Zak's P.O.V.

I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand. Grabbing my phone, I unlock it to see five missed calls from Billy. 'Damn it'! I thought to myself. I immediately call Billy back. The phone rang twice before he answered.

"Hello"? He asked. "Hey Billy, " I said. "Dude! Where are you? I've been trying to get a hold of you for a while". He exclaimed. "I know man sorry. I didn't sleep well at all last night". I told Billy. "Was it another nightmare"? Billy asked. "Yeah, it was. I'll explain later. I will be over at the museum as soon as I can". I said. "Okay man, see you then". He told me. I hung up the phone and put my face in my hands.

This was the sixth time in a row that I have woken up from a nightmare. Every time, this nightmare was about the same thing. I would be in this house, it was pitch black and the smell of rotting flesh was so strong that I wanted to throw up. Screaming could be heard all around me. It sounded like a child screaming at the top of their lungs. "MOMMY"! Then there was the sound of the loudest thunderclap I have ever heard in my life. It was so loud to the point where I had to cover my own ears. " Why my babies?! Why are you do-" a woman cried. Terrified about the child and the mother I try to navigate my way through the darkness so that I can find them and look for a way out of this house. I soon discover myself in a bedroom.

There were rotting corpses of children at the foot of the bed. On the floor, there was a drawing of the Satanic cross made from blood. I was too late to help the kids and I couldn't find the mother. Out of nowhere, I see a bright light coming out of what appears to be a small crack in the wall. I try to pry it open to find the source of the light, and just as I was about to open it, I wake up.

I don't understand why I'm having these nightmares. They could be visions for what's to come or a sign from the attachments I carry. The only thing I know is that I have little investigating to do. I get out of bed to get dressed. Once I finished and did my hair, I go downstairs to feed Gracie; my beautiful black and white dog. Afterward, I kiss Gracie goodbye then grab my keys and head out the door.

I get into my car and head out towards the haunted museum. On my way there, I turn the radio on and tune into 106.7 and an all too familiar song came on. The song was called Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac.

This song brought back so many memories. Memories that were filled with great content, however, some memories held pain and great sorrow. I didn't want to think about those memories anymore. I turned off the radio and drove to my destination in silence. I finally reach my destination, hell. Well, maybe a small portion of hell itself.

I get out of the car and walk into my haunted museum. During my short journey to the meeting room, I look at all of the numerous artifacts I possess. Artifacts that have a story to show and tell to the world. Whether they are cursed, haunted, or have once been held by innocent souls that did not know what's to come. Until it was too late.

I finally make it to the nerve center. At the table sat Aaron, Billy, Jay, and Dakota. Aaron looks up from the papers he was reading. "Hey, Zak. Everything alright man"? He asked. "Yeah, I'm alright bro. It was a long night again". I said. "Just let us know if you need anything man". Aaron told me. "Thanks, Aaron. So what's going on with our new investigation"? I asked the guys.

"Well, this time the location is at a two-story house in Michigan. There have been claims of serious paranormal activity there. Including poltergeist activity. On top of that, there had also been a familicide in the house". Jay explained. "A familicide? What's a familicide again"? I asked him. "Familicide is the murder of an entire family. This took place in May of 1999. The victims were a father, mother, aunt, and four children". Billy said.

"Jesus Christ. Who could have ever done something like that"? Dakota asked. "Well, the authorities believed it to be a robbery gone wrong. Yet when they searched the house, they found a lot of gruesome and horrifying things. There were a lot of ritualistic objects where the family was and satanic symbols drawn in the victim's blood. However, out of all the victims, the police found a toddler hiding in the bedroom where the other kids and mother were found. That child was the only one to survive that night". Jay said.

"Wait, hold on man. Only one kid survived out of the entire family"? Aaron asked. "Yeah, the child suffered from a head injury, black eye, broken wrist, and other minor injuries. The poor little girl was three years old when it all happened". Billy said. All of us were so grief-stricken for this one kid we didn't know. That child lost everything in a single night presumably not understanding what had happened to her loved ones. I look to the guys.

"So when do we leave for this investigation"? I asked them. "Since we have our vacation for the next two months, all of us don't head out until the end of January". Aaron exclaimed. "Well, at least it gives us some time to look into this case a bit more thoroughly. I guess we're done for today. We can get together in a few days or so". I tell the guys. We all go our separate ways. I go out to my car and think about where I'd like to eat for dinner. Right away I decided to eat at a simple little restaurant called Esmeralda's Cafe.

When I arrive at the parking lot, I step out of the car and head into the cafe. I walk up to the lady at the podium so that I can get a place to sit. "Hello, sir. Welcome to Esmeralda's Cafe. How many in your party"? The lady asked. "Just me for tonight ma'am". I tell her. "Okay, sir. No problem. If you can just follow me, sir, your table will be right this way". She said to me. I follow her and take a seat at the table she guided me to. Once I sat down, the lady handed me the menu she carried on the way here. "Here you go. Your server will be with you shortly". She said. "Thank you". I replied.

I skim through the menu to see if anything stood out yet I could only find a thing or two on here. All of a sudden, I heard the bells ring at the entrance, giving a sign to the staff that someone had just entered the cafe. Out of curiosity, I look to the doors to see who had come in. When I look to see who the person was, my heart stops. At the same time my heart stops, a young woman glances over at me. From the moment I look into her piercing blue eyes, was the moment I realized that I've just seen the ghost of my past.