CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Declan stormed away from the crowd of angry souls gathered at the House of Mirrors. He marched over to the kids’ playground near the swings. This was where he’d begun his adventure at Zephyr Land, where he’d first encountered Becca and learned about their situation.

Now the thirty-plus souls had become an angry mob. And he’d been nominated to play the role of Dracula. Didn’t end well for the count, and it definitely wouldn’t end well for him.

“Why did you go away?” a tiny voice asked.

Startled, he turned. Saw Becca’s sweet face staring up at him. Apparently she’d followed him when he’d left the rest of the souls.

He knelt down and stroked her shoulder. “Everyone is mad at me right now. They want to leave, but I can’t help them cross over.”

“Why not?”

“I need Amanda’s help. The bad guy has to be brought to justice for what he did to all of you.”

Becca shrugged. “So go get the bad guy. My sister says the bad guy is here now.”

Declan’s eyebrows arched. “What?”

“Promise not to tell anyone?”

“I do.”

“Sometimes I can hear Sarah talking to me. And I can talk back.”

He didn’t know whether Becca spoke the truth or if her imagination was in overdrive. She was just a young child. Even imaginary friends could seem real at her age. Then again, he’d read about twins being able to feel and understand more between each other than regular siblings. Maybe after death too.

“Sarah told you that the bad guy is here, in Zephyr Land?”

Becca nodded, her ponytails emphatically bouncing up and down. “She said Amanda gave Mama the amulet, and Sarah is touching it now.”

Declan looked into Becca’s dark-blue eyes and knew she spoke the truth. “Okay. You go back to your Aunt Opal. I’m going to get the bad guy.”

“Sarah said to be careful. He’s got Jake and Amanda.”

“What?”

“I don’t know—that’s what she said.”

“Okay. You return to the others. Tell them to go to the carousel. I might need their assistance. If they help out, maybe that can free everyone.”

“Where are you going?”

“To catch Randall Kern once and for all so I can help y’all cross over.” Declan smiled wide. “And avoid whatever Liam and Connell have planned for me.”