CHAPTER ONE
EDWARD JACOB
WARREN

As Eddy slept, his dreams took on a different, more ominous tone. He found himself walking down a long, dark corridor, but this wasn't his home. No, this place felt unfamiliar, a farmhouse. The air was thick with an unsettling stillness. His footsteps echoed on the wooden floorboards, and as he moved deeper into the house, a creeping sense of dread took hold of him. He wasn't alone.

Something—someone—was with him. A dark presence. He could feel it, lurking just out of sight, pressing in on him from all sides. His heart raced, and his legs felt heavy, as though something was trying to keep him from leaving. He moved cautiously through the house, passing through darkened hallways until he reached a bedroom. Inside, two little girls lay fast asleep in their beds, unaware of the unseen danger that loomed over them.

Eddy stood frozen at the doorway, unable to look away from the girls. His mind screamed at him to leave, to run, but his feet felt rooted to the ground. The air grew colder, the silence deeper. And then, as if summoned by his fear, he felt a presence beside him.

He turned slowly to his left, and there, standing next to him, was a woman. Her long brown hair cascaded around her shoulders, and her eyes, wide with a haunting emptiness, stared at him. She wore nothing but bedclothes, her face twisted into a silent, menacing gaze.

Before he could react, a scream tore from his throat, echoing through the empty house, and then—nothing. He was jolted awake, gasping for breath, drenched in sweat. His scream still hung in the air as his bedroom door flew open.

"Ed, Eddy!" His mother's voice was frantic as she rushed into the room, followed closely by his father. They both hurried to his side, their worried faces filled with concern.

"Are you okay, buddy?" His father, Ed, asked, his hands gently cupping Eddy's cheeks as if grounding him back to reality.

Eddy nodded shakily but pressed himself deeper into his mother's comforting embrace. "I saw something, Dad. Like Mom's gift. I saw a spirit... a dark one. It was haunting a family. They're in danger, Mom," Eddy murmured, his voice laced with the fear that still clung to him.

Lorraine exchanged a quick glance with Ed, her face pale with worry. "His abilities are getting stronger," she said softly, her tone heavy with both concern and a trace of fear. She turned her attention back to her son. "Can you describe what you saw?"

Eddy wiped his forehead, trying to shake the fear from his limbs. "I think so," he said, though doubt flickered in his eyes. "It was a farmhouse, white with a white porch. There was a tree... a big one, near a river. And the children—she was watching them." His voice quivered with the weight of the memory.

Ed and Lorraine exchanged another glance. The tension between them was palpable.

"Sounds like the family we were told about," Ed muttered, looking at Lorraine with a furrowed brow.

"What family?" Eddy asked, his curiosity piqued.

"A woman approached us after the presentation today," Ed explained, his voice low. "She said her family was being tormented. She wasn't lying."

Eddy felt a chill creep up his spine. "I need to come with you," he said urgently, his eyes pleading with his parents.

Lorraine's expression hardened in disbelief. "Absolutely not," she said sharply, shaking her head. "It's too dangerous."

"But you said you'd help me control my abilities!" Eddy countered, his voice rising with desperation. "I saw this, Mom. It's me who can help! You have to let me come."

He looked from his mother to his father, his gaze softening with hope. "Please, Mom."

Ed sighed deeply, his gaze softening as he looked at his son. "We'll talk about it in the morning," he said finally, his voice filled with both a reluctant understanding and a father's protective instinct. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to Eddy's forehead.

Lorraine tucked him back under the covers with a gentle smile. "Goodnight, darling."

"Night," Ed said quietly, closing the door behind them.

---

The next morning, Eddy awoke to the blaring sound of his alarm clock. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, his vision blurry as he reached out to silence the noise. It was 8 a.m. He rubbed his eyes and groggily pushed himself out of bed.

He made his way to the chest of drawers, pulling on a grey t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans before stuffing a few changes of clothes into a bag. He also grabbed his sketchbook, something he cherished deeply—a gift from his father. Eddy had always enjoyed drawing, and his father had a remarkable talent for it, too. It was something they shared.

With his bag packed, Eddy placed it on the chair in the corner of the room and headed downstairs. As he reached the bottom of the staircase, he saw his parents sitting at the dining table, deep in conversation. They looked up as he entered, and his mother's expression softened.

"We've decided you're coming with us. It's safer this way," Lorraine said, her voice gentle but firm.

Eddy blinked, surprised. "You mean it?"

His father, Ed, nodded and placed a small box in front of him. "You'll need this," he said.

Eddy's eyes widened as he opened the box. Inside lay a black metal crucifix. He stared at it for a moment before looking up at his father. "A crucifix?"

Ed's eyes met his. "To protect you."

Eddy felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, and he took the crucifix from the box, holding it in his hands for a moment before slipping it around his neck. "Thank you, Dad."

A small smile tugged at Ed's lips. "Get your bag ready, we leave in an hour."

Eddy grinned. "Already done."

"Of course you did," Ed chuckled. "You're just like me."

At that moment, Judy entered the room, still dressed in her nightclothes. She walked toward them, looking confused. "Where are you going?"

Lorraine smiled softly, but there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "We have to go for a few days, honey. But we'll be back as soon as we can."

Eddy moved aside to let Judy sit next to Lorraine. His younger sister looked at him with a pout. "Why does Eddy get to go with you?"

Eddy glanced at his sister, his expression softening. "Because I'm helping them with a case, Judy."

Judy's face scrunched up with frustration. "I want to come with you. I miss you."

Lorraine shook her head gently. "You can't, honey. It's too dangerous."

"But Eddy gets to go!" Judy's voice was sharp with frustration. Without another word, she jumped from her seat and ran off, her footsteps echoing through the house.

Ed sighed, watching Judy disappear down the hallway. "I'll go after her," Lorraine said quietly, getting up from the table.

"I'm sorry, son," Ed said, his voice heavy with regret. "We should have helped you sooner."

Eddy met his father's gaze, shaking his head. "No, Dad. It was my fault. I shouldn't have tried to control it on my own. It was stupid of me."

Ed reached out and placed a hand on Eddy's shoulder. "Go grab your bag," he said softly.

Eddy nodded, then ran upstairs to retrieve his bag, rushing back down as quickly as he could. The weight of the moment settled in his chest as he stepped outside, waiting for his parents on the bench by the front door.

After a few minutes, his parents emerged. Eddy stood up, concern still clouding his expression. "Is Judy okay?" he asked.

"She will be," Ed said, his tone reassuring, though his eyes betrayed his own worry. Lorraine, however, seemed far more troubled.

"We'd better go," Ed said, ushering them toward the car.

Eddy climbed into the backseat, tossing his bag onto the seat beside him. He opened it, pulling out his music recorder and headphones. As he settled back into the seat, he couldn't shake the feeling that the nightmare he'd had was only the beginning.

End Of Chapter One