The Haunted_Edit Copy 4-9-17 final final 5 Upload

Chelsea will stick with me.” As Tucker spoke, the traces of the
geeky bookworm I’d befriended were melting away. He was
suddenly confident and his presence was expanding around him.
“Before we go in, Brad, do you think you could lead us in
grounding ourselves? It’s Chelsea’s first time.”
He nodded and began, “Close your eyes.” I waited to see
that everyone else did before I complied. I couldn’t help feeling a
little silly, but I definitely wanted to be as safe as possible. I was
acutely aware of the stones in my pockets. “Feel your feet on the
ground. Feel the earth beneath them. Your spirit is safe in your body.
Your soul is sovereign. Bring your energy close to you. Now
envision your shield around you.”
I tried my best to follow his instructions. I wasn’t sure if I
was doing it right, but it wasn’t like I was making a paper airplane
and could show it to them and ask what I did wrong. I took a bunch
of deep breaths and tried repeating what he had said. My spirit is
safe. I am safe.
“Is everybody ready?” Tucker’s voice broke my
concentration and I opened my eyes, feeling strangely groggy,
almost like I’d been asleep. Damn, maybe there was something to
that meditation and grounding stuff.
After the chorus of yeses, we all started up the cement path
leading to the front door. Tucker stepped into place in the front, but
I fell to the back. I figured being the least professional and
experienced, I should probably bring up the rear and let the more
confident folks approach the homeowners first.
“Susannah, can we be Team Ramrod?” Ethan asked.
“Um, only always,” she replied.
So Tucker wasn’t the only one who could reference
awesome movies. Man, had I ever been wrong about the ghost
hunter stereotype I’d created in my head.
Mr. Mason answered the front door with his wife practically
clinging to him. They both looked to be in their late forties, and
although he was significantly steadier on his feet than she was, both
of their faces were drawn and pale. I recognized that expression. It
was the look I got whenever I realized my dad was watching a horror
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