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Lewis had never thought himself afraid of heights.
He had rejoined the Mystery Skulls one, maybe two years ago, after clearing several miscommunications and the banishment of a particular sickly-green demon. There had certainly been some growing pains, especially regarding Vivi’s memory and the lingering tensions between Lewis and Arthur, but they’d worked things out, slowly but surely. Vivi’s memory had almost completely returned as it stood now, though there were still the occasional gaps that Lewis, Arthur, or Mystery had to fill in. Arthur still had days where lingering guilt threatened to swallow him whole, but they were fewer and farther between, and when they did occur, he’d gotten better about asking for help. There were times Arthur still flinched if Mystery caught him off guard, but Lewis couldn’t blame him. He recognized the brief flash of guilt that crossed Mystery’s face every time it happened. It was the same look the specter saw on his friend whenever the blonde startled him.
As the group fell into their new normal Vivi suggested they begin taking cases again. Arthur had been reasonably hesitant (which was not aided by a poorly timed joke about Lewis making sure to stand behind the mechanic the next time they found themselves in a creepy cave), but he agreed for his friends’ sake. Since then, the Mystery Skulls had been back in business, taking cases from all across the country. As it turns out, having a powerful spirit in your group does wonders in the way of getting poltergeists to cooperate.
This particular job found the group exploring an old, derelict theatre. Locals, namely urban explorers, had made reports of ‘strange occurrences in the building, ranging from inexplicable pockets of frigid air to whispers coming from nowhere in particular. As Lewis entered the building, he definitely got the feeling that something, or rather someone , was there. Based on the look on Mystery’s face, he got it too.
In her research, Vivi had found that the theatre had been home to a play gone horrifically wrong, in which a balcony on stage had failed underneath the weight of its actor, causing the poor soul to plummet to the stage below and snap their neck on impact.
Ouch.
Naturally, in that case, the main atrium was the first place they checked. Like the rest of the building, it was in utter disrepair, abandoned to the elements. The stage had never been repaired after the incident, the balcony still destroyed and its remnants jagged on the ground below stained red and jutting upwards like wooden…
Lewis shook the thought from his skull.
The group split in two; Vivi and Mystery would search the seating and concession areas, and Lewis and Arthur would take the stage and back-of-house. The division almost made the ghost laugh, though it wasn’t without reason. It’d be more efficient if each pair had one of the group’s paranormal members, and, according to Mystery, Lewis and Vivi couldn’t be trusted to have basic survival instincts when paired together (which, Lewis conceded, was fair. Asking self-preservation of a ghost didn’t seem like the best idea anyways).
Lewis and Arthur scoured the stage, Arthur all but glued to the specter’s side as they did so. Their search led them backstage, Lewis paying no mind to Arthur’s fidgeting with his flashlight. The tool served more to comfort the mechanic than actually illuminate anything, as the magenta glow Lewis gave off provided more than enough light.
With little luck on the ground level, Lewis began ascending the stairs to the catwalk above the stage. Maybe if he could get a better vantage point, he could pinpoint where the ghost could be. Arthur followed, ever anxious, as Lewis floated up the stairs, his feet never touching the cold metal. They reached the top, and Lewis continued, looking around as he approached the midpoint of the walkway. The view was breathtaking in a way only an old, abandoned building could be. The structure was crumbling, giving way as nature fought to reclaim its rightful place. The wallpaper was peeled and choked with streaks of mold where moisture had been left to fester. The windows were often shattered, and those that weren't were cracked and fogged, struggling to stay together.
Lewis glanced down and froze, lowering himself so he was standing on the catwalk, not just hovering above it.
Lewis had never thought himself afraid of heights.
When he was younger and smaller he’d never had any issue clambering up countertops and shelves to grab spices that were, in retrospect, likely placed out of his reach for a reason. When the Peppers took him on flights to visit far-away relatives, he didn’t share the anxiety his siblings seemed to have regarding the small gap between the boarding bridge and the airplane door. Even as an adult, Lewis had often found himself the first of the Mystery Skulls to venture across swaying bridges or precarious ledges when an investigation demanded it.
It’s not the fall that’s dangerous, He’d remind himself, just the sudden stop at the end.
One would imagine that, even after death, he’d retain that fearlessness. After all, not even that sudden stop could hurt him now. Even if he did opt to allow himself to fall, as opposed to simply levitating, the landing would be harmless. It’s not like he had any tangible bones to break, after all.
Why, then, did he find himself so paralyzed at the sight of the distant ground beneath him?
Lewis gripped onto the railings of the catwalk, bone-plated hands white-knuckling the bars as he stared down.
It’s never the fall , he tried to reason with himself.
Just the sudden stop at the end.
He looked down at the stage, wooden boards splintered beneath him.
The sudden, painful stop at the end.
Wood, lacquered in blood.
The sudden, painful, stabbing stop at the end.
Boards, jutting upwards like wooden stalagmites.
His chest heaved, an all-too-familiar pain radiating from where his heart should have been. The wooden stage beneath him gave way to eerie green, rocks taunting as he leaned just barely too far over the edge.
That fall had only been a few seconds, but it had felt like an eternity, staring up at who he thought was his best friend, his mind occupied by only a single thought; Why?
Falling, falling, falling .
All the while dreading what was next—dreading that sudden stop.
Something touched his shoulder and he jumped, still clutching the railing as if his afterlife depended on it. Lewis turned to see a familiar expression on his friend’s face; guilt.
“Lewis…?” Arthur mumbled, “Are… Are you okay?”
Lewis wasn’t sure how to respond. Slowly, he pulled his hands away from the railing, adjusting his sleeves and wrapping a hand protectively around his anchor.
“Yeah… I’m… I’m fine. Let's go catch up with Vivi and Mystery.”
He was otherwise silent as he made his way off the catwalk and down onto the floor, Arthur trailing behind. He didn’t utter a word as they met up with Vivi and Mystery, though his expression must’ve spoken volumes based on Vivi’s concerned look. The other duo had found the ghost on their own anyways and helped them peacefully pass on. There was a tension in the air as they returned to the van that Lewis knew he’d have to answer for later, but for now, he settled for taking his spot in the back and letting Arthur drive.
He’d never thought himself afraid of heights… But then again, a lot had changed.