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duckybeth99 · 6 years

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Familiarity (Past!Fic)

sup bishes I’m not off the backstory fic train also I figured out I can maybe post this via browser on my iPad cuz everything looks like desktop on it so!!!!! Cross ur fingers

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He met her a couple times. Just a young girl from further in the town, went to the local high school, the same as he was expecting his child to go to later.

He met her at the gallery held every school year. Everything the students felt had been their best work was on display, not only from the fine art program. A few music students auditioned to play music, culinary students made treats and snacks to serve during the event. Film students showed off movies they made. The most exciting part would be when local professionals would come, see the work, talk to the creators, offer tips. People would get their names known. Some from colleges would visit.

That’s how they met.

Neva took a deep breath, playing with a curl at the side of her face. Merhib stepped closer beside her and squeezed her free hand. She almost jumped at the sudden touch.

“Easy,” he smiled down at her. “It’s gonna be fine.”

“Nobody’s come up to say anything to me,” Neva looked around anxiously. “I think I picked stuff too weird.”

“You’re an abstract kind of artist,” Merhib shrugged. “It can freak people out. They’re more into those fancy-pants classical stuff.” When Neva didn’t perk up, Merhib looked at her more comforting, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He pressed a kiss to her temple with a smile.

“Just give everyone a minute,” he calmed her. Neva took another breath.

“I have to go get ready for my song,” she murmured. “I think people will say something after that. Can you watch over my stuff?”

“Sure,” Merhib pressed a kiss to his new girlfriend’s soft lips. She gave a smile up to him, much more relaxed. As she headed off to the side of the room where the performers were to play, Merhib leaned up against the wall, scratching the back of his hair as he watched the people come and go. He adjusted his jacket and waited for her to start, crossing his arms.

As he watched the people come and go, he reflected on actually acting his age for once. He died at seventeen. Permanently stuck on the border of being an adult and being too young. Yet, he was the king of a Realm, held it all in the palm of his hand, expected to be a ruler. Mabuz commented every once in a while how immature he could be, how his choices weren’t always the best and tried to steer him the right way.

But for once, he was his age again, and the only downside was having to act normal.

Merhib looked to another oat of the gallery, seeing a man wander and admiring the artwork. Some photography, some sculptures, ceramics and such, but primarily fine art. Paintings, dry media. Some students seemed excited when he talked to them.

He was an older man, with ginger hair and flecks of grey in it. A mustache rested under his nose, hair with curls. It gave him a weird sense of deja vu at seeing both his hair, and his face in general. He looked too familiar. Brown eyes instead of blue ones like the ghost he saw. Alive, unlike the ghost he met years ago when he was alive.

His heart jumped for a moment and his hand curled tighter against his arm.

No. Couldn’t be.

Neva starting to sing and play on her guitar pulled him from his thoughts. He listened to her sing with a smile, playing a rock song acoustically to prevent the school administration from yelling at her again. She performed just as well either way—almost everyone seemed distracted from what they were don’t to just watch her.

Merhib couldn’t help but feel his dark eyes glance sideways as the other man clapped politely when the song ended. He seemed pleased himself as well. Merhib turned his gaze back to Neva and clapped, giving a whistle to her. Neva laughed as soon as she heard it, stepping aside to let the next person play.

Merhib glanced over his shoulder one more time as Neva set her guitar down and made her way over, and he noticed the other man briefly staring back at him, too.

Could he have really—

“Hey!”

Merhib turned back to Neva and grinned, pulling her close, pale hands on her back and pressing her against him. She stood on the tips of her feet and kissed him excitedly.

“Were you spacing out or something?” Neva smirked, wrapping her arms on his shoulders, one of her hands sliding through the back of his ginger, curled hair. He shook his head.

“Nah,” he pressed his forehead to Neva. She snickered.

“You’re a bad liar,” Neva teased. Merhib slid his hands to Neva’s hips and smirked back with a quiet chuckle. “Just like always.”

“Stop,” he teased. Neva laughed again and moved to give him another kiss.

A clearing of someone’s throat stopped the two. On instinct, Merhib quickly pulled himself off of his girlfriend. Neva brushed a curl behind her ear and shuffled on her feet, eyes down despite the soft smile on her face.

“Sorry,” said Neva quickly. It was the man Merhib had been watching. The moment his girlfriend lifted her eyes, she became excited once again. “Professor Bosteau! Oh, I’m so sorry, hello!”

“Hello to you too, li’l lady,” he smiled back. Merhib felt one of his hands curl and uncurl. He shoved his fist into his pocket, other hand holding Neva’s. “Sorry for interrupting. I was just wondering if this was your artwork here.” A worn finger gestured to the paintings and sketches behind her. Neva nodded excitedly.

“Y-yes, these are mine,” she felt her cheeks flush as she stepped aside to show her artwork, pulling Merhib with her. “All stuff I’ve done this year.”

“What grade and age are you, my dear?” Professor Bosteau bent closer to the paintings to examine them, squinting past a small pair of glasses over his eyes.

Neva’s smile was at risk of falling off her face. “I-I’m sixteen,” she looked up at her boyfriend with hope in her brown sparkling eyes. “Just turned sixteen, actually. I’m a junior.”

“Your work holds a lot of expression,” the Professor nodded. “Pretty hard to see in artists your age. They’re having too much or a hard time in technique to express it. You need a little more technicality in your brushstrokes and blending,” and he moved his fingers in the air, close to the paintings, and Neva hung on his every word, “but I’m sure with practice in the next art class up, you’ll be in a fantastic place. Have you considered attending Riverview Community College?”

“Yes, actually,” Neva twirled a lock of her hair excitedly, “I-I actually really like the campus and I’m keeping my fingers crossed I get you as my art professor, sir.”

“Aw, shucks,” Professor Bosteau chuckled. “You hold me with too high an honor. But thank you. I’m flattered either way. I’ve got to visit some of the other artists, but—“ and he took both of Neva’s hands in his and shook them, “—I do hope I see you again, and I wish you luck. What was your name?”

“Neva Arazel,” the young girl beamed. Professor Bosteau nodded. As he made his way, Neva danced in her spot. Merhib stared at John in disbelief.

“Merhib, did you hear?” she asked excitedly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him eagerly. “He liked my stuff!”

“Yeah,” Merhib pushed out the best smile he could. Neva looked at him unsure.

“You okay?” Her words brought him back for a moment. Merhib blinked and gave a smile, more sincere and full.

“Yeah,” he said. “I just wanna get some air.” Neva gave him a kind smile and linked his fingers with hers.

“We can head out,” she said. “Thank you so much for being here with me.” Merhib smiles and kissed her forehead.

“Anything for you.”

——

At sixteen years old, he made the way to the old wailing house.

Legends told of a ghost living there, a soul who was lost and punished to face total damnation, roaming the earth and to never escape into a peaceful afterlife. They said he was a man tortured by his past, by atrocities he committed in the past. Young people went there often on dares, see who was brave, see who was too afraid. People who previously didn’t believe in ghost were terrified by the reality they saw.

But he wasn’t here on a dare. He was here based on his grandfather’s notes and the information he gathered on the legend.

Merhib couldn’t ask his driver to take him without his father finding out. So, instead he hailed for a taxi to take him as far as he could, then walked the rest of the way though the infamous woods of Riverview. He followed the river the town was named after to find his way into the woods, keeping his flashlight and both his and Zachary’s notebooks close to himself.

He was going to face it. The demon that resided there. No, the ghost. He would speak with him. Make contact. It would be an incredible advancement.

Merhib walked up to the creaking steps of the porch and held tight to his journals. Tucking his flashlight under his other arm, he gently opened the door.

The smell of death flooded his nose.

Merhib held back a gag, grabbed his flashlight and switched it on. He slowly wandered from the front hallway to the living room, both frightened and fascinated. His grandfather said people he worked with years ago lived there. Both went missing, at different times. With his grandfather now passed, his research was all he had left to go off of for his guidance.

Merhib felt the whole house sway for a moment, but not like an earthquake. For a moment, he thought the wind was beating against the old place. But the namesake of the home...

Merhib took only another step further before the ghost revealed itself.

“Intruder,” the house seemed to whisper, as though thousands of voices were intertwined with the wood and walls, the floorboards and every creek. Slowly, a faint blue glow made itself known. Merhib stared wide-eyed at it. The ghost. He was real.

“You shouldn’t be here,” the ghost whispered. “No one should be here. Not in this damned place.”

“I-I’m sorry for intruding,” Merhib spoke up, and he realized his pale, long and thin hands were shaking. “I-I came here to—“

“Stare at the monster, didn’t you,” the ghost interrupted. “Came on a dare. I know how you youths are.”

“That’s not it at all!” Merhib gave a weak, nervous smile and soft laugh. “I-I came because... because I want to know who you are.” The ghost seemed confused. He slowly floated down from above the young man and faced him. Merhib could see just how tired, how worn the spirit was.

“No one should know who I am,” the ghost sighed. “I am... I am a pathetic excuse of a man, I’m a monster.”

“I don’t think of you like that at all.”

“You hardly know me, young man.”

Merhib held out his hand, startling the ghost. He gave another small smile, “My name is Merhib.”

“People... call me Ghost now,” Ghost said, but didn’t touch Merhib’s hand. He slowly set his hand back down. “What... what do you have there?”

“Oh, uh,” Merhib blinked and looked at the books in his hands. “Research. From my grandfather. It’s how I began to learn that people like you are out there.”

“Monsters?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way, Mr. Ghost.” He fumbled with all the objects in his hands momentarily, “Uh, a-and I have my own notebook, too. I wanted to get to know you. Learn about you. You’re incredible.”

The words didn’t sit right with Ghost, “You should not say those sorts of things, Merhib. It can lead you on a dark path.”

“H... how so?”

“You could make the same mistakes as me.”

“What... mistakes did you make?”

Ghost hesitated, and the whole house seemed to creek. He sighed, and confessed, “For the sake of my warning to you... I’ll tell you. I once worked at a laboratory. We... we researched people like me. Ghosts. Witches. Psychics, mermaids, all sorts of creatures. We studied them until they were in pain. Until they were dead. I... I hurt these creatures, a-and some were children—“ The house started to violently vibrate again. Merhib dropped his books and light, feeling the ground shake. As the ghost cried and wailed, Merhib found it harder and harder to stay on his feet. The boards creaked and broke; the ghost cried and cried, no words coming from his mouth anymore. Drowned out by his regret. Merhib looked around for something to hold on to. As he tried to move, he slipped on his light and books and fell to the floor.

Merhib saw something from higher above shake. The roof was caving in. He tucked his arms over his head as one of the windows vibrated and shattered near him. Unveiling himself, he looked up as the roof was ready to fall.

“Stop!!”

He instinctively held his arm up, up at the caving roof, as the wood already began to fall, and it stopped. Eyes shut tight, Merhib was still prepared to get hurt. The house still shook for a moment, until Ghost noticed what the young man was doing. He watched the parts suspended in air for a brief moment before it all fell back down. Merhib rolled out of the way, but nothing else fell. The house stopped shaking.

“How did you—?”

“I’m sorry,” Merhib got up and dusted off his vest, “I-I didn’t mean to bring up something that was going to destroy the house.” Ghost went quiet and looked sheepish.

“I shouldn’t... have reacted in such a way,” he murmured. “But don’t you see? It’s dangerous here, it’s dangerous to talk about what’s happened.”

“I... see,” Merhib slowly nodded. He picked his flashlight back up and looked around for his notebooks. Ghost floated towards one. He recognized the handwriting, and his wounds oozed from the back of his head, the house turned cold. Merhib went to grab the other notebook, when he saw Ghost staring down at it.

“Um—“ Merhib reached for the notebook, but Ghost’s cold gaze stopped him. “My—m-my book—?”

“This is not yours,” Ghost whispered. “This was his.”

“His?”

“Zachary Collins.” The dead man’s words held venom as he spat out the name in disgust. Merhib slowly picked up his notebook.

“H-he was my grandfather,” he said. “He died a while back. Left all this stuff for me.” The house vibrated again, but it was a different kind. Not of wailing. Not of mourning. Of hate. Of rage.

“That—that monster—!!”

“Huh?!”

Merhib ducked his head again and avoided more rotted, broken wood falling. Ghost seemed to turn monstrous, violent. His glow was intense, matching the rage and pain in his eyes. Merhib stared at him in fear.

“He—he did this to me—“ Ghost gripped his head. “He convinced me to work there! Told me what I was doing was right, he threatened me, Adam, he was cruel, he encouraged us—he told us to kill them, they were just children—!!”

Merhib managed to reach a table and duck under it. Everything was falling, everything was shaking, and it felt like it followed him wherever he turned. The rage was directed at him.

“I-I’m not him!” Merhib shouted about the noise, the sheer calamity, but the ghost’s rage continued. He pointed out, out the front door.

“Leave!!” Ghost’s voice turned monstrous. “Leave and never come back!!” Merhib grabbed his light and books and ran out of the house as fast as he could. He feared that if he didn’t, the entire place would collapse onto him. He tumbled into the dirt and stared at the place in shock.

Merhib slowly stood up and turned back to follow the river, back to town. He wiped away the blood from his tumble and the dirt the best he could before he hailed for another taxi. Climbing in once one finally showed up, he told the driver to go back to Shoreline Manor, and the entire drive, Merhib continued to flip through the pages and think about the ghost.

His grandfather’s ramblings were true. All he wrote about were true. Despite everything, he was still a brilliant scientist, a man who wouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of his progress. That wasn’t inherently bad. But if what Ghost has said were true...

He would get answers. He wouldn’t do it how Zachary did, though. Ghost gave him plenty warning against it. But the answers would come to him. All would know.

#beth writing #ghosty blogging #neva arazel #merhib the demon

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beth-the-ghost-old · 9 years

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(( im watching soul eater and the way medusa talks about crona just makes me think of Merhib talking about beth and how stein and spirit get mad makes me think about doc like he made her for a similar purpose and had a similar idea what to do with her after just seeing no purpose in keeping her and wanting to toss her out and doc gets so angry about it ))

#ooc #ask bloge family #Merhib the demon #ghosty blogging

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bethanygabrielleart · 5 years

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inktober 2019: days 11-20

day 17 features @artiesrandomthoughts ‘s Moirin, day 20 features @unlessed ‘s som and @clarabellumsart ‘s spect

#inktober #inktober 2019 #inktober 19 #beth draws #sketch #traditional #welcome to riverview #ghosty beth #mcgillicuddy sunshine #spect #som #johnny bosteau #esther sephtis #neva arazel #heather #aquilo aster #merhib the demon #sharp

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bethanygabrielleart · 5 years

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Some people want to watch the world burn, others want to save it.

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first finished work of 2019! weird to sign with a nineteen now. a mini series of busts with heroes and their corresponding villains. while some have more specific arcs with others (ex. Johnny and Circe as opposed to Esther and Circe) some choices were made based on parallels they had OR if they went against someone they cared about (like how Circe and Esther or Alex and Aquilo have never really faced off but they have parallels/hurt someone the other cares for). some have faced off and have direct parallels as a jackpot like John and Merhib lmao. anyway I also couldn’t find any colored picture of Dagan and didn’t 100% remember his description so I winged it 8( but happy 2019 anyway!

#beth draws #digital #beth colors #colored #finished #ghosty beth #welcome to riverview #johnny bosteau #ghosty blogging #mcgillicuddy sunshine #mabuz sephtis #esther #circe #aquilo aster #heather #skeleton uncle #drefan #alejandro wilson #merhib the demon

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bethanygabrielleart · 6 years

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safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone, gazing at the people down below me all my life I’ve watched them as I hide up here alone, hungry for the histories they’ve shown me all my life I memorize their faces, knowing them as they will never know me all my life i wonder how it feels to pass a day, not above them, but part of them

———

maybe there not a lot compositionally or. at all but im pretty happy with how these came out and the parallels i did with both so shrug emoji

#beth draws #digital #finished #ghosty beth #merhib the demon #pirate au #ask bloge pirates #colored #beth colors

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bethanygabrielleart · 6 years

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an extremely rough companion to @genjis-girlfriend’s “cruel cruel fate” thumbnails which did start as that but then became “defining moments” some are so rough u can’t tell what’s happening/who it is but I tried to do all the characters who still have relevance aside from discord cuz idk what to do for them lol,, I know for a FACT some of these won’t make sense bc I haven’t talked abt some of them but. still take a guess I dare ya

#beth draws #sketch #digital #welcome to riverview #ask bloge #ghosty beth #Neva Arazel #merhib the demon #Alejandro wilson #aquilo aster #Virginica aster #drefan #Rosalina arazel #Gabriel arazel #mabuz sephtis #skeleton uncle #Esther #alice #zachary collins

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bethanygabrielleart · 6 years

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they’re watching

#beth draws #digital #finished #colored #beth colors #ghosty beth #merhib the demon #Zachary #trickster king

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bethanygabrielleart · 6 years

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we treat mishaps like sinking ships, and I know that I don’t want to be out to drift well, I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips and they both tell me that we’re better than this little motel by modest mouse is a Neva and Merhib song, at LEAST Neva, take a listen to it

#also when I did semi charmed life that’s also a Neva song #beth draws #digital #finished #beth colors #colored #Neva arazel #merhib the demon

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bethanygabrielleart · 6 years

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Here it is!!!!!! This is a mini comic I made for my college’s annual comic contest, called Connections! I poured a lot of work into this and I really hope it shows! I finally submitted it this week so I thought I might as well post it online. The comic is really dear to me, as it talks about my mental health and how creativity has helped me. So with that, there will be mentions of depression, anxiety, medication and suicide, but the latter is mentioned very briefly, just so you know. You can read the rest below the cut! (The images drop in quality though cuz of mobile 8\ so I’ll probably upload it separately)

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duckybeth99 · 6 years

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alright buttmunches I’m joining this bandwagon

uhhhhhh some parts are specific, some parts aren’t, primarily for the purposes of fics and such

let’s make a goddamn timeline

The literal beginning of the universe itself: Discord, Eris, and Circe are just a few of the many gods, rulers, and later classified Realm Dwellers that come into existence.

~500 BC: Discord consumes their sister Eris to become a more powerful being.

100 CE: Mabuz Sephtis is born.

114: Mabuz engages in his first war at fourteen years old.

-Prior to this, he was training to be a solider for about a year.

-He also met Genevieve at this time, who was essentially a nurse for soldiers.

118: Mabuz marries Genevieve.

-Mabuz becomes one of head soldiers around this time also.

120: Mabuz has Esther.

-Genevieve dies in childbirth.

-Mabuz was away when Esther was actually born as he was taking care of things as one of the head soldiers.

138: Esther becomes engaged.

-Shortly after, her fiancé is killed in war.

144: Mabuz makes a deal with Discord.

-Both of them end up dying from the deal. Esther dies first, then a few days later, Mabuz dies too.

-Mabuz is sent to Hell after his death. His torment includes receiving his death touch powers as a constant reminder of how he aided accidentally into the death of his daughter.

1117: Drefan is born a human in Middle Age Europe.

1137: Drefan makes a demon deal with Discord

1138: Drefan dies from his deal.

-Part of his torture is to become a monstrous looking demon (a Minotaur to be specific)

1840: Zachary Collins the Third is born.

1870: After completing his education as a doctor, Zachary begins working at the labs.

1875: Zachary is married.

1880: Ezekiel is born.

-Within the time of his employment to now, Zachary has worked his way to being a supervising scientist of the division where him, Ghost, and Adam work at in the labs (others are included, of course, and Zachary is not a total superior or an owner. He still has superiors over him)

1902: Ezekiel cuts ties with his father. He completes his education and becomes a businessman.

1905: Merhib is born.

-He’s the child of a prostitute. She forces Ezekiel to take him by leaving. His mother has practically vanished from reality. No one can find her.

1910: Alice is born.

-Alice is Ezekiel’s second child and kept by her mother, Molly. Alice remains unaware of who her father is until she’s seventeen.

1921: Zachary dies. Merhib looks through his belongings and finds out about Zachary’s work in the labs and his beliefs of magic and other worlds is proven to be true.

-Merhib meets Ghost during this time and tries to ask him questions but is chased out by him.

-Merhib makes his demon deal with Discord about a week or two after meeting Ghost.

1922: Ezekiel is murdered by Merhib. Merhib is killed by Ezekiel in self-defense.

-After his death, he’s transported to Hell to serve and suffer for his deal.

1923: Alice purchases what she thinks is a fake wand from a joke’s shop down the street.

-This becomes the wand she always uses now, and she slowly realizes it isn’t fake.

1924: Merhib and Mabuz overthrow Discord and change Hell.

-Merhib is made king from gaining Discord’s shadow powers after he kills them.

-Mabuz is appointed by Merhib to be second in command and general of the armies after his intelligence and assistance in taking down Merhib.

1928: Alice accidentally seals herself in a crystal in a Lost Realm.

-She is preserved and has no sense of time flowing while she’s inside.

-Her mother and grandmother die while she’s gone; her grandmother of old age and grief, her mother of overwork and grief.

1969: Virginica is born.

1983: Neva is born to Rosalina Arazel and Gabriel Hernandez.

-Neva is raised by her grandparents, Julian and Rosa Arazel.

1989: Merhib meets Virginica and begin to conduct their scientific magic studies.

1997: Merhib and Virginica begin plans to create their own offspring for their own purposes.

-Virginica begins work on Aquilo with the work of science.

1998: Aquilo is finished being created. Merhib meets and falls in love with Neva.

1999: Merhib leaves Neva at the very beginning of the year. Beth is born.

-Alex is also born to Alma and Andrew Wilson, becoming their second child after Marina Wilson (who is the same age as Johnny).

-Heather is born to the Morrisons. She is the second child after Jared (who is two years older than Johnny and Marina).

-Beth is adopted by Erin Veran.

2003: Beth becomes friends with Alex and Heather.

2007: Heather leaves Beth and Alex.

2011: Beth meets Ghost and Johnny. Alex realizes he has a crush on Beth.

2012: Beth gets Hanahaki disease (which Ghost removes) and loses her crush on Travis.

2013: Beth commits suicide.

2014: Beth finds out Merhib is her father. Alex confesses his feelings to Beth. Later she also kills Heather, Travis, and many others in the party disaster.

-Alex is killed shortly after confessing his feelings to Beth in a car accident Merhib causes with his powers. He’s trapped in the UpSideDown for months with Thomas and Marion until Beth makes a deal to save him.

2015: Neva attempts to return into Beth’s life, but is kicked out by Ghost. Neva’s grandparents pass away. Merhib is killed by Ghost. Beth meets Virginica and Aquilo and learns from them until they turn on her. Beth meets Mabuz and learns she’s a princess.

-As things fall apart in Neva’s life, she falls back into her addictions and loses her job.

2017: Neva makes amends with Beth. Alice is saved by the gang and learns she’s Beth’s aunt. Esther is set free from the Lost Soul Realm and is studied by Ghost and Johnny.

#ghosty beth #merhib the demon #skeleton uncle #esther #alice #neva arazel #alejandro wilson #heather #ask bloge #virginica aster #aquilo aster #trickster king #circe

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duckybeth99 · 7 years

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Reality (Past Fic)

remember that fic I wrote like a month ago did u kno there was supposed to be a part two well here it is

—

All they were planning to do was to rest now. After all the emotions stirred from the court case, the stress of the money and going through with it, doing it straight after their deep grieving… the Bosteaus needed the proper rest.

But hearing their dog barking inside told them they couldn’t just yet.

Ghost held out a protective arm in front of Johnny, looking at him with confusion and worry. Johnny grabbed a baseball bat off the garage wall, just in case. Ghost slowly lead the way back into the house.

He heard someone trying to hush Indiana.

Inside the house, the bloodhound was barking at a figure. Ghost and Johnny’s steps slowed so they could take a peek.

Ghost felt his heart stop. Johnny turned the corner, bat held high and ready to fight.

He dropped the steel object as he stared at her face.

The soft baby face. The brown eyes. The brown hair. The glasses.

Beth.

She was there.

Her tan skin was replaced with an off-white glow and form. She was shaking and shivering. Her feet floated an inch off the floor.

Beth’s long hair ran straight and wet against her face and body, which was covered with a sort of large pajama shirt that acted as a dress. Her arms were bloody.

The Bosteaus stared in disbelief. Beth’s mouth tried to form words that wouldn’t come.

“Help me,” she finally managed out, in only a quiet whisper, her voice wet.

Ghost collapsed behind Johnny.

In the swirling fog of his head, he remembers the children from the labs. A ghoulish girl whispers for help, a chained up boy with the power to turn into a beast cries for his mommy, a child thrashes on the exam table as they’re strapped down and injected with a tranquilizer to their neck. A teenager who growls but Ghost sees the sadness in their eyes as they’re put to sleep to study in a surgery.

They cry for help one last time before they turn cold and, despite what he was initially told, won’t wake up again.

“Dad! Dad!!”

He thinks to losing his wife, hearing his child crying loudly from the nursery. Ghost, clawing his way up from the ground with the metal in his leg, bleeding out, sheer pain consuming his body. But he ignores it as he forces himself to the crib, he ignores it all as he cradled his baby in his arms, rocking the boy who will be known as Johnny and hushing his cries.

As Beth stared at Ghost, Johnny tossed his coat off and tugged his father to the sofa, lying him down. He placed the coat over the old man.

“I—“ Beth’s voice croaked, “I-I didn’t mean to—“

“Don’t,” Johnny held his hand up to stop Beth. She tensed and floated down to the floor, sitting with her head in her hands. Johnny looked down at his father, took a breath and let out a sigh, before finally turning to face Beth.

“How long have you been like this?” he asked. Beth’s eyes glance away in thought.

“I… I don’t know for sure,” Beth murmured. “Time didn’t flow right where I was.”

“Where was that?”

“I don’t… I don’t know. I’ve only ever seen a place like it in dreams.”

“Look, we’ll figure that out once Pops wakes up again,” Johnny huffed, crossing to the kitchen table and sitting. Beth stared up at him as Indiana whimpered, crawling under Johnny’s hand for a pet. His hand brushed through the dog’s fur soothingly. “You don’t have to sit on the floor. Don’t punish yourself. Things are shit anyway.” Beth slowly stood up and sat next to Johnny.

She looked at the papers on the table and slid them closer to Johnny to see.

“I… I saw this,” she whispered. Johnny glanced down at the custody papers. Some were papers on the court case. “What is… what is all this?” Johnny looked over at the kitchen.

“Do you want some hot chocolate?” he asked. “I know Pops’s thing is to offer tea, but that’s not my kind of style. Little too cold for a milkshake.”

“Sure,” Beth whispered. “But… can I, um… eat or drink anything?”

“We’ll only find out if we try,” Johnny shrugged, standing up. His dog followed him as he made the hot chocolate and brought it over to the table. Beth waited patiently the whole time. He slid one mug to Beth, an icy blue colored one. His was one from a trip as a kid to Universal Studios. Johnny set the can of whipped cream on the table. He sprayed only a small spritz of it on his, not more like usual. Beth held her hand up and shook her head when he offered.

“There was something we never told you when it was getting close to your birthday,” Johnny began, setting the can back into the fridge and sitting with Beth. His fingers wrapped around his warm mug. “The presents Pops and I got you weren’t the only things we had planned. We had something else, too. It was his idea, after he met your mom and realized how… well, shit your home life was. He suspected it, but after meeting her, he knew he had to fight for custody of you. He was ready to. Trying to get a lawyer and everything, filling out papers… that was gonna be a late present. We would have told you as soon as we found out for ourselves. We woulda had you live with us. Pops would have raised you.”

“You… you were going to go through all of that for me?” Beth stared up at Johnny with wide eyes. “I don’t… I don’t understand—“

“But then you died.” Johnny’s words stabbed themselves firmly into the conversation. “You left us.” Beth fell silent. Her fingers fidgeted around her mug. “Look, I’m happy you’re back, but that doesn’t undo—never mind.” Johnny shook his head. His deep glare to the table discouraged Beth from asking him to continue, to tell her the truth of his feelings.

The way he saw it, she didn’t need to know. She’s been through enough. All three of them have.

“We were fucked up,” Johnny pushed himself to continue, “but Pops remembered your mom. He wanted to go after her for what she did to you, even if you were gone. So we did. We went to court. She was arrested for child abuse.” Beth choked on the hot chocolate.

“Y-you threw my mother into jail?!” Beth gasped. Johnny nodded and took another sip.

“Yeah, we did,” he grumbled, “because she abused you.”

“But she was my mother!!” Beth stood from her seat. There was a weird vibration in the air. Johnny didn’t feel his electricity coming off him though.

“Beth, listen to me,” Johnny began, slow and restrained, “you just became a ghost. You have a lot of energy and power, and panicking isn’t gonna do you any good. Okay? You have to calm down.”

“You—you threw my mother in jail, how am I supposed to be calm about that?!” Beth’s hair began to float. The lights were flickering and she was twitching and phasing. “Sh-she was my mother! The only family I had!!”

“No, Beth, we were your family!!” Johnny slammed his hands against the table. His hair was standing on end and he could hear the crackle of his electricity crawl up his spine. “That’s why we did this! That’s why we were going to adopt you!! That’s why we were fucking upset you died, when your mom didn’t care!!” Things started floating off the table and spinning around in the air. Johnny felt like he was being gripped by something.

“You didn’t know her!!”

“I don’t have to!!”

“Both of you, stop it!!”

The two turned to see Ghost, awake again. “Bethany, put Johnny down, now!”

Johnny glanced down and realized Beth had made him start floating, too. All the objects dropped with loud clangs and thuds, Johnny plopping back into his seat. Beth looked down at her hands in shock and confusion.

“I… d-did I do that?” she whispered. Ghost nodded. He limped over to the table, wedging a seat between the two.

“Bethany, listen to me,” Ghost took hold of Beth’s hands, setting them on the table, “you aren’t human anymore. You probably never will be again. You are now a being of pure energy, of pure, unconfined power. You can do things no one else can now. Ghosts can lose control of these powers, of this energy from their emotional state. Believe me, I know.”

“How?” Beth croaked. Ghost tensed but let out a slow sigh.

“I was a ghost once, too,” he murmured. “That was how my nickname came to be. I died many, many years ago. My… my wife brought me back to life. She helped me. I’ve been alive since then, and trying to live as normal a life as possible. But… I suppose once you enter this life, you never truly leave it.”

“Back to the point, Pops,” Johnny grumbled, glaring away. Ghost gave his son a look, but shook his head and turned back to Beth.

“So I’m more a freak than I was before,” Beth’s voice tightened. Ghost squeezed Beth’s hand.

“No, you’re not,” he hushed the teenager. “You have new powers now. You must learn to control them and yourself. But I promise to help you. Alright? We’ll both be here for you.” Beth nodded slowly, biting her lip and swallowing back tears.

“What… what about my mom?” Beth whispered. “Why… why would you throw my only family in jail?”

“Bethany,” Ghost sighed, taking Beth’s hands and squeezing them, “she wasn’t family. She didn’t love or care for you. I’m sorry, but… that’s the truth. We wanted to adopt you, too.”

“She wasn’t your birth family anyway,” Johnny grumbled.

“Johnny,” Ghost grumbled. The young man glared away, arms crossed and leaning back in his chair.

“What?” Beth stared wide-eyed at Johnny, then to Ghost. “What is he—did you know?”

“Only… today, did we find out,” Ghost hesitated. “We had our lawyer, who had papers all about you. And he found that you were born to someone else. The papers didn’t list who your parents were. Your birth mom requested to remain unknown and have no contact information. All that’s known about her, is what they had to write down for medical purposes. We just… know she was sixteen.”

“I… I don’t believe this…” Beth whispered. Ghost looked gently at Beth, slowly wrapping an arm around her. She flinched at it, slowly pushing his arms down. “I… I-I need space. Please.”

“Sure,” Ghost murmured, “whatever you need. Go rest in your room. We could all use some rest. We’ll start… sorting all this out tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Beth whispered. Ghost and Johnny watched her quietly go. Hearing the bedroom door shut, Ghost looked up at Johnny.

“Why did you bring it up?” the father shook his head. “Johnny, she’s in a fragile state—“

“Oh, what, and we’re not?!” Johnny snapped. “I don’t think you get it, Pops, but my sister fucking killed herself, and after having left me, she’s back as a goddamn ghost!”

“Johnny, keep your voice down—“

“Just leave me alone.” Johnny growled as he turned away from his father. Ghost frowned and helped himself up with his cane.

“Jonathan, come back here,” he began, “you’re being incredibly immature and selfish.”

“She left us!!” Johnny’s voice cracked, electricity running up his spine and flickering his hair to stand on end, “Don’t you care about that?! Don’t you feel hurt?!”

“Yes, Jonathan, I do, but—“

“And you’re asking me to not fucking care?!”

“No, I’m not!” Ghost argued, feeling the heat flare up in his body, “There are things you don’t understand when something like this happens! You don’t know what agony she felt to have done this! She killed herself, Jonathan, have some compassion!” Johnny was quiet, back facing his father. His electricity was making the air buzz around them. “I know you’re hurt. I am, too. But imagine what she’s feeling.”

“So I should just bury what I feel, forget about it.”

“No. That’s not what I said,” Ghost slowly approached his son, placing his hand on his shoulder, “I’m in pain, too. But right now, we have to help her. Don’t hide what you’re feeling; we can talk about it. All of it. But not now. It’s late. She could be listening. We’ll talk about this later. For now, keep it away from her. We’ll talk to her about everything later. Honesty is important, but she can’t handle all of this right now.”

“Alright,” Johnny grumbled. Ghost turned his son to look at him. The younger glared down at his feet. Ghost sighed and pulled his son into a hug. Johnny clung tighter to him than Ghost expected.

Time seemed to freeze for a long moment, and it felt like their hug went on for ages. But slowly they released each other and finally went to bed.

—

“Mr. Bosteau.”

Ghost turned around to see his former colleagues beside him. Adam Fontaine and Dr. Zachary Collins. They were dressed to perform on someone.

Something.

The two were waiting for him.

Ghost found himself walking slowly towards the operation table. The figure was covered in a white sheet. Judging by the table, the creature was strapped down with restraints.

Ghost glanced over his shoulder to see his superiors watching him and his colleagues.

They were all waiting on him.

Dr. Collins frowned at Ghost’s hesitance. He tugged the sheet off the creature.

Ghost gasped.

There, was Beth, strapped down and unconscious. Her skin kept changing and flickering between being alive and dead.

“An extraordinary creature!” Dr. Collins boasted to his colleagues and superiors, “A child on the boarder of being alive and dead, with miraculous powers, and it could very well be a fusion between a human and another sort of creature. Of course, we shall have Bosteau and Fontaine performing on the creature, under my guidance.” Ghost felt his heart get caught in his chest. “Bosteau. Begin the procedure.”

Ghost’s hands shook.

“Bosteau.”

Beth’s eyes slowly opened, her fingers twitching with minimal strength returning.

“Help me,” her voice whispered, seeming to echo all around him. It was slow, then became faster, louder, repeating more and more, swelling in his mind and all around him.

“I can’t—“ Ghost turned to Dr. Collins, who’s glare pierced his heart. His superiors staring seemed to cut through his own body with their eyes. Adam was gone. Beth kept whispering for help.

“I can’t!!” Ghost shouted above the crying, over the pounding of his heart as Dr. Collins moved closer and closer, his glare turning darker and more threatening. “I can’t do this, I can’t—I can’t hurt her, I-I can’t—I can’t help you!!”

Shutting his eyes at his last shout, everything was gone.

Ghost sat up in his bed, staring at the wall across from him. His hair was tangled and messy, sweat making his bangs cling to his forehead. He rubbed his auburn eyes, breathing deeply to try and relax. His fingers fidgeted against his sheets, before he finally laid back in bed and tried to fall asleep.

He stared at a photo on his side table of him and Johnny after he fully recovered from his top surgery. His son. He loved him so much.

He managed to protect him. Help him.

Why couldn’t he for Beth?

—

“Wake up.”

Beth gasped, sitting up from what she thought was the floor.

Nothing was below her.

Nothing was around her.

Empty dark space was around her. Only another figure was before her.

“What—what’s happening,” Beth whispered, shaking, “wh-why am I here again? Y-you said we were done!”

“I wanted to talk to you one more time,” the person shrugged. “I never gave you my name.” Beth blinked, brushing back a lock of her hair.

“Am… am I dreaming?”

“You were,” the man shrugged, “but I brought you back here. Just for a minute.” Beth stared at the empty space around them. “You seem so shocked. You traveled here in dreams before, remember?” Beth’s eyes slowly grew in realization.

“That’s why this all felt familiar,” she whispered. “This… this limbo, or whatever, I-I came here in my dreams. On accident. How? I-is this a real place?”

“It’s an empty, hm, let’s say, between space,” the figure shrugged, circling Beth. “Between the UpSide and UpSideDown. But enough of that. There was one more thing, about our little conversation before I let you back home I forgot to address.”

“Which… was?” Beth drew her gaze back to the figure. He grinned.

“Two things,” and he held out a pale hand, “Merhib Collins. That’s my name. And the other…”

As Beth shook his hand, he tightened his grip, and something odd came through his smile. Beth tensed and felt her fingers squirm.

“Don’t tell anyone about our conversations,” Merhib chuckled. “The last one, or this. My assistance to you is private.”

“Wh-why do I need help from a demon?” Beth squeaked. Merhib only laughed.

“If I have to remind you again, that’s partially reason enough,” he said. “A naïve girl like you? No control over her powers, her very being, in a place like the UpSideDown? You’re lucky I found you floating in limbo and could send you back home.”

“Right,” Beth whispered, nodding slowly. Merhib patted her shoulder.

“You’re not in a formal deal, so don’t get it confused,” Merhib wagged a finger. “This is a kindness, just for you.”

“I… thought all demons were bad,” Beth scratched her arm anxiously. Merhib shook his head.

“Not all, and some not as bad as others,” Merhib explained. “Now, I better send you back to bed. You do need rest. Feel free to visit whenever you like. I look forward to seeing you again.”

“Wait, how?” Beth began, but the void-like place began to fade, as did Merhib. The shadows around her chipped like wallpaper, tearing away and flying into a wind that even affected Beth. She shut her eyes as her bangs blew about.

When the blowing subsided, Beth opened her eyes to find herself back in the middle of her room.

Just the same as how Merhib brought her to the Bosteau house after talking to her.

How he knew where to take her was odd, as did how he knew everything about her.

She assumed it was a demon thing.

Beth looked down at her hands, fixated on the glowing, dead body she now had. The power she could release from herself.

She moved away to her window, staring at her reflection with the dark woods outside, moonlight shining faintly on trees and life behind the glass. Beth wanted desperately to think this was all a dream. That she wasn’t traveling in herself, even when she was alive. That she wasn’t magic, that she wasn’t dead, that her whole life hadn’t been a lie.

This wasn’t a dream.

This was her reality. No, no, it wasn’t just hers alone anymore, either. Not once she appeared in the Bosteau house.

This was their reality from now on.

#beth writing #ghosty beth #ghosty blogging #johnny bosteau #Merhib the demon #Adam Fontaine #Zachary Collins

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duckybeth99 · 6 years

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Merhib: I made a half human half UpSideDowner

Ghost: you ruined a perfectly good teenager is what you did. look at her. she’s got anxiety

#@ clara if u werent super overloaded and stressed id ask u to draw this but i will do it pour vous #ask bloge #ghosty beth #ghosty blogging #merhib the demon

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duckybeth99 · 7 years

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Of Christmas Past (Past Fic)

heya u fuckin buttmunches it’s december here’s the second out of my three holiday fics

—

The year was forgotten.

But the memory wasn’t completely.

Mabuz held his daughter’s hand as they walked towards the church in the middle of town. High in the bell tower, the bell to ring in the winter season was being shined and prepared.

“Papa,” Esther held tight to her father’s hand and looked up to him, “is it time yet?”

“Not yet,” Mabuz smiled. “Wait another moment, sweetheart. You’re too excited.” Esther giggled and looked at all the other people in the village gathering. She moved closer to her father, shivering a little at the cold. Mabuz looked at her a little worried.

“Is it too cold?” he asked gently, “Perhaps we should go home…”

“No!” Esther beamed, “We always watch the bell!”

“But you’re very fragile—“

“Papa, look!”

Esther pointed up to the bell tower. The ringer was there, and almost everyone waited with bated breath. Mabuz smiled at his daughter, scooping her up and holding her in his arms to see even higher. He could feel the droplets of rain begin and it made him want to take Esther straight home. With her fragile health, it was always worrying to take her out for things like this when the seasons weren’t always so kind.

The bells chimes loudly through the village, people clapping and cheering. Esther waved up to the bell ringer. He waved down back at her. Esther’s grin grew even wider. Mabuz couldn’t help but chuckle.

Esther hugged her father the best she could while being in his arms. He readjusted her, kissing her forehead. The two turned to head back as it started to rain. Esther laughed as the droplets hit her face.

Mabuz was well aware a few drops of rain wouldn’t hurt her, but he still found himself turning tense. But Esther’s laughter and joy quelled it, for even just a moment.

True, he missed sharing this time with his wife. He always had. He might always will.

But sharing them with his little girl eased any sadness.

As he put her to bed for the night, listening to the rain beat against the house, he could already imagine her joy when she got her presents. He knew just what he was going to give her this year.

A necklace that belonged to her mother. She told Mabuz, when her health was fading, that if their child survived, to give this to their child when he thought they were ready.

Esther was still a little girl, but she held a kind, beautiful heart, joy that spread to others, and she was smart for her young age.

Mabuz was ready. He believed she was, too.

He pressed a kiss to his daughter’s head as she fell asleep, cuddling to one of her small dolls. As he left her room, he thought about how, if he could, he would give his little girl the world.

Anything could be hers, if he had the ability to offer it.

—

The year was 1998.

Neva drove through the snowy streets of the city, Merhib sitting in the passenger seat and watching the snow outside. She promised him a surprise for Christmas coming so close for them.

“So… can you tell me what it is yet?” Merhib looked at his girlfriend curiously. Neva smirked.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise then, wouldn’t it?” she teased. Merhib rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

“Guess you’re right,” he murmured. He pressed his red curls against the window.

“Look,” Neva sighed, “I know you don’t really have anybody to spend the holidays with. So… I’m gonna try and cheer you up, make you see that this time doesn’t have to be just sad.”

“I don’t wanna dismiss your efforts,” Merhib began, “but the holidays have… always been tough for me. I lost my mom around then.”

“I never knew that,” Neva murmured. Merhib let himself sink further into the seat of Neva’s car. She parked at the base of a snowy hill. As the two exited, Neva pulled out a long, plastic almost tray-like object. She held out her other hand to Merhib with a smile.

“Let’s bring back joy even in the smallest ways,” she said. Merhib gave a thin smile and their fingers interlocked as they trudged through the snow up the hill.

As the snowflakes began to fall again that night, Neva paused in walking up the tall hill and stuck her tongue out. She laughed as a tiny snowflake fell onto her tongue, others sprinkling into her hair and tickling her nose and cheeks. Merhib smiled at her joy.

When they had first met, neither of them had been this genuinely happy.

It was strange to him, if he was honest. He felt different around her.

“Come on,” Neva laughed, her breaths puffing out in front of her softly, “go for it, you’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

“Not in a long time,” Merhib chuckled. “It… hasn’t snowed where I lived in a while.” Merhib looked up at the snow, hesitated for just a moment, before sticking his tongue out just like Neva. The snow tickled his face as well, tiny pieces of white finding its way to his red hair.

Neva tugged his arm up the rest of the hill, before the two settled at the top. Neva set the plastic tray down and gestured for Merhib to sit beside her. He looked at her confused.

“It’s to not get our butts wet,” she laughed. “Just sit.” Merhib did, and the two stared out at the glowing lights of the city. Neva rested her head against Merhib’s shoulder.

“You can see everything from here,” he murmured. Neva hummed.

“You can see all the way out to Shoreline Manor,” she said. “They said that place had killer views. But it was for rich people. Way back when, I guess. But it’s for anyone brave enough to go into that old place now.” Merhib fell quiet as he stared out at his old home. He wondered what was still standing in there.

“Hey,” Neva lifted her head and looked down into the down, quiet. “Hear that?” Merhib shook his head. “No, be really quiet.” He did as he was told. He heard faint music. Neva stood and pulled Merhib up with her. She started dancing energetically in the snow, kicking up piles and letting the flakes that had fallen into her hair flow out. Merhib laughed as he watched her.

Neva grabbed his hands and began spinning with him, both laughing loudly.

Neva tripped over a thicker chunk of snow, causing both to fall. They still laughed the whole time. Neva rolled off of Merhib’s chest and back into the snow, spreading her limbs to make a snow angel. Merhib did the same alongside his girlfriend’s. More snow got into their hair, and they shivered as they got back up, but their joy still remained.

Neva heard slower music playing down in the town. Moving slowly to Merhib, she placed his hands on her hips and hers on his shoulders. She began to sway slowly, grinning up at him.

“I’m glad we didn’t go to the dance last week,” Neva said. Merhib tilted his head.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she murmured with a smile. “They always get too crowded and loud. I like just this.”

“Me too,” Merhib pressed a kiss to Neva’s cold nose, making her giggle and mumble how cheesy he could be. They pressed their foreheads together and continued to sway for a few moments more.

At the end of the song, Neva picked the tray back up and showed her real intentions with it. Smirking as she explained, her and Merhib climbed on it and when she told him to, they began to scoot forward until the tray worked as a makeshift sleigh. They laughed and screamed as they made their way down the hill to Neva’s car.

They held hands as they got back up and brushed off the tray, and when they got into the car and waited for it to warm up a little, Neva pulled Merhib closer to her. She pressed her cold nose and lips to his pale cheek. He chuckled at it.

“I love you,” she smiled at him, pulling back to look at his dark eyes. Merhib’s smile matched hers.

“I love you, too,” he whispered.

It was the first Christmas he could remember in years where he had felt completely happy.

—

The year was 2007.

Johnathan Bosteau and Johnathan Bosteau, Junior sat together in the living room that Christmas morning. Ghost sat comfortably in his favorite chair, with Johnny scrambling to the floor to look at his presents. No matter how much older his son got, he still held a young childish wonder at times.

There were gifts from his grandparents, the Amemoris, from his godmother Moirin, a few gifts from friends at school, and a gift from his father. Ghost chuckled as Johnny went through each one and excitedly opened one after another. He got new games, a couple CDs and DVDs he wanted… it was the sort of typical things to be expected from a small family’s simple Christmas.

When he got to the present signed from his father, Johnny smirked at how thin and small it was.

“What,” he teased, “didn’t know what to get me this year so you just got me a gift card? Money?”

“Just open it, Junior,” Ghost chuckled, flicking his fingers to the fireplace. The fire lit up brighter from the magic. Johnny snickered and started tearing at the wrapping paper.

It was folded up paperwork. Johnny scrunched up his nose and glanced up at his father. He gestured for him to keep going. The teenager rolled his eyes but unfolded the papers.

His stomach dropped when he did.

“Dad,” he murmured, the words getting caught in his throat. Ghost smiled.

“I finally raised the money for the surgery,” he said. “It’s in January. I was going to give it to you for your birthday, but I was just a little short. But you’ve hit the recommended age, you’ve been on the testosterone treatment for a year… it’s high time I took care of this for you.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Johnny felt his face grow red and his throat tighten. He wasn’t one to cry. But this…

He covered his mouth, trying to fight off his crying. The sixteen-year-old shot up from the floor and flung his arms around his father, so strongly that Ghost was caught off guard and his whole chair wobbled. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around his son, the warmth encompassing the teen.

“Thank you, Pops,” Johnny’s voice cracked. Ghost pressed a kiss to his son’s head.

“You’re welcome, son,” he spoke gently. “Merry Christmas.”

—

The year was 2012.

Beth watched as her mother’s car pulled out of the parking spot in front of their house from the window. She gave a smile and wave as her mother left for her holiday party, the mother waving back to her young daughter.

Only two minutes after she had left, Beth could see the headlights of Johnny’s motorcycle as he turned in front of the house and honked for Beth to come out. The thirteen-year-old beamed as she rushed out of the house, locking the door and hopping onto the back of Johnny’s bike. This was her second Christmas doing this.

As Johnny drove to the Bosteau house, Beth thought about last year’s Christmas. They had done this all just the same. Beth waited for her mother to leave. Johnny drove up. They made it home and Ghost had dinner made, and his friend, Moirin and her husband Dagan, were there helping, with their children all joining them for dinner and presents.

She had felt like an outsider, like someone who didn’t belong when she had first entered the house last Christmas.

But quickly, Moirin welcomed the young girl and all her children were eager to meet the new girl. Johnny played games with the kids and occasionally went over to help with dinner when his father and Moirin needed a hand. It was the most togetherness Beth had ever felt in her life.

This time, Beth tried to dress a little nicer. Her hair was tied up high, a first for her. She wore her Sunday best; a pale blue dress, white leggings and black flats, and a white blouse over her dress.

As Johnny pulled into the garage, he smiled at Beth, “I’ve never seen you dressed up before. You look great.”

“Thank you,” Beth smiled shyly, blushing. He gestured at her high ponytail.

“It’s a nice look,” he said. “So is the light blues. You should try it out more often.”

Johnny opened up the door connecting the garage to the house, the warmth wrapping itself around his and Beth’s faces and bodies. It felt like a giant blanket, or one of Ghost’s famous, warm, comforting hugs.

Beth waved to her friends. That sounded odd. But that’s what they were.

“I’ve never seen you dressed so nicely,” Dagan smiled. “It suits you well, young one.”

“Thank you,” Beth gave a small curtsy. Ghost began setting the table.

“Oh, how lovely!” Moirin beamed, then looked over to her friend, “Oh, John, take a look at Beth’s dress!”

“Hm?” Ghost lifted his head and the warmest smile crossed his face. He set the plates down and placed his hands on Beth’s shoulders. He fixed a curl or two of hers.

“You look wonderful,” he chuckled.

“Hey, not to break Beth’s time in the spotlight, but is dinner ready yet?” Johnny hung up his helmet and bomber jacket with a smirk, “I’m starving!”

“When are you not hungry?” Moirin giggled, Dagan rolling his eyes with a smile. Johnny shrugged with a snicker.

“I’m just a growing boy!” he said. Ghost huffed.

“You’re plenty done growing, Junior,” he teased. “Help me set the table and that’ll get food in you sooner.” Johnny licked his lips and rubbed his hands together. Indians trailed after him and hoped for some pity drops.

When the family winded down to enjoy the dinner, Moirin smiled at her husband. He gave her one back, kissing her hand and squeezing it.

Moirin didn’t know this would be her last Christmas with him.

Beth smiled at Ghost and Johnny, happy to be so welcomed by such kind people.

She didn’t realize this would be her last Christmas alive.

#Beth writing #ghosty beth #ghosty blogging #Johnny bosteau #McGillicuddy sunshine #esther #skeleton uncle #Merhib the demon #Neva arazel

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duckybeth99 · 7 years

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One Winter’s Bond (Past Fic)

ok so I’m starting the series of holiday fics with this one BECAUSE it has nobody else’s characters but mine so I thought I might as well get it outta the way lmao. Read bc it contains Plot Points That Will Come Up

—

It was a small little home, crowded as she always remembered it to be.

Only a young girl, she remembered the young man who came to the door that December day. There was snow covering the streets outside, and her grandmother told her to not play too close to the windows and doors, out of fear of the chill air seeping in and the young girl catching a cold.

Alice looked over to the menorah. She swung her legs as she sat at the kitchen table, waiting for her mother to come home so they could light the candle for the first night. This year, they said that on the last day, Alice could light the last one herself.

“I’m home!” Molly called, stepping through the front door and holding tight to the jacket around her. She patted her boots against the welcome mat as Melissa ushered her daughter inside.

“Inside, get inside from the cold!” Melissa scolded. Molly laughed as she walked in.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, Mom,” she smirked, “if you’d make more space from the doorway.”

“Oy, this apartment is far too small,” Melissa huffed. “But you’re just in time for dinner. It’s still warm.”

“I’m not late for once?” Molly grinned, “Lucky me.”

“Mom!” Alice ran up, tugging her mother’s hand, “Come on, it’s time to light the menorah!”

“After dinner,” Melissa said. “Don’t let supper get cold.”

“Your grandma’s right, Alice,” Molly smiled. “Just wait a minute. Besides, I’m freezing. I wanna get something warm in me first.” Alice pouted, but followed her mother to the dining room.

“The store is so busy.” Molly told her mother and daughter as they ate, “It’s the only time of year we keep our head above water.”

“Everybody wants dresses for holiday parties,” Melissa nodded, “and everybody wants their suits patched up, and nice clothes for their children, dresses husbands get for their wives…”

“Only other busy time is around Easter,” Molly huffed. “Everybody needs their Sunday best.”

Alice twirled her fork in her mashed potatoes. Her mother and grandmother were always worried about the seamstress shop they owned. On their little block, a lot of the families had their own shops and such a couple streets down. One was a jokes shop. Another was her mother and grandmother’s seamstress shop. Molly told Alice that the shop that was next door used to be her father’s old bakery.

Her grandmother was complaining just earlier that day about how the man who owned the block, a Mr. Ezekiel Zachary Collins, was planning to place a new business in there. Melissa didn’t like the idea of seeing what had been a lovely, comforting place be taken away by someone else. Molly wasn’t sure how she felt. She just knew that it still hurt every time she looked at the old place.

Alice didn’t feel much either way. It would at least mean a new place to play around and explore. Maybe it would be a toy store, like the fancy ones up town.

Once dinner was done, the twelve-year-old practically tugged the older women to the menorah on the mantel. Molly laughed at her daughter’s excitement, as Melissa went over to get a match.

“I got it, Mom,” Molly smiled, gently taking the matchbox from her mother. Melissa gave a tired smile and patted her daughter’s arm.

Molly scrapped the edge of the box with the match, Alice watching with a smile as her mother lit the second candle. With a gentle blow, she let the match’s fire die and tossed it in the trash. Melissa uttered a prayer in front of the lights

“Now a chocolate piece?” Alice beamed at her grandmother. Melissa laughed.

“So that’s what you’ve been waiting for all night,” she teased. “I see your real motives, little one.”

Alice held out her hands excitedly as Melissa pressed one Hanukkah gelt in her hand. Alice beamed and quickly tore the wrapping off and bit into the chocolate coin.

“Such a sweet tooth,” Melissa chuckled. “Must have gotten it from her father.”

“Yeah,” Molly murmured quietly. Melissa looked sadly at her daughter and patted her back gently.

“Let’s listen to the radio,” Melissa offered. Molly nodded as she went over to the small radio on the side table. She turned the knobs, looking for a station.

That was when the man showed up.

There was a knock on the door, and Alice held the chocolate in her mouth, letting it melt on her tongue as her mother murmured, “who could that be?” and went to answer the door. Melissa sat in her rocking chair, listening to the music that came over the radio.

“Hello?” Molly looked up at the young man before her. He had brown curly hair, teal blue eyes and thin, half-moon glasses. He wore a hat that covered most of his curls from the snow, a fancy dark coat, and a blue scarf. Alice looked curiously up at him, trying to get the best look she could of him.

“Alice,” Melissa scolded, “it’s rude to stare.” Alice quickly turned her head back and looked up at her grandmother.

“I’m sorry for barging in, miss,” the young man began, “I-I was looking for a Ms. McEllen. Molly McEllen?”

“That’s me,” Molly hesitated. “I-is there something wrong?”

“No, no,” the man began nervously, “I, um, I need to talk to you.”

“Please, come in from the cold,” Molly murmured, stepping aside to let the young man in. He slid his hat off and stood awkwardly in the living room.

“Mom, could you put Alice to bed?” Molly asked. Alice frowned.

“I can go by myself,” the twelve-year-old grumbled.

“It’s not a matter of going, it’s a matter of staying,” Molly said. “Please?”

“Yes, Mom,” Alice mumbled. Her grandmother ushered her down the hall to their rooms. Molly looked anxiously to the young man.

“May I ask what this about?” she began, “O-oh, and please, sit down. You don’t have to stand this whole time.”

“My… well, um,” the young man slowly sat across from Molly on the sofa, “m-my name is Merhib. Merhib Zachary Collins.” Molly tensed at the last name. “And… I’ve been doing a lot of digging. Looking into the past. And… um… I—I think you’re my mother?” Molly froze.

“I… I’m sorry,” she shook her head slowly, “I don’t have a son. I only have my daughter.”

“But—but my father said—“

“Ezekiel Collins?”

“Y… yes,” Merhib murmured. Molly looked over her shoulder, down the hall to be sure her daughter and mother’s bedroom doors were shut.

“I did have a child with him,” she whispered. “My mother knows. But not my daughter. Nor… nor my late husband. He never knew. But it was only Alice. She’s twelve.”

“Oh,” Merhib murmured. Disappointed, he stared at his gloved hands silently.

“There was another woman I knew, though,” Molly began, “Lea Miller. She was with him before. She lived with us for a long time. My mother and I took her in.”

“Do you know where she is?” Merhib’s hands gripped tightly to the armrest, excitement shining from him again. Molly looked sadly at Merhib. She placed a hand over his gloved one and squeezed it tight.

Alice pressed her ear to her bedroom door, dressed in her nightgown. It was too quiet to hear a thing. She huffed and pouted with her bottom lip hanging, crossing her arms.

She wondered what her mother and the man were talking about.

She wondered the whole time as she finally climbed into bed and began to fall asleep.

—

He visited frequently after that. Almost every day. He would help his grandmother around the house, he would study there and Melissa would give him food and scold him for being so thin, Merhib would give a shy smile and eat what Melissa made for him. Alice had to admit, she was a little jealous when her grandmother gave him a chocolate gelt and he wasn’t even Jewish.

He didn’t know what the menorah was for, but he repeatedly apologized for intruding on “their holidays”.

Today found Alice finally off from school, and Merhib was watching over her. Her mother called it babysitting. She said he was just watching over her.

She wasn’t a baby.

Alice hopped around in the snow, Merhib keeping an eye on her as they walked to another part of town Alice had rarely been to. Where the rich people lived, where the fancy shops were.

“Everyone’s at the shop and I don’t have a key to your house,” Merhib began as they walked up the pathway to a gated, large manor, “and I don’t want to impose. So, your mom said it would be okay if I took you to my house. A-as long as my dad wasn’t home.”

“You live here?” Alice gasped, staring at the tall building. Merhib nodded as he let Alice inside. Her cold face immediately was met with the warmth of his home. A tall Christmas tree stood in the middle of the foyer. Alice looked at all the different doorways that led to giant rooms, the tall double staircases that practically wrapped around the tree, and what seemed like millions more rooms that were upstairs.

“Yeah,” Merhib chuckled, taking off his hat, coat, and scarf. Alice slowly took her coat off.

“Your tree is gigantic!” she gasped, “Probably taller than the one in the middle of the city!”

“I dunno about that,” Merhib smiled, “but it is big. Father likes the… bigger things in life. Bigger and finer is better to him.” Alice wandered up to the tree and stared at crystal ornaments that reflected her freckled face back.

The rest of that day, Merhib showed Alice around his lavished home. She was in awe with how he owned his own personal library, how giant his bed was, the balcony he had outside his own room, the giant fireplace in the parlor room, the huge kitchen, the long dining table decorated with fancy trinkets for Christmas… he seemed to have everything.

Why was this young rich man talking with her family?

Merhib found a few books for the girl and read to her. She fell asleep on him at one point. Merhib put a blanket around her and let her sleep on the parlor room sofa, the warmth and glow of the fire reflecting on her face.

She slept for a while before piano music woke her up.

Alice crawled out from the warm cocoon of the blanket, wandering the home until she found the sound of the music.

There, behind the large, beautiful piano, sat Merhib. He was singing softly to himself.

The minute he lifted his head and saw Alice, his face flushed and he threw down shut the lid for the keys.

“Hey, don’t stop!” Alice scurried inside the music room, beside the young man, “You were really good! Can you play a little more? Please?”

“Um…” Merhib chewed at his bottom lip. Alice looked pleading with her big, brown eyes. Merhib sighed and opened the keys again. Taking a breath, he started on the piano again, playing a different song.

He began to sing a holiday song, but Alice never heard it before. People singing it, or it playing over the radio. Merhib seemed to know all the words by heart, though.

He slowly began to become more excited and enthused as he played, his voice louder and more joyful. Alice scooted to sit beside him on the piano, feeling his warmth against her.

He was a very nice man. She wished she could play like him.

He took her home a few hours later, after she taught him how to play with dreidels and they cleared some snow from the front sidewalk, playing hopscotch together as the snow stopped falling. Merhib made them both hot chocolate. Alice laughed when he got a chocolate mustache over his lips. She told him how she only got chocolate around Hanukkah, how her family couldn’t spend too much on nicer things. Merhib offered her one more cup full after hearing that.

The next day, Merhib watched over Alice at night, at her home. Molly and Melissa had an emergency to take care of at the shop and take care of a client.

Alice pressed her hands against the frosted windows, looking out down the streets. Merhib noticed her, setting his book down.

“What’s the matter?” Alice squinted, trying to look further down the road.

“I wanna see the big tree,” she murmured, “in the middle of town. My mom and grandma would take me to see it light up, cuz I always thought it was pretty since I was little, but they’re busy.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Merhib grinned. Alice turned from the window, seeing Merhib already toss his coat back on and held up Alice’s. She excitedly slipped into hers.

The two rushed through the streets, snow falling softly. Alice kept tugging Merhib’s arm, and he kept warning her not to go so fast. Alice could see her panted breaths blow out of her.

Reaching the middle of town, the crowd had already grown wide. Alice tried to stand on the tips of her toes to get a good look. She couldn’t see over the people in front of her. She huffed, Merhib looking around. He smiled.

“Follow me,” he whispered. Alice held tight to his hand as they moved through the crowd, reaching back to his manor. He hurried up the stairs, and going through one of the rooms upstairs, Merhib pulled back some curtains and opened up the latch to the window.

The two slowly stepped out to the balcony, watching the snow fall. Alice looked around confused.

“Why are we back here?” she asked. Merhib pointed down below them.

There was a perfect view of the middle of the town. Alice grinned from ear to ear as the tree slowly lit up, ticking from one layer to the next until the star on top was shining for all to see.

“This is wonderful!” Alice cheered. Merhib smiled at the young girl’s joy. She threw her arms around him, much to his suddenly tense surprise. He slowly wrapped his arms back around her. The two stared out at the snowfall and the people down in the middle of town singing.

—

“Merhib, you tracked snow everywhere,” the maid scolded. The young man smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry,” he murmured. The maid huffed. As Merhib began to head to his room to study, she called his name. He stopped before getting to the staircase.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” she asked, her voice hushed. Merhib sighed and moved slowly back to the maid.

“She died,” he whispered. “A few years ago. A… around December, actually. She took her life.”

“I’m sorry,” the maid bowed her head. “I know how much looking for your mother meant to you.”

“It’s okay,” Merhib shrugged, brushing his sadness away. “I… I found some other people. Not my mother, but they were very kind.”

“Very good,” the maid smiled tiredly.

“Go on and get some rest,” Merhib smiled gently. “It’s late. You can’t stay up for so long.”

“These old bones still have work to do.”

“I’ll clean up the snow. Promise.”

“You better,” the maid huffed, placing her hands on her hips with a nod, “or else your father will have both our heads.”

“I know,” Merhib smiled. As his maid headed to her quarters and Merhib cleaned up the snow, he thought about Alice.

His little half-sister.

He promised to keep Molly’s secret. That meant not even telling the maid. Not telling Alice.

He knew her reasons.

He didn’t want to be a Collins either.

#Beth writing #Merhib the demon #Alice

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