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and they discovered the spirit haunting the boy was a man who had lived on the property before, and he was buried in a nearby cemetery. They then called in a specialist to do a binding ceremony. This lady, along with the boy’s parents, went to the man’s grave, drove a nail into the ground, and told the spirit it was anchored to that place and was no longer allowed to bother the family again. She then said a blessing over the grave.”
    “Did it work?” Cass asked.
    Kade nodded. “Yeah. The family says the boy was fine after that.”
    “Then that’s what we’ll do,” I said. “I was hoping we could make a trek up to the grave on Saturday. Shane said he’d ask his friends along, too.”
    “Of course I’ll come with you. I wouldn’t let you go without me,” Kade said, squeezing my hand.
    Cait and Cassie looked past my shoulder and frowned.
    I turned to see what had caught their attention. Megan walked toward our table, and I was stunned by her appearance. Her auburn hair was pulled up in a sloppy ponytail, she had little to no makeup on, and deep, dark half circles bracketed her brown eyes.
    “Are you all right, Meg?” I asked.
    She shook her head. “No.”
    “I’ll let you girls talk, all right?” Kade said. “Can I see you tonight?”
    I glanced at Megan. Although I wanted to spend time with Kade, I could tell my friend was hurting, and since it was my fault she was suffering, I needed to be there for her. “We’ll see, okay? Give me a call after practice.”
    “Will do.” He leaned forward, gave me a kiss, and went to sit with his friends.
    Cait came around the table and sat in the place Kade had vacated. “Wow, you look like shit, Meg.”
    “That bitch is haunting my dreams,” Megan said, glancing at the group to our right, who was looking our way.
    “Do you mind?” Cass said.
    The group of girls abruptly looked away.
    Mean-mugging them, Cass shifted so her back was to them and Megan was hidden from view.
    “She’s going to kill me, I swear,” Megan said, scratching her forehead. “I can’t have this. I mean, what if she starts haunting my little brother? He’s so young…and this could mess him up for life.”
    I completely understood her concern, especially after the story Kade had just told us about the boy.
    I’d never forgive myself if that happened to Megan’s little brother.
    “I have no peace. I’m constantly on edge, and it’s like she knows that I know that she’s there.” Tears welled in Megan’s eyes, but she blinked them back before they spilled over. “I’m so tired.”
    Cait glanced at me, eyes wide.
    I swallowed past the tightness in my throat. “I’m so sorry, Megan. I wish—”
    “You can’t help it, Ri,” Cait said, squeezing my shoulder. “It’s not your fault. You’re as much of a victim as anyone, if not more so.”
    “I give you credit,” Megan said, looking at me dead in the eyes. “I couldn’t deal with it as long as you have. I feel like I’m coming undone, and the dreams are wicked.” She lowered her voice. “That bitch is relentless, I tell you. I try to wake up from the nightmare, but it’s like she’s keeping me in that state right before you wake. It’s almost like I’m watching myself dream, if that makes sense, and I’m watching her and feeling her holding me down. When I do actually wake up, I find I can’t move at all. I want to scream, but I can’t even breathe.”
    What she was saying nearly mirrored what Shane had told me about his dreams when we’d first moved to Braemar. I knew the horror of having Laria show up in nightmares, and when you woke up it was tough to shake it. I could see the physical and emotional strain it was putting on Megan, which gave me even more incentive to end the haunting once and for all.
    At least now I could look into binding spirits.
    Milo came up from behind Megan and embraced her. “How are you feelin’, love?”
    “What are you doing here?” Megan asked, looking really happy to