January 19, approximately two weeks ago. Very good place to begin.

It had been a normal day to start with. I was off school for holidays and, at the time, trying to solve my storage problem. See, while my room may be considered big, I have so much stuff. Most of it is either books or crystals. There were a few paintings as well but those were all on the wall or in the cupboard where no one would ever find them. [Shit. I actually just put that on record, didn't I? . . . Yes, I'm focusing.] In short, I had taken the opportunity to fix up a few things. I decided to re-paint the white walls into something darker. I had the idea in my head and had already drawn it in one of my art books.

Lydia floated into my room and hovered beside me as she usually did. She seemed deep in thought as she looked over the half-painted wall. The unpainted parts, along with the rest of the room, were covered in drawings done with a lead pencil. They were outlines of what I was going to paint and where. "I like it."

"Glad it's up to your standards," I murmured, trying to get the shape of the moon right. It was, by far, one of the most difficult parts. "Where have you been?"

"On the other side."

I nodded. Lydia travelled between the world of the living and the dead all the time, making her way through the Veil like some spirits did. It was normal for her to vanish for days without a word. In all honesty, I have no idea why she keeps coming back here. She's never brought it up, so I haven't asked.

"Things are strange over there," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Strange how?"

"Unsettled." I gave her a look that said, 'that doesn't tell me anything'. I saw her roll her eyes through the black smoke which was constantly around her. "There is a strange feeling in the air. It's like -" She struggled for a way to explain. "It's like when you know something bad is going to happen and it does. Have you noticed anything on this side? More spirits than usual?"

"Can't say I have." I went for a second smaller brush, starting on smaller blue, white, yellow, and orange dots on the black for stars. "Maybe you're just being paranoid. It's probably nothing to worry about." I could almost see the nervousness radiating from her. "Did you see anything out of the ordinary there?" She shook her head. "See?"

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"You're probably right," she said, still sounding unsure.

"When you start seeing things like that, then you can worry. If things start becoming more haunted than they already are, then you can freak. Until one of those things happen, relax."

"Could you at least have a look?" I faced her again. "I could use an outside opinion. You might pick up on something I did not."

I sighed, putting down the brush and wiping paint off my hands with a cloth. "Alright. Alright. Let me see."

Before you ask, no, I have never been to the next world in person. Lydia has shown it to me through her eyes. Basically, she lets me see what she has. This is done by a simple spell. Yes, I practice witchcraft. Don't go burning me at the stake, now. I am the main character here so obviously I can't be killed that easily. Well, I probably can't. You'll find that out later.

I reached under my bed, currently covered by a white sheet to protect it from paint, pulling out a cardboard box. In it were various crystals, herbs, and candles. I dug around until I found quartz, tiger's eye, hematite, a purple candle, and a black candle. I lit the candles and placed the stones in a circle around them. "All yours," I told her.

Lydia placed her hand between the two candles. Black fog floated up, creating an image of the Afterworld. It stood out brightly against the darkness of her fog. I scanned the image, looking for something out of the ordinary, but saw nothing. Everything was where it should be for the part I was being shown. Rivers, streams, and waterfalls flowed clearly, occasionally becoming rapid around rocks. The grass was bright green as always, as was the forest, and multicoloured flowers dotted the fields. Even the small houses were in their right place. Everything was peaceful. Everything was normal; perfect even. Well, as perfect as things can be for paradise.

I shook my head. "Sorry, Ly. I don't see nothing."

She sighed, making the image fade. "I was so sure."

"Maybe you were imagining it." Strangely, as soon as I said those words my phone begun ringing. I reached for it and read the contact name. Ghost Buster. "Arthur?" Arthur was my cousin who was a year older than myself. He had green-blue eyes and my original hair colour which was a dark brown that seemed black. He didn't live too far from me either. Not to mention that he could also see spirits. It seemed to be a family thing. I pressed answer. "Sup, cuz?"

"The usual!" he yelled, for some reasons sounding like he was in a wind tunnel. "Things flying around my house!" A loud crash followed, making me cringe before my cousin's voice came back through the phone. "Think you could give me a hand before the folks get home?"

I laughed. "This is what you get for living in a haunted house, and yes, I'll help you." I hung up, blowing out the candles and putting the rocks away. "Come on," I told Lydia, "We've got a cousin to rescue."