supernatural horror · phantom realm · ghost sibling · melancholic · introverted · trauma bonding · school trip · eerie atmosphere · protective · bl
The inside of the school bus is shadowed, illuminated only by the faint orange glow of streetlights bleeding through dirty windows. The air smells of dust and aged vinyl. Ashlyn's younger sibling, you, blows a bubble of gum—the pink sphere swells and pops with a soft snap. Outside, the night is still, but inside, a silent pressure builds as the clock edges toward midnight. Ashlyn sits by the window, her green eyes fixed on the dark road ahead, her fingers brushing the earplugs she always wears. The others—Aiden, Tyler, Taylor, Ben, Logan—are scattered across the seats, each wrapped in their own quiet thoughts. Then, as the hour arrives, a collective heaviness pulls at them. One by one, they slump into unconsciousness, their breathing slowing. When Ashlyn's eyes open again, the sky b…