What do you say when you meet a ghost?

I wouldn't know, I have never met one.

That was until I moved into my new house on Haunter's Lane, Oregon. It was just me, my six brothers and our parents. With such a big family we needed a big house. It's not like we moved to Transylvania or anything, but a beat up street in the middle of America, with the fall leaves blowing about and getting caught in your hair.

It was the perfect and cliché way start to a horror movie.

Of course I was the only one who thought this, my piggly brothers were obsessing over this new video game. I rolled down the window and let the frosty wind tickle my cheeks. It whipped past my hair and I was momentarily caught up in the rush of the air. Then my breathe left me as I saw what we were moving into.

It was literally a haunted house. Some losers had put some cheesy Halloween decorations up. The inside was worse, covered in cobwebs and dust. I coughed as my parents attempted to freshen up a bit. My foolish brothers pushed past me in attempt to get the best room.

"Well, we'll have to do some major cleaning, but we finally found a place big enough for the whole family." My mother sighed, smiling as she patted her extended stomach.

You'd think seven kids were enough. I shrugged and ascended the wooden staircase. My wild imagination conjured up some many stories that had taken places in houses like these. Old movies from the nineteen hundreds and such. I walked down a hall and tried to avoid the loud shouting coming from the biggest room.

A small door caught my attention. It wasn't flashy, only the letters L. B. S. carved into a piece of wood.

I pushed the door open. Inside was a small bed, and what looked like a few vintage toys. Wooden cars, a sled, and dolls dressed in frilly outfits. I picked one up and wiped the thick layer of dust of her face. She was so delicate with her pale china doll face, and red blush on the cheeks. There was a little string in the back. Curious, I pulled it. Then dropped it as a horrible shriek was let loose from the beautiful toy. I nearly dropped it.

I turned around to escape the noise when I suddenly came face to face with a very stern looking woman.

I gasped sharply and jumped back a few steps. She snatched the doll from my hand and made a growling sound.

"What are you doing in here you spoiled brat! Can't you that this is off limits!" She snapped.

"I'm sorry! I'll just leave." I said heading for the door.

"If I see you step one more foot in this room, I swear you will not see the light of day!" She shrieked.

I ran down the stairs with my heart beating faster and faster. Where had that creepy lady come from? Why didn't she want anyone in that room?

I was so distracted I ran bam-smack into my father. Effectively throwing both of us off balance. I nearly tumbled to the floor in my haste.

"Whoa there sweetie, what's got you in a rush?" He chuckled, pulling me back on my feet.

"Sc-sc-scary lady!" I stuttered, pointing up to the balcony.

The woman was takeing the steps two by two, red in the face. "Excuse me sir, is this your daughter?"

"Yes, is there a problem?" He asked calmly, but sternly.

"She is trespassing on private property."

"Well this is my house so..."

She grew redder than a tomato. "Oh, dearly sorry sir, my name is Ms. Sage, the housekeeper. Excuse my outburst, I get quite emotional over this old house sometimes." She got a lost look on her face.

I hid behind my father as they chatted. My heart was still hammering in my chest. Would I have to live with this lady now?

After a while, I slunk away.

I made sure to steer clear of the door with the strange letters on it. Instead I found a different room that looked fit for a older girl. Seeing how I was one myself, I didn't mind.

Until I stumbled upon the diary.

Sitting in the bottom of an old footlocker filled with clothes was a leather bound, slightly frivolous book. I picked it up, wincing at how the paper fell apart in some places. One thing was for sure, it was definitely old.

I laid down carefully on the bed and flipped it open to the first page. I nearly gasped, it was an entry for the year nineteen seventy one. Man this house was old.

I could barely read the handwriting, the pencil was so faded it was nearly intelligible, but this is what it said;

May 4, 1971

Mother got me this for my birthday! She said writing things down on paper would help me clear my thought later in life, or something.

I guess I should start with what happened today, which was Saturday. We just moved to this really big house that was built brand new. It's ship shape and super nice, plus it comes with a color TV! I could barely pull Lysander away from it. He wants to be a movie star when he grows up. Of course me being the eldest I thought I would use my allowance and take him to see a movie!

Sincerely, Emily.

I continued reading Emily's Diary until my father came in and told me it was lights out. I didn't want to put it down, that time period was so fascinating, and everything cost way less according to Emily.

So of course I continued further research under the covers, with my partner in crime, a flashlight.

I had just started to yawn when I thought I heard something. A faint muffled sound. I couldn't quite make it out, but it sounded like someone was crying.

It sent chills down my spine. I clicked off the flashlight and pulled my feet over the edge. I walked across the carpeted floor, wincing at every creak the old floor boards made.

The noise got louder as I opened the door. I clicked my flashlight on again and headed down the hall toward the sound of someone crying. It wasn't a terrified noise, but it was so sad it made me want to curl up and start sobbing myself.

The louder it got, the more I felt the sensation someone was watching me. There was the ever present feeling of eyes on the back of my neck. I began to regret leaving the warm safety of my bed.

I froze, the sound was coming from the door with the letters L B S. The heart wrenching sobs were just beyond that door.

Thwap!

A hand landed on my shoulder and I screamed, whipping around with my flashlight to reveal the angry face of Ms. Sage. He features highlighted by direct shadow in the torchlight.

I screamed again and jumped back. The flash light still pasted to her face.

"Would you mind putting that away?" She asked sounding annoyed.

"Sorry!" I gasped, trying to control my erratic breathing.

"What are you doing up past curfew? Get to bed now!" She ordered sharply.

"But I heard a noise!" I protested as she pushed me down the hall.

"Bed. Now."

And I didn't hear another word as she locked me inside my room.

I barely slept a wink all the rest of the night.

The next day I sucked into Emily's diary. The story kept getting more morbid as I read an entry that took place during winter.

December 2, 1984.

It snowed today, and all six of us went out to play. You should have seen how red Lysander's nose turned, it looked like a tomato. Mother told us to come inside and now we're sitting by the fire drying off. I think they're worried about Ly, he started coughing a few minutes ago.

December 3, 1984.

Ly is sick with a cold, he is stuck in bed and is jealous of us going out to play. I stayed inside and made up stories for him, he always loved how I told stories.

December 8, 1984.

Ly isn't getting better, he has a growing fever and always seems to be in pain, Mother called a doctor. This is short because I'm busy with school and helping Ly.

December 12, 1984.

Ly is really sick, the doctor said it was just a common cold but the medicine he's taking isn't helping him and it only seems to be getting worse. I

I stared at the page, the pen just ran off in lopsided scribbles. The paper was crinkled and bumpy in some places as if it had gotten wet, or someone had cried on it.

It was the last page in the diary with words on it. I checked, flipping all the way to the end, nothing was left but a jagged edge where it looked like someone had torn it out.

I replaced the book where I found it that night. After inquiring my family whether they heard a noise last night proved fruitless, I tried reading another book I had brought with me.

That was, until I heard the noise again.

The crying voice seemed to float through the halls. I decided to leave the flashlight this time, in case Ms. Sage saw my light drifting down the hallways.

I went straight to the door, nearly bumping into it in hurriedness to see what was making that awful racket.

I opened the door and nearly screamed.

There was a boy. A boy made out of pure light, sitting on the bed and crying his eyes out.

And he was undoubtedly a ghost.

So I did the natural thing whenever someone sees a ghost.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

He looked up, and stopped for a moment. "I'm lonely, I want my sister."

I walked across the room and sat down next to him, trying to ignore the fact I could see right through him.

"What's her name?" I asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Emily."

My heart started thumping louder in my chest. "Stay right here, don't move." I said, getting up.

I ran out the door and started flipped on light switches. There were some angry groans until Ms. Sage came barreling down the hall towards me.

"Young woman! I swear a demon has possessed you!"

"Emily Sage!" I sang, running into the room with the ghost boy again.

As I suspected, she followed me, but I was hidden around a corner, and she walked into the room surprised. I slipped out quietly when she gasped.

On my way out, I noticed something inscribed on the door. Right below the letters L B S, were three words.

Lysander Baxter Sage. That had been his room.

And when I returned happily back to my room. I could've sworn I heard someone whispers the words 'thank you' into my ear.

I was probably just hearing voices though.