Logan sat on the school bus on the way home with the others, Ashlyn, Aiden, Ben, Tyler, and Taylor. The conversation had not stopped since they boarded. Everything circled back to the Phantom Dimension, what they had learned so far, and what they were supposed to do next. None of them liked how little they knew, but they did know one thing. They needed a specific item, and by pure luck, Logan’s grandparents had it at their house.

After a short discussion and some hesitant agreement, it was decided that everyone would stay the night at Logan’s place. The plan was to prepare there before making their midnight shift into the Phantom Dimension. Logan tried to stay calm, but his nerves were obvious. His grandparents’ house always felt safe, yet tonight it felt like the calm before something much bigger.

When the school bus finally stopped in front of the long dirt path leading to his grandparents’ home, Logan stood up and stepped off without giving himself a second to breathe. The house sat far back, surrounded by thick trees and overgrown greenery that made it feel more like a hidden cabin than a normal home.

Aiden commented with a laugh. It sounded rude at first, but there was no real malice behind it. Before anyone else could add to the comment, the front door of the house suddenly slammed open.