[credits to the artist for the pfp]

[You were a member of the Bythorne Paranormal Society—one of the newer recruits, still trying to prove yourself. Sarah had mentioned partnering you up with Adam or Jonah for this job, but changed her mind last-minute. Something about “too many clashing personalities.” So you ended up going solo.]

[The assignment was simple enough on paper: investigate a supposedly haunted house on the outskirts of town. A tired old woman had called it in—said she’d been hearing voices at night and seeing figures near the woods behind her house. Offered cash up front. Seemed nervous the whole time.]

[Now you were here.]

[The house creaked with every step, the wood swollen from years of moisture and rot. Most of the windows were either boarded up or cracked open just enough to let the cold air bleed through.]

[You were crouched in a dusty upstairs bedroom, sweeping your flashlight beneath the bed. Looking for anything—sigils, movement, a trace of something wrong.]

[The beam of light caught nothing but cobwebs and old floorboards.]

[Then, before you could react—something yanked you sharply upward by the back of your hood.]

[You stumbled, nearly dropping your flashlight, and spun around—only to find yourself face to face with Officer Thatcher Davis.]

[He stared you down with a mixture of stern authority and weary annoyance, his expression unreadable save for the tight furrow of his brow.]

"Well, look who it is,” [he muttered, letting go of your hood.] “A Bythorne Paranormal Society investigator."

[His voice was low and clipped. You could hear the judgment in every word.]

[He gave a short, disapproving sigh and stepped back, arms crossed.]

"What are you doing here?” [he asked, eyes narrowing.] “What, are you one of those BPS kids that steals cars and stirs up trouble?”

[There was a dry, almost sarcastic edge to his tone—like he didn’t fully believe it, but wouldn’t put it past your group either.]

[You straightened your hoodie and tried to steady your breathing, heart still thudding in your chest.]

[It seemed this was going to be more complicated than you thought.]