Haunted

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Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters.

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"Erza, you don't have to do this," Jellal said.

"Yes, I do. I can't back out of a triple dog dare."

"Erza, Sho was joking around." The glare she sent Jellal's way was usually enough to shut people up, but not Jellal. His only response was "Please don't do this."

Jellal was scared, she realized. His eyes were wide as he stood behind her, staring up at the two-story mansion. And he wasn't scared for himself- no. He was scared for Erza. Not that Erza blamed him. She was scared for herself, too.

The source of their fear was the King's Mansion, their small town's resident haunted house. Mr. and Mrs. King -bitter, stingy, and isolated- were murdered in that house by the servant that bought them groceries, cleaned, and cooked for them. The murder was brutal- Mrs. King having been stabbed 6 times in the stomach, and eventually dying in a pool of her own (and her husband's) blood. Their bodies weren't found for weeks, not until the servant cracked and confessed. The stains from the killing were still there, embedded in the raggedy carpet and rotting wood. You could see the stains if you entered the house, but doing so would sign your death warrant, as the ghosts of Mr. and Mrs. King did not take kindly to strangers encroaching on their property. Along with the threat of death, howls could be heard coming from the mansion late at night, said to be echoes of the pain the ghosts felt at their death.

This was all according to urban legend though. And while the details were most likely exaggerated, and unlike what truly happened, to Mr. Rob's second grade class, that story was truth and the house was to be avoided.

. . . . At least until Sho triple-dog dared Erza to run up to side of the house and touch the side of the house, or else be declared the wimpiest scaredy-cat in the whole of second grade. Suddenly, the house was a great source of entertainment as Erza accepted the dare to defend her honor.

Jellal was roped into participating, unwillingly yet not wanting to abandon his friend. His job was to make sure Erza actually went through with the dare. (Also, to come back and tell the class what happened if the ghosts killed her, but he chose not to mention that to Erza.)

Jellal, knowing Erza wouldn't turn back until it was over with, sighed. "When I say go," he started. "Run for the wall."

"Okay," she responded, her voice shaking in fear.

"On your mark." Erza prepared her running position, resting her hands on her right knee.

"Get set." She took a deep breath, trying to quell her nerves.

"GO!"

And Erza was off, sprinting up the hill towards the mansion. Urging her tiny legs to run as fast as she can, she reached the gray rotting walls. She high-fived the splintery wall, then turned around, barely stopping for breath. Her thighs ached and her lungs burned, but she didn't dare stop.

She was almost to Jellal, halfway down the hill, when suddenly a howl roared up from the inside of the house. Startled, Erza looked back, and simultaneously tripped on a thick patch of grass. She tried to collect herself, regain her composure after her embarrassing fall and the stinging coming from the scratches on her hands and knees.

The wind gusted through the night, tangling through her hair. The howling became even worse. Desperately, she pushed herself to her knees, when suddenly a hand grasped hers, and pulled her up into a run.

It was Jellal, his blue hair blowing with wind.

"Come on!" he yelled. "Hurry, before the ghost gets you!"

They sprinted, past the steel gates, and onto the sidewalks, his hand still holding hers. They continued to run, their legs hurting and out of breath, until there four to five blocks separating them and the mansion.

After that they slowed to a walk, the danger over, but fear still coursing through their veins.

Their hands didn't leave each other's, not until that fear was long gone and happiness had returned.

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Author's Note:

Thank you all for reading this! Also, thank you if you've reviewed, followed, or favorited this story.

This chapter is based on the Jerza Week Day 4 prompt "haunted".

Reviews are welcomed- whether they be constructive criticism, flames, or compliments.