Chapter 13

That night the girls found themselves gathered together in the living room. A storm had been raging for a couple of hours now and the power had gone out once already. 'Storms make me nervous.' Amy said as Lisa was adding more wood to the fire.

'I like them.' Dani said. 'The sound of the rain hitting the windows is really peaceful.'

'I'm with Amy on this one.' Katherine admitted. 'Especially when there's thunder and lightening.'

'No, that's the best part.' Lauren said.

'Well I like them.' Lisa said, taking her seat. 'What about you Chris? Where do you stand with storms?' Christina was staring into the fire, her mind elsewhere. Katherine gave Lisa a look. 'Earth to Christina?' Lisa said but there was still no response. 'Chris!' She shouted, clapping her hands at the same time. Christina broke out of her trance and looked at Lisa.

'Sorry.' She said. 'What did you say?'

'I was asking how you felt about storms?' Lisa repeated.

'Oh, hate them.' Christina confirmed.

'Are you alright?' Dani asked her. 'You seem kind of out of it.'

'Yeah, no, I'm fine.' Christina shook her head. 'Just tired I guess.'

'Maybe you should take that thing off for a little while.' Amy suggested. 'Let me help with what you're feeling.'

'I can't take it off, not if we want it to be used for good again.' Christina reminded them. She saw the looks on all of their faces and sighed. 'I'll wear it until we go to bed, okay. I wont wear it when I sleep.'

'Fine.' Amy said. Suddenly the lights all went out. The only things left alight were the fire and Lauren's phone.

'Great.' Katherine said as Christina stood up.

'I'll go check the fuse box.' She said.

'I'll help.' Lauren jumped up with her. 'We can use the torch on my phone.' As soon as they had defended the stairs into the basement Katherine turned to Amy.

'Are you sure you can't feel anything from Christina?' She asked.

'No, I told you, the amulet is blocking me.' Amy reminded her.

'She would tell us though, if she felt off?' Dani looked to Katherine.

'I don't know, but ever since Roger mentioned that the amulet would affect her I've been seeing it more and more.' Katherine admitted.

'Me too.' Lisa said. 'She's starting to fade a little bit, if that makes sense.'

'It makes sense...' A voice whispered.

'What the hell was that?' Lisa said, shooting up from her seat.

'What was what?' Amy asked.

'You guys didn't hear that?' Lisa asked.

'No, we can only hear you right now.' Dani said, looking strangely at her sister.

'They can't hear me Lisa.' The voice whispered again.

'Who are you?' Lisa asked to the room.

'Is there a ghost here?' Amy asked.

'I think so, but I can't see them.' Lisa said. 'I can hear them.' As she was turning around the room to look, the fire started to flicker as if wind was blowing it.

'Lisa.' Katherine said nervously.

'I know.' Lisa said. 'Still can't see anything. Who are you?' She called again.

'Turn around.' The voice was stronger now. Lisa turned to where the voice came from, looking back at the fire.

'Mum?' She whispered. Sure enough, standing in front of her was their mother Michelle. She was dressed in white, long brown hair flowing down her shoulders. She was smiling.

'My baby girls.' Michelle smiled.

'Mum is here?' Dani asked.

'Yeah, she's looking at you, at all of us.' Lisa told them. 'She says hi.'

'Hi mum.' Katherine whispered. Amy waved and Dani just sat there stunned. Lauren and Christina came back into the room.

'Well, we can't fix it. No idea what the problem is.' Christina said, and then they saw their sisters faces.

'What happened?' Lauren asked.

'Mum is here.' Lisa said. 'Standing by the fire.' She pointed but all they could see were the flames.

'Mum?' Christina whispered. Lauren sank down next to Dani but Christina took a step towards Lisa until she was next to her.

'She really does look just like you Chris.' Lisa said, wiping a tear from her face.

'Why are you here? How are you here?' Christina asked.

'I had to see you, especially now.' Michelle said. 'Lisa, you need to tell Christina to trust herself. She's doubting everything and she shouldn't.'

'Mum wants you to trust yourself, she said you're doubting everything.' Lisa said to Christina.

'How does she know that when I don't?' Amy wondered aloud.

'Benefits of being a ghost.' Michelle smiled, as did Lisa who relayed the message.

'It was you, the writing in the book, Lauren's dream.' Katherine looked to the fire. 'You've been giving us clues.'

'Smart girl.' Michelle smiled wider. 'I've been trying to help as mush as I can.'

'Why are you here now? Why couldn't you come before?' Lisa asked.

'I didn't have the energy.' Michelle admitted. 'And I'm afraid I can't stay long.'

'We miss you mum.' Lisa said.

'And I miss you all, so much. But I'm always with you.' Michelle put her hand on her heart.

'Mum?' Dani said. 'You didn't have a choice, right? That night. You didn't want to leave us.'

'She said, that night was the hardest night of her life. Of course she didn't want to leave us.' Lisa said.

'Lisa, I have to go.' Michelle came over to Christina and put her hand on her cheek. Christina took in a sharp breath and raised her own hand. 'Be brave.' Michelle whispered in her ear and vanished. The fire flickered once more and the lights came back on.

'She's gone.' Lisa said, sitting down and wiping the tears from her face.

'Was that her?' Christina said pointing to her face.

'Yeah, she said 'be brave.'' Lisa took Christina's hand and pulled her down next to her. 'And we'll all be brave with you.'

'Thanks Lise.' Christina lent into her.

It was the middle of the night when she first felt it. There was an ache inside of her, right in her chest, but she didn't know why. Christina sat up in bed and looked around until her eyes focussed in the darkness. She brought a hand up to her chest and balled her top in her fist, trying to breathe normally. She looked over to the amulet on her nightstand. It was glowing dimly, like a night light running low on power. There was a gentle knock on the door a few moments later. 'Yeah, come in.' She said softly. Amy quietly opened the door and peered inside.

'You alright?' She asked. Amy's room was right next to Christina's. 'I felt something off.'

'I'm okay, just feel a bit odd.' Christina admitted as Amy came in, closing the door behind her. Amy came over to the bed and got under the covers with her sister.

'It's always so cold in here at night.' She commented, snuggling in as Christina lent against the headboard.

'It's a big house.' Christina reminded her. Amy noticed Christina's hand tensing, the fabric of her top still trapped between her fingers. Amy gently took her hand, unwrapping the material.

'Calm down.' Amy whispered softly, holding her hand. Christina closed her eyes and nodded, breathing in and out.

'I don't know what's happening to me Aimes.' Christina admitted. 'I can normally keep it together better than this.'

'This situation is unlike anything we've faced before.' Amy reminded her. 'It's okay not to have it all together.'

'Is it?' Christina asked. 'What if I can't defeat him? What if one of you gets hurt because I can't protect us? What if...'

'Stop.' Amy said. 'You're panicking, and you're going to hyperventilate if you're not careful.' Amy's voice was soothing and peaceful. 'Just breathe.' Christina did as she was told, breathing in and out as slowly as possible. 'That's better.'

'How do you do that?' Christina asked, turning to look at her. 'Calm me down so easily?'

'It's my gift.' Amy shrugged.

'No, it's more than that Aimes, it's you.' Christina smiled. 'I wish I was more like you.'

'Hey, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.' Amy said. 'So, has that thing been glowing all night?' Amy changed the subject and motioned to the amulet beside Christina.

'Yeah, ever since I took it off, it wont stop. No idea why.' Christina admitted. 'But it's three in the morning, I think we should try to get some sleep.'

'Good idea.' Amy said. As she was about to get out of the bed, she felt Christina grab her hand.

'Can you stay? Please.' She asked.

'Of course.' Amy smiled, settling back in beside her. Another few moments passed and Christina was listening to Amy's breathing even out into slumber. She was staring at the ceiling with a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.