Zak pov

I had positioned myself perfectly in Riley's cute quaint home. From helping her cook to laying the table, I had helped, in a hopes that it would ease the brutality of my screw up the past few days.  

For years I had bought big houses, splashed out on extravagant appliances and gadgets, but it wasn't until I was stood beside Riley, laughing with her over bad humour that I realised how much I actually miss. Maybe it's the way she throws her head back and laughs? The snort she gave earlier? Or the fact she seems relaxed around me and not a blundering fool like most women seem to be. Perhaps it's her pure soul, a kind soul and one that makes anyone feel welcome.  It could even be the way her eyes sparkle...

Now she was sat opposite me, over her shoulder sat the fridge, where photos of her, Avery and the twins were stuck on in magnetic frames. I had came in and looked at them almost instantly, picking out one, amongst them all. 

It was of Riley, looking through her lashes at whoever was snapping the photo, drinking a milkshake through a red and white paper straw. She looked innocent enough, but I could see the wicked glimmer in her eyes and for that, it became my favourite. 

Dinner was a little different, as a single guy eating dinner alone was the norm, so to be put in a house where four other people hold a conversation was a little different and I often sat back listening rather than speaking. 

I also ate... A lot. Two plates in fact and I didn't miss the pleased look in Riley's eyes when I got up for the second plate. I wasn't entirely sure what the thought, but her cooking was amazing and homely, it was made with love and because of that, it was incredible. 

After dinner, I even helped clear up, before sitting at the table, where Avery came back after settling the twins in the lounge. Riley must have sensed it was time and sat down fiddling with the dish towel in her hands.

"Where do you want to start?" I ask them both. 

Riley opens her mouth to speak when Avery jumps in. "At the part of you making her cry." She says glaring at me. 

Ahh.. The protective sister.

"Avery." Riley whispers with a frown. 

"I have seen the error of my ways, after realising I've been mislead and the truth has been distorted." I answer.

"Do you know how much it upset her?!" Avery snapped. 

"Avery, stop." Riley hissed. "Rachel said I had made a sexual harassment complaint against him."

"She was in tear- What?" Avery asks her head spinning towards her sister. 

"Yeah, so uh.. Cut him some slack, he was upset too."

Avery sits back heavily "That bitch!"

From the look on Avery's face, I'd hate to be Rachel when those two finally came face to face, but right now that wasn't my reason for being here.

"What do you need help with?" I ask Riley who has gone from fiddling with the dish towel to chewing her bottom lip.

"So um.. The girls, Olivia and Grace, they have a friend. An imaginary one." She says. "Well, at least we thought it was imaginary, right Ave?"

Her sister nods as she picks up her wine glass and drinks from it. Leaving Riley to continue.
"Well, um. Turns out that this friend is called Lizzy... And she isn't as nice as we all thought." 

"What do you mean?" I ask her. 

"In the sense of that she is attacking the girls." 

The ghost meter in me peaks, and I instantly find myself turning to face Riley fully. My eyes are locked onto hers now and I don't miss the flustered look that comes over her from it.

"When did this start?" I ask.

"When we first moved into the house, they have never had an imaginary friend before. Of course they have always had each other, but never this third wheel. It's been ticking at the back of my mind for a while, but I didn't want to admit to what it could be." Avery says to my side. 

"What else is happening in the house?" I ask looking to Avery, as soon as I do Riley lets out a breath of air and grabs her wine glass quickly.

"The usual, doors slamming, things being left messy, footsteps. But I have two twin girls at a young age, I presumed most of the things happening were them playing up. They can't sleep at night, they have horrendous nightmares and now it's come to light that this Casper looking bitch is hurting them too." Avery answers.

I nod before looking between the two sisters, I don't miss Riley reaching out and placing her hand on Avery's arm for support.

"Is that why you got a Ouija board? To contact this spirit?" I ask Riley. 

"Actually, it was me who got the board." Avery admits. "Riley took it off me. I'm desperate here.."

A question comes to the forefront of my mind and I don't want to touch on the subject, but it is something I have to do...

"Olivia is quieter than Grace." I say tactfully, trying to ease them both into this next question. 

"Yeah. Always has been, Grace was the smaller but louder twin." Riley answers. 

"Is Olivia autistic?"

"No. Why would you ask that?!" Avery snaps.

"Calm down. It is a reasonable question. You have read the research as much as I have, he has to ask questions to help us." Riley bites back giving her sister a feisty glare. 

I find it oddly cute that Riley has tried researching this, but I don't let it show on my face.

"Sorry." Avery frowns looking at me quickly before looking at her wine glass. 

"No problem. I know it's stupid to ask but there have been links between autistic children and spirits. You said you thought this Lizzy was an imaginary friend?"

Avery nods.

"Is there any other reason, other than the harming that you've thought different?"

"It's unusual for twins to have the same imaginary friend. They both describe her in perfect detail, they both draw her the same and both say the same kind of things. Look.." Avery gets up and grabs a drawing pad from the side before handing it to me. 

Flicking through, I see the three stick figures, two bright girls and one dark girl. Same girls, different set up on the page. 

"Then I found that drawing the other day. I showed it to you." Riley says to me. 

"The real dark one?"

She nods.

"I've found more. They get worse.." Avery mutters just as I hit the half way point in the book, the pictures change on a dime from sunshine and rainbows to dark scribbles and headstones.

I suppress the shiver down my spine and finish off the drawing pad before setting it back onto the table. "The thing is and please do not take this the wrong way.." I begin making both the sisters nod. "But you've both referred to this spirit as a little girl."

"Well she is. That is how the girls see her." Riley frowns.

Once upon a time I would have believed the same too, but I haven't got this far into the paranormal field by being naïve... 

It's not Riley's fault nor Avery's, who nods backing her up. It's the inexperience and no real knowledge of the paranormal, which is why they need my help. Badly.

"Demons have been known to mimic children." I say causing Riley's face to pale. "Now, before you think that both of the girls will turn Emily Rose, I can safely tell you that they won't."

"Okay.." Avery says showing her motherly strength. 

"However they may have an attachment, which causes the sleeplessness, nightmares, changes in behaviour and so on. For that, the attachment would have to be broken to get the spirit or demon to move on." I explain. 

"Do you need a warlock for that?" Riley asks biting her lip hard. 

I shake my head "It's something we handle. My team."

"You're qualified to do that?" She asks. 

"Sure am.... Riley have you ever watched Ghost Adventures?" I ask.

This time, she shakes her head. "Nope. That's the show you are on, right?" She queries.

"It's my show, yes. I created it."

"Oh."

"So how do we get this sorted. Priest, exorcisms? What?" Avery probes. 

"First off, we need to have access to your house-"

"Easily done, I'm not going back there until that thing has left. I'm staying here, right Riley?" Avery says making Riley nod instantly.

"Yeah, the house is empty now. But what are you going to do?" Riley asks. 

I smile at her curiosity and really wish I could show her exactly what I do when the sun goes down. To show and prove to her that there is more to life than this one. To make her gather evidence and change that sceptical mind of hers. 

"I am going to investigate the home, find out what is there and then invite a few friends to come and remove it from the house. After that, the twins will be blessed, the house will be cleansed and then protected from further attachments in the future." I explain causing both sister to look a little out of depth at me.

I understand it is a lot to take in, so I wait and let them both come to terms with what will be happening in that house soon. 

Avery is the first to nod. "Good. After that, my babies will be able to sleep, I'll have no issues?"

"None of the spirit variety, that I can ensure you." I answer.

She nods before looking at Riley. "What about Riley?" 

"What about me?" She asks.

"Well you upset it." Avery says making me look instantly to Riley who frowned.  I take a breath and instantly feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up at the thought of her having any paranormal problems. I don't want that for her.. 

"When?"

"When you sorted the girls, you told whatever it was that playtime was over and to stop. You made demands to it. Does that mean Riley is in trouble now?"

My brow is raised at Riley who looks a little sheepish at me. "So I might have told it off.. Kind of."

"Have you had any issues? Like the girls?"

"No, no I don't think so." She says. 

"You sure?" I ask her.

Riley nods. "I'm sure. I think I'd know, right?"

"Not always."

"Brilliant." She mutters draining her glass and setting it aside. 

I'm sat looking at her as she sits quietly, chewing her lip in wonder and fiddling with the dish towel when an idea strikes me. I want to shut it down but then I wonder if it will help in the long run...

"You have spoke out to this entity.." I say making Riley nod. 

"I have, probably not the best idea, I know."

I shrug "You acknowledged it. Unfortunately by doing that, you allowed yourself to be open. Now, say no if you're not comfortable... But how about coming on this investigation?"

"And do what? What you do?" She questions.

"Yeah. I can give you bits of equipment to help capture evidence."

"Oh I don't know." She laughs off the idea before looking at Avery desperately. 

"It's just an idea.." I say watching as Avery looks back with a determined look in her eye. The sisters share what looks like a telepathic conversation with each other before Riley sighs. 

"Can I think about it?"

I nod instantly.

"But I'm not qualified to do anything like that. So you'd have to show me." 

"All you gotta do is hold equipment, recorders, small speakers, I can give you an IPad with software on it that spirits can use to communicate." I tell her. "So you in?"

Her dark eyes watch me for a few seconds before her mind makes a decision. "I'll do it. I'll do it but don't throw me in the deep end. I'll drown."

"I wont do that." I answer before adding "You'd be the perfect energy to make contact. You will need a cleansing after, that is something I can do."

She frowns "Energy? How so?"

"You're pure to all this. You have no attachments or experiences, you're going in fresh faced."

"And you have had attachments?"

I laugh slightly and answer her question, turning her an even whiter shade than I thought was possible on a human. By the time I've finished, I think she could probably shade match with Casper the Friendly Ghost.

"Had? I've been dragged out my bed by an entity, been attacked by a demon, been possessed, scratched and I've got a couple attachments now. One isn't good but the other is pretty cool."

It's only then that Riley gulps.