The first thing I heard after stepping through the rift was Arthur's yelling. Typical. [Ow! What was that for?]

"Why can't we go after her?" he yelled at Lydia. "I'm not leaving her in some death dimension! She's family! Practically my sister instead of my cousin, and your best friend! Are you going to leave her there?" He stopped for a breath. "What if she's lost? Or hurt? Or--"

"Didn't know you cared so much about me," I laughed.

He spun around and stared at me. Next thing I knew, I was being spun around in a tight hug. "The fuck happened?" he asked, putting me back down. "Are you okay? What was it like? And where did you get that necklace."

"I was dragged into the rift. I'm fine. It was kinda dark and depressing. And a ghost gave it to me."

"What?"

"I know, right."

"Well what about the-"

A flash of light from behind. By the time I turned around, the rift had gone. There wasn't even a scar. Unless you'd been there at the moment it opened, you would never have known it was there.

"Huh," Arthur said. "That answers that." He kissed the top of my head. "You ever be that reckless again and I'll kill you myself. Being reckless in my thing. You're not stealing my fucking thunder."

"Uh-huh." I smiled up at him. "And that's your only reason for hugging me, is it?"

"Fuck off." He didn't let go.

A loud whistle made us jump apart. Lydia, who was still stuck on the other side of the salt circle, crossed her arms with a frown.

"It's fine, Ly," I called. "We can go home now."

"Please break the circle first," she said. "I do very much prefer to be included."

We did as she asked. As we worked, I told them about what happened on the other side.

Arthur snapped his fingers when I finished the story. "Naomie. What happened to her?"

I shook my head. "That woman said she was already gone. I couldn't save her."

"Oh . . ."

"But I was assured she's fine and in a good place."

"That's something."

The three of us stared at the clearing.

"Now what?" Lydia asked.

I grasped the pendant, taking Arthur's hand. "Well, I suppose a few spirits did manage to escape. And there are probably more who are yet to cross over. Might be trapped in tombs and stuff."

"Sounds like a lot of work," Arthur grumbled.

"Get to see the world though," Lydia smiled.

"Expensive."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't mean leave right now. After school, of course. And after I go to university to get a few degrees."

"Lifelong plan, huh." Arthur stared at where the rift had been. "Does this mean more crazy adventures?"

"Probably," I said.

"More ghosts, saving the world, helping people type stuff."

"Very probably," Lydia said.

He nodded. "I'm in. But tomorrow. Right now, I could sleep for a week."

I laughed. "Tomorrow then."

The first day of our true calling.

No way this was going to go well.