Hey! So I just quickly wanted to say thanks for the lovely comments, I really appreciate them. Keep them coming;) And I have a lot of plot twists planned for this story but the type of plot twists where you think it's one thing but then later on another twist is revealed and you're like 'whaaat' By the way my friend reads my fanfiction and she suggested as having Cara Delevigne as Eden, what do you think? Or do you have any other suggestions?

'You're ten, you'll be 11 next month. You're too old to have imaginary friend for Christ sake!' My dad bites as he wraps his hand around my wrist and drags me a long. I can feel his nails dig into my skin, I'm surprised it doesn't draw blood.

'But daddy they're not imaginary!' I claim, my voice is filled with certainty which only make him grasp on tighter, I try not to wince but a quiet hiss escapes through my teeth. He was angry again, I could tell by the way his body was tense and his jaw was clenched. I wait for the fear to settle inside of me and for me to cower away but nothing happens.

'Enough.' He snaps once more.

'Daddy why won't you believe me?' I try to resist his grip as I struggle to tug my arm away but he was far bigger and stronger than me. His hand was bigger than both of my hands put together.

'I said enough!'

'But dad-' I suddenly find myself sprawled across the floor, his body hollering over me as his nostrils flared in anger.

'They are not real! Imaginary is fake and real is reality! You're crazy if you really think you're telling the truth!'

XOX

When I finally woke up my limbs were heavy and unresponsive- reluctant to move, as were my eyes. I was so thankful for the shade covering me. The temptation to go back to sleep nagged at me but as I made an attempt to stir and get myself into a more comfortable position I quickly realised that I wasn't actually in my bed and that the shade that I previously was so grateful for was in fact a body hollering over me.

I blinked multiple of times as my eyes roamed around the room as I waited for the link between my eyes and brain to connect. I was in my dad's study and the body hollering over me was , I looked up and smiled awkwardly, not really knowing what to do. 'So you finally woke up?' Ben commented as I struggled to sit in an upright position and rubbed my eyes.

'What time is it?' I forced out through a yawn.

'It's 12.' He declared, finally he took a seat opposite me but the moment he moved the harsh light he was blocking directed itself into my eyes.

'I though our appointment wasn't till 4?' I recalled. However Ben ignored my question.

'I suppose you're not going to school then?'

'Suppose not.' I shrugged, I could hear a sigh come from Ben's end of the room.

'Why were you sleeping in the study?' He asked as he looked around my surroundings, his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. I racked my brain as I tried to recollect the previous night, a lot of it was in a haze and some parts were mixed up but I did remember that at some point of the night I woke up to have found myself slumped against the front door, my hand curled around my keys and then me getting up to go to bed, which I obviously didn't make it to.

I shrugged once again, 'I don't know.' I lied, not wanting to share that piece of information with a current therapist.

He exhaled a few times and then focused his attention back to me, forcing a small light smile, 'I hope you're not too hung over.'

'I've had worse.' I shared, not even questioning the possibilities of how he could've knew that I was drunk last night.

'Okay that's good, I guess we can start our session.' I just nodded in affirmation. 'There's something that I wanted to talk to you about anyway.' I tilted my head at the sudden seriousness in his tone but I remained silent anyway, 'It says in here that you are prescribed Sleepeaze, can I ask what that's for?'

I shuffled on the seat and crossed my legs, 'Doesn't it say in there?' I asked referring to my record.

'It does but I want to ask you why you take it.' He defined as he stared at me, I tried not to squirm under his watch.

'I had trouble sleeping.'

'You had?'

'I have, I have trouble sleeping.' I corrected myself quickly.

'It says here that you were prescribed it June last year. It's September now so that was 14 months ago, you are aware that sleeping medication can be very addictive right?' Ben said, as if he was feeding me a new piece of information, I rolled my eyes.

'Yeah I know, I've heard it before. I'm not addicted, it's not like I even want to take them, I just have too.' I told him.

'It's very hard to tell if you are addicted if you have to take them every day, have you ever considered not taking them?'

'I have and I did.' I confirmed.

'And?'

'And I barely slept for 2 weeks and when I did get any sleep I always ended waking up after 2 hours because of nightmares. I don't know about you I'd choose popping a few pills over sleep deprivation any day.' I bit, Ben's eyes were filled with care and compassion. He looked as if he wanted to take my pain away and I probably would've believed it if I hadn't been in therapy for a year. Unfortunately for him I learnt pretty quickly, after my second therapist that it was their job to look like they actually care, they got paid to. I didn't really blame him though, who would want to open up to a cold stare?

'And what were those dreams about?' He asked.

'Do I have to tell you?' I queried, he looked up at me and smiled.

'You don't have to tell me anything but the point of this,' He claimed as he motioned his right hand between the both of us, 'Is to help you and it can be hard to help you if you don't talk but regardless there's no pressure on you to say anything.'

I gnawed at my lip for a good minute as I weighed out the options, I was surprised that the taste of metallic didn't fill my mouth. 'I'm- I'm drowning in blood, a lot of it. I can feel the liquid running through my hands, my legs, my toes. And I can feel it drying in my hair, the smell is so pungent that it makes me want to gag but I'm not filled with any fear or concern or worry. The fear never hits me, it's like…' I paused as I tried to find the most fitting words, 'It's like it doesn't bother me because I know it's not my blood. That's pretty fucked isn't it?' A laugh is forced through my lips, 'but then I hear a name being screamed and although it's not my name the scream is still being directed towards me, they are all yelling at me whilst I'm just stood in this pool of blood and then I wake up.' I stopped abruptly.

'Is that a reoccurring dream that you get?' He asked, the lines in his face was set and blended with the seriousness in his tone. I couldn't tell what but something about him changed, the atmosphere in the room was becoming increasingly stiffer.

I shrugged, 'It's definitely one of the most frequent ones but I do get others.'

'And what is it about this dream that bothers you the most?'

'The lack of fear,' I replied quickly, 'In an ironic way that's what scares me the most.'

Ben shifted in his seat, 'You know the lack of fear doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, it could just be your brains way of trying to remember the events from-'

'Look Ben,' I interrupted, 'Do you think we can resume this conversation at our next appointment? I've just woken up, I'm tired, I feel gross and icky and I'm kind of in need of a shower. I'm free tomorrow.' I told him. Ben nodded as a response.

'Thanks.' I muttered as I got up from my seat.

Just as I reached for the door Ben voiced one more thing, 'we are going to have to talk about it eventually Eden.' I made sure to slam the door on my way out.

XOX

It was such a relief to have had that hot water running down my body, I never liked how I felt the following morning after a night out. I just always felt off. As I was in the shower I replayed my conversation with Ben in my head, although I was revealing too much I knew it wasn't enough. One insight on one dream wasn't going to fix all my problems but what if I shared everything with him and he still couldn't fix them? What type of person would that make me? I didn't want to know and so far I was pretty okay not finding out.

After I had my shower, dried myself off and got changed into a ripped back pair of skinny jeans and an oversized jumper, I entered my room to once again find Violet in some position as she rummaged through my things. Once she became aware of my presence she looked up from what looked like a book in her hand and smiled brightly, I couldn't pin point it but something about her smile was strangely familiar in a way. It brought me a sense of comfort followed by descent of uneasiness.

'Hi.' She greeted.

'Hi.' I returned as I walked into my room, running my fingers through y damp hair.

'How was your session?' She asked, her eyes watched me as I moved but her question only raised another question in my mind.

'How do you know?' I asked but Violet just shrugged a response, I wasn't surprised. 'Yeah it was fine I guess.' I muttered as I answered her question eventually.

'Eden, I wanted to ask you something.' She stated abruptly, her voice matched unnerving atmosphere that filled the room along with each of her words. I tensed momentarily but forced my body to relax.

'What?' I asked hesitantly.

'Have you- have you noticed anything strange since you moved into this house? Or has like, anything strange happened to you?' Within a matter of seconds my breathing started to become heavy and tight more rapidly than I thought possible but I was just overthinking it. She couldn't know about the voices in my head, I haven't told her, I haven't told anyone.

'What do you mean? Strange?' I questioned curiously.

Quickly Violet shook her head, her hair flailing around her, 'Don't worry. It's not important.'

'Are you sure?'

'Positive.'

I sighed, a part of me relieve and another part inquisitive. 'So why do you see a therapist anyway?' Violet asked, suddenly changing the subject but I wasn't particularly keen on this one either.

'Cos I'm crazy.' I half joked as I put my hair up into a pony tail.

'How crazy?' She persisted.

'Crazy enough for this to be my 4th therapist in a year.' I joked, my lips quirked into some sort of smile that I couldn't explain. Violet stared at me for a moment too long, I couldn't quite tell what she was doing, if she was trying to read me, suss me out or what. Whatever it was, the way her eyes remained on me caused an uneasy feeling to roll in my stomach. I made an attempt to divert her attention.

'Do you want to go out for a fag?' I offered, trying to keep the same nonchalant voice that I usually carried around with me on a day to day basis.

'Maybe another time,' she mumbled as she shuffled to her feet. 'I have to go.' And with just a mere turn of my head I was alone in my room. I looked at where she was previously sitting, the bed covers were all dishevelled and messy, I sighed inwardly.

Trying to hold a conversation here was like I was under questioning, I was convinced that everyone in this god damn town liked to be inconvenient. I reached over for my headphones and placed them on my head and made sure to turn the volume up to full before I picked a song. I rested my head on the back of my bed and closed my eyes just before I pressed play.

The tops of crags and cliffs, the air is thin

So we'll find a mountain path on down the hill

Meet me where the snow mount flows

It is there, my dear, where we will begin again

Skipping stones, braiding hair

Last year's antlers mark the trail

Take us back, oh, take us back

Oh, take us, take us back, Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back

I've a friend who lives out by the rivers mouth

He knows the fiddles cry is an old sound

A lonesome of creeks and moans of empty houses

Are songs like fallen rain

Windblown buildings, muddy ground

The strength of water can sink a man

Take us back, oh, take us back

Oh, take us, take us back, Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back

When the higher hills have turned blue

And the waves are lapping where the children grew

All that we have know will be an echo

Of days when love was true

Muted voices just beyond

The silent surface of what has gone

The chorus replayed itself in my head continuously, 'Take us back, oh, take us back' what I wouldn't give for that, to go back. I had a feeling though that I didn't feel like that at the time however, it was funny how we often looked back at the past with fondness. Even the times that weren't so great we longed for everything about them back. The atmosphere, the smells, the sounds and the way they had a funny way of settling into you, such frivolous things and yet I wanted them all back so much that it actually made me ache.

Every hairs on my body unexpectedly stood to attention, in the way that they would when someone was watching you. My eyes snapped open and my body sat upright but as my gaze swiftly travelled the room I soon realized that no one was there.

As I got to my feet I forced myself to shove the feeling to the back of my mind and went downstairs, once again going over the ritual of checking to see if anyone was there and then taking my meds. Just as I swallowed the water and placed the cup back onto the counter I jumped, surprised by an unexpected voice.

'Boo.' I heard a familiar, empty voice call. Quickly I swivelled around to see the boy from the other day, Tate standing about a foot behind me. The surprised look on my face was swapped instantaneously with a scowl to counter his cold stare.

'Oh, it's you.' I declared with an air of dismay about me. 'What are you doing here? Do you have another appointment with Dr. Harmon?'

'Something like that.' I took note of how he worded each word with a bite at the end and a dead stare.

'Well let him know from me that I'd appreciate it if he arranged your little appointments somewhere else.' I articulated in a bored tone that I knew got under everyone's skin, it'd probably get undermine if I wasn't the one verbalising it.

Tate's eyes flickered away from mine and onto my hand and then back up to mine again, 'Taking your meds again I see.' His voice contained nothing but ridicule and mocking. Realizing that my medicine was actually in my hands I shoved them in my pocket only too quickly.

I tried to remain the glare that I was giving him but it only contradicted with the plea in my voice, 'Don't tell Ben.' I implored swiftly. I looked down, 'He doesn't know that I still take them.' I confessed begrudgingly.

When I looked up again I noticed Tate was moving towards me, step by step I held my ground as I watched the emptiness of his face form into something far worse and degrading. He finally stopped when the tips of his shoes met my toes and he was towering over me. 'You're pathetic.' He sneered.

The words caused a fire to ignite inside of me and everything turned red, my eyes pierced through his and before I even knew what my body was doing my had connected with the left side of his face and the resonance of a slap echoed throughout the kitchen. 'Fuck. You.' I bit, my words so clearly dripping with venom.

Tate took a step back but the sneer on his face only formed wider and wider and before I knew it the echo of the slap was overcome by his laughter, the laughter only grew louder and more sinister with each vibration of his vocal chords. It didn't take an idiot to tell that it was more than a joke that I wasn't in on.

Hurriedly I stormed over to my dad's office and slammed open the door expecting to see Ben there, 'I don't care why you're seeing him but if I see that shit face Tate in this house again I will scream!' After a few seconds of no response I looked around the room to find that no one was there, I furrowed my eyebrows confused and concerned at what Tate was doing. When I returned to the kitchen though to get some answer Tate was nowhere to be seen but in his place a plate with a slice of cake on it.

I trudged over to the cake to get a closer look at it, it looked like the cake that Constance has baked for me yesterday. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

XOX

'You're not real!' I cry desperately as I bring my knees to my chin and wince my eyes shut.

'Yes I am.' The young women persists nonchalantly, I can feel her presence drawing closer and closer towards me. I sniffle.

'No you're not! I don't want to be crazy anymore, I don't want mummy to think I'm crazy too!' I exclaim, my voice breaks at the end and just the sound itself breaks my heart. I feel the weight of my bed shift slightly and I can feel the warmth of the women's body elevate off of her.

'You know I'm real,' she comforts as she places her hand on my shoulder, I try to resist but her grip is warm and consoling. 'You're not crazy, just because you can see more than most people doesn't make you crazy.'

I look up at her and my eyes widen, 'but Clara, my sister isn't crazy.'

The women's lips contort into a twisted, sad smile, 'She's far crazier than you little one, she's just better at hiding it.'

What did you think? I thought y'all deserved a lil bit of Tate. I can't wait to write the next chapter, I feel like after the next chapter I can actually properly start my story as this is more of a build-up and after the next chapter we will definitely see more of the ghosts (and more of Tate) I was going to do it with this chapter but I couldn't find a way to fit it in and I didn't want to force it in. you know? Sorry it's been over a week since I updated, I have a load of coursework due in so I was kinda stuck doing that but I got an A in photography so it was worth it!;) And the song I was playing was Take Us Back by Alela Diane, I heard it on the walking dead game and fell in love with it aha. Any please make sure to leave a comment cos I'd probably be more motivated to update a chapter then;) 3