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2024-10-29 19:42:56You already know I’m not one for flash fiction, so you can picture how hard it was for me to come up with those hundred words Isaac had asked. I mean, I wanted them to be special and meaningful, but I couldn’t let my feelings show. They had to make a difference, add to the story he wanted to tell, even if it was to contradict him. Wait. That was something I was actually good at.
Okay, so contradicting him, but in a positive way. He’d told me he intended to tell a very different story from what he’d been showing over the last ten. That he’d always portrayed himself as the fearless investigator, daring the darkness to delve into some mystery. Dark entities were the bad guys, while he was the good guy coming to the rescue of any alleged victim of the week. He’d said he wouldn’t do any of it on his last episode with the show, but all the way around.
If I pinned that along with his refusal to let me see even a single scene of what h
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I was back to the Manor on Monday, happy after spending two days with Kujo. And three days later, the two last Haunters arrived in one of their trademark rental black SUVs. It was almost dinner time, so I sent them to say hi to the Blotters while I finished cooking and set the table.When they joined me in the kitchen, I could tell they felt awkward, there with his friend’s sort of ex. Like they weren’t sure what they could say or talk about.“Hey, guys, let’s clear this out of the way,” I said, bringing the shepherd’s pie to the table. I sat down with them and spoke while I filled their plates. “Yeah, Bran and I broke up. Yeah, I still have feelings for him. Yeah, it still hurts. But I can hear his name and even talk about him in a rather rational way without having a breakdown.” I smiled, shrugging. “What can I say. Shit happens.”Ted raised his beer to me.“Shit happens,”
Haunter The Dull Way Out
Like there was nothing left to say after that conversation in the study, we spent the whole next day shooting, mostly outdoors, by the Quabbin and in the woods. They made me do four different shots of the hundred words, plus their B roll, like I was some frigging model showing off New England rural fashion. By dinner time, the three of us were exhausted and we didn’t linger late afterwards. Early the next morning, we parted with quick hugs and they left. I didn’t see or hear from them again.August brought another visit of Mr. Edward and his family on the first weekend.And Brandon’s birthday on the 18. I could feel it marching on a week in advance, and decided I felt strong enough to send him something simple, just to let him know I recalled the date. I would’ve made it a letter over the post mail, but I didn’t have the guts or the heart to write to him. I spent the next days trying to come up with a fitting gift.On Friday, I was
Haunter The Eyes of the Haunter
“Brandon needs you here,” Isaac said, sitting down again, and raised a hand to cut me off. “This has nothing to do with the premiere. He’s having eye surgery on November 1.”“Yeah, his doctor said so months ago. And that’s got something to do with me how?”He faced me with a frowning grimace, like I was a spoiled child throwing a tantrum.“Don’t give me that look, Isaac. We broke up, remember? Half a fucking year ago. He’s got you guys and his chicks to look after him.”“No, he doesn’t, Fran. He’s sending us all away that very day, to resume our different shoots. And about chicks, remember I told you there was no way he was back with Serena? Well, I was right, he wasn’t.” I rolled my eyes with a bored huff that earned me a full-out scowl. “Hear me out. She’s an influencer and was down in popularity, so she asked Brandon if he could he
Haunter The Ghost of You
Poor Lizzie. Well, and Charlotte. I desperately needed to vent out all the fear and anguish the news had caused me, but I couldn’t tell Trisha, let alone Amy. So poor Lizzie was my ghostly shoulder to cry and ramble and wind out. Those two weeks were the longest in history, and I had to fight back my urgency to throw everything out the window and go to Los Angeles. I was actually about to do it three times.Especially after I heard Brandon losing it a night he found Cake talking with me over the phone. I kept quiet and he didn’t find out it was me at the other end of the line. He’d lost so much vision, he couldn’t make out my face on screen. But he got so mad, suspecting Cake was talking about him, he not only threatened the big man, but snatched the phone from his hand and smashed it on the floor, stomping on it until it broke.Another one for Lizzie to hold me up, because I’d gotten to see him. He was but a shadow of himself. Consumed, p
Haunter Down Memory Lane
It opened with a shot from the drone flying over the Quabbin toward the shore, then over the woods. Brandon’s voice-off narration had an ominous echo to add to his solemn tone, as he spoke the words clearly and slowly.“Hidden in rural New England, away from big cities and crowded streets, is the place that changed my life forever: Blotter Manor.”The drone slowed down when it reached the garden, to show the old Victorian in all her glory under a bright blue sky.“This is where I came across my first apparition.”They cut to footage from that moment of their first investigation, on their first season, to Brandon scampering out of the master bedroom, screaming, after catching Ann Marie off guard in there.Then Brandon was in the garden under the sunset twilight, the Manor showing behind him against the darkening May sky. As usual during his intros, Isaac could be seen standing a dozen feet behind him, hands in his pocke
Haunter A Different Look
A quick fade to black opened to a messy office, with a few desks covered in phones, screens, papers, paper cups, even empty takeout packaging. The walls didn’t leave room to wonder what it was: they were pretty much covered in Haunters big posters from every season, plus two long shelves with plaques and awards. It was Brandon’s small production company headquarters.A handheld camera —What? I was able to tell it was handheld and not on a tripod?— showed Brandon at the biggest desk, of course, leaning back on a big black spinning armchair. Standing opposite him across the desk was Jeff, his second-in-command producer. Brandon looked up at the camera with that particular smirk that used to make me giggle first, and then jump on him to kiss him. Oh, those good old times when I could act out on both impulses.“So here’s the deal. It’s September 2023 and we’re scheduled to film our season ten finale at Blotter Manor
Haunter Up Next
The image faded to black, but instead of opening to the actual beginning of his visit to the Manor, it was Isaac, Ricky and Ted on screen. They were in the east parlor at night. Isaac was sitting on the couch under the window, with his two teammates in the armchairs, flanking him, and he looked straight into the camera to speak, as the other two nodded their agreement to his words.“By now, all of you must know this is Brandon’s last episode with Haunters. And it’s my last as well. We know he wants all of you to see him like you’ve never seen him before, even if it casts a negative light on him. But no story is complete unless you hear what the rest of the people involved have to say about it. That’s why we’re doing this.” He rubbed his shaved head, glancing at the other two, who smirked and raised their eyebrows. “He will most likely kick our sorry bleep from here to Sunday as soon as the broadcast ends. But w
Haunter Intermission
The broadcast cut to the theater, where people jumped to their feet for a standing ovation, whistling and cheering turned to the box seat.Brandon didn’t react even when his friends patted his shoulders, smiling, apparently congratulating him. By his side, Serena seemed to remember he was still there and covered his hand on the armrest with hers. Brandon stiffened, like jolting awake, grabbed her hand and stood up, heading down the steps with her.I let out a shaky sigh, pressing my eyes. Kujo licked my face, pulling a reluctant giggle out of my lips.“I love him so much, my boy,” I muttered. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do if he doesn’t let me stay with him.”“Brandon love too.”The stream cut back to the gossip trio as I took in deep shaky breaths, struggling not to cry as hard as I needed. They were saying something about things making so much sense, now that they’d seen
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The traveling crews came back to Los Angeles for the holidays a couple of days later, and Brandon decided he felt brave enough to host a dinner for all of them at one of the restaurants they used to go to.It would be like his big comeback to society, leaving behind almost four months of reclusion and darkness. And to mark the occasion, he warned me that Cake had leaked the date and place to a few reporters.“Meaning my friends will be there?”“Guess so. The problem is that ban on you. I don’t want them to leave you out of the report. The other way around: I want everybody to know we’re together.”I looked up at him with a heartfelt sigh. But like it always happened over the last week, meeting his eyes focused on mine made me so happy, I couldn’t refuse. So I called Greta Arbosky, who said she would take care of letting them know about this one exception. I disconnected and faced him, raising my eyebrows.&
Haunter The Hard Way Back
Against all odds, Brandon was the easiest, most complying patient in history. I think the scare of almost losing all his sight gave a whole new meaning to this opportunity to restore his eyes to full health. He never complained about the awful cream he had to apply directly on his eyeballs, he never missed drops or meds time, he slept on his belly, and kept his eye shields on around the clock.The first week was the hardest, of course, while he still wore the dressings. However, his determination to walk the line, no matter how hard, annoying or frustrating, helped us find our way around it faster than I’d ever expected. Just like the doctor had said, Brandon had been so stressed up over the last two or three weeks, he was plain exhausted, so he slept a lot over the first three days.My hovering tendencies kept me always within a few steps from wherever he was. At first, I thought he would soon get sick and tired of my relentless watch over him, but it was actual
Haunter A Brand New Day
I jumped to my feet when I heard Brandon move. His fingers flickered slightly and I covered his hand with mine, my heart hammering my chest. His head tilted a little toward me and his lips parted.“Hey,” I whispered. “Easy there.”He tried to speak and frowned.“It’s okay, Bran. The surgery worked alright.”He frowned deeper, trying to press my fingers. I took his hand to my lips to kiss it.“It worked, Bran,” I repeated, just in case. “You’re gonna be fine.”His shaky sigh told me he’d understood. His other hand came slowly up to brush the dressing covering his eyes.“That’s gonna stay there for a few days.”“Did it?” he mumbled, as his fingers explored the dressing further.“Yes, love. It worked. If we do what the doctor says, you’re gonna be fine in a few months. Maybe even better than before the inf
Haunter Better Angels
We woke up early the next morning. Brandon couldn’t have breakfast before surgery, but we were both too anxious to even feel any hunger. Cake arrived as we were coming down to the first floor, looking rested and ten years younger than the night before. On the way to the hospital, I took advantage of being alone in the backseat of the car to send a few texts. To Amy, to let her know I’d gotten to LA fine and everything was peachy. To Isaac, to let him know I was already in town, going with Brandon to the hospital, and I’d text him how the surgery had gone as soon as I found out. And finally to Harry, to ask him to remind Hugo to send all his light and all his angels to come lend a hand.“Who are you texting to?” asked the control freak from the passenger’s seat.“The press, obviously. Your NY Barbie and her gossiping friends will be waiting for us at the hospital.”He turned in his seat, frowning at me from behind h
Haunter Hold On Tight
I woke up at about three. Brandon was sound asleep, so much so that I was able to sneak between his arms without him even flinching. Back from the bathroom, I heard noises downstairs. Then I remembered the disaster zone the living area was when I’d come into the house. I got dressed and headed to the first floor, still trying to tie my hair in a ponytail.Guadalupe had arrived while we were upstairs, and her grin when she saw me threw me off. She and Cake had sort of cleaned up the living area, but the place still looked like the guys from A Clockwork Orange had dropped by to say hi. The kitchen was still a mess, with a lot of glass and smashed mugs all over the floor, wine and all kinds of things spilled on the floor. And when I say all kinds of things, I mean even mayonnaise. So I wore an apron, put on rubber gloves and set to clean up disaster zone number two.Guadalupe and Cake materialized in the kitchen, looking spooked. I faced them with
Haunter Shattered
I had a glimpse of the whole living area completely trashed, like a hurricane had blasted through it, but I couldn’t care less. I rushed to the stairs and up to the second floor, to storm into the master bedroom. I froze just past the doorway. My heart, which was about to crack my chest open, suddenly stopped, and everything spun around me.Because Brandon was lying on his bed, unconscious, a bleeding cut on his forehead that had sprayed blood all over him. Cake was right by his side, lifting his limp legs up to the bed.“He tripped in the kitchen and hit his head with the isle,” Cake managed to say, panting after carrying Brandon all the way upstairs.I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move.“Fran! Bring me a wet towel!”His shout made me snap out of my shock. I dropped my bag on the floor and ran around the bed to the bathroom, where I grabbed the first towel I
Haunter The Longest Hours
I sneaked out of the sleeping bag the moment Brandon left his seat.“Gina!” I called, crawling on all fours out of the tent.“What is it, Fran?”“Gina, I’m so sorry, but I can’t stay to come tomorrow night,” I said, wiping my tears away just to make room for more to rain down my face.“It’s okay, Fran. Don’t worry about us.”“Kujo protect,” he said, coming to stick to my side.“You guys sure?”“Yes. Go do what you have to do.”“Okay,” I mumbled, and got back into the tent to grab my phone.The first morning flight from Philadelphia International to LAX was scheduled to live after six AM. Shit. It was hardly past midnight. Whatever. Better late than never. I bought a ticket online, already doing the math. I could check in about five thirty, so I had to leave Pennhurst
Haunter The Redemption
Brandon walked across the Manor garden in the sunset, hands in his pockets, looking around absentmindedly as he spoke.“I had to watch the footage to actually remember what had happened, and her words shocked me. She called me a puppet. She knew what was going on. Back then, I only understood they wouldn’t let me get to her, especially when Isaac turned his back on me. I couldn’t believe it. He’d betrayed me! My best friend! How powerful could this demon be to turn the man who had been my best friend for the last twenty-five years against me? I was trapped, all alone. I might have to fight for my life.” He looked at the camera. “You must be wondering if I stayed. The answer is yes. Why?” He let out a bitter chuckle. “The truth is I have no idea.” He shrugged. “I was so out of my mind that night, I can count at least half a dozen reasons why I stayed. And none of them make any sense.”They cut back to the
Haunter The Demons We Breed
“Here she comes,” Brandon said, his voice reflecting exactly the same as his face. “The little witch comes to protect the demon. Not this time.”I felt Kujo brush his face against mine and realized I was holding my breath, still shaking from head to toe. His warm touch helped me snap out of it.Brandon kept taunting and provoking Kujo until I got there, trying to burn him with his holy water. And then he’d come at me, triggering Kujo’s reaction. After Kujo attacked him, hurting me in the process, I saw him jump back to his feet and try to fight Kujo with his bear fists, punching through him like a madman, almost stomping on me, ‘cause I was pretty much unconscious at his feet. Amy stormed down the stairs as Isaac managed to pull him away from me, and forced the camera into his hands to carry me up the stairs in his arms, while Amy kept Brandon at a safe distance.“Kujo mad.”“But y
