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My storew ice cold Ohthe body of Julie Murphy and she didn’t want to give it up I knew Julie was a spirit channeler But her father, Mick, had told randmother had died when Julie was three or four I didn’t want to frighten her, but possession is a big deal That’s taking channeling to a new level I’d seen Vicki do it--twice--but she was an adult She knew the dangers and was careful not to take it too far But I wasn’t sure either the girl or the ghost would kno to sever the tie between them "Ivy? I know it’s wonderful to be able to talk to us, but you have to leave Julie now Okay?"

I heard a bicycle slide to a stop on the gravel outside and then clatter to the ceirl entered the room "Julie! Why did you race away from me like that and why are you in a bar?" She stuttered to a stop when she saw her sister in the ar me, she turned a confused face ?"

"Beverly, we need to talk Let’s go outside for a second" I got to my feet, dusted off my pants, and put an arm around her shoulders She trustedthe drunk woet mad if we aren’t home soon I don’t knohy Julie ran off like that I nearly lost her in the traffic She’s never done anything like that before"

Traffic? I closedmy heart drop That was just what Ivy used to do and it used to drive ht When I stepped outside, the spell over the other patrons apparently broke and all but the bartender stampeded out of the bar and scattered Beverly and I sat down on the stoop in as left of the shade "We’ve got a problem If you were any other kid, I wouldn’t tell you this, but I think you can handle it There’s a spirit possessing your sister right now It’s my dead sister, Ivy"

"Ivy? She’s mentioned that name before She told me just last week that she and Ivy made cookies with Mom, but later when I asked Mo about"

I closed my eyes If this wasn’t the first ti when Gran came over to the house I had no idea Ivy had the ability to do so?"

She nodded "Sure That’s when a ghost takes control…" Her eyes ide "You don’t mean that Ivy wants to stay inside my sister? Won’t that erase Julie eventually?"

"It could I think we need to talk to your parents about this"

"But what about Julie? We can’t just leave her like that" She looked back inside the darkened bar fearfully I shared the fear, but I didn’t knohat I could do about it at this precise ed her real rew troubled and I saw soer in her eyes "So toto sacrifice mine? That’s not … Celia, you can’t do that"

"No," I said very strongly "That’s not what I et stubborn and stay just to spiteI’ain and come and steal her"

Now she went still "Oh That’s … well, that’s not so good"

I sighed "And the guards aren’t going to wait "

But the so came to me instead From Ivy

"Celia? Mommy? I think I … I think Julie needs … needs--"

I leapt toon the floor while ainst Natura, who now held her away frohter "Ivy? Baby? What’s wrong? Let o, da, Julie? Or Ivy, or whoever you are"

"Celie, I think so with Julie She hurts … here" She held up the sleeve of her T-shirt to reveal a dark purple bruise that I remembered well "It hurts really bad"

Shit

I looked at my mother and she looked atto keep the fear from my voice, I looked intoto have to go to the doctor to have that bruise fixed You don’t like the doctor, do you?"

Shefun Can’t I stay?"

I shook ht work "Moo back to the island Isn’t that what you came to tell me? That she’d left?"