Page 64 of Fed By Fear

With a startling mix of confusion and excitement, I recognize their faces. The TAPIT crew look much the same as they did the night I entered Reaper’s Playroom. Vic, Randall, and Edwin. The fourth person wasn’t a TAPIT member before.Amber.Did she join the group after I disappeared? A realization that should have hit me long ago wiggles its way to the surface.

Everyone thinks I’m dead. Amber is like Edwin now. Seeking answers after losing someone she cared about.

Madness’s arms support me as strange emotions startle to life. “You brought me to see my old friends?”

He nods. “No eating.”

“No eating,” I confirm.

“They’re looking for ghosts. Such a strange mortal pastime.” He shakes his heads.

“Well, they are strange people,” I admit. Strange, lovable. The room remains quiet. The disappointment on their frowning faces inspires a decision. “Let’s give them a show.”

Madness rubs both hands together. “We would be delighted.”

“Scare them, but not too badly. And stay away from the one in the hat.” Edwin is older and more withered than he was the last time I saw him.

His smiles beam. “We will do our best.”

Madness blurs across the room, letting the candles flicker in his wake.

Vic gasps. “Did you see that?”

“Yeah, I got it.” Randall nods, camera still pointing at the candles.

They’re so focused on the flames that they don’t notice the darkness suspending from the ceiling. Randall shivers as Madness passes a hand across his shoulders. The man pivots around, camera jerking from side to side.

“What happened?” Vic asks, concerned.

“Something is definitely here. I felt like there were spiderwebs on the back of my neck.”

Amber nervously toys with her blond ponytail.

A thundering laughter echoes through the crumbling room. Edwin rises to his feet.

The four look around, moving closer to one another.

“You guys heard that, right?” Vic asks in a shaky voice.

“Oh yeah,” Randall answers.

The EMF detector pings. Edwin speaks up. “Who are you?”

Madness looks to me. I nod, giving him the go-ahead to tell them the truth.

“Githany,” he whispers.

They all jolt. Randall speaks excitedly. “Did you heart that? Did it say Githany?”

“I heard it,” Vic confirms.

“She’s really here?” Amber looks around. “Githany? Are you alright? Can you give us another sign?”

Madness ghosts past them again, snuffing out the fires until only one candle remains lit.

The group falls silent. They fixate on the final flame. Madness turns to me from where he’s hovering behind them.

Do it.