Prologue:

A streak of lightning fell from the night sky and struck the paved roadway producing a serrated crack. Residents of the suburban street barely noticed it, as they were indoors seeking the comfort of their air-conditioned homes. The haze outside was unrelenting. Even at the peak of night, the heat reigned, supporting one very clear message:

Summer had arrived.

From the crack, a foreign breeze glided with a purpose. The draft was chilly, crisp: a reprieve as it glided through the sultry air, past the droves of suburban houses, sweeping silently through an open window on the second floor of a two story, stirring the pink "Hello Kitty" drapes. It continued on until enveloping a small child who slept soundlessly on a tiny bed, cocooned warmly in her blanket. Her soft snores echoed quietly in her darkened bedroom. The "Simba" nightlight by the bed flickered.

The air stilled and a large hand stretched out, its' long and chiseled fingers thrumming the young girl's platinum blonde hair. A man sat down beside the small body with an enamored grin, his green eyes sparkling with mirth.

The child stirred and a blue eye suddenly shined through a slit. It took only a second for the little girl to notice the darkened shape. Slightly alarmed, she emitted a soft squeak and opened her eyes.

"Hi honey." The man said.

Though he was mostly hidden in shadow, the little girl knew who he was. He often visited her at times. She liked it whenever he came. Only he hadn't visited in a year, since her fifth birthday.

"Sam? Is that you?" She uttered quietly. Anything more than a whisper and her dad would come. Sam always had to leave when that happened.

The green eyes glinted in the dark. "Yeah, it's me kiddo."

She grinned and sat up. "I missed you. Where did you go?"

"I had to go home for a little bit. Let's just say a few kids of mine were acting bad." He bopped her tiny nose. "I had to teach them a lesson to mind their manners."

"Did you put them in time out?"

"You can say that," he flashed a pearly white smile.

"That's what my teacher Mrs. Morris does! I've been in time out three times," she raised three tiny fingers and smiled mischievously, "this week."

"Oh," the man, Sam, was genuinely surprised. "Getting better, I see. Any luck at the science fair?"

"How did you know about that?"

"Just because I haven't been around doesn't mean I'm completely gone. I've been keeping tabs. I am supposed to be watching over you, aren't I?"

"I guess," her eyes casted down towards her covers, ashamed.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged. "It sucked. I got a white ribbon."

"Honorable mention? That's great!"

"No, it isn't," she pouted. "I wanted a blue ribbon. It was that stupid Tommy Dork-ison!"

"Is that really his name?"

"No," she replied miffed, "but that's what we call him. If he hadn't dumped over my plant, I would have won."

"Well, that was mean."

"No duh! And he called me a dummy after he did it."

"And what did you do?"

"I told him he was a stupid head. He didn't like that, so he pushed me down. He wanted me to cry."

"Hmm, something tells me that this isn't the first time this has happened."

She shook her head.

"Did you tell your dad about this?"

"Uh huh."

"And what did he say?"

Her voice lowered and she leaned in as though telling him a secret. Sam leaned in as well. "Shhh, he said I can't tell mom, but he said if someone starts a fight with me, then I finish it."

Sam couldn't control his laughter. Hearing that quote from a spunky six-year-old was all too comical. "Yea, that does sound like something your dad would say. So what did you do?"

"So I punched his nose. It started bleeding and everything. It was gross, but Tommy ran away crying. Ha!"

"Oh boy, do your parents have a trying time coming up? Where was your mom in all of this? What did she say you should do?"

"Erm," the child scratched her head, confused, "she says I shouldn't listen to him, that he only picks on me because he likes me."

"Ah, the typical parental response. Again, not surprised."

"Okay then?" The child challenged. "Tell me. Do I listen to Mom or Dad?"

Sam scratched his chin, contemplating. "Eh, I'd go with your mother. Listening to your dad sometimes probably would be a one-way ticket to Juvy."

"What's Juvy?"

"Ask your dad. He can tell you all about it, trust me."

"Okay?" She squeaked, unsure.

"Hey, I don't mean that in a bad way. Your dad is awesome. Let me tell you a story about a guy I knew—"

"Oh goodie! Storytime!" She clapped her hands loudly.

"Whoa, slow down there kiddo. This time it's not about the evil leprechaun who took over the Dairy Mart. There is a moral behind it. It's about a guy who always stood up for what he wanted, for what he felt was the right thing to do, even when he faced certain death. Family always came first in his mind, and he didn't stop at nothing until they were safe and sound."

"Snooze-ville!"

Sam sighed. "It's got monsters in it."

"Okay!" She was back to being eager.

"Now I won't give you any of the nasty details. I think your mom will put me in time out if I told you any of it. And it might scare you…"

"I'm not scared."

"Oh that's right, you want to be…uh…who was it? Xena? Leia?"

"Princess Mononoke! I want to be tough and ride wolves, remember?"

Sam stared. "Why am I not surprised your dad let you watch that? At least he hasn't let you watch Heavy Metal just yet."

"What's Heavy Metal?"

"Dang, said too much. Don't ever mention that. Don't want your mom to smash a thermos against your dad's head again. Anyway, back to what I was saying. You need to know this stuff. It might save your life later on, because sweetie, you just never know."

The child seemed all the more eager to listen. "Is it about ghosts?"

Sam choked, rolling his eyes. "Ehhh, a little."

"Dad's read me a couple of ghost stories. He actually thinks this house has one."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, but he won't tell me why. He says that he'll take care of it. What do you think Sam?"

"Hmmm, I think it may be a little haunted."

"Really?" The child was nearly out of her covers on the balls of her feet. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm dead."