This couldn't be happening to her. This could not be happening...

All this time...for the past two long years...she'd thought she was crazy. She'd been told over and over and over again that she was making it all up, that her mind had been damaged, that she was seeing Sam because she couldn't let go...because she was filled with guilt over the fact that Sam had died and she had gotten to live. 

 She'd been diagnosed with actual mental disorders that easily explained why her sister had been haunting her for two years. Two long years...

She'd been dragged to therapist's offices and hospitals. She'd been studied and questioned and then she'd been drugged until she couldn't tell whether she was awake or asleep at times. She'd been told by everyone in her life that she was broken and...she had believed them. She'd had no choice but to believe them because Sam was dead. And people didn't come back from death. They stayed dead.

But, all those people had been wrong.

She wasn't broken. She wasn't slowly losing her mind.

She was seeing...her sister.

She was seeing...there was a word for what she was seeing. There was a word for what her sister was now.

Ghost.

She was seeing Sam's ghost. But, she wasn't only seeing Sam's...ghost. She was seeing other people, too. Other people...who were just like Sam.

She was seeing Jessica, that young girl's sister, who'd been missing for an entire year. And if Jessica was with Sam, then Jessica was...dead. And so was the other girl who'd joined them. All three of them were...dead.

What was she supposed to do with that information? How was she supposed to handle it, to deal with the fact that Sam was not safe and sound and resting in heaven? But, instead, Sam was trapped in...some other place. A place that had turned her into some faded, coal eyed version of herself, a place that...she was trying to get away from?

Sam was suffering. Her own sister, who she'd loved more than anything, was trapped in some hellish place...and she was suffering. And those other girls, too. All three of them were...trapped...and they were coming to her...for help?

Only, she couldn't help her sister. She couldn't help the other two girls. They were dead! They were beyond help!

This wasn't a movie or a book. This wasn't fantasy. This was life and in real life, there was no hope of helping Sam and those girls escape whatever hell they'd been thrust down into!  Wherever they'd wound up was where they were going to have to stay!

 Which meant that she was going to have to spend the rest of her life being tormented. She was going to have spend the rest of her life walking around like everything was fine and normal, and all the while knowing that her own flesh and blood...was left on her own somewhere in hell.

A part of her thought that she should be relieved at the mere notion that her mind wasn't failing her. At least, in one way. But, she couldn't feel relief. She couldn't feel anything but a sickening, painful dread that was lodged in her chest like an ice cold spike. There would never be any relief for her, there would never be any sort of peace or happiness because she would have to go on knowing that her own sister was not at peace...and probably never would be.

Oh god. How was she supposed to face her parents?  How was she supposed to pretend that she had no idea their daughter was in hell?

Clydie felt her body slam to a halt and she found herself standing just out of the reach of the waves, struggling as she tried to catch her breath. But, she couldn't breathe. That cold spike of sickness in her chest would make sure that she wouldn't be able to draw in a full, easy breath ever again.

Oh god. Sam...

Sam...silently screaming and clawing...asking for help? It was too...much. How on earth could she go on know that her sister was...desperate and scared and hurting... How on earth could she go on knowing that her own sister...hadn't been allowed into heaven?

A heavy sound fell on her ears and she glanced to her right, just in time to see a dark shape coming straight at her. That shape slammed into her with all the force of a charging bull and she felt her feet leaving the ground, felt her body flying through the air. And then she was colliding with something hard enough to jar her bones and shift her organs. The breath left her lungs in a painful rush and even before she could pull that breath back in, a weight dropped onto her...and hands seized the front of her shirt, jerking her upper body right up off...the sand?

"Tell me what you know about Jessica!" a deep voice rumbled at her.

She tried to focus her gaze on the shadow hovering over her, but the hands gripping her gave her a hard shake, snapping her head backwards hard enough to rattle her brain around.

"Katie said you knew something about my sister! Tell me what you know!" the voice barked. She was given one split second to answer and when she didn't, she was shaken again, sending sharp pain spiraling along her neck and spine. "Katie said you saw her! Where did you see Jessica! Answer me, you little bitch!"

"I-I didn't!" she herself rasp, her body suddenly jerking back to life and her hands going up to grip the ones holding onto her, trying to pry them off. "I didn't see anybody! Let me go!"

"You're lying!" the voice boomed right in her face. "You knew she burned her arm! How would you know that if you hadn't seen her!"

She had no answer for that, so she just kept trying to get those hands off her, but it was impossible. They had her in an iron grip and they weren't letting go.

"You know something! You wouldn't have ran if you didn't know something!" the voice raged. "She's my sister! You have to tell me where you fucking saw her!"

"I didn't see her anywhere!" she forced the words out just as one of those hands let go their grip on her and then drew back into the air and she stiffened, bracing to feel that hand ramming against her face.

"Get off her!" a second, deeper voice rent the air and a flash of a second later, something swiped in between Clydie and the person hold her, a loud crack ringing out.

Right before her eyes, the person gripping her shirt went flying sideways, causing the weight crushing her down into the sand to lift. And as soon as that weight was gone from her, Clydie was moving, her body scrambling backward across the cold, hard beach, her gaze quickly falling on the two forms just out in front of her.

Even through the moonlight, she instantly recognized one of those shadowy figures. It was Julian Donovan. And Julian was giving the person who'd been on top of her a stiff beating.

He had hold of the person with one hand and was driving his free hand into the person's face again and again, just as fast as he could draw back. Clydie stared on with a mix of horror, and relief, as another few blows were dealt and then Julian tossed the person aside like so much trash, flinging the body away from him and watching as it thudded down just out in the waves, sending a spray of water upward into the air, where the droplets caught like diamonds beneath the white moonlight.

Julian stood, hands clenched at his sides, as the person struggled to get himself up out of the lapping waves and onto his feet, wobbling slightly as he finally managed it. "Get the hell out of here! Go on! Get, you little fuck!" he snarled, taking a menacing step toward that swaying figure.

The person instantly jolted into motion and lurched away down the beach, staggering as they disappeared out into the darkness. And a bare moment later, Julian was hurrying back toward Clydie, leaning over and offering her his hand.

"Are you alright? Did he...Clydie!" he exclaimed, his surprise evident. "Clydie? What in the name of hell!"

Clydie took hold of the large, warm hand extended to her and allowed Julian to pull her up onto her feet. That movement had the world swimming around her and Julian had to take hold of her shoulders to keep her steady and upright.

"Clydie, did that boy hurt you? Did he...did he lay his hands you?" he asked in a gruff voice, bending down so he could look into her eyes.

She shook her head, trying to get her mind and the rest of her body to re-connect so that she could answer. "No. No, I-I'm okay. He didn't hurt me."

Julian studied her for a long minute, the night darkening his eyes to near pitch. "What on earth are you doing out here in the dead of night? And alone!"

She ignored his questions because she had a question of her own. "Julian, how-how did you find me? Were you...did you follow me?" she croaked out, feeling herself hovering on the brink of tears.

And there were so many reasons for her to break down at that moment. So many reasons...

"Clydie, I didn't follow you. My house is right there," Julian stated, pointing past her shoulder. "I heard that kid screaming and I came out to see what in hell was going on. And thank god I did!"

She turned to glance over her shoulder, glimpsing a small house set back from the beach, its windows all lighted up. She found a measure of solace in knowing that Julian Donovan had again found her completely by accident.

"Clydie, you're shaking like a leaf. Why don't you come inside and we'll make sure that you're really alright," Julian suggested, turning her around and moving her across the sand, toward the rocky bank that led up to his property.

She didn't protest. The thought of being someplace warm and bright and away from the darkness and the cold wind pushing past felt like a prayer answered.

Julian, his arm firmly around her shoulders, led her over to the rocks and up the wooden steps built over them. He then ushered her across the backyard and up onto a large, wooden deck, pushing open the sliding glass door there and leading her into the brightly lit kitchen. The light was a shock to her senses after being out in the night for so long and the sudden warmth, while welcomed, felt almost smothering.

Closing the door behind them, Julian moved her across the large room and over to a small, square table. "Here, have a seat. I'll get you some water."

Clydie stared up at the man, trying to tamp down all the awful things swirling around inside her, but she couldn't manage it. She was suddenly feeling the pain and rage of her assailant striking her like a fist to the gut. She could understand why he'd done that, why he'd been willing to beat answers out of her, if necessary. His sister had been missing for a year and his family were left with no answers, left to wonder if she was alive or dead, if she was scared and alone...if she was suffering. If it was Sam who was missing, she'd probably be willing to do that same thing.

Dropping down into one of the four chairs, she watched as Julian strode over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water...and a measure of dread began to snake through her belly. He was going to want answers from her that she didn't have. And so would her parents. Frank and Ella were going to want to know what happened to her and she had no reasonable explanation that she could offer up. She certainly couldn't tell anyone the truth! They already thought she was crazy! If she told them...what she'd found out...what was really happening to her...they'd have her committed before she could blink.

"Here you go," Julian said, handing her the water and then pulling out the chair next to her and taking a seat. "Now, tell me what's going on. You're soakin' wet, half frozen, and I can smell whiskey on you.  There's a story here and if you'll tell me about it, maybe I can help?"

Clydie turned her gaze to the water bottle she was holding in her wildly trembling hands, trying to ignore the way his accent sounded so much deeper than she remembered.

"Clydie? That boy out there was ready to knock a few of your teeth out.  Its plain as day that you're in some kind of trouble. You can talk to me. I promise, I'll do what I can for you," Julian urged, his tone soft.

What on earth could Julian Donovan do for her? What could anyone do for her?

"Clydie, its alright. Whatever it is, I'll listen. And I won't judge," Julian said, reaching out to lay a hand on her knee, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

An inadvertent sob slid past her throat and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to drive the memories of Sam, screaming and tearing at her, out of her mind. But, she couldn't. And what would be the use anyway? She would see Sam again. And again and again and again. It would never stop. And knowing...or at least now assuming...that it was outside of herself, that it might be something she had absolutely no real hope of ever controlling, was even more terrifying than the notion that it was all in her head.

"No, please, don't cry!" Julian beseeched, a measure of panic in his voice. "You don't have to cry! I'm sure, if you'll just talk to me, we can figure everything out!"

Unless Julian Donovan could figure out a way to pull her sister up out of hell and then help her get into heaven, where she really belonged, then he could be of absolutely no help to her.

The realization of what was really happening to Sam took her breath away. She was swept with such a feeling of helplessness and dread that it was all but crushing. As another sob slid out of her, she was on her feet, letting the bottle of water thunk to the floor.

"Wait! Clydie, where're you going!" Julian demanded, getting to his own feet and trying to block her way.

"Please, I just need to go! Please!" she sobbed, shoving her way past him and making for the sliding door.

She jerked the thing open and shot out into the darkness, the cool air making her gasp as she flew across the deck and hit the yard, racing toward the wooden steps. Once she hit the beach, she pointed herself in what she hoped was the direction of home and took off. 

 She just wanted to get home...and talk to her dad. He might understand.

Ella...she would most certainly not understand and would probably have her taken to the nearest hospital and locked down for a few days. But, her dad would listen. He always listened and he always tried to help.

And she needed his help with...this. 

 She didn't want her parents to know how bad thing were, she didn't want them to know the reality of what had become of Sam, because they loved Sam and they thought she was tucked away in some safe place, waiting to be reunited with them. 

 But, she couldn't deal with this all by herself.

She needed to lay this at someone else's feet. She need to let someone else come up with a solution because she truly and honestly did not feel like this was something that she could deal with on her own. Not anymore.

Her legs were pumping beneath her, her feet pounding the hard packed sand, as she raced with the wind, racing alongside the moaning sea, her mind dead set on getting to her dad and laying some of her burden off and onto him.

It seemed to take forever and a day to make it back up the beach far enough to finally see the outline of her house coming into view. But, finally it was there, just up the way, a few of its windows burning bright against the darkness and she barreled toward it, a rough, breathless sob of relief bursting out of her. She was home! And her dad would know what to do...

However, after racing along for a few more yards, her relief abruptly turned into something that brought her to a screeching halt. She hadn't quite reached the rickety wooden steps yet, but she could see the back garden well enough to make out those figures hidden just beneath the bows of the gnarled old evergreen trees.

The three of them were standing there, beside the gazebo, pale and stark against the black of the night...facing the house, watching it like three unmoving statues. They were standing there, watching and waiting...for her.

An inadvertent gasp slid out of her and at that same instant, all three of those pale figures turned toward her in unison, their gleaming, voided eyes landing squarely on her, sending terror spiking straight through her. Without stalling or pausing to consider, she whipped back around and tore away back down the beach, feeling as if the Devil himself was right on her heels, breathing down her neck.

Even as she running away as fast as her legs could carry her, she felt a pang of guilt strike her because...she was running away from her sister. But, she couldn't stop herself. The mere idea that those things...those leftovers that had once been actual living people...were there in the darkness, waiting to claw at her, was more than she could bear.

Stark terror and dread were pushing her forward at a breakneck speed and as she flew through the darkness, she found herself wondering exactly how she was supposed to move past this very point when she was too afraid to even make it back into her own house.

She had it in her mind to run all the way back to the bonfire and just hope that Matt was there...and that Jessica's family was not. But, then she felt a sudden waft of thick iciness wash over her back and shoulders, letting her know that Sam was behind her, touching her, clawing and grasping at her. With no input from her mind, her body veered sharply to the right, heading straight for the wooden steps that led up to Julian Donovan's property, which she'd somehow reached in what felt like record time.

She took the steps two at a time and then shot across the dark expanse of yard, feeling that cold film seeping into her skin, knowing that if she turned around Sam and the other two girls would be right there, right on top of her, their mouths moving and their hands swiping. And she couldn't... She just couldn't face them. Not yet. Not when she knew that it was really Sam...really Jessica...desperate and wild because they wanted her help.

Hitting the back deck at a flat out run, she reached the glass doors, which were no longer spilling light out into the darkness, and grabbed hold of the metal handle, pulling with all her might. But, they were locked. Panic and fear rose up inside her, choking her, overwhelming her, and she felt her fists beating against the glass hard enough to rattle the door in its frame.

"Julian! Julian! Open the door! Please!" she heard herself screeching and all the while, she could feel that cold film beneath her sweater, dripping down her back.

And with a sudden jolt, she realized those images behind her were reflected in the darkened glass door. She could see them right there behind her...glowing white in the moonlight...their mouths silently screaming at her, their hands desperately grasping at her... Or perhaps, they weren't screaming. Perhaps they were...begging...pleading with her...

She felt it happening. She felt herself starting to freeze up...but this time, she wasn't going to allow it! She squeezed her eyes closed and pounded against the door with all her strength, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Julian! Open the door! Please!"

A couple of seconds later, she heard a sound that had her eyes flying open and she found herself looking at Julian as he hurriedly unlocked the door, the kitchen all lighted up behind him. As soon as he pulled the sliding door open, she was over the threshold and just because he was warm and alive, she threw herself at the man...who instantly had his arms wrapped around her and was holding onto her as tightly as he could.

"Clydie! What in God's name is going on! You sounded like you were scared to death!" Julian rasped and hearing that, she just...broke.

God...  This was all God's fault.  If only he'd taken Sam into heaven, like he should have...

She was sobbing then, weeping so that she knew she sounded like some sort of wounded animal, but she couldn't stop herself. And why should she? She could still feel the icy cold film that her dead sister and her two new friends had left behind! Why should she have to be brave and keep herself together! She deserved to fly apart at the seams!

Without asking any more questions, Julian scooped her up off her feet and settled her into his arms, striding across the room. She didn't bother to argue. She just covered her face with her hands and tried to block out the image of her sister and those two girls, raking and clawing at her in a frenzied effort to get her to help.

Or maybe...  Maybe it was the opposite?  Maybe they were clawing at her...in a frenzied effort to pull her down into hell with them. Sam had tried to kill her, after all. So, maybe Sam...and a couple of her new friends...were trying to finish the job?