•8 months later•

The past months flew by.
First, we had Christmas. Mom and Dad were grateful to have Maria back, they worried that should would still be gone on the holiday.
Then the New Year began. We had a party with a few family members who all gathered around to here the tale of how I found my sister.
Maria started school after break ended and immediately became the most popular kid in fourth grade. Everyone wanted to know about what had happened, where she had been, and how she got back.
I'm not exactly sure what she tells them, but I doubt she ever tells the whole truth.
I, on the other hand, I survived the rest of my freshman year and will be going back as a sophomore soon, since it's early August.
Maria had turned ten just last week and had a party. Mom and Dad let me invite Kaylie and Daniel, too.
You would probably think we went up to my room and played video games, but we spent most of our time trying to pin a tail on the donkey. The kids thought it was funny.
Other than all that though, I've been looking more into what had happened in the Shadow World.
I spend most nights on my phone researching. I've actually found some good information.
It's likely that what I was doing when I would 'go between worlds' is called astral projection. I've looked over it so many times and this seems the most likely.
I think it might have to do with this house as well; in the old house, nothing even close to what has happened here happened there.
This house must be like a place where the walls between worlds are thin.
I've told this to Kaylie and Daniel and, again, they think we should test my powers. So that's something to look forward to I guess.
Oh, and Maria now has a good reason to be afraid of the closet.

"Hey, Oliver."
I stop sorting out my new school stuff and turn to she Maria standing in my door way.
"What's up?"
"I'm worried."
I walk over and stand in front of her, "Why are you worried? Is it about school?"
She shrugs, "Kinda... I'm worried that somehow I'll end up in that place again. I don't wanna go back there."
I understand exactly what she was saying, because I worry about it, too. "But I'm not going to let that happen, okay?" I smile at her. She smiles back.
"Good, now go ask Dad if he can make chocolate chip pancakes, he won't say no to you."
Maria giggles an okay and runs out. I continue to smile as I go back to sorting the supplies I got for the new school year. I don't really know what to expect from this year, but I hope it's a good one.
And that no one goes missing.

•11 mounts earlier•

Maria

"Oliver! Can we play hide and seek? Please!!" I beg my older brother. I love to play hide and seek, and he's really bad and finding, so most of the time I jump out and scare him.
"Fine go hide, I'll count here." I cheer and go run off to find a hiding spot. I hear him counting as I scan the rooms. He'll find me too fast down here, I think. I turn and walk quietly upstairs.
I look into the rooms as I pass. Then I walk into the room I chose for myself and see the closet open a crack. Perfect.
I slowly open the door and close it again once I am in. My heart starts to race when I hear Oliver call, "Ready or not, here I come!"
I hold back a giggle.
I lean back against the wall as I wait to be found. The wall sinks behind me and I start to panic. I try to scream for him, but the darkness has already closed me in and I doubt he can hear me.
I don't like the dark.