Vault Vibes and Visual Violations

LOCATION: GIDEON'S ROOM – MORNING, UNFORTUNATELY

Gideon sat cross-legged on his bed, arms folded, staring at Vivienne like she was a pop quiz that wouldn't stop winking at him.

Vivienne was on the floor, casually flipping the old coin his mother gave him — the one he very much did not want and definitely did not give her permission to take.

The Ledger floated above them, ominously judgmental, pages fluttering like it was irritated with air itself.

Gideon pointed at the coin. "Okay. First of all — how did you even get that? I gave it back to my mother. With full dramatic emphasis."

Vivienne shrugged, spinning the coin on its edge like a bored magician. "Hello? Ghost girl, remember? I go through doors. Also pockets. And regret."

He squinted. "You stole it?"

She smiled. "Borrowed."

> "Violation of heirloom protocols," the Ledger muttered.

"Violation of boundaries," Gideon added.

Vivienne flipped the coin at him. He fumbled and dropped it. "You're both so dramatic."

He leaned forward, picking it up. "Okay, seriously though. Alar. The great and spooky. He couldn't even tell you were a ghost. How?"

Vivienne leaned back against the side of the bed, stretching in a way that felt entirely illegal in ten provinces. "Maybe I'm not a ghost."

> "You are. But you're wrong," the Ledger said. "Because you're not a ghost. At least, not a normal one."

Gideon stared at her. "You're confusing even my omniscient murder-book. That's impressive."

Vivienne winked. "Thanks. I try."

---

LOCATION: HALLWAY TO THE HARROW VAULTS – LATER

The key glowed faintly. Not in a magical way. More like a "hey this door hates you" kind of way.

Gideon held it awkwardly.

"Why are we doing this again?"

Vivienne leaned in. "Because you're curious. Deep down. Beneath the sarcasm and self-loathing."

"I'm not curious. I'm obligated. Very different."

> "He's curious," the Ledger said flatly.

Vivienne giggled.

They reached the vault. A stone wall with no markings. Except the keyhole. Which hadn't been used in maybe... a century.

Gideon inserted the key. Turned.

Click.

The wall didn't slide open so much as sigh and crumble inward.

Inside? Darkness.

They stepped in.

It wasn't a treasure room. Or a library.

It was a prison.

Cages. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. All empty.

Except one.

A small pedestal in the center.

On it: a sealed jar.

The jar pulsed with violet light. Like a heartbeat. Trapped. Angry.

Gideon approached. "I have... a very bad feeling about this."

> "That is because your instincts, for once, are functioning," the Ledger replied.

Vivienne walked around the jar. "It's like it's... watching us."

Gideon squinted. "There's something inside it."

He leaned closer. Vivienne leaned with him.

Then she caught him staring.

At her.

Specifically.

Chest area.

She smirked. "Eyes up, Ghostbuster."

Gideon jumped back like she'd electrocuted him. "I—I wasn't—"

"I'm joking," she grinned. "You can stare as long as you like."

She leaned in again, just to make it worse. He flushed redder than a cursed apple.

> "Hormones: nature's most inconvenient haunting," the Ledger said.

Gideon pointed at it. "You're supposed to be on my side."

> "No one is on your side."

They both ignored him.

Vivienne tapped the jar lightly. "Whatever's in there... isn't happy."

The violet light pulsed again. The jar vibrated slightly.

A whisper. Just on the edge of hearing.

Gideon backed away. "We are so locking this place back up."

Vivienne raised a brow. "But it's interesting."

"Interesting gets you possessed. Or exploded."

> "Or both," the Ledger added.

They sealed the vault behind them.

Gideon pocketed the coin.

Vivienne watched him. "You're not as boring as you pretend to be."

He sighed. "And you're not as human as you pretend to be."

She winked. "Guess we're both frauds."

He smiled. Just a little.

> "Gross," the Ledger muttered. "Now go train or something. The next ghost won't flirt with you."

"Finally," Gideon muttered. "A break."