The night had fallen heavy around Spruce Ridge Apartments, the once-busy streets now quiet as shadows deepened. Veronica and Reggie were exhausted after the emotionally draining day they had, sifting through Oliver's tragic revelations and piecing together the disturbing history of Diana D'Ambrosio. After a late dinner, they decided to prepare for bed, hoping for at least a few hours of undisturbed sleep.
But as the minutes ticked by, Veronica lay restless, her mind unable to settle. Beside her, Reggie slept soundly, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Sighing, she quietly slipped out of bed, feeling the need to take her meds and calm her anxiety before it spiraled out of control. She padded barefoot down the hall, the soft hum of the refrigerator filling the silence as she entered the kitchen.
Just as she was about to reach for her pills, a soft creak made her freeze. The office door, which had been shut earlier, had swung open slowly. Veronica's heart began to race. She stared at the door, uncertain if her mind was playing tricks on her in the dim light. Taking a deep breath, she set her medication aside and cautiously moved toward the door.
The apartment was eerily quiet as she stepped inside her office. The air felt thick, almost like it was vibrating with something unseen. She scanned the room, eyes darting to the windows, the corners, and finally to her desk where they had reviewed the photos taken during their ghost-hunting night. But what caught her attention chilled her to the bone: the photos, which had previously shown strange orbs and eerie lights, were now... faded. Every single one of them. The once-distinct images were now blurred, as if the photos themselves were slowly decaying, losing all evidence of the paranormal activity they had captured.
Veronica's heart pounded harder. This wasn't normal. This was something dark, something far more sinister than just a few spooky occurrences.
She felt a sudden, sharp awareness that she wasn't alone.
Glancing toward the office bathroom, she caught sight of something—no, someone—watching her. The blood drained from her face as she saw a full-bodied apparition standing just inside the doorway, the outline unmistakable. Diana D'Ambrosio. The woman's eyes were wide with terror, her mouth twisted in fear. Her body was translucent, but her emotions were all too real, and they radiated off her like a palpable force.
Diana's presence felt overwhelming, suffocating, like a weight pressing down on Veronica's chest. Veronica's breath hitched, panic rising in her throat. She stood frozen for what felt like an eternity, unable to move, unable to scream, as Diana's ghostly figure stared at her with an expression of pure horror.
It was as if Diana was trying to warn her. But of what?
Suddenly, the tension snapped, and Veronica bolted from the office, her bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor as she slammed the door behind her. She leaned against the door, her body trembling as she tried to catch her breath. Her hands shook uncontrollably, and it took every ounce of willpower not to scream.
Reggie stirred as Veronica slid back into the bedroom, her face pale and her pulse still racing. He sat up immediately, alarmed by her expression.
"Ronnie? What's going on?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep but tinged with concern.
Veronica swallowed hard, her voice coming out in a shaky whisper. "Diana. I saw her again. In my office... and the photos... they're all faded, Reggie. Every single one."
Reggie's face darkened with worry. He got out of bed and immediately grabbed his phone. "We need to tell the others."
Together, they messaged their friends, filling them in on the latest disturbing encounter. The group chat exploded with responses. Betty suggested that Diana's appearance might be an attempt to communicate or warn Veronica of something dangerous. Jughead agreed, suggesting they take the warnings seriously, especially given what Oliver had shared. Cheryl, always one to crack a joke under pressure, texted, "Maybe she's just upset about the decor. No offense, Ronnie." But even her levity couldn't cut the tension that was now suffocating them all.
Archie, on the other hand, was straight to the point: "You two need to figure this out before it gets worse. Spirits don't just show up like that unless there's something unfinished. You know that."
Veronica, trembling, read through the messages, knowing they were right but feeling helpless. Whatever Diana was trying to warn her about, Veronica felt it was closing in. Fast.
Reggie reached for her hand, giving it a firm squeeze. "We'll figure this out, Ronnie. We'll get through this. But maybe... maybe it's time we bring in some professional help."
Veronica nodded slowly, still shaken by what she'd seen. "Yeah, I think you're right."
But as they settled back into bed, trying to steady their nerves, Veronica couldn't shake the image of Diana's terrified expression. What was Diana so afraid of? And why did it feel like whatever was haunting them wasn't done yet?
The apartment had gone still once more, but Veronica and Reggie knew better. The silence wasn't safety. It was just the calm before the storm.
Tomorrow, they would have to make a decision—to confront whatever was lurking within their apartment or get out before it consumed them both.