“Targets?”
“Yes, sorry. That’s what you are in my world. You’ve been targeted.”
“Right. You mentioned earlier that you think you might be able to help me with this affinity I seem to have for the spirit world.”
“I certainly hope to. I have some friends, like I said. I’ll reach out to Calliope, see what she knows and if she has some contacts. Maybe we can ask your friends, Talon and Mercy.”
“They’re not friends,” I say. “They’re mediums who did a reading for me, but yeah, maybe they would know. They seemed kind of freaked out the last time they saw me, though. I don’t think they’ve had experiences like the ones I provide.”
“Well, to be fair, it’s uncommon. I’ve only had a few cases like this myself over the years.”
“I wish I knew why.”
“That’s the mystery.” He gives me a small smile. “But I’m here to help you figure it out. One thing at a time, though. First we get the Horror back where it belongs. Then we’ll see if we can figure out this other aspect.”
As he speaks, a knot forms in my stomach, a resistance to the idea of sending my dad’s spirit back, and the weird dream I had replays in my mind.
“Do you have to?”
Wider cocks his head. “What?”
“Send him back.”
“Yeah, that’s my entire job. Listen, Keagan.” He sets his mug down on the table and puts his warm hand over mine. “I know to you, he’s your dad, but you have to try and let go of that idea. He’s not the same person he was when he was a living being. Aspects of him are still there, but it’s almost like an illusion, something the spirit world uses to stay connected to the human realm.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like the way it’s attached to you because of the connection you had when it was alive. But that thing is not your dad anymore. It’s a shell or a shadow of that leftover energy.”
“Leftover energy.” I nod. “You mean, like, it’s almost manipulating me?”
“Yes. That’s exactly how to put it. It’s a manipulation. It—the spirit—is using your former relationship to your dad as an entry point to this world, and I know it sucks, and I know it’s hard, butyou have to trust me when I say that this is not your father, and you can’t trust it.”
I nod, even as the strange interaction I had in my dream swirls around my head.
“I understand. Can they make you dream stuff?”
“What do you mean?”
“Can… can a Horror get in your head and make you dream things?”
“It’s not really a dream, as much as it’s a type of communication. It may feel dreamlike because they’ll often come to you when your defenses are down, like when you’re sleeping. Did something happen?”
“No,” I lie. “I was just wondering.” I’m not sure why I’m lying, but it feels like the right thing to do at the moment.
Maybe I’m afraid to sound crazy, although I don’t know how I could, given everything Wilder has said to me this morning over coffee.
Wilder sits back in his chair. “I want to go check on your house and see how things are going. Then I’ll call Calliope, and we can start making a plan on how we can make your house safe and get you back in there.” He smiles. “You may have to stay here for a little while longer, if you’re comfortable with that.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m definitely not going back there by myself. Not until I know it’s safe.”
He squeezes my hand briefly before releasing it. “I agree with that plan. It’s my job to banish the Horror, but it’s also my job to keep you safe in the process. You have my word.”
“Okay. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I know. Make yourself at home. Shower, order food. Whatever you like. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Am I safe here?”
