Chapter Text
But it used to be so high up, I'd have to crane my neck to see it.
Our Heavenly Father,
untouchable and holy.
Now I'm looking at it at eye level.
And it's just made out of wood.
𓏲ּ𝄢 Song: Seasons in the Sun - Black Box Recorder 𓏲ּ𝄢
Getting a call from Katherine after..what, two years? Was a surprise. After Nathan's...untimely death, they grew apart. Katherine and Laika used to be attached at the hip. They did their hair the same back in elementary school, and painted their nails the same in high school. But one thing led to another and..
"Hello?" Laika asked into the phone. It was old, a thrift. One of those rotary phones. She loved it to death.
"Laika! Thank God. Okay, hi. I need your help." A somewhat distressed Katherine was heard on the other line.
She perked up, setting her mug down on the "table." (an old box) The chamomile tea was half-cold due to the fact it takes her so long to finish one cup.
"Katherine? Jesus, what's wrong? Is everything alright?"
"Nobody's dying, nobody's dead, and no, you're not in trouble." Katherine was used to her top three questions.
"Right. Okay. What is it?"
"...can you babysit?" Laika could practically see Katherine's cautious, hopeful expression. She sighed.
She didn't have any kids. (She didn't want to think about that, no sir) Her job was lax enough.
"...you moved, right? After...Nathan?"
"Yeah, I, uh, took it over. It's quite a handful. I'm sure Esther and Ben would be quite happy to see their Aunt Laika again. Oh, and there's also-"
"I'm in."
"...really? You're serious?" Katherine knew she was a total pushover, but it was really that easy?
"Yeah. It seems easy enough." She shrugged, picking up her mug once more to take a sip.
"There's another kid, by the way."
There was a pause.
"You got pregnant again and you didn't even tell me?" Laika was a little hurt, honestly. She was great with kids!
"Oh, no, he's not mine. My brother found him."
"Oh, poor thing. Yeah, I'll be there. When do you need me?" Laika was expecting maybe some homeless kid, kicked out by his parents. She's been threatened with that enough.
"Anytime you're available. Are you..available right now?" Katherine tried, smiling nervously.
Laika sighed once more. Goodness gracious. She was, but she also was about to watch a baking show, curled up with her cat and (lukewarm) tea. It was gonna be a whole thing!
"...yeah, I'm available. I'll be there." She rubbed her eyes.
Information was exchanged and Laika got into her banged up Volkswagen Beetle. She painted on the inside, and had little photos and decorated the whole thing. She didn't have a deposit anyways. Do cars even have a deposit?
Soon enough, Laika was pulling up to the hotel. It had a vibe, sure, but she's sure it'll be fine!
Katherine was standing out front, a smile on her face. Laika brushed her bangs out of her face, getting out of the car. She had a little tote bag that she painted. (it was an astronaut dog. C'mon, you think she was named Laika for nothing?) It was filled with various items, like medicines and a few candies and at least three books. She liked to be prepared.
"Kat!" She greeted with a smile. She gave her a quick hug and looked at the hotel. Jesus. How did Nate afford such a thing?
"Thanks again for coming on such short notice. It's just..been a lot. And the last time I tried to go out, there was this whole thing-"
"Did you leave Ben in charge?" She narrowed her eyes. Ben, bless his heart, could not lead for the life of him.
"Nah. Esther." She paused to think back on Esther. Surely it couldn't be that bad.
"So. A few things about the hotel.." Katherine started hesitantly. Laika stepped inside, holding the door open for Katherine.
"What, it's haunted?" She joked. Katherine didn't laugh.
"...wait, seriously?" Katherine nodded.
"Deadass?"
"Yeah." Laika sighed in response, rubbing her face, her bangles and beaded bracelets clattering together from the movement. She always liked to be jingly, it was a thing.
"Alright, where are the little-"
And with great timing, Nathan just happened to arrive, walking through a wall.
"Is she here yet? Oh! Laika! Hi!" He waved, smiling.
Laika was completely slack-jawed. She watched him get put in the ground! She was there! How is he here?!
Was she having a breakdown? Was she insane?
"Yeah, uh, Nathan is..a ghost! Surprise!" Katherine said.
She turned around and took a breath to gather herself. She turned back around after a second and faced Katherine.
"..a word?"
They were sat in the kitchen, Laika crossing her ankles as she looked at Katherine. She looked more tired than she remembered. She didn't blame her.
"Is Nathan the only ghost?"
"Not by a long shot. It's filled with ghosts."
"Was this after Nathan or..?"
"No, they've kinda...always been here?"
"Mmm..hm. And they can't touch or hurt you guys? Or me?"
"Nope. None of them."
"Not even Nathan?"
"Nope."
They were interrupted when Esther and Abaddon, both covered in mud, walked in. Abaddon holding bones, and Esther holding old jewelry.
"Check it. Got a whole- Aunt Laika?" Esther grinned, setting the loot down on the table and wrapping her in a hug. Laika instantly reciprocated, not even thinking about the dirt.
"There is another matriarch." Abaddon stated, holding the bones close to his chest. He narrowed his eyes. She smelled of herbs and books.
"Ooh, Esther! I haven't seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper! How've you been, girl? Lovin' the hair, too."
"It hasn't been that long." She giggled. Laika had taught her a decent chunk of the magic she already knows. Laika herself didn't do black magic, but did a little magic herself.
"Hey, buddy. I'm Laika, nice to meet you." She offered a friendly smile. Abaddon didn't reciprocate it. She didn't mind much. He was dressed like a kid from the 1700s, and was sickly pale, with heavy eyebags. Sure, Laika had some of her own, but he looked no older than seven. A seven-year-old shouldn't look that tired.
"...Abaddon." He said plainly, eyeing her up and down. And he promptly walked off.
"Is he a ghost as well?" She asked Katherine, hand on Esther's shoulder as she stood next to her.
"No, he's a demon. Trapped in the body of a boy."
"...huh. Cool." She stood up and wiped the dirt off her sweater.
"You better get in the shower, Miss Esthie. You're disgusting. And where'd you get all those shiny things?"
"Grave robbing." Esther responded casually, shrugging her shoulders.
"...well. First off, that ain't worth a hill of beans. Except maybe that ring... Second, y'know how disrespectful that is? What if someone robbed your grave, huh?"
"I wouldn't mind, honestly." Laika just sighed and shook her head in response.
"Of course you wouldn't. Alright, Katty, you head on off now. I got this. Nathan's not comin' with you, right? Is he..stuck here?"
"Yeah. He died here, he can't leave the property line..it's a whole thing."
Nathan poked his head through the wall.
"Am I okay to walk in now?"
"Yeah, you're good, shug. You have fun now. I'll fix up something nice for their supper."
Soon enough, Laika was in the kitchen, the familiar sound of her humming and chopping up vegetables in the kitchen was heard. A different sound from the usual hauntings that filled the halls. Soon enough, it became the focus of most of the people there. Ben was leaning against the threshold, with Esther sitting at the table, along with Nathan standing nearby. She was stirring in some spices for a beef stew. Abaddon poked his head in. The vessel part of him seemed familiar with the scene, somehow.
She smiled at him, gesturing him over.
"C'mon, hon. I don't bite. But this stew might if I used too much Louisiana, good Lord.." she muttered the last bit to herself.
Abaddon took a few cautious steps forward into the room. He got a good look at her.
Her hair was in two braids, draped over her shoulders. She wore a sweater that was far too large for herself and a pair of old pants. One of the only things he found remotely interesting was a bird skull necklace, hanging around her neck along with a variety of different necklaces with different charms and colors. She looked back at him with a smile.
"You wanna help?"
"Of course not." He promptly refused, deciding to sit next to Esther instead. She shrugged and continued stirring, humming once more.
"So, you two are in middle school right now, yeah? I remember middle. Ooh, I'll tell you, I went to middle in the middle of the Boonies. Maybe a few hundred of us. But I'll tell you, you can't swing a dead cat without hittin' a rabbit. It was filled with 'em!"
Abaddon suddenly seemed very interested in the mention of a dead cat.
"Why wouldst thou swing a dead cat? Where is this cat thou speak of?"
"It's just a saying, sweet pea. Okay, I'm gonna let that simmer and dinner'll be ready in about an hour." She didn't note on how...odd he spoke. Guess he's just stuck in that time or something.
She sat down at the table, with Abaddon scooting his chair away from her, closer to Esther.
They started up friendly chatter, speaking of things that Abaddon wasn't there for, places he's never been. He stared at his hands in his lap. He didn't know this woman. She came in, she was taking care of them, and the matriarch seemed to trust her. So did the others. The vessel seemed to like her as well.
They were talking about the "hole" Laika lived in.
"I lived in a hole once." Abaddon spoke up, staring unblinkingly at Laika.
"Hm. I'm sorry. A kid like you shouldn't live like that."
"I put myself in there."
"Why would ya do that?"
"I was bored. I figured I could wait until things got interesting."
She nodded, seemingly understanding the sentiment.
"I guess I kinda put myself in my hole, too." She sighed but decided that talking about this was not the best decision.
"Anyways! Ooh, did you hear about..." Abaddon stopped listening. He didn't care for petty squabbles between mortals.
Soon enough, a bowl filled with stew was placed in front of Abaddon, along with a slice of bread. She sat down at her chair. The vessel seemed reluctant to eat. Like there was something else he had to do before he ate.
"Go on. If you don't like it, I can fix you somethin' else. I don't mind none."
Abaddon picked up the spoon and took a bite. It was spicy, but not intolerably so. He continued to eat, and she smiled, beginning to eat herself. Nathan seemed content with the family dinner, despite not being able to eat anything himself. And sitting there, it seemed that maybe it'll be okay.