Kevin - sweet, sweet Kevin - starts convulsing. Eyes roll back, he levitates about six inches off the ground, and he starts reciting his middle school locker combo backward in an ancient voice.
I knew right then and there: Kevin is no longer with us.
The group circles around him like it's an episode of Ghost Hunters, but me?
I'm inching toward the door like:
"Y'all handle that. I'll be in the car. Actually, I'll be miles away from the car."
Kevin's head twists too far around and cracks like bubble wrap. Brenda says, "He needs help!"
I said, "He needs a priest, holy water, and a time machine. I am none of those."
Then the walls start bleeding - BLEEDING.
The whispering starts: "One must stay…"
Well guess what?
It won't be me.
Chapter 5: My Exit (a.k.a. "Roll Credits, I'm Gone")
I fake a bathroom emergency and slip away like I've trained for this my whole life. Backpack already zipped. Crocs in sport mode. I kick open a side door, do a ninja roll off the porch, and sprint through the woods like my rent depends on it.
I hear something behind me - heavy breathing.
I turn around?
It's the ghost child from earlier in the mirror.
She says, "Stay with us…"
I said, "Girl, you need a hug and a therapist. Not me."
And I jumped over a log like I was auditioning for the next Fast & Furious.
A shadow hand tried to grab me?
I dodged that thing like I was Neo in The Matrix.
I run all the way to the main road and a random truck drives by. I don't ask questions. I dive in the back like it's Fortnite.