Monday, October 10th, 2016

As promised, Angie had helped Sid get through the math quiz by passing him the answers of either Annika, Amber, or the answering sheet on the teacher's desk. Sid hadn't used every answer she gave him, and Angie distracted him by crying out in confusion over his decision not to use all answers. But there was no way for him to explain to her, in class, that he didn't want his teacher to catch on; he wasn't the best at math and suddenly getting an A would make him suspicious.

Which is why he told her after class, but she still thought it was stupid. She then proceeded to annoy Edward whenever he was nearby, and refused to answer Sid's questions about Amber, and why Angie was so sure she knew where to look for the right spells. Sid didn't know she was into that kind of thing.

Whatever the thing was.

They spend two hours after school in the library doing more research, all on their assigned subjects, while Sid allowed Angie to tell him what to look for. She made him google Wiccan, witchcraft, rituals in the Pits and devil's worshipping in El Infierno; the main pit.

Sid was at a loss for why she told him those exact terms, until he discovered the fact that people claimed wiccans had moved into the area around 1650; the year when The Miller Six had gone missing. Many said it was nonsense, and witchcraft wasn't real, but there were plenty of search results telling him that this could seriously be a lead.

They had gone over the information together, until Sid was called by his mother to come home—he was still sort of grounded after all—right before Cory received a call to tell him to go home as well.

They ended their research, went home, and agreed to continue the next day.

"You're a dreamy guy, you know?" Angie said, as she sat on the windowsill, staring at him amused. "You zone out a lot."

"Oh, yeah," Sid replied, chuckling as he ruffled up his hair, getting up from his desk chair. "I tend to do that whenever I'm deep in thoughts."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"So, are you willing to tell me more about Amber? I've known her long enough to know she isn't into witchcraft or spells or whatever."

"I won't tell you, sorry," Angie replied, shaking her head with a small smile on her face, "I can't tell her secrets. You wouldn't want me to share your secrets either."

"I don't have secrets."

"Not yet. Not from your friends, at least. I'm your secret, the fact you went into the woods is a secret, the fact you heal way too fast is a secret. You're entire being is a secret."

"Sorry, but what?" Sid snorted, "my entire being is not a secret. But yeah, you're my secret, and so is the fact I was in the woods. But I tell my friends everything."

"Even if you were forbidden?"

Sid shrugged a shoulder, "even then. I trust them."

"Edward too?"

"Yeah, because despite the fact he isn't helping, and acting like a two-year-old, he hasn't told anyone about you, or the woods, or anything."

"But those are his secrets too."

"I guess, but still. He could easily pretend he wasn't there. People know he isn't that much into horror and thrill like Davy and I are."

"Okay, so do you trust me?"

"I mean, yeah," Sid mumbled, shrugging a shoulder. Though he wasn't entirely sure if he trusted her fully, she was gaining his trust rapidly. "You're helping me, right? You wouldn't do that if I couldn't trust you. Now, do you trust me?"

"That's the weird part?" Angie hesitantly replied, "there's something about you that is off. And I can't put my finger on what it is. So, no. Not entirely. But don't worry, I'll protect you no matter what."

"There's literally nothing about me, but okay. You need to see that for yourself, I guess. Tell me what I can do to gain more trust."

"You haven't promised to find me. We only agreed that I would protect you. If you want me to believe this works both ways, promise me you'll help me as well. And I'm not saying you should go back into the woods, because please, don't. But at least do everything you can to find out who did this."

"Angie, that went without saying," Sid replied with a smile, "we will do everything we can to find out what this shadow is, and if that is what killed you. And if it didn't, we will look everywhere we can to find out who or what did."

"Thank you," Angie whispered, sending him a careful smile, "I hope you don't break that promise. You heard Cory; I can be a real pain in the ass."

Sid chuckled and nodded his head, "Yeah, I know. I won't break it."

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016

Sid was surprised when he was pulled aside by Davy before school, with the announcement that they needed to talk. Angie automatically turned to follow them, frowning down on Davy as he dragged Sid towards their picknick table, where their friends were already seated.

Well, minus Amara and Edward, who apparently were still upset after yesterday.

"What's going on?"

"We need to talk to you about Angie," Annika said, gesturing for him to sit down. "We all have to admit we were slightly worried when you told us you can see her, but since she even helps you cheat during Math, we guess she's cool."

"They guess I'm cool?" Angie sputtered, waving a hand in frustration, "I've been standing up for Cory for two years already."

"We also didn't know what to make of this shadow, and we still kinda don't. But Angie is only feeding you with information and that sounds wasteful. There's no way you can inform us of everything she says."

"I write it down, though," Sid replied with a shrug. "And then I pass it onto you guys. What I know, is what you know. What's the problem?"

"We were wondering why only you get to see her, and not Cory. You both talked to her in a dream, right?"

Sid shrugged, turning to look at Angie for an answer. "All I know is that I'm the first person to see her when awake."

"Cory was still hesitant," Angie explained, staring at Cory curiously, "and I haven't been able to visit him after that, because I've been busy keeping you safe."

Sid nodded, knowing it sounded logical. "She's busy protecting me, instead of visiting Cory or Davy. I guess that's why her attachment to me is stronger, and enables me to see her?" Angie nodded, telling Sid he was right, for as far as she knew.

"So, is there any way, you know..." Cory asked while lolling his head, "for me to see her as well? Can I stay over at your place, or can you come stay with me so that I can get closer as well? I mean, I've been scared for everything she was doing around me, but I realize now that she wasn't doing that to me. She was doing that for me."

"Exactly," Angie replied happily.

"Same goes for me," Davy said, not knowing he interrupted Angie, "I want to talk to her, let her know that we're going to help you to help her. We're a team, and it would work a lot better if as many of us as possible, get to communicate with her all day, every day."

"Which leaves us to the last question," Amber cleared her throat, "can she attach herself to Annika and me as well?"

Sid again turned to Angie, sending her a questioning look.

"I can't attach myself to the girls, no matter how badly I would enjoy talking to a girl for once. I died in the woods and that's probably where my body still is. Outside of the woods, my powers are limited when it comes to making connections."

"She can't attach to you guys outside of the woods," Sid quickly told them, before turning back to her.

"I do want to talk to Davy and Cory, and make a stronger connection. We could do it two ways, though."

"Which are?"

"Either you do what Cory says, and you'll be there during the dreams. Or you stay around Annika while I visit Davy and Cory. Like I said before, it does not like Annika's presence."

Sid nodded, turning towards his friends to tell them what Angie just told him. He tried to push aside the weird feeling he had whenever Angie spoke about Amber or Annika. In both cases, Angie had hinted that there was something different about them, just like she claimed there was something about him. He had no idea what to think of it, other than the possibility Amber had gotten interested in witchcraft in secret. But that didn't explain why Angie called him weird, or claimed Annika was keeping the shadow away.

"So, if you stay with Annika, you're safe?" Davy frowned, "does it hate love?"

"Aw, you really love each other, you guys! Even something invisible feels it," Amber said teasingly, nudging Annika playfully. It caused her cheeks to turn red as she sent Sid an insecure smile.

"Seriously though, in that case, we need to all stay at our place tonight," Davy suggested, ignoring Amber teasing them, "Cory can sleep in my bed, Sid can stay with Annika."

"And I'll just stay alone." Amber smirked, telling them she really didn't mind being alone that night.

"And we'll inform you first thing in the morning if it worked," Cory told her, patting her arm while smiling at her. "So, we all agree? Tonight?"

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