The sky had deepened to a pitch-black veil by the time Austin and Madison finished loading their belongings into Jo's truck. The moon hung as a faint crescent, offering little light, but the truck's headlights illuminated the bed packed with haphazardly stacked boxes and duffel bags.

Madison lingered beside the truck, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The night air was crisp, biting, as if the house's oppressive energy had spilled into the yard. On the porch, Nadia and Jo flanked Austin, who gripped a red gas canister with his good hand, the other arm cradled awkwardly in a sling.

Madison's gaze lingered on the house—a place she had once called home, now reduced to a shadowy silhouette. It loomed like a warning, its darkened windows hollow and accusing.

Jo stepped off the porch and placed a firm but kind hand on Madison's shoulder. "Look, I know you want to help. But trust me—you don't need to see this. Stay here, where it's safe."

Madison hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I just... I want to make sure it's over. That she's really gone."

"You'll know it's over," Nadia said, her voice steady but kind. "Trust us to handle this. We'll make sure she can't hurt you or your dad ever again."

Jo and Nadia both carried shotguns loaded with rock salt, their fingers resting near the triggers, ready for anything. Jo gave Austin a sharp nod. "Let's get to it. You take the lead with the gas. We'll cover you."

Austin glanced back at Madison, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Stay put, kiddo. No matter what you hear, don't come near the house."

Madison hugged herself tighter but nodded reluctantly. "Be careful."

Austin exhaled sharply and turned to follow Jo and Nadia into the house.

The air inside was thick and stale, carrying the scent of aged wood and dust. The house groaned under their steps, as though protesting their presence.

Austin moved quickly, though with a noticeable limp in his movements. The pain in his broken arm was sharp, but he pushed through it. He splashed gasoline across the living room floor in wide arcs, using his good hand to grip the canister while his injured arm hung awkwardly at his side. The canister's weight pulled on his good arm, making each movement slower, harder. The gasoline splashed in uneven patterns, but he didn't dare stop to fix it. He couldn't.

Nadia and Jo kept close, their shotguns raised, scanning the dimly lit room.

At first, there was only silence. Then came the chill—a sudden drop in temperature that made the air bite at their skin.

"She's here," Nadia murmured, her grip tightening on her gun.

The overhead light flickered, throwing shadows that seemed to crawl across the walls. A picture frame shot off its hook, shattering inches from Austin's head. He stumbled, sloshing gasoline onto his boots.

"Keep going!" Nadia barked. "Don't stop!"

Austin's jaw clenched as he forced his injured arm to work with the rest of his body. Every motion caused a sharp jab of pain, but he pushed through it, feeling the cold sweat on his forehead as he moved into the kitchen. Jo and Nadia followed. The lights pulsed erratically, and the chill deepened, cutting straight to the bone.

In the corner of the kitchen, a figure began to materialize—wisps of shadow coalescing into the twisted form of Austin's mother. Her face was contorted with rage, her mouth stretched in a soundless scream.

"Now!" Jo shouted.

She and Nadia fired in unison, the blasts of rock salt tearing through the apparition. The ghost dissipated with a shriek, her form dissolving into smoke.

"Move!" Nadia urged, nudging Austin toward the hallway.

They worked methodically, room by room, dousing every inch of the house with gasoline. But each time the ghost returned, she seemed stronger, her attacks more violent. A lamp crashed into Jo's shoulder, nearly knocking her off balance. The temperature plummeted until their breaths formed pale clouds in the air.

In the bedroom, Austin emptied the last of the gasoline. His arm ached with every movement, the muscle stiff from the sling, but he kept going. He struck a match with his good hand, his fingers slick with sweat. The tiny flame flickered in the cold air. He hesitated for a moment, his heart racing, then tossed the match onto the soaked carpet. Fire roared to life, spreading rapidly, climbing the walls and consuming the bed in an instant.

"Run!" Jo shouted.

They bolted for the door, flames licking at their heels. But just as Jo reached for the doorknob, the ghost appeared again, blocking their exit. Her eyes burned with fury, and with a flick of her hand, she sent Austin flying into the wall.

"Austin!" Nadia yelled, firing another round at the ghost.

Jo yanked at the locked door, coughing as thick smoke filled the room. The heat was unbearable, searing their skin, their lungs struggling against the choking air.

Austin staggered to his feet, his voice raw as he shouted, "I'm sorry, Mom! I'm so sorry!"

The ghost faltered, her rage flickering into something else—grief, perhaps. She let out an earsplitting wail that shook the house to its foundation. Her form burst into flames, disintegrating into ash and light.

Nadia quickly grabbed Jo and Austin by the shoulders, teleporting. 

They reappeared on the front lawn, collapsing onto the cool grass. The night air felt sharp and clean against their smoke-stung skin.

Madison was at Austin's side in seconds. "Dad! Are you okay?"

Austin coughed, managing a weak nod. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I'm fine."

Jo let out a long breath, dropping her shotgun to the ground. "I'm so glad you're an angel," she muttered, giving Nadia a grateful look.

Madison stared at Nadia, wide-eyed. "How did you...?"

Nadia held up a hand, still catching her breath. "Later."

Together, they turned to watch the house, now fully engulfed in flames. The fire roared, consuming the walls, windows, and memories within.

Jo glanced at Nadia and gave her a tired smile. "We did it."

Nadia nodded, her gaze fixed on the burning house. "It's over."

The trip to South Dakota stretched on, quiet and endless, the road unwinding beneath the truck like a dark ribbon. Nadia rested her head against the window, the cool glass pressing against her cheek as she stared out into the night. 

The steady hum of the engine, mixed with the exhaustion from the past few days, wrapped around them like a blanket. Madison had fallen asleep in the backseat, her head resting against her father's shoulder. Jo drove, her eyes locked on the road ahead, a steady focus that matched the rhythm of the tires against the asphalt.

By the time they reached Sioux Falls, the first light of dawn was beginning to break across the horizon. The sky bloomed with a pale lavender hue, the early morning light washing over the landscape.

Bobby's property came into view, a sprawling junkyard dotted with old cars and metal parts scattered across the acres of land. Jo pulled into the gravel drive, the engine sputtering to a stop, and for a moment, they all sat in the stillness, taking in the solitude of the place.

Bobby stepped onto the porch, his baseball cap perched firmly atop his head. He looked every bit the weary hunter, the kind of man who'd seen it all. He helped them unload Madison and Austin's things, and while showing them to their rooms Nadia stepped outside with Jo.

They stood in the yard, gazing out at the junkyard, the twisted shapes of old cars casting long shadows over the ground. For a few moments, the three of them simply stood there, breathing in the quiet of the place.

Jo broke the silence first. "I had a good time," she said with a small, tired smile. "Ghost and all." Her tone was light, but there was warmth in her gaze, lingering on Nadia.

Nadia smiled back, reaching out to give Jo a gentle hug. "Me too," she whispered, her voice soft. "And I couldn't have asked for a better partner."

They held each other for a moment longer, the weight of the past few days slipping away in the cool morning air. Jo squeezed Nadia's shoulders before pulling back, letting out a breath that spoke of both relief and exhaustion.

"Well," Jo said, glancing at the sky where the first rays of sunlight stretched across the horizon. "Guess I better get going. Before mama throws a fit."

"You tell her I said hi," Nadia replied, offering a smile.

"I will," Jo said, giving her a nod before climbing into her truck.

Nadia watched as Jo's truck pulled away, the sound of the engine slowly fading into the distance, leaving her alone in the quiet morning.

As she turned to head back to the house, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and smiled when she saw Dean's name flashing on the screen. Answering the call, she pressed the phone to her ear.

"Hey," she greeted him softly.

"Hey," Dean's voice sounded rough, worn, his weariness echoing across the line. "Just got through something pretty rough here. Thought I'd check in."

"What happened?" Nadia asked, concern lacing her words.

Dean let out a heavy sigh, his voice darkening. "Adam? Turns out he's been dead for a while. It was a ghoul. It... it had been pretending to be him—and his mom. They lured us in to get revenge on Dad." He paused, and Nadia could hear the pain in his voice. "It turns out Dad killed their parents years ago."

Nadia's heart sank, the weight of what Dean was saying settling heavily in her chest. She imagined how much hope he must have carried for the idea of family, only to have it torn away in such a cruel twist.

"Dean... I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with empathy. "I can't imagine how that must feel."

There was a long pause before Dean spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Yeah. But, you know, I think I get it now. Dad... he didn't bring Adam into this life because he didn't want him involved. He did it to protect him. To keep him safe." Dean sighed, a tired chuckle escaping him. "My dad didn't do everything right, but I can't be mad at him for that."

A small, sad smile tugged at Nadia's lips as she listened.

"How'd things go on your end?" Dean asked, changing the subject.

"Messy," Nadia admitted, a wry smile pulling at her lips despite the situation. "We had to burn down an entire house to deal with a vengeful spirit. Things got a little hairy there, but we pulled it off. Now I'm at Bobby's. Gonna stick around for a while, help Madison and Austin get back on their feet."

Dean's voice softened. "You're something else, you know that? It's one thing to take on a case, but you... you're always looking out for everyone."

"Somebody's gotta," Nadia replied, her smile widening. "And they're good people. They deserve a fresh start."

There was a moment of silence, warm and comforting, before Dean's voice lowered, almost hesitant. "Could really use a hug right now."

Nadia's heart swelled, warmth filling her chest at his words. "You'll get one soon," she promised, her voice steady. "I'll meet up with you as soon as I can. Promise."

They exchanged their "I love yous," soft but sincere, and Nadia ended the call, a peaceful calm settling over her.

Inside, she found Bobby in the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He looked up, giving her a small nod, and gestured toward the coffee pot. "Coffee's fresh if you're interested."

Nadia helped herself to a cup, savoring the warmth and rich aroma as she sat at the kitchen table. She looked up at Bobby, her expression thoughtful. "Do you think they'll be okay? Madison and Austin?"

Bobby leaned against the counter, his gaze steady as he took a slow sip of his coffee. "They've been through hell, and this kind of thing doesn't just go away. But... time will tell."

Nadia nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "Thanks again, Bobby. I know it was a big ask, bringing them here at the last minute."

Bobby waved a hand dismissively. "No need to thank me. I already made a few calls. I know a place down in Louisiana—a kind of hunter commune, Dubois Hollow. They take in people who've been burned by the supernatural and help them get their feet back under them. Madison and Austin would fit right in."

Nadia's eyes lit up. "Dubois Hollow? That sounds perfect." She glanced down at her coffee, a small smile tugging at her lips. "They could really use a fresh start. Somewhere safe."

Bobby grunted, taking a sip of his own coffee. His eyes glinted with a hint of mischief. "You ever been to a crawfish boil?" 

****

Spoiler Alert: A new character will be introduced next chapter.