Chapter 29

~ETHAN~

At Brice’s words, I couldn't stop my mouth and I muttered sarcastically, "Ya think?"

Brice shot me a look, but before he could address my slip in respect toward his authority, the lights flared back to life, and Grace muttered, "Told ya there was something wrong in this fucking place!"

Mueller, I noted, now stood by the door, his hand on the knob. I could tell by his stance alone, he wanted to be anywhere but here, but his widened eyes and pale complexion spoke volumes. The man was scared shitless.

I honestly wasn't sure what to think. Before I had become a crime analyst, I had done a little paranormal investigating. Nothing serious, but nonetheless, I'd encountered things I couldn't easily explain away. What was occurring within this house landed square in the unexplainable category. I wasn't sure of exactly what we were dealing with, but I no longer felt our Unsub had both feet planted on the earthly realm. Instead, he was somehow connected not only to this world, but to that of the otherworld as well.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Brice murmured, "I think we need to start looking at this case through a different lens."

I nodded, thinking, I couldn't agree more.

I had never revealed my exploits with the world of the paranormal to any of the other agents, but I figured in this instance, maybe it was time.

"I can help with that," I declared, my voice steady despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm me. "Whatever is happening here, it's connected to the spirit world and I have the skills to deal with it. As someone who has spent years studying the occult and practicing various forms of magic, I have experience dealing with all manner of supernatural entities, and my unique skill set could be exactly what we need to solve this case.

As everyone absorbed my words, a voice filled the air. "Well, now that I have your attention with all the paranormal bullshit, how about we get down to the matter at hand? You see, my dear agents, you have something that doesn’t belong to you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I shifted from criminal analyst to paranormal investigator.

"Oh, come now," the voice replied, its laughter growing menacing. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. My sister. I want her back."

I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talking about," I murmured, hoping to stall for time.

"Don't play coy with me, Agent," the voice snapped. "I can sense her presence. She's hiding deep within agent Cody, afraid of what might happen if she reveals herself. But Agent Cody can’t keep her hidden forever."

As soon as the voice finished speaking, the room grew colder and the shadows seemed to twist and writhe on the walls. I could feel a presence lurking just beyond the edge of perception, waiting for its chance to pounce.

"Who are you?" Rylee breathed, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Oh, come now," the voice replied, its laughter sending chills down my back. "Don't play dumb. You know exactly who I am. Now, I know she can hear me, so I am going to speak with my sister."

I tried to wrap my mind around the situation, but it was impossible. What the hell did he mean, his sister was hiding deep within Rylee? But before I could ask any questions, the entity spoke again, its voice dripping with malice. "I see you don't understand. Well, let me show you something."

With his words, Rylee dropped to her knees, an echo of pain slipping from between her lips as she gripped her head between her hands. After a few seconds, she lifted herself slowly off the floor, her face and body shifting until it appeared a different woman stood before us.

"This is my sister," the voice said proudly. "She's been stuck for a very long time, but now that I have found her, we can finally be together again."

**Part 2: The Awakening**

**Description:**

*Six months after the nightmarish events in Newton, the pieces of the Specter’s game are still falling into place. Brice and his team have tried to resume their lives and work, but the shadow of Analise lingers—especially over Rylee. Memories that aren’t hers bleed through, voices whisper in her head, and the line between who she is and who she once was begins to blur.*

*Haunted by the Specter’s threats and tormented by visions she can’t explain, Rylee is forced to confront an impossible truth: the killer isn’t just a predator from another world, he’s her brother—and he’s coming for her. Torn between disbelief and terror, she sets out to uncover the mysteries of her own transformation, determined to protect Brice, Ashley, and the others even if it means walking straight into the Specter’s grasp.*

*As Brice struggles to keep his team grounded in the face of an enemy beyond comprehension, and as Rylee begins to accept powers she doesn’t understand, their hunt for the Specter becomes more than a case. It’s a battle for identity, for survival, and for the thin line between this world and whatever lies beyond.*

\~~~~~~~~~

~BRICE~

Half a year had passed since Analise’s appearance, and as I typed unsolved on the paper to be placed in the Specter's file, I couldn’t help but think of all Rylee, myself, and the others, had gone through after that day. There was much she couldn’t recall, but she had learned most of what she now knew about what had occurred through various means. Whether it had been through word of mouth or by reading the paperwork within the file, the story had finally halfway come together for her. And what a strange story it was....