Logan looked at Talia, surprise and fear swimming in his light blue eyes. "The curtains are closed aren't they?"

"See for yourself!" Talia jutted her arm out towards the window, where the curtains were completely covering the outside world. "And the doors are locked."

"Ah, damn!" Logan ran his hands nervously through his hair, "So who is this??"

"Don't use that language, baby," Talia frowned, "you know I don't like it."

"Help!!" Megan screamed out, panicking as Logan ran over to her. "HELP-mmm!" She bit down on his hand and he slapped her.

"Shut up," he hissed in her ear, "we're trying to kill your rescuer."

Megan's cheek stung from the harsh hit and her lips started to tremble as she looked up at him. "W-what are you going to do?"

"I'm gonna get creative," he smirked, straightening and walking over to the cabinet. Opening it, he took out a knife and grinned down at it. "I plan to get very creative. But first," he took out more rope and Megan tried to back away as he walked up to her again.

"Hey!" The door was banged loudly, "Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch her!!!"

"Talia, open the door." Logan pinched Megan's mouth open and she screamed again as he forced the bristly rope in between her top and bottom teeth. "If you say one word, Ghost keeper," he whispered, "I don't think Genevieve needs a small piece of you. Like your ear... You got it?" Megan flinched but nodded. He smiled, "good girl."

"Open the door?" Talia frowned, edging that way, "are you sure?"

"I'm positive," Logan pulled on his leather jacket collar, "let's find out who this intruder is."

"Hello?" The door called out, "I'm still here! It's really cold so if you could let me in that would be super. And I know you don't have a backdoor so there's really no escape; don't you know not to lock yourselves in?" The door laughed.

Talia rolled her eyes and walked up to the door, slowly undoing the deadbolt. "We're opening the door! But I wouldn't feel too safe in here!"

"Awesome! If I were you I'd hurry it up, Talia!" Talia tensed. "Or I'll call the cops!!"

Megan bit down at the bristled rope, whimpering every time it slid against her gums and tongue. She had a feeling she knew exactly who was behind that door, but if she was right, she didn't want him anywhere near that house.

Talia undid the last lock and turned the knob, opening the door slowly.

"Whew!" Noah grinned and walked into the house, shaking the cold off his arms. "It's pretty frigid out there, huh?"

"And who," Talia raised an eyebrow, "are you?"

Megan's eyes lit up at him and he caught her eye, frowning instantly. "Alright before anything else happens I thought I told you," he pointed at Logan, "not to touch her!"

Talia slammed the door closed and locked it again. "I asked you a question, kid."

"And I don't care," Noah narrowed his eyes, "let her talk at least or I swear I'll call the cops. I have a phone in my pocket already prepared for me to call them. I could do it in half a second!"

"Shut up, kid," Logan rolled his eyes "I'll cut the rope but you're treading some dangerous ground talking to us like that." He sliced the rope around Megan's head and threw it on the ground. "Happy?"

Megan spat out spare bristles and dust from her mouth, shaking. "Noah?"

"Are you okay, Megan?" Noah kept a close eye on both teenagers. "Be honest with me."

"I don't know..." She swallowed.

"You can put the knife down, Logan," Noah narrowed his eyes, "I don't want to get cut up, thank you very much."

"How many times do I have to ask who you are??" Talia snapped.

"First let me finish my line. I had this whole thing I'd come up with and I got distracted because of you two." Noah sighed, "What was it? Oh yeah!" His eyes lit up, "the delivery is for the girl tied up in the chair because she asked for the Light one." He smiled.

"Shoot," Logan groaned and put his knife away, "we can't kill him, Talls."

"I guess not." She crossed her arms, "it's a shame though I would've liked the practice."

"So you're the Light one?" Logan scoffed, "We wondered if you existed."

"I do," Noah shrugged. "And I know that you're Logan, that's Talia, and Brice is... Somewhere?"

"And how do you know all that?" Talia frowned, "some mysterious Light one power?"

"More like police records, but sure," he wiggled his fingers, "mysterious powers work too. So I'm here to simply collect my friend and we'll just be on our way."

"Sorry," Talia leaned against the front door, "she's not exactly yours to collect."

"Well, I've known her longer."

"Have you?" Logan challenged, "Because I'm pretty sure we were actually alive when she was born."

"You aren't alive at all," Noah smirked, "you're just in a shell that doesn't belong to you."

"The nerve of this kid!"

"I'm telling you to let her go before I have to use my... Uh... Light one, powers!" Noah put his hands up. "Just you try anything- woah!" He flew into the wall. Confused, he tried to move, but it was like he was pinned to it.

"Clearly I missed something." Brice walked in, hands in his pockets.

"This kid says he's the Light one," Logan rolled his eyes. "Can we believe him?"

Brice walked further into the room and shrugged. "Probably... I don't know why I didn't even consider it but... Probably." He smiled, "Hello, Noah."

Noah frowned. "You know who I am?"

"Logan," Brice spoke without glancing, "would you mind bringing her a little closer, please? It's really hard to pay attention when I have to look that far into another room."

Megan locked eyes with Noah, realizing just how terrified she was. "Noah?..."

Noah shook his head. "Can't you tell she's scared? Leave her out of this!"

"Logan?" Brice repeated.

Logan nodded, walking into the dining room. "Let's go, Meggy." He grabbed the back of Megan's chair and pulled it into the living room behind him as if she were just a suitcase. Megan's face was just inches from the ground and her tears caught the worn linoleum flooring as she trembled. Finally, he stopped the chair right in front of the couch. "There we go."

"You seem a little shaken, Meggy," Brice laughed, "what did you guys do while I was gone?"

"Oh," Talia twisted her hair around, "you know, just told her that we killed her parents, nothing too traumatic I don't think."

"Perfect," Brice grinned.

Noah continued to struggle against the invisible hold on the wall. "Leave her alone! I mean it!"

"Oh?" Brice walked up to Noah, " And what are you going to do about it?" Noah flinched as he dropped down the wall, just to where his shoes were inches from the ground. "That's better." He smirked, "I've pretty much dreamed of this moment. It's just so good to finally meet you, Noah."

Noah tensed up as Brice swept his dark brown hair out of his eyes. He furrowed his brows. "How do you know me?"

"Of course, I know you," he smiled, flattening out Noah's coat collar, "the weird and crazy kid of Parano? Of course, I know about you, Noah."

Noah shook his head. "I'm not crazy..."

"I know." Brice nodded, "And now you're the Light one. So impressive but will they really believe you? Will they ever believe you?"

"Noah," Megan frowned, "don't listen to him."

"Sure," Brice scoffed, "but am I really lying? I've been there, Noah. I was that weird and crazy kid too." He narrowed his eyes, "I was that dark spot in your family tree that everyone else hid because I was such a problem to the perfect Seers." He rolled his eyes, "I had bullies who took everything from me as well."

Tears glazed over Noah's eyes. "We're related?"

"Uh-huh," he smiled, "you come from my too-perfect-to-be-true brother. It's almost hilarious that several years later you ruin everything about his perfect reputation. I'm proud," he winked.

"I don't understand," Noah bit his lip, "you've been in prison. How do you know so much about me??"

"Simple," Brice shrugged, "I've been keeping an eye on you through a psychic link. See, you use your gift to see other dreams and -extremely rare for psychics- see ghosts. But if you really worked at it, you could find emotions, concerns, a few daydreams... And that's how I've been watching you." Green eyes glimmered, "I didn't find out about Megan but I'm right on everything else, right?"

"Right about what?"

He sighed, "You're in pain, Noah. Your entire life and nobody has believed you. Not even Megan! And it hurts because everyone thinks you're crazy and you go to bed every night and wonder if you are. But then you remember what you were told when you were little; that you have a destiny." He patted Noah on the head. "I'm probably the first person who's ever told you to your face that you aren't crazy, but you aren't. Don't even think for a second that you are.

"In fact," Brice went on, "I remember when I had that eye-opening moment of being told I was sane. I worked hard to understand my abilities and you know where it got me?"

"Following an evil soul that wants to control the world?" Noah answered quietly.

"Not quite," Brice shook his head, "the first thing I did when I became powerful was destroy my family home. I really wanted to punish everyone that ever hurt me, see?"

"Your point?" Noah stretched his toes towards the floor, but he couldn't get them to touch.

"I don't want to hurt you. You're just a kid. When I learned that studying the darker side of being psychic would make me stronger, I took the opportunity. And now I can do this," he raised his hand, making Noah slide up the wall again.

"That's not power!" Noah forced out, stretching his arms out to hold something. But all there was was the wall. And then he was inches from the floor again. "That's selling all the good parts of yourself. You're just a shell within a shell!"

"Wow," Logan scoffed, leaning over Megan's chair, "I really think this kid shouldn't be allowed to have such a mouth, Genevieve doesn't need the Light one to have his tongue, does she?"

Noah flinched.

"He didn't mean that," Brice looked back to glare at Logan. "All I'm saying is that Genevieve would love your power, Noah. Having psychic blood and being the Light one? I'll bet you don't even have all your abilities yet." He smiled, "haven't you considered it? Turning?"

Noah swallowed some of his nerves. Then he braved a smirk. "The Dark one is too dark for my taste so, no thanks."

"You don't get it yet," Brice sighed, "but I can help you."

Megan gasped as he held his hands towards Noah's temples. "Noah don't-!"

"Ahh!" Noah slammed his palms against the wall as Brice put his hands on his head. "What are you...??"

"Just relax," Brice whispered, closing his eyes. "Remember when you were new to the middle-class neighborhood in Parano? Some kids were playing in one of the front yards?"

"Stop it..." Noah gritted his teeth, "I don't want to see this!!"

"Stop doing that to him!!" Megan cried out, "stop it!!" She screamed again for Brice to hear her, but Logan shoved his hand over her mouth.

"You were told to make friends, but you didn't know that involved keeping your ability a secret," Brice continued, "you told them without thinking, didn't you, Noah? They've bullied you since then, haven't they?"

Megan had never heard of kids in Noah's neighborhood bullying him. She frowned, trying to shirk away from Logan's hand.

"Like how they killed your dog? Philip? Because they decided no weirdo deserves a pet! How your window is always broken because they're constantly breaking into your bedroom at night to steal your best stuff? Or even leave notes to remind you that you don't belong there? Oh!" Brice laughed, "and you've never told Megan about any of this!?"

"I don't want to see this!" Noah shuddered, eyes tightly shut, "stop reminding me about this!!"

"Oh... I see, you've just left Megan to believe you had one bully in your life, huh?" Brice smirked, "But the truth is that you prefer it when Cody bullies you; he doesn't do it because he thinks you're weird, he does it just because he likes Megan. He could care less about how you have everyone's dreams. Wow," Brice whistled, "that's a plot twist, don't you think, Meggy?"

"Leave her... Alone."

"I'm confused," Brice raised an eyebrow, "did you want me to leave her alone or leave you alone?"

Noah breathed out in exhaustion. "I don't know... Just make it stop..."

"That's okay." Brice put his lips against Noah's ear, "I can help you punish those kids. And everyone who doesn't believe you. You could be the most powerful and feared person in not just Parano but the entire world. All you have to do is let go."

Megan licked Logan's hand and when he jumped away, she took the opportunity. "Noah you have to fight it! I don't know what he's doing to you but you can't- Ahhh!"

Logan yanked harder on her hair. "Shut it, kid, let him work."

Tears wet Megan's' cheeks and she kicked her feet out. "NOAH-!"

"Meg," Noah groaned, "I need you to shut up, okay? I have to focus..."

Megan pursed her lips together, feeling a little embarrassed. "Sorry..."

"So what's the plan, Brice?" Talia spoke up, "Are we taking them both to Genevieve?"

"Absolutely," Brice answered, "she'll be thrilled to know we have the Light one. And I think I've almost gotten to him-"

"I see a-a house," Noah struggled to speak, "It's in flames but nobody's in it. The house h-has a green roof and tall windows."

Brice's jaw dropped. "H-how are you seeing that?"

"One day... Your parents had to pull you out of school because all the kids nearly beat you to death. They were... We're..."

Brice gritted his teeth. "Stop doing that okay? Just stop it!"

"They got you a tutor," Noah was practically mumbling like he was half asleep, "and he's the one that taught you to use your powers to fight back. But you changed... Why would you do that? Why would you learn dark powers?..."

"Get out of my mind!!" Brices hand's shook at Noah's temples, "Get OUT of it!!"

"And there's a girl-" Noah winced as he suddenly hit the floor. "Ow..."

Brice shoved his hands back in his pockets, teeth clenched. "How did you do that?"

"I don't know," Noah massaged his temples, "it just kind of happened..."

"Tie him up, Logan!" Talia frowned at Noah, "Woah, wait what are you doing?"

Noah stood up, leaning against the wall. "Kindly return Megan to me and we'll be on our way. Otherwise," he reached into his pocket, "I'll have to make a phone call."

"He's so weak it's pathetic. I'll tie him up," Talia rolled his eyes, "Genevieve is going to love you, kid."

"I'm not going to turn into the Dark one, ever. So g-give it up..."

"Ha," Talia smirked and put a hand on her hip, "you're barely standing up and you think you can stop the three of us?"

Noah's entire body trembled as he stood up straight, pulling something out of his pocket. "I can't stop you, but the cops can."

All three eyes widened at the phone in his hand. And then at his ear.

"Hello? 911? Yes," he eyed the teens, "I'm at PikeApple Lane and-" The teens leaped towards him and he stepped to the side. He ran over to Megan as they crashed into the wall.

"Noah!" Megan struggled, "how did you find me??"

"We'll talk about it later." He ran behind the chair, trying to untie the ropes.

Logan was the first to recover. "So you think you can get away from us?" He smirked.

"Logan, don't get any ideas," Brice gritted his teeth, "Genevieve needs him alive too."

"Well, maybe I don't appreciate getting thrown into a wall!"

"Logan, no!!" Talia screamed too late.

The knife was already thrown, aimed directly between Noah's eyes. Megan froze in place as the knife flew faster than she could blink.

And then it happened.

Megan jumped at a sudden burst of light from behind her and before she knew it, she was on the floor, shards of knife hitting the couch where she and Noah would've been.

Her heart sped as the light cleared, and her eyes widened to find Brice, Logan, and Talia, against the now cracked wall, unconscious.

The impact of the light had broken the dining room chair and Megan threw the slacked rope over her head, turning around. "Noah, what was that? Noah?" She tapped him on the shoulder and his eyes opened with a gasp.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," she bit her lip, "except that those guys are out cold!" She gestured to the unconscious teens.

Noah frowned, sitting up carefully off of the floor. "How did that happen?"

"I think you made this kind of light appear?" Megan helped him stand up, holding onto his hands so he wouldn't fall again. "Maybe because you're the Light one, you have Light powers?"

"Megan," Noah sighed and shook his head, "I've never heard of that; that's not why I'm called the Light one. It doesn't matter, I guess I'd better call the police."

"With your phone?"

He made a weak smile and pulled a phone case out of his pocket, "not with this."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "Where did you find that?"

"A driveway," Noah shrugged, "I figured I could use it... Woah, the rooms kinda spinning right now...?"

"Maybe you should sit down for a second." Megan helped him sit on the couch. "What do I need to do?"

"Take the phone out of Logan's pocket," Noah rested his head in his hands, "then I'll call the police."

"Are you okay?"

"I feel kind of strange but I think so." He mumbled, "We need to get out of here."

Megan nodded.
...

Noah was a little more steady on his feet by the time they got out of the house.

Megan walked beside him, having to constantly run her fingertips over the invisible rope that was still squeezing her arms. She shivered in the cold night air and Noah put his arm around her. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah," he sighed, "I guess I'm not used to any of my powers yet."

"Yeah..." Megan bit her lip, "I guess-" Noah took her arm and pulled her into some nearby bushes. "What's?" He pointed to the police cars driving by. "Oh."

"Yeah," he exhaled slowly, sitting down on the ground. "They've been looking all over Genoe for you, Megan. At least, the girl with the grey backpack and curly hair."

Megan touched a few of her curls. "That's not good..."

"No," Noah shook his head, "it's not."

"Noah?" Megan hugged her knees, "what was Brice trying to do to you?"

Noah frowned, choosing a leaf from the closest bush to tear up. "I thought it was obvious. He was trying to get me to turn." He cringed, "he was using my fears and worries, and trying to convince me that being the Dark one would help me conquer them. It was hard to fight it; I've never felt pushed around like that before."

"But then you got into his mind? How did you do that?"

Noah shrugged. "Like I said back there, I don't know how I did it. All of a sudden I was seeing his memories; what drives him. To be honest, I kind of pity him."

"He's your ancestor."

"I'm proud of you, Meg," Noah smiled all of a sudden, "talking about stuff you thought was insane? How can I meet an ancestor of mine from years ago?! That's impossible."

"I knew you would bring that up..." Megan frowned at the stabbing guilt in her stomach. "There's nothing