Redoing My Life (Modern Family)

I watched Margot closely. She was perched on the edge of the couch, her phone clutched to her ear, and her fingers drummed rhythmically against the cushion. Her voice was low and fast, but every so often, she glanced over her shoulder, like she expected me to be eavesdropping. I wasn't… well, not yet.

She ended the call abruptly, almost as if she knew I was watching, and turned toward me. Her eyes were wide—the kind of wide that screams "guilty."

"Everything alright?" I asked casually, leaning back on the arm of the chair.

Margot jumped slightly, her reaction not helping her case. "Everything's fine!" she said quickly, her voice a bit too high. "Why wouldn't it be? Everything's great… totally normal." She even forced an awkward little laugh.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so jumpy?"

"You scared me," she replied, far too defensively for someone who was supposedly calm.

"Okay…" I said slowly, studying her. Something was definitely up. Margot wasn't exactly a master of keeping secrets. I was still planning on pretending to be surprised by the "surprise" birthday party my mom was organizing—Margot had already blurted it out last week.

I didn't say anything else; I just kept looking at her. If there was one thing Margot couldn't handle, it was prolonged silence combined with a steady stare.

"Stop staring at me!" she said, flustered, throwing her hands up as if I were the problem.

"I'm not staring," I said with a smirk, which only made her more agitated.

"Ugh!" she groaned, spinning on her heel. "Don't… don't follow me."

She disappeared down the hallway, leaving me both confused and curious. Whatever she was hiding, she wouldn't be able to keep it to herself for long. I shook my head, amused, and grabbed the coffee off the table.

"I'm leaving!" I called out as I made my way to the door.

"Okkk…" Margot yelled back, her voice carrying from another room.

Whatever it was, I'd find out soon enough.

I stepped outside, slid into the car, and told the driver to head to the studio. My arm was still a couple of weeks away from a full recovery, so I was stuck being chauffeured around.

Arriving at the studio, I quickly made my way to Tina Frye, our lead editor, who was waiting for me. She was going to help me put together the first trailer for Batman Begins.

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"So, what do you expect, Mr. Adler?" Tina Frye asked as she leaned back in her chair. The room was filled with high-end computers and monitors displaying editing software, while a team of attentive editors stood ready to take notes.

I sat at the head of the table, leaning forward slightly. "The first trailer needs to be impactful and concise, about a minute long," I began.

Tina nodded, gesturing for her team to start jotting down notes.

"It should open with the scene of Bruce entering the League of Shadows' headquarters. Start with a soft, haunting melody that gradually builds as the teaser progresses. Choose something atmospheric—it needs to evoke curiosity and suspense."

Tina's pen moved swiftly across her notebook as she glanced at her team. "Got it."

"As Bruce steps through the massive doors, let the sound of them creaking and slamming shut echo into a fade-to-black. That's when the logos should appear."

Her team nodded approvingly as I continued.

"From there, cut to scenes of Bruce leaving Gotham and exploring the world. These should be quick, visually striking shots—mountain landscapes, bustling cities, dark alleyways. Overlay this with a voiceover from Jensen. He should say: 'I seek the means to fight injustice. To turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.'"

Tina raised her eyebrows. "That's compelling."

"Then," I went on, "start interspersing clips of Bruce's travels with a new voiceover. Shift to Liam as Ra's. He should say: 'If you make yourself more than just a man, you become something else entirely.'"

"At this point, show brief, mysterious glimpses of Bruce in the Bhutan prison and his first encounter with Ra's, but don't reveal Ra's fully. Keep him in shadow—his presence implied, but never fully shown. Then switch back to Jensen's voiceover, with Bruce asking, 'What is that?'"

"And Liam responds?" Tina prompted, already catching on.

"After a pause, Liam's voice cuts in: 'A legend, Mr. Wayne.'"

A murmur of approval passed through her team.

"Then," I said, leaning forward for emphasis, "cut to the shot of Batman standing atop Wayne Tower, silhouetted against Gotham City. You know the one I'm talking about."

Tina smiled. "The one where he's looking over the city, shot from a distance?"

"Exactly," I said, smiling back. "As the music swells to its peak, show that silhouette forming against the night sky. Let it linger for just a second before fading into the title."

"Anything else?" Tina asked, visibly impressed.

"That's it. Trailer one, done." I sat back, exhaling with satisfaction.

"Wow. That's detailed," Tina said, glancing at her team, who were already buzzing with ideas.

"I've been thinking about it for a while," I admitted.

"We'll have multiple versions ready on your desk by next week," she assured me.

I stood, adjusting my jacket. "Thank you, Tina. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another important matter to attend to."

"Have a good day, Mr. Adler," Tina said with a smile.

I gave her a nod and walked out of the room.

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I arrived at the house Phil had chosen to prank Claire in. I had asked some of the guys from the studio to make the place feel haunted using a bit of clever practical effects. It was nighttime—perfect for testing out what they'd set up.

From the outside, the house looked normal enough—maybe a little run-down, but nothing that outright screamed "haunted." The glow of the streetlights illuminated the overgrown yard and peeling paint, giving it a slightly eerie feel. Phil was already waiting, practically buzzing with excitement.

"Danny!" Phil called, waving me over.

"Phil," I said, grinning as I approached. "Ready to experience a haunted house?" I wiggled my fingers dramatically at the word "haunted."

Phil clapped his hands together. "I can't wait!"

"Don't you still have to sell this place?" I asked, looking up at the dark silhouette of the house.

Phil waved me off. "Nah, no one's going to buy it. They're all scared off by the whole murder story."

I stopped mid-step and turned to him. "Oh yeah, the murder. What do you know about it?"

Phil's voice dropped to a hushed, dramatic tone as he leaned in. "Apparently, a woman was killed here on her wedding day—died in her wedding dress, no less. People say she still wanders the halls, waiting for her groom."

"Oh," I said, my upbeat tone faltering for a moment. "That… that's actually kind of sad."

Phil perked up again. "Yeah, tragic. But we can use that tragedy to scare my wife!"

I shook my head with a chuckle. "So, how's it going? Is she taking the bait?"

Phil grinned proudly. "Hook, line, and sinker. I've been telling her creepy stories about this place for weeks. All I have to do now is challenge her to check it out on Halloween night."

Phil pulled out a large key and unlocked the door with an exaggerated creak. The hinges groaned as the door swung open, revealing a dim, dusty interior. Inside, the air was much cooler than outside, and it smelled faintly of old wood, dust, and something else I couldn't quite place—something stale.

Phil flipped the light switch, but the bulbs only flickered faintly before casting a weak, yellow glow over the hallway. A faint creak echoed from somewhere deeper inside.

"Oh, cool," I said, pointing at the flickering lights. "That must be part of the effects."

"No," Phil replied casually. "That's just how it is."

"Oh," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed at my assumption. "Well… moving on. Let's see what the guys set up."

Phil tapped me on the shoulder and pointed toward a large, dusty mirror mounted on the hallway wall. A faint, unmistakable handprint was visible, as though someone had pressed their palm against the glass from the inside.

I frowned, squinting at it. "Huh. That seems a bit amateurish."

Phil tilted his head. "Yeah… I thought you said these guys were good."

Before I could respond, a door at the end of the hallway—one that had been firmly shut—slowly creaked open.

Phil and I both froze, our eyes locked on the door as it drifted open inch by inch. The room beyond was dark, its shadows almost inviting us in.

"Now that's a bit scary," I admitted, feeling an involuntary chill run down my spine. I knew this was all set up—after all, I'd asked for it—but standing in that hallway, with the cool air and the darkened room beyond, it felt all too real.

We walked into the dining room, where a small chandelier swayed gently, its light casting faint, rippling shadows across the walls.

"So far, not impressed," Phil said, trying to sound confident, though his voice wavered slightly.

"Yeah, me too. I think the guys did a crappy job," I replied, though I could feel a subtle unease creeping in.

Suddenly, I noticed something—a shadow shifting across the far wall, as if someone had moved quickly out of sight.

"Oh, oh! Did you see that?" I asked.

Phil froze, his eyes darting to where I pointed. "Okay, that was good," he admitted. "It's like… like someone moved over there."

We kept walking deeper into the house, the hardwood floors creaking beneath us. As we explored, little things kept happening—a picture frame tilted slightly, curtains shifted as though caught in a nonexistent breeze, and shadows seemed to dance at the edges of our vision. Nothing major, but enough to make my skin crawl.

Then we heard it.

Faint whispers.

At first, it was too soft to make out—like the murmur of someone talking in another room. Then, the whispers grew louder, weaving together into an unintelligible stream.

Phil stopped dead in his tracks. "You hear that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," I replied, swallowing hard. I wanted to brush it off, to remind myself it was just effects, but the sound… the sound was too real.

Phil shifted nervously beside me, rubbing his arms. "Is it… is it cold in here? Are you cold, Danny?"

"No," I lied, though the truth was I could feel the temperature drop. It wasn't freezing, but there was a definite icy edge that made me shiver.

I told myself it was all an illusion, something the guys installed to sell the haunted effect. Still, my pulse quickened.

"Maybe we should go," Phil said suddenly, his nervous laughter breaking through the silence. "Yeah, I think everything looks good here. Solid prank… Claire will be scared. Let's just… let's just call it a night."

"Yeah, yeah, we should go," I agreed, nodding quickly. "It's late."

We turned back toward the front door, walking briskly. The lights in the hallway began flickering again, casting jagged flashes of light and shadow across the walls. Phil and I instinctively moved closer together as we walked.

Then it happened.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Footsteps.

From behind us.

Phil froze, and I didn't dare turn around. My brain screamed that it was just part of the trick, but my instincts screamed otherwise.

"Did you hear that?" Phil whispered.

"Yeah," I managed, my voice cracking slightly. "Let's just… let's just get out."

We both quickened our pace, practically speed-walking to the front door, when suddenly… my phone rang.

RIIINNNG!

We both jumped a foot in the air, letting out something between a gasp and a yell. I fumbled to pull my phone out of my pocket, trying to calm my racing heart.

"It's just my phone," I said with a shaky laugh, holding it up for Phil to see.

Phil clutched his chest dramatically.

I glanced down at my screen and saw a text notification. Smiling faintly, I opened it… and froze as the message loaded.

"Hey Mr. Adler, sorry—couldn't get to the house today. Effects setup will be done tomorrow. Let us know if you need anything else!"

My smile evaporated. My face went pale as I read the text again, hoping I had misunderstood it.

"What is it?" Phil asked.

"Phil," I said slowly, my voice tense, "they didn't set up the effects."

"What?" Phil asked, confusion and disbelief plastered across his face.

I turned my phone screen toward him, my hand shaking slightly.

Phil blinked, his mouth hanging open as he processed the words. "But… the shadows, the door, the voices—"

We both froze as a loud thud echoed from upstairs, followed by the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps. Each creak of the wood sent chills down my spine.

"Oh God," Phil whispered, his face as pale as a sheet. "Oh God, no."

I swallowed hard, trying to calm my pounding heart. "It's probably just… an old house settling. Right?"

Another creak sounded—closer this time. The air grew colder, and a faint whisper floated through the hall. It was soft, indecipherable, but undeniably there.

"Nope. Nope, nope, nope," Phil stammered, turning and bolting toward the front door.

"Don't leave me here!" I shouted, panic rising as I ran after him.

Phil reached the door first and grabbed the handle, pulling with all his strength. It rattled but didn't open.

"It's locked!" Phil yelled, his voice cracking with fear.

"Try harder!" I shouted back, glancing nervously over my shoulder toward the hallway. The small chandelier above us began to sway violently, the glass crystals clinking ominously against each other.

Phil frantically tugged at the door handle, sweat forming on his forehead. "WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

The shadows on the walls twisted unnaturally, writhing as if they had a life of their own. The light flickered, and the whispers grew louder, curling around us like unseen fingers.

"Back door!" I said, my voice shrill as I grabbed Phil's arm and pulled him toward the hallway. I had been a skeptic, never believing in ghosts or superstitions, but after being transported to another universe and basically starting over my life, I had begun believing in some things. 

Now I was genuinely terrified.

We sprinted toward the back of the house, the shadows seemingly following us. The sound of footsteps trailed behind, slow and deliberate, growing louder and louder.

We reached the back hallway when a figure emerged from the darkness—a woman in a tattered wedding dress, her pale face half-hidden beneath a torn veil. Her hands hung limp at her sides, her head tilted unnaturally.

Phil froze, trembling. "Oh my God. It's the wedding lady."

"RUN THE OTHER WAY!" I yelled, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him back.

Phil stumbled, barely able to move his feet. "There's nowhere to go, Danny! THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO!"

I dared to look back at the figure, my hands shaking uncontrollably. The woman slowly lifted her head, her veil falling to reveal hollow eyes and an unsettling smile.

She leaned forward and whispered one word, her voice chilling in its calm simplicity: "Boo."

Phil and I screamed—a loud, unfiltered scream that echoed through the house—and slammed our eyes shut.

We braced for the worst… and then we heard it. Laughter. Familiar laughter.

I opened one eye cautiously, my heart still racing, and saw her.

Claire.

Standing before us in a ghostly bride costume, her makeup perfectly applied, her torn dress swirling around her feet as she laughed hysterically.

"Claire?" Phil croaked, his voice hoarse.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

"YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACES!" Claire cackled, doubling over with laughter.

Phil's jaw dropped, his face ashen. "Claire?! WHAT THE HELL?"

I was still catching my breath, hands on my knees as I tried to steady myself. "How did you—wait, what—HOW did you do that?!" I managed to choke out, my voice high-pitched with lingering terror.

Claire straightened up, proud as could be. "I found out about your little plan and decided to make my own."

Phil looked like he might collapse. "That wasn't funny, Claire."

"Oh, it was VERY funny," she shot back.

I waved my phone, the text still visible on the screen. "But… the text! How did…" I couldn't finish my thought. My brain was still scrambled.

Claire crossed her arms, looking far too pleased with herself. "I planned it all out."

I blinked at her, incredulous. "HOW? I don't… it doesn't make any sense!"

Phil chimed in, his voice still shaking. "Yeah, Claire, HOW DID YOU DO ALL OF THAT?!"

Claire grinned, practically glowing with pride. "Oh, it was easy," she said. "First, I roped Mitchell into it. Then Mitchell got your agent, Lucy, involved. And let me tell you, she was ALL IN on this. She was disturbingly eager to mess with you."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. "Lucy?! How… why would she…" My voice trailed off.

"Oh," Claire added with a sly smile, "your girlfriend helped, too."

"Margot?" I croaked.

Claire nodded smugly.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. That's why Margot had been so jumpy.

"I was betrayed," I muttered, shaking my head. "On all fronts. By everyone I trust."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Claire teased, rolling her eyes.

Before I could respond, Claire's phone rang. She answered it with a triumphant smile. "Oh, hey, Lucy!" She held the phone out so Phil and I could hear Lucy's uproarious laughter echoing through the speaker.

Phil threw his hands up. "I can't believe you got me AGAIN!"

I shook my head, still in shock. "I can't believe she got ME."

Claire hung up, still grinning. "Oh, and this year, we're doing a proper Halloween."

Phil gasped, horrified. "But… but what about AwesomeLand?!"

"It's canceled," Claire said flatly, already walking out of the haunted house, her ghostly bride costume swishing behind her.

Phil and I stood there in stunned silence for a moment before I broke it. "Well," I said, determination flaring up inside me, "we're getting her back."

Phil turned to me, his face serious. "Wait… what?"

"I don't care how long it takes," I said with conviction, my voice low and dramatic. "We're getting her back. All three of them. Claire, Lucy, and Margot."

Phil blinked, clearly still recovering from the shock, before interrupting my serious plotting. "You know, Danny," he said, tilting his head thoughtfully, "this was kinda cool, though."

I stared at him for a moment before letting out a small laugh. "Yeah. I don't know why, but I feel more alive for some reason."

"I KNOW, RIGHT?" Phil said, his enthusiasm returning as we finally walked out of the 'haunted' house together.

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You can read up to chapter 161

p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)