TW - attempted violence but no one gets hurt <3

Chapter 5

When I wake up with a start, I half expect to have more memories come back. But that isn’t what woke me this time - it was Scilla. 

“He’s back- I don’t know why, but I just heard his car- I know the sound of his car,” Scilla whispers hurriedly, her hands shaking as she wraps her arms around herself. “He can’t hurt you with me here,” I say softly, encouraging us to go and hide Myrtle.

We take Myrtle’s box from the bathroom and hide it in Scilla’s wardrobe, where hopefully her boyfriend won’t find our little bundle of joy.

“I’m right here with you,” I remind her gently, ready to leap forwards and take control at any point if I need to.

The front door opens, and Scilla lies completely still in her bed, pretending to sleep. The bedroom door slams open, and Scilla starts to shake, a tear sliding over her cheek. Anger boils within my soul, and I wrap myself around Scilla’s soul protectively.

“Scilla. Wake the fuck up, you bitch,” the man snarls and my anger overtakes my entire soul, protective fury coursing through my entire being.

I will not let him hurt those I love.

Scilla slowly sits up in bed, turning to face the man but without looking at him. She can’t meet his eyes, and I’d rather she didn’t anyway - I’m worried that she’ll only be more afraid if she sees the fury in his eyes.

“I-I thought you w-weren’t coming b-back until next w-week,” Scilla stutters out, her fingers lacing together. The man steps towards her, glaring with fierce anger. “Well I got fucking tired of that bitch so I thought I’d come back. But of course my whore of a girlfriend isn’t even happy to see me,” he practically growls, taking another step towards her.

“Scilla, my love. Let me take control. I won’t let him hurt us,” I whisper, not wanting to let that bastard get any closer to us.

Scilla obeys instantly, her soul slipping behind mine. I snap my gaze up to his defiantly. “Why would I be happy to see someone who beats me and calls me names? Go back to one of your other girlfriends and leave me alone.”

He looks entirely stunned for a moment, before he raises a hand to hit Scilla straight across the face. But I catch his wrist as it comes crashing towards me, and I use all Scilla’s and my combined strength to pull him forwards, wrenching him off balance.

“Don't you dare hit me ever again,” I whisper directly into his ear, gripping his wrist tighter. He tries to wrench his wrist backwards but Scilla and I are far more powerful than a measly human. 

“Don’t ever come back here, and never hurt another woman again, alright? Because if you do, I will hunt you down and make your life hell,” I threaten, despite not being able to follow up on that whatsoever. But he doesn’t know that - all he knows is that this is not the Scilla he remembers.

“What the fuck are you?” He grits his teeth, still trying to pull his wrist out of my grasp. Leaning forwards, I let a little black smoke slip out from my eyes, mouth and the hand that is holding his wrist.

“I’m your worst fucking nightmare - a strong woman who won’t put up with your shit anymore.”

And then I finally let go of him, letting the man trip over his own feet in an attempt to get away from me and my black smoke. I don’t know if the smoke would even do anything to him, but it looks intimidating and that’s all I needed it to do.

And he runs all the way out of the house, without even stopping to get in his car. 

This time, he’s gone for good.

—————

-Greater Phantom-

A strong host. Someone who can do my bidding for me…someone who I can fuse with, rather than simply possess. Possessed humans are nothing more than skin-sacks, but any human that fuses with me…we could do whatever we want.

Whatever I want.

But I haven’t felt any that were quite right. I need someone full of hate, full of anger and violence. I need someone who will help me get my revenge.

And then I sense one.

Burning hatred, so thick and wrathful that I practically grin. 

He is perfect.

“Child, I can make you more powerful than anyone else on this earth. Will you take my power?” I call out, watching as he nods, furious hate in his eyes.

“Will you help me teach her a lesson?” He shouts, his eyes practically on fire. 

My grin widens.

“We will teach them all a lesson, together.”

—————

-Jess-

“Jess! You did it! You saved us,” Scilla grins, wrapping her arms around herself in the closest approximation of a hug that the two of us can get to. “We are safe now. He won’t dare come back; and if he does, then I’m stronger than him anyway. He doesn’t stand a chance,” I declare proudly, smiling warmly as Scilla takes Myrtle from the wardrobe and cuddles her gently.

Some instinct in the back of my mind itches, and when I pay closer attention to it, I come to the conclusion that I shouldn’t let too much of my smoke out. Little amounts like just before are alright, but if I use my smoke powers then the Grim Reapers might be able to track me through it.

Or something.

I don’t know how I know that - I don’t really know how I know anything, but I do. I know a lot about this world, somehow.

Like it’s always been with me, since I became a spirit. Like I should know this stuff, and I should definitely listen to it. So I do. Instincts will save your life - that’s the whole point of them; to keep you from harm.

So what’s the point in ignoring them?

“So…what do we do now? We have that Grim Reaper after us as well as my boyfr- ex boyfriend. I doubt that’ll have been the last we see of him,” Scilla says a little sadly. Humming, I think through our options.

“For right now, we’ll be safe in this house, and we can take care of Myrtle here. Your ex knows we’re here but I scared the shit out of him to last us a few weeks. And the Grim Reaper doesn’t know exactly where we live - just where we work. I think it makes most sense to quit your job and try and find one elsewhere, because the Grim Reaper will probably just camp outside the café until you eventually arrive.”

Scilla nods, tapping her chin, a thought blooming in her mind. And then a huge crack resounds from the sky above, a vicious clap of thunder and lightning appearing out of nowhere. Scilla rushes us over to the window to watch as the storm swirls around the centre of the town. 

And then, they arrive.

The Heavens open and hundreds of Grim Reapers stream out, some with visible weapons like scythes and swords for vanquishing spirits, and some empty handed like the Grim Reaper we fought with before.

“There’s so many of them,” Scilla whispers, clutching the windowsill tightly. “What do they even want?”

Feeling my heart sink, I watch as the stream of Grim Reapers slowly comes to a halt, and the Heavens close back up, locking them here with us.

“They want to kill us, Scilla. They want to vanquish every evil spirit they come across, and they definitely want to kill a phantom like me.”

I already died once, but I guess there’s always the chance to die a second time, too.