University Ghosts · Y/n story by @veil_of

The dorm room was thick with the smell of cheap ramen and even cheaper cologne. A gaming controller lay abandoned on the floor, the TV paused mid-match.

Vinny Mauro

doesn't look up from his laptop You've been saying that for three weeks, Ricky.

The door slammed open so hard it bounced off the wall. Ricky stood there, breathing hard, holding up a camera like it was a holy relic.

Ricky Olson

I got it! I got the camera I wanted!

Chris Motionless

leans back on the bed, eyebrow raised No shit? The Sony one?

Ricky Olson

The exact one, asshole. Took three months of saving and eating nothing but instant noodles, but she's mine now.

He cradled the camera like it was a newborn. Rosa snorted from her spot on the floor, a textbook balanced on her knees.

Rosa Diaz

Congratulations. You spent your rent money on a camera. Real smart.

Ricky Olson

Rent's overrated. This is an investment, Diaz.

Natasha Romanoff

from the window seat, not looking up from her book In what, exactly?

Ricky Olson

grins, eyes bright That's what I wanted to talk to you guys about.

The way he said it made Vinny finally look up. Chris sat forward, a slow smile spreading across his face.

Chris Motionless

Oh, I know that look. That's your "I have a terrible idea" look.

Ricky Olson

It's not terrible. It's brilliant. You know all those stories about the Arts building?

Rosa Diaz

The ghost stories? The ones we use to scare freshmen?

Ricky Olson

nods, bouncing on his heels Exactly those. I say we find out if they're real.

Silence. Then Vinny snorted.

Vinny Mauro

You want to break into the theater at midnight to hunt ghosts with your new camera?

Ricky Olson

points at him See? You get it.

Vinny Mauro

That was not me getting it. That was me calling you insane.

Ricky Olson

Insane is boring. I'm talking about content. YouTube gold. If there's even a shred of truth to those stories, we'd be the first to actually document it.

Chris looked at Y/n, a question in his eyes. The kind of look that said you know we're doing this, right?

Ricky Olson

turns to Y/n, camera held out like an offering Come on. You know you want to. Midnight. The old theater. Just us and whatever's been hiding in the dark.