Character Relationship Map: Anguish

Characters

• Tess (played by Ryan Simpkins) — protagonist

  Tess is a teenage girl who has suffered for years from apparent mental instability and moves with her mother, Jessica, hoping for a fresh start. After encountering the place where Lucy died, Tess begi...

• Jessica (played by Annika Marks) — protagonist

  Jessica is Tess's mother, who moves with her to a new home and tries to protect her as frightening phenomena intensify. She takes Tess to the hospital, supports her treatment, boards up her bedroom wi...

• Sarah (played by Karina Logue) — supporting

  Sarah is Lucy's mother and the owner of a bookstore. After Tess tells her something only Lucy could know, Sarah suspects that Lucy is communicating through Tess. She explains the spirit-channeling pos...

• Lucy (played by Amberley Gridley) — supporting

  Lucy is a teenage girl who dies after angrily leaving her mother's car and being struck by an oncoming vehicle. Her spirit later possesses Tess so she can reunite with Sarah, explore her former bedroo...

• Priest (played by Christian Litke) — supporting

  Priest is a clergyman from Jessica's local church who visits Tess while she is hospitalized. After observing the situation described by Jessica and the family, Priest suggests that possession may be i...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Priest → Tess (Professional Spiritual Counselor) — The Priest addresses Tess's supernatural condition through a religious framework.

  The Priest comes to see Tess while she is under hospital supervision and discusses the possibility of possession.

• Priest → Jessica (Professional Pastoral Adviser) — The Priest offers Jessica a religious interpretation of Tess's condition.

  A priest from Jessica's local church visits Tess and suggests that possession may be involved.

• Tess → Lucy (Meta Possession Host) — Tess's body becomes the vessel through which Lucy communicates.

  Sarah believes Lucy has taken possession of Tess, and Lucy speaks through Tess's body.

• Sarah → Lucy (Family Mother) — Sarah is Lucy's mother.

  Lucy asks her mother Sarah for permission to go camping, and Sarah later grieves for Lucy after the accident.

• Tess → Jessica (Family Daughter) — Tess is Jessica's teenage daughter.

  The plot identifies Jessica as Tess's mother and shows them living together in a new house.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jessica → Lucy (Unknown Temporary Permission) — Jessica permits Lucy one final night of contact through Tess.

  After Lucy reenters Tess's body, Lucy asks for one more night with her mother, and Jessica agrees.

• Jessica → Sarah (Alliance Collaborator) — They cooperate to protect Tess and help Lucy reach closure.

  Sarah explains Tess's condition to Jessica, and both women work to contain Tess and manage Lucy's final visit.

• Sarah → Tess (Alliance Spiritual Guide) — Sarah helps Tess and Lucy understand and complete the spiritual transition.

  Sarah explains Tess's possible gift and tells Lucy through Tess that moving on is the right thing to do.

Story Analysis

A grieving family confronts possession, spiritual attachment, and the uncertain boundary between healing and continued haunting.

Plot Progression

1. The Roadside Death — Lucy argues with Sarah about going camping and dies after leaving the car. Tess later encounters the memorial and is attacked by an unseen force.
2. Signs Behind the Mirror — Tess begins experiencing disturbing phenomena and tells Sarah something only Lucy could know. Her collapse leads to hospitalization and the Priest's possession theory.
3. The Borrowed Body — After discharge, Tess escapes Jessica and reaches Sarah's house. Sarah identifies Tess as a possible spirit channel and attempts to help Lucy move on.
4. One Final Night — A second spirit causes a violent struggle before Lucy returns to Tess. Jessica grants Lucy one final night with Sarah.
5. The Uncertain Return — Lucy leaves Tess and reaches a spirit world, where a bright light signals her departure. Tess returns to ordinary life, but the final eye-color change leaves her condition uncertain.