We rode to the isolated spot near the old dog shelter, the weather gray and overcast, casting a melancholic shadow over everything. The place was eerily quiet, with only the distant, mournful barks of dogs breaking the silence. It was just me, Finn, and Rachel—no one else in sight. The shelter always had a chorus of anxious barks, especially before it rained.
The dogs seemed to sense the coming storm, their past traumas triggered by the looming weather. Some were afraid of being left alone in the rain, others traumatized by past pregnancies and the fear that the rain would harm their pups. Fear can turn the most innocent things into threats, can't it?
"Trish, I know we've had our issues, but we need to tell you something, man. That house is f-cking haunted," Finn said, his voice thick with urgency. He exhaled deeply, glancing at Rachel, who looked at me with wide, fearful eyes.
"Okay, is that all? 'Cause I really need to go pack," I replied, stepping on my bike pedal, ready to leave their nonsense behind.
They exchanged worried glances. Rachel's red hair fluttered in the breeze as she finally spoke. "Trish, we read up on some articles about Oakridge and the house in between. It's a lot darker than you'd think."
"Yeah, there's been a lot of bloodshed and honestly, some pretty disturbing stuff. I don't think it's a good idea for you to move. I mean, it's not like moving will change anything, right?" Finn added, his voice laced with pride as if his words held the ultimate truth. Absolutely disgusting.
"Again, is that it? I have to go. My mom's gonna freak out if I haven't packed," I said, rolling my eyes in irritation.
"Tri-gonal! My man! Look, I know you liked Rachel, bro, and I'm sorry, okay? But I've loved her for a long time, way before you even knew her. If anything, I deserve this. She's my everything. I know it's hard to accept right now, but one day we'll look back on this and laugh. Until then, I'll stay in touch because you're my best friend," he laughed, a glint of admiration in his eyes for his own dumb speech.
I patted his shoulder, feeling a strange mix of pity and disdain. Rachel didn't even dare look at me, either out of guilt or annoyance—I couldn't tell.
"You became nobody to me the second you stood by Joe and stabbed me in the back. Getting together with Rachel was just rubbing salt in the wound," I exclaimed, locking eyes with Finn.
"I really didn't mean to, he told me it was for the best," Finn mumbled.
"And you said you've known Rachel longer than I have? I've known you since birth. For 17 years, we were unbreakable, until you chose to betray me. Now I know who my real friends are. No one, apparently. Not Joe, not Rachel, not even you, Finn. You're a monster. You destroyed the one thing that kept me going—our friendship and the trust I had in you. But don't worry, I'll forgive you."
"Wait, really?" he asked, a flicker of hope in his voice.
"Yes, but not because you deserve it. Because I do. I want to forget you and your whole existence. And it will happen, trust me. One day, I'll look back at our friendship and think, 'Wow, this guy was a dud.'" I said, my voice cold and resolute.
Finn looked defeated, but he made one last attempt to stop me.
"I know the house is haunted. Why do you think I suggested it to my parents otherwise?" I shrugged. My phone rang. It was Dad. They must've started the car, so I hurried off with my bike.
Finn followed me with his bike, keeping up with my pace.
"Listen, who in their right mind would live in a haunted house, knowing it's haunted?? You've literally been warned, that that house and the town are seriously messed up, nobody knows sh-t about it, except for the-"
"The doors? Yeah, I know all about them. We're getting the keys at the house," I shouted back, my voice fading as I sped up. I left Finn behind, his curses lost in the wind.