking it’s about you? Nah. They feel trapped, stuck in the life they need to lead. Maybe even deceived or forced.” You took the card from him and collected the rest two, putting them back into the deck.
Ronin was deep in thought. “‘s weird.”
“How well it read them. Lonely, trapped and anxious. Just like the Estridge I know.” He sighed. “Good job, darl.”
The devil’s ‘friend’, but Angelwood’s spirits told you the angsty love story already. Ther’s the lover, his lover.
But this person… this girl who looked at you wasn’t Ther. It was Ethereality, the Estridge’s girl, walking perfection, future prom queen.
“She’s dead.” You said. The first words to leave your mouth after Ronin introduced you.
Ethereality furrowed her eyebrows, her blue eyes digging into you with confusion and a bit of jealousy. Jealousy that you were next to Ronin and they didn’t know how close you were with him. “What?” They asked, tone cold and irritated.
You looked at Ronin, he wasn’t looking at you, his eyes locked on Ther, he didn’t have to be a medium to see what you saw.
“You’re dead. Dead in spirit, only a walking body, like a doll. Pretty, still empty.” You took a few steps forward, standing at Estridge’s side. “Soon, even your body will be dead. A pretty corpse, with broken ribs and a corset sliced through the skin.” You whispered. They didn’t want Ronin to know and you respected that decision.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” They tried to be sweet, like the kind, well behaved girl they were supposed to be.
You still saw through it, saw the shock, the fear. They know. Oh god they fucking know.
Your next encounter with Estridge wasn’t too far from your first one, it was just you and her. Ronin was nowhere to be seen, leaving you there with them, like it’s a trial to see if you can see them as well as he can. And, of course, you can.
“I see you took off the corset.” You said, eyeing them up and down, your gaze lingering on their waist.
Ther didn’t reply at first. They pretended that you don’t exist. Like you’re the wind, blowing somewhere in the background and just imitating a person’s voice.
But you were real. And that got on their nerves. You and your mystery. You were like the night sky, full of stars, each one shining brighter than the other. You were the galaxy, the galaxy with a new moon, moon that was nothing, nothing like an everything-devouring black hole. Next to the moon there was something missing, something to light up the sky and create day. Something like the sun, burning brightly enraged, Angry at what the world tried to make it be.
“What do you even want from me?” They asked, not looking at you. It’s like looking at you alone would curse them, make them fall, set their perfect wax wings on fire.
“Nothin’. I want nothing.” You replied and reached inside your bag, taking out a necklace, wax on the pendant, keeping it close. You handed it to them. “Take it.”
“Why?” They asked, yet they still reached out for it, feeling a connection.
“It’s a spell, will make your spirit stronger.” When they raised an eyebrow you chuckled. “It’s s’posed to keep you healthy, a friend asked me to make it. He’s worried y’know…” You trailed off.
Ther scoffed and squeezed the necklace in their hand. “Ro… Beaufort’s not my friend. He’s a nobody.”
“Yet you can’t help your obsession with him.” You leaned closer to their ear. “And now I’m your new obsession too.”
They hated the way they wanted to know you, the interest they felt towards you. She shouldn’t feel that way, she has Craig. Her beloved abuser boyfriend.Yet, they couldn’t help themselves. You were everywhere around, alone or with Ronin, you looked at them deep in thought, then you’d bring them a new necklace, a stone, magic-somethings that were supposed to make them healthier.
And for some reason they did feel better.
Maybe it was Ronin barging into their life, killing Etherality for them, maybe it was you seeing and caring. Maybe it was both.
“Why did you even come here?” They asked once. You three were in the Cradle, Ronin was standing close to the swings, smoking a cigarette he stole. You two and Ther were sitting on the swings.
You turned to look at them and smiled. “What if I said it was ‘cause of you?” You asked, your head tilted to the side, you wanted to see their reaction.
“Bullshit. You came here because of Ro.”
Ronin laughed at their words, finding them amusing. He knew the true reason after all.
“Your idea is, princess. ‘s not why they came here.” He let the burned cigarette fall to the ground and then stepped over it. “But I’ll let the witchy psychic do the talking.”
“Oh thank you for your generosity.” You rolled your eyes. “I didn’t lie, you’re the reason, or a part of it.” You looked up, the moon hidden behind the clouds, like it didn’t want to even look at Angelwood.
“Prom Queen curse and dancing ghosts.” You said simply. “I wanted to see what the deal was. Ro here told me about Ridge Grave and how you can see ghosts dance around the stone angel when the moon is in a perfect position… I want to see it.” There was fire burning in your eyes. A yearning for mystery. You could be interested in Ronin, even a little in love with him when he first appeared in your life, but if it wasn’t for the secrets of Angelwood you would never go with him. Love wasn’t worth leaving a whole life behind in your morale, but ghosts and curses? Oh, you would go to the other side of the globe just to see that damn dance with your own eyes.
“So… you came here because of a curse?” Ther asked, their eyes widened in shock. It sounded so absurd to them.
“Fucked ain’t it?” Ronin stood by their side, using their head as an armrest. “If I knew it’s all it would take I would get ‘em to come here way faster.” He chuckled.
“And what about it connects to me?” They raised an eyebrow.
“You’re close to your crowning Estridge, the curse would apply to you too.” You flicked their forehead. “I thought you were the smartest one here.”
They bite their lower lip. “You believe in that curse?”
“Tch, is that even a question? I’m into witchcraft and ghosts, whatdya think?” You cackled. “What? Scared you’ll die? Or maybe that’s what you’re hoping for?” You looked them in the eyes, like you wanted to read their mind through the deep blue.
“Didn’t you say that I’m dead already?”
“I said you’re dead in spirit and almost in body. I never said which you tho.” You didn’t finish the sentence, leaving it up to Ther to realise what you meant.
You three stood in the bathrooms, or rather, you and Ronin were standing. Ther was kneeling in front of the toilet, you held their hair. Craig shit talked you and Ronin again, tried to teach Ethy a lesson for talking to you two. You and Ronin stepped in, you said seven random words in Latin while Ronin did the typical shooting a finger gun straight into the jock’s forehead. Being the Angelwood’s Lucifer and Lilith in the making was enough to scare off Estridge’s perfect husband-to-be and get him to back off.
No matter how hard you tried, Ther still ended up running off to the damned bathrooms.
“I can’t take it anymore.” They said, half laughing half sobbing. “Leave me alone, let me be happy.” You and Ronin winced, their words hurt even if you both knew that they weren't their true thoughts.
“And leave you here to rot? Nah. I’d rather set this damn town on fire and burn with it.” Ronin replied, sliding down on the wall to sit in front of them. “We know that you’re not happy, you’ve killed your pride already, don’t kill yourself.”
“It’s better to die than live like this.” They practically spitted out the words.
“Then die.” You said. Both of them raising their heads to look at you.
You smiled like you were about to say the sweetest thing ever. “Kill Ethereality. She’s already on her last breaths. Kill her and become Ther. Embrace death like it’s your new beginning.” You were holding something in your hand, it was a pink box, with bows and pretty lace.
“Ya just keep the most random shit in your bag.” Ronin said, amazed.
“It's practical.” You shrugged.
You gave the box to Ther, watched as they turned the box around in their hands. They opened it, expecting something to be inside, but it was empty.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s for Ethy’s memorial. Put all the things most connected to her. We’ll give her a proper goodbye. Ridge Grave will have its new dead prom queen and you’ll have your new beginning.”
And with that you left, letting the childhood lovebirds do their thing and Ther think more about the funeral for the girl who they were forced to live as. You expected what choices they’d make.
After all, your cards were usually right.
A full moon graced Angelwood with its presence, even dared to look down at the town, letting it bask in its light before its upcoming apocalypse… if there was one to come that is.
You were putting on your protective charms, you didn’t know what entities were in the cemetery and getting a corrupted ghost, or even a demon - which would be quite ironic, wasn’t really in your plans for the night. All you wanted was to show Ther and Ronin your world, allow them to taste spirituality, maybe even fall in love with it as much as you loved it.
Loving ghosts… that’s certainly something.
At least you could be proud of being another walking tragedy stepping on the holy grounds.
“Ready?” You asked the two standing in front of you.
Ronin was looking as nonchalant as ever, black holes locked onto you, then looking down at the bracelets in your hands. “Awh, worried we’ll meet demons?” He asks and takes one from you, the black and red one, with a small skull made of bone.
“More or less, no one knows what those spirits are. I’d rather not have to perform a do-it-yourself exorcism and cleansing ritual in the middle of a graveyard.” You shrugged and gave the second charm to Ther. Beautiful bracelet with pink, blue and purple beads and a lily made of bone.
They put it on and look at the flower closely. “I didn’t know you were into arts and crafts.”
You smirked proudly. “You’ve yet to know me, Estridge.” You looked down at your own bracelet, one in your favourite colours with a bat, also carved from bone. “C’mon. I want to see the dancing prom queens in their ghostly catastrophe.” You took their hands and pulled them to follow you.
You didn’t know where Ridge Grave was, or at least that’s what Ronin and Ther thought. They were caught off guard when you took the lead and actually were going the correct path and the graveyard wasn’t any close to the town, it was far away like they tried to hide it.
In reality the only reason why you took the correct path was because of the ghosts, you felt their energy and it led you, you saw them in front of you, showing you the way, inviting you to their place of rest like you’re a long awaited guest.
And maybe to them you were. After all, ghosts didn’t bend to time, they could know you already even if for you it would be the first meeting with them.
“One more street and you’ll arrive.”
They whispered to you. Their voices came from all around you and you just followed their words. Spirits were always your guides and almost never did they betray you, almost because you’ve met a few unfriendly individuals over the years.
“And we’ve arrived.” You announced.
In front of you was a graveyard made of neat rows of graves piled by the walls, a stone angel in the middle of this all, her hands clasped together like she was in an eternal prayer for all of those who rest in this land.
Ridge Grave was more than just neatly placed graves and a stone figure in the middle of it. It had secrets. Ghosts of girls who killed themselves after meeting the boys of Angelwood, pictures of the saints on their graves “May the Holy Father forgive you for your sin” engraved into the marble plate, right under their names. Graves for kids who just wanted to be themselves, graves for kids who loved who they wanted and never hurt anyone
Graves for kids who were hurt by Angelwood for not being perfect.
Whimpering ghosts, upset ghosts, happy ghosts. That’s what most graveyards you’ve seen were surrounded by. This one? This was just overflowing with sadness.
Ronin inhaled like he had arrived back home. “Ah, Ridge Grave, how I missed you.” He giggled, twisted and rough.
“Missing the place of your burial?” You raised an eyebrow.
“I did return from the dead, sweetheart.” He said to you.
Ther sighed. “You and your second coming.”
“Soon you’ll have yours too.” You ruffled Ther’s hair, earning an outraged “ugh” in response.
You three bantered for a little more, obviously flirting… using death as a love reference. Each to their own how your family used to say.
A weird energy started to gather around the stone angel, it wasn’t corrupted or malicious like the negative entities you’ve met before. This energy was just confusing. It felt like electricity caressing your skin whenever you outstretched your hand towards it. It was warm too, warm in a human-warm way. You were lost there, but you didn’t have time to think.
“What?” Ther and Ronin asked.
“We have to hide. Come on!”
You three ended up hiding behind one of the crypt’s, ironic as it could be, it was the Estridge’s crypt.
“Good hiding spot, darl.” Ronin whispered and you elbowed him.
“Shh.” You silenced him before he could say anything more and focused on looking at the energy.
It started to change, swish around and form into something else. Something more human. Something more girl-shaped.
Four girls. For girls in long dresses, prom crowns on their heads, holes in place for their hearts. There was mist around them and only them. They were swaying their hands, turning around, singing a sad song, the wind their melody. They held hands and circled around the angel. Tears ran down their faces, then they giggled sweetly like it was the happiest moment in their existence.
You were looking at it breathlessly. Something was pulling you towards them, like a siren’s call, dangerous yet so tempting. You couldn’t take your eyes off of them, watching them dance so effortlessly and freely around their god.
“Oh shit. They’re real.” Ther whispered.
They and Ronin held your hands so it wasn’t so shocking that they too could see the scene unfold. You were like a connection between them and the spiritual world, they could see every ghost and figure haunting the nearest area. They could hear the sad song.
They could have a taste of your life.
“They’re… beautiful…” You said.
You were about to approach them, disturb the dance or maybe join it. You felt connected to them. You wanted to be with them.
But Ronin pulled you back, you tried to push him away, but only ended up making yourself and him fall to the ground. You heard him grunt after your head hit his chest.
That’s when you returned to reality.
The energy vanished, no more singing, no more mist. Just the ordinary sad ghosts of loving kids and broken girls around you. You looked around, looking for any trace of the dancing girls, but there was nothing, not even in the alley made especially for them.
“I guess it’s all from the dance huh.” You murmured.
“Yeah. Maybe you’d be kind enough to let me stand up darlin’, unless ya want to cuddle up on the grass with me.” Ronin’s voice came from under you and you quickly got up.
“Sorry, sorry, You’re really good as a pillow, y’know that Beaufort?”
“Yeah, yeah, Estridge already proved that to me.”
He took your hand and you helped him up. For some time none of you spoke up, lost in their own heads with their own thoughts.
“So. How was it?” You asked, looking at them with your arms folded over your chest.
“What was what?” Asked Ther.
“Seeing ghosts, seeing my world, or at least a piece of it.”
You looked at them expectedly, wanting to hear their thoughts, know their reactions and opinions. If you wanted to keep them in your life, you needed them to accept your life, the ghosts and the spells.
The first one to answer was Ronin.
“It was… strangely beautiful. I’ve always heard ghosts, and ya know it best, witchy. But this? This was a whole different layer of fucked up. Seeing ghosts, seeing the queens dance and sing. It was like the most grotesque shit in my life.” You saw excitement in his eyes. Hunger even.
Beaufort wanted to explore everything new to him. His hunger for the unknown was stronger than the one for murder. So it wasn’t a surprise to see him be so invested in the ghosts and spirits, they were a complete mystery to him.
Ther was quiet for a while longer, looking at the bracelet on their wrist and then giggling. “Oh, so that’s what I can become? A sad ghost dancing in Angelwood forever?” Their laughter turned to a more twisted note. “Ah, how fucking funny.” They walked up to you, cupped your cheek with their hand and smiled. “Thank you for showing me this… They were amazing and seeing them was eye opening in a way. Your world. It’s so fascinatingly weird. Just like you.” They smiled and you felt your cheeks heating up.
“Anything for you, Estridge dear.” You answered. “I’m really happy you two liked my world so much. I’ll be sure to show you more of it soon.” You said. A promise for a future together. A promise for a life together. In body and soul.
The night of prom came. You all were in your own respective houses, doing your own things.
Ther was getting ready, the pink box in their bag, sealed with wax just like you asked them. The girl in their mirror was perfect, or that’s what their parents told them, but they couldn’t bear to look at their reflection. Feeling like they’ll turn into stone.
Ronin was smoking a cigarette outside of the house, waiting for you to come out. For this occasion he even wore a suit, after all it was Estridge’s funeral day, she deserved the best attire from the witnesses of her last hours.
You were getting ready, packed the most important stuff into your bag - you would leave Angelwood for good after this. Ronin stole someone’s car after you announced that you’re not leaving everything you arrived with behind. You’re the only one with no deep connection to Angelwood, your things don’t belong in there anyway.
“Ready for the last ball, witchy?” Ronin asked after you left the house, dressed in your best clothes. Someone has to lead Ethereality’s funeral ceremony. And that someone can as well be you.
“Yeah, it should be the last of my things.” You said, putting the last of your bags into the truck. “It’s sad, you two will have to share my clothes for a while, at least til we’re with my fam.” You called your parents beforehand, announcing your return with two teenagers in need of a roof above their heads. Your parents, already used to the weirdest things happening in their life, after all you’ve got to get the witchcraft and spirits from somewhere, agreed to let Ronin and Ther stay with you.
The prom has finished, Ethy won, Craig … there’s no reason to discuss the dead anyway.
You three came back to Ridge Grave, the car parked right outside of it. With bloodied hands, Ronin took the shovel from the truck and tossed it over his shoulder.
“C’mon, we’ve got a prom queen to bury.” He said and started to walk to the entrance.
You looked back at Ther, hesitation and fear in their eyes. Being Etherality was all they’ve known, at least for most of their life whenever you or Beaufort weren’t there to destroy the perfect mask and stop the play. You outstretched your hands towards them, an inviting, calming smile on your lips. Hesitating, they took your hand and let you lead them through the graves, to the very end of the graveyard. Ronin was already digging, a dirt mountain was growing next to the hole.
“Okay, that’s deep enough, thanks.” You said. “All of us have to stand on each side of the hole, Ther you take the middle.” You said, giving out orders. There had to be some for the ritual to actually feel real and have some real power.
“Ther. Give me Ethereality’s soul.” You said, looking at the box in their hand.
They gave it to you, you inspected it and after nodding in approval of the wax seal, you dropped it into the hole, a thud sound echoing through the seemingly empty place - it was never empty, ghosts were everywhere.
“We’ve all gathered here to mourn a death and celebrate a rebirth. From a girl to a god, from a broken saint to a perfect sin.” You said. You reached inside your bag, taking three tarot cards out from the same deck you used for Ronin’s reading. “For that, this soul needs three guides, to support it and care for it when it meets its end.” You continued and started throwing in the cards. “The Hierophant in reverse, a man seeking independence and straying from destructive traditions. The High Priestess, a guide in spirit, they’ll forever be seen by the intuitive medium and never experience loneliness. And finally, death. For the one who is reborn and starts a new life, the one who had to share a body with the deceased, the one who will mourn the departure the most.” After throwing in all of the cards you all buried back the hole, leaving the cards and box underground.
Ther was standing there silent, truly looking like they mourn this loss, this loss of their femininity, of this play they were forced to take part in. Then, they started laughing, tears running down their cheeks and laughter mixed in with sobs. “Is that really all it took… Eighteen years of this hell and now… now we can get out?” They looked at you and Ronin, mascara getting smudged from their tears but they didn’t care. Their dress was soaked in blood from what happened back at prom anyway.
Ronin approached them first, cupping their face and kissing their forehead. “Yeah. And now, true life begins. Probably not a very less fucked up one, but,” he smirked, “now we can leave this shithole behind and roam anywhere we wanna.” He turned to look at you. “And with witchy here? We might even experience some real insane shit happen.”
You scoffed and elbowed him when you got to them. “Oh, don’t get obsessed with the spirits now, Ro. You’ll scare them off.” You said jokingly.
Then you looked at Ther, a gentle smile on your lips.
“Welcome to your new life, Ther. A life full of fuckery and insanity. A life truly worth living.”
I am really happy about this piece ^^
I hope you all will love it too
EDIT: hi hi! I thought it would be important to note that:
Ridge Grave, prom queen curse, rebirth of Ther, dancing ghosts
Come from a project made by rosesrot! I took inspiration from said project to write this piece, so it's a sort of retelling of it! I just thought it would be needed to let you know that (I - unfortunately - am not as creative as to make a whole curse up </3 maybe one day....)
