Authors Note: Well, as expected, I did complete this story on Halloween. I apologize for the putting this up late, but work was keeping me busy- I hope you all forgive me. Nonetheless, it's here and it the story had come to an end. I truly hope you all enjoyed it! Also, big thank you to my friend Ryan for beta-ing this story, thank you! Disclaimed reminds the same, and I am still broke. Don't forget to leave me some love in the r&r section :)
Amanda swung leisurely on the tire swing that hung from the rather large tree in the backyard, its leaves falling overhead like red and orange snowflakes. Her eyes were shutting against the outside world around her as she was taken into another life within her music that played in her ears, the blonde humming the rhythm softly.
The sun bathed her body in warmth, protecting her from the cold fall weather, despite the jeans and the grey sweater under her green high school track hoodie that, surprisingly, still fit her.
Amanda was tired; the night before had been rough after Olivia's scare. The brunette slept clinging to her for dear life like a child clinging on to their teddy bear. But Amanda couldn't say anything, because, admittedly, she, too, was frightened by what they had found in the kitchen.
Deep down, Amanda had thought the home was just advertised 'haunted' as a cheap way to make money. Nothing more than a quick scam to make money off of people like...like her. Amanda shook her head, chuckling softly to herself, "shit" She thought.
Her eyes brightened as she took out her earphones, a smile growing brightly in greeting to the tall, curved brunette that was now crossing the yard towards her.
Blue eyes admired the older woman's figure, but you really couldn't blame her considering the skinny jeans that Olivia was wearing (fitted in all the right places, in Amanda's opinion); Olivia's brown outdoor boots made her taller, and her purple hoodie brightened her smooth, olive skin like a summer tan under the radiant sun. And not to mention, she looked adorable with a beanie on.
"Hey, you" Amanda greeted, holding her arm out and then grabbing her lover's hand, pulling her closer.
Olivia jerked to the tire swing, laughing at Amanda's playful manner, then leaning in for a kiss and gladly taking in the cherry flavored chapstick Amanda wore. She chuckled at the pouty lips and sad puppy dog eyes Amanda gave her as she pulled away, ending the kiss sooner than the blonde had liked. "I'm sorry about last night," Olivia finally spoke, pushing the tire swing.
"It's okay," Amanda was quick to reply as she swung back from her girlfriend's hard push.
Coming forward, she dropped her feet to the leaf-covered ground, halting the swing and once again taking her girlfriend's hand into her's, her thumb caressed Olivia's knuckles, "I love feeling you on me." Amanda assured her, grinning mischievously as she added with a chuckle "Preferably naked."
Olivia rolled her eyes playfully, trying to show annoyance at the comment, but her broad smile betrayed her, telling Amanda otherwise. "You're so funny..." Olivia deadpanned, words dripping with sarcasm, to Amanda's amusement.
Olivia then grinned once more as she pushed the tire again, making it swing once more.
When the tire came back, she grabbed the rope that held the tire, putting the swinging to a stop, her brown eyes locking with the piercing blue eyes that held her gaze, smiling. "Do you think this place is haunted," Olivia asked the question that had been on her mind since she'd woken up, "since you're the expert and all." She added, tone more playful as to hide her very real worry.
"Could be." Amanda answered after a moment, slipping out of the swing and standing behind it, her hands idly playing with the loose threads that stuck out of it, "but I haven't personally experienced anything."
"Uh- what do you call what happened last night?"
"The curse of the sleepy beauty," Amanda chuckled, her hand falling on top of the older woman's, fingers overlapping on Olivia's which rested on the rope of the tire swing. "I went out for a second walk on the trail after lunch, and I did some cleaning around the house after dinner." Amanda smiled to put Olivia more at ease, "I just forgot. I was like a walking zombie after all the cleaning."
Uncertain if Amanda was telling the truth or just trying to protect her, Olivia bit the inside of her cheek, eyeing the blonde with a good bit of suspicion, "if you say so."
"I do say so, because I am telling you the truth," Amanda stated matter-of-factly, walking around the tire, placing herself behind Olivia.
She allowed her arms to encircle Olivia's curved waist, her front pressing against her girlfriend's back. Her lips pressed behind the woman's ear, "I love you" She murmured into Olivia's ear.
Oliver shivered when Amanda's cool hands lowered, slipping beneath the brunette's hoodie and top, gently, almost teasingly stroking over her stomach. Olivia's head tilted back, falling onto Amanda's shoulder, "I love you" Olivia finally breathed out in response, her knees weakening slightly as Amanda's hands lowered even further, the blonde's fingers beginning to undo her jeans. Olivia's grip on the rope of the tire swing tightened instinctively to keep herself from falling, the smaller woman's hands teasing her, playing with the hem of her panties.
"Tease," She huffed slightly, turning to face her lover, fingers playing with the strings of Amanda's hoodie.
Amanda laughed and leaned in, stealing a kiss, "I'm gonna bring in some more firewood. I thought we could have lunch and just relax by the fireplace."
"Sounds good to me," Olivia murmured against Amanda's lips, having sealed the 'deal' with a kiss. Her brown eyes followed Amanda as the blonde off into the shed. Re-zipping and buttoning up her jeans, Olivia turned to head back inside when something caught her attention.
Her breath hitched in her throat, eyes widening before she blinked a few times, shaking her head.
A shadowy figure stood in front of their bedroom window, though Olivia couldn't quite make out who or...or what it was, but it was there, almost floating, watching her from a distance. She shook her head once more, closing her eyes tightly; surely, her mind was playing tricks on her.
Opening her eyes again, Olivia looked once more at her and Amanda's bedroom window, to see...nothing. The figure had disappeared, and at that realization, a sense of relief flooded her, momentarily convincing her that her mind was playing tricks on her.
It was their last night, and they wanted to enjoy the peace before heading back to their chaotic lives in the city. After lunch, Amanda and Olivia decided to go ahead and pack their bags, so they'd be ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning, making a note to leave the homeowner a thank you letter for allowing the weekend stay.
Amanda was the first one to finish packing, heading downstairs to get the fire going and to lay a couple of blankets down on the wooden floor. Already feeling warm from the fire, the blonde removed her hoodie.
Well, tried to.
Halfway through pulling it over her head, she felt arms snake around her waist. She was swift to toss her hoodie onto the couch next to her as the tall, warm body of her girlfriend pressed into her back.
A low moan escaped Amanda's throat at the warm lips that pressed against the side of her neck, trailing kisses across her skin as a pair of smooth hands crept up under the front of her shirt, drawing slow patterns across her stomach and sending goosebumps spreading across her body.
"You're wearing too much," Olivia husked into the blonde's ear.
Amanda jaw fell open slightly at the feeling of her girlfriend's tongue drawing circles over the weak spot on the side of her neck, sucking, and surely leaving a bruise behind. "That's my line..." Amanda objected slightly, a whine mixed in with her words as she thought briefly about the night before.
Olivia smirked. "Aw...I'm sorry...Why don't you let me make it up to you?" Olivia purred, taking each side of the younger woman's shirt, slowly lifting it up, exposing the mint green bra that adorned Amanda's smooth, cream-colored skin. Olivia brought her lips to Amanda's ear, pressing a kiss against the shell as her hands once again felt the softness of the smaller woman's toned stomach. Her fingertips then fumbled with the buckle of Amanda's belt, undoing it purposefully slow. Amanda's head dropped back onto Olivia's shoulder as low moans escaped her lips, "Liv..."
Standing beneath the shower head, hot water poured down her tanned skin. It dripped down her body, tracing her curves as her thoughts faded into dullness and everything turned to seeming like a mere foggy illusion. The sensation of the heated water calmed her. Her mind swirled, and it was like she was standing under an everlasting waterfall. Her soapy hands ran through her hair, inhaling the coconut scent of her conditioner. She smiled to herself, remembering the passionate love session she and Amanda had had a few hours ago. She could still taste Amanda on her lips and tongue, the sweet, sweet flavor the brunette had come to adore.
Her arm stretched out in front of herself, her hand resting on the tile wall just underneath the shower head, while her other hand rubbed the back of her neck, her head hanging down. Steam filled the bathroom like mist after rain. Olivia allowed her eyes to close, stopping to just take in the quiet around her, chuckling softly when she heard Amanda's soft snores from the other room. The blonde had gone straight to bed after hours of making love, claiming that Olivia had worn her out.
Shutting the bathroom light off behind herself, Olivia walked into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around her still slightly wet body. Quietly, not wanting to wake her incredibly peaceful looking girlfriend, she moved closer to the bed when a low whisper caught her attention. Stopping dead in her tracks, Olivia stood frozen, rooted in place and trying to grasp what she was hearing.
Olivia
Her eyes widened, hands automatically clutching the towel tighter around herself, her body trembling slightly. Her name being called, calling out to and beckoning her out of the bedroom.
It was enticing.
Something had shifted around her, an aura of sorts, claiming her mind and body and taking the control away from her. She turned and walked towards her and Amanda's bedroom door, exiting into the dark hallway.
Olivia
Again, she was being called. The sound angelic and soft. Inside, where rational thought lied, well, that part of her wanted to turn and run, wake Amanda, and leave this hell-hole, but it was like she had fallen into a trance, one seemingly impossible for her to snap out of.
Olivia
Her palms were sweaty, and her heart was beating abnormally fast as she peered into the dark interior of the hallway. A searing pain shot through her head and seemed to travel through her entire body, rendering her further incapable of thinking or speaking or even turning and running back to Amanda. She tried to scream for help, but she couldn't open her mouth wide enough to get the noise out. Olivia felt lifeless, like a rag doll possessed by the voice that she was now certain was coming from the attic.
The voice was unexpected. It was a low husk, power lacing its words.
The door creaked open slowly on its own; for her.
Olivia stood a foot away now, eyes gazing up into the pitch darkness as the voice continued calling out to her. She dropped her towel and made her way up the staircase. It was pitch black; she was as blind as if her eyes had been gouged out and in her current state, that thought didn't sound too farfetched. She brought her fingers to her eye sockets; they were still there. Her body washed cold, naked and paralyzed.
Her hand curled into a fist, nails digging into the palm of her hand. She couldn't hear her rapid breathing but could feel the oxygen flooding in and out of her lungs. Goosebumps spread across her nude body. Olivia's damp hair felt like ice, the same feeling that paralyzingly spread through her body like icy, liquid metal. The freezing attic showed every heavy breath she took, her body shivering.
A shadow.
A shadow emerged from the others, and this shadow it-it was darker than the others. Darker than a night with no moon and no stars. A shade of black that shouldn't even exist and was less like a color, but more like an absence of color.
The shadow gradually approached her, deftly avoiding the moonlight from the tiny window, watching her. She can feel its eyes scanning her nude body, pervertedly admiring her curves. Suddenly, the silence surrendered to the haunting scream of footsteps, thudding across the floor, approaching, lurking much, much closer.
Olivia
Each second submerged in fear made a permanent mark on her heart, and a vivid imagination made Olivia wonder whether it was just her mind playing tricks on her or a nightmare or...or...reality. Each step it took became louder and louder, her mind screaming, begging for help. Fear was torturing her inside, making her stomach churn, her heart clenching.
Shaking in fear, unable to move, Olivia gulped desperately for air, her throat closing up. Someone-no, some...something was choking her; It was choking her.
She felt her soul leave her for a moment, her body feeling almost weightless under her feet. Amanda, she wanted to scream, tears now running down her cheeks, though she was unable to feel them.
Its red eyes stared at her. Devious. Sinister. Red, shimmering pools, making its dark, dark body seem somehow even darker. Crimson eyes of bitter hate, eyes that yanked you in, almost drowning you in a way.
And suddenly, Olivia woke from this dream, this hellish nightmare. She ran down the stairs, slamming the door behind herself and running into her and Amanda's bedroom, jumping into bed and practically diving under the covers like a terrified child, clutching onto her sleeping girlfriend Amanda woke quickly from the sudden cold, sleepily turning onto her side to find her nude girlfriend shaking.
"Baby, what's wrong? You're freezing..." Amanda brought the freezing woman into her arms, her hands running up and down the older woman's back in an attempt to warm her up.
Olivia shook her head, able to taste her salty tears dripping onto her lips, falling down her cheeks. Her teeth were chattering, "I saw it...red eyes..."
"What did you see?" Amanda asked softly, still gently rubbing Olivia's back.
"It-." Olivia gasped, hiccuping slightly as her crying caused a stutter.
"Baby, you had a nightmare."
Olivia shook her head hard, insistent, "No, I saw it. It had red eyes!"
"'Liv, baby, it was a nightmare. We went to bed together. "
"Wh—what?" She asked confused, her words stumbling, pulling back and trying to catch Amanda's eyes in the dark room.
"We went to bed together, after we packed and cleaned up. We were both exhausted."
Speechless, and wanting to believe Amanda but unable to after such an experience-the proof had to be there! The towel, the shower too, it had to be wet, that would prove she'd been awake! Olivia tucked her head beneath Amanda's chin, though, her arms wrapping around the smaller woman, clutching onto her for all she was worth, still shaking.
"Baby, relax. I got you." Amanda pressed a kiss to the top of Olivia's head, "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Her eyes widen, arms stretching out, desperately searching for whatever was there.
A heavy…..something sat on her chest, she didn't know what it could possibly be because her fingers didn't touch anything. Her blue eyes searched the room in confusion, but she found nothing, sans the darkness and the sound of Olivia's soft snoring next to her. She felt fingers languidly wrap around her neck, as though whatever was doing it had no hurry at all with a gentle pressure, but that thought was quickly dashed from Amanda's mind as the...the...the 'fingers' tightening around her neck.
The incredible strength...no, Its incredible strength compressed her chest, forcing her lungs to burn as if on fire. Her heart began hammering in her chest, increasing in intensity and speed, like a bird trapped in a cage. Her throat seared in agony with the rising pressure of trapped air, her head pounding with panic, threatening to explode any second and her mouth opened again, this time to scream with no success.
Despair filled her with every struggling gulp.
As her vision blurred out and her consciousness faltered, her body went numb, and she waited, resigned, for the numbing hands of death to suck away every last piece of life left in her. A tear rolled down her cheek, 'not again.' she thought. She fought back instinctively, suddenly terrified of what was on the other side, but the icy hands tightened their hold, leaving their imprints on her skin in claim. She felt her arms go limp, white dots flashing across her vision as her heart-beat slowed.
'I love you, Oliv—'
She sat up, gasping for breath, her hands flying up and holding onto her chest. Her heart was beating radically as air rushed back into her lungs, shocking her system. Olivia's panicked voice muffled, her vision still blurry, unable to see the brunette in front of her but she could feel her warm hands run up and down her arms, trying to bring her back. "Amanda!", Olivia shouted at her, but Amanda still couldn't hear, nor see the brunette. Her drained eyes followed the shadow figure that walked across the bedroom, Its red eyes staring at never leaving her shaken, cold body.
The warms lips that captured hers, were what finally brought her back, the gentle kiss waking her from the nightmare. Her eyes snapped to Olivia, her vision crystal clear and even in the dark, she was able to see the worried brown eyes staring at her. Heat replaced the coldness that pumped through her veins, the goosebumps disappeared. 'Olivia' she whispered breathlessly.
'Baby, you scared me.'
'We need to get out of here, now. Please."
Stepping down the last stairstep, bags in hand, they rushed through the living room, shutting off the light as they walked out onto the front porch.
The front door slammed closed behind them, almost as a final 'stay out'. It worked, as it made both women jump.
After a moment, Amanda let out a small half laugh, an attempt at easing the tension as she turned to meet the brown eyes staring at her in fear, "Well, do you believe in the paranormal now?"