It didn’t take nearly as much convincing as Levi had suspected, and he was grateful for that. Mateo had been very understanding and offered his help on the project.

“So, what is it that makes you believe that she’s not your grandmother?”

“Well,” Levi should have made a list. Things were weird in this town. When they drove over the city line, he had felt it shift. This town, this place, wasn’t real. It couldn’t have been. Mom had pointed out a double rainbow out in the distance, but Levi’s eyes were zeroed in on the flock of crows standing in a circle as if they were preparing a sacrifice.

The worst part of all is that his grandmother had greeted him in a hug, pinching his cheeks. It wasn’t that his grandmother didn’t love him. She just wasn’t a hugger. Mom had told him that people change, that she was shocked, but it was a good thing. That grandma had been working through a lot of things in her life and that she was overcoming things.

This is what he explained to Mateo.

“I think your concerns are valid.” He replied, and Levi’s head snapped back in awe.

“You do?”

“Of course,” He said, as if it were the most obvious explanation for his grandmother’s weird behavior. “This town is weird, your grandmother herself is quite weird,”

Levi narrowed his eyes in defense, frowning. What was that supposed to mean?

“That’s not what I mean,” He continued, noticing the glare. He sighed. “Look, all I’m saying, is that things are never as they seem. I have tea with grandma sometimes, she’s a very kind lady. And if you, her grandson, says she’s acting strange and that something is wrong after being here for what? A few hours? Well, then I think I’m forced to believe you, am I not?”

Levi relaxes, and nods. “Thanks.” Is what he says.

“Oh, hello there!” She greets as the two enter the living room.

“Grandma, this is-”

“Mateo!” She clasps her hands together. She doesn’t hug him. “Oh, come in dear. It’s freezing out there.” Mateo laughs and shakes his head in surprise, glancing at Levi. Levi motions his hands towards her in a manner that silently asks Mateo if he sees it as well. Mateo shakes his head and as his grandmother guides them into the house, Mateo leans over to him.

“She’s like this all the time. Nothing strange yet.” Levi couldn’t do anything except frown. When he needs to prove he’s right, she acts normal.

Whoever is controlling his grandmother is good at this game. But Levi had thought he was pretty good as well. He had learned how to play chess from his father at a young age. He thought of himself as competitive. He was going to win.

They followed her into the kitchen.

“You boys hungry?”

When it was just Levi, all he had received was a cookie. When Mateo was here it’s “You boys hungry?”

Possession is still a very real possibility.

“No, thank you.” Mateo declined, taking a seat on the stool across from his grandmother. Levi stood in the doorway. “Is this normal for you?” Mateo nods.

“Your grandmother makes my favorite tea for me.” He says softly, hands in his lap as he sits. Levi sat on the stool between them while his grandmother boiled the water.

“Do you not have tea at home?”

Mateo shrugged.

“There is. Your grandmother is very nice. Always brews me a cup.”

They sat there silently, Levi’s legs swinging in his seat as they waited for the tea to finish. Once it was done, she set it out for them. Levi took his cup and sipped. Mateo didn’t. He sat there, hands in his lap, waiting.

Stolen novel; please report.

Levi set his own cup down. Why was it that everyone in this town was so weird?

“Hi, Levi.” His mom came through the door, swooping him into her arms, happy.

“Mom, please. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. You have a reputation to upkeep with grandma?” His grandmother laughed from behind him, and even Mateo was smiling.

“Mom, this is Mateo. He lives down the street.” His mom’s smile wobbled, faltering slightly.

She glanced at the bar stool, and then towards his grandmother.

“Mateo?” His mom asked. Her previous smile diminishing for a reason Levi wasn’t sure of. This was good. He made friends. This was what she wanted.

Sure, maybe it was a business deal but she didn’t need to know the intricacies of friendship.

He gestured back towards the stool to find that Mateo was already gone, his cup of tea still steaming. “Oh.” He muttered. When had he slipped out? He turned to his grandmother for confirmation, who had only gave him a smile in return. Maybe it was supposed to be comforting, but in reality, it was giving him a headache.

“He must have left. I didn’t see him leave-”

“That’s just fine, my boy.” His grandma gave his shoulders a gentle, reassuring squeeze. It was anything but.

“Mom, can I talk to you?” He recognized that look. That look that told him something was upsetting his mother. And that grandma had done something that caused it.

“Of course. Levi, won’t you give us a moment.”

Levi, against his will, left the kitchen. He didn’t want to hear whatever it was that his mom and grandmother was discussing.

Stepping out in the front yard, he searched for Mateo. He had been in the kitchen one moment and then gone the next. That wasn’t normal. Mateo was nowhere to be seen, however -

“Francesca!” He called. He hurried down the path and stopped in front of her. Her eyes were wide, startled.

“What do you want?” She snapped, once her composure returned.

“Have you seen your brother?” Her wide, startled glare disappeared at once.

Levi wasn’t exactly sure what it was anymore.

“He was here one minute, gone the next.”

“Excuse me?” She asked, clutching her bag closer to her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes and he watched as she wiped them away, a bit aggressively, with her sleeve.

“Your brother-”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, but he’s not my brother.”

“I thought-”

“Well you thought wrong.” He took a step back.

“I’m sorry, I must have misunderstood.” He deflected. He thought back to meeting Mateo.

Sorry about my sister.

Levi wouldn’t call himself the best listener, but that was what Mateo had said.

Right?

“Have fun playing with ghosts, jerk.” She snapped out before turning away and hurrying home. Her bag still clutched closely to her, as if Levi would snatch it.

When he couldn’t find Mateo again that day, he called it off.

When he returned, his mom was sitting on the couch reading a new book.

“Library?”

“It’s a wonderful one. I’ll take you this coming week.” She smiled, gesturing for him to join her. He did.

“Your friend, Mateo?” She asked. “Did you find him? Your grandmother says he left abruptly. Had to get home.” Levi shook his head.

“You don’t think he’s real, do you?” He asked. The silence was his confirmation.

“Levi-”

“I’m not crazy, mom.” He wasn’t. His grandmother had seen him. Had greeted him before Levi had even introduced him.

But he didn’t trust his grandmother right now.

He grabbed the blanket, pulling it over himself.

“I never said you were.”

They fell silent.

“You wanna watch a movie?”

“Yeah.” He agreed, letting himself fall into silence as his mom set up.

Demons and ghosts aside, all he knew anymore was that he was not looking forward for school on Monday.