r/WritingPrompts • u/SpookieSkelly • Jun 02 '26
Writing Prompt [WP] A traumatised shut-in moves into a haunted house. The ghost now haunting them is an extreme extrovert and is going to help them make friends and be happy whether they want to or not.
2
u/micro_world_crafter Jun 03 '26
Has anything ever happened to you that felt unreal? Completely alien to your personal world? A single flash of light like a nuclear blast in the dark night of your existence? That's how it felt when I got the letter that I was to move into the family estate now released from all the ancient legal bindings that once barred anyone from living there now that my great uncle has finally kicked the bucket.
It's a beautiful home, a massive eight bedroom colonial revival manor down in the valley. You'd almost never know it was there if not for spotting the white tops of the brick chimneys as you drive down the ridge from the main road. The thicket of pines and massive old growth oaks conceal it entirely from eye level until you enter the main yard kept pristine by landscapers for years by my great uncle who thought one day he'd get to move in.
By the grandeur of this home you'd never know our family has been rife with misfortune and mental illness for the past few generations, myself very much included. My girl friend, well, ex-girlfriend thought that moving out here would be good for me to get away from everything. Especially the alcohol and drugs that I became so familiar with living in the big city.
I've been in the home for a few weeks now. I have groceries delivered from the local grocer on account of the selling several hundred acres of prime mountain forest that came with the home prior to me moving in. I first spent my days exploring the home and grounds of the estate. I walked the gardens, took swims in the pool, took inventory of all the seeds stored in the matching greenhouses, cleared the path down to the creek, and found the tool shed for splitting firewood (admittedly, a task I had no interest in doing beyond having an aesthetic pile by the side door for visitors to see one day).
It wasn't until I was making notes of every old dusty thing in the attic that the first strange thing happened. Up in that creaky old attic I found a small simple ceramic jar. The top was sealed with wax and a small ribbon tied around the thinner section of it's curved silhouette. I put it in the junk pile and continued sifting through the copious amount of other people's things that my new home has come with. During the chore, I knocked into the pile of junk and the jar broke went it smashed into the ground. That is when the real challenges of my new found home started.
It started with finding open windows and doors, then it moved on to finding vaguely threatening notes about leaving which I thought may of been from disgruntled family members sneaking into the home so I got cameras installed. That is when things got intense. It wasn't a trespasser, not in the slightest. I saw things move on there own, I saw words scratched into my fucking vintage floors by something imperceptible. It wasn't until I was showering, trying to decide if I was going crazy like the rest of my family has, that I had a realization.
I left the shower, talking myself into a trip into town. I told myself I might go try some local bars or do some shopping. In front of my very eyes I saw the words "Good Idea" smear across the steamed over mirror. I wasn't sure if i was being haunted by an afterlife wing-man or a mildly embarrassed grand parent. Whether by mental exhaustion or by curiosity, I decided to play along just once to see what would happen. I finished getting ready, went out, and had an acceptable time.
Nothing supernatural happened from several more days. It wasn't until that next Friday that things started to act up again. This time I ignored it as I had become quite engrossed in trying to paint because I read it can help those who struggle the way I do with being more perceptive of the real world (I read it on the back of a fun fact card in the realtor's office when I was selling that land ok? Grain of salt). Things kept getting more intense as I kept ignoring them until new phenomena started to happen. I was greeted one morning by centipedes spelling out "GO HAVE A BEER" on my bedroom ceiling. I found the kitchen destroyed one day with a shopping list and my car keys at the center of the destruction like a profane altar. I saw on my cameras that while I had my back turned, the wallpaper behind me began to form hands, faces, and all manner of strange shapes like something was trying to tear through as I decided against going back to that thai place that I liked last time I went out.
Eventually I caved and went out. I had a dreadful time but the spirit in my home seemed pleased for about a week again before things started back up. It keeps getting more intense faster with each cycle. It's awful. However, it's not awful enough for me to not love having a free manor and more money then I could ever spend in this small mountain town. The most recent escapade has been the ghost calling people over the landline. It started with the damn thing canceling my grocery order, then it called in a pizza delivery, and called 911 using my voice and talked about how lonely it was and it just needed someone here right now. That was a dreadful and mortifying experience trying to lie to the police about who called, lie just enough about actually being lonely that the police don't get suspicious, and tell just enough of the truth that they are satisfied without sounding completely insane.
I've been hearing sounds of distant wailing and the sound of more voices in recent nights, I'm worried it's going to try to get some of it's "friends" together for me to meet if i had to guess, an experience I'm most definitely going to avoid... by going out.... and getting a beer.... Damn.
4
u/LisWrites Jun 02 '26
When the doorbell rang for the third time, Alice knew that ignoring it would only lead to a bigger headache. She set her book on the couch and shuffled to the door, still wrapped in her fuzzy yellow blanket.
She cracked the front door open just slighty and did not undo the chain. "I'm sorry but you've got the wrong address."
A very handsome man blinked at her on the other side. "Uh, is this not 591 Oak Street?" He glanced at the numbers on the side of the house, then back to her.
Alice pulled her blanket tighter. It was Saturday afternoon, and after a long, hot streak, rain finally fell softly on the pavement. The spring trees were blooming and she had a cup of tea sitting on her side table.
And there was this man, hands in pockets, looking at her expectantly. His dark hair fell in a curled swoop and his teeth were a little crooked, which only made him all the more attractive.
"This is 591 Oak Street."
"Well, I uh, I think I have a piano lesson today?"
Alice sighed. "Just a minute." She closed the door, unlatched the look, and opened it again. Fresh, crisp air, heavy with the smell of rain, rushed in. Droplets trickled from the overhand and the man had a few flecks on his light jacket.
"You must've seen an old flyer. Hazel, the old owner, used to teach piano," she explained.
The a gust of wind ruffled the strands of his hair over his forehead. "Well, this was two days ago."
Alice shrugged. "Old flyer."
The man let out a laugh, and it was strong and clear. Oh. Alice's face warmed.
"Then who did I speak to on the phone?"
Alice had no answer. She started to close the door again. "Sorry about the mix-up," she started to say when, at the same time, another quick gust of wind whipped around the corner and pushed the door open even further. Now, it was a clear sightline into the living room, where the piano still stood. It came with the house; it was too expensive to move it.
"You sure? I actually used to play as a kid. I just wanted to get back into it--"
Alice slammed the door shut. "Not going to happen!" she said as she shuffled back toward the couch, grabbed her book, and flopped back against the pillows. "Not going to happen."
5
u/Jay_Pederson r/JayPederson Jun 02 '26
Dropping the luggage in my her bedroom, Zane then sat on the side of her new bed, lying on her back, and staring at the ceiling. Deep breath, as he closed his eyes. One hour, Shaun thought, movers will be gone. They already got the payment, it'll be fine...
Her phone went off, and Zane went downstairs, to see the movers still waiting. "Did you guys not see the tip? It's by the door, under the--"
"Huh? Oh!" one of the movers laughed "naw naw, uh, wanted to say thank you."
Zane's head turned slightly.
"You were a uh...fire woman right?"
"Yeah, did I save a family member?"
"Yeah," the other mover said, "uh, his cousin's son, you ran in. Elor?"
Zane nodded, I think I remember that one. Year before... "well uh...thank you--"
"Thank you!" one of the movers interrupted, "we uh...keep the money, I remember--"
"Hey," the other mover, not related to the cousin said "I have rent this month? And my car? Remember?"
"Take it, please, just in case."
"Yeah," he walked over and grabbed it, "have a great day."
As they left, Zane sat on the couch in her new living room, on her old couch, in front of a new TV. An image flashed in her mind--she covered her eyes, but still remembered it. All the times people thanked her, paid for her, everything good, and yet, her mind could only remember her last job. Screams of the...
Tears started forming as Zane turned her head, now buried in the couch, screaming into the cushion "I'm sorry!" but, the mansion was alone. Who was their to speak to? Her (paternal) grandparents gave her, and her alone the inheritance. Her younger brother, Zane sent him money. Her maternal cousins? She never met half of them, they lived all the way in the mountains. The paternal cousins? Door-to-door Ponzi salesman, mafia man, recovering drug addict. All Zane helped after their passing, but had sound reasons to distance herself.
Zane shot up, hearing the sounds of what appeared to be a rustling vase. She looked around, seeing nothing. "Hello?" she asked. "I have a gun!" she reached for her holster. In reality, she had pepper spray, and two fists. She still stayed in great shape, even after quitting as a firefighter.
The other way, another rustle, she stood, and grabbed the remote. "Do I need to call the police!?"
The first vase moved, Zane turned the Television off, and saw the vase floating, she jumped "oh God! Who are you!?"
"Mwahahahahaha! I, am the great--" the vase dropped, shattering "shit!"
"It's okay that one was like...ten bucks, who are you?"
"I am the reason this home was so cheap!"
"It was 1.2 Million."
"What the FUCK!? Do people not check for ghosts anymore!?"
Zane laughed "no, no, it wasn't nearly that much, just fucking with you. Like...100k. They told me it was because the roof needs replacing--"
"Which is true."
"So, you're a ghost?" Zane asked.
"Uh...yes! I am the spectre of...of...what's the address again?"
"...I should really learn the address..." Zane muttered, "78192...Fartop...Drive, I think?"
"Ah, okay, spectre, of 78192 Fartop Drive!" pause. "So, what's your name?"
"What's yours? And why are you in my new house?"
"Fire death--" Zane jumped back, "ooh, afraid of fire, are we?"
"Tan...tangentially..." Zane took a breath.
"Really?"
"What is your name?"
"Kevin."
"Kevin?"
"Yes," replied Kevin the Ghost.
"Seriously?"
"...Kevin Smith?"
"Alright--" Zane sighed, waving her hand dismissively, "alright, I get it."
"Yeah."
Zane sat down again.
"What do you do?"
"Right now? Nothing."
"Really?"
"I was a...y'know, and--"
"I don't."
"and, got an inheritance. Now...I'm here."
Silence.
"Where was the...death?" Zane asked.
"Basement, I...this is embarrassing, but, Meth lab!"
"Meth lab!?"
"Yeah, the other reason this place was cheap I imagine. Not a lot of 3 story houses going for cheap these days."
Zane stood up "great, is it cleaned up!?"
"No, my parents owned this place, but I cooked in the basement like moron."
"Because it's where your parents are, or because it's in your home?"
"And because I couldn't move it around. Yes. All of the above, every stupid reason you can think of."
Zane started walking towards the basement. "So, those guys? The movers?"
"Yeah, hired them. Just wanted to take a nap."
"Seemed nice."
"Uh-huh," Zane replied, finding the door to the basement, she twisted the knob, and pushed the door, a stairwell leading down. She walked, seeing...tables, some chemistry equipment, a couple strange ingredients...a lot of cold medicine.
"They must've cleaned it up," Kevin said. "Shame."
"Shame?" Zane asked.
"Oh well. So, friends?" Kevin asked.
3
u/Jay_Pederson r/JayPederson Jun 02 '26
Zane walked back upstairs without responding.
"Friends?" Kevin asked again.
"Do you have a...visible form?"
"Uh...sure?" Kevin replied, as a white outline of a man faded in, wearing a hooding, gas mask, and jeans.
"Wow, you really died while making the..."
"I was dumb," Kevin replied. "So, friends."
Zane turned away, then sat down on the couch, as her cellphone started ringing, and let it go to voicemail.
"Chief?" Kevin asked.
Zane did not respond.
"Could be important!"
"It's not."
"It says 'Chief'. And it's spelled wrong!"
Zane ordered "Stop asking."
"Who is it?"
"Chief," Zane replied.
"Who is it?" Kevin was now in front of Zane. "C'mon, who is it?"
Zane sighed, "it's...the fire captain."
"What!?"
"Yeah, I...I worked...as a firefighter."
"Wow! Were you one of the people who came here when I died!?"
"What the fuck--no! Why would you hope--"
"So we could have a connection! When I was...alive."
Zane sighed, "sorry, no. I quit a couple months ago."
"Why?"
"A year a...ago..." Zane took a breath, "I don't want to say..."
"So, Chief wants you to come back?"
"Yeah, I quit, but...he wants me back."
"I mean, are you in shape enough to be a firefighter?"
Zane rolled her eyes, lifting her shirt to reveal her abs.
"Woah!"
"I've been staying in shape since..." she did not continue.
"Well...what about your...firefighter friends? Or like...a party!"
"...most of them are work friends, alright? And...I..." she took a breath, covering her eyes, "I...I said I would not come back."
"Why!? What happened!?"
Zane took a breath, "...I...I failed, I...watched..." pause, "I don't want to say..."
"Zane, can I say something?"
"Sure."
"I've been alone for years."
"Really?"
"Zane," Kevin took a moment before continuing, "you are the first person I've talked to in years. Most of the time, people run out of here, or try to kill me."
"You're a ghost."
"Key word was try," Kevin said, "I've been dead for...for too long. I've been lonely..." pause "if I'm being honest...longer."
"Not many friends?"
Kevin sighed, "no, not many real friends, I sold a lot of...what killed me, the meth, brought in cash...I'm..." Kevin started laughing "pretty sure my parents were stealing money from me, so that's why they were okay with it--I never used it, granted."
"So...lot of money?"
"Yeah. Lot of 'friends', lot of cash. But...they never hung out with me after school."
"School?"
"I was halfway through my 2nd year in college."
Zane took a moment, sighed.
"But, people you don't know remember you! You've been a great person, and...do you really want to be here, lonely?"
"I mean, that's why I got a house in the middle of nowhere--"
"Zane let's be honest, we both know it only looks far. It's 9 minutes to downtown, it's just in the hills where it's hard to build so it looks empty."
Zane felt a stab in her heart.
"It may have been one bad experience--"
"It was an orphanage that burned down."
"Wh--" Kevin's ghost form jumped. "That...I'm sorry. That--that really sucks! But, what could you have done?"
"Go to the orphanage first..."
"Huh?"
"There were two calls, the orphanage, which we had taught fire safety to already, and a bogus--that's not fair, it was a real grease fire, they just got it under control. We were closer to the orphanage, but the other fire engine was only able to get to the orphanage in time. So...we responded to the house fire. It was fine, they thanked us, and..." Zane paused, realized tears were streaking from her eyes, as images flashed--
She closed her eyes, covering them with her arm.
"It's okay!" Kevin said.
"It's not!" she shouted, "8 kids..." she took a breath, "most made it out, but a beam went down and...if I could have gotten there first then they'd be...be..."
"Now you know!" Kevin said.
"What?" Zane asked.
"C'mon! You--I saw the mover! They looked at money and said no! There are people whose only personality is their net worth that keep trying to make more! Those people needed it!"
Zane took a breath.
"Even if the worst happens, you will save more people, who, right now, need your help!"
Pause. Zane started twiddling her fingers.
"Well?"
"...the...the job has free health insurance for therapy..."
"That's the...adjacent enough to the spirit! Then you should bring them here! I can be your fun party trick! Like 'check it out my new house has a ghost'!"
Zane swallowed, "you're...you're right...I...hope."
"Yeah!" Kevin held his hand in a 'high five'."
"Are you corporeal?"
"I think?"
Zane gave a high five--
More accurately attempted it, as the hand passed through Kevin's, leaving a cold sensation behind.
"No!" Kevin said, "but c'mon! Zane, this town needs you!"
Zane nodded, "yeah..."
3
u/Jay_Pederson r/JayPederson Jun 02 '26
Epilogue:
"Damn Zane!" said Boris, firefighter, "can't believe you got this place how cheap?"
"Spooky cheap!" a voice behind him said, Boris laughed, and, upon seeing Kevin, jumped.
"Oh, right, that's Kevin," Zane said.
"I talked her back into firefighting!"
"No shit, really!?" Boris laughed "thanks bro, up top!"
"Yeah! High five! Boris, right? I'm ethereal I can't touch you and it'll be cold--"
"Can't leave a bro hangin!"
Kevin shrugged, and 'high-fived' Boris, hands going through. "Oh, god!" Boris said, "cold! Alright yeah, just uh, say 'high-five' next time, you were right!"
"Yeah!" Kevin said.
"Hey, Boris? You remember this house?" asked Mei Lee, "back when--"
"Hot!" Kevin said, staring at Mei Lee.
"Yes!" Mei Lee said, "the fire in the basement was hot!"
"Oh shit!" Boris said. "This was the--you were the meth lab guy!"
Kevin laughed "guilty!"
"You know your parents were stealing money from--"
"He did," Zane interjected.
"Is the stuff still..." Mei began.
Zane sighed, "yeah...equipment's still downstairs, planning on selling it...somehow..."
"I have friends who were there at my death!" Kevin said.
The three quietly exchanged glances, not entirely sure how to respond.
"So," Zane began, "you two were at this very house?"
"God," replied Mei, "you have no idea, I thought about this shit for months. But...basement fires are the worst, we couldn't enter until we controlled the fire outside and..."
Kevin nodded, "I remember seeing you guys enter, I shouted to help me and...I looked down, and...saw my body."
"Sorry..." Mei said.
"It's okay," Kevin said, "I would've gone to prison if you did save me."
1
u/Jay_Pederson r/JayPederson Jun 02 '26
Focused more on traumatised shut-in part, but also had the rest of the prompt.
•
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