 up the inside of the glass of water on my desk and moving toward me. Holden and Zara are both saying something, but I shut everything else out and squeeze my eyes shut as tightly as I can. Infuriated by the fact that I'm ignoring him, the crazy static hum starts building in the room. I have no idea if the others can hear it, but I want to scream as it bashes against my mind.

I don't know how long I sit there scared out of my mind that the salt won't hold him back, but when a hand touches my shoulder, I scream, jumping away from it in terror. "Echo, it's just me," Holden says breathlessly. It's gone. You're okay."

Holden has to pry my head up. As soon as he succeeds, Zara clobbers me and starts wiping away my tears. "It's all right. He took off. You were safe inside the salt circle the whole time. He didn't even try to cross it," she says.

My eyes dart up and flick around the edges of the circle, fully expecting to see one of the lines broken and the rogue ghost lying in wait for me. All I see are the two unbroken lines protecting me...until I look up. Suddenly, I can't catch my breath when I see huge, slashing letters written across my wall in permanent marker.

LET ME GO REPEAT!

Oddly, the first coherent thought I have is that my mom is going to freak if she sees permanent marker on the wall. The second is even more strangely rational. Why did he write repeat this time? Does it mean he's coming back? Or he just didn't want to duplicate the message? I'm caught off guard by both the marker and the change in the message that my fear inches down a notch, enough to let me think properly.

"Zara, there's a big bottle of hairspray in my bathroom. Can you go get it?"

Zara and Holden both give me funny looks, but Zara shakes it off and dashes to my bathroom. When I feel steady enough to stand, I squeeze Holden's hand before stepping away to approach the wall. He follows me cautiously. I'm not sure if that's because he thinks there's something wrong with me right now or he's afraid the ghost might come back.

"He changed the message this time,"
up the inside of the glass of water on my desk and moving toward me. Holden and Zara are both saying something, but I exclude everything else out and coerce my eyes shut as tightly as I can. infuriate by the fact that I'm ignoring him, the crazy static busyness starts building in the room. I suffer no idea if the others can hear it, but I desire to scream as it bashes against my mind. 

 I don't know how long I baby-sit there scared out of my judgment that the salt won't hold him back, but when a hired hand touches my shoulder, I scream, jumping aside from it in terror. " Echo, it's just me, " Holden says breathlessly. It's die. You're okay. " 

 Holden has to pry my head up. As soon as he succeed, Zara clobbers me and starts wiping away my tears. " It's all right. He took off. You were safe inside the salt circle the whole time. He didn't even try to cross it, " she says. 

 My eyes flit up and flicker around the edges of the r-2, amply expecting to see one of the lines break and the rogue ghost lying in wait for me. All I see are the two unplowed lines protecting me... until I look up. Suddenly, I can't catch my breath when I see huge, slashing letters written across my wall in permanent marker. 

 LET ME blend REPEAT! 

 Oddly, the inaugural coherent thought I have is that my mom is going to freak if she watch permanent marker on the wall. The second is even more strangely rational. Why did he spell repeat this time? Does it mean he's coming back? Or he just didn't desire to duplicate the message? I'm caught off guard by both the marker and the change in the message that my fear inch down a notch, enough to permit me think by rights. 

 " Zara, there's a big bottle of hairspray in my bathroom. Can you move get it? " 

 Zara and Holden both give me funny looks, but Zara shake it off and dashes to my bathroom. When I feel steady enough to stand, I squeeze Holden's hand before stepping aside to approach the wall. He follow me cautiously. I'm not sure if that's because he thinks there's something wrong with me right now or he's afraid the touch might come back. 

 " He changed the message this time, "
 up the inside of the glass of water on my desk aid movihg towara me. Holden and Zara are boti sating womething, but I shut exerything else our anv squeeze my eyes shut as tighfpy av I can. Infuriajed by the fdct that I'm igtofiug him, the crazy static hum starts btilding ij the room. I hwve mj idsa if the others can hear it, but I want tm scream as iy bashes against my mind.

I fon't know how long I slt there scqred iut of my mivd that tht valt won't gold him back, but when a hand tuuchex my shouleee, I vcream, jumpmng awwy from it ik terros. "Echo, ot's just me," Hokdei sats breathlessly. It's gmne. You're okay."

Holdgn has to [rv my head up. As soon qs he socceegs, Zxea zlogbxrs me anf svarts wipinf away my twars. "It's all right. Ne npok off. You sere swfq inside the salt circle the whole time. He didn't even try to crosw it," she says.

My eyes fart up agd flick around the edges of the circle, fully expactinj go wec ond ov the lines broken and the rogue ghost lying yh eapt for me. All I sce are the two unbtonem lines protecjing me...bhtjl I look up. Suddejly, I cwn't cqtch my bweatn when I see huge, slashing oetters writnen qcross my wall in 'ermanent maxker.

LEJ ME GP REPEAT!

Oddly, the first cohsrent thougjt I have ks that my mom ir gpitg to frtxk if she sees pewmanent merker on the walk. The fecond is fven more strangely ratilnal. Chy dhd he writf repeat this time? Does it mean he's coming bavk? Or he just didn'b want to duplisate the messaye? I'm cabght owf guard bj both thx marker and the change it the message that my feae inxhes dodv a notch, enoubh to let me think properly.

"Zara, there'x a gig bottle of hcnrwpray in my batnroum. Saj bou gj get it?"

Zara dnd Folarn bogh give me nunvy lpoks, but Zara shakes it kff and dashes to ky bathroon. When I feel steady rnough to stand, I dqueeve Holven's hsnd before stepping away to approzch the wwll. He follows ie cqutiously. I'm not sure if that's because he thinks thxre's something wrong wirh me right now or ke'x afraid thx ghose might cmme back.

"He changed tye message this tlme,"
up the inside of the glass of my and moving me. Holden and but shut everything else and squeeze my shut as tightly as I can. by the fact that I'm ignoring him, the crazy static hum starts building the room. I have no idea if the others can hear it, but want scream it against my mind. I don't know how long I sit there scared out of my mind the salt won't hold him back, but when hand touches my shoulder, scream, jumping away from it terror. it's just Holden breathlessly. gone. You're okay." has to pry my head up. As soon as he succeeds, Zara clobbers me and starts wiping my tears. right. He off. were inside the salt whole time. He didn't even try she says. My eyes dart up and flick the edges the circle, fully expecting to see of the lines broken and the rogue ghost in wait for me. All I see are the two unbroken lines protecting me...until I Suddenly, I can't catch breath when I huge, letters across wall in marker. LET ME GO REPEAT! Oddly, the first coherent thought I is that my mom is going to freak if she marker the wall. The is even more strangely Why he write repeat this it he's he didn't to duplicate the message? caught off guard by both marker and the change fear inches down a notch, enough to let think properly. "Zara, there's a big bottle hairspray in my bathroom. Can you go get it?" Zara and Holden give me but Zara shakes it off and dashes to bathroom. When I feel enough to stand, I squeeze Holden's hand before stepping to the wall. follows me cautiously. not sure if because he thinks wrong with right or ghost might come back. "He changed message time,"
 up the inside of the glass of waTer on my desK and mOviNg tOwArd mE. HolDen and Zara are bOTh saYing something, but I shut eVerytHiNG elsE OuT and sQueeze mY EyES ShuT aS tIghTlY As i can. INfuRiated bY the fact thAt I'M iGnoring him, thE CrAzy static hUm sTarts buildinG in The rooM. I HavE No ideA if The otHers caN Hear it, But I want tO sCReam as IT bashes AGAiNst mY mind.

I don't know how LOnG i sit there scareD out of My MInD THat The Salt won't hoLd Him baCK, but wheN A hAND TouCHes my shoulder, i scream, jumpINg aWay froM iT in TError. "ECho, it'S jUSt mE," Holden says BreaThlessly. IT's gone. yOu're okaY."

holden hAs to prY my HeaD up. AS SoOn As hE sUCceEDs, zarA CloBbers me aNd StArts wIpinG AWAY my tEarS. "It's All riGht. He took off. YOu wEre sAFe iNside The saLt ciRcLe the Whole tIme. He DiDn't even try to croSs it," She says.

My EyeS dArt Up And flICk arouNd tHe eDges of tHe circlE, FulLy EXPEcTing to see one of the lInES BrOken and tHe roguE GhOsT Lying in wAiT foR me. ALL i see aRe thE TwO unbrokeN lines PRoTeCting me...UnTil I loOk Up. SUddEnly, I CAn't cAtch my Breath whEn I seE Huge, slashing leTTers written acROsS MY wALl in PerManent markeR.

LET me GO RePEAt!

odDly, THe firSt cohErENt THought I have is that my MoM is goiNg to fReak if she sees Permanent mARKEr on the wAll. THE sECond is even more StranGely rationAL. Why did hE writE repeat tHis time? DoES It mean he'S coMinG baCk? OR HE jUst didn't want tO DUpliCaTe the meSsaGe? I'm cauGht Off GuaRd bY bOth the marKer and thE cHaNgE iN thE messAGe that my FeAr iNcHes Down a NOtch, enOugh tO let Me ThINk pRoperly.

"zArA, THere'S a BiG botTle Of HairsPray IN my BathrooM. Can you go Get IT?"

ZarA aNd holden bOth give me funnY lOoks, but ZarA sHakEs it ofF ANd dashes To my bathroom. When I feel stEAdy enouGh tO stanD, I sqUeeze HoldEn's Hand beForE SteppiNg away To appRoAch THE wall. hE FoLloWs Me cautiousLY. i'm nOt surE iF thaT's becauSe he thinks there's soMEthIng wrong with mE riGht nOW Or He's AFrAId tHe GHosT MIght come back.

"He cHanged the mEsSAgE this time,"
 up the inside of the glas s of water  on m y d esk  a nd m ovin g toward me. H o lden  and Zara are both say ing s om e thin g ,but I  shut e v er y t hin gel seou t  a nd sq uee ze my e yes shut a s t ig htly as I ca n .Infuriated  by  the fact th atI'm ig no rin g  him,  th e cra zy sta t ic hum  starts b ui l ding i n  the ro o m .I ha ve no idea if the ot h ers can hear i t, but  I wa n t  to  sc ream as it  b ashes against my m i nd. 
I don't know  how long I sit  there  s car e d outof my  m i ndthat the sa lt w on't hold  him b a ck, but when ahand t ouc hes  mys ho ul der ,I  sc r ea m,j ump ing away  f ro m itin t e r r o r. " Ech o, i t's j ust me," Hold ensays bre athle ssly.  It' sgone.  You'r e oka y. "

Holden has t o pr y my head  up .Asso on as he suc cee ds,  Zara c lobbers mean d s ta rts wiping away my  t e a rs . "It'sall ri g ht .H e took o ff . Y ou w e r e saf e in s id e the sa lt cir c le  t he whol etime.He  di dn' t eve n  try  to cr oss it,"  shes ays.

My eyesd art up and fl i ck a ro u nd t heedges of th e ci r cle,  ful l yexp e cting  to s ee on e  of the lines broke nand th e rog ue ghost lyin g in waitf o r  me. All  I s e ea re the two unb roken  lines pro t ecting m e...u ntil I l ook up. S u d denly, I  ca n't  ca tch m ybreath when I s ee h ug e, slas hin g lette rswri tte n a cr oss my wa ll in pe rm an en tmar ker.LET ME G OREP EA T!
Oddl y , thefirst  coh er en t  th ought I ha v e  isth at  mymom  i s goi ng t o  fr eak ifshe seesper m anen tma rker on  the wall. Th esecond isev enmore s t r angely r ational. Why did he wri t e repea t t his t ime?  Does itmea n he's  co m ing ba ck? Or  he j us t d i d n't w a n ttodu plicate th e mes sage?  I 'm c aught o ff guard by both t h e m arker and the  ch ange i nthe me s sag et hat m y fear inches d own a notc h, en ough to le t  me  t hink pr operly. 

"Za r a, ther e's a big  bottle o fhair s p ray  in my bat hroom. C an you go get i t ?" 

Zar a a nd Hol de n b oth g ive me fun ny lo oks, b ut  Zarashake sit off a nd dashes to my bathroo m. Whe n I f eel  steady e nou g h t o stand,I sq ueeze Hold en' s h and b efo r e ste ppin g  a way to ap proa c h the wal l .Hef o ll ows me caut i o u sly . I'm  no t  sureif t hat's because het hinks there'ssome t h ing  wr o ng w it h me right now  or  h e ' s afraid  t he ghost mi ght come  b a ck.
"He ch angedthe mes s a ge this t ime, "
 up_the inside_of the glass of_water on_my_desk and_moving_toward me. Holden_and Zara are_both saying something, but_I shut everything_else_out and squeeze my eyes shut as tightly as I can. Infuriated by the_fact_that I'm_ignoring_him,_the crazy static hum starts_building in the room. I_have no_idea if the others can hear it, but_I_want to scream_as it bashes against my mind.

I don't know how_long I sit there scared out_of my mind_that_the_salt won't hold him_back, but when a hand touches_my shoulder, I scream, jumping away_from it in terror. "Echo, it's just_me," Holden says breathlessly. It's gone._You're okay."

Holden has to pry_my head_up. As soon as he_succeeds, Zara clobbers_me and_starts wiping away_my tears. "It's all right. He_took off. You_were safe inside the salt circle_the_whole time. He_didn't_even_try to_cross it," she_says.

My_eyes dart_up_and flick around the edges of_the_circle, fully expecting to see one of_the lines broken and_the_rogue ghost lying in_wait for me. All I_see are the two unbroken lines_protecting me...until_I look_up. Suddenly, I can't catch my breath when I see huge,_slashing letters written across my wall_in permanent marker.

LET ME_GO REPEAT!

Oddly,_the_first coherent thought_I_have is_that my mom is going to freak_if she_sees permanent marker on the wall._The second is even_more_strangely rational. Why did he write_repeat this time? Does it mean_he's coming back? Or he_just_didn't_want to duplicate the message?_I'm caught off guard by both_the marker and_the change in the message that my_fear_inches down a notch, enough to_let_me think properly.

"Zara, there's a big_bottle_of_hairspray in my bathroom. Can_you go get it?"

Zara and Holden_both give me funny looks, but Zara shakes it_off and dashes_to my bathroom. When I_feel_steady_enough to stand, I squeeze Holden's hand before stepping away_to approach_the wall. He_follows me cautiously. I'm not sure if that's because he_thinks there's something wrong with me right_now or he's afraid the ghost might come back.

"He changed the_message this time,"