Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Zell, it’s your turn to tell a story.”

Zell looked up from his hotdog cooking on a stick above the campfire. Everyone was looking at him, expectation on their faces. He gulped. He had an idea but the actual specifics of it had been pushed aside in favor of eating first. Can’t think on an empty stomach, after all.

Sure, he was on his fourth hotdog but it still felt empty inside. Darn it, he thought he had more time. A sizzle drew his attention away from his story obligations. His hotdog had burst open, juices spilling into the flames. It was also on fire.

“No!” Zell cried out, pulling the stick back and doing his best to extinguish the flames by blowing on it. By the time he put it out, over half of it was charred.

With a solemn resignation, he stuck it in a bun and applied the necessary condiments. He would not waste a hotdog.

“Before the heat death of the universe.” Seifer grumbled from across the fire. He sat next to Quistis in a fold out chair, his arm draped around her shoulders.

Sure, Seifer wasn’t as much of an ass as before but Zell still didn’t see what Quistis saw in him. But he couldn’t dwell on it for long. His story was incomplete, so he took a bite of his hotdog to give himself a moment to think. He had the setting, the hero and the bad guy but he needed some hook and the ending. The flavor of the burnt meat made him wince.

“Methinks he is not possessed of the spirit of story-telling!” Selphie shouted, gesturing at him dramatically. “Verily, he hath no tale to tell.”

The Renaissance Faire was still on Selphie’s mind it seemed but her display finally clicked the missing piece of his story into place. He swallowed and grinned.

“Oh, I got a story for ya.”

******

October 31st, 1921 - Dollet City Library

Dell Zinc—

“Are you frickin’ kidding me?” Seifer scoffed.

My story, Seifer. My characters. Anyway.

Dell Zincht, private eye and his partner…uh, Beefer…Elmesy?

“Oh, that is—“ Seifer began angrily.

“Quiet.” Squall cut in. “Heh, I wanna hear this.”

Thanks, Squall. Anyway, Zincht and Elmesy are on the case! They’re researching…wait for it…

…Ghosts!

A certain client of theirs was having problems with a haunting and came to their agency for help. So, the two, who did not know a lot about ghosts, decided to go to the library. 

The two P.I.’s walk through the big, double doors. The place is huge and has books but it feels really creepy when they walk in. Like, it feels like a hundred eyes they can’t see are looking at them.

“Geez, Dell, I hate this place. Too scary” Beefer whines in a nasally voice.

“That is not my voice and you know it.” Seifer grumbles.

Not you. It’s Beefer. Shut up.

Where was I?

Oh yeah.

“Don’t worry, Beefer. Just books. Little knowledge won’t hurt anybody.” Dell reassures his partner.

They walk to the reception desk where a super cute library girl was filing out paperwork. She had really pretty brown hair pulled back into a pigtail. Nice eyes. Cute nose. And this adorable mouth with a dimple at one corner when smil—

“Zell!” Lara, the library girl and his girlfriend, admonished while blushing.

What? You do…what? Okay, so, she introduces herself to Dell and Beefer.

“Hi, I’m Mara!” She says in a voice like sunshine. “How can I help you?”

“Evening, ma’am!” Dell flashes a smile and Mara swoons. “We’re looking for books on ghosts.”

Thunder cracks in the background as Mara’s pretty face goes white.

“W-w-why are you looking for that here?” She asks with fear in her face.

“Got a case.” Dell explains, all manly. Seifer. Selphie. Stop laughing. “Client thinks ghosts are haunting him. Wanna do some research.”

“Well, I do have books about ghosts but…” Mara hesitates for a second, biting her finger in that cute way she does when she’s nervous. “…it’s in the forbidden zone!”

Another crack of lightning shakes the building. Beefer jumps.

“Dell! I don’t like this!” Beefer says.

“It’s just rain, Beefer.” Dell tells him. “Bad weather ain’t nuthin’ to worry about. Now, Miss Mara, can you take us to that part of the library. Client thinks he’s haunted and we really gotta help him out.”

Mara puts her hangs together in front of her mouth. She stays like that for a long time as she tries to make a decision. Finally, she nods.

“I do have the key but you have listen to me and stay close.” 

Mara disappears behind the counter. When she pops back up, she’s got a ring a keys. And a lantern.

“Follow me.” She orders in a real bossy but cute way.

The two P.I.’s follow her further into the library. They go down into the deep, dark basement. Beefer’s afraid the whole time but Dell isn’t. Finally, they find…

THE DOOOOOOOOOOORRRRR!!!!

It’s old and creepy and it’s covered in cobwebs.

“We keep all the forbidden books here.” Mara says all serious and mysterious.

“Why?” Selphie asked out of the blue.

Huh? Why what?

“Why would they have a forbidden zone?” Selphie elaborates.

Uh…cause…?

“Your lore is crap.” Selphie complained. Putting a finger to her lips, she tapped them several times before her eyes widen. Zell could practically see the light bulb above her head. “Ooooohhh, how about it was built in on top of an old Sorceress’s castle?

You know…that’s actually a good idea. Yeah. Yeah, the library was built on the bones of an old Magic castle. 

“This building is old. A lot of the archives are from before when it a castle for a Sorceress. A lot of the books were hers.” Mara explains.

She produces the key and slides it in the keyhole. There’s a loud click followed by rusty hinges screaming. The door slides open and reveals a pitch black set of stairs that lead even furtherdown. The lantern light barely moves the darkness.

“Follow me and don’t touch anything.” Mara warns.

So, they go down the stairs for a long time, like super long time. The further they go down the more Dell and Beefer hear a weird noise. It sounds like air moving in and out in the walls quietly. Almost like breathing. 

“What happened to the Sorceress that owned the castle before?” Dell asks.

“She used to rule the city. The people rebelled. Chased her into the castle and down into her library. They destroyed the castle but the door to the basement remained. Anyone that went down into that sanctum of dark knowledge was never seen again.” Mara says.

“Oh hamburgers! Then why are we coming down here?!” Beefer stops on the stairs.

“I have never and will never say ‘oh hamburgers!’” Seifer interrupted, crossing his arms over his chest.

Seifer, it’s not you. 

“What’s Beefer look like?” Seifer demanded while fixing Zell with a death glare. Zell squirmed in his seat.

Like…a…guy?

“Oh, you little—“

“Seifer, stop interrupting.” Quistis put an arm on Seifer’s shoulder. He glowered but didn’t continue. “Let him finish.”

Dang, nothing to say now. Whipped much?

“If I ask nicely.” Seifer shot back with a smirk.

“Seifer!” Quistis yelled while turning beet red. Zell grimaced.

That’s…way too much information. Back to my story.

“That was a long time ago. No one’s gotten lost down here in decades.” Mara assured sweetly.

“See, Beef?” Dell laughed, slapping his friend in the shoulder. “Nuthin’ to worry about!”

So they kept going. The descent was filled with even more sounds of air moving. Once they got to the bottom of the stairs, Dell notices a white line going across the last step.

“What’s that?” Dell inquires, his investigator instincts taking over.

“Oh, that’s salt.” Mara points to a bag of the stuff right by the door. “The Head Librarian thinks it helps against ghosts. Apparently, they can’t cross a line of it.”

The two P.I.’s look at each other and step over the salt. They make it about three steps inside before Mara’s lantern suddenly goes out. Before Dell can even ask what’s going on, a girly scream rips through the darkness before fading away. Then the light turns on again and Dell and Mara are left alone in the basement. Beefer is gone!

“Beefer! Beefer, where are ya, buddy!” Del yells into the darkness.

Another girly scream fills the air…

“I’m gonna throw something at him.” Seifer declared.

…and Del tries to run off in the direction of his friend but Mara stops him.

“There’s something I forgot until now.” Mara whispers all scared. “Tonight is the anniversary of the destruction of the Sorceress’ Castle! They say her ghost haunts the basement looking for people to possess so she can escape!”

“She’s got Beefer! I can’t just leave him!” Dell yells.

“You’re so brave.” A tear goes down Mara’s cheek. Dell wipes it really gently with his thumb as he holds her face.

“I ain’t brave, just wanna help a friend.”

“tHeRe’S NoThInG yOu CaN dO…heeeeee’ssss MINE!!!” A voice like silk and nails on a chalkboard calls out from the darkness.

Several rows of books stand in front of Del and Mara, the lanes between them all pitch black. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Del sees a white, glowing shape at the end of one. It disappears when he tries to look at it.

“Look!” Mara pulls his arm and points down another set of bookshelves. The figure, closer this time, stands looking directly at them but once they blink it’s gone.

“SssssssoooOOOOO STROng, this one!” The voices come from below and above. “Niiiiice empty HEAD to settle in!”

…

…Seifer, did you just throw a marshmallow at my head?

“Yes.” Seifer folded his hands in lap and leaned back in his chair. He smiled smugly at Zell. “And?”

Well, I’d tell Quistis to do something about you but I’m afraid of what she’s gonna do.

“Zell!” Quistis huffs.

“Yeah, don’t kink shame!” Selphie put her hands on her hips and shook her head in disapproval. 

Okay, okay. Sorry, Quistis.

Back to the story!

The figure flashes into view to their left. Dell is sure the glowing thing is Beefer. Or, whatever is using Beefer as a meat puppet. It’s getting closer.

“Mara run!” Dell orders. “Leave the lantern and get up the stairs!”

“But—“

“No buts! I can’t leave Beefer but if something happens you gotta tell people not come down here!”

Mara looks at Dell with sadness in her eyes. She nods and runs up the stairs. Lantern in hand, Del bravely faces the darkness.

The glowing being moves faster now. Every blink makes it move here and there but always closer. And closer. And closer.

Dell, champ at his boxing club puts down the lantern and readies his fists. Just as it gets close to punching range, the thing disappears. He looks here and there but it’s nowhere. It’s then that he notices that sound he heard before on the stairs. A sound like breathing.

It’s loud. It’s heavy. And it’s right above him!

Dell looks up to come face to face with Beefer. Except it’s not. Chalk white face and hair with lips, teeth and eyes as black as the night. The monster grins at the P.I., standing on the ceiling, looking down at Del the same way Del is looking up at it.

So he jumps back in time to watch the possessed body of his partner fall to the floor in a heap. He watches with horror as Beefer’s limbs move one by one as if pulled by a string. His left hand first, lifting into the air. The other hand follows. The shoulders come next, his head hanging limply. And so, the ghost sets up Beefer’s body like a figurine on display. Only when the rest of him is standing, does the head move. Snapping into place like the neck has a spring.

“tImE tO dIe…”

The monster lunges at Dell but he moves too fast, tucking and weaving under the attack. The ghost seems surprised at first but it’s definitely surprised when Del lands an uppercut to its chin. The thing flies back and hits a bookshelf, blood running down from its lip.

“FOOL!!! you CAN’T hurt ME! YoU cAn OnLy HuRt YoUr FrIeNd!”

Dell steps back. If the phantom was right and there was no way for his fist to actual damage it then he and Beefer are doomed. His mind races as he thinks of what to do. The possessed Beefer got up and began moving toward him again, which caused Del to take a step back. His foot hit something which made him look down.

A bag of salt sitting by the stairs.

Dell mind went back to what Mara said about salt keeping ghost away. Then he got an idea.

“This is crazy but it just might work.” Del mutters to himself. 

Then he begins licking his hands.

“What.” Seifer looked at him in confusion.

“Gross.” Selphie complained.

“I think I know where this is going.” Squall chuckled.

Hands covered in spit, Del shoves his hands into the salt. Once every inch is covered in the stuff he squares up against the entity. It attacks again but Del ducks and punches it in the stomach. For a moment, a glowing figure lifts out of Beefer’s body slightly. It’s a Sorceress clad in robes and an horned headdress. She’s holding her stomach. After a second, she slides back into Beefer and growls.

“YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME!!!” Beefer screams with a black mouth.

Del punches him in it. The head of the ghost pops out of Beefer’s, looking dazed. The P.I. grins.

“What’s the matter, ghost?” Del smirks. “Getting salty?”

A collective groan goes out amongst his listeners.

“That wasn’t even slang in the 20’s!” Quistis lectured.

Whatever. Y’all don’t appreciate good word play. Anyway…ahem.

The battle rages! Though the ghost has Beefer’s body and Beefer’s real strong, she doesn’t know how to use it in a fight. Dell keeps dodging and moving, punching at every opening. Each blow pushes the ghost more and more out of Beefer until it pops out entirely. Del’s friend goes down like a sack of potatoes while ghost of the Sorceress floats above him.

“HoW?!” The ghost cries.

Dell doesn’t answer. Del hits her with a quick flurry of blows and she disintegrates into the ether. The basement goes quiet. The breathing of the walls stops.

Dell stares at the spot where the ghost disappeared, waiting for it to return but nothing happens. 

Then Beefer groans. Dell kneels next to him and helps him sit up. The big guy is back to his regular color, except for all the bruises. Her sits up and looks at Del with one good eye, cause the other is swollen shut.

“Boss, I had the weirdest dream…” Beefer croaks out. 

“Did ya now?” Del laughs. “Well, I found out the best way to deal with ghosts.”

The End.

*****

Zell crossed his arms and smirked at the group. They all stared at him with various looks on their faces.

“Lame.” Selphie stated simply, shaking her head.

“What?!” Zell cried out incredulously, leaning forward. “Why?”

“Not enough blood and death.” Selphie wagged her finger at him. “Good horror needs to be messy!”

“I actually liked it.” Irvine chimed in. “I think the dark and ghosts are way scarier. The unknown and supernatural, ya know. Plus, I love the way Del won.”

“Me too!” Rinoa pipped up. “I liked it cause they won at the end! I hate the ones where everyone dies or the monster gets out.”

“Wimps.” Seifer chuckled. “Bad endings are good endings in horror. The best horror ends with everyone losing. The last person gets pulled into the darkness and then roll credits.”

“The best horror is taking something mundane and relatable and twisting it until it becomes terrifying.” Quistis stated matter of factly. “Makes you squirm at a subconscious level.”

“Bleh!” Selphie retorted, sticking her tongue out. “Ya need shlock! Ya need maiming and guts spilling! Ya need a masked slasher picking people off one by one while ya take bets!”

“I liked it cause Beefer got beat up.” Squall said with a satisfied smirk looking at Seifer. “Don’t know why, don’t like the character.”

Seifer flipped him off. Zell snorted. He stared into the fire as everyone kept discussing there personal does and don’t of horror. A hand settled over his. He turned to a smiling Lara.

“I liked the haunted library.” She whispered smiling, a stray lock of hair falling out of her pigtail. Zell grinned back.

“Thought you would.”

Lara rested a head on his shoulder. He rested his cheek on top of her head. Together they watched the flames and embers dance. He felt warm but it wasn’t only from the fire.

“Who’s next?!” Selphie demanded.