Home? Home had been Channing for the longest time. She worked behind a desk for  a living and came home to Beo and wine when she wasnt. Her life was ordinary, or even boring. She gardened proudly and read like books were going out of style. That was home.

Not Elk Village. It had been over a decade since it became the haunted place she never wished to return. And even after something caused her to unknowingly drive out there, she couldn't bring herself to ever want to step foot in that dusty town ever again.

Now someone was telling her it was time.

She felt stubborn, she simply didn't want to. Everything about that place geared her up for an even bigger breakdown. Her heart was never complete, but at least it wasn't constantly strangled by the voices telling her she looked just like her mother, or know that at the end of the day everyone knew Mia was gone forever thanks to her- accident or not.

Leah rubbed her eyes and looked across her coffee table at Simon perched in a plush chair. He patiently waited for her to crawl out of her thinking mode before realizing he had her attention. "I know, you've tried to avoid Elk Village for so long, dear. But this is a part of healing."

"Healing?" She picked at her jeans, "I left that place behind me so I could heal."

Wrapping his hands with one another he leaned forwards, "I understand. But now you must face the facts."

"The facts?"

He exhaled, "Your family is part of the answer, especially your brother."

"Derek?"

"Although your father never blamed you, I don't know if I can say the same for him. When I see his figure, there's such a cloud around him full of darkness. You must go back, you must find him."

"And when I do? Then what?"

"Find the person, find the reason, find the solution," Daniel chimed in from the kitchen. He turned with the kettle in his hand, "Isn't that what Fawn said?"

"Yeah it is," she watched him pour steamy heaps of tea into three mugs, "But how could he know anything about me? I haven't talked to him since I left."

"There is only one way to find out."

--

Packing crystals or necklaces into her pockets wasn't a problem. It was shoving clothes into a bag for the drive that made her shutter. Leah stood above a camping bag she'd never used, tossing in extra clothes, head still attempting to free itself of what had occurred right where she stood. Every time she thought she heard something, she turned with paranoia.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," she mumbled, throwing a stick of deodorant on top of folded jeans.

"Me either," Daniel entered her room slowly and stopped beside her at the end of her bed, "I thought you'd be more organized than that."

She cut her eyes at him, "I think this curse has cured my OCD."

He sighed and wiggled his hands into his pockets. There was an awkward air in between them, both parties picking up on it. He trailed from the bag to her glowing green eyes beside him, "Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon."

"Would be nice," Leah gave the bag a once over before zipping it and crossing her arms. The knot in her stomach begged to be untied and there was one way to start unraveling it. Going out on a limb she decided to reach out to him. "Are you still mad at me?"

Daniel rubbed his chin, "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Oh come on, I practically jumped down your throat for nothing."

"I wasn't mad. But it did sting."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to its just all of this is messing with my head," taking a seat on the bed, Leah peered up at him, "I honestly don't know what I'd do if you guys ditched me."

He slumped onto the bed and pulled his hands from his pockets before mumbling in response, "I told you I'm not going anywhere."

"That's a relief. I need you on my team."

"Do I have to tote pompoms around?"

She cracked a smile, pulling her locks to one side of her head, "Only if you want to."

Eyes made of chocolate and kindness unwrapped a new flavor as he shone his attention into her. Sweeter than any dessert and more real than any stupid nightmare, his energy leaked out like her favorite tea from a kettle. Daniel matched her grin, "I want to."

For a moment, the storm clouds hanging over her head spread apart allowing thick golden rays to shine down. The infamous butterflies she'd heard about sprang from cocoons and fluttered in her stomach. With her pulse racing and tongue pressing against her cheek, she felt a craving like no other. The handyman beside her had evolved from being easy on the eyes to full blown handsome.

But then reality came back to her in the form of her canine companion licking away at her hands.

Leah jumped before giving Beo a razzle on the top of his head. Cheeks red, she tried to pretend she hadn't just gone teenage dream on him.

Daniel cleared his throat and readjusted on the bed, "You think he'll be alright?"

"Who?"

"Beo," he whistled for him before rubbing his back, "Has he ever been home by himself?"

She hadn't even thought about what she'd do with her furry best friend. Rude waves ripped through her. There was no way she would bring him to Elk Village, it was no argument. She couldn't put his innocent life in danger. But he couldn't stay by himself either.

Leah groaned and fell back on to her bed. There was only one person she could try.

It had been a while since Alice Reels had gotten in contact with her, perhaps she should beat her to the chase.

--

"You're doing what?!"

Leah sighed and held onto the golden necklace Simon had given to her, "You heard me. I'm going to Elk Village."

"When? Why? W-what?"

"I'm going to see my dad." It wasn't a full lie, she was going to see him. There was no way she was about to step foot in that place and not get a chance to see him. Her beating heart needed to try to make it up to him. "I'm leaving today."

"Holy cow, you're not kidding?"

"Unfortunately."

"What made you want to do this, Leah?"

"A lot. Look, I was wondering if you could babysit Beo for me? I can't take him."

"Why not?"

Leah lifted her head and peered up at her empty room, "It's too dangerous."

"Danger- wait," there was a hiss on the other end of the line and for once it wasn't a snake. Alice cut her breath sharp into the phone, "This is about that bogus craft isn't it?"

Here we go again. She sat up and rubbed her hair from her face, "Alice..."

"You're nuts, absolutely freaking nuts!"

"I'm scared!" Leah rose her voice, "I'm exhausted, I'm sore and I'm paranoid. I have to put an end to this. I wasn't calling for permission."

Nobody spoke for a good minute before Alice finally chimed back in, "What time are you leaving?"

It was a good question. Pulling her weight, Leah stood up and trotted out her bedroom into the guest room to find Daniel locking the window. She knocked on the wall grabbing his attention, "What time are we leaving?"

He shrugged, "The sooner the better."

She nodded and turned, grazing through the hall and back to her bedroom, "Soon, I'll leave the k-"

"Um, who was that?"

"Oh, that was Daniel."

"Daniel? As in a man Daniel?"

"Yes."

"When the hell did this happen?"

"The night I got into an accident. I haven't exactly had a chance to tell you anything. I'm sorry."

"Look, I'll babysit Beo for you as long as you promise me something?"

What long list could she have for Leah to try and keep up with? Rolling her eyes, she sat on the edge of her bed, "What?"

"Don't get yourself killed," Alice said, "And when all of this is done, I want to know more about Daniel. Got it?"

"You got it."

_______

Parting was such sweet sorrow.

Leah looked into the sad icy blue eyes of Beo one last time before she closed up the house and headed for the truck. Knowing he wouldn't be there to cuddle her or protect her made her heart hurt, but it would be more painful if something happened to him.

So after her door was closed, seat belt on and jacket zipped to her neck, she sat in the back of the cab giving her cozy little home one last look. It wasn't a gorgeous house, but she adored it more than the next house she'd see.

Chills teased her spine. She was actually going to see her childhood home again.

Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that moment would arrive. Maybe in a nightmare, but never in a dream.

The engine roared as her quaint structure grew smaller until it was no longer in view. Soon she wouldn't even be in Channing, all things familiar were thrown out on the very road they traveled on.

Leah pulled her legs up and leaned against the bags beside her, "So how long is this drive going to be?"

Simon turned from the passenger seat and hummed, "An hour if traffic is good."

"Yeah we're actually going to take the freeway, not your little side road, speedy," Daniel teased.

"We might get there faster that way." She had to stop herself from saying anything else along those lines. Getting to the big and dusty Elk Village was probably not a good idea. She needed time to prepare herself.

Not only was she going to be approaching her brother with pointed fingers and questions, but she was going to see her father's face for the first time in years. Her mind gassed up with wonders about his reaction to her. Would they be good or bad? Would he hug her or slam the door, would he even open it? I wouldn't.

She propped her elbow on the bags and watched the two men exchange looks in the front of the cab before pitching in, "On second hand, that's a bad idea isn't it?"

"Let's just take this one step at a time," Simon moved around in his seat, "I don't want you punching anyone else in the face. You have to be as calm as possible."

"Until I have my answers, right?"

"Period."

"Wait," she rest her hand on the shoulder of his seat, "You're telling me even after I figure this out I still have to be calm?"

"Yes. Irrational Leah won't get anywhere."

"If I find out who's doing this, I'm not going to ask them if they want tea! I've had enough and I want results."

Simon snapped his head to her, "Leah! Heed my warning. The closer we get to the answers, the more dangerous things will become. Don't give in to your fury and don't give in to the mind games."

"Well how the hell am I supposed to-"

His arm reached back and handed her a transparent yet pearlescent stone. It glimmered as he hinted for her to take it. Dealing with dark craft was allowing her to obtain some of the most beautiful items she'd ever seen. Surprise.

Leah took it and right before her eyes it turned colors from being see through to being a swirl of purples. Her lips dropped open, "Wow."

"it'll take any energy you have and hold on to it. It doesn't stop you from feeling, but it helps as much as it can. There are different colors for everything."

"So it's like a mood ring?"

"Sure," he turned back around and went back to sitting like a mannequin.

God I hate the color purple.

--

"There was a street where lights had no place. This street, bumpy and winding had no name. The trees leaned away, ashamed to have to say. That they always knew the price the travelers would have to pay."

Childishly repeating in her head, a poem from her younger years sang to her innocently. Thought it seemed dark, it was actually harmless. Her father had come up with it to describe the zigzag road that lead to their house. It was always the place for unsightly potholes that, if someone wasn't careful, would take their tires out.

When they came home late, he'd always sing it letting her know she was almost there. She could be dead asleep and sure enough she'd wake up once he began.

Those were the golden days.

Leah stood still on the side of the road watching tiny rain drops smack the asphalt. A harmless shower was making its appearance. Amongst the trees, woodland creatures nestled into their cozy nature made homes, cooing at the drops around them.

She reached her foot forwards playfully splashing in what had turned into a puddle as her chest began to hum the song.

From the side of her eye, she could see headlights rounding one of the bends in the road. The song was accurate in the sense that it was in fact bumpy and winding. However the street did have a name. As the headlights came into full view, she stepped off the road completely and whispered out, "Welcome to Jasper Road."

It was a truck, shiny and mighty that was approaching. Engine roaring closer she rose her brows. Something about that certain roar was awfully familiar to her.

In the deep shadow beside the road she stood until a creepy realization crawled from her eyes to her gut.

It was Daniel's truck. And it drove right by her.

As the hunk frame went over a bump in the ground her heart bumped too. For in the rear window of the passing was a face she knew better than any other. It was her own expression that looked out to her, a scared feature resting upon her structure.

Leah froze watching eyes of jade stare at her as if they were trying to tell her something. She couldn't do anything but watch as it zoomed by until all that was left were red tail lights that disappeared around another bend.

"Welcome to Jasper Road..." she opened her eyes from her strange dream relieved it hadn't been a nightmare. Her transition from sleeping to speaking startled the two men causing Simon to turn quickly to face her, "How did you know?"

She inhaled and sat up, "Just a hunch."

--

It was real. The white house with tan pipe boards that held secrets was so real. It stood high from the ground with two levels of windows staring out into the world. An old oak tree stood dedicated to the structure, waving it's branches over the walkway leading to the front door.

The red door with peep windows stood wide seeming to have to hold back all the things trying to burst from the house.

Leah was stunned in her seat. The last time she saw that door she shut it for good. She turned and looked up into the rear view mirror catching glances with Daniel.

"Are you ready?" He asked gently.

Not even bothering to reply she unbuckled her seat belt and put her hand on the door. Ready or not, she had to do it. I just hope this goes as planned.

Getting out and giving them one last look, a lonely Leah began to slowly walk up the walkway that still had the same cracks in it. She held her breath feeling an underwater sensation around her the closer she grew. When her feet hit the porch she wanted to run back to the truck. The hairs on her neck stood straight.

She stopped taking in the door up close.
I can do this. I can do this.

Swallowing hard and blowing out every last ounce of oxygen she'd sucked in, she slowly put her knuckles to the door feeling the wood kiss her skin. Saying a fast prayer in her head, she knocked quickly before once again holding her breath.

It seemed like it took forever. But when she heard a man's voice yelling at a yapping dog, she knew it was him.

The door opened and her heart dropped into the deep end of her chest.

"Hi dad."