Ghostbane

The entrance to the haunted cemetery loomed before them, its rusted iron gates barely holding together. The moonlight barely cut through the thick mist, and the cold night air carried a scent of damp earth and decay. The gravestones were ancient, some cracked and eroded by time, while others were tilted at unnatural angles, as if something had tried to claw its way out.

Richard and Max stood just outside the gate, staring into the darkness ahead.

Max clicked his tongue. "Alright, new rule: If we find a ghost that wants to curse someone by dick magic again, we leave."

Richard sighed, shaking his head. "You're saying that as if this is normal."

Max smirked. "Give it a few years. You'll be seeing way worse."

Richard didn't respond. He was already focused on the cemetery. Something felt wrong about this place—not just the usual creepy atmosphere, but something deeper, something unnatural.

As they stepped forward, the old iron gates creaked open on their own, a slow and eerie welcome.

Max whistled. "Classic. Love the haunted house effects."

Richard ignored him and kept walking. The moment they crossed the threshold, an unnatural chill ran through their bodies, making their breath visible in the cold air. The fog thickened, wrapping around the tombstones like a living thing.

Max rubbed his arms. "Okay, yeah. That's new. Didn't expect the weather to change the second we stepped in."

Richard was more focused on something else. He turned to Max. "Hey… what kind of ghost curses someone through a man's dick?"

Max snorted. "That's the real question here, huh?"

Richard nodded. "I mean, seriously. That's some next-level perversion."

Max stretched his arms. "Ghosts are just people who died, you know? And when someone dies, their soul is released, but they don't keep their memories the same way we do. Instead, they keep bits and pieces—habits, obsessions, desires. Those stick."

Richard frowned. "So, this ghost was probably a massive pervert when he was alive?"

Max gave him finger guns. "Bingo. He was probably some creep who had an unhealthy obsession with sex. When he died, all that remained of him was his perversion… and it twisted into something worse."

Richard grimaced. "So, we're about to fight a literal ghost of a sex offender. Great."

Max patted his shoulder. "Hey, man, look on the bright side—at least we don't have to exorcise a ghost that was into feet."

Richard gave him a blank stare. "That's not making this better."

Suddenly, a sound cut through the silence—a low, chittering laugh that seemed to come from all directions.

Richard and Max both stopped walking. The fog around them seemed to move, swirling unnaturally. A sudden gust of wind rushed past, rattling the gravestones.

Then, from within the mist, a voice slithered through the air.

"Ohhh... fresh meat~."

Max sighed and rolled his shoulders. "And there it is. Knew this wouldn't be easy."

Richard summoned a small flicker of blue flames, illuminating the fog around them. His face was set in a cold glare. "Show yourself."

The laughter grew louder, echoing like a dozen voices speaking at once.

Then, from the darkness, a pair of gleaming, unnaturally white teeth slowly became visible. A figure stepped out from the mist—a shadowy, twisted humanoid with pure black skin, its body shifting and writhing like a living shadow. Its jagged grin stretched impossibly wide, and its eyes glowed with amusement.

Max cracked his knuckles. "Alright, asshole. You got ten seconds to die before I make you wish you were never born."

The ghost giggled, tilting its head. "Ohh, how rude. And here I was, hoping we could have some... fun."

Richard's flames flared brighter. "Yeah? Let's see how funny you think this is when I burn your ass to oblivion."

The moment Max lunged forward, the ghost reacted with an unnatural speed, vanishing into the shadows cast by the graveyard's worn-out tombstones. A sinister chuckle echoed through the night.

"Ooooh... You boys are feisty! But I like my victims... slower." The ghost's voice was like a whisper in their ears, but it came from everywhere at once.

Max clicked his tongue. "Of course, it's a slippery one."

Richard clenched his fists, flames flickering around his knuckles before he quickly extinguished them. He couldn't afford to burn down the entire graveyard.

Suddenly, the ghost materialized behind Max, its cold fingers reaching for his neck. "Gotcha."

Max spun, barely dodging, his instincts razor-sharp. "Nope." With a swift counter, he aimed a precise palm strike at the ghost's chest, but it dispersed into a cloud of dark mist, reforming a few feet away, grinning.

"Oh-ho! You are fun! But tell me, do you boys even know what you're dealing with?"

Richard stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "A lowlife who couldn't get laid in life, so now you're cursing women from the afterlife?"

The ghost's grin twitched. "Tch. So disrespectful. I was once a man of desires! And even in death, my cravings remain!"

Max gagged. "Holy shit, this is the worst kind of ghost."

Richard sighed. "Max, I swear, if you say 'you can have him'—"

"I was this close." Max smirked, holding up two fingers.

Before Richard could respond, the ghost's body suddenly twisted in an unnatural way, elongating its limbs. "Enough talk. Let's see if you can survive my embrace!"

Dark tendrils burst from its body, lashing toward the duo. Richard dodged to the side, avoiding a swipe aimed at his head, while Max weaved between the strikes, his movements calculated.

"Max! He's manipulating his own shadow!" Richard shouted, spotting the source of the attacks.

Max's eyes flickered as he activated his ability, instantly breaking down the ghost's attack pattern. "Alright, got it. Stay mobile, avoid getting surrounded, and strike when he reforms. Easy."

The ghost cackled. "Easy? Oh, I'll make you eat those words!"

More tendrils shot forward, faster this time, slamming into the ground and kicking up dust. Richard leapt back, barely dodging one that nearly grazed his leg.

Max dashed forward, using his calculated movements to avoid the strikes before launching a kick directly at the ghost's face. "Bitch, get exorcised!"

The impact sent the ghost flying into a tombstone, but it quickly regained form, its grin still intact. "Mmm... You're so rough! I love it!"

Max's face twisted in disgust. "Okay, I officially hate this fight."

Richard cracked his knuckles. "Then let's end it."

The flames around his hands roared to life, but he kept them under control—he had to be precise. If he wasn't careful, he'd burn everything, including Max.

The ghost's form flickered again, its body reforming into several copies. "Now, let's see if you can handle this!"

Max narrowed his eyes, his brain instantly breaking down the illusion. "Richard, only the one on the left is real!"

Richard wasted no time, launching forward. The flames in his fists condensed, flickering dangerously, as he delivered a devastating punch. The moment his flames made contact, the ghost let out an ear-piercing shriek.

The ghost's agonized shriek echoed through the graveyard as Richard's flames made contact. It flailed, twisting unnaturally as its shadowy form contorted.

"GAAAAH! IT BURNS! YOU BASTARD—!"

Richard immediately pulled his fist back, extinguishing the flames before they could spread. His heart pounded. If he lost control, he wouldn't just burn the ghost—he'd erase this entire section of the cemetery.

The ghost staggered back, its form flickering violently. Its grin was gone, replaced by a look of sheer hatred. "You... You dare use such flames against me?! Do you have any idea what you're dealing with?!"

Max, wiping a bit of blood from a small cut on his cheek, smirked. "Oh, we know exactly what we're dealing with. A third-rate pervert who thinks he's a threat just because he got a second chance to be a creep."

The ghost's eyes twitched, its form distorting even further. The mist around it thickened, warping into grotesque shapes—grinning mouths, clawed hands, and shifting eyes. The air became heavy, suffocating.

"You mortals mock me… But I was a man of pleasure! Of power! Even in death, I command—"

WHAM!

Max's fist slammed into the ghost's face, sending it crashing through a cracked tombstone. Dust and shards of stone flew into the air.

"Shut the hell up already."

Richard snorted. "I was just about to say that."

The ghost twitched on the ground, its body flickering in and out of visibility. "You... You dare—!"

Max cracked his knuckles. "Look, pal, I don't care what kind of twisted freak you were in life, but you lost the moment you pissed us off." He glanced at Richard. "Finish it."

Richard exhaled, stepping forward. The flames in his hands flickered dangerously. He had to be careful—if he unleashed too much, there'd be nothing left. But if he hesitated, this thing could recover.

The ghost saw the hesitation. It let out a weak chuckle. "Hah... I see... You're afraid." Its distorted mouth curled into a wicked grin. "You hold so much power, yet you're too scared to let it loose... Pathetic."

Richard's fingers twitched. He clenched his fist.

Max noticed the hesitation and smacked Richard on the back of the head. "Dumbass, stop listening to it. Just burn it already."

Richard groaned, rubbing the spot where Max hit him. "Fine, fine. But if this place burns down, I'm blaming you."

Max crossed his arms. "Acceptable loss."

Richard rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. Focus. His blue flames surged to life once more. He extended his hand toward the ghost, controlling the fire's shape, keeping it tight—contained.

"This is the end."

The flames roared, engulfing the ghost in an instant.

"NO—!!"

The scream was brief. The moment Richard's fire consumed the spirit, its form disintegrated—erased from existence. The mist vanished, the oppressive air lifted, and silence fell over the cemetery.

Richard clenched his fist, extinguishing his flames. He exhaled sharply, sweat beading on his forehead. "God, I hate ghosts."

Max stretched, rolling his shoulders. "That was way more annoying than it needed to be." He shot Richard a sideways glance. "You good?"

Richard waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. Just exhausted."

Max grinned. "What, you wanna be carried back?"

Richard scoffed. "I'd rather let that ghost curse me first."

The two of them stood there for a moment, taking in the eerie quiet of the cemetery. The fight was over. The job was done.

But Amelia's curse still lingered.

Max let out a sigh. "Alright, let's head back. Your grandpa's probably gonna give us another long-ass lecture."

Richard groaned. "Ugh. Can we pretend we died instead?"

"Tempting, but no. Let's go."

And with that, the two of them turned, leaving the ruined tombstones behind as they made their way back into the city.