Sam did not see Julie during the confrontational exchange. He did however, hear the loud thud she made as she landed in the bedroom.

He watched Judith leave with apologetic eyes before turning on his wife, "So, this is your decision is it? You've chosen Julie over them. Over me!" Sam emphasised on the me.

Mel faced her husband with distaste towards his words and even her own. "It's not like that, Sam. I can't bare to be away from you but you leave for days on end all the same. I fell into a whirlpool of emotions with Julie. She gave me the company I did not know I needed."

"Instead of opening up to your husband you decided that cheating with a dead woman was the best course of action?"

"You're being a little unfair. I would never physically cheat on you with a living person. This was never meant to happen." Mel reached for Sam but he backed away out of reach.

"I can't right now," he said hesitantly.

"I love you," Mel spoke behind a faint sob.

Sam sighed before replying. "I love you too, Mel. It's been a long day and I'm agitated, I'm going to sleep in the spare room tonight. I trust your spirit won't be trying anything tonight for either of us?"

Mel nodded understandingly. "I hope we can resolve this in the morning and get back to the way we were."

"I would like that," Sam replied.

"Good, and I don't think Julie will bother you tonight. Sleep well, Sam."

"Goodnight, Melissa," Sam said finally before ascending the stairs. He did not notice nor care to notice Julie stood by the window as he walked into the main bedroom. He grabbed some pyjamas from the drawer and fresh clothes for the morning before turning around and leaving for the spare room.

Julie followed him out of the room without getting close but stopped at the landing. She wanted to get revenge on Mel for hurting her and for her hurting Judith, but she was scared and she could not figure out why. She was capable of terrorizing Mel, forcing sex out of her if desired, although she knew Mel would probably enjoy that. The living woman was scaring her as if she was in some way possessed by something more terrifying than a spirit.

Melissa was still stood at the foot of the stairs when Julie reached the top step. Mel suddenly looked up as if she spotted Julie but turned and entered the front room indicating that she had not.

Julie felt an urge to follow Mel, to pin her down and have sex with her but Judith remained at the forefront of her mind and she could not think of anybody else. Instead she went back into the main bedroom and there she waited for night to fall and the new day to start, the day where Judith would finally break her away from the current norm.

***

That evening was one of the most gloomiest ever for Judith. The loneliness she felt for the absent spirit far surpassed the week of the previous year where she thought Jersey had gone for good.

She wanted Julie back, but the possibility of that happening was dwindling fast. There was the problem in the shape of Melissa and getting her to step down peacefully; the prospect of helping Julie crossover to find the place where she truly belonged and where she could rest peacefully.

The stakes were high for her and for Julie, neither may get what they truly wanted and Judith was struggling between wanting to do right or playing the selfish card like Mel and try to keep the spirit for herself.

Determination was key to the first battle and Judith's mission was simple; break the connection between Mel and Julie and separate them. It was the only way for Judith to make her own connection with Julie and help her discover what was truly best for the spirit.

Judith met Sheridan and Lyle at the library the next day and they travelled in near silence back to the house. Lyle was hopeful for seeing Julie again after briefly seeing her appear the day before being kicked out by the crazy woman. He and Sheridan had discussed Julie's existence for many hours the night before.

Neither had any final words for Judith however as she stepped out of the car first and made her way up the driveway. Lyle and Sheridan got out of the car a lot slower and followed cautiously behind.

Judith knocked on the front door and waited. She knocked again before Mel's cry came from the bedroom window, "Go away!"

"We cannot go away, Melissa. Please let us in!" Judith responded with annoyance.

"You're not wanted here, go away before I call the police!" Came Mel's swift reply.

Sheridan who had gone straight to the window peered inside before turning paled face towards Judith with a horrified stare.

"What is it, Sheridan?" Judith asked impatiently.

"There's an empty bottle of pills on the coffee table; looks like rope and scissors too."

"What?" Judith gasped. She leaned across to look inside then banged once more on the door. "Mel! What are you up to?"

"Try the handle, Sam could be in trouble... Or Jules," Lyle said from behind.

"Great idea," Judith replied and to her amazement the door opened. She wasted no time in running up the stairs and bursting into the main bedroom.

"What the f-" Mel started as she looked up from the bed. She was wearing a dressing gown that fell open at the front.

Judith's eyes widened as she saw Julie pinned to the bed, unclothed. "What are you doing? What's wrong with her?" She pointed to Julie who appeared to be trapped, bound to the bed.

"I told you she belongs here, Judith. Now go away!" Mel said angrily.

"Sam's in here!" Sheridan called from the other room. "He's gagged and bound!"

Judith's eyes narrowed towards Mel. "This is not you, Mel. Tell me what is going on!"

"I will not, Julie is mine!" Mel flashed Judith the ring she wore. "Thank you for this. It holds so much power over spirits."

"It's only wax," Judith replied confused.

"It's making Julie do whatever I want whatever the case," Mel laughed.

"You're insane!" Judith called before retreating to the other bedroom to check on Sam.

Sam's hands and feet were restrained and he looked as if he had uncomfortably been lying there for several hours. Sheridan pulled the gag from his mouth. "She drugged me and tied me up in my sleep!" He cried.

"Christ! Can you untie him?" Judith asked Sheridan.

"Yes, but the restraints are very tight," the older lady replied as she pulled at the cord.

Melissa was squeezing one of Julie's breasts visibly hard as Judith came back into the room. She held her finger to her lips as if quietening the spirit. She turned and scowled at Judith.

Both women glared at each other until Judith finally demanded, "Give me that ring back." She charged forward throwing her arms around Mel's waist, rugby tackling her to the floor. The ring slipped off her hand and rolled to their side.

The women fell to the floor and Judith had Mel pinned down. Neither of them noticed a fully clothed Julie stand up beside them, now with her invisible shackles broken. She watched on as Judith appeared to have the upper hand.

Despite Judith's best efforts it was she who suffered a kick to the stomach and losing the scramble to regain possession of the ring. Mel laughed with her own victory and slipped the ring back onto her finger.

The spirit felt powerless while Mel still possessed the ring and could only sit back and watch.

"Obsession is an ugly trait," Judith hissed as she managed to pin one of Mel's arms down and clawed at the ring on her other hand.

Mel managed to throw her knee up and locking it in-between Judith's legs she was able to flip the other woman and climb on top of her. "So is jealousy, Judith. You just can't accept the fact you lost. Tell me, is this how you like it?" Mel began pulling at Judith's shirt and it tore, exposing her flesh around her collar bone and upper right breast.

Judith screeched in horror and managed to smack Mel across the face but Mel did not falter and kept Judith pinned. Her strength was unnatural and Judith now feared this was going to end badly.

Mel laughed horrifically as she tore another button on Judith's shirt, exposing her stomach. Mel believed she had won until a quick motion caught her eye.

Julie had seen enough, ring or no ring, she was going to intervene. She sidestepped into Mel's vision and threw all of the weight she could muster in their physical realm at the satanic woman, forcing Mel off of her Judith. The spirit felt a twang of pain and fell to the floor beside Mel.

Judith stood up just in time to see Mel rolling around clutching the back of her skull from the heavy impact against the floor. However, Julie looked in a far different state.

Melissa had raised the ring in time to defend herself and caught Julie in the stomach with some force before being thrown back. The spirit had a crack in her appearance around her stomach. A glowing light poured out of that crack into the room. Something was happening but no one knew what.

***

Word count- 49852

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