Everyone's really taking their 'protect Sunshine' job way too seriously.

Oh, also, she's sick.

"We are protecting you," Uncle Tommy says.

"We're all here for you," Kat quips next to Tommy on the wrap-around couch.

"We did such a good job last time that we had to come back and do it again."

Nolan is on Tommy's right, sinking down, hugging a pillow to his chest.

"And the time before," Kat nods.

Mhm. "And the time before that," Sunshine says.

"And the time before that," Tommy grins.

"And the time before that," she repeats.

"And then I moved home from Australia."

Kat smirks. "So you really protect us."

Nolan pipes up. "Mostly I just get you in trouble." His finger pushes up on his eyebrow as he lazily looks around.

"That's true," Tommy wheezes, "actually."

"Good point." Kat rolls her eyes.

"Remember that time you got yourself kidnapped? That was awesome."

Nolan smiles. "Yeah, it's not the first time either."

Everyone laughs.

Sunshine smiles softly. She's missed times like these, just sitting and spending time with her family. She just wishes she knew why she feels so tired and distant all the time now.

"So," Tommy says, "are you gonna practice your, thing here?"

"Well- I- I think, isn't that what- that's kinda what he was saying that she should do," Kat explains, "like, practice."

"What's that word... your..."

"Mentor," Tommy and Kat say together.

"Yes. Practice teleportation." Tommy smirks.

Kat brushes back her hair. "So....I don't know how you practice that."

"I don't know." Tommy shrugs then looks at Sunshine. "What'd he say?"

Sunshine grunts and slowly stands up, walking into the middle of the living room. "He just said to- like- focus and-"

"Wait, where are you going?" her mother calls.

"I'm— gonna teleport!"

Tommy rolls his eyes. "Why don't you teleport off the couch?"

"Well— cause I'm already over here now, so I can't retel—"

"Somebody's cranky," Kat mutters.

Sunshine feels this sudden burst of anger and there's this picture behind her eyelids of Sunshine choking Kat to death. Her heart nearly stops and she falters. What the hell? Why- why did she see that?! "Welcome to my world," she sarcastically says back, trying to cover up her horror.

Thankfully, no one seems to notice. Tommy and Kat are too busy talking.

"Okay." Nolan leans up and waves a hand toward the two adults. "Don't listen to them, just— do ya thing, girl."

Tommy laughs and Nolan cracks a smile. "Have you ever said that before in your life?"

Nolan gets comfortable on the couch. Kat sits back, smiling in amusement.

"No," he says with a grin, "and I don't like it."

"Okay, sorry," Kat giggles, "We're gonna be serious."

"Teleport," Tommy says.

"I'm just gonna focus or whatever and..."

"Also," Nolan buts in, "if you— get this to the point where it's reliable, uh, my friend's having a birthday party next weekend...?"

She stares at him. "Please stop talking. Just— just. Okay. I'm just gonna focus, or something, I don't know how I focus though, so...this'll be interesting."

"It's okay," Kat lamely cheers on.

"Did— did she move?" Tommy asks.

Sunshine raises a brow. "No, I haven't moved. I'm trying to focus. You're distracting me or something..." She sighs and brushes hair back from her face. Everyone is staring at her. "I don't know how to do this."

Kat shrugs. "We don't know how to do it."

Tommy giggles. "You're askin' the wrong people."

Nolan wipes a hand down his face.

"I know," she says.

"We believe in you." Kat nods. "You got this."

"'Kay, I'm focusing," Sunshine sighs. "I feel like it...looks weird. Sorry, guys." She makes a face at the camera.

Nothing's happening. This is totally lame.

She stands for a moment until there's a flash behind her eyelids, blurred colors dripping down her vision. Sunshine falters slightly and her eyes widen.

Everyone jerks up, caught off guard. Nolan stutters something unintelligible, pointing at her, and turns to glance at Tommy and Kat.

"What?" Sunshine says.

"Did you—" Kat is staring at her. Tommy and Nolan exchange shocked glances.

"What's wrong?" she says, more worried.

Nolan whips around, trying to pretend he isn't bothered at all. "Nothin'," he stutters out, waving a palm, "you're fine, just— just, uh— stay very still." He puts his hands out in front of him, like he's a Jedi and can make her stay where she is. Sunshine walks forward. "Uh. Try to—"

"What are you guys doing?" Sunshine asks. Her vision— had that been—?

Everyone is still staring at her. She continues shuffling forward

"Don't— move— at all," Nolan says, squinting, "for a second, you're making my eyes hurt really bad."

"Are you okay?" Kat asks her daughter, concerned.

"I'm fine," Sunshine defends as Nolan looks away, blinking rapidly. Tommy is looking at her like she's grown a second head. "What are you— freaking out about? Especially Nolan."

"That was...weird," Kat mutters.

Nolan just looks shocked and bewildered. He laughs with a smile.

"What?" Sunshine snaps with more force. "What are you—?"

"Do you feel anything?" Tommy interrupts.

"No."

"Ohhhhhhh God," Nolan says in a tiny voice, wiping his hands down his face.

"I didn't—" she tries.

"Oh, God, it exists," Nolan talks over her.

Okay, well, it looks like she's gonna start practicing teleportation without them. They're distracting her and being weird.

Jesus.

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"Sunshine, what's wrong?"

They're all sitting on the couch, watching the television. Kat holds the camera and Uncle Tommy glances at Sunshine. Nolan looks over, brows creased.

"Something bad's gonna happen," she says.

"Honey—" Kat frowns. "We're just watching the TV, we're just here together. What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Nolan asks.

"Something bad's gonna happen," Sunshine continues to insist. There's this twisting in her belly, pushing forcefully against her skin, like something is about to burst.

"Bad, like..." Nolan tilts his head, squinting. "Existentially, or...?"

Sunshine continues staring forward. "I don't know. I don't know."

"What..." Kat trails off when Tommy runs a hand through his hair, and he's got this look on his face that doesn't seem to mean anything good. "Tommy, what's wrong?"

"I don't know, I don't feel very good all of a sudden."

Nolan looks over, looking even more concerned. Sunshine continues staring at the TV — she's in a trance, locked in something's embrace. It's almost like she can feel black claws curling around her body, suspending her in time, forcing her to stay out of the situation.

"What do you mean you don't feel good?" Kat demands, sitting up straighter.

"Just—" Tommy shakes his head. Sunshine finally moves her head, staring at him. Nothing good will come out of this. She knows it. She can feel it.

"Okay," Nolan interjects, ashen hair falling in front of his face, "let's everyone just calm down for a second."

Tommy drops the book he has in his hands and jumps to his feet.

"Tommy?" Nolan's eyes go wide.

"What's wrong?" Kat stands.

"You okay, buddy?"

Sunshine jerks up, staggering back against the wall. Tommy rushes into the kitchen, jaws clamped shut.

"Hey, hey hey hey hey!" Nolan calls, following Tommy.

He's leaning over the sink and spluttering out something disgusting — plant compost. A horrified gasp wrenches from Kat's throat as she watches.

"Whoa!" Nolan exclaims, hands on his head. "Oh, god!"

"Tommy, what is that?!" Kat exclaims.

He coughs, more brown globs dripping from his mouth. "It's that stuff again," he says.

"What stuff?!" Nolan places a hand on Tommy's shoulder, peering into the sink. No answer. "What stuff?" He looks absolutely disgusted as Tommy spits more of the substance out of his mouth.

The lights turn out and Kat's breath hitches.

"What the—" Nolan looks around through the darkness.

"Is that the power again?" Kat's hands shake the camera.

"Mom." Sunshine appears somewhere from the side.

"It's the power again," Nolan growls, "very original, Ghost!"

"Mom. Turn the light on the camera!" Sunshine says, head clearing slightly. When it comes to her damn camera, she always knows what to do.

"There's a light on the camera?"

"Yes!"

"Where?"

"Just give it to me!"

"Here!"

Sunshine fumbles with the device, heart slowing down considerably. Crazy how things work, right? She clicks the light on and pans it around the kitchen, face drawn into a neutral look. What she doesn't see is the old woman ghost dressed in white, standing in the darkness, staring at them.

"I'm so tired of these dark rooms," Nolan mumbles. He sighs. "Okay, what are we gonna do? What do— what's the plan—?"

"Nolan." Sunshine's gaze slides to his hands. They're coated in a sheen of blood.

"What's on your hands?!" Kat asks. Sunshine can't breathe. "Is that blood?!"

Nolan lifts his arms, visibly beginning to tremble.

"Nolan, what did you do?" Sunshine demands.

"I didn't—" He puts his hands out in front of him and inspects the rest of his body, backing up to the refrigerator.

"What, are— are you bleeding?" Kat's mom mode comes out.

"Nolan, what is all over you?" More concern presses into Sunshine's voice.

"I'm fine," Nolan says, voice shaking, "I don't know." He turns, disoriented. "Okay?"

Sunshine shines the light and jerks back to see Tommy standing in the corner, blood dripping down his face. "Uncle Tommy!"

"Tommy!" Kat yells.

He's staring forward, motionless, eyes bulging out of his head. Crimson covers the entirety of his face. Nolan staggers toward the sink and turns the faucet on, desperately washing the blood off of his hands.

"Nolan, what did you do?!" Sunshine says louder, turning to him. "Why is he all bloody?!"

Tommy begins to slide to the ground and Nolan turns, jumping forward and trying to keep him steady. "Tommy! Tommy, Tom, Tom!"

"Nolan, why did you do that?!" Sunshine's voice scratches against her throat as she watches, helpless, terrified. Kat bends to her knees and looks horrified. "Nolan!"

"I didn't do anything to him!" he yells, whipping around to glare at her.

"Sunshine, what is wrong with him?!" Kat begins to sob.

"I don't know!" she cries back. "Nolan, why did you do it?!"

"I didn't DO ANYTHING—"

Sunshine whirls around when the table is pushed forward, creaking loudly as it slides across the ground.

"What was that?" Kat is covering her face with trembling hands.

"It was just the table," Sunshine says, trying to stay calm. How the hell is someone meant to stay calm in this situation?

"What do you mean, it was just the table?" Kat snaps. "It just moved itself?"

"Yes!"

"Oh— no, no, no, no, guys—" Sunshine turns and her eyes go wide when she sees Nolan on the ground, gripping the wall as he's pulled into the living room.

Sunshine rounds the corner and flinches when the same old lady ghost stands in the middle of the room. Nolan continues to be dragged and she leaps forward, gripping his hand in hers. Immediately there's a flash behind Sunshine's eyelids, the world warping in shapes and color around her.

Suddenly, both she and Nolan are in the backyard, in the same positions as they had been inside.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Did she just motherfucking teleport?

"What the hell was that?!" Nolan exclaims, panting as he looks around, dark eyes wide.

Sunshine shakes her head, nearly falling to the ground, feet seemingly unable to hold her weight. "I don't know." Screams from Kat somewhere in the house divert their attention. "Where are we?"

"I don't know." Nolan stumbles up beside Sunshine, leaning on her shoulder. "Your backyard, apparently." They both begin to run towards the sliding glass doors, but he whips his head around. "Hey, wait, wait, wait. How did you do that?!"

"I don't know," she says truthfully. Nolan drops the questioning. Both teenagers throw themselves through the open back door, Nolan in the lead.

"What's wrong, what's wrong?" he asks as Kat continues screaming.

"Tommy," Kat sobs hysterically, "Tommy!"

In the middle of the living room Tommy is hovering above the ground, face still soaked in blood. His arms are suspended at his sides like he's halfway through a jumping jack and he groans weakly.

"Oh my god," Nolan says, horrified.

Sunshine doesn't even know what to say.

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So. Last night.

After her flipcam died, Tommy fell to the ground and started laughing hysterically. You know, after he was done levitating. Then he passed out, and doesn't seem to remember any of it now.

So. That happened. Not weird at all.

Also, she— she guesses she teleported? Looking back on the footage, that's Sunshine's only plausible explanation. She just grabbed Nolan's hand, and suddenly, they were outside, and then they were running back up the stairs and— jeez.

But the one thing she really wants to know is why all of this bad stuff is happening. It's not like it hasn't happened before, but — it's worse.

And the Mentor dude isn't even helping at all. Seriously, what's he doing? He just shows up looking all dapper but then doesn't really know anything?

Jesus fuck. Sunshine really needs a new hobby.
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The fatigue is back.

Sunshine's in bed, sweating, feeling like she's just licked a pile of sand. She throws the covers off of her, but seconds later she'll be freezing again. She doesn't know what's wrong. Doesn't know why she feels this way, why... why...

There's so many things that are wrong. The ghosts are harassing her non-stop; whispers in her ears, scratches on her door, visions of a fire lapping over the house. It's exhausting. Even more so when she feels so... out of it. So unlike herself.

Nolan keeps trying to get her out of bed, but she won't move. She can't move. Everything inside of her is a big black mess, leaving absolutely nothing behind.

Kat is worried. Tommy is, too. But Sunshine can't find it in herself to care anymore.

She doesn't care about anything at all.
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"Victoria. I'm sorry, but it's true."

Two figures stand in the shadows of Sunshine's dark bedroom. They look over at her sleeping form and share a momentary silence. Victoria's hands are clenched at her sides, and Mentor is staring at her expectantly.

"Victoria," Mentor repeats. "You must come to terms with the truth of the matter. I know you've protected her, but there's nothing you can do when the darkness is coming from inside."

"It's not her fault," Victoria snaps, almost frothing at the mouth. "The Markons have wanted her for years now. This... this..." She trails off and shakes her head in disbelief. "I don't know how this could have happened."

"It doesn't matter how. All that matters is that it's happened. And unfortunately, Victoria, I'm not sure I can help you anymore."

She turns to him, dark gaze boring into his. "You helping her may have been a personal favor, but she is a Luiseach. Perhaps the last of her kind. It's our responsibility to fix this."

Mentor frowns, crossing his arms. "She's irresponsible. She cares more for mundane exercises than she does for protecting the spiritual realm."

"It helps her."

"But it doesn't help us."

"It doesn't matter." Victoria stands rigid, heart pounding against her ribcage. "Please. You must help me. I... I can't let Anna be punished for my actions." Her voice shakes. "Sunshine is the only one that can save her. But to lead Anna to the afterlife, we must rid the darkness inside of Sunshine."

Silence threads between both of them as they glance back at Sunshine. A shaft of moonlight pours into the room, lighting a crevice of Victoria's face. She returns her gaze to Mentor. She's never begged for anything in her life. He must understand how important this is.

"Fine," Mentor finally breathes unhappily. "But I'm only doing this for Anna."

Victoria closes her eyes in relief. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We have a long way to go." Mentor's eyes darken. "Do you have any ideas?"

She frowns. "A few."

"They'd best be good. We only have one chance at this."

Victoria rubs at her face. "We'll have to tell the mother and the fat man. Nolan, too."

"They won't be happy."

"I know. But we need their help." She pushes a breath between her teeth and leans back, darkness completely flooding over her dark form. Victoria wonders how they got here, sometimes. Wonders how she ever let herself get here. But it doesn't matter now. She has a job to look over Sunshine. She's going to adhere to that promise.

"Do you think she'll be ready?" Mentor glances at her.

Victoria blinks slowly, swallowing air. She brushes her hands over her coat and straightens, nodding. "Yes. Sunshine will be able to help Anna." Victoria begins to move towards the door, then pauses. "All we have to do is exorcise the demon."

i'm so, so, so sorry about the month long wait. i've had very little motivation, but now with the original content coming (which started in the last section of this chapter!) i'm really looking forward to end of this season! i plan maybe two or three more chapters, we'll see.

thanks! hope you enjoyed.