CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"N-no, I can't," Callie stammered. "I'm not a traveler. I couldn't…"

Nathan wordlessly tossed the dice again. He read the new words out loud, "Elise said so." He turned to look up at Callie. "Elise thinks you can, Callie. You know they say that nearly everyone can astral project a little bit. Your dad and brother were just more talented than others and got into trouble."

"But I've never done it," Callie insisted. "My mom kept a close eye on me my whole life to make sure I didn't show any signs of travelling in my sleep. It was only ever my dad and Dalton. Not me. Not Foster."

"But it's a family trait, isn't it?" Marco asked. "So… you could."

"By that logic, so could you guys," Callie said, gesturing to the brothers. "Do you remember any out of body experiences in your dreams? Because I don't."

"Why would Elise say you could if you couldn't?" Nathan said, standing to his feet. "You've seen spirits here; you saw them when you were little…"

"A lot of little kids see spirits, that's where imaginary friends come from," Callie interceded. "I just happened to have my own personal Boogeyman as a baby."

"You saw Elise earlier," Shin said.

"She did that, not me," Callie said.

"The dice moved for you," Nathan added. "They've never moved on their own for me."

"That was Tomas…" Callie said weakly.

"Please, Callie, you have to try," Valentina pushed her friend, hopping onto the couch to take her hand. "Teresa is just a little girl, lost in there. And La Llorona is after her. You said you'd help."

The room felt so hot and suffocating to Callie. She pulled her hand from her friend and mumbled something along the lines of needing a glass of water and rushed out of the room for the kitchen. Once in there, she didn't make a move for a glass or water. She leaned her palms against the counter and nearly hyperventilated into the kitchen sink.

How could anyone possibly think she could do this? Travel into the Further? She didn't have the kind of power or ability. She just didn't. She wasn't anything like her dad or Dalton when it came to that world. She was like her mother. A worried spectator.

More than not believing she could do it – she didn't know if she should. She was scared that she'd succeed. She was scared to be in that deep dark place that almost stole half of her family. Scared to feel as cold and lost as Teresa must feel. She innately knew it was a terrifying and dangerous place. Could she be brave enough to step into it?

She sensed the presence behind her before Raul made it more than a half step into the kitchen and turned to him. He froze for a moment. Then muttered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," she said. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't apologize," he cut her off gently. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. We're practically strangers and you've helped more than the doctors ever did. You don't owe us anything and I couldn't ask you to do this."

"It's not that I don't want to help," Callie tried to say. "I want to help Teresa. But I've never done it before. I've never been able to do it."

"I understand," he said. He walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door. Callie saw photos held to the door by magnets. She saw a younger Raul holding baby Teresa. Teresa and Marco drawing together, playing soccer. A family photo of all the Sanchezes together and smiling. It hit her heart. When the door closed, the photos were out of sight and replaced by Raul's hand holding out a glass bottle of water.

"Thanks," she murmured, accepting the water. "I'll try."

"What?" Raul asked her, not understanding.

She looked him in the eye and repeated it. "I'll try it. It's all I can do, but I'll try."

"You don't have to—" he started to say but she cut him off.

"I do," she said. "I have to try."

"That's good to hear," Nathan's voice sounded suddenly at the entrance. Raul and Callie were startled and looked over at him. He just said, "I was getting thirsty too."

Raul retrieved another bottle of water and handed it over.

Nathan accepted it with thanks and eyed Callie seriously. "You're sure about this?"

Callie forced a casual shrug. "Let's try this."

They decided it would be best to set Callie up on the cushioned chair by Teresa's bed. Nozomi swept the shards of the broken coffee table and computer into the opposite corner. Nathan brought a kitchen chair into the room so he could sit opposite Callie. Shin set a metronome on the nightstand between Callie and the bed.

"Are you ready?" Nathan said.

Callie faltered. "If I talk – will you hear me? My mom said I used to talk in my sleep when I had nightmares about the Boogeyman."

"It's possible," Nathan said. "But I'll have the word dice and I'm sure there will be other ways of communicating with us if you need to."

"You don't have to do this," Raul reminded her.

"Junior," Valentina chastised her cousin.

He didn't look at her. "You don't. I get that it's dangerous in there—"

"I told you – I have to try," Callie told him. "Is there anything you can think of that I can tell Teresa so she trusts me? We've never met. She might think I'm a spirit trying to get her."

Raul thought hard on it – so did Marco and Tina. Raul spoke slowly, enunciating a phrase for her, "Al mal tiempo, buena cara. Our mom told us that all the time."

"Al mal tiempo, buena cara," Callie repeated. "To bad times, a good face. Okay." She turned to Nate and gave him a strong nod.

Nathan straightened his own back and reached to set the metronome. The slow steady rhythm filled the room. "It's important to remember who you are and how you're different than them. Keep one foot in this world. Now, close your eyes, and try to relax. Listen to the ticking… tune everything else out… let it all fade away. Let your physical form rest, and your astral form gain strength. Feel it rise within you and detach yourself.

Chilled pinpricks settled all over Callie's skin and she felt weightless. She opened her eyes and saw mostly darkness. She could make out the fuzzy form of Nathan in front of her, but he seemed so far away. She could still hear the metronome, but it sounded like an afterthought. She stood, and it felt like she was standing on jello. She looked back and saw herself, still sunk into the chair with her eyes closed.

A calm and familiar voice she now associated with Elise washed over her. "Now you're free. Keep your guide, and a steady stride… and into the Further you go…"