It happened just as she planned, but as Nerissa descended from her car, she couldn't help but question, what am I doing?

She is an interior designer working with a renovation company. Usually, when a house needed her expertise, she'd wait until all renovations were done before she visits. But Synch Manor, a Victorian house situated on the outskirts of a small town instantly captured her attention when she saw its photos. The grandeur of the estate compelled her to drive miles away from civilization to see the house with her own eyes.

She was warned that no renovation had been done yet so she might find the place eerie. No one had lived in Synch Manor for decades so the house had fallen into ruins. But that did not deter Nerissa. She pretended that she needed to have a feel of the house and see its original stature to have a better understanding of what kind of design she should go for since the owner of the mansion hadn't given her specific requests. She was only told to do what she does best.

So here she was, standing in front of a desolate place with the sun barely visible on the horizon. A soft thud echoed from behind her as she closed the door to her car and slowly approached the high brass gates of the manor. They weren't kidding when they said the place was in ruins, she thought to herself as she tilted her head and gazed at an arch—whose left half had already collapsed—looming in fragility above the gates. The two rock pillars that at one time were supposed to have been its anchor had spider cracks on them, with their base almost non-existent. The destruction in the entrance was enough to have Nerissa take a step back. But as she did, she saw a man lurking, meters away from the gates. He smiled at her and she smiled back, deducing that he was perhaps one of the people from the renovation team. He approached her with a measured fluidity in his strides which caused Nerissa to take another step back.

"Hello? I wasn't informed that someone would be here," he said to her when he reached the gate.

Nerissa smiled and then introduced herself. The man looked too handsome and had a serene atmosphere around him, whatever danger Nerissa should have seen was blinded by it.

"I'm about to head to town. You seem like you are not from around here. Would you like to have a drink with me?"

Too upfront, Nerissa thought to herself. But since she had no plans at that time, and it was too late to enter the manor, she agreed. With the aid of her car, they reached the town proper. He led her to a small bar where they ordered beers. Nerissa had a great time with the man as he cracked jokes and gave her a background story about the town and Synch Manor. Elvin was full of smiles when they spoke. He also listened attentively when Nerissa told her life story. He was so charming, it made Nerissa forget about the time, drowning in the deep abyss of his midnight irises. She was even more impressed by his gentlemanly attitude when it was he who proposed that they end their drinking because the night had gotten too deep.

When they parted ways, Elvin, being a local from town, suggested that they meet up the following day and he'd give her a tour of the manor and protect her, he added, since the place was near collapse. Nerissa gladly accepted his proposition. He was after all a gentleman. He had proven that.

She must have had too much alcohol because when Nerissa awoke the following day it was already sundown. Hurriedly, she got to her car and made her way to Synch manor. She thought Elvin would have left, but she was surprised to have seen him standing by the gate. With a sweet smile, he waited for her to descend from her car and then led her inside.

The path leading to the mansion was covered with blades of grass, and as the sun slowly drifted from the horizon, their surroundings became eerily quiet, sending a stillness to everything around them.

"Don't worry, I brought a flashlight," Elvin said to her when she started to fidget. That brought a smile to her face. As they continued to tackle the path, headlong against the cold breeze of the early night, Nerissa's eyes lingered. To her left; what could have once been a lovely rose garden lay like a cemetery with its hostile thorn bush and scattered cement. Glancing to her right, she saw the ruins of a playground whose swings were perhaps, children used to spend moments of joy and innocent childhood on, danced, creaking eerily against the billowing wind. The premises instantly increased the beating of her heart and for a moment, she regretted coming there. She should have waited until the following day when the sun was up.

"This place used to have a lot of life. I think with your aid, with a woman's touch, it will come alive once more."

There was an unsettling undertone in how Elvin said those as he guided her to the main door, but despite her inner warnings, Nerissa answered him with a smile and a bob of her head.

"You are obedient," he whispered as he laid a hand on the small of her back and guided her steps.

The door before them didn't even need a lock given its deteriorating state, and it only took a slight push from Elvin's hand for it to fully give way.

As they made their way in, Nerissa instantly felt light-headed. The inside of the manor had the scent of death, it forced her to momentarily close her eyes and clamp a hand over her nose.

"I...I think it would be best to check this place tomorrow. It's too dark," she murmured. She waited for Elvin's reply, and when none came, she opened her eyes only to realize that she was alone. Confused, Nerissa craned her neck from left to right, calling out his name. The flashlight which Elvin handed to her earlier swiveled in all directions, hoping to get a glimpse of him. But all Nerissa saw were fallen planks, upturned cabinets, and deteriorating carpets. Instantly, her eyes became wide as saucers and her heart took a thundering beat. She slowly backed away as she yelled for Elvin to come out. But no matter how hard she screamed his name, he never appeared.

Suddenly, a screech from behind her had Nerissa turning around. The air was almost knocked out of her lungs when she collided with the body of Mr. Bow, the new owner of the estate.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He yelled as he grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the house.

"I...I came to check the place."

The man frowned at her, shook his head, and then murmured, "Well, not during the night. You city people may not believe in local legends but the town's people swore that the spirit of the young master of this manor lurks on the premises as soon as the sun goes down, searching for a woman he could marry since his mother never allowed him to have a wife.

Although the words shot various emotions and worry in Nerissas' head, she didn't say a word about her encounter with the mysterious man. Or perhaps, too shocked to speak.

The following day Nerissa was given a tour of the house. Hours after, she found herself back in the city and inside her apartment.

She couldn't shake the story out of her head and something inside her questioned if Elvin was perhaps the ghost they spoke about. But he was too real, Nerissa couldn't help but reason. So she threw the idea out of her head and deduced that perhaps, Elvin was still inside the manor that night, perusing the place, and hadn't heard her when she called. But why did he leave your side then? Her logical brain once more mocked. She found no answer, and honestly, she didn't need one. So Nerissa shoved those thoughts and questions aside.

Ghosts aren't real.

After having dinner, she made her way to her bathroom. Upon entering, she immediately found herself staring at her hanging mirror. A blood-curdling scream escaped from her mouth when her reflection showed not only her but Elvin as well; standing beside her with a smile on his face. Gathering a feeble ounce of courage, Nerissa turned to her side, but she saw no one. She swung her head back to look at the mirror again. There, Elvin still stood beside her and in a near whisper, she heard him say, "Our place is appealing, my wife. We can live the rest of our lives here."