The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

Chapter 26

Since LeMaster isn't exactly being too helpful on the current situation, Sunshine is at a loss for what to do next. Her mother's only gotten worse and Creepy Lady hasn't shown up. She's all alone in this mystery now, and it's up to her to solve it.

How, though?

Well, obviously the worst thing to do: use a Ouija board.

She's aware her viewers will be angry, and she's aware this could end badly for her, but it's her last resort. Clearly there's no one left to aid her, so she has to take her own path right now.

If the medium was right... then perhaps there is a darker presence in the house. And perhaps she can speak to this presence through the board. That can work, right?

As Sunshine lifts the board and reads over the small white words covering the front, a soft but quick rapping on the door sends her to her feet. She tilts her head and pads toward the door, curiosity edging her on.

"Hello?" She slides her body past the window and looks outside. For a moment it seems there's no one there, until a gray cloak blinds her view and Creepy Lady is staring back at her with bleak brown eyes.

Sunshine blinks in surprise and opens the door, stepping back as the woman walks in. "Something's wrong."

"Okay." She raises a brow as Creepy Lady stalks closer.

"Are you okay." The woman's voice almost takes on an accusatory tone.

"Um..." Sunshine brushes brown hair from her face, biting her lip. She gives in to Creepy Lady's protective glare. "No, not really. I mean.. things have gotten worse with mom and everything."

The woman doesn't respond and jerks her head in the direction of the Ouija Board, brows pressing together. "What are you doing with this?"

"Well, things —"

"Why do you have this?"

"Things have gotten worse!"

Creepy Lady grits her teeth. "You can not use this. Tell me you will not use this. Put this away." She bends down and grips the lid between her outstretched fingers.

"Okay, okay, I won't use it." Sunshine crosses her arms as the woman picks up the picture of the bagged family.

"Why do you have this?" Her words are at a dangerous low. A shiver runs down Sunshine's back.

"That's my ghosts," she responds slowly.

Creepy Lady looks almost sentimental for a second. She turns towards Sunshine and flicks black hair out of her face, breathing in. "Can you drive?"

"Yeah.."

"We need to go somewhere. I need to show you something." The woman sets down the picture

"Uhhh, I don't know if I'm comfortable with —"

"We need to go right now."

"Okay, okay.." Sunshine shakes her head. This should be fun.

The car ride to this mysterious place is quiet and awkward. Or, maybe it's just awkward to Sunshine. Creepy Lady seems lost in her own head; she simply stares out of the window and makes small gestures on where to drive.

And now they're here. A loose, winding trail snakes through a path, surrounded by a grove of trees that twist and curl overhead. Creepy Lady steps out of the car and stands at the path, facing toward the whistling branches and just... standing.

Sunshine has no idea where they are. She's not sure she's even ever been here before. But Creepy Lady is intent on hurrying and she doesn't want to piss the woman off, even if she doesn't really want to get out.