Everyone fell silent.

"Think about it if Cordell killed a couple.  I'm sure killing someone else is possible, but then again, why?..."

Looking over, our Mom took a breather, grabbing her scalp and did circular motions, thinking.

"It could be possible, but there's not enough proof, is there?"

"No, there isn't, but we have to figure something out", Alex replied, furrowing his brow, his voice laced in confusion.

"There has to be something we can do!"

"Let's go to the kitchen and see what we can think of over a cup of tea", Mom suggested, taking off her duffle coat.

Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed three mugs.  Placing a teabag in each mug, I filled them with warm water, a teaspoon of sugar in each, along with a generous splash of milk. I carried each mug to the table.  Sitting down, I wrapped my fingers around the mug.  Bringing it up to my lips, I took a sip.

"OK, I was thinking about what you and Alex said.  I know this will sound really weird, but I remember a couple months ago I read a book.  It was about a true encounter"

Before my Mom could continue, she took a sip of her tea, leaning back into her chair, before she continued.

"The visitation dream"

"The visitation dream?", I repeated in confusion.

"If I remember correctly, the visitation dream is when you're visited by a person you once knew who is now deceased; they want to bring you comfort and pass on a message"

"But I never knew Dahlia in person!"

"Well, it's the only possibility I can come up with".

"Then what about Elise?", Alex said, grabbing a biscuit, dunking it in his tea, and taking a bite.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Elise isn't a relative and you never knew her.  You even saw her when you weren't sleeping, so there must be something we're missing"

"Yes, but a spirit doesn't need to be related to you to contact you"

In deep thought, I focussed on my tea cup.  The sudden sound of skin making contact with the wooden table made me jump.

"I know!" Shouting, with an enthusiastic smile, our Mom abruptly stood up, the chair legs scratching against the Quartzite flooring,. The sound caused Alex and I to squint and squirm; it was similar to nails on a chalk board.

"A medium!" Turning around on one leg, our Mom pointed a finger in the air, giving Alex and I a closed-eyed smile.

"If there really is a ghost, I'm sure a medium will help"

Before either my brother or I could respond, our Mom continued.

"Now, I know you're probably thinking, who? Well, I actually know someone who takes the job seriously and claims to be legit"

"How do we know they'll actually help us?"

Tapping her nose, our Mom gave us a wink, her smile widening.
"I have my ways"

With nothing else to say, we finished our tea and went our separate ways.

Walking up the creaking wooden stairs, a sudden pain shot through my head.  Looking up, everything became a blur, my vision clouding with white dots.

"Hey, Brook, are you OK?" Putting a hand on my shoulder, my brother looked at me with a hint of concern.

"Y-yes, just a headache"

"Well, I won't be leaving your side anytime soon.  You can always count on me".  As my brother spoke, he smiled at me, puffing his chest out, his hands on his hips with pride.

Smiling, I nodded. Alexander always was like our mother; come to think about it, our Mom became much more reserved and quiet when our father was around, but now we know why.  He's a monster, just like Molly.

Unsteadily, I walked to my room, bidding my brother goodnight.

Getting ready, I slid into my bed, resting my head in my pillow, I closed my eyes, the throbbing of my head settling down.  The feeling of being watched overwhelmed me.  I placed the covers over my head, closing my eyes tightly.  I allowed myself to drift off into a slumber, one which I used to fear.  Now it haunts me.
~~~
Dark

Something I was so used to, something I learned to overcome.

Looking around my surroundings, I saw a distant light, growing.  My surroundings faded; trees, bushes and flowers grew around me, blooming. Vines slowly grew from beneath the ground.  Wrapping around anything they can hold onto, they climbed up the bark of the now tall trees.  The sun shone between the crevasses of the blanket of leaves, that hung from the still growing branches.

As I stood Up, I began to walk, the sound of leaves and twigs crunching and snapping beneath my feet.  Looking ahead, I could see an old cabin.  The timber logs used for the structure had rotted over time.  Vines were climbing their way to the roof.  There were cracked windows, and a door hanging on one rusty hinge.  It felt calm, but strange at the same time.  The closer I got to the cabin, the more my heart began to race.  The pulse of my heart was now audible in my ears.

"H-hello!" I shouted into the abyss of trees.

"Help!" The sound of a desperate voice called out from the cabin.

As I ran to the cabin, I grabbed the rusty handle and pulled with difficulty.  The door scraped against the pebbles and leaves on the now abandoned path.

Peering in, I saw two girls.  One was on her knees, while the second was facing away.  She looked like her soul had left her body, she was so lifeless.  Both girls did look so familiar.

My headache now came back with a venguence.  I held my fingers to my temples, and continued to rub them, in the hope that I could of get rid of my migraine.  Looking up, I saw the same girl.  She called out, beckoning me to walk over.  Shackles bruised her ankles and wrists, her hair was matted and fuzzed, and mud and dried blood stained her pale cheeks.

"You must help me", the girl cried out, her blond hair falling in her face.

"Blonde..."

"The girl from my dream"

"Penelope?" I asked as I stood up, regaining my balance.

"Yes, Elise and I need you"

"I won't last any longer"

End of Chapter 23

Thanks for reading Chapter 23!!
Finally chapter 23 has been posted, comment what you think will happen.