UNTIL DEATH UNDOES US

That night, after supper, Danny led Richard to his room to sleep. Just as he turned to leave, Richard, now tucked in bed, called out softly:

"Hey, Danny... do you have a girlfriend?"

Danny paused at the door, then smiled faintly.

"Nah, not really. I'm not looking either. I think love should come naturally—not something you chase down."

He gave a shrug, turned the knob, and shut the door behind him with a soft click.

Richard exhaled and pulled the covers up to his chin. As he turned to face the wall, a faint feminine laugh echoed through the silence.

His heart skipped.

Then—again. Louder. Clearer. Right outside the door.

He froze.

Then… silence.

Suddenly, the lights snapped off.

His chest tightened.

"She's here again..." he whispered.

The laugh came one more time—this time distant, but still terrifying.

Then—silence again.

And then, without warning, the lights flashed back on.

Richard blinked, pulled the covers down, and slowly turned from the wall.

The door—wide open.

But… Danny locked it, didn't he?

Then—POP!

She was there.

Brianna. Standing in the doorway in her blood-red dress. Crimson eyes gleaming, a twisted smile stretching across her face, revealing sharp canines.

No scythe this time. Just her.

And death itself in her gaze.

"Hello, Ricky... did you miss me?" she purred.

Richard screamed.

He grabbed the bedside lamp and hurled it at her—but it sailed through her as her form vanished into mist.

He stumbled out of bed, grabbed his crutches, and limped frantically into the hallway, shouting:

"Danny! DANNY!"

Danny came running.

"Richard? What's wrong?"

"I saw her! Brianna—she was here. In a red dress. Red eyes! Claws for fingers! She smiled at me, Danny—like she wanted to drink my blood!"

Danny looked stunned.

"Rich… calm down. Ghosts don't exist, bro. That must've been a dream. Just your imagination messing with you."

"You don't believe me, do you?" Richard snapped, panting.

"You even left the door open, you freak!"

"I didn't!" Danny said, wide-eyed. "I swear I locked it."

He stared at Richard, not with anger, but concern.

"Okay, okay. You need rest, man. I'm taking you back to the hospital."

"What? No, I'm not sick!" Richard protested.

"Your mind needs a check-up, bro. Let me grab the car keys"

"What?!"

Before Richard could argue further, something whooshed past him. A blur. Cold wind.

He turned—no one.

"Danny?" he called, his voice trembling.

"Yes, dude," Danny replied, descending the stairs, car keys in hand.

"I'm serious. Let's go."

*************************

As the car rolled away from the mansion, two shadows watched from the treetops.

Brianna stood beside her mother, who now held the scythe again.

"Any other ideas now?" her mother asked, calm but deadly.

"Yes," Brianna said, eyes locked on the red taillights.

"We follow them."

Her mother grinned.

"You know, Bree… if you want something, go for it. Don't beat around the bush If you want him on this side, just ask me for help."

But Brianna was quiet for a moment. Then:

"I'm not just after his life. I want his heart too. I want him to suffer. To break… until he begs me to stop."

Her mother's eyes twinkled.

"Now that's the spirit."

And just like that—they vanished.

*****************************

Back at the hospital, Nurse Regina stepped out of Ward C2. She glanced back through the door.

Inside, Richard sat quietly, pale and shaken. Danny stood beside him, trying to stay cheerful.

But Regina had seen enough. The way Richard described the incident—and the fear in his eyes—it wasn't just a nightmare.

She clutched the pendant around her neck. It glowed faintly blue.

"I have to do something," she murmured.

She re-entered the ward, just as a group of doctors and nurses exited.

"What's happening?" she asked one of them.

"The patient's requested privacy," came the quick reply.

Once the coast was clear, she approached the two young men.

"I said no more questions!" Richard barked the moment he saw her.

Danny raised his hand to calm him, but Regina was already speaking:

"Relax, Mr. Richard. I'm not here to interrogate. I'm here… to help."

They looked at her, curious.

"Help… how?" Danny asked.

Regina crossed her arms.

"I believe in ghosts too. And I know someone who might be able of help to you."

Richard leaned forward.

"Who?"

"My cousin. He's a retired special forces commando. Now? He's a ghost-catcher."

"A… a ghostbuster?" Danny asked, eyebrows raised.

She nodded.

"He's the real deal."

Richard actually smiled for a moment.

"Thank you. You actually believed me."

******************************

Behind the closed door, two shadows listened in.

"A Ghost-catcher?" Brianna's mother hissed. "That's not good."

Brianna narrowed her eyes.

"It's not. But—"

"Nope. We're leaving. Now."

They vanished again.

But the surveillance camera in the corner—it saw them.

It whirred to life, tracking their exit.

Had it recorded everything?

********************************

In the security control room, a wall of surveillance screens flickered with live feeds.

On Screen 22, two ghostly figures—one grey, one glowing red—were clearly captured drifting away from Ward C2.

Just as they disappeared, the door opened and Nurse Regina walked out.

An officer's hand hovered over the controls.

He picked up his radio.

"Sir, you need to come see this. Camera 22—something… paranormal."

"Paranormal?" a voice responded. "Are you drunk?"

"I'm serious, sir. I think we've just—"

Suddenly, clawed hands reached from behind and clamped around the officer's neck.

A wet crunch. Blood sprayed the desk.

The radio crackled.

"Hello? Are you still there? … Hello?"

To Be Continued....