Sorry for the late chapter. Family issues and my own procrastination caused it. I got this done in two days after this story got a couple more followers.
Anyway, apparently John and Vriska are going to become main characters, so I'd really like some constructive critism on how I write them. I especially feel that John is OOC, but that could just be me. Enough from me, time for the chapter (right after the disclaimer).
I do not own Homestuck in any way.
-shadowyLearner~
After a brief discussion about the voices, Terezi went off with John to examine the house. The old wood creaked under her feet as she entered the blue house.
"I'm surprised Vriska likes it here," remarked Terezi, recalling her friend's irritation at routine noises.
"Maybe she got used to it or something," replied John, his arm hooked with Terezi's to steer her around the house.
"Maybe. Where were the voices the strongest?"
"They got stronger as I climbed higher," answered the boy, already beginning to head upstairs.
Terezi could hear them, too. They were mostly weak murmurs, but suddenly there was a loud screech that made her literally shiver. She wasn't psychic – if these voices were authentic, they practically proved the existence of ghosts. As they continued upward, the screeches sounded more often and with increasing clarity. She definitely heard the word revenge more than once. But revenge for what? For these were not all female voices, and she only knew about Aradia's death, if her guesses were correct.
"Is there an attic at the top of the house?" asked Terezi.
"I think. I haven't been up there," answered the boy.
"Lead me up."
And so he did. The constant squeaking of the floorboards made Terezi's head ache, but she needed to get to the end of this mystery. After this, she told herself, she would probably head to the hospital to check on Vriska.
"Last step," John told her from behind.
She took a few more steps at the top of the stairs, using her hands and cane to prevent her from running into anything. The floor indicated John was behind her. Terezi ran her hand across the wall, feeling for any sign of a doorknob or a string to reveal a hidden staircase. They soon ran into a jutting piece of cold, rusting metal. A doorknob, to a room that, judging by the cobwebs on it, had not been entered for years.
She turned it, and the door to the room, like everything else in the house, creaked open. Terezi instantly felt a shiver down her spine. An odor attacked her nose; it reminded her of cold rock, the musty smell making her senses tingle.
"John, what do you see?" she asked.
"A...a robot?" It was more of a question than a statement, as if he wasn't sure if he was indeed seeing a robot.
Terezi was instantly confused. A robot? Where had it come from, and why was it here? Why Vriska?
"It took you long enough," a calm voice answered. "I was beginning to worry you would not come."
Terezi searched her memories. She recognized the voice but for the life of her, she could not remember who it belonged to. She probably had not heard it in a long time.
"You can't remember? Perhaps you did not care as much as you let one. I am Aradia."
Images flashed in Terezi's mind. The last time she had talked to Aradia was before her blinding. She could recall the sound of the girl's voice, but this voice...it sounded slightly different. More mechanical.
"I understand your hesitation. We have not talked for a long time," continued the voice.
"I guess you know it – uh, her?" asked John, obviously confused.
Terezi swallowed before replying. "I used to roleplay with her. You know that girl you said Vriska threatened?"
"I am her," Aradia said. "You may not recognize me. I happened upon this robot body, and things got out of hand pretty quickly."
"You 'happened' upon a robot body just laying out somewhere...?" Aradia's explanation had apparently not cured John of his curiosity in any way.
"I was a ghost. Walls were no obstacle for me, and while I was passing through the body, it powered up for some reason. I suppose I liked having a body again. However, I did not foresee an error in the programming, and for a short time, I became extremely violent. I apologize for Vriska, by the way," explained Aradia.
"Should I be expecting you to attack me?" asked Terezi, taking a step back.
"I believe the problem has resolved itself," answered Aradia.
"Why were you up here? I mean, why did you want us to find you?" It was a good question; Terezi silently approved.
"Well," began Aradia, "first I wanted to apologize to you about Vriska, and I also wanted a chance to say goodbye to you, Terezi. I never got a chance."
"But you're fine now. You don't have to run away." The idea of leaving again seemed ludicrous to the girl.
"I don't think you want the soul of a dead girl in a robot suit living in your attic."
"I can't tell if that would be cool or just plain creepy," replied John, leaving Terezi's side. He was probably going to examine the body more closely.
"More importantly, would Vriska be pissed off if she found her attacker living in her attic? My guess is yes," Terezi added.
"I...have you gone to see her yet?" asked Aradia.
"We haven't been allowed," answered John.
"In that case, perhaps I should let the doctor or a nurse tell you."
"Tell us what?" inquired the girl, still standing just in front of the doorway.
"You will find out soon enough. In the meantime, since you know where to find me – if I am here – I have an...errand to run. Terezi," Aradia said, the last word more of a command.
"Yes?"
"Goodbye for now. I can promise that this time I will return," replied Aradia, her voice calm and emotionless.
A chill went down Terezi's spine. "I hate goodbyes and you know that."
"I suppose I forgot. Sorry," the ghost girl replied. "The town looks wonderful."
After a brief moment, John asked, "She's gone for now. And why don't you like goodbyes? Except for the obvious, I mean."
Memories flashed in Terezi's mind, and she could feel warm tears beginning to pool. Her mom squeezing her hand as she told her that her dad was dead; a bone-chilling scream of pain; absolute fear in the pit of her stomach; the slow and numbing realization that she could no longer see anything but darkness.
"I just don't, okay?" she answered, an edge to her voice. It came out louder and sharper than she meant it to.
"Alright, alright, jeez! Why don't we just go to the hospital and check on Vriska?" he suggested, obviously taking the sharpness in Terezi's reply personally.
The girl sighed. "John, I didn't mean it personally. Just...a lot of bad things happen whenever I tell someone goodbye, or when they tell me goodbye."
"Like what? I mean, if you don't want to tell me or anything-"
"John, shut up," interrupted Terezi. "The more you talk about shit, the less I want to tell you anything."
"Okay. Shutting up."
A smirk found its way onto the girl's face. "I never said I was going to tell you anything."
