Upon hearing the blood-curdling scream, we all jumped out of our seats and ran for the staircase. I reached it first and took the stairs two at a time. My brief knock on the closed door where Liz was staying wouldn’t have been sufficient in any other circumstance, but this unique situation called for immediate ...

All twelve of us were seated by 9:00 p.m., and Roxanne explained what happens once a soul was summoned. Except for a few candles spread throughout the dining area, the room was dark. The tapestry window coverings were drawn closed against any reflection from the glass. At the center of the round table, Roxanne used ...

Liz’s words echoed as I drove home from Sea Island. What message could a spirit possibly have for me? All of this seemed so superficial. It’s not like I had any powers or connection to Dahlia or Clementine. Could I transfer this apparition to Liz? She’s the person with all the knowledge and power. Understanding ...

Ralph stood at the top of the staircase, with a sense of enthusiasm, holding his golf shoes and glove. “Weren’t you in the parlor a minute ago?” I glanced up at him. “What? No. I have a tee time at nine. After last night’s shenanigans, I’m running late. What did you want to talk about? ...

I walk out of the gym alone into the blinding sunlight. I raise my arms to shield my face when the red glow of my hand catches my attention. Twisting my palm over, I look up at the sun through my fingers. Funny how your hand looks almost translucent when you hold it up to ...

Do you believe in ghosts? The St. Augustine Lighthouse is a beacon to warn ships of the shore. At night, its light shines brightly over the bay and pans the city behind it while making its rounds. It is a beacon of light for ships and a guide to all those seeking the paranormal world. ...

I forgave Ken for his insensitive remarks about my mental state. The way I felt was like I was losing my mind and it was real to me. I paused the search for the brunette woman. Funeral plans needed to be made. Rosie’s favorite minister was on hand, and he selected the verses he would ...

“Apparitions don’t talk. They only give you hints and expect you to figure it out. My mother was famous for deciphering them, remember?” Ralph stated. “Do you have Aunt Rosie’s photo albums? I want to make a slideshow for the funeral service.” Maybe I could find her in one of these books? “She kept all ...

If my life was hectic before Aunt Rosie’s demise, the last couple of weeks of planning a large, dysfunctional family funeral tipped the scales. The word ‘fun’ in ‘funeral’ was anything but fun. Though Ralph and I had split up the duties of arrangements, I ended up doing everything. He claimed he was too distraught ...

As I sat in dead Aunt Rosie’s parlor and waited for the coroner to show up, I glanced around the well-lived-in room. My eyes fell upon a sign I’d never seen. ‘In our family, we don’t hide crazy… we give it a cocktail and sit it on the porch.’ I chuckled despite the circumstances. This ...