12.

It's hard to detect good luck – it looks so much like something you've earned – Frank A. Clark.

Is anything really ever left to chance? Or is there something locked in place to ensure a certain kind of ... outcome? Who knows? It's not like we can test for it, especially when dealing with situations where there can be no true experts that one can simply just ... call.

Time was not on anyone's side. Even the dark spirit of Lydia Devlin could be included in that statement. With just a few hours until darkness once more sets in and with rainfall already having returned and a storm on the horizon, there was little time for anyone to test Zara's hunch or feeling that Lydia is buried beneath the concrete in the basement of the new home she shares with her husband.

The plan seemed to be simple enough. A heptagram painted on the concrete basement floor to trap Lydia's spirit. Sea salt poured around all the window ledges and doorways exiting the house also to keep her spirit within the house. Upon her appearance the house would be burnt to the ground destroying the spirits residence and hopefully her remains too, bringing about an end to her reign of terror.

Strangely enough the detective would go along with all this, and he would also look after the police reports so Emilio and Zara would not end up homeless, it would be made so that they could make a claim on their house insurance.

Darkness fell completely, the rain had begun to fall that bit heavier. With the basement light still not working, Zara made her way down those wooden basement steps with a torch.

'Come on bitch, let's be seeing you now' she spoke confidently.

Zara steadily shone the torch around the basement though it was a flash of lightning that not only allowed for a brief sighting of Lydia's spirit, but it also caught Zara a little off guard too. Zara jumped and accidentally dropped the torch. The darkened spirit stood indeed trapped atop of the heptagram with only her eyes apparently being capable of movement, not that Zara could see those eyes. Zara reached for the torch and the accompanying thunder made her jump for a second time, however she did manage to grab the torch.

Shining the light toward the spirit, for a moment it looked like it was showing a glimmer of humanity, a glimmer of the lady she once was. Zara quickly made her way back up the wooden steps, made her way into the kitchen and turned on her gas cooker. Faulty wiring would make things look accidental. Emilio would drive ... for himself and Zara would spend the night in a local hotel.

The room they had for the night was an expensive one; one usually reserved for newlyweds, though tonight to them, it felt as if they were indeed newlyweds. Even though their home, the house they lived in for less than two months, was in the process of burning down to the ground, there was a kind of bliss in the air. There was a sense that Emilio and Zara both had been through a war and survived. They were ready once more to start over. This was an opportunity; it was their second chance at a second chance.

Emilio carried Zara into the hotel room and with them both laughing and giggling childishly. Emilio threw his wife onto the king-size bed. He stood with a boyish smile staring at Zara. She signaled him to come close. He did not need a second invitation. He kissed her lips as she threw her arms around him. The kissing became a lot more passionate. Zara unbuttoned Emilio's shirt. Emilio removed Zara's top. They both almost felt like teenagers doing something they weren't supposed to be doing.

Having opened his eyes, Emilio let out a slight gasp and almost fell on top of his wife. For a split second he was sure that his wife was not his wife but the dark spirit that he was also sure was trapped back in his burning home. Emilio came down on his side onto the bed before turning onto his back. His own mind must be messing with him.

Zara moved on top of her husband. She was so full of energy, something she had been lacking for quite some time. Emilio had another flash. The darkened spirit of Lydia was where his wife should be, and the spirit was doing what his wife should be doing. This quickly flickered back and forth ... his wife one second ... an entity the next.

It even seemed for a moment that this spirit was on fire, burning but continuing unaffected by the flames that engulfed her. He felt the heat too. His sweating was not only from his current activities. He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. The rest of the night, he only had eyes for his wife.

Six weeks passed. Emilio and Zara had settled into temporary accommodation. All seemed well and good. Their claim on the insurance for their house was being processed. All was well in both their jobs. They were no longer needed in the investigation to the death of the police officer they had encountered. Detective John Willis made sure the couple were not in any hot water in regard to that.

For months after, all seemed well and good. Nothing came through that could be attributed to a vengeful spirit. On a bright warm morning, however, Zara had something to tell her husband. ... On the same day this news is delivered, an officer by the name of Richard Phelps is the first to respond to a certain ... incident ...