I woke up in my bed. How did I get here? I don't remember, because the last thing I know... I let out a strangled moan. That face, that pale face! Was it just a dream?

I picked myself up from the bed and went down. No one was here yet. How did I just appear in my room, when I clearly remember being in the hallway before? Did I lose my memory? I'm losing it.

Finally, I heard the door slamming and when I checked with my heart racing, peeking out from the kitchen, fortunately it was Ellen.

"Hello, Chelsea, how was the school?" she began to ask me question about school and the people I met. I was answering them automatically, but my mind was elsewhere. I was replaying in my head what I thought happened while ago upstairs.

Unfortunately, I wasn't sure If it was only my vivid imagination or scary reality. That guy was freaking see through, jeez! I realized once again, I could see the wall behind him. I recalled his expression when we were exchanging looks. Oh, dang it! I can't lose my mind now. It was just dream, or hallucinations, it wasn't real.

"Chels, my girlfriends are coming today, to play bingo, fancy to join?" she asked after she was done investigating my first day at new school. I was staring at her, blinking and not knowing what my aunt was saying, I had to get away from my slow train of thoughts. Ah I really didn't wish to spend evening in the presence of older iladies, gossiping and all, not when I was questioning my sanity. And I was just guessing that I'd probably be in the spotlight of their little party.

"I'm sorry aunt, but maybe another time," I smiled, being concern about hurting her feelings, but nothing like that happened.

"It's okay, dear. Upstairs in the lounge is nice, you can stay there. We always have this meeting on the Thursdays, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet my girls," she winked at me, which amused me. It was like she knows exactly what I was thinking. I appreciated her tact.

After the diner, I went back in the second floor. In  a while I heard voices from downstairs, as Ellen's friends arrived, so I hid myself in the lounge like my aunt suggested, turning on the TV. I felt calm and comfortable, which was for the first time since I arrived to my new home. I found myself falling asleep soon after.

When I woke up, the dark has fallen on the world behind the windows. I could still hear faint laughing and music from downstairs. I smiled as I couldn't imagine group of elderly ladies being such a party animals. I stretched my limbs after sweet nap on the armchair in weird position and went to look out of the window. A far as I could see, there were rows filled with infinity of houses. I wasn't used to this. The view from my window in Alpena was completely different, but it didn't mean this particular one was not exciting. It meant something new. Instead a lot of trees and extensive woods, I saw glinting lights. I thought about my home in Michigan. How is everyone there? Maybe I should let the few people I considered my friends know, that I'm okay. I decided to fetch my laptop, but as I turned around to walk to my room, I stopped in the middle of the movement.

I felt the coldness filling the room rapidly and before I could even comprehend what does that remind me of, it appeared before me. I let out a little scream as I clutched the edge of the chair, I managed to walk to.

The man again! Or guy? I wasn't sure how to call this... this... person standing there with one leg flexed, with one hand in the pocket of probably expensive, but old fashioned looking tuxedo. I was able to notice all these little details in the second, while falling into the shock.

What a heck is going on with me? I was breathing heavily, trying to shake off the phantasm evict with the power of my will, but he kept standing there. He looked like he is hesitating, but still earnest, when he made an unexpected move, stepping closer to me. I followed his motion, making one step back away from him. I gasped when my back hit the wall behind me. He lifted his arm the same way he did before I passed out in the hallway. I kept repeating to myself not to faint again. Don't faint girl!

"Please, don't be afraid," I heard those words, thinking that it must be voice in my head, but it wasn't familiar voice at all. Probably because it was him who said it! I was gawking at him completely dumbfounded. Oh damn, damn! The phantasms are not supposed to talk and sound real on top of that. I attempted to convince myself that I'm just crazy, when another idea hit me.

He is a freaking ghost!

No, that is not possible! This is not happening to me!

"Who are you, what are you doing here?" I let out with strangled voice, trying not think about the probability of me talking to thin air. I even raised my hand as he did, giving him clear order to stay where he is. I was having a hard time to stand on my trembling legs, trying to ignore the fact, I can see the door of the a room through him.

"It is not my intention to hurt you," He informed me with deep dim voice. Those words automatically setting the warming alarm in my head, he didn't answer my question and he said he won't hurt me. This is just like in the horror movie, right before he takes my body and possesses it...

"Don't come any closer," I shouted at him, barely holding my emotions on leash. I didn't want to yell, it just happened, because the panic was taking over me. My legs couldn't hold my weight any longer and decided to give up. I collapsed on the floor, my head was spinning, but I could still see him...

"You can truly hear me, miss?" he breathed out in disbelief. His facial expression mirrored the astonishment he was experiencing, which was funny. How can be my phantasm more stunned than I am?

"No!" I growled., "I can't hear you. I'm just not feeling well," I whispered to myself, thinking that if I will tell that to myself, it will become true.

"No, I don't believe this is the case, Miss. I mean, I am quite certain you are indeed alright. I apologize for my impudence, but may I sit? This situation has disconcerted me off guard...," after he said that I turned my head towards him in my laying position on the floor. He wants to sit down? My phantasm wants to sit down and rest? Well why the hell not, right?

I slowly took in the weird polite way he talks. Oh, someone please save me. I dismissively waved my hand, sincerely not caring if he sits down or flies out of the window, which I would prefer. The best thing he could do is to disappear. That's what ghost do, huh?

"You should leave. You trespassed private grounds," I informed him testily. Why do I keep talking to it? I lifted myself on my legs again and decided to quit being such a cry baby. I walked around him, while maintaining distance all the way to the door, where I stopped and peeked out, to see if maybe someone is trying to frame me. No one was there, and the party downstairs was still pretty much alive. No one cared that there was a stranger in the house.

"I live here," he said simply, when I turned to face him again. Is he trying to be funny? It got on my nerves, well on the rest I still had. I didn't have much of a patience with this matter anymore. I needed to wake up, preferably right now.

"Not possible. I think Ellen would tell me if there was another tenant, so please leave, before I call the police," I blurted nervously. I started to tap with my foot on the floor. I seriously doubted that Ellen would rent the room to this creature.

"I know that you arrived only two days ago, Miss, but at the same time you are the only and first person who acknowledged my presence since I started to occupy this house," he answered calmly. How come that he is suddenly so calm. I feel like I want to scream and run downstairs. What does he mean by, I'm the only person who acknowledged him? The only one...?

Damn. Okay breath, in and out... in and out...

"Not even Ellen?" I reassured. Oh great. Seriously? It means I'm the only mentally unstable person here.

"No," he admitted.

"Well, that's not my problem though. I will call... the police...," and tell them what? Hey, sorry to bother you, but would you be so kind and exorcise the ghost in my house? No, that would not work. I'd end up in the madhouse.

"If I was allowed to, I'd leave long time ago, Miss. I'm afraid it is your matter now, as you can see me and hear me. You are the first one since I died," he said the last part, like it's normal thing to talk about his death. I moaned and swayed on my wobbly legs.

"Since you died...," I repeated after him. I hoped I misheard him.

He said it with confidence, which made me want to do the extinguishing of him, myself. I wondered if I attempted to drag him out of this sacred house, would my hand just go through his body?

I realized that we are standing quite close to each other at last. I held my breath and closed my eyes, which was the only thing that could prevent me from collapsing on the floor again.

"Are you alright, Miss? I know the discovery of me passing away is probably very disheartening," I was getting fed up with the way he was speaking. What damned period was he from? Calling me Miss all the time? That thought, made me even more unsettled. I just wished he would let me be.

"Leave me alone, please," I begged.

Unfortunately, he didn't listen to me, his eyes glued on me. It was making me even more nervous, if it was possible. Where was the gap between us, which she was trying to keep...? He was way too close to me and the moment I could feel his cold breath on my face, provided me with the clue to start freaking out properly.

"You are making fun of me. You are alive," I stated, confused. He let the wry smile to appear on his lips and stepped away from me. I shouldn't have doubted...

"Do you think? If I was alive, do you think I'd be able to do this, Miss?" he asked me doubtfully, leaving my field of vision. I was curious, so I turned around to find him just as he walked through the wall with no problem, right in front of my eyes. He was gone for few seconds, appearing in the same place in the following second. I opened my mouth, staring at him, like he was... No, that wasn't something I wanted to see.

"Oh god," I murmured. Why do I have to hallucinate? Why me?

"Well, what do you think, Miss? Am I dead or alive? I myself am not sure anymore," he walked all the way where I was stiffly standing. Sad smiled formed on his lips. I gulped in fear, trying hard not to let it see on my face.

"Are you a ghost?" I whispered without thinking. I had to ask, knowing that whatever answer he will give me, I won't believe it. I was making fun of this kind of stuff. I'd never believed in the storied about ghosts and demons, and other crazy things that my grandma was trying to scare me with. It doesn't exist.

"I don't know. If that's what would one call the appearance of my being, then I believe I am," He agreed. I randomly noticed that one of his arm is hidden behind his back and recalled all those old movies I was forced to watch with my grannie, filled with upper-class people, the men always performing this gesture. His posture was telling me that he is a nobleman.

I finally found courage to examine his appearance. I already noticed that he was wearing tuxedo, with snow white shirt and gorget, finished with shiny black loafers. The suit was most definitely made for his frame. His hair was jet black, longer than guys usually wear it these times, long enough that he could tie them behind his head, if he wanted to. But he let the strands frame his face, with few of the locks safely tucked behind his left ear. His face was handsome, and he probably used to have nice red full lips, whilst now they were cadaverous. I couldn't guess the colour of his eyes, even thought they were glittering with amusement right now. He showed me rows of white teeth, as he smiled at me. I must have looked like a scruff compare to him. Still I wasn't ready to freely smile back at a mere ghost. Instead of that I only frowned.

"Why is it me, who can see you?" I asked straightforwardly.

"I am not certain, Miss. But it is refreshing, that there is someone in the house, who can hear me, as I talk to them. Countless times I tried to speak with miss Ellen, but with no result," he kept smiling at me. It was obvious that this situation made him happy, although I couldn't say that about myself.

"I'm sorry, but this doesn't make me all excited at all. I didn't ask for it. So please, I'm begging you... to leave me alone," my words wiped off that smile of his. That made my knees tremble once again.

"I know this is not very pleasant for you, yet I can't stop this even if I want to. I can't leave this place, Miss. Whether you like it or not, we will be seeing each other," he said with serious expression in his face. I wanted to scream, I couldn't bare it anymore. I covered my mouth with hand to stifle shriek of desperation.

"I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience I created for you, Miss," he added and that was the last drop for me. I lost my patience to hear his medieval claptrap. I gave him look full of fury. I forgot about the fact he is see-through and that I'm probably losing it.

"I don't know why, but I'm not buying that contrition of yours. And stop, stop! If you call me Miss one more time, I'm gonna call ghost busters. Leave me alone!" I shouted, not caring who else will hear me at this point.

I could see a crack in his confident mask, when he hesitated for a split of second, but that was fixed in a matter of second. I growled in fury and stamped out of the room, almost tripping over my own feet. When I got downstairs I glanced at the closed door of lounge and hid myself in the kitchen, hoping that house ghost understands my demanding and won't seek me out. I didn't bother to turn the lights on and bit into an apple I took from the basket on the counter. I decided not to think about what happened upstairs. I knew If I would, I'd be probably crying right now. I'm not such a coward, but I was sure if something what is happening to me, happened to anyone else, they would feel the same way I do. I didn't want to be afraid to move around my own home, that's just pathetic.

After I gave it a thought, I felt a bit better and went to bed, as it was getting late. I was hoping that he wouldn't dare to show up in my room without permission. After I took a shower, I fell on to the mattress, ready to get some sleep. I didn't know about the person who appeared in my room after I was in deep slumber.

~

Unbelievable. I thought that I am forever lost. Destined to wander around this house. Not seen or heard, not being able to talk to anyone.

Before I accepted my faith, I often felt enraged, even more when there was no way for me to vent my anger.

Then something unexpected occurred.

I was as always walking through the house, when I saw the girl. I already knew about her arrival, as Ellen often spoke about it, but I had no idea what impact her presence will have on my existence.

When I saw her for first time from behind, without any explanations she just turned around, like she knew I'm standing there. That made me stop in my traces. In first I couldn't believe it, but she was staring at me with such a terror in eyes, and more importantly, she was looking at me, not through me. Just the way I'd imagine someone would stare at the ghost, which was true, in my case. I spontaneously raised my arm towards her, when she all of the sudden fainted. At that time I was in such awe, that I wanted to lie down on the floor next to her.

I should do something, I kept repeating in my head. But I didn't know what. I lost the ability to hold something in my hands long time ago, but in the moment I acted on impulse without thinking.

I stepped closer to her unmoving body, bent down and with my cold hands picked her up in my arms. I remembered almost dropping her down out of shock. I was holding her. I could touch her. I looked down into her relaxed features, then I went in her room and placed her on bed.

I was watching over her, until she began to wake up and then disappeared, thinking that it is probably for the best, to let her be for now, but I was already decided, that I must speak with her. There must be another meaning to it and I was incredibly happy, that I found someone who can see me, at last. Although I didn't know why it was like that, yet.

I smiled.

I never really understood the situation I found myself in after I died.

I recalled our not long conversation in the lounge. She was terrified and confused. Frankly, I was as well. I knew she wouldn't like to speak to me whatsoever, I wasn't surprised, but I already came up with a plan.

I need her, to make it happen. It will be hard to make her believe, that this is real, but she is the only hope for me and I will convince her, using every option to accomplish my goal.

I believe, it won't be that hard after all.

~~~