"Wait. You said you saw what, exactly?" Ron asked. Voice dripping with scepticism
By now, they were no longer by the river. Samantha had walked halfway back in silence before she realised Ron was behind her. Silent, just trailing behind her. Like he didn't know what else to do.
They got back to school, surprisingly managing to avoid getting caught by the security guard. They settled in the art room. Somewhere quiet, out of sight.
Samantha didn't look up. She refused to acknowledge Ron's existence.
"I'm not making it up, I swear,"
"You chased nothingness all the way into the woods, sam." He crossed his arms over his chest. "You were about to reach out and touch air,"
"It wasn't!" She snapped. "It was-it was there. I promise. I saw it, Ron. Same as before."
"Same as what."
She hesitated. "The...panic attack I had at school. And even before that, I didn't pay attention to it. This....blur. A shape. It's like it keeps showing up where I am, and every time, it gets clearer."
Ron blinked. "Right. A stalking ghost?"
"I'm serious."
"I'm not saying you're not," he quipped, even though his voice clearly showed he didn't believe her.
Samantha stood up from where she was seated. "You think I'm crazy?"
"No. I just think you're stressed out and your brain's inventing spooky hallucinations for fun."
She threw up her hands. "Right. Because that's what I do when I'm stressed. I summon eldritch nightmares by the river."
"Okay, that did sound more dramatic than I intende-"
"I'm not lying,"
Ron looked up at her then, and then something about the fire in her voice made his smirk fade.
Samantha looked angry. But also exhausted. Unsteady in the way people are when the world keeps shifting beneath them.
He sighed.
"Okay. I don't think you're lying, " he said slowly so as not to offend her. "Maybe I just don't get it yet,"
Samantha narrowed her eyes suspiciously, crossing her arms, but she didn't walk away.
"You remember how we met?" She asked suddenly.
"You mean when you slammed me into a locker because and threatened to break my nose because you thought I was a paranormal entity stalking you?"
"Not quite that dramatic, but yeah," giving a ghost of a smile.
"I thought you were completely bonkers."
"I was scared,"
Ron looked at her, confused.
She sat down beside him to explain. "The whole day felt like a lie. I had seen someone... or something by the river, I spoke to them. They even told me your name and everything. "
Ron looked concerned at that
"It was like whatever it was was wearing a face that didn't belong to them. I really thought it was you, so when I saw you, I just -"
"Pinned me to a locker and threatened me even though you were only half my size?"
"Well, I was startled,"
"You nearly decked me, woman!" he exclaimed comically
"And yet, here you are" she said dryly.
"Meh. It's better than most first impressions"
There was a pause. The air felt easier now. Lighter.
"So," Ron said after a beat, "this shadow guy....does he want something from you? Or is he just showing up for fun?"
Sam gave him an unimpressed stare. "I don't know. He talks in riddles or parables. I don't even know what the heck he's saying. I don't even know if he's human"
"Okay. Slightly terrifying"
"And annoying."
"Honestly, if inhad a cryptic river shadow haunting me, I'd be touchy too. Explains why you're so moody"
Samantha laughed again.
Then her expression sobered.
"Most people probably wouldn't believe me, would they? They'd think I'm crazy. Now, I don't know what this is, but I'm not waiting around for another life threatening panic attack or for everyone to finally decide to lock me up in a psych ward."
Ron passed, thoughtful.
"So, you're going to find answers?"
"I NEED to"
There was more silence.
Then Ron shot up, stretching dramatically.
"Well then, guess it's time to live up to my 'emotional support sidekick title'
She blinked. "For real?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he held up his hand theatrically and spoke. "I, Ronald the annoying, hereby pledge to follow you into questionable decisions, haunted riverbank and cryptic riddle confrontations until either answers are found or we die of embarrassment."
Samantha cackled. "You're such a weirdo"
"You're welcome."
She smiled at him, he returned it with his signature grin.
Whatever was waiting for her in the shadows?
It messed with the wring girl.
And the best part, she wasn't facing it alone anymore.