Ghostly Game

    Some games are not meant to be played.

‘It’ll be fun they said, it’s harmless they said…none of it will work they said…’

These were all thoughts running through Hiccup’s mind as he stood frozen while his new companion wrapped himself around him. He resisted the urge to shiver at the boy’s freezing touch, his skin so pale and hair white against his own. The book he’d been reading from only moments before was now on the ground, still open to the spell page he’d used at his friends’ request. It was just supposed to be a dare, a harmless little game; read one spell in the woods and come back to tell them how nothing had worked, how the book Pitchiner had sold the twins was a hoax.

Well, that turned out just swell.

“So what’s your name, cutie?” The spirit asked, his hoarse voice creating goose bumps along Hiccup’s skin. He trailed a translucent hand over the other’s shoulder, ever so careful to only grace along the fabric of his jacket that Hiccup found much too thin right now.  A giggle escaped the spirit’s lips. “Mine’s Jack, in case you wondered, though perhaps you knew that if you summoned me?”

“Hiccup.” Hiccup whispered, still unmoving as the hand moved up towards his neck. He couldn’t help but glance up at the spirit’s face finally, watching in silent awe as his skin became more and more solid, then hovering over the spirit’s lips were two fangs protruded up from behind the bottom lip. He licked his own, trying to recover from the sudden dryness in his throat as his eyes continued upward before finagling hovering at eye level with him.

They were blue.

 “My name is H-Hiccup.”

The spirit-Jack, giggled again. “Hiccup? Alright, I like it, seems to fit you.” He finally stepped away, his form now fully formed, and his bare feet dropped to the grass. He smiled widely,  his eyes closing as he wriggled his toes in the overgrown ground cover. “It feels so great to have something actually under my feet! It’s been so long since…”

“Ah, ahem…”

Jack trailed off, an eyebrow arching upward in question when Hiccup interrupted him. He didn’t seem to mind however, his smile unfaltering as both hands fell behind his back and he leaned towards him. “Yes, Hiccup?”

“I-I have to go.” Hiccup said quickly before he lost his nerve. His hands were sweaty as he leaned down to pick up the book, his eyes unmoving from the spirit or vampire or whatever the hell stood in front of him. He took a step back slowly, stiff with fear. “I-I’ve done what I was supposed to-it wasn’t supposed to work though, you, you’re not supposed to be here!

“It was just a joke; a game of truth or dare, because the twins got this book from some creepy guy who sold it to them for way too much,” He continued in a rush, not missing how Jack’s smile started to fall, a look of hurt replacing it. “A-And me and my friends just wanted to see if it really worked to prove the twins that they’d spent too much money on some hoax. That’s all! It wasn’t supposed to work, Jack! I-I’m sorry! I have to go-!”

“You don’t’ want me?”

Hiccup whined, his body finally betraying him as he cowered in fear. The hurt and pain in Jack’s voice sent chills up his spine, nearly freezing him in place once more. He couldn’t stop, though, he needed to get away; he didn’t even know if Jack was dangerous! He had no clue whatever Jack even was!

“I-I don’t even know what you are, Jack.” He said, clutching the book tight to his chest. He dropped his eyes to the ground, unable to look Jack in the eyes anymore. “I was dared, it’s a game…”

“I like games but not this one.”

Hiccup’s eyes widened at change in the sound of Jack’s voice, and against his better judgment, looked back to him, only to find his form greatly smaller figure, no longer the tall and pale teen before. A young boy, eyes red but skin a healthy pink and fluffy brown hair atop his head stood before him, clothes ragged and torn.

Gods, please don’t let this be a trick. Hiccup thought, inwardly groaning at himself as his fear ebbed away into concern. This could not be happening, he was not about to let himself fall for this, this thing just because he felt guilty for summoning it in the first place. It could be a monster for all he knew, something evil and terrible-

“Please don’t leave.”

Something pulled at him when he heard Jack’s soft and scared voice, his chest aching. He crouched down to his height, resting the book in his lap as he sighed at himself, cursing every god he knew for this entire situation. Why him, why him?!

“Okay, okay…I won’t, but, you need to come with me, I-I guess.” This is won’t end well. Hiccup could only imagine what the others were going to say when he brought back Jack to his house.“I can’t stay, I need to get back home...”  

Jack’s eyes seemed to light up, only enhancing the eerie red color they held. “Really? You’re inviting me into your home?”

Shit. “Yes, I am. Completely.” STOP TALKING.

In a flash, Jack’s eyes had returned to their first appearance, the blue almost brightening up his whole face. He bounced on his little feet before throwing himself at Hiccup and wrapping his arms around him tightly with too much strength for his size.

“Oh, thank you! This is gonna be so much fun!”