Marshall’s got his camera out, trying to take pictures. Devon decides to let Marshall be Marshall and refrains from pointing out that all he’s likely to capture on film is the blurry outline of something that looks vaguely like a person, which isn’t going to serve as proof of much of anything. Instead, he keeps watching the ghostly figures as one of them approaches where Devon thinks the front door of the mill used to be and slowly begins to resolve itself into the faint, see-through image of a distinct human being.
A human being sporting the same haircut, wearing the same coat, and otherwise looking exactly like Marshall Teller.
The real Marshall drops the camera.
“Mars?” Melanie asks. Mars looks at her, then back at the ghost Marshall, then back at Melanie. He mutely shakes his head to indicate he doesn’t know what’s going on either.
Devon watches as the second flickering outline moves closer to the nearly transparent Marshall figure, and resolves itself into Marshall’s former sidekick Simon. Devon has no idea what he’s seeing anymore. Are these ghosts, or psychic projections of some kind, or they looking into some parallel bizarro-verse?
Devon finds himself growing cold as he watches the ghost Marshall and ghost Simon. They seem to be engaged in some sort of discussion. He can’t hear what they’re saying, but ghost Marshall seems to be growing more and more impatient, until finally breaks off talking with ghost Simon to point a finger and say something in the direction of what used to be the inside of the mill.
Devon still can’t hear him or tell what he’s pointing and talking at, but he’s familiar enough with Marshall’s facial expressions that he can tell ghost Marshall is probably upset at it. The ghost is wearing the same look the real Marshall Teller gets when you question him about the scientific validity of cryptozoology.
Devon, who personally considers himself one of the bravest people he knows, is suddenly overcome with an inexplicable and near unbearable sense of dread. “Um, guys, maybe we should get out of--" he begins.
They’re not paying attention. Instead they’re watching as a third ghostly figure emerges from the direction ghost Marshall is pointing. Devon stares at it as it resolves itself into a kid with grey hair wearing a long black coat. It’s not someone Devon’s ever seen before. The new ghost appears to be arguing with whatever ghost Marshall has said.
And that’s when Melanie gasps and falls off her bike.
She clutches her hands to her chest as she crumples to the ground, in a gesture Devon hasn’t seen since her recovery. Her breath is coming in shallow gasps.
“Melanie!” Marshall shouts, as he drops to one knee to help her.
Devon starts to move toward them, but the sick feeling of dread intensifies. He looks up to find all three ghostly figures have stopped whatever conversation they were having and are staring right at him, Mars, and Melanie with unreadable expressions.
Suddenly he can’t help himself any longer. “Let’s go!” he yells at the other two.
He doesn’t stop to make sure they’re behind him as he runs away.
Part II: What You Could Have Had, Devon/Melanie/Mars, AU
A human being sporting the same haircut, wearing the same coat, and otherwise looking exactly like Marshall Teller.
The real Marshall drops the camera.
“Mars?” Melanie asks. Mars looks at her, then back at the ghost Marshall, then back at Melanie. He mutely shakes his head to indicate he doesn’t know what’s going on either.
Devon watches as the second flickering outline moves closer to the nearly transparent Marshall figure, and resolves itself into Marshall’s former sidekick Simon. Devon has no idea what he’s seeing anymore. Are these ghosts, or psychic projections of some kind, or they looking into some parallel bizarro-verse?
Devon finds himself growing cold as he watches the ghost Marshall and ghost Simon. They seem to be engaged in some sort of discussion. He can’t hear what they’re saying, but ghost Marshall seems to be growing more and more impatient, until finally breaks off talking with ghost Simon to point a finger and say something in the direction of what used to be the inside of the mill.
Devon still can’t hear him or tell what he’s pointing and talking at, but he’s familiar enough with Marshall’s facial expressions that he can tell ghost Marshall is probably upset at it. The ghost is wearing the same look the real Marshall Teller gets when you question him about the scientific validity of cryptozoology.
Devon, who personally considers himself one of the bravest people he knows, is suddenly overcome with an inexplicable and near unbearable sense of dread. “Um, guys, maybe we should get out of--" he begins.
They’re not paying attention. Instead they’re watching as a third ghostly figure emerges from the direction ghost Marshall is pointing. Devon stares at it as it resolves itself into a kid with grey hair wearing a long black coat. It’s not someone Devon’s ever seen before. The new ghost appears to be arguing with whatever ghost Marshall has said.
And that’s when Melanie gasps and falls off her bike.
She clutches her hands to her chest as she crumples to the ground, in a gesture Devon hasn’t seen since her recovery. Her breath is coming in shallow gasps.
“Melanie!” Marshall shouts, as he drops to one knee to help her.
Devon starts to move toward them, but the sick feeling of dread intensifies. He looks up to find all three ghostly figures have stopped whatever conversation they were having and are staring right at him, Mars, and Melanie with unreadable expressions.
Suddenly he can’t help himself any longer. “Let’s go!” he yells at the other two.
He doesn’t stop to make sure they’re behind him as he runs away.