Here's another (smaller) chapter but another one might come soon... Thanks for reading and please keep reviewing it's really appreciated! Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 11

Mel looked at him with a real scared look. She slowly sat down in front of Timothy.

-Who?, she whispered, trying not to wake Jim.

-Your brother; Gabriel, simply answered the little boy.

-How do you know Gabriel?, asked Mel, starting to be more and more scared.

-Back when I first met you at your store, in...

-Grandview.

-Right, in Grandview, when the woman came in, I left and I went on the square 'cause I saw other kids playing. I stayed and watched them for a while when a man stopped right next to me and asked 'You miss playing with your friends?', I realized that he could see me too. By the way i never asked you: how come you can see me?

-That's not important right now. What happened next?

-Well I said 'You can see me too?' so he said 'Oh, you already met Melinda...' I answered that yeah, then I asked if you two knew each other and he answered that yes since you were brother and sister.

Mel sighted, she tapped the couch next to her. Timothy sat down.

-Ok, so first of all, Gabriel is not my brother, and we have nothing in common except seeing spirits. We know each other but I would rather have never met him...

Timothy shook his head.

-Why would he lied about this?

-Because that's the only thing he does. I'm sorry sweetie but that's who he is. I guess he told you that you could stay here, that you would be able to speak with your family that you could stay with them forever. Or maybe that you could stay with him and his 'friends' where you would be happy for ever.

-Why would he say this?

-Timothy, I have dealt with him enough to know this, although like I said I would rather not having, and I know that it's what he says to spirits to make them stay earthbound.

-What if he'd told me this?

Mel was now sure that it was what Gabriel had told him. She was still wondering what interest Gabriel could possibly have in collecting Timothy's soul. He was just a kid!

-I'm sorry Timothy, but he lied to you. Staying earthbound won't permit you to be with your family the way you used to be. The only thing that Gabriel wants it's to keep as many spirits as he can to take control of the livings, including your own family, your parents, Lily, your friends... You have nothing to win by staying here, you can only loose you freedom, 'cause once you go with Gabriel it's almost impossible to leave then. Trust me I've seen it.

Melinda really hoped that Timothy would believe her, she couldn't imagine this little boy trapped with Gabriel. Timothy seemed to be lost, he was about to say something but he finally closed his mouth.

-What?, asked Mel.

-It's just that he told me you would try to convince me to crossover by saying that he was a liar.

Mel sighted.

-Timothy, if you knew already that you would go with him, why did you ask my help? If you met Gabriel right after meeting me, why did you came back to me? Why even make me come here?

-Because the first time I saw you, you sounded really nice, plus Gabriel didn't tell me that I shouldn't come to you so I thought: 'Let's go see what she proposes me'. And when you said that you will try to talk to my dad I thought 'maybe she can help me' and then you said that it was too far away. So I went back to see Gabriel but since he only proposed me to come with him and not to go speak with my dad, I left him too and came here with my dad. When I saw you I was really happy 'cause finally someone was really trying to help me and not making me go somewhere, but obviously you only want me to 'crossover'. So now I just think that if I can't speak to the people I love, I'm at least going to stay with them, which means do what Gabriel said.

Mel was starting to cry, she was realizing that things had been really difficult for such a little boy. She had to make him understand that the best thing to do was to go into the light. But she wanted him to take the decision by himself, when I will be ready. For that, she had to find out what was keeping him, and do everything she could to resolve the problem. She had a little idea of what could be keeping him here but she had to make Timothy say it.

-Sweetie, the reason I want you to crossover is because I know that it's the best thing for you, you will find peace there, love. Staying here will only make you feel sadder than you already are, you will get angry over the people you love 'cause they don't talk to you. I can't and I don't want to force you to go into the light but I do want to help you feel better at least. I can sense how sad you are and I don't want you to feel this bad, so if you help me we can make your dad talk to us and then I could explain to him what you need. Please let me at least try this, then you'll see, finished Mel.

Timothy remained silent for a few minutes, as if he was considering all that Mel had said.

-I have to go talk to him before, he said while getting up.

-Who, Gabriel? Why?, asked Melinda getting up too.

-I have to check what you said, maybe he has other things to propose me.

Timothy started to walk towards the door, Melinda following him.

-No! Please Timothy! Don't go with him! You have to be careful! Timothy!!

But he disappeared...

Mel stood in the middle of the room, crying. She suddenly felt something weird behind her, like a presence...