The Wandering.

Chapter 9

As I look out of my bedroom window
I see the chaos that's calling me
So the wind blows wherever it will go
It's all too much for me

- The Pretty Reckless

1

This town knew the pain of loss. They knew it so well that heartbreak ran through the very veins of Sachem Bay, imprinted securely in their identity, reminding them that they owned nothing. A town cursed to spiritual communism, in which any child or loved one could be taken away and never seen again. Of course, the people would forget after a few years, take down their guard and believe the high tide is over, until their child is ripped from their home and into oblivion. This town was a ghost town, and not just in the literal sense. For Shari, Sachem Bay was the place darkness could only grow, and she never forgot the truth of what lurked there.

Shari would often think back to the exorcism they performed at the age of 18, a decade ago. They were all there, Shari, Scott, Prue Harris, Diana Jet and Logan Ledger, each stood in the large clearing in the centre of Secular Woods, each holding a large candle, except for Justin Wainwright (Father Justin), who was holding a large cross.

She remembered Justin reading some exorcism line from the Bible, a prayer beforehand and how the candles lit into a powerful flame, a strong wind blowing around them and she remembered how the flame was defiant against the force of the wind. The rest only came to her in flashes, she wasn't sure what happened those ten years ago, but she remembered the darkness, the shadows and how cold she felt. The unknown entity was weakened from the exorcism, but not entirely vanquished - Justin fell weak into a state of unconsciousness, just enough to shatter the evil.

And for the past ten years, it seemed the entity pieced itself back together, bit by bit, reforming it's shattered form. And yet, Shari knew the rules of the Other Side. Only three types of people could see ghosts. Children, for being so fresh to this world had weaker conscience, therefore were more perceptible to influence from darker beings. The second type of people who could also see ghosts were those who had stepped onto the astral plane - also known as the Other Side. The atmosphere of the astral world had imprinted on those who had experienced the Other Side, and therefore they could see through the wall to the astral plane. The third type of people to be able to see through the glass of the ghost world, was born Mediums - those with the natural power to see ghosts, and bring them forth through a calling.

It was this information that Shari discovered through Father Justin, ten years ago. And Shari was one of those who had stepped on to the astral plane - she was therefore able to see the physical spirits.

As Shari sat on the porch, staring into the trees in the midday sunshine on Wednesday 23rd of May, she thought back to the time she stepped on to the astral plane for the first time.

She had recently turned eighteen, and the exorcism had taken place, Justin Wainwright had collapsed into a state of unconsciousness. The candles had extinguished, leaving Shari feeling sick and dizzy. She felt a pull from the inside, hard and painful. With an exasperating sigh, Shari fell to the floor.

And when she awoke, she was somewhere else. Funnily, it was the exact same location, but the atmosphere was a sepia grey colour and there was a heavy wind blowing as if a small hurricane was approaching. Everywhere was deserted, as if abandoned for many years.

And Shari saw It. The darkness, the shadows circling, cowering into the trees. It was a small shattered segment of the entity they had recently vanquished, weakened and pathetic.