All Chapters of Atticus: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

**Brad**I've been banging on Candice's door for the past ten minutes my knuckles are starting to bleed. I'm not even trying to be subtle about it and I'm pretty sure if her neighbors are watching, they think I'm some kind of obsessed boyfriend. I've checked her apartment twice already, hoping she would finally open the door. I don't want to believe it was really her running up to the Emory house but now, I'm questioning everything. What made her crazy and why would she run to that house? I barely give myself time to process my next thought before sprinting back to my car. Digging for my keys, a rush of adrenaline surges through my body, making me slightly dizzy. The thought of going to the Emory house is starting to mess with my head. I know the rumors aren't true, but it doesn't make it any easier to go back. But no matter what, something wasn't right with Candice, something made her nuts in class. She had a look in her eyes that I haven't seen before on anyone. It was as if she

** Candice **Brad pulls up to the front of the hospital and I get out and walk toward the double doors. He was right; I am still a little out of it. Everything feels like it's going in slow motion. Or maybe it's me, I can't tell anymore. I hate that he's been dragged into my mess of a life. I feel like I'm seriously losing my mind. A ghost, who can control me inside and outside of my dreams, apparently drove me to attempt suicide. Somehow, I was stopped by a guy I met at school, a guy I've kissed twice and am already starting to have feelings for. And now my mother has been in an accident. It's as if I've been living an unconscious existence for the past twenty-four hours, holding on to a truth I no longer understand. Ghosts are real. Ghosts can hurt you.I'm not sure I can to do this by myself so I just stand here, staring through the glass of the door until I hear footsteps approaching. I don't have to look back; I know they're Brad's. His cadence is easy to detect-strong, yet c

I'm looking at her but can no longer speak. I see her, but I have nothing to say. My body is shaking like I'm in a sub-zero freezer without anything to keep me warm. Brad immediately squeezes my hand, rubbing his thumb gently over my fingers. The warmth from his hand feels good and I scoot closer.He puts his arm around me, stroking my arm like he's protecting me, and says, "C'mon, anyone who's lived in this town for even a little while knows about the Emory house." Mrs. Stephens takes her eyes off me and looks at Brad. "Listen, I don't talk about my abilities to many people, but you have to believe me." Then she locks eyes with me again and says, "You're in danger, honey."Brad looks down at me then back at Mrs. Stephens. "Are you seriously saying that house is haunted?" His tone drips with disbelief. "I'm saying that the visions I see are becoming volatile. And yes, the more time she spends there-with him-the more likely something tragic will happen."I can tell by the look on

Brad glances over to me and I nod, then his eyes are back to Mrs. Stephens. "But where does Josephine tie into all of this?""I thought you'd never ask." She smiles and looks at me. "Candice, you were my clue. When I met you on that first day and handed you your schedule, our fingers touched and I saw images of you as someone else. Someone from the past. That's never happened to me before." She rubs her fingers again and continues. "As time went by and I realized you had a connection to the house, I figured maybe it went deeper. Quite frankly, it was driving me nuts that I couldn't piece together you and the other woman I saw in you. So, I did a little research at the library and I was right. I found some old newspaper pictures from right around the time Lilburn was established in 1890. Actually, it was still McDaniel until 1910, when it was officially named Lilburn. There was one photo in particular that caught my eye. It was a picture of Atticus standing next to the woman I saw in

"Hello, Candice." His voice is still so beautiful and I reach out to him. "How did you find me?" I don't know why I asked; I already know the answer. He's part of me now."You must come with me." It feels like cool fingers are tapping on my cheek. When I push up on my elbows and look around, he's not there. I turn to look out the window and see the edge of the sun resting just above the horizon. I've been asleep for a couple of hours."Atticus?" I call out, but I he doesn't answer.Lifting the covers, I step out of bed to get a better look and I'm right, I'm alone. Instantly, my head begins to throb again and I hear his voice. But it's not coming from inside the room; he's in my thoughts. "If you want the pain to stop, you must return to me." Every time he speaks, the pain eases a bit, then returns with a vengeance-worse than before. I'm having a hard time trying to think, but I know I have to leave as soon as possible. I rush over to the window, hoping I can sneak out witho