She stood there for a few seconds. Clearly still surprised at seeing me again. She kept stealing glances at me.

"Follow me, dears."

She said as she passed us to lead us into a living room of sorts it had a rather large round table kinda crammed into the room with chairs spread around it.

There were bookcases shoved against the walls with books stacked everywhere. There were crystals and tarot cards placed throughout the room along with different charms, idols, altars, and god knows what else. Oh and there were candles everywhere, I wonder if the rest of her house looked like this room.

I think I am going to like this woman.

Somehow she found a walkway through the room, which we followed carefully into another room which seemed to be more of a more living room, you know with a couch and stuff.

"Sit while I go get you guys something to drink, and found everything I think I will need to help." She waved to the couches and hustled out of the room.

She entered the room carrying a large tray on one side she had three cups on the other side she had a collection of things. As she handed us our drinks and settled her tray on the small coffee table and settled into a chair, I took the time to really look at her.

At the store all I noticed was that she appeared to belong there, now she only had a few charm bracelets on, I saw a silver necklace with a couple of stones hanging from it, a locket or pendant. Her finger was not covered in rings like they were earlier, now she only had two rings on; one on each middle finger; they seem to be a set they each had a symbol but I couldn't make out what.

Her light brown hair was tied up into a messy bun on top of her head. She sipped on her tea and stared at me for a few beats, cleared her throat a bit

"First, I have a few questions, these will help guide me when we summon your father to make sure we get the right man. Second, you must be sure you want to do this because once we start we can not stop. Last, I will not be very well when we are down, I will need someone to take me upstairs, and lock up. I usually don't ask that of people, but Xander and I go back a bit and I trust who he accompanies himself with." She paused for a moment, thinking I assume.

"Do you have a photo or an object of your father's? It will help but not really necessary, it does help that you brought more than just yourself; the more energy we have the strong the connection between worlds will be." Xander spoke up just then

"If it ok with both you, Miranda and you, Theresa I would like to both film and record this. If nothing else, so we can have proof that we did this. Validating your claims beyond doubt." He spoke somewhat hesitantly like he wasn't sure what I would say since he didn't look at Miranda once while he spoke. I just nodded and smiled at him, I had already committed myself to a life full of cameras. Miranda just fluffed her hair, shrugged

"I don't get much better looking than, I look right now so whatever. Which room would you like to use then?" We all shrugged so she just started setting things up on the table, she hummed while she worked, only stopping to ask me for the photo, which she stuck in the middle of the table surrounded by crystals and candles.

She grabbed a container, a lighter, she lit whatever was in the container it started smoking filled the room's air with a pungent smell, she walked around the table slowly in a circle.

"Blessed be, and good evening, we are here tonight to ask the Goddess for guidance as we bridge the worlds together, the living and the dead as we are in search of Mark Baxter. Please Dear Mother, help us and keep us safe, Blessed be." She speaks as she finished her circle, she placed the still smoking container on the table below my family photo.

She asked me to sit across from her and Xander and Casey across from each other, we gathered hands. She started to chant and called out to my father.

After about ten minutes of her calling, I called out to him, as soon as I did I felt my fingers start tingling and then my stomach started to knot up and the room got colder. My papa appeared behind Miranda's shoulder, smiling at me.

He looked like he always did, like me. I was the only one to take after him with the pale blonde hair. Both my brothers and my mama have light brown hair. He leaned forward and whispered in Miranda's ear. Once he finished he straightened up, smoothed out his clothes and disappeared.

I jumped up and tried to chase him. But there is no point in chasing a ghost. I turn to Miranda

"What did he say?" I demand, trying my best to not lose my fucking mind.

"He said he would talk to you, when and where it's safe. I think it is time for me to go lay down and for you to leave. Sorry, I couldn't be more of a help." She stood and slowly made her way upstairs.

Casey and Xander cleaned everything up, as I wandered to the car, I just needed to be alone.

What was I going to do now? How was I going to help Mae and Jon now? I cradled my head in my hands and lost it - I didn't sob cry just the normal angry cry - I feel utterly helpless I am beyond stressed and frustrated.

The weight of the world was on my shoulders and I was being crushed into the ground. Why did I have to be the one all these ghosts came to for help. How I was, a girl who went to Hell for these powers suppose to use these powers for good? That went against everything I was told, everything I knew, against every instinct I develop in Hell.

I am losing myself to waves of confusion. I am supposed to lead these spirits to their freedom, their afterlife.

Me.

Looks like those spirits are screwed.

Suddenly I felt hands pulling me to my right I allowed them. Turns out I was right to trust them, those arms were attached to Xander. Who just cradled me and rubbed my back and allowed me to a self-loathing mess on his lap.

Casey drove I am not sure how long it took us to get back, I had finally been soothed but Xander wasn't so sure. He carried me to my room, laid me in bed and took my shoes off, brought me my tablet and a drink and he laid on the couch without one word.

Apparently emotional distraught and having a breakdown takes it out of a girl cause I was asleep before Xander turned the lights off.

My dream was different, usually, I dream about randomness. Normally, the setting is the hospital but not tonight's.

Tonight I was standing in a field, My papa was there and so was Xander; the first one I expect the latter I figured my mind put him there cause he was the last person I had seen. He looked a little confused but he was wearing the clothes I had last seen him in. I looked at myself and I too was wearing what I wore to bed, I wasn't even wearing my shoes. My papa looked like he always has, but really happy to see me - more than usual - without thinking I ran up to him and hugged him and I was surprised when I could actually feel him.

I almost cried again it had been so long since I felt my papa arms around me, I never wanted to leave his embrace but I did, I had something to talk to him about. His smile fell a little bit when I took a step back.

"I have to ask Terrycloth why did you pick this spot?" Hearing my childhood nickname made me happy and sad. I heard Xander snicker a bit, I shot him a glare.

"What do you mean? I didn't pick this place. I assumed you did." After looking around I realized I could see our farm from here, and this is where my brothers would take us younger kids to the creek on hot summer days.

"No, you are in charge of this dream, I just came to visit." His one shoulder hitched up when he started speaking, it dropped when he finished.

"What do you mean? How am I in charge? I just went to sleep Papa, I didn't dream this up." Papa was giving me his look now; his I am telling the truth, just believe my face. That look shut me up

"You may be right but I do not know how I did it, but that isn't what I need to talk to you about." Shaking my head to clear my thoughts to the pressing issue at hand.

"I need your help, you're my last hope," I mumbled. I wasn't all too happy about asking Papa for help but I wasn't about to let my pride and hurt feelings get in the way of helping Jonathon though.

Papa sobered up a bit, he sat down in the chairs that just appeared, I glanced around we were no longer in the field, now we were in what looked like a lounge there were tables and chairs everywhere.

I followed his lead and sat down, a confused Xander walked around a bit, wandering further and further away. He stayed within eyesight, which was comforting.  While we were alone in this dream lounge, I told Papa everything, I figured if I really was in charge I could keep him here as long as I wanted, and I found that I really wanted to talk to my Papa. I've missed him a lot more than I would like to admit.

I never thought in a million years that I would be sitting here going to my father for help, and explaining to him all my problems.

His advice in everything we discussed was amazing and more helpful than anything I could have learned on my own. Suddenly the room started to dim and fade. I heard Papa say he would help me when I needed, I was being shaken awake by a frantic Casey.

I was confused and disoriented and cold, deathly cold, I couldn't see and I tasted mental. I could barely breathe, my chest was tight. Matter of fact; I was tense like every muscle in my body tense. My brain was misfiring or something because I can't figure out how to unclench my muscles or take a normal breath, and I really would like to be able to see.

I can't hear anything aside from this ringing; not a loud annoying ring, it was kinda subtle. I just lay there in my head, in what I hope is my bed, I know I am not alone because I can feel people's hands on me.

Someone is shaking me, I believe I close my eyes or maybe I blink but suddenly, my brain kicks in and into overdrive. Everything catches up to me, and I am pretty sure I just had a seizure.

Putting that aside like it was nothing, I look up and see that Casey and Xander and on the bed too. Actually, I am laying in Xander's lap and Casey is yelling at me. I bolt up

"I know what to do, I got everything under control." Using every sneaky skill I have built over the years I judged all of Casey's questions, I soothed all of her concerns and got her to go to sleep.

Xander, on the other hand, wasn't letting me out of his sight, he made himself comfortable in my bed, waited until I got in the bed. I am not too prideful to admit I cuddled right up to his warmth. He wrapped his arms around me and cocooned me in his warmth.

Right before I was completely under I heard him say

"I remember everything and I heard what you said about me to your dad."

My response, to snuggle in closer and pass out like the dead I talk to.