"Oliver!"
I jump as here my sister scream come from upstairs. I leap from the sofa, dropping the bag of chips I am eating from. I don't stop to to keep them from spilling; I have one on my mind. Maria.
I dash up the stairs and run to her room.
"Maria! What's going on." I stop at the doorway and scan the room for Maria. I spot her sitting on the bed, back against the wall.
"There's a big spider on the wall!" She cries, her voice shrill. I let out a sigh, "You can't do stuff like that. I thought you were in trouble!"
"I-but, it's a spider..." Maria stammers.
I look over to the opposite wall and watch the spider scurry across. Sighing again, I grab a dirty cup from the bedside table and a scrap of paper. I walk to the wall and scoop the spider into the cup.
"See, I got the spider. I'm gonna throw it out side now, kay?"
She nods slowly. I turn and walk back downstairs and out onto the back porch. I set the cup down and watch the spider crawl away.
"Hi Oli! What are you doin'?" My dad calls from the picnic table.
I smile, "Just saved Maria from a big, scary spider."
Dad let's out a little chuckle, probably remembering when really did save Maria, without know how much I actually did.
"Hey, how bout when your mom gets home from work I cook us some spaghetti? Maybe we could call you friends, have them join us."
"That sounds great, Dad. I go call em now."
I run back into the house to the living room where I left my phone. I stop in my tracks as I feel the potato chips crunching under my feet. Right. That happened, I think as try to clean the mess.
After most of the chips have been thrown out (minus the ones that are now imbedded into the rug), I grab my phone and text Daniel.

Oli: hey want to come for dinner? it's spaghetti
Danny: sure my mom works the night. Kaylie and me were probably gonna have pop tarts or somthin 🤷🏻‍♂️
Oli: k see u soon 👍🏽

•••••

Later, after Mom got home from a 'shitty day of work', as she put it, and Kaylie and Daniel showed up, we all sat down and ate Dad's famous spaghetti.
"Hey Oliver," Daniel says to me now that dinner is over.
"Huh?"
"Have you tested your mind power stuff lately?"
"Daniel!" Kaylie says, slapping her brother's arm. "Is that all you care about?"
Daniel looks a little ashamed, "No... I was just wondering."
"No, I haven't been using my powers," I put air quotes around 'powers'. "I've been kinda busy with school and stuff."
"Oh, do ya think you'll ever do anything with em again?"
I think for a moment, then say to them, "You know how there's, like, a whole other world thing out there, where Maria was?"
They nod in agreement.
I continue, "The Shadow Man can't be the only one of his— I don't know... kind? There has to be others, and I think they are somehow connected to this house. I-I want to stop them."
Kaylie smiles, "Well, we're here for you. And we'll do all we can to help."