Julie's POV

After Caleb took me back to the bare room and chained me up again, he just... left. 

I sat back down on the cold floor, still wearing the red satin dress. I sighed and picked at my fingernail, starting to wonder (for, like, the fifth time) what Caleb's real plan was. 

Why was he keeping me here? It can't just be because he wanted a new pianist in his band. According to what the boys had told me about him, he was smart, cunning, and, well... evil. I couldn't trust a word he said. He had fooled everyone as Nick- well, until he totally blew his cover by chasing me around my house, screaming "where are the ghosts?!?"

That last thought made me think of Nick. Where was he? What had Caleb done to him?

Nick and I obviously hadn't been very close until recently, and although I was over my fifth grade crush, I still cared about him. He was my friend, and although things were a bit... awkward after his confession, I wouldn't be able to breathe easy until I knew he was safe. 

Another thing plaguing my mind was the guys. Had they really come for me yet? If so, had they been captured? Or were they still searching for me?

I thought about Alex, and his ability to make me feel safe and protected. I thought about sweet, caring Reggie, who always wanted a hug.

And I thought about Luke. I had known for weeks now that I had feelings for him, I just never realized how strong they were until now. All I wanted at that moment was to be in his arms and lay my head on his chest while he played with my hair. But I couldn't do that now. I couldn't do anything at that time.

I groaned and put my head in my hands. I hated being the victim, sitting their and not doing anything. I hated being small and helpless... but most of all, I hated being alone.

I heard the familiar sound of a ghost poofing into the room and I sighed, mentally and physically preparing for whatever Caleb would say to me- whatever he would do to me- to make me join his Club.

"Julie!"

I snapped my head up in surprise to see Willie running towards me.

"Willie!" I exclaimed, standing up and running towards him as well- only to have my hands yanked back by the chains. Willie stopped in front of me, looking at them.

"Let me take care of that for you," he said, and with a wave of his hand, the cuffs unlocked and clattered to the floor. 

I leapt forward and embraced Willie. He patted my back and I pulled back from the hug, smiling widely.

"I'm so glad I finally found where Caleb was keeping you!" He exclaimed. 

"Yeah, thank you!" I replied. "Can you poof me out of here?"

Willie shook his head. 

"Each one of these rooms has different rules," he said. "As for this one, ghosts can poof in or out, but they can't take Lifers out with them."

I groaned.

"Of course not."

"But I'm here to help," Willie said, grabbing my arms. "I don't know how long I can be here, but there's something you need to know."

"Okay, what is it?" I asked. Willie took a deep breath.

"I don't know how this is possible, but you can touch Alex and his band mates, right?" I looked at him in shock.

"How'd you know that?"

"Alex told me," he replied. "And apparently they can make themselves visible and touchable to everyone else now?" I nodded in confirmation.

"Okay, I think I know why, it's just a really crazy reason and I have no idea how this is even possible, but..." Willie started, trailing off. I looked at him expectantly.

"I think they're coming back to life."

I stared at Willie in shock, my mouth hanging open. Coming back to life? How is that possible?

"Wait, you mean, like, they have a steady heartbeat and a blood flow, coming back to life?" I asked. Willie nodded. I stumbled back, causing him to let go of my arms.

"But that's just... not possible! Ghosts? Sure! Touchable ghosts? Fine! But coming back to life?" 

I shook my head violently.

"Okay, no. When someone dies, they're... they're gone. They can't live again. You don't get a second chance at life!"

"I don't understand it either," Willie said. "But that's what I think might be happening."

My mouth dropped open again.

"Wow. That's... wow."

Willie watched me silently as I paced around the room.

This is insane, I thought to myself. I don't understand any of it, but... I mean, I don't have another explanation for this.

I stopped pacing and turned back to Willie.

"Okay, so how do I get out of here?" I asked. Willie nodded at the door.

"Every two weeks, someone comes into each of the rooms to clean. The last time they cleaned was exactly two weeks ago. Soon, someone will open that door and when they do, as long as you're not chained up, you have a chance to run past them, out into the hallway, and hide before they catch you."

I bit my lip. It seemed like a slim chance.

"I know it's a long shot," Willie said, reading my mind, "but I don't know if you'll have another chance."

I nodded confidently. 

"Look, I've gotta go," Willie said. "But I'll try to help in any way I can." I nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

Willie nodded and poofed out, leaving me alone again.

Finally free of the chains, I walked over to the door and placed my hand against it. The steel was cool, and I could immediately tell the door was very thick. It obviously wasn't soundproof, as I had heard the muffled conversation outside the door about twenty minutes or so after I was first chained up.

All of a sudden, there was another poofing sound and Caleb appeared. I froze as his eyes narrowed.

"Who let you out of your chains?"

I glared at him.

"No one," I snarled. "I got out myself." Caleb eyed me suspiciously.

"No human can get out of those chains," he said.

"I'm special," I shot back. "You said so yourself."

Caleb sighed and walked forward.

"No matter," he said. "The chains are no longer needed."

I raised my eyebrows as he walked towards the left wall, placing his hand against the cement. All of a sudden, the wall melted backwards and started to turn transparent. It had become a thick plate of clear glass.

When I saw what was on the other side of the glass, I gasped and ran towards it.

It was the guys, chained up like I had been just minutes before. They were desperately trying to be free. I heard Luke ask Alex and Reggie if they were okay.

"What is this?" I asked. "Where are they?"

"Closer than you think," Caleb said. "They're right on the other side of that glass, in the next room over."

I turned and banged on the glass. 

"Guys! Guys! Can you hear me?"

"They can't hear or see you," Caleb said in a bored voice. "That's tinted glass. You can see them, but they can't see you." I stopped banging and turned to glare at Caleb.

"What's the point of this? You don't need them, so let them go!"

Caleb laughed in my face. "Oh, but I do need them," he's sneered, walking closer to me. He grabbed my by the throat and lifted me into the air. I gasped for breath as I kicked, trying to escape.

"W-wait!" I choked out. "You can't kill me! I'm valuable, remember?"

Caleb threw me onto the ground. Hard. I rubbed my neck, gulping in air.

"Oh, Julie," he said, walking over to me and leaning down so we were at eye level. "I may not be able to hurt you physically..." he ripped a piece of my red satin skirt off at the hem, "but I can still hurt you emotionally."

I watched in horror as he stood and took a step back. The piece of satin from my dress seemed to almost... melt in his hands, becoming a liquid and covering his hands, some of it dripping on the floor. 

Caleb poofed out, but he didn't go far- I almost jumped in surprise when I saw him reappear in front of the guys in the next room.

"Welcome to your new home, boys," I heard him say, conjuring up a rag out of nowhere and wiping his hands.

"Let us go!" Luke shouted, struggling against his chains.

"Now, Luke, do you really think I'm going to do that?" Caleb asked. I growled. I was getting angry. Why did he need them? What was he gonna do? I watched as he started pacing around the room, my hands pressed against the glass.

"You see, I originally thought you three had special powers, but I've come to realize..." I clenched my fists against the glass as he leaned down to leer at Luke.

"There's nothing special about you three. The special one is your musician friend, Julie," Caleb said, straightening up and resuming his pacing. I watched as Luke, Alex and Reggie collectively glared at the man in front of them, still fighting to escape their chains.

"How can she see you? No other Lifer has ever been able to see ghosts without my help. She truly must be special."

Caleb paused and turned back to the boys.

"Well... she was."

My eyes widened. What was he talking about? I watched Alex, Luke, and Reggie stop struggling and straighten up instantly.

"W-what?" I heard Alex ask in a small voice that broke my heart.

Caleb flicked his wrist and a purple smoke cloud appeared, clearing a space in the middle. I gasped and stumbled away from the glass when I saw what it showed.

It was me. 

And I was dead.

I frantically whipped my head over to the boys. Surely they wouldn't believe that stupid illusion, right?

But as soon as they saw what was in the purple smoke, I quite literally saw the light leave their eyes.

"No," Luke whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "NO!"

His scream broke my heart. I could hear the pain and despair in his voice. My own eyes started to get wet.

I watched as Alex, Luke, and Reggie fell to the ground and sobbed, looking small and broken. I couldn't take it anymore.

I ran up to the glass and started pounding on it as hard as I could.

"No! Guys, don't believe him!" I screamed, repeatedly hitting the glass with my fists.

"I'm here! I'm alive!"

I continued to scream, but the guys never acknowledged me. They never looked my way. Although they couldn't hear me, their heart-wrenching sobs filled my ears and made me completely break down.

My tear filled eyes found Luke's face. It was contorted as he screamed in agony, his arms limp at his sides. He looked like he was dying all over again.

My pounding on the glass got softer and slower as my body shook and tears ran down my face. The amount of pain I saw them in was something no one should ever have to experience. The looks on their faces broke my hearts. All I could do was watch as they wailed, tears streaming down their faces.

I placed my fist on the glass, leaning my forehead against it. My body was still shaking.

"I'm here," I choked out in between sobs. "I'm right here..." 

I slid down the glass until I was on my knees, hugging my stomach as I cried.

All of a sudden, I saw the glass start to warp through my tears. It had become a concrete wall again.

I heard Caleb poof into my room, but I didn't even acknowledge him. I saw my tears drip onto the floor before he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet. He threw me across the room, away from the wall and back to the corner.

"How does it feel?" He asked, glowering as he stood over me. I didn't answer and continued to sob. After a second, I felt his hand on my head.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" He asked, playing with my hair, sending shivers down my spine. "To see the people you love in pain and not being able to do anything about it?" I looked up at him.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice shaking. Caleb leaned down until he was just inches from my face and smiled.

"Simple," he said. "I want to keep you here. Forever."

Hey guys! Aren't you glad Julie's not dead? Yeah, me too! And, according to Willie, the boys are slowly coming back to life! I'm posting this early because it's Turkey Day 🦃 and I'm spending the entire afternoon and evening with my cousins.

I hope this made up for the last chapter! See you tomorrow, and Happy Thanksgiving!