They wander these streets

In this ghost town

Wandering lost

But waiting to be found

- Taken from my poetry book "A boy in this f***ing world."

Tobias Loren closed his laptop and stretched into a yawn. The Monday afternoon was quiet, but relaxing, and the only thing bothering him was the fact Shari hadn't returned to the boarding house after rushing out of the diner the day before.

As he thought of this, a Volvo pulled up to the boarding house, a two women began walking towards him.

"Hi, I'm Diana. This is Gia." The first one said.

Diana had long brown hair that fell in loose waves, a tan petite face with ruby red lips. Her eyes were large, of a mysterious chocolate brown, with long lashes and groomed eyebrows. Gia was a little less Victoria secret model, but beautiful nonetheless. Gia had her brown hair in a ponytail that fell to her shoulders, her dark caramel coloured skin a little lighter than her hair and her dark eyes looked fuelled with adrenaline.

"Hi... I'm Tobias." He replied awkwardly.

Gia nodded. "We're here to tell Lorelei Devereux of Shari's situation, do you know where we can find her?"

Tobias stiffened. "Is she okay?"

"She was shot." Diana said simply.

"Woah woah, hold up?" Tobias cried. "What the hell? When did this happen?"

"Look, come inside. We'll find Mrs Devereux and we can all talk about it at the same time." Gia suggested with a sigh, beckoning Tobias towards the boarding house.

Feeling confused and flabbergasted, he followed the two women into the boarding house, in disbelief.

After the two brunettes told the story of the cult and the showdown with the trigger-happy old man, silence had overcome the room.

Lorelei shook her head in disbelief. "I spoke with Shari about The Wandering. I didn't know she'd put herself in such danger."

"The Wandering?" Diana repeated, an eyebrow raised in question.

"It's what we call the spirits. Those on the astral plane, stuck in limbo." Lorelei said.

"This stuff is all real?" Tobias asked, dumbfounded.

Gia rolled her eyes in sarcasm. "No, we're just making it up. For fun."

Tobias smiled, appreciating her humour in such worrisome times.

Gia got to her feet. "Enough talk, let's go visit her."

It was almost silent, the spiritual purgatory had only the sound of the constant blowing wind as Shari made her way down Main Street, passing the empty diner. It seemed she was in the Further, and she could feel that she wasn't supposed to be there.

Her flame red hair blew behind her, for the wind seemed to be picking up already, making it difficult for her to move forward at a quick place.

"You don't belong here." A voice stated from behind her. Shari whirled around to see the couple she saw on the first night in Sachem Bay. They seemed to be from another time - maybe the 1800's?

"Am I dead?" Shari asked, feeling overwhelmed and confused.

"No." the woman said. "But you're dying."

Then, Shari remembered the gun shot.

The man stepped forward, a clear sense of urgency across his face. "You need to hide. If the Entity finds you here, it will take you."

Goosebumps trailed up her arms as the wind picked up further. His dim, whining song came to her ears, telling an ode of foreboding. She turned to see the couple had vanished - she was alone.

As the tune grew louder, Shari started to see the sky grow darker, as if it's location accommodated it's presence.

Shari began to run. She charged down Main Street and down an alleyway, diving over a wall and into a trash yard, falling hard onto the concrete floor.

She retreated behind the trash can, closing her eyes and begging the higher powers for mercy.

"Shari." Sadie's voice whispered. "Come with me."

The sight of her five year old twin almost shattered her heart - but she had no time for grief. She took her tiny hand and allowed herself to be taken with her, running down another alleyway and through shortcuts across Sachem Bay.

And then, it seemed motion seemed to speed up, as if she wasn't truly moving at all, and within seconds, she was outside the boarding house - the astral plane's version of it.

"We use the crosses for protection." Sadie said, leading Shari towards the doors. A cross was pinned above the double doors.

"It makes this a safe haven for us." Sadie continued as she walked through the doors.

"Us?" Shari repeated.

Sadie didn't answer, for Shari found out the moment she walked through the door. The lobby was full of children, those who had fallen victim to the cult in decades history.

"You're all safe here?" Shari asked, addressing the young, trying to speak through her broken heart.

The children nodded in unison.

Shari smiled through her tears. She had to help them.

Scott Davenport left Logan to watch over Gracie whilst he took his visit to the police station. Of course, she was in a coma, but he wanted someone with her at all times.

"Let me see him, please." Scott begged for the fifteenth times, despite Samuel Tenner's reluctance. Finally, he gave in after what seemed like a million minutes of pleading.

"The only reason I'm letting you is because I know what you've gone through, okay?" Chief Tenner said sternly. "In and out, as quick as you can. And no more favours after this!"

Scott wrapped Chief Tenner in a hug and walked through the doors that led to the interview room, and waited.

Samuel fetched himself some water, and then he was left alone in silence for a while.

After what seemed like an eternity, Terrence Pearce entered the interview room, in handcuffs and overalls, his face pale and flashing a toothy grin.

Anger flourished through Scott, screaming through his veins and intoxicating him in a wave of fury so strong that he had to dig his hands into the chair he sat on, his fingertips growing purple from the strain. He held his breathe for a few seconds, calming his nerves before his fists would begin to swing.

Terrence Pearce sat down, placing his finger-bitten nails neatly together on the table, locked together as tight as his thin, chapped lips.

"Why?" Scott asked, almost as if it wasn't a question but a demand.

Terrence squinted his wrinkled eyes at the young man, and smiled slightly. "Why what? Why does the grass grow? Why is the sky blue?"

Scott clenched his jaw and his fist simultaneously, suppressing his rage. "Why the fuck did you target my little sister, and my daughter?"

Terrence licked his dry lips and got to his feet. He shuffled over to the water cooler, taking a plastic cup, filled it up and shuffled back to his seat. He took a small sip and studied Scott.

"Answer me, jackass!"

Terrence's smile faded, his eyes darkening and his face hardening. He gritted his teeth and leaned forward. "I targeted them because they're pretty little girls, who deserve to die."

Scott couldn't hold his rage no longer. He leaned back and swung his arm with striking force, connecting his fist with Terrence's jaw. Terrence fell back, over the folded chair and sprawled across the floor. Scott slid over the table swiftly and fell down on to Terrence, his elbow pummelling into his stomach. The old man shouted out, coughing and choking, as the door burst open. He got in two punches to the eyes by the time Chief Tenner grabbed him.

"Scott, what the hell are you doing?" Samuel Tenner yelled, rushing over and dragging Scott from the old man.

Terrence Pearce, bloodied and beaten, grinned, blood dripping from his teeth. "It's only a matter of time..."

"What's only a matter of time?" Samuel Tenner yelled, holding Scott back by the hem of his shirt.

Terrence spat on the floor, a mixture of saliva and blood falling from his mouth. "... Before we blow this wretched town apart."