graveyard finds

It was late into the evening when the teen set foot into the woods, in full gear to do some exploration. The plan for the night was to observe for spirit activity in the graveyard: he would stay until the witching hour, unless he feels unwelcome any sooner. Hal could feel the somber air as he trekked closer to the forest's graveyard, sensing the spirits that wander the area. If he had to be honest, he hated being surrounded by disembodied souls but he was feeling more confident lately -- he had more control now and he couldn't possibly be in a lot of danger, right?

Hal's mind wandered as he ildy followed the trail that lead to the burial site with only a flashlight and the very little light the moon could provide. A couple of years ago, he went through this same trail looking for a pirate's cursed treasure and he clearly remembered that didn't turn out so well. At this point in time, any rational person would have stopped hunting for ghosts and ghouls but Hal liked to think he was beyond rational and this was a case of determination he was facing. Plus, in his defense, he wasn't hunting for any dead person's treasure tonight.

His mind was brought back to reality when he arrived at the arch of the site, shaken by the overwhelming intensity of energy concentrated into the place. He was pretty sure most psychics wouldn't like being here. He walked past the arch: steps careful and measured; mind very aware by the presences in the area. He used to freak out being near the graveyard he was sure his past self would be so amazed at him right now.

But those were thoughts for later. As he went further in, he heard movement off to the side that almost made his heart jump out of his rib cage. A startled squeak went past his mouth but other than his flashlight waving frantically, nothing else showed his fear. At least he hoped so.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Of course there was, there's dead people around. He did hope, at least, someone not disembodied responds.

Lowering his flashlight for a moment made Hal realize there was another light in the area, and another voice replying back. Nothing supernatural felt about the voice. This seemed to calm him down, his shoulders relaxing upon seeing possibly another living person instead of a looming spirit. He allowed the other figure to come near, but he didn't let his guard down completely until the other was in view. It was another boy, probably his age -- he looked tired or he could chalk that up to the lighting they had. He had a rake with him though, oddly enough.

"Nah, I came here on my own," he replied calmly, finally dropping any apprehension towards the other person. He seemed nice. He'd wonder about the thermos but he brought himself some hot chocolate too. "Honestly? It's my first time actually walking in here. Still gives me the chills honestly," he added, waving his flashlight around trying to look for any other clue or company in the area.

Seeing nothing else for the short moment he looked about, he turned back to the boy before him; eyes studying him just as curiously. "What about you though? I didn't expect anyone here. What's up with the... is that a rake?"

Hal hummed thoughtfully, hearing him talk about the cemetery. Well, judging from the entire build of the area, he wouldn't be surprised if it was decades old. Centuries even. The scent of coffee tickled his nose -- he wasn't quite a fan of the bitter taste of black coffee but god be damned if he denied liking the aroma. On another note, it seemed a little late for coffee, isn't it?

"Oh, well uh," Hal hesitated for a moment. He was... here to observe for ghosts for his blog. He wondered for a moment if that was weird to say to someone he first met. Although, looking at his own gear, he might have been as good as caught. "It's for my blog. I'm observing spirits; assuming I'm welcome to do so."

Hal's eyes immediately caught the movement behind the boy, and adjusted his glasses to see he wasn't seeing things. For a moment, he zoned out watching the black shape swaying about. He almost missed what the boy said. "Huh--? Oh, that's nice of you. Spirits appreciate it, yeah, when you clean up their resting place. Well, most. Some can get real touchy."

A small smile appeared on his face as he continued, "But yeah, I suppose it's things we just grow used to. I'm.. okay with the ambience really, but I'm kind of psychic and some presences gives me the heebie-jeebies," he explained, letting himself chuckle goodheartedly. "Name's Hal, by the way. You?"

Hal shuffled just a little, a bit flustered at the comment. "Y-yeah, cool. But it's really not that much. Apparently it's a family thing though but not my entire family has it for some reason." He rolled his shoulder trying be casual about it.

At the mention of his blog, he seemed to perk up with interest. "You think the blog is cool though?" he almost gasped. He didn't really think people would think it was cool to have a supernaturals blog on an island of.. supernaturals. He liked to think it was a catalogue of sorts rather than some reference for people who can't experience. "Yeah, I've been going around places -- I mean that's not really the only things I go blog about. It's mostly things normies would think are out of the ordinary but MC has normally. I've already catalogued a lot of haunted places in my blog." Hal seemed to catch himself at the moment before he went into a full speech about his little hobby. The other guy didn't seem annoyed?

Hal decided to play it cool, letting his attention wander momentarily: the quiet murmur of the crickets, the scent of coffee in the evening, the lingering taste of the chocolate from the cake he had and that... curious thing waving around behind James. "Yeah anyway. James right? Nice to meet you!" His eyes seemed to fall on the moving object behind James. What a curious thing... he wondered if that was him or something else.

"Hey, is that normal for you?" he wondered aloud, pointing to the moving tentacle.

If Hal was slightly vibrating from joy, he didn't notice, but it wouldn't be hard to miss, if only it wasn't dark out. "I know right! It's like, most people I know back home just wonder if the place is haunted or not, but the real question is why! You're certainly right about some ghosts being really attached to some places. It's almost always their place of death but special cases have them haunting places they used to love when they were alive. And depending on how attached they are to a place, there are times that ghosts don't like living people intruding the place they haunt!"

Hal was just about ready to go on another tirade of his spirit adventures but he managed to stop and compose himself before he forgot about the other person. And also where they are: ghosts don't really like being talked about that way. Whoops? At least, the presences he's been feeling hasn't changed yet.

There was only a moment's pause before James spoke. Hal's eyes glittered, trying not to suddenly hop around with a boost of energy and excitement. He settled with a fist pump. "Well, company is always welcome! I could tell you more about the things I see when we're not in the middle of a graveyard," he laughed. A quiet thought about him seemingly drinking his coffee like liquor passed his mind before he turned his attention back to the moving... thing.

There was a curious look in his eyes, "So, it's not you?" he wondered aloud. He'd heard of parasites but this one looks kinda dangerous if he had anything to say. Parasites that were disembodied souls were trouble enough at times...anything other than that were either demons or creatures from another dimension spelled d e a t h. James didn't seem to care though... "It's not... eldritch, is it?"