The Ghostlight Girls | Part Two | Trinee

Chapter Twelve

I wake up in the middle of the night, groggy and disoriented. It takes me a while to realize the buzzing sound on my nightstand is my phone. "Girl, you crazy texting all hours of the night," I mutter half-asleep. But when I reach over and grab it, I realize it's actually a call from Nana.

I swipe my phone open and hold it to my ear, my voice still heavy with sleep. "Hello?"

"Trinee, baby," Nana's voice comes through, filled with delight as if she's got a secret to tell me. "Your mom and dad and Kiandra aren't answering. Tell them to turn their ringers on."

Confusion sweeps over me. "Nana, it's almost midnight. Is something wrong?"

"Oh no, dear, nothing's wrong," she chuckles. "Everything's great! Your Pop-pop has come to pay me a visit."

My blood runs cold in my veins. "Pop-pop is there?"

"Yes, isn't that nice? Tell the rest of your family to come over so they can see him."

Oh my God, no. "Nana," I manage to say, trying to steady my trembling voice, "We'll be right there, okay? Just hold tight. I'll be right there."

I end the call, my mind racing. I consider waking up Mom, Dad, and Kiandra, but then I shake my head. No, this is my mistake, I need to fix it. But I can't do it alone. I find Cerys in my contacts and press the button to dial. "Please, please, please, pick up," I whisper to myself.

After several rings, Cerys answers. She sounds tired but alert. "Trinee? What is it?"

"The shade's back," I blurt out, trying to keep my panic in check. "It's at my grandma's house."

There's a moment of silence, followed by a sound that must be Cerys slapping her forehead. "Oh crap! That's the emotional anchor it needed. Text me the address. I'll meet you there." And then she hangs up.

I look down at my sleep wear—a pair of sweatpants and an old Southside sweatshirt where half the letters have peeled off. I shrug and throw on my jacket, slipping on my trusty combat boots. I grab my bike from the garage, knowing it's the fastest way to get there. With my heart pounding in my chest, I pedal as fast as I can through the night, the wind whipping past me, I'm sure making my hair even wilder than usual.

"Please, please, please, be okay," I repeat to myself, my words carried away by the wind.

I arrive at Nana's house just after Cerys and her mom pull up. I jump off my bike, letting it crash into the overgrown grass in the front yard. "She's in there," I say, my voice filled with desperation.

"Trinee, hold on a second," Cerys says, putting her hand on my shoulder. "Things are going to be a lot more dangerous this time. There's no salt containing the shade anymore. A free shade, especially one that's this twisted up, can be really unpredictable."

"We still have to do something!" I insist, my voice trembling.

"Of course we do, but I want you prepared," Cerys replies, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. We turn to head inside, with Cerys's mom following closely behind, carrying the attache. I fumble with the key and the lock in the darkness, but eventually, we manage to enter the house.

The interior is eerily quiet. For a moment, I think we've come too late, that maybe the shade has feasted on Nana's soul or something. But then I hear her voice coming from the sitting room. "Kiandra? Is that you?"

"Nana!" I shout, lunging forward, but Cerys grabs hold of my arm. I look back at her, and she makes a gesture with her palm facing down, reminding me to be careful. I force myself to slow down. I watch as Cerys's mom hands her the bell, the one she called the Sanctifier. Then we step carefully across the threshold and into the sitting room doorway.