After April stormed off, closely followed by Gavin, and reluctantly followed by Cassidy, Lyla was left alone with Madam Avenir. 

"Hello child. What brings you to my tent tonight? Its not often that the wandering spirits come to converse wih the living." The old woman asked, a look of kindness on her face. 

"How can you see me? Nobody else can." Lyla responded simply, coming in and taking a seta on the carpets covering the floor of the tent. 

"Well my dear, I have simply opened my eyes to the larger world. You can see a lot, if you only pay attention. How far gone are you child?" 

"A year exactly. " Lyla whispered. Shed never said that out loud. 

~~~~

Not until mid December. It was dark, the kind of cold night where the wind cuts through your jacket and chills you to the bone. Of course, Lyla didnt feel the cold, or the wind. She, Zeke, and Mary, along with a few other spitits of the town, were hanging out by the mausoleum as usual, when Lyla heard something. The sounds of a voice, carrying over the wind. 

"Did you guys hear that?" Lyla said, sitting up straighter. The echo came again. Someone calling her name.

"I dont hear anything" Zeke shrugged. The others gave similar motions of confusion. A third call echoed over the wind. 

"Ill be right back. I have to find out what that is".

Lyla followed the sound, ignoring the protests from the others. It was like  beacon, pulling her towards...Casssidy's house? That couldnt be right. But she heard the call again, coming from the basement. 

Spread out on the concrete floor were an assortment of candles, drawn sigils, totems, and a well-worn Ouija board Lyla remembered Cassidy buying at a yard sale years ago. 

Cassidy sat in the middle of it all.