Phantom Lens

Chapter 3

Gwen sat in her living room, Caleb in her arms, Harmony next to her. She needed to talk to Noah but couldn't. She had promised him that she wouldn't continue with her stories or speak of anything related to horror. She didn't want to fight with him. Not again.

"Mommy, Maria wants to know why you're so sad."

Her daughter's voice woke her out of her stupor, "What?"

"Maria wants to know why you're so sad," Harmony repeated.

"Baby Bird, why did you draw Maria?" Gwen asked as she watched her daughter draw a picture of a rainbow.

"I like her. She's nice."

"What do you two talk about?" the question popped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

Harmony pursed her small lips before answering, "She tells me about her family. She said you're nice."

"Really?" Gwen asked.

Had Harmony somehow seen the photos in the basement?

Harmony became quiet and turned her head to her left before asking, "What?"

Gwen watched Harmony's eyes widen and her face pucker up in pain before yelling, "Be quiet! You lie! You lie!" Harmony stood up, her fists clenched as she shouted to what Gwen assumed was Maria.

"Harmony, what's the matter?" Gwen asked, alarmed. She began rocking Caleb who was disturbed by his sister's sudden screaming.

Harmony was now sobbing, "You lie. Mommy, Maria is a liar."

Gwen's eyebrows furled together, "What are you talking about? What did she lie about?"

Harmony walked around the coffee table and hugged her mother, "She said you're sad because he's going to kill you."

Gwen froze as gooseflesh rose on her arms, "What?"

"He's not going to kill you is he Mommy?"

Gwen wrapped a comforting arm around her daughter and kissed her forehead while balancing her son in her other arm, "No, of course not. I'm not going anywhere, Baby Bird. I'm here for you."

While she clutched her children close, one thought filled her head.

Who is this "he" that Harmony was referring to?

Later that afternoon, Gwen decided to call in reinforcements.

"I came as soon as I could. Do you still have the picture of the entity in your phone?" Sonya asked, her dark eyes bouncing around the two-story colonial country home. She was a medium that Gwen had contacted in the past while gathering information on apparitions.

"No, I deleted it. I tried taking another picture but it didn't show up. I don't know if I'm just imagining things or if something really is in this house."

"You said your daughter has an imaginary friend?" Sonya asked.

"Yes. My husband found some old photographs of a young girl and the next thing I know my daughter is drawing her," Gwen explained.

"I'm definitely feeling something in here," Sonya closed her eyes and tried to take in her surroundings. "I think we should burn some sage."

"What the Hell is going on in here?"

Both women turned to see Noah walking into the living room, his mouth set in a grim line.

"Noah!" Gwen was clearly taken aback by his presence. "What are you doing home so early?"