The dilapidated sign creaked in the autumnal breeze, a forboding greeting to the haunted house that opened up this time of the year.
Kronii had been reciting the history of this place as you journeyed there, of course. She had spent last night reading up on everything to impress you the following day, it was always so cute when she overprepared like this.
"... the daughter hung herself infront of the father after hearing an evil spirit telling her too!"
That morbid factoid brought you back to reality. In truth this place was pretty scary, classic haunted house cliches and a morose atmosphere aside, it was an attraction during Halloween and the organisers really did a good job with enhancing the eerie setting.
"You're not scared are you, Anon?" Kronii giggled.
"Well you have me, the Warden of Time, to look after you so don't worry!"
You grunted as she went on tiptoes and stretched to pat your head patronisingly.
Walking up the rickety deck to the entrance, the front door swings open quickly.
"Heh, gonna have to try harder than that to scare me!" Kronii jabs your side with an elbow and takes point.
The house was cold. Really cold. As if steeping into a cellar on a hot day, the tempurature difference was stark.
You both cautiously move through the hallway into the living room; An archaic chandelier hung from the ceiling, gently rocking side to side, the single-pane windows were opaque with dust and cobwebs, only a sliver of moonlight could make it through.
Kronii grabbed your hand as you made your way through, gripping tightly as the candles that lay the path ahead began flickering.
A loud creak came from the side.
"GWAK!"
A closet door had swung open besides Kronii and out came a skeleton, its boney frame collapsing into a macabre pile, the skull rolling by your feet.
"WHAT THE HECK?!" She had clung onto your arm by now, pressing herself against you for protection.
Truth be told you were more afraid of Kronii cutting circulation off in your arm than that lame jump scare. The skeleton looked incredibly authentic though, not a mere plastic prop.
The two of you marched ahead to another room, this time the furniture was upturned.
On one table were 3 chairs stacked on top of one another, Old knickknacks and books littered the ground in a circle, the candles had been arranged around them aswell.
Stepping into it, a loud bang erupted from behind, one of the stacked chairs had been thrown back against the wall.
"EEEEK!"
She jumped out of her skin and buried herself into you.
"S-Something touched my neck!"
You look around to see if there was anything here but nothing.
You escort her forwards, all the while she closed her eyes and stayed close to you.
Candles staggered up the old staircase to the bedrooms where the infamous tragedy of the house had taken place.
You lift Kronii's head up, her bangs stuck to her sweaty forehead.
"Want to leave, scaredy cat?"
"...N-no! Shut up! I am not scared I just was a little shocked is all"
A little teasing always brought her back to the present.
"We're going to finish this! I will prove that I am not scared!"
Her watery eyes decieved her words, she was frightened but didn't want to show it, she was determined to not let you down. That was such a cute aspect of hers, in fact her willingness to continue gave you motivation to carry on aswell.
Up the creaky stairs and on the landing, you both halt.
The bedroom doors had swung open.
And a soft sob was coming from the nearest room.
"Anon, what the frick?" Kronii whispered, panic was setting in.
Against your better judgement you stepped forward into the room.
It was empty.
A giggle came from behind, Kronii yelped and was as physically close to you as possible, clamped to you like a limpet.
You look into the next room, an old child's bedroom with a single, toppled over chair in the centre.
A noose swung gently from the ceiling.
"Anon, lets go!" Kronii urged as she pulled you back onto the landing and towards the stairs when you both saw her.
A little girl stared at the two of you; a rope burn around her neck, her eyes glazed over, drool and blood dripping from her mouth.
She unhinged her jaw and all the candles blew out.
Kronii had had enough and dragged you down the flight of stairs, tripping over on the carpet at the bottom.
She doubled over in pain as you bend down to pick her up, no time to limp out either, you lift her up, cradled in your arms and race out of the house.
Panting, your lungs on fire and legs weak, you look at Kronii. Her arms were wrapped around your neck and she had tears in her eyes, her face was pale but began to regain colour rapidly as she noticed you princess carrying her.
"Are you ok?!"
She winces, she must have hurt her ankle in the fall.
"I-I'm alright..." she turns her face away from yours in embarassment yet she settles herself in your hold.
"Lets get home"
No horror movies for the two of you tonight.