Fic: I Found You In A Reflection (J2, PG-13)
Title: I Found You In a Reflection
Author: lostt1
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 8342
Warning: A little language.
Disclaimer: Not mine. I just like to play with them every once in awhile.
Summary: Jared gets more than he bargained for when a visit to a haunted house teaches him about life, death, and life after death. Or was that love after death?
Notes: For the final j2_everafter challenge, this fic is inspired by the movie The Haunted Mansion. Well, to be more accurate, it's based more on the ride the movie is based on and all of the stories cast members like to tell. I haven't written anything is so long, I have almost forgotten how. Here's hoping it doesn't completely suck. And I'm sure it needs massive editing, which will have to wait. I wanted to post before the deadline, so it is what it is right now.
"Where the hell are you taking us, man?" Chad grumbled, pushing another hanging branch out of the way.
"Just a little bit further," Jared tossed a grin over his shoulder at his friend. "Trust me."
Chad growled under his breath. "And you know this how? You've never been out of Texas! We're here in the middle of fucking nowhere Louisiana. Face it man, there's nothing out here."
Jared paused, grin slipping. "I just know." He shrugged his shoulders and kept going. The once-travelled road was little more than a dirt path, winding its way through the dark forest. "I can't explain it. I just feel like I've been here before."
"I think you've lost your fuckin - whoa!" Chad nearly ran into the back of Jared, who had come to a dead halt in front of him. He peered around Jared, the taller man's body blocking his view. "Is that it?"
"It has to be," Jared's eyes were wide as he stared at the scene in front of him. It was like something out of a horror movie. The house loomed in the distance, a dark skeleton against a deceptively blue sky. The exterior was run down and decrepit, the mansion having fallen into disrepair years ago. There were three stories and a cupola that towered above the tallest trees. The first two floors were surrounded by wrap-around porches, and there were four giant pillars framing the front entry-way. Jared could see the rusting lattice-work that outlined the porches. The building was obviously old, the Victorian influences of its structure obvious despite its age.
Chad let out a low whistle. "Dude, I think this definitely qualifies as a haunted house. Out here, in the middle of nowhere, where no one can even hear you scream. Looks like no one has been here in years. How'd you even find out about this place?"
"My great-grandpa wrote about it in one of his letters. I think one of my ancestors worked here. Or something like that. Told me I should come here as soon as I was able. That it was my destiny or something like that." Jared reached out to touch the imposing iron gate, which swung open easily, despite the thick layer of rust covering each of the hinges. The resulting squeal of ancient metal disrupted the eerie silence.
"Yeah, well, no offense man, but your grandpa was off his rocker." Chad cursed under his breath as he wiped away a stray cobweb that brushed across his face.
"Great-grandpa," Jared distractedly corrected his friend. He glanced around before walking through the gate, heading down the overgrown path. Jared shivered, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched. "Probably just an animal," he muttered to himself.
"Grandpa, great-grandpa, whatever," Chad shrugged as he followed after his friend. "He was still crazy, man. Wasn't he dating that psychic? The one who was always spoutin' off about reincarnation and destiny and soulmates and shit? The one who was obsessed with you?"
"They weren't dating." Jared stopped and shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. A gentle breeze began to blow, grazing his heated skin like a lover's touch, making him shiver.
"This place is seriously-" Chad stopped beside him, brow furrowing. "You ok, man?"
Jared exhaled slowly before moving forward again, his long legs eating the distance. "I'm fine. It's just-"
"Just what?" Chad hurried to catch up.
"You don't feel it?"
"Feel what?!"
"The sadness?" Jared knew he probably sounded crazy, but the atmosphere felt thicker, heavier with every step he made toward the crumbling mansion.
"Sadness? No. I don't feel anything but creeped out." Chad looked over at Jared, eyebrow raised. "You sure you're ok?"
Jared shook his head. "Nevermind, it's nothing." Even as he said the words, he knew he was lying. There was something in the house, something calling to him. What it was, though, he had no idea.
"You sure it's safe to go inside?" Chad looked at the dilapidated porch with a critical eye. "I won't catch herpes or anything like that, will I?"
"Herpes?" Jared snorted. "If you catch herpes, it isn't from here. And I don't want to know where you catch it from, either."
"Well, that one waitress back home, the one with the big-"
"I don't want to know!" Jared punched Chad in the shoulder, shivering again, but for an entirely different reason. "Gross, dude."
Chad cackled with glee. "Dude, don't knock it unless you've tried it. You do know you don't have to hold onto that v-card with such a firm grip, right?"
"We just graduated, Chad," Jared reminded his friend. "There is no rush."
"Seriously, dude, we're traveling the country on this weird 'haunted houses across America' quest of yours. We'll just find you a nice girl-"
Jared scrunched his nose.
"Or boy-" Chad amended.
Jared shook his head. "It'll happen when it happens, man. I'm just-"
"Holding out for your mysterious soul mate?"
Jared gave a helpless shrug. He knew Chad didn't understand but for as long as he could remember, he felt like there was someone out there for him, someone waiting for him to find him. As he got older, the ache for that missing person just grew deeper, the hole in his soul more and more painful with each passing year. Now that he was 18, he was done waiting. So he convinced Chad to go on this road trip, the final hoorah before heading off to college. And this home, this ancient mansion, was the first one on his list. He had been waiting for this day since his great-grandpa had first written about it.
Chad rolled his eyes. "So we goin' in, or what?"
Jared took a deep breath and stood up straight. "We're goin' in." He gingerly placed his foot on the first step before slowly lifting up, placing more and more weight on the creaking wood. When it didn't collapse beneath him, he exhaled and began the slow ascent. With every tentative step, Jared breathed a bit easier.
Chad clomped up the steps behind him. "What?" he asked, noticing Jared's glare.
"You mind being a little more careful?" Jared growled. "You don't know how sturdy anything is around here. And it's not like we can get reception out here to call an ambulance."
Chad frowned. "I thought you said it's safe."
Jared shook his head. "I said we'd probably be safe. But it doesn't hurt to be careful, you moron." He lifted his hand toward the doorknob but before he could touch it, the door swung open.
"Dude, is it supposed to do that?"
Jared glanced at Chad, eyes wide. Then he rolled his eyes and gave himself a mental kick. "Probably just the wind."
Chad frowned. "What wind? It's hot as balls out here."
"Wind, breeze...whatever. I'm going in." Jared stepped through the door. "You're not scared, are you?"
"What!" Chad huffed an annoyed breath. "I'm not scared." To prove his point, he pushed past Jared and into the first room.
Jared shook his head, amused by his friend's "bravery." His focus quickly shifted as he took in his new surroundings.
The first room appeared to be a foyer that lead to areas further in the home. The walls were framed in a dark wood from floor to ceiling. The wallpaper was faded and peeling off the walls. There were candelabras lining the walls and a large glass chandelier hung high above their heads, thick cobwebs covering its spokes.
A giant fireplace took up the right wall, standing several feet high and twice as wide. Jared ran his hand across the mantle. "Holy shit."
"I bet you can fit in that thing standing up," Chad told him.
Jared snorted. "Don't think I'm going to try that, but you're probably right."
"Looks like we weren't the only ones to find this place," Chad said, nodding toward a couple of abandoned spray paint cans in a nearby corner.
Jared noticed the half-completed graffiti tags on the wall and frowned. "Doesn't look like they stayed long enough to finish the job."
"Wonder why."
"Don't know, man." Jared pointed in the direction of a hallway off to the left of the foyer. "Let's start there."
Chad dragged his eyes away from the paint cans and frowned. "You sure this is a good idea?"
"Why? You're not changing your mind, are you?"
"No," Chad shook his head. "This place just...well, it's creepy."
Jared bit his lower lip and shrugged one shoulder. Despite the fact that the mansion was run down, dirty, and dusty after being uninhabited for years, there was something about it that felt almost like home.
As Jared wandered down the dim hallway, he wondered what had happened for this family to leave everything behind. The place looked like everyone had just picked up and walked away. Perhaps they expected to return but had a horrible accident before they could.
The hall was lined with pictures, old portraits of a family long gone. Jared took his time examining each one, fascinated by the evolution of technology evident with each new image. The first picture was actually a painting of a small family, a young couple and their young boy. The next couple were old photographs of another couple, one with three young children, a boy, a girl, and a little baby. Jared noticed the age progression of the children as the pictures continued. There were only a few photos, but it was easy to see that they were all of this little family. The final picture caught his attention, drawing him to a stop.
"Jensen," he breathed out, his hand immediately reaching out to touch the black and white image on the wall.
"Jensen?" Chad squinted up at the photograph. "Is there a name on that one?"
Jared frowned and looked around, once again feeling like he was being watched. He shook his head and turned back to his friend. "I don't know why I said that. Maybe my great-grandpa mentioned a Jensen in his letter or something.
He hadn't. Jared knew that because he and read each letter so many times he had them committed to memory. There was never any mention of Jensen. But Jared knew that the man in the picture was named Jensen. He was sure of it.
"This place is so weird," Chad muttered, wandering off into a room on the left of the hall. "Hey Jay, man, you gotta come see this."
"What?" Jared followed the sound of Chad's voice. He found himself in a library, bookcases running from wall-to-wall, each one piled high with books. "Wow."
"Oh god, you're getting a book boner, aren't you?"
Jared rolled his eyes. "Gross, dude."
"Can't help if it's true." Chad picked up a marble bust, wiping away a thick layer of dust with his hand.
Jared approached the nearest bookcase, eyes scanning the titles. His eye caught on a couple of titles, classics like "Great Expectations" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame." Jared let his fingers run across their spines, itching to pull them down and crack them open. He glanced around the room. He could happily immerse himself in the library for months, years even, and still not have a chance to read them all.
"Jared-"
"What?" The whispered name caught his attention but he didn't turn from the bookcase. He knelt down to get a better look at the title of a law book on a lower shelf.
"What what?" Chad tossed the bust in the air and fumbled with it on its return. "Ow, fuck," he muttered as the bust fell against his foot.
"You were going to say something-" Jared prompted, looking over at his friend and rolling his eyes as he watched Chad struggle to set the bust back on the desk.
"No I wasn't." Chad frowned.
"You said my name."
"No, I didn't." Chad disagreed.
"Yes, you did." Jared knew what he had heard.
"No, I di-what the fuck!" Chad jumped back as a book fell off a shelf, landing open at Jared's feet. "This place really is haunted!"
Jared grabbed the book and stood up, argument already forgotten. "What makes you say that?"
Chad gave him a withering look. "Did you not see that book fall off the shelf on its own?"
Jared shook his head. "You just dropped that heavy statue on the floor, you idiot. This book was probably sticking out and the vibrations just caused it to fall. It's not ghosts."
Chad stared at him, a look of disbelief on his face. "I don't think so, man. That was just-"
"Did you actually look at all the books when you came in here?" Jared interrupted.
Chad shook his head. "Well, no, but-"
"But nothing." Jared turned the book over to scan the cover, looking for a title. Seeing none, he flipped it open. The yellowed pages were filled with faded blue ink, handwritten words covering their surface. "It's not a ghost," he repeated, his attention already on the journal in his hands.
Chad, seeing Jared was distracted by the book, just snorted. "Dude, whatever." He headed for the door. "You can stay here in this creepy-ass mansion all by yourself if you want, but I'm out of here."
Jared sat down on the hardwood floor, paying no attention to the thick layers of dust covering the surface as he scanned the first page. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up later."
Chad stopped, obviously surprised with Jared's response. "Come on, man. Let's get out of here."
"Seriously, go on without me," Jared glanced up at Chad and waved his hand toward the door. "I'll be fine."
"You could just take that with you," Chad pointed at the book in Jared's hands.
Jared shook his head. "Nah. I don't know, just seems...wrong." He paused. "Besides, I want to check out the upstairs before I leave."
Chad sighed, years of friendship telling him Jared wouldn't be budging anytime soon. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't stay too long. And if anything else falls off the shelves-"
Jared smiled up at him from his place on the floor. "I'll run out of here screaming like a little girl." He held up his hand, fingers fisted except the pinky. "Pinky swear."
"You are a girl," Chad snorted, punching Jared on the shoulder. He frowned. "You sure you're good?"
Jared's attention was already back on the book in his lap. "Yeah, man, fine. Just go, will you?"
"Ok then. See ya later-"
"See ya-" Jared distractedly replied as he struggled to read the words on the page. He was distantly aware of Chad leaving, but his focus never wavered. The book was obviously a diary, or journal, written decades ago. Some of the ink had faded so much over the years that it was illegible, but Jared could make out enough words to get a good understanding of the contents. He flipped the book open to the inside of the front cover. Written in the same blocky handwriting was a single name.
"Alan Ackles." Jared whispered the name out loud to himself. He wondered what had happened to Alan, where he had gone, who was he. Was he one of the people in the portraits lining the hallway or was he someone else?
Jared turned to the first page and started to skim the words, hoping to learn something about the man who had possibly lived in this crumbling mansion, once upon a time.
Jared didn't know how much time had passed while he sat there, reading about Alan Ackles and his life. Alan had been born in this house, which had been built by his father as a port for his shipping business. Alan had gone to school in England, where he met his future wife, Donna. He and Donna moved back to Louisiana after he finished school and he took over his father's company, making a name for himself along with a small fortune. Alan and Donna longed for a family and eventually had three children, Josh, Mackenzie, and Jensen.
Jared paused and ran his finger across the first mention of "Jensen." He thought about the portrait in the hallway, the one he was so mesmerized by earlier. The image of the young man with the full lips and piercing eyes was seared into his brain. "Why do I know you?" he muttered into the air before turning his focus back to the journal.
Alan and Donna led a charmed life with their three children before tragedy struck. While away on holiday, the children became ill with scarlet fever. Josh and Mackenzie died from the disease, leaving Jensen as the only heir. The entries became sporadic after that, each one filled with so much grief and pain, Jared felt guilty just reading them.
They're all gone. Everyone but my Jensen. And my time on this Earth is just about up. I just have one final wish before I go to join my beloved in Heaven. I wish to see my beautiful boy happy, to see him married with a chance at a future. I had been questioning whether this is what Jensen wishes for himself, but today he came to me and told me of his plans to marry Alona Tal. He has made me so happy. Tomorrow, we shall have a grand ball, the likes of which this house has not seen in too many years. Jensen will be given the chance to share his good fortune with all of our friends and then...then I can die a happy man.
Jared flipped through the remaining pages, but they were all blank. He wondered what had happened after that. Did Jensen marry Alona? His chest ached with the thought. He shook his head and climbed to his feet, groaning as he stretched, muscles stiff from sitting on the floor for much too long. He glanced out the library's large window, noting the sun's position in the sky. He estimated it was mid-afternoon, giving him at least another hour before the sky grew too dark to allow him to do any more exploring.
Jared poked his head in a couple more doors before heading toward the stairs at the end of the hall.
The staircase winded its way along the back wall, its gentle curve leading up to the second floor. Jared began the slow ascent, his hand gripping the banister for added support. Halfway up, one of the steps groaned under his weight and he paused, sucking in a breath. Once he was certain the stairs weren't going to collapse beneath him, he exhaled and continued on his path.
The upstairs hall was dimly lit, thin bands of sunlight shining through open slits in the heavy drapes. Jared raised an eyebrow and shook his head at the various suits of armor that lined the wall. "Rich people are fucking weird," he muttered to himself as he rushed past the silent figures.
Once again, Jared felt like he was being watched, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He felt like there were eyes following his every move. He swallowed hard and tossed a suspicious glance at the nearest "knight." When it remained completely still, staring straight ahead at nothing, Jared laughed. HIs nervous chuckle echoed in the quiet hallway.
"Get a grip, Jared."
Jared checked the various doors scattered along the second floor, finding bedroom after bedroom and a single bathroom. Each room fascinated Jared, rich with history, frozen in time. The bathroom was obviously dated with a claw-foot tub along one wall and pedestal sink on the other.
As Jared continued his exploration of the upper floor, he noticed that the sun was starting to wane and the shadows were growing deeper. It would be dark before long but Jared wasn't ready to give up on his adventure just yet. He knew he hit the jackpot when he opened the last door and found another narrow staircase leading upwards.
He had found the attic. And attics were where secrets went to hide.
Once again, Jared climbed each step with caution. His heart nearly stopped when one board cracked beneath his shoe. He stumbled back, thankfully knocking into the wall instead of tumbling back down the way he had come.
Jared pressed his hand against the wall and took a steadying breath before moving on, skipping the broken step and quickly climbing to the top.
Jared noted that the attic was dustier than the rest of the house, if that was possible. Thick mazes of cobwebs strung from one corner to the next, making Jared shiver. The room was large, about half the size of the other floors. A ladder leaned against the back wall, leading up to a trap door. Cupola Jared thought, remembering the single dome structure sitting atop the mansion.
He scanned the room, taking an informal inventory. A large trunk took up one corner and there were dozens of boxes strewn around the room. Most were sealed tightly shut, but a couple were open, their contents peeking over the tops. Jared smiled when he noticed the teddy bear stuffed in one box, it's fur dusty and eyes dull. He wondered whose it was, what stories it could tell.
The next open box was full of clothes and Jared pulled out the top item, shaking it out as he held it up. Dust swirled around him, making him sneeze and his eyes water. The dress looked like something out of a period movie. It was long, the train brushing the floor even when Jared held it up high. There was lace and beadwork, obviously hand stitched. It looked expensive and unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Jared draped the gown across the top of another box and continued searching through the box of clothes, eager to see what else he would find. He pulled out dress after dress, each one more extravagant than the one before. Jared stared at the final gown and was overcome with an intense feeling of sadness. He let the soft white silk material fall from his fingers and stood up, suddenly wanting nothing more than to get away.
As he brushed his hands on his dirty jeans, Jared saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eyes. Startled, he swung around, fearful of what he might find behind him.
He snorted when he saw his distorted reflection staring back at him from the ornate mirror in the corner. He shook his head, annoyed that he was letting his fear was get the best of him.
Jared moved towards the mirror, eager to check out his new find. The mirror was very large, standing nearly 7 feet tall. It was framed with a deep, dark wood. The image reflected was slightly distorted due to the warped surface. Jared snorted at he looked at himself. His hair was sticking up in places and he had a streak of dirt across the bridge of his nose. His clothes looked like he hadn't washed them in days. Frankly, he looked like a mess.
Jared reached up, running his hands through his hair, trying to tame the untamable. A slight movement just behind him caught his attention and he paused, his right hand curled over his ear. He took a deep breath and shook his head, sure his imagination was running away once more. But then he shifted slightly to the right and-
And saw another pair of wide, brown eyes staring back at him.
Jared stumbled backwards, a less-than-dignified scream on his lips. He felt his foot catch, the heavy fabric of one of the dresses he'd pulled from the box now tangled around his ankle. He jerked his body in the opposite direction, hoping to find his equilibrium once more.
Instead, he tumbled backwards through the window.
First came the sharp pain of glass slicing into his skin, then the moment of weightlessness before gravity kicked in.
And then everything went black.
*********************************
"Jared! Can you hear me?"
Jared groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. He could feel hands brush over his skin, movements quick and frantic. "Wha-"
"Jared? You with me?"
Jared's eyes opened and he squinted at the shadowy form above him. He blinked and the shadows took form. He stared up into striking green eyes.
Jared frowned as he watched the mouth move, the words escaping his attention. He reached up and pressed his fingers into the lips. "Mmmm...soft-"
The eyes crinkled in obvious amusement. "Jay, can you sit up, buddy?"
Strong hands grasped Jared under his arms and tugged him forward. Jared let his weight rest against the warm body next to him while he tried to gather himself together. He frowned when he realized he was leaning against a stranger. An oddly familiar stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. "Do I know you?"
The guy's smile faded. "I guess not."
"But you know my name?"
The guy shrugged. "Must've heard your friend say it."
"I guess." Jared glanced around. "Have you seen Chad? Did he come back?"
"No, he's not here." The guy looked off in the distance before shaking his head and returning his focus to Jared. "How are you feeling? Can you stand up?" He pulled himself to his feet and offered his hand to Jared.
Jared reached out and accepted the helping hand. He felt a shock go through his body when their palms met and he stared at the guy, eyes wide. "What was that?"
"What was what?" The guy frowned and Jared shook his head.
"Nevermind. I guess I must've hit my head a little harder than I thought." He paused, confused. "How did I hit my head?"
The guy gave him a strange look. "What do you remember?"
Jared thought about it. "I don't know, really. I was in the attic and then...I stumbled? Probably hit my head on the wall or something. I'm sort of a klutz."
Jared suddenly realized he wasn't in the attic anymore. He spun around but before he could figure out where he was, the stranger stepped closer, effectively distracting him.
"Klutz, huh?" he asked with a smile. He wrapped a warm hand around Jared's bicep and pulled him in the direction of the house. "We should probably get you to safety, then."
Jared glanced at the porch and dug his heels into the ground, feeling uncertain.
The guy came to a halt and gave Jared a questioning look. "What's wrong?"
Jared titled his head to the side and stared at the house. "I don't know, it's just-" He paused, trying to find the right word. "Different?" He bit his lip as he analyzed the scene, trying to put his finger on what was off. He felt like something had changed, something major, he just didn't know what. "You sure I don't know you?"
The guy simply stood there, giving no answer to Jared's question. Jared climbed up onto the first step of the porch and stared down at the mysterious stranger. The guy was tall, just a little taller than Jared himself (though probably not for long, if the rate Jared was growing was anything to go by). His hair was light brown, almost blond. He had a strong jaw and piercing green eyes and-
"You're Jensen!"
The guy, Jensen, cocked his head to the side. "I thought you said you didn't know me."
Jared shrugged. "You're the guy from the picture." His eyes grew wide as realization hit him. "Ohmygod, this place is actually haunted!"
Jensen gave him a sad smile. "Surprise." He climbed the steps to the porch and Jared trailed after him. "How'd you figure it out?" He opened the front door and allowed Jared to enter the foyer before him.
"That picture, the house..." Jared waved his hand through the air. "Everything's old."
"And what if the house belonged to my ancestor?"
Jared shot a pointed look at Jensen's chest.
Jensen glanced down and snorted, as if noticing his clothing for the first time. The cotton pants, buttoned-up vest, and collared shirt didn't seem as dated as other things in the house, but they were obviously from a different time. He shrugged his shoulders, cheeks pink.
Jared grinned. "Like I said...old." He looked around the foyer, taking in his surroundings, his grin fading. "Except not...how'd that happen?"
"How'd what happen?"
Jared reached out and ran his hand along the wall, feeling the wallpaper's rough texture beneath his fingers. The wallpaper was no longer faded, the greens and golds standing out in bright contrast. The entire room fresh, no longer covered in dust and cobwebs. The brass candelabras on the wall shone, as if recently polished and the glass chandelier sparkled above them.
"Different-" Jared breathed out. "It's all new, but it was old before. Dirty, dusty, nothing like..." He waved his hand at the room.
Jensen just shrugged, obviously unsure how to explain it. "Do you want a tour?"
"I've already-" Jared stopped himself, suddenly feeling like a creeper. He'd gone through Jensen's house, rifled through his things, without an invitation. Sure Jensen was...well, dead. But Jared still had manners. "That would be great."
"Great," Jensen repeated, his face morphing into an wide grin. "Right this way."
Jensen took Jared around to the same rooms he had seen earlier on his own, but everything looked completely different. Shinier, newer, and definitely cleaner. Jensen entertained Jared with tales of his adventures growing up, told him about his brother, Josh, and sister, Mackenzie, and the trouble they always got into together.
Jared was so enthralled with Jensen's stories that he barely registered where they were before Jensen came to a halt. Jared glanced back down the upstairs hall before motioning toward the door. "You going to show me the attic."
Jensen shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "I don't go up there," he told Jared. "Ever."
Just then, a loud crash of thunder rumbled in the distance. Jared jumped, unconsciously leaning closer to Jared. "God I hate storms."
"I know."
Jared tossed Jensen a confused look. He felt like he was missing something. There was something Jensen wasn't telling him, but he wasn't sure he had the right to question him about it. Yet. "So where to now?" he asked.
Jensen gave him a small smile, grateful for the change of subject. "Let's head out to the porch, talk for a bit and watch the storm roll in."
Jared growled and Jensen laughed out loud. "Don't worry, I'll protect you," he said, leaning in and whispering in Jared's ear. Jared shivered, nerves firing as Jensen's breath blew across his ear.
Jensen grabbed Jared's hand and pulled him into one of the bedrooms. Jared barely got a chance to check out the dark wood of the bed before he was pushed through another door and out onto the second story porch. Jensen nodded toward two chairs and they sat down.
The two of them sat in silence for awhile, content to watch the trees blow as the wind began to pick up, the storm getting closer. Another crash of thunder sounded and Jensen sighed.
"After my brother and sister died, things changed a lot around here." Jensen paused, picking at a loose thread on his vest. "My mom couldn't deal. She was just so sad all the time. And I was still pretty young. I didn't really understand what was going on. I just knew my siblings were gone and they weren't coming back and my mom...my mom became a living ghost."
Jared snorted and Jensen smirked. "Yeah, I know. Ironic. She was like a ghost, I am a ghost. But really, she just faded into the background. She got really involved in magic, always trying to find a way to bring them back. Nothing ever really came of it, but she was obsessed. I think she eventually died of a broken heart."
"People don't actually die of broken hearts," Jared argued.
Jensen shot him an indecipherable look. "You'd be surprised," he muttered. "Anyway, Mom pretty much just existed those last few years before she died. And when she finally passed, my dad, well, I was all he had left. He never let me go anywhere so it was just us, out here in the middle of nowhere."
"Sounds lonely." Jared stared at Jensen's profile as the other man stared off into the distance. He couldn't help but admire his strong jaw and pale skin. He wondered if Jensen had always been that pale or if it was because he's a ghost.
"It was," Jensen agreed. "At least it was at first. But I befriended this boy, our groundskeeper's son. He was my best friend. We did everything together. We spent hours searching the house for secret passages. He swore one day we'd find one, but we never did. Man, he got me in so much trouble. I remember this one time, we thought it would be really funny to dump water on the next person who came up to the door. So we stood on this porch with a bucket full of water from the river and just waited. It was nearly two hours later before we finally got our chance."
Jared grinned. "What happened?"
Jensen snorted. "Well, the new pastor said some words I'm still not sure are appropriate to repeat."
Jared began laughing, head tossed back, and slapped his knee. "Seriously? The pastor?"
"Unfortunately." Jensen grinned. "I couldn't sit properly for a week after that. But J...well, let's just say that it wasn't the first time I got in trouble like that and it definitely wasn't the last, either."
"What was he like? Your friend?"
Jensen smiled wistfully and closed his eyes. "He was so full of life. The happiest person I'd ever met. Big smile with dimples the size of craters. He was younger than I was. Growing up, he was this string-bean of a boy, rail thin and scrawny. Then he kept having these crazy growth spurts. He'd shoot up several inches at once and then he couldn't control his arms or legs. He was always running into things."
"I know how that feels," Jared muttered. He shrugged when Jensen looked over at him, that strange look on his face once again. The storm had arrived and Jared listened to the sound of the rain bouncing off the roof above him as he waited for Jensen to continue.
Jensen sighed. "He was just...he made me feel amazing, like I was invincible. I was his hero and he was my..."
"Your everything." Jared closed his eyes momentarily, an intense feeling of longing washing over him.
Jensen nodded. "Yeah."
"So what happened between you?" Jared got a bad feeling when he glanced over and saw Jensen's pinched expression.
"You have to understand, things were different back then." Jared nodded and Jensen continued. "My dad decided I needed to be married. I kept putting it off, but then he got sick. Really sick. And I just wanted to make him happy. It had been so long since he had been truly happy and I knew I could do that for him. Or at least I thought I could."
"Alona," Jared blurted out, remembering the journal.
Jensen shot him a startled glance. "Yeah, Alona. Our fathers were business partners. She was a nice girl. Really sweet and I got along with her fine. We got engaged. My dad was so ecstatic. He immediately decided we should have a big party, to celebrate. My parents used to have all these huge parties and everyone who was anyone would be there, but after my siblings died...well, it had been a long time since we had celebrated anything. Jar...my friend was excited. He had never been to a party before. I meant to tell him about the engagement, but I kept putting it off."
Jared cringed, somehow knowing where this story was headed.
"God, his face. When my father announced the engagement, he just...he closed up. That's the only way I can describe it. It was like he shut down. And then he took off running. It was storming that night and he was terrified of the lightning and thunder. I didn't want him alone in that, so I ran after him, but I was too late. He was gone."
Jared scooted his chair closer to Jensen, wanting to offer this ghost silent support. "What happened then?"
Jensen shrugged. "He just...disappeared. He didn't even come back for his things. He was just gone."
Jared frowned. "He just left everything?" Jensen nodded, misery etched in every detail of his face. "Something must've happened." Jared didn't know why, but he was sure he was right.
"You think?"
Jared gave an affirmative nod. "I do."
"I guess it doesn't really matter. It was all my fault."
"No," Jared disagreed. "You were being a good son. I'm sure your friend knew that. But...honestly, it sounds like he might've been in love with you. I know if it were me, I'd have to get away, too. If only for a little while."
"I loved him, too."
Jared sighed, staring out at the trees in the distance. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, making him cringe. Jared looked over at Jensen and wished he could wipe the pain away. But he had one last question. He needed to know. "What happened to you?"
Jensen's face immediately closed up, like he pushed his emotions behind a wall Jared couldn't reach. "Come on, we need to hurry or we'll be late."
Jared frowned. "Late for what?"
********************************
"Holy shit!" Jared stared out at the mass of dancing ghosts, various couples twirling across the dance floor in the ballroom. "This happens every night?"
Jensen nodded. "Every single night."
"What is it?"
Jensen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "My curse." He opened his eyes and welcomed another couple as they drew near.
"Congratulations, Jensen!" The male ghost exclaimed, slapping Jensen on the back. Unlike Jensen, the new arrival was nearly translucent and floated across the floor. He appeared to be more like an echo of a former person than an actual solid being.
"You and Alona will be so happy together," the female ghost added. Her voice was breathy and her body was barely more than a faint outline.
Jared shot Jensen a startled look. "Is this your engagement party?"
Jensen nodded, mouth pressed into a grim line. "Like I said, it's my curse." He sighed. "Worst night of my life and I get to relive it."
Jared wanted to reach out, wanted to wrap his arms around Jensen in a big hug. No one deserved this torture. And he could see from the look on Jensen's face that it was just that...torture.
Another ghost walked past the two of them, headed for the buffet table, and he tipped his hat in Jared's direction.
"Why are they see-through?" Jared wondered aloud.
Next to him, Jensen seemed to visibly shake himself out of the funk he'd sunk into. He shrugged one shoulder. "The best I figure is that they aren't fully here, that the more solid a ghost is, the more that person meant to me."
Jared nodded. He supposed that made sense. About as much sense as anything else that had happened could make.
Jensen glanced over his shoulder before leaning in Jared's direction. "Hey, I'll be right back, ok?"
Jared nodded. He continued to watch the ghosts swirling around the ballroom floor. They were in the middle of performing a dance he was pretty sure he'd seen in one of his mom's movies before.
Three songs passed before Jared started to worry.
Where was Jensen?
As he got closer to the hallway, Jared heard arguing. He recognized Jensen's voice, but the other, a female, was unknown. Jared followed the voices up the stairs to the second floor hallway. He could still hear the music, but it grew fainter and fainter with every step. As the music grew quieter, the angry whispers grew louder.
"You have to tell him, Jensen!"
"I know!" Jensen growled, voice getting louder. "But how do I tell him that..."
"That I'm dead?" Jared interrupted, walking up to the arguing...well, Jensen and a floating head. The person fighting with Jensen was little more than a bodiless head floating inside of a crystal ball. She had long, flowing blond hair that billowed around her head, as if she were swimming through water.
The arguing couple swung around to meet him, both of their eyes wide.
Jared shrugged. "I am dead, aren't I?" He already knew the answer as he asked the question. It had been there in the back of his mind, nagging him since he had opened his eyes and seen Jensen hovering above him. He didn't actually remember falling, at least nothing beyond a faint recollection, and he hoped it stayed that way.
Jensen bit his lip and nodded. "I'm sorry, Jared."
He looked down at his arms. "Anyway, I'm mostly solid so I must be someone pretty important to you."
"Mostly?" Jensen grabbed Jared's arm and pulled it toward him, studying the new transparency of Jared's fingers with mounting horror. "Oh god. I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault," Jared admitted. He wondered if he should be more upset about finding out he had died. He just felt numb.
"Actually, I think it's my fault."
Jared turned to the floating head. "How is it your fault?"
The girl pouted. "I'm pretty sure I startled you and then you fell out the window."
A memory hit him. "I saw you in the mirror!"
The girl nodded, a movement that looked rather strange on a person with no neck. "Sorry?"
"Honestly, it probably would've happened anyway. I'm sort of a klutz." Jared offered her a smile. "Forgive me if I'm being rude, but who are you?"
The girl's eyes opened wide and she shared a look with Jensen. He gave her a small nod and she smiled. "I'm Alona."
It was Jared's turn to be surprised. "Alona? As in-"
"As in, the girl who gave up half her life for you so you two idiots could have a second chance!"
"You mean, as in the girl who messed with magic she didn't understand, screwed it up, and cursed us all!" Jensen fired back.
"He's here, isn't he? Jensen! This is your chance. Don't be a moron."
Jared watched the verbal volley between the two, struggling to understand.
"I'm a moron? Well, you're a stupid witch! You made a mistake and now I'm forced to relive this awful night every night. And he's back, but he's fading away already! Haven't I suffered enough?"
"Suffered? Yes, I admit I screwed up the spell. But suffer? Don't you think I'm paying for it. I'm not dead! I'm not alive! I'm a half-life now, doomed to float around in this stupid ball for all of eternity. I gave half my life to bring him back! And you just have to get your act together before he fades away completely. You two can finally fix it so that you'll be together forever. The least you can do to thank me is-"
At that moment, a loud crash of thunder sounded and Jared jumped, falling backwards into one of the suits of armor. "See, like I told you, I'm such a-"
"Jay?"
Jared ignored Jensen and turned to the wall. He ran his hand along the wallpaper. He glanced up at the candelabra directly above the knight and counted. "Two to the right, seven down, and..." He felt the slight recess in the wall and pushed.
A section of the wall behind the knight slid open. Jensen stared at him in disbelief. "Jared, what-"
Jared watched Jensen struggle to find the words for a bit before he took pity on him. "It was me, wasn't it?" At Jensen's questioning look, he continued. "I'm the friend. The one who disappeared that night."
"You know the answer to that."
Jared nodded. "I do," he agreed. "I remember everything." He motioned to the opening in the wall and entered the dark corridor that was previously hidden. He stumbled over some rocks before reaching out and holding onto the wall for support. He felt more than heard the other two follow along behind him.
Alona emitted a slight glow, lighting the passageway. "You're better than any flashlight," Jared told her.
"I try," she replied with a grin.
"Jay?" Jensen's voice cracked, emotion clear in the single word.
Jared glanced over his shoulder and gave Jensen a small smile. "I was devastated that night. Your dad said you two were engaged and you never told me. I was completely blindsided and honestly, Jensen, it killed me. I was your best friend. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I couldn't" Jensen croaked, shame and guilt oozing out of him.
Jared sighed. "I know," he admitted. "I know it now and I knew it then. But the announcement took me by surprise and I just had to get away, at least for a little while. So I ran. I had been planning to show you this passage after the party, but things didn't go exactly as planned."
"Tell me about it," Jensen muttered. "How'd you even find it? We looked for a secret passage all those years and never found anything."
Jared could feel his face begin to burn and was glad that the corridor was dark. "I, um, fell into the wall. I think my elbow hit the button."
Jensen snorted. "Of course."
They came to a fork in the hall and Jared pointed straight ahead. "If you take that path, it'll lead you to the brick storage house down near the river. But I took this path," he said as he motioned to the right. They walked a few feet further before coming to a set of stairs. Jared climbed the stairs until he reached the underside of a trap door. He felt some resistance when he pushed but after taking a deep breath, he heaved and the door creaked open. Jared could hear the cardboard box that had been sitting in the attic on top of the door slide to the side.
"This is where I ended up."
Jared pulled himself up into the attic, Alona floating right behind him. He looked down and saw the hesitation on Jensen's face. He glanced around the room, wondering what Jensen would have to be scared of, when he saw the look of sadness on Alona's face.
"Jensen, how did you die?" Jared asked, voice soft.
Jensen took a deep breath and pulled himself up into the room. He closed the trapdoor and crawled over to sit next to Jared. He tugged Jared's arm toward him and rubbed his thumb along the growing transparency, which now spread up to Jared's elbow. Jensen pointed toward the ceiling.
Jared frowned until he remembered the cupola. He looked at Jensen, eyes wide.
Jensen nodded. "God, I loved you so much. I didn't realize just how much until you weren't there. I loved you and you were gone and I just couldn't cope. So yeah, Jay, I believe people can die of broken hearts."
Jared felt a tear slide down his cheek as he closed his eyes, imagining Jensen suffering so much he felt the only solution was to kill himself.
"I have to know, Jay," Jensen leaned in closer. "Why? Why did you leave me? Why didn't you give me a chance to explain?"
Jared sighed and reached out, his thumb tracing a path along Jensen's throat, picturing the rough rope cutting into the delicate skin as he hung from the rafters. He shuddered and pulled himself to his feet. He held out a hand to Jensen. When Jensen grabbed onto him, he felt the familiar zing of electricity pass between them.
Silently, Jared led Jensen over to the corner where the large trunk lay. "I never left you," he whispered, leaning closer until his lips brushed against Jensen's. "I promise, I never left."
Jared pulled back and flipped the lock up before opening the lid of the trunk. Jensen stared down at the decaying skeleton inside, horrified.
"It was an accident. It was storming and there was thunder and...well, you know I'm clumsy. " Jared waved a hand toward the trunk. "I would've watched you marry her." He gave a helpless shrug.
Jensen surged forward, crashing their lips together as he framed Jared's face with his hands, his index fingers brushing the sensitive spot just under his ears. "You never left me," he stated as he pulled back, tears pooling in his eyes.
"I never left you," Jared affirmed.
Jensen placed a kiss on Jared's forehead before pulling him in, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. "I love you, Jay. You know that, right?"
"I do," Jared admitted, burying his face in Jensen's neck. The intense longing and sadness that he had been feeling for so long was finally gone. "I love you, too."
"Hallelujah!"
Jared and Jensen jumped back and stared at Alona, who was floating nearby. She grinned at them. The crystal ball rotated, allowing Alona to tilt her head toward Jared's arms.
Jensen grabbed Jared's arm and ran his fingers across the solid flesh.
"And the truth shall set you free!" Alona giggled.
"Seriously!?" Jensen glared at her. "Those were your magic words for the cure?"
"What?" Alona frowned. "Were you expecting something like Abracadabra?"
Jared snorted and grabbed Jensen's hand, twining their fingers together. "Thank you, Alona."
"See, at least someone appreciates me."
Jensen groaned. "If you're just going to whine, I'm going to have to shove your head in one of these boxes for a couple of decades."
"Now, now, Jensen," Alona said, floating back a few feet. "If you aren't nice, then I won't tell you about the second spell."
"What second spell?"
Alona looked at their joined hands and smiled. "Trust me, I think you're going to like this one."
Author: lostt1
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 8342
Warning: A little language.
Disclaimer: Not mine. I just like to play with them every once in awhile.
Summary: Jared gets more than he bargained for when a visit to a haunted house teaches him about life, death, and life after death. Or was that love after death?
Notes: For the final j2_everafter challenge, this fic is inspired by the movie The Haunted Mansion. Well, to be more accurate, it's based more on the ride the movie is based on and all of the stories cast members like to tell. I haven't written anything is so long, I have almost forgotten how. Here's hoping it doesn't completely suck. And I'm sure it needs massive editing, which will have to wait. I wanted to post before the deadline, so it is what it is right now.
"Where the hell are you taking us, man?" Chad grumbled, pushing another hanging branch out of the way.
"Just a little bit further," Jared tossed a grin over his shoulder at his friend. "Trust me."
Chad growled under his breath. "And you know this how? You've never been out of Texas! We're here in the middle of fucking nowhere Louisiana. Face it man, there's nothing out here."
Jared paused, grin slipping. "I just know." He shrugged his shoulders and kept going. The once-travelled road was little more than a dirt path, winding its way through the dark forest. "I can't explain it. I just feel like I've been here before."
"I think you've lost your fuckin - whoa!" Chad nearly ran into the back of Jared, who had come to a dead halt in front of him. He peered around Jared, the taller man's body blocking his view. "Is that it?"
"It has to be," Jared's eyes were wide as he stared at the scene in front of him. It was like something out of a horror movie. The house loomed in the distance, a dark skeleton against a deceptively blue sky. The exterior was run down and decrepit, the mansion having fallen into disrepair years ago. There were three stories and a cupola that towered above the tallest trees. The first two floors were surrounded by wrap-around porches, and there were four giant pillars framing the front entry-way. Jared could see the rusting lattice-work that outlined the porches. The building was obviously old, the Victorian influences of its structure obvious despite its age.
Chad let out a low whistle. "Dude, I think this definitely qualifies as a haunted house. Out here, in the middle of nowhere, where no one can even hear you scream. Looks like no one has been here in years. How'd you even find out about this place?"
"My great-grandpa wrote about it in one of his letters. I think one of my ancestors worked here. Or something like that. Told me I should come here as soon as I was able. That it was my destiny or something like that." Jared reached out to touch the imposing iron gate, which swung open easily, despite the thick layer of rust covering each of the hinges. The resulting squeal of ancient metal disrupted the eerie silence.
"Yeah, well, no offense man, but your grandpa was off his rocker." Chad cursed under his breath as he wiped away a stray cobweb that brushed across his face.
"Great-grandpa," Jared distractedly corrected his friend. He glanced around before walking through the gate, heading down the overgrown path. Jared shivered, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched. "Probably just an animal," he muttered to himself.
"Grandpa, great-grandpa, whatever," Chad shrugged as he followed after his friend. "He was still crazy, man. Wasn't he dating that psychic? The one who was always spoutin' off about reincarnation and destiny and soulmates and shit? The one who was obsessed with you?"
"They weren't dating." Jared stopped and shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. A gentle breeze began to blow, grazing his heated skin like a lover's touch, making him shiver.
"This place is seriously-" Chad stopped beside him, brow furrowing. "You ok, man?"
Jared exhaled slowly before moving forward again, his long legs eating the distance. "I'm fine. It's just-"
"Just what?" Chad hurried to catch up.
"You don't feel it?"
"Feel what?!"
"The sadness?" Jared knew he probably sounded crazy, but the atmosphere felt thicker, heavier with every step he made toward the crumbling mansion.
"Sadness? No. I don't feel anything but creeped out." Chad looked over at Jared, eyebrow raised. "You sure you're ok?"
Jared shook his head. "Nevermind, it's nothing." Even as he said the words, he knew he was lying. There was something in the house, something calling to him. What it was, though, he had no idea.
"You sure it's safe to go inside?" Chad looked at the dilapidated porch with a critical eye. "I won't catch herpes or anything like that, will I?"
"Herpes?" Jared snorted. "If you catch herpes, it isn't from here. And I don't want to know where you catch it from, either."
"Well, that one waitress back home, the one with the big-"
"I don't want to know!" Jared punched Chad in the shoulder, shivering again, but for an entirely different reason. "Gross, dude."
Chad cackled with glee. "Dude, don't knock it unless you've tried it. You do know you don't have to hold onto that v-card with such a firm grip, right?"
"We just graduated, Chad," Jared reminded his friend. "There is no rush."
"Seriously, dude, we're traveling the country on this weird 'haunted houses across America' quest of yours. We'll just find you a nice girl-"
Jared scrunched his nose.
"Or boy-" Chad amended.
Jared shook his head. "It'll happen when it happens, man. I'm just-"
"Holding out for your mysterious soul mate?"
Jared gave a helpless shrug. He knew Chad didn't understand but for as long as he could remember, he felt like there was someone out there for him, someone waiting for him to find him. As he got older, the ache for that missing person just grew deeper, the hole in his soul more and more painful with each passing year. Now that he was 18, he was done waiting. So he convinced Chad to go on this road trip, the final hoorah before heading off to college. And this home, this ancient mansion, was the first one on his list. He had been waiting for this day since his great-grandpa had first written about it.
Chad rolled his eyes. "So we goin' in, or what?"
Jared took a deep breath and stood up straight. "We're goin' in." He gingerly placed his foot on the first step before slowly lifting up, placing more and more weight on the creaking wood. When it didn't collapse beneath him, he exhaled and began the slow ascent. With every tentative step, Jared breathed a bit easier.
Chad clomped up the steps behind him. "What?" he asked, noticing Jared's glare.
"You mind being a little more careful?" Jared growled. "You don't know how sturdy anything is around here. And it's not like we can get reception out here to call an ambulance."
Chad frowned. "I thought you said it's safe."
Jared shook his head. "I said we'd probably be safe. But it doesn't hurt to be careful, you moron." He lifted his hand toward the doorknob but before he could touch it, the door swung open.
"Dude, is it supposed to do that?"
Jared glanced at Chad, eyes wide. Then he rolled his eyes and gave himself a mental kick. "Probably just the wind."
Chad frowned. "What wind? It's hot as balls out here."
"Wind, breeze...whatever. I'm going in." Jared stepped through the door. "You're not scared, are you?"
"What!" Chad huffed an annoyed breath. "I'm not scared." To prove his point, he pushed past Jared and into the first room.
Jared shook his head, amused by his friend's "bravery." His focus quickly shifted as he took in his new surroundings.
The first room appeared to be a foyer that lead to areas further in the home. The walls were framed in a dark wood from floor to ceiling. The wallpaper was faded and peeling off the walls. There were candelabras lining the walls and a large glass chandelier hung high above their heads, thick cobwebs covering its spokes.
A giant fireplace took up the right wall, standing several feet high and twice as wide. Jared ran his hand across the mantle. "Holy shit."
"I bet you can fit in that thing standing up," Chad told him.
Jared snorted. "Don't think I'm going to try that, but you're probably right."
"Looks like we weren't the only ones to find this place," Chad said, nodding toward a couple of abandoned spray paint cans in a nearby corner.
Jared noticed the half-completed graffiti tags on the wall and frowned. "Doesn't look like they stayed long enough to finish the job."
"Wonder why."
"Don't know, man." Jared pointed in the direction of a hallway off to the left of the foyer. "Let's start there."
Chad dragged his eyes away from the paint cans and frowned. "You sure this is a good idea?"
"Why? You're not changing your mind, are you?"
"No," Chad shook his head. "This place just...well, it's creepy."
Jared bit his lower lip and shrugged one shoulder. Despite the fact that the mansion was run down, dirty, and dusty after being uninhabited for years, there was something about it that felt almost like home.
As Jared wandered down the dim hallway, he wondered what had happened for this family to leave everything behind. The place looked like everyone had just picked up and walked away. Perhaps they expected to return but had a horrible accident before they could.
The hall was lined with pictures, old portraits of a family long gone. Jared took his time examining each one, fascinated by the evolution of technology evident with each new image. The first picture was actually a painting of a small family, a young couple and their young boy. The next couple were old photographs of another couple, one with three young children, a boy, a girl, and a little baby. Jared noticed the age progression of the children as the pictures continued. There were only a few photos, but it was easy to see that they were all of this little family. The final picture caught his attention, drawing him to a stop.
"Jensen," he breathed out, his hand immediately reaching out to touch the black and white image on the wall.
"Jensen?" Chad squinted up at the photograph. "Is there a name on that one?"
Jared frowned and looked around, once again feeling like he was being watched. He shook his head and turned back to his friend. "I don't know why I said that. Maybe my great-grandpa mentioned a Jensen in his letter or something.
He hadn't. Jared knew that because he and read each letter so many times he had them committed to memory. There was never any mention of Jensen. But Jared knew that the man in the picture was named Jensen. He was sure of it.
"This place is so weird," Chad muttered, wandering off into a room on the left of the hall. "Hey Jay, man, you gotta come see this."
"What?" Jared followed the sound of Chad's voice. He found himself in a library, bookcases running from wall-to-wall, each one piled high with books. "Wow."
"Oh god, you're getting a book boner, aren't you?"
Jared rolled his eyes. "Gross, dude."
"Can't help if it's true." Chad picked up a marble bust, wiping away a thick layer of dust with his hand.
Jared approached the nearest bookcase, eyes scanning the titles. His eye caught on a couple of titles, classics like "Great Expectations" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame." Jared let his fingers run across their spines, itching to pull them down and crack them open. He glanced around the room. He could happily immerse himself in the library for months, years even, and still not have a chance to read them all.
"Jared-"
"What?" The whispered name caught his attention but he didn't turn from the bookcase. He knelt down to get a better look at the title of a law book on a lower shelf.
"What what?" Chad tossed the bust in the air and fumbled with it on its return. "Ow, fuck," he muttered as the bust fell against his foot.
"You were going to say something-" Jared prompted, looking over at his friend and rolling his eyes as he watched Chad struggle to set the bust back on the desk.
"No I wasn't." Chad frowned.
"You said my name."
"No, I didn't." Chad disagreed.
"Yes, you did." Jared knew what he had heard.
"No, I di-what the fuck!" Chad jumped back as a book fell off a shelf, landing open at Jared's feet. "This place really is haunted!"
Jared grabbed the book and stood up, argument already forgotten. "What makes you say that?"
Chad gave him a withering look. "Did you not see that book fall off the shelf on its own?"
Jared shook his head. "You just dropped that heavy statue on the floor, you idiot. This book was probably sticking out and the vibrations just caused it to fall. It's not ghosts."
Chad stared at him, a look of disbelief on his face. "I don't think so, man. That was just-"
"Did you actually look at all the books when you came in here?" Jared interrupted.
Chad shook his head. "Well, no, but-"
"But nothing." Jared turned the book over to scan the cover, looking for a title. Seeing none, he flipped it open. The yellowed pages were filled with faded blue ink, handwritten words covering their surface. "It's not a ghost," he repeated, his attention already on the journal in his hands.
Chad, seeing Jared was distracted by the book, just snorted. "Dude, whatever." He headed for the door. "You can stay here in this creepy-ass mansion all by yourself if you want, but I'm out of here."
Jared sat down on the hardwood floor, paying no attention to the thick layers of dust covering the surface as he scanned the first page. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up later."
Chad stopped, obviously surprised with Jared's response. "Come on, man. Let's get out of here."
"Seriously, go on without me," Jared glanced up at Chad and waved his hand toward the door. "I'll be fine."
"You could just take that with you," Chad pointed at the book in Jared's hands.
Jared shook his head. "Nah. I don't know, just seems...wrong." He paused. "Besides, I want to check out the upstairs before I leave."
Chad sighed, years of friendship telling him Jared wouldn't be budging anytime soon. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't stay too long. And if anything else falls off the shelves-"
Jared smiled up at him from his place on the floor. "I'll run out of here screaming like a little girl." He held up his hand, fingers fisted except the pinky. "Pinky swear."
"You are a girl," Chad snorted, punching Jared on the shoulder. He frowned. "You sure you're good?"
Jared's attention was already back on the book in his lap. "Yeah, man, fine. Just go, will you?"
"Ok then. See ya later-"
"See ya-" Jared distractedly replied as he struggled to read the words on the page. He was distantly aware of Chad leaving, but his focus never wavered. The book was obviously a diary, or journal, written decades ago. Some of the ink had faded so much over the years that it was illegible, but Jared could make out enough words to get a good understanding of the contents. He flipped the book open to the inside of the front cover. Written in the same blocky handwriting was a single name.
"Alan Ackles." Jared whispered the name out loud to himself. He wondered what had happened to Alan, where he had gone, who was he. Was he one of the people in the portraits lining the hallway or was he someone else?
Jared turned to the first page and started to skim the words, hoping to learn something about the man who had possibly lived in this crumbling mansion, once upon a time.
Jared didn't know how much time had passed while he sat there, reading about Alan Ackles and his life. Alan had been born in this house, which had been built by his father as a port for his shipping business. Alan had gone to school in England, where he met his future wife, Donna. He and Donna moved back to Louisiana after he finished school and he took over his father's company, making a name for himself along with a small fortune. Alan and Donna longed for a family and eventually had three children, Josh, Mackenzie, and Jensen.
Jared paused and ran his finger across the first mention of "Jensen." He thought about the portrait in the hallway, the one he was so mesmerized by earlier. The image of the young man with the full lips and piercing eyes was seared into his brain. "Why do I know you?" he muttered into the air before turning his focus back to the journal.
Alan and Donna led a charmed life with their three children before tragedy struck. While away on holiday, the children became ill with scarlet fever. Josh and Mackenzie died from the disease, leaving Jensen as the only heir. The entries became sporadic after that, each one filled with so much grief and pain, Jared felt guilty just reading them.
They're all gone. Everyone but my Jensen. And my time on this Earth is just about up. I just have one final wish before I go to join my beloved in Heaven. I wish to see my beautiful boy happy, to see him married with a chance at a future. I had been questioning whether this is what Jensen wishes for himself, but today he came to me and told me of his plans to marry Alona Tal. He has made me so happy. Tomorrow, we shall have a grand ball, the likes of which this house has not seen in too many years. Jensen will be given the chance to share his good fortune with all of our friends and then...then I can die a happy man.
Jared flipped through the remaining pages, but they were all blank. He wondered what had happened after that. Did Jensen marry Alona? His chest ached with the thought. He shook his head and climbed to his feet, groaning as he stretched, muscles stiff from sitting on the floor for much too long. He glanced out the library's large window, noting the sun's position in the sky. He estimated it was mid-afternoon, giving him at least another hour before the sky grew too dark to allow him to do any more exploring.
Jared poked his head in a couple more doors before heading toward the stairs at the end of the hall.
The staircase winded its way along the back wall, its gentle curve leading up to the second floor. Jared began the slow ascent, his hand gripping the banister for added support. Halfway up, one of the steps groaned under his weight and he paused, sucking in a breath. Once he was certain the stairs weren't going to collapse beneath him, he exhaled and continued on his path.
The upstairs hall was dimly lit, thin bands of sunlight shining through open slits in the heavy drapes. Jared raised an eyebrow and shook his head at the various suits of armor that lined the wall. "Rich people are fucking weird," he muttered to himself as he rushed past the silent figures.
Once again, Jared felt like he was being watched, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. He felt like there were eyes following his every move. He swallowed hard and tossed a suspicious glance at the nearest "knight." When it remained completely still, staring straight ahead at nothing, Jared laughed. HIs nervous chuckle echoed in the quiet hallway.
"Get a grip, Jared."
Jared checked the various doors scattered along the second floor, finding bedroom after bedroom and a single bathroom. Each room fascinated Jared, rich with history, frozen in time. The bathroom was obviously dated with a claw-foot tub along one wall and pedestal sink on the other.
As Jared continued his exploration of the upper floor, he noticed that the sun was starting to wane and the shadows were growing deeper. It would be dark before long but Jared wasn't ready to give up on his adventure just yet. He knew he hit the jackpot when he opened the last door and found another narrow staircase leading upwards.
He had found the attic. And attics were where secrets went to hide.
Once again, Jared climbed each step with caution. His heart nearly stopped when one board cracked beneath his shoe. He stumbled back, thankfully knocking into the wall instead of tumbling back down the way he had come.
Jared pressed his hand against the wall and took a steadying breath before moving on, skipping the broken step and quickly climbing to the top.
Jared noted that the attic was dustier than the rest of the house, if that was possible. Thick mazes of cobwebs strung from one corner to the next, making Jared shiver. The room was large, about half the size of the other floors. A ladder leaned against the back wall, leading up to a trap door. Cupola Jared thought, remembering the single dome structure sitting atop the mansion.
He scanned the room, taking an informal inventory. A large trunk took up one corner and there were dozens of boxes strewn around the room. Most were sealed tightly shut, but a couple were open, their contents peeking over the tops. Jared smiled when he noticed the teddy bear stuffed in one box, it's fur dusty and eyes dull. He wondered whose it was, what stories it could tell.
The next open box was full of clothes and Jared pulled out the top item, shaking it out as he held it up. Dust swirled around him, making him sneeze and his eyes water. The dress looked like something out of a period movie. It was long, the train brushing the floor even when Jared held it up high. There was lace and beadwork, obviously hand stitched. It looked expensive and unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Jared draped the gown across the top of another box and continued searching through the box of clothes, eager to see what else he would find. He pulled out dress after dress, each one more extravagant than the one before. Jared stared at the final gown and was overcome with an intense feeling of sadness. He let the soft white silk material fall from his fingers and stood up, suddenly wanting nothing more than to get away.
As he brushed his hands on his dirty jeans, Jared saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eyes. Startled, he swung around, fearful of what he might find behind him.
He snorted when he saw his distorted reflection staring back at him from the ornate mirror in the corner. He shook his head, annoyed that he was letting his fear was get the best of him.
Jared moved towards the mirror, eager to check out his new find. The mirror was very large, standing nearly 7 feet tall. It was framed with a deep, dark wood. The image reflected was slightly distorted due to the warped surface. Jared snorted at he looked at himself. His hair was sticking up in places and he had a streak of dirt across the bridge of his nose. His clothes looked like he hadn't washed them in days. Frankly, he looked like a mess.
Jared reached up, running his hands through his hair, trying to tame the untamable. A slight movement just behind him caught his attention and he paused, his right hand curled over his ear. He took a deep breath and shook his head, sure his imagination was running away once more. But then he shifted slightly to the right and-
And saw another pair of wide, brown eyes staring back at him.
Jared stumbled backwards, a less-than-dignified scream on his lips. He felt his foot catch, the heavy fabric of one of the dresses he'd pulled from the box now tangled around his ankle. He jerked his body in the opposite direction, hoping to find his equilibrium once more.
Instead, he tumbled backwards through the window.
First came the sharp pain of glass slicing into his skin, then the moment of weightlessness before gravity kicked in.
And then everything went black.
*********************************
"Jared! Can you hear me?"
Jared groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. He could feel hands brush over his skin, movements quick and frantic. "Wha-"
"Jared? You with me?"
Jared's eyes opened and he squinted at the shadowy form above him. He blinked and the shadows took form. He stared up into striking green eyes.
Jared frowned as he watched the mouth move, the words escaping his attention. He reached up and pressed his fingers into the lips. "Mmmm...soft-"
The eyes crinkled in obvious amusement. "Jay, can you sit up, buddy?"
Strong hands grasped Jared under his arms and tugged him forward. Jared let his weight rest against the warm body next to him while he tried to gather himself together. He frowned when he realized he was leaning against a stranger. An oddly familiar stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. "Do I know you?"
The guy's smile faded. "I guess not."
"But you know my name?"
The guy shrugged. "Must've heard your friend say it."
"I guess." Jared glanced around. "Have you seen Chad? Did he come back?"
"No, he's not here." The guy looked off in the distance before shaking his head and returning his focus to Jared. "How are you feeling? Can you stand up?" He pulled himself to his feet and offered his hand to Jared.
Jared reached out and accepted the helping hand. He felt a shock go through his body when their palms met and he stared at the guy, eyes wide. "What was that?"
"What was what?" The guy frowned and Jared shook his head.
"Nevermind. I guess I must've hit my head a little harder than I thought." He paused, confused. "How did I hit my head?"
The guy gave him a strange look. "What do you remember?"
Jared thought about it. "I don't know, really. I was in the attic and then...I stumbled? Probably hit my head on the wall or something. I'm sort of a klutz."
Jared suddenly realized he wasn't in the attic anymore. He spun around but before he could figure out where he was, the stranger stepped closer, effectively distracting him.
"Klutz, huh?" he asked with a smile. He wrapped a warm hand around Jared's bicep and pulled him in the direction of the house. "We should probably get you to safety, then."
Jared glanced at the porch and dug his heels into the ground, feeling uncertain.
The guy came to a halt and gave Jared a questioning look. "What's wrong?"
Jared titled his head to the side and stared at the house. "I don't know, it's just-" He paused, trying to find the right word. "Different?" He bit his lip as he analyzed the scene, trying to put his finger on what was off. He felt like something had changed, something major, he just didn't know what. "You sure I don't know you?"
The guy simply stood there, giving no answer to Jared's question. Jared climbed up onto the first step of the porch and stared down at the mysterious stranger. The guy was tall, just a little taller than Jared himself (though probably not for long, if the rate Jared was growing was anything to go by). His hair was light brown, almost blond. He had a strong jaw and piercing green eyes and-
"You're Jensen!"
The guy, Jensen, cocked his head to the side. "I thought you said you didn't know me."
Jared shrugged. "You're the guy from the picture." His eyes grew wide as realization hit him. "Ohmygod, this place is actually haunted!"
Jensen gave him a sad smile. "Surprise." He climbed the steps to the porch and Jared trailed after him. "How'd you figure it out?" He opened the front door and allowed Jared to enter the foyer before him.
"That picture, the house..." Jared waved his hand through the air. "Everything's old."
"And what if the house belonged to my ancestor?"
Jared shot a pointed look at Jensen's chest.
Jensen glanced down and snorted, as if noticing his clothing for the first time. The cotton pants, buttoned-up vest, and collared shirt didn't seem as dated as other things in the house, but they were obviously from a different time. He shrugged his shoulders, cheeks pink.
Jared grinned. "Like I said...old." He looked around the foyer, taking in his surroundings, his grin fading. "Except not...how'd that happen?"
"How'd what happen?"
Jared reached out and ran his hand along the wall, feeling the wallpaper's rough texture beneath his fingers. The wallpaper was no longer faded, the greens and golds standing out in bright contrast. The entire room fresh, no longer covered in dust and cobwebs. The brass candelabras on the wall shone, as if recently polished and the glass chandelier sparkled above them.
"Different-" Jared breathed out. "It's all new, but it was old before. Dirty, dusty, nothing like..." He waved his hand at the room.
Jensen just shrugged, obviously unsure how to explain it. "Do you want a tour?"
"I've already-" Jared stopped himself, suddenly feeling like a creeper. He'd gone through Jensen's house, rifled through his things, without an invitation. Sure Jensen was...well, dead. But Jared still had manners. "That would be great."
"Great," Jensen repeated, his face morphing into an wide grin. "Right this way."
Jensen took Jared around to the same rooms he had seen earlier on his own, but everything looked completely different. Shinier, newer, and definitely cleaner. Jensen entertained Jared with tales of his adventures growing up, told him about his brother, Josh, and sister, Mackenzie, and the trouble they always got into together.
Jared was so enthralled with Jensen's stories that he barely registered where they were before Jensen came to a halt. Jared glanced back down the upstairs hall before motioning toward the door. "You going to show me the attic."
Jensen shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "I don't go up there," he told Jared. "Ever."
Just then, a loud crash of thunder rumbled in the distance. Jared jumped, unconsciously leaning closer to Jared. "God I hate storms."
"I know."
Jared tossed Jensen a confused look. He felt like he was missing something. There was something Jensen wasn't telling him, but he wasn't sure he had the right to question him about it. Yet. "So where to now?" he asked.
Jensen gave him a small smile, grateful for the change of subject. "Let's head out to the porch, talk for a bit and watch the storm roll in."
Jared growled and Jensen laughed out loud. "Don't worry, I'll protect you," he said, leaning in and whispering in Jared's ear. Jared shivered, nerves firing as Jensen's breath blew across his ear.
Jensen grabbed Jared's hand and pulled him into one of the bedrooms. Jared barely got a chance to check out the dark wood of the bed before he was pushed through another door and out onto the second story porch. Jensen nodded toward two chairs and they sat down.
The two of them sat in silence for awhile, content to watch the trees blow as the wind began to pick up, the storm getting closer. Another crash of thunder sounded and Jensen sighed.
"After my brother and sister died, things changed a lot around here." Jensen paused, picking at a loose thread on his vest. "My mom couldn't deal. She was just so sad all the time. And I was still pretty young. I didn't really understand what was going on. I just knew my siblings were gone and they weren't coming back and my mom...my mom became a living ghost."
Jared snorted and Jensen smirked. "Yeah, I know. Ironic. She was like a ghost, I am a ghost. But really, she just faded into the background. She got really involved in magic, always trying to find a way to bring them back. Nothing ever really came of it, but she was obsessed. I think she eventually died of a broken heart."
"People don't actually die of broken hearts," Jared argued.
Jensen shot him an indecipherable look. "You'd be surprised," he muttered. "Anyway, Mom pretty much just existed those last few years before she died. And when she finally passed, my dad, well, I was all he had left. He never let me go anywhere so it was just us, out here in the middle of nowhere."
"Sounds lonely." Jared stared at Jensen's profile as the other man stared off into the distance. He couldn't help but admire his strong jaw and pale skin. He wondered if Jensen had always been that pale or if it was because he's a ghost.
"It was," Jensen agreed. "At least it was at first. But I befriended this boy, our groundskeeper's son. He was my best friend. We did everything together. We spent hours searching the house for secret passages. He swore one day we'd find one, but we never did. Man, he got me in so much trouble. I remember this one time, we thought it would be really funny to dump water on the next person who came up to the door. So we stood on this porch with a bucket full of water from the river and just waited. It was nearly two hours later before we finally got our chance."
Jared grinned. "What happened?"
Jensen snorted. "Well, the new pastor said some words I'm still not sure are appropriate to repeat."
Jared began laughing, head tossed back, and slapped his knee. "Seriously? The pastor?"
"Unfortunately." Jensen grinned. "I couldn't sit properly for a week after that. But J...well, let's just say that it wasn't the first time I got in trouble like that and it definitely wasn't the last, either."
"What was he like? Your friend?"
Jensen smiled wistfully and closed his eyes. "He was so full of life. The happiest person I'd ever met. Big smile with dimples the size of craters. He was younger than I was. Growing up, he was this string-bean of a boy, rail thin and scrawny. Then he kept having these crazy growth spurts. He'd shoot up several inches at once and then he couldn't control his arms or legs. He was always running into things."
"I know how that feels," Jared muttered. He shrugged when Jensen looked over at him, that strange look on his face once again. The storm had arrived and Jared listened to the sound of the rain bouncing off the roof above him as he waited for Jensen to continue.
Jensen sighed. "He was just...he made me feel amazing, like I was invincible. I was his hero and he was my..."
"Your everything." Jared closed his eyes momentarily, an intense feeling of longing washing over him.
Jensen nodded. "Yeah."
"So what happened between you?" Jared got a bad feeling when he glanced over and saw Jensen's pinched expression.
"You have to understand, things were different back then." Jared nodded and Jensen continued. "My dad decided I needed to be married. I kept putting it off, but then he got sick. Really sick. And I just wanted to make him happy. It had been so long since he had been truly happy and I knew I could do that for him. Or at least I thought I could."
"Alona," Jared blurted out, remembering the journal.
Jensen shot him a startled glance. "Yeah, Alona. Our fathers were business partners. She was a nice girl. Really sweet and I got along with her fine. We got engaged. My dad was so ecstatic. He immediately decided we should have a big party, to celebrate. My parents used to have all these huge parties and everyone who was anyone would be there, but after my siblings died...well, it had been a long time since we had celebrated anything. Jar...my friend was excited. He had never been to a party before. I meant to tell him about the engagement, but I kept putting it off."
Jared cringed, somehow knowing where this story was headed.
"God, his face. When my father announced the engagement, he just...he closed up. That's the only way I can describe it. It was like he shut down. And then he took off running. It was storming that night and he was terrified of the lightning and thunder. I didn't want him alone in that, so I ran after him, but I was too late. He was gone."
Jared scooted his chair closer to Jensen, wanting to offer this ghost silent support. "What happened then?"
Jensen shrugged. "He just...disappeared. He didn't even come back for his things. He was just gone."
Jared frowned. "He just left everything?" Jensen nodded, misery etched in every detail of his face. "Something must've happened." Jared didn't know why, but he was sure he was right.
"You think?"
Jared gave an affirmative nod. "I do."
"I guess it doesn't really matter. It was all my fault."
"No," Jared disagreed. "You were being a good son. I'm sure your friend knew that. But...honestly, it sounds like he might've been in love with you. I know if it were me, I'd have to get away, too. If only for a little while."
"I loved him, too."
Jared sighed, staring out at the trees in the distance. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, making him cringe. Jared looked over at Jensen and wished he could wipe the pain away. But he had one last question. He needed to know. "What happened to you?"
Jensen's face immediately closed up, like he pushed his emotions behind a wall Jared couldn't reach. "Come on, we need to hurry or we'll be late."
Jared frowned. "Late for what?"
********************************
"Holy shit!" Jared stared out at the mass of dancing ghosts, various couples twirling across the dance floor in the ballroom. "This happens every night?"
Jensen nodded. "Every single night."
"What is it?"
Jensen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "My curse." He opened his eyes and welcomed another couple as they drew near.
"Congratulations, Jensen!" The male ghost exclaimed, slapping Jensen on the back. Unlike Jensen, the new arrival was nearly translucent and floated across the floor. He appeared to be more like an echo of a former person than an actual solid being.
"You and Alona will be so happy together," the female ghost added. Her voice was breathy and her body was barely more than a faint outline.
Jared shot Jensen a startled look. "Is this your engagement party?"
Jensen nodded, mouth pressed into a grim line. "Like I said, it's my curse." He sighed. "Worst night of my life and I get to relive it."
Jared wanted to reach out, wanted to wrap his arms around Jensen in a big hug. No one deserved this torture. And he could see from the look on Jensen's face that it was just that...torture.
Another ghost walked past the two of them, headed for the buffet table, and he tipped his hat in Jared's direction.
"Why are they see-through?" Jared wondered aloud.
Next to him, Jensen seemed to visibly shake himself out of the funk he'd sunk into. He shrugged one shoulder. "The best I figure is that they aren't fully here, that the more solid a ghost is, the more that person meant to me."
Jared nodded. He supposed that made sense. About as much sense as anything else that had happened could make.
Jensen glanced over his shoulder before leaning in Jared's direction. "Hey, I'll be right back, ok?"
Jared nodded. He continued to watch the ghosts swirling around the ballroom floor. They were in the middle of performing a dance he was pretty sure he'd seen in one of his mom's movies before.
Three songs passed before Jared started to worry.
Where was Jensen?
As he got closer to the hallway, Jared heard arguing. He recognized Jensen's voice, but the other, a female, was unknown. Jared followed the voices up the stairs to the second floor hallway. He could still hear the music, but it grew fainter and fainter with every step. As the music grew quieter, the angry whispers grew louder.
"You have to tell him, Jensen!"
"I know!" Jensen growled, voice getting louder. "But how do I tell him that..."
"That I'm dead?" Jared interrupted, walking up to the arguing...well, Jensen and a floating head. The person fighting with Jensen was little more than a bodiless head floating inside of a crystal ball. She had long, flowing blond hair that billowed around her head, as if she were swimming through water.
The arguing couple swung around to meet him, both of their eyes wide.
Jared shrugged. "I am dead, aren't I?" He already knew the answer as he asked the question. It had been there in the back of his mind, nagging him since he had opened his eyes and seen Jensen hovering above him. He didn't actually remember falling, at least nothing beyond a faint recollection, and he hoped it stayed that way.
Jensen bit his lip and nodded. "I'm sorry, Jared."
He looked down at his arms. "Anyway, I'm mostly solid so I must be someone pretty important to you."
"Mostly?" Jensen grabbed Jared's arm and pulled it toward him, studying the new transparency of Jared's fingers with mounting horror. "Oh god. I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault," Jared admitted. He wondered if he should be more upset about finding out he had died. He just felt numb.
"Actually, I think it's my fault."
Jared turned to the floating head. "How is it your fault?"
The girl pouted. "I'm pretty sure I startled you and then you fell out the window."
A memory hit him. "I saw you in the mirror!"
The girl nodded, a movement that looked rather strange on a person with no neck. "Sorry?"
"Honestly, it probably would've happened anyway. I'm sort of a klutz." Jared offered her a smile. "Forgive me if I'm being rude, but who are you?"
The girl's eyes opened wide and she shared a look with Jensen. He gave her a small nod and she smiled. "I'm Alona."
It was Jared's turn to be surprised. "Alona? As in-"
"As in, the girl who gave up half her life for you so you two idiots could have a second chance!"
"You mean, as in the girl who messed with magic she didn't understand, screwed it up, and cursed us all!" Jensen fired back.
"He's here, isn't he? Jensen! This is your chance. Don't be a moron."
Jared watched the verbal volley between the two, struggling to understand.
"I'm a moron? Well, you're a stupid witch! You made a mistake and now I'm forced to relive this awful night every night. And he's back, but he's fading away already! Haven't I suffered enough?"
"Suffered? Yes, I admit I screwed up the spell. But suffer? Don't you think I'm paying for it. I'm not dead! I'm not alive! I'm a half-life now, doomed to float around in this stupid ball for all of eternity. I gave half my life to bring him back! And you just have to get your act together before he fades away completely. You two can finally fix it so that you'll be together forever. The least you can do to thank me is-"
At that moment, a loud crash of thunder sounded and Jared jumped, falling backwards into one of the suits of armor. "See, like I told you, I'm such a-"
"Jay?"
Jared ignored Jensen and turned to the wall. He ran his hand along the wallpaper. He glanced up at the candelabra directly above the knight and counted. "Two to the right, seven down, and..." He felt the slight recess in the wall and pushed.
A section of the wall behind the knight slid open. Jensen stared at him in disbelief. "Jared, what-"
Jared watched Jensen struggle to find the words for a bit before he took pity on him. "It was me, wasn't it?" At Jensen's questioning look, he continued. "I'm the friend. The one who disappeared that night."
"You know the answer to that."
Jared nodded. "I do," he agreed. "I remember everything." He motioned to the opening in the wall and entered the dark corridor that was previously hidden. He stumbled over some rocks before reaching out and holding onto the wall for support. He felt more than heard the other two follow along behind him.
Alona emitted a slight glow, lighting the passageway. "You're better than any flashlight," Jared told her.
"I try," she replied with a grin.
"Jay?" Jensen's voice cracked, emotion clear in the single word.
Jared glanced over his shoulder and gave Jensen a small smile. "I was devastated that night. Your dad said you two were engaged and you never told me. I was completely blindsided and honestly, Jensen, it killed me. I was your best friend. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I couldn't" Jensen croaked, shame and guilt oozing out of him.
Jared sighed. "I know," he admitted. "I know it now and I knew it then. But the announcement took me by surprise and I just had to get away, at least for a little while. So I ran. I had been planning to show you this passage after the party, but things didn't go exactly as planned."
"Tell me about it," Jensen muttered. "How'd you even find it? We looked for a secret passage all those years and never found anything."
Jared could feel his face begin to burn and was glad that the corridor was dark. "I, um, fell into the wall. I think my elbow hit the button."
Jensen snorted. "Of course."
They came to a fork in the hall and Jared pointed straight ahead. "If you take that path, it'll lead you to the brick storage house down near the river. But I took this path," he said as he motioned to the right. They walked a few feet further before coming to a set of stairs. Jared climbed the stairs until he reached the underside of a trap door. He felt some resistance when he pushed but after taking a deep breath, he heaved and the door creaked open. Jared could hear the cardboard box that had been sitting in the attic on top of the door slide to the side.
"This is where I ended up."
Jared pulled himself up into the attic, Alona floating right behind him. He looked down and saw the hesitation on Jensen's face. He glanced around the room, wondering what Jensen would have to be scared of, when he saw the look of sadness on Alona's face.
"Jensen, how did you die?" Jared asked, voice soft.
Jensen took a deep breath and pulled himself up into the room. He closed the trapdoor and crawled over to sit next to Jared. He tugged Jared's arm toward him and rubbed his thumb along the growing transparency, which now spread up to Jared's elbow. Jensen pointed toward the ceiling.
Jared frowned until he remembered the cupola. He looked at Jensen, eyes wide.
Jensen nodded. "God, I loved you so much. I didn't realize just how much until you weren't there. I loved you and you were gone and I just couldn't cope. So yeah, Jay, I believe people can die of broken hearts."
Jared felt a tear slide down his cheek as he closed his eyes, imagining Jensen suffering so much he felt the only solution was to kill himself.
"I have to know, Jay," Jensen leaned in closer. "Why? Why did you leave me? Why didn't you give me a chance to explain?"
Jared sighed and reached out, his thumb tracing a path along Jensen's throat, picturing the rough rope cutting into the delicate skin as he hung from the rafters. He shuddered and pulled himself to his feet. He held out a hand to Jensen. When Jensen grabbed onto him, he felt the familiar zing of electricity pass between them.
Silently, Jared led Jensen over to the corner where the large trunk lay. "I never left you," he whispered, leaning closer until his lips brushed against Jensen's. "I promise, I never left."
Jared pulled back and flipped the lock up before opening the lid of the trunk. Jensen stared down at the decaying skeleton inside, horrified.
"It was an accident. It was storming and there was thunder and...well, you know I'm clumsy. " Jared waved a hand toward the trunk. "I would've watched you marry her." He gave a helpless shrug.
Jensen surged forward, crashing their lips together as he framed Jared's face with his hands, his index fingers brushing the sensitive spot just under his ears. "You never left me," he stated as he pulled back, tears pooling in his eyes.
"I never left you," Jared affirmed.
Jensen placed a kiss on Jared's forehead before pulling him in, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. "I love you, Jay. You know that, right?"
"I do," Jared admitted, burying his face in Jensen's neck. The intense longing and sadness that he had been feeling for so long was finally gone. "I love you, too."
"Hallelujah!"
Jared and Jensen jumped back and stared at Alona, who was floating nearby. She grinned at them. The crystal ball rotated, allowing Alona to tilt her head toward Jared's arms.
Jensen grabbed Jared's arm and ran his fingers across the solid flesh.
"And the truth shall set you free!" Alona giggled.
"Seriously!?" Jensen glared at her. "Those were your magic words for the cure?"
"What?" Alona frowned. "Were you expecting something like Abracadabra?"
Jared snorted and grabbed Jensen's hand, twining their fingers together. "Thank you, Alona."
"See, at least someone appreciates me."
Jensen groaned. "If you're just going to whine, I'm going to have to shove your head in one of these boxes for a couple of decades."
"Now, now, Jensen," Alona said, floating back a few feet. "If you aren't nice, then I won't tell you about the second spell."
"What second spell?"
Alona looked at their joined hands and smiled. "Trust me, I think you're going to like this one."