The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

Chapter 25

Sunshine's not sure how she feels about the little medium situation that went down. Mom keeps referring to him as "the idiot guy." That's been... fun. Dealing with her, even more so.

Just when Sunshine was starting to think her mother was getting better.

On another note, she's meeting up with the paranormal expert again soon — LeMaster. After that quickened, panicky voicemail she received from him, she's a little apprehensive as to what he's going to talk to her about. Something to do with the ghosts? Maybe he's found a lead?

But why is she in grave danger?

Hopefully he'll give her some good information.
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Later that day, Sunshine is back in the park, swiveling her head around as she tries to spot the paranormal expert. She begins to walk forward toward LeMaster, keys jangling in her hand as she strides. He's standing under a large oak tree, coral-orange sweater buzzing around her eyes. His hair is just as dorky as it was the last time, and he's pacing around, clearly disturbed.

"Hey," Sunshine calls. She blinks when LeMaster quickly rushes forward, an englarged picture of the bagged ghosts in his hands.

"Um," he begins, voice shaky. He breathes in deeply, hands shaking. "Before I proceed, I — I need to know from you, full disclosure, is there anything you're not telling me?" He looks — well, he looks worried and genuine. He's much different from their last meeting.

"No." Sunshine narrows her eyes slightly.

LeMaster doesn't seem relieved. "Okay," he breathes, swallowing. "I went to my guru and — I found some answers.." He trails off.

"Okay," she urges gently.

The man touches his chest. "Can we sit down?"

"I — sure.." Sunshine raises a brow but joins him beneath the tree, settling upon the soft grass. LeMaster curls his fingers around the roots of the large trunk and trembles.

"I believe this photo.." He closes his eyes and turns the bagged family to Sunshine, trying to calm himself. "Is from.. an ancient order — a, a cult."

"A — a cult?"

"The earliest, documented.." He sounds to be out of breath. "Evidence we have of this cult is from the late 19th century. The — the late 1800's." LeMaster wipes black hair from his face. "The, the, this cult — the name is a well-kept secret. It's really just called.. 'The Cult' by those not in the know."

Sunshine feels her spine tingle. Where is he leading with this?

"But what, but what they would do is, is they fear this demon, and — and this demon, they believe is.. is nurtured, and soothed by the sacrifice of a first-born daughter... in the family." His gaze trickles with fear. "What they would do is they would put a bag over the daughter's head — as, as a sacrifice offering to the demon — and, should the daughter survive, there was.. no curse, and the family is safe. Should.. the daughter perish.. the curse has been lifted from the family and the family is now safe for generations."

She bends her head forward and rocks her face in her hands. This — this is where her ghosts came from? The little girl, Anna? She was — she was sacrificed so long ago? But what about the man? The father?

"In the 1930's," LeMaster continues, voice lower, "the press got a hold of the story and.. the police immediately became involved and, and made it their mission to stamp out the cult and put an end to the order. And they told the public that's just what they did, it was squelched."

He waves his hands in front of his body. "Well.. that was in the 1930's. This photo —" LeMaster turns another picture around of a young girl swallowed by thick, heavy shadows. A pale white light illuminates her face. "Is from 1958. And again in '72." He draws the paper back and shows another young girl sprawled out in the sunlight. His eyes water. "And finally.. 1989."