Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino.

Delquea: Don't worry. You'll find out in this chapter!

Txcpizza: Yes, this is the last chapter. However, there will be an epilogue.

Mysterious Mr M: They were working more for Lucy's benefit than for the sisters, though not particularly against the sisters either.

Looneytyne22: It isn't over yet! There's still this chapter and an epilogue!

Indoraptorman101: You'll learn more about Lincoln's state since Lucy's death in this chapter and the epilogue.

Your Saving Grace Is Here: You had a lot of great insight and mostly guessed correctly. However, not entirely. Not everything has gotten explained yet.

Vallalkozo: Lincoln's profession is linked to this whole thing and revealed in this chapter.

tylerdunkley82: Yes, Lucy was the apparition. However, she wasn't the cause of the visions and nightmares.

nuuo: I'm glad you have enjoyed the story. The story ends here, although there will be an epilogue.

U. N. Owen: While I tried hard to keep things ambiguous, I still dropped many hints. It shouldn't have been too difficult to figure out. A few people came close to guessing the ending, though not precisely.

marz-senpai: It has been quite the ride and very taxing on me. When narrating a mystery, knowing what to reveal and when is often challenging.

By LolaPresents (Editing by Catspeaker)

Chapter 7

As the time neared midnight, Lincoln stood in his backyard. His hands rested idly in his pockets as he stood motionless, staring at the entrance to the forest behind his home. How familiar the tangle of pine seemed, yet so different. Once replete with wonder and adventure for him and his siblings, a palpable moroseness had descended upon them.

Breathing regularly between the occasional sigh, Lincoln stared at the moon. High in the sky, he passed the time staring at it and checking his watch occasionally. With less than ten minutes remaining, he wondered if his sisters would even show. It was like them not to take things seriously, leading to his inevitable involvement. They had flaked out on him often enough in their youth, but tonight was different.

Tonight must be different.

Soon, headlights turned into the driveway, followed by two more. Three cars containing nine sisters parked behind the old family van that no longer ran. Lincoln had kept it out of sentimental need and often considered asking Lana to repair it. However, the familial strain that had developed over the years precluded such.

If everyone played their part and his plan worked, maybe their family might finally see some closure on their past and move toward a more cohesive future, even if he remained torn on whether he wanted to be fully involved in his sister's lives again.

Learning and casting the evocations that induced horrific nightmares and waking terrors into his sister's brains was daunting and did not give him any degree of pleasure. But it had been a necessary evil. However, Lincoln had to take measures he usually wouldn't have to bring his family together again.

And as his sisters began to wander into the backyard and stand alongside their brother, the man-with-the-plan, his reluctance began to fade. Though there would always be a measure of regret for what he was about to do, he stifled his feelings.

"Is everyone ready?" inquired Lincoln without bothering to check for himself. "Do you all have a suitable reminder of your bond with Lucy?"

"Yes, we're all here," replied Lori, standing to his right and slightly behind him. "And, yes, we've each chosen something personal."

"Alright," murmured Lincoln, striding toward the wall of trees. "Follow me. I've already taken the liberty of getting everything ready."

And those were Lincoln's last words as he led his sisters through the forest. While the old paths they forged years ago had become overgrown between Lucy's death and when Lincoln purchased the house, he'd traveled them many times, enough to beat the foliage into submission once more, making their trek much more manageable.

For the longest while, everyone remained silent, and Lincoln would not have had it any other way. But eventually, some of his younger siblings began whispering amongst themselves. Though Lincoln was neither surprised nor interested in what they were saying, he caught enough of their conversation to make some sense of it.

Hope, regret, and fear seemed to be their primary concerns. They hoped they would soon rid themselves of their guilt and visions, their shame for what they had intentionally and accidentally done, and fear that their efforts would be for naught, or worse, only aggravate their predicament. And for once in twenty years, they all seemed to be unified in purpose.

Their parents had put their house up for sale after Lily left home, no longer needing such vast space. However, Lincoln knew that he and his sisters would have to return there one day to enact a final farewell. Lincoln was already well into his arcane studies and had lived frugally since the event, saving his energy and money to purchase the home when needed. It was only proper for him to take up Great-Grandmother Harriet's spell books after Lucy was gone to pick up where she left off.

The moment he'd been working toward for twenty years was nigh, and his emotions ran high, though one would never recognize it after years of not having anyone for whom to express himself. He'd secluded himself from everyone and started a work-from-home enterprise selling handmade items and writing spell books for the occult community.

Lincoln didn't see a substantial income. However, he'd paid cash for the house using his savings from the Ace Savvy movie and royalties from the comic he made. Beyond that, Lincoln didn't use many utilities, so the bills weren't much of a burden. All said and done, Lincoln enjoyed what he did, capturing his interest in the paranormal and keeping Lucy's legacy alive.

Arriving in a small, secluded clearing, Lincoln stopped and surveyed his handiwork while his sisters spread around the area. He had cleared the leaves around the familiar mound of dirt, serving as Lucy's resting place. He had also placed several rotting logs around the perimeter of a large pentacle he had drawn using several salt containers. A flat rock resided at the pinnacle of the diagram's points, each bearing an unlit white candle, and a wicker basket sat at the center of the mound.

The girls silently considered Lincoln as he circled the altar, lighting each candle before joining them on the logs. Lincoln was not Wiccan. Not like Lucy had been. He had found Hermetic occultism to suit his temperament better. However, after his research, Lincoln was familiar with their ways and could think of no better way to honor Lucy and remind his sisters what life was about than beginning with the Wiccan Rede. And, with his heart calm, he began reciting.

"Bide the Wiccan Laws we must, in perfect love and perfect trust.

Live and let live. Fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the circle thrice about to keep the evil spirits out. To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch, speak little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the Witches' Rune.

Widdershins go by the waning moon, chanting out the baneful rune.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to her, times two.

When the moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and drop the sail.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West, departed souls will have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed you'll be.

When the Wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.

When the Wheel has turned to Yule, light the log and the Horned One rules.

Heed ye flower, Bush and Tree, by the Lady, blessed be.

Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth you'll know.

When ye have a true need, hearken not to others' greed.

With a fool no season spend, lest ye be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Threefold Law you should, three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.

True in love ever be, lest thy lover's false to thee. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill. An' ye harm none, do what ye will," Lincoln spoke softly in the cool night air.

By the time he'd finished, there wasn't a dry eye among them. Each traveled back in time to the day of the event, reviewing their thoughts and actions that day as they listened to Lincoln's words. Though young and immature at the time, they collectively began to realize how much their thoughts centered on themselves rather than Lucy.

"Wow, Lincoln..." sighed Leni, struggling to keep her eyes dry. "That was beautiful."

"Yeah, Linc," sobbed Lynn, clearly beside herself. "Who'd have thought you had it in you?"

"Those words aren't mine," Lincoln informed them. "They are the Wiccan Rede, the words Lucy lived by," he clarified, driving home how tragic her loss was. "Now, beginning with Luan, on my left and going clockwise, I want you to show the others your offering, tell everyone why it is important to you, then place it in the basket."

Luan sniffled and pulled a well-worn piece of paper from her pocket. Unfolding it, she held it out for everyone to see.

"Dreams burnt to ash, hope tangles like laces

Till love swept in with puns and funny faces.

Where my path will lead, I can't be sure.

But if ever I'm lost, I'll look up to her," she read aloud before breaking into tears again.

"That was Lucy's poem," Luan continued after composing herself, "the one she recited on stage. It was about me. She looked up to me, and I turned my back on her. I failed her..." she cried, standing and letting the parchment fall into the basket.

There was a brief silence as Luan returned to her seat, nothing but the sounds of the girl's gentle sobs filling the air.

"Lola?" prompted Lincoln serenely.

Lola sat on her perch, knees together, unfurling a brown paper bag. Slowly and reverently, she opened it, reached in, and pulled one very old and abused porcelain doll, holding it out for all to see.

"As you all know, this was Lucy's," Lola reminded them. "I broke it when I played with it without permission. I tried to cover it up, much like we did here, but the truth came out anyway," she continued mournfully.

"Regardless, I took something precious from her, yet she forgave me, and I hope she'll do the same now," she finished as she placed the doll in the basket.

Another moment of silence, of reverence, before the ritual continued.

"Lisa?" sighed Lincoln, nodding in his sister's direction.

With a similar, much more sterile, container on her lap, Lisa pried the lid off and produced two small antlers and a deck of tarot cards. Holding them up for all to see, she spoke her mind.

"Lucy," she said, speaking to her dead sister. "You and I lived in two separate worlds. While I pursued natural explanations, you were an advocate for the supernatural," she reminded her. "However, we were more alike than you think. We both wanted the truth, and you taught me not to take things at face value, and the truth comes in many forms," she confided before walking over to the basket and dropping the items inside.

"Lori?" announced Lincoln stoically.

With great emotion, Lori slipped a photo from her pocket and held it up for everyone to see, her hands trembling at the memory it invoked.

"This..." she stammered, barely able to contain herself, "is Shanks Bogey. He haunted me during college, and like a fool, I had Lucy exorcise him," she recalled. "But then, I realized who he was and that he meant no harm. And, just as I pleaded with him to return, I now plead to you, Lucy, to move on," she finished before standing and placing the photo with the other items.

"Lynn?" prodded Lincoln, eying her hesitantly.

Lynn sighed and wiped away her tears. Her hands shook, and her body trembled, yet she managed to unwrap a paper plate bearing spaghetti.

"Lucy..." she sputtered. "This is going to sound silly, but the most precious memory I have of you is the night we had that food fight in our room after we fought," she admitted. "That was when I realized it was alright to be different, and those differences could complement each other, as you did me," came her explanation before adding the plate to the basket.

"Luna?" whispered Lincoln, considering his estranged sister.

Luna stood and knelt before Lucy's grave, pulled out a small USB drive, and held it up for her siblings.

"I don't have much to give," Luna murmured, her lips quivering. "I never spent much time with you, and I'm sorry we didn't get the chance," she apologized. "But you honored me by letting me play music during your haunted house when you scared away those bullies. I sang it one last time and recorded it for you and your bravery," she whimpered as she dropped the drive into the basket.

"Lana?" Lincoln called as Luna sat down.

The weeping zookeep stood, cleared her eyes, and stood before Lucy holding a cardboard gravestone.

"Lucy..." she muttered. "I know we never spent that much time hanging out, but I still feel bad for you. You were always ready to send off my pets and say a kind word. But when it came time for me to do the same for you, I failed. Your funeral was unceremonious and without reflection, so I made this for you."

Solemnly, Lana placed the faux headstone into the basket before retaking her seat.

"Leni?" inquired Lincoln, indicating her turn.

Leni couldn't stop crying. Nevertheless, she stood and addressed her fallen sister, clutching a doll resembling herself.

"Lucy?" she called, staring at the night sky. "Lana's right. Some of us didn't spend enough time with you. Now, you're gone. Your weird doll is the only thing I have to remember you. You had one of Lori, too, hidden under the couch. I never knew what they were for, but I figured it had something to do with how much you loved us. Anyway, I hope it helps you remember me," she offered before placing the voodoo doll into the basket.

"Lily?" asked Lincoln once Leni returned to her seat. "I know you were young then and might not remember much. But, do you have something you'd like to say or offer?"

Lily stood and stared at the mound. The surrounding candles cast eerie shadows as she held out a picture she'd drawn.

"Sissy?" she whimpered. "I was only a baby when you died, and I don't have many memories of you. But I do remember you and miss you every single day. Through the years, my memories have faded, and it's hard to recall much. But I drew a picture of you, the way I see you in my head. I hope it keeps you company, wherever you are," she sputtered through tears and placed her work into the basket.

The communion had come full circle, back to Lincoln, and as he stood, he pulled out the comic Lucy had drawn for him so many years ago.

"Lucy, I'll never forget the day you drew this for me," he cried. "It has been in my nightstand drawer ever since. I read it often if you can't tell by the frayed pages and missing staple," he said. "But, I have been living in the past, as we all have, and now..." he wept, "it's time to look to the future.

This comic always gave me hope and showed how much we needed each other, then and now. However, my hopes have changed. That hope is for you to have eternal rest," he said before gingerly laying the book in the basket.

Lincoln retook his seat with a heavy heart and looked into his sisters' eyes.

"Now, you must do one last thing," he informed them solemnly. "Remember the day it happened, out loud, so everyone can hear. Lori..." he prompted, "how about we start with you? The rest of you can jump in whenever you like. Lucy needs to hear it, and you owe it to her."

Lori nodded and tried her best to compose herself. "Let's see, we were all in the backyard one summer, playing and goofing around as usual..." she began.

And as Lori and her sisters recounted everything that happened that day, a story began to emerge.

It was a pleasant and sunny mid-summer day like any other in Royal Woods. The sun rested at high noon, illuminating the world with its warming presence. Everything seemed bright, and every color imaginable got saturated in the glowing orb's rays. The atmosphere was serene and peaceful.

While Lori and Leni sunbathed in matching lounge recliners, Luan and Luna sipped tea while they gossiped in similarly matching chairs. Lily played happily at their feet, not wanting to risk getting hurt in whatever game Lynn had the others playing.

"Come on, Lucy!" shouted Lynn, urging her sister to toss the dodgeball at Lincoln, "Hit him! You got this!"

Lucy limply threw the ball and missed her brother by a mile. Grinning, she played off her mistake. "Oops..." Lucy said, only to get beaned by Lisa, who'd picked up the ball on the rebound. "It's all in the vector," Lisa said proudly.

"Okay! That's it..." muttered Lynn, frustrated at her team's state. "I'm calling this game. Let's do something else."

"Like what?" asked Lola, who would rather not get involved in something else.

"Oh! Wait!" cried Lana. "I know! Let's go down to the creek."

"Why not," replied Lynn. "It's not like we have anything better to do."

Luna perked up at the mention of adventure, and while Luan would have preferred working on her material, she conceded as well.

"It's about time, dude," called Luna as she and Luan joined them, heading for the path that led into the woods. "But, we're coming with you. You know you aren't allowed that deep without one of us with you."

Oblivious to their future, the eight siblings galloped down the winding path until they finally arrived at the creek. The trees were still full of leaves that swayed in the breeze, and the water was relatively warm and cascaded over numerous rocks and pebbles that littered its bed. Birds chirped overhead, and crayfish filled the stream.

"What a wonderful day," chirped Lana as she knelt by the creek to look for amphibians. "I bet I catch a big one!"

"I'm pretty sure they don't want you kidnapping them," retorted Lucy, staring at her muddy sister.

"Forget that!" barked Lynn, some distance away. "Look at this!"

Everyone turned and saw what Lynn was gasping over. Someone else in the neighborhood had installed a tire swing further down the river.

Dashing for the new addition, Lynn rummaged about in the brush until she found a fallen branch long enough to reach the middle of the creek and pulled the tire over.

"Come on!" she declared. "Who wants to go first?"

"Not I," refuted Lisa. "It appears much too unsafe."

"No way!" argued Lana, grabbing the swing from Lynn. "I'll try it!" she announced, climbing aboard. "Catch me on the backswing. Okay?"

"Sure thing," promised Lynn as she pushed her sister out over the water.

*creak-swish-creak*

Lana was having the time of her life and didn't want to give up the swing once Lynn reclaimed the tire. Of course, that wouldn't be fair, and as much as she loved it, she wanted her siblings to get a chance.

*creak-swish-creak*

"Who's next?" queried Lynn, holding the empty tire with one hand.

"Brah!" exclaimed Luna, stepping into the tire. "I'll give it a go!"

*creak-swish-creak*

As free as a person could be, Luna felt the wind in her hair as she swung back and forth over the creek a few times before Lynn arrested her momentum.

*creak-swish-creak*

"Bogus, dude..." sighed Luna as she stepped out. "I was hoping for a longer turn. You know?"

"Back of the line..." issued Lynn. "Lucy?"

"I suppose," Lucy moaned, stepping forward for a turn. "It did hold Luna's weight, after all."

"Hey!" barked Luna. "My butt isn't THAT big..." she spat, checking out her rear. "Is it?"

*creak-swish-creak*

While not one for physical activity, Lucy enjoyed feeling the wind blowing through her hair and against her skin as she swung out and over the water.

*creak-swish-creak*

For once in her life, Lucy felt free of life's concerns. School, bullies, chores, they all dissipated as she arced back and forth.

*creak-swish-SNAP*

Suddenly, Lucy no longer headed forward but downward. Why had the world turned upside down? The typically unafraid girl had no time to contemplate what was happening, much less form a fear response when her head hit something hard, and everything went dark.

"Oh, shit!" gasped Lincoln, diving into the water as his sisters gawked and covered their mouths.

As Lincoln splashed in the water, swimming toward his sister as she floated idly in the rushing water, his pulse roared in his ears. Few thoughts resided in his brain besides needing to rescue his sister. His body was on autopilot, and it seemed like time had played tricks on him. One moment, he watched his sister plummet onto the boulder below, and the next, he pulled the tire toward the bank.

"Hang on!" called Lynn, using the branch she'd gotten earlier to reach out to them.

As Lincoln drew nearer the bank, Lynn abandoned the branch, clamping onto the tire instead, aiding Lincoln's efforts in getting Lucy ashore. They had their sister grounded within moments and pulled free of the old tire. Blood covered her face, and she was entirely unresponsive.

"Fuck... fuck..." cried Lincoln as he put his ear to her chest. "I can't... I can't hear anything!"

Lucy's body was entirely limp, like one of Lola's dolls, her limbs flopping as her siblings moved her body.

"Oh, God!" screamed Luan, her bellowing screech filling the woods and echoing off the trees. "She's dead!"

Elsewhere, Lori was relaxing in the sun and breeze when her respite got interrupted by something she never thought she'd hear and never wished to hear again. A blood-curdling scream emanated from the woods, and Lori recognized the voice immediately. After noticing their backyard's quiet, she sat upright and glared at Leni, whose face lay hidden under a wide-brimmed white hat.

"Leni!" barked the agitated young woman. "Where are the others?"

"How am I supposed to know?" complained Leni. "Probably out playing 'armies' in the woods. And, from the sound of it, someone will have to lay still until the game is over."

"Leni!" Lori sputtered as she scooped Lily off the grass. "I don't think they're playing. Something's wrong! Now, let's go!" she ordered, grabbing Leni with her free hand and yanking her off the lounge chair.

A few moments later, Lori and Leni arrived at the creek, stunned at what they saw. Lucy lay prone on the ground while Lincoln and Lisa vainly attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Blood was everywhere, and Lucy never moved.

"What the hell happened?!" screamed Lori as she handed Lily to Leni and rushed to Lucy's side.

"We were only playing... swinging on the tire..." wept Lola as she sat with her hands wrapped tightly around her knees.

"It was Lucy's turn... but it snapped..." bawled Luna, coming apart at the seams.

"Lori? You have your phone. Right?" begged Lincoln. "Please, call 911!"

Lori considered it for a moment, then something inside her snapped. It was swift, illogical, and entirely reactionary. She loathed the alternative, however.

"No..." Lori snapped. "If our parents ever found out something like this happened on my watch, they'd never trust me again, much less Leni. The Police could get involved! They might lock me, Mom, and Dad up for child endangerment!" Lori was in a panic, her mind not thinking clearly.

"Excuse me?" pleaded Lana. "What the hell are you talking about? Lucy's hurt and needs help!"

Lori wept as she looked her siblings in the eye.

"Lucy's gone!" she wailed, doubling over in distress.

With Lucy lying before her, unbreathing, bleeding profusely, and unresponsive to Lisa's life-saving abilities, there seemed little chance Lucy was even still alive.

"No, she's not!" bellowed Lincoln, trying to pick Lucy up in his arms. "We have to get her back to the house!"

*splash*

The sudden, unexpected sound alerted everyone to something beyond comprehension. The tire quickly floated downstream, and Lynn stood by the bank, just watching it.

"Oh, my, God!" cried Leni, keeping Lily's head on her shoulder to shield her from what was happening. "What did you do?"

"I got rid of the evidence," Lynn said, almost emotionlessly.

"Evidence?!" cried Lincoln, abandoning his attempt at lifting Lucy's weight, weighed down by the water. Standing, he rushed over to Lynn and squared up against her. "What do you mean evidence?! That was proof we didn't do anything wrong!"

"Didn't we?!" asked the suffering girl. "Regardless of how you spin things, we got Lucy killed. We killed her! Lori's right. We could go to jail! I'm sorry, but this is how it must be."

"What the fuck, Lynn!" clamored Luan. "Why? What are you talking about?"

"Guys!" shouted Lynn, turning from the creek to face her sisters. "What do you think mom and dad will do if we show up with Lucy dead?" she posited. "I'll tell you what they'd do, spend the rest of their lives in grief."

"Throwing the tire in the creek didn't help, Lynn!" screeched Lori, getting her sister's face. "Now we have to explain that, too!"

"No, we don't," Lynn stated.

"What?!" Lori gasped, struggling to control her emotions. "What's your solution then? Huh?"

"Simple," Lynn sighed, wiping away her tears. "We tell mom and dad the truth. But, only part of it," she announced. "First, we take her as far upstream as possible and bury her. Then, we tell them Lucy fell, hit her head, and got washed downstream toward the great lakes before any of us could reach her," she explained. "That way, mom and dad will still have hope that she survived and is still out there somewhere suffering from amnesia," she yelled, pointing vaguely toward the lakes.

Lori slapped Lynn across the face before clasping it to her mouth, turning, and walking away. She had never considered anything like this happening in her youth and could barely handle the pressure. If killing their sister wasn't enough, burying her and lying about it was too much. Still, they'd gotten into this predicament together and should decide in kind.

"I'm sorry, Lucy..." muttered Lisa, giving up hope of reviving their sister. "I'm so sorry. I'm calling it, guys," she whimpered, almost too quietly to hear.

"Fine..." sighed Lori in resignation, sadly shaking her head while wrapping her arms around herself. "But, we all have to agree. Cover this up, or take her home?"

None would've chosen the first option in their proper states of mind. However, adrenaline coursed through their veins and diluted all sense of reality. Those who were supposed to have been responsible hadn't been, and those too young to know better retreated into emotional cocoons to deal with the tragedy. Lori's answer came in a chorus of "cover it up."

"Hell, no!" shouted Lincoln, spinning on his sisters. "She'd never give up on us! Please!" he begged. "Don't do this!"

"I'm sorry, Lincoln," pleaded Lori sternly. "The majority wins. Like it or not, you're one of us, and you'll have to back us up when it comes time for the authorities to get involved."

"Fine!" spat Lincoln. "But one day, this will come back to haunt you! Until then, never talk to me or ask me for help again!" he screamed in their faces before leaving them to fend for themselves.

"You guys start heading upstream," Lana said blankly, stunned to feel anything. "I'll go grab some shovels from the garage. But when I get back, I'll need some help. I can't dig a hole that deep by myself."

"I'll do it," sniffled Luna as everyone gathered around to share in silence and an emotional hug.

"That'll do," Lincoln finally spoke after having gone silent during his sisters' recollections. "It's now time for the offering."

Standing, Lincoln made his way around the pentacle, placing the candle resting at each point's tip into the basket. Once the last got added, he retook his seat. Together, they watched the basket go up in flame, turning its contents to ashes and spreading them on the wind, carrying their memories and remorse to Lucy.

"What now?" asked Lana, still weeping yet with a sense of relief.

"You go home and live your lives," Lincoln replied, "as Lucy would've wanted."

"What about you, Lincoln?" asked Luan, gently holding his hand. "Will you let us back in?"

"I..." stammered the aging boy. "I don't know. I have a lot to process."

"Well, call us more often, at least," suggested Lola. "And if you don't, we'll call you."

"Sounds good," affirmed Lincoln as the group split up and headed back down the trodden path. "I'll handle things from here."

Who knew what the future held or if they could repair their family bonds?

Whether they put the past behind them and came together or drifted further apart remained to be seen. But, as Lincoln stood in the middle of the woods, preparing to clean up and recover Lucy's grave, a formless shadow watched from some distance away.

The End?

(Stay tuned for the epilogue!)