"They followed me to Florida," Dan explained, leaning in too, dark blonde lashes nearly getting tangled when he blinked, when he looked down through them. He spoke in a hushed tone, like if he was too loud they would burst free from those boxes, or the rattling would bang against his skull too loudly. "My - friend. My mentor. I saw his spirit. He showed me how to lock them away so they couldn't consume me."
They had tried. And they grew hungry in the meantime - he only let them out so they could consume Rose instead, left with little choice and they had; feeding on sinew and bones and whatever dark sludge remained of her soul. Sometimes, he felt her there too. With them.
"But I don't...actually know how to get rid of them."