It was a choice. A conscious effort he put in. Yeah, cause moving into a haunted apartment is a choice anyone would make. Of course.

In all fairness, he had spent nearly a year in research to find the most viable place; haunted, but not particularly dangerous to live in. Something manageable, but still not normal. Maybe some casual moving of his stuff, random mishaps that really aren't more than a regular, vague annoyance.

He found this in a small apartment two towns from where he currently lived with his brother. It had been on the market for nearly two years after the last couple tenants moved out, complaining of it being haunted or just not compatible to live in.

Today would be the first day he'd tour the place, get the layout, and, if he was lucky, he might even confirm if the place was haunted or not. That would be something. But, he didn't expect it. It was only the first time he'd be there. Don't get your hopes up, Keith.

The landlord was an middle-aged man with an affable disposition. His smile was gentle, his greetings warm. Keith was thrown slightly by the unexpectedly genial man, but he returned the kindness with curt nods and a thankful word or two. He didn't quite know how to respond to it, but the man didn't seem to have any qualms with his apparent lack of social aptness.

"It's been empty for two years now, and I know that's not attractive to hear, but I feel it's pretty important to mention," the landlord spoke as he flipped through his keys in front of the door with the number '437' on it in generic, worn and scratched gold, "It's a handsome place, though. Got more than enough space for one person, an updated kitchen, it's clean… the tenants before were all good people."

Keith gave another light nod that seemed like the millionth just in this conversation. He wasn't quite sure how to go about asking why the place had been abandoned- if he believed it could be haunted or not. So he stayed silent, and kept his responses short. Of course, that was until he couldn't stop himself.

"Is it haunted?"

"Haunted?" the older man paused and looked to Keith. The key sat in the lock, half turned, "Well," a laugh stopped his words as he completed the turn and pushed the door open. It creaked, "That could be one way to put all that's happened in this place. I'm not sure that way or the next."

Keith bit his lip and gave one more mod. God, he had to stop doing that. The landlord waved out a hand, beckoning Keith to enter the place as he stayed outside.

The first room was cold; empty save for a broken down couch shoved off to the side. The walls were bland scales of grey and white. Dull dark blue curtains adorned the windows, half open and showing off the bright view of the outside. A sliding glass door could open to a small, gated balcony.

The lights weren't on. Neither was any sort of heating and it was mid December. Keith pulled his jacket closer; he'd never been the biggest fan of the cold. To the left he noted was the kitchen. It was moderately sized and open, you could see the living room from it. The counter tops were black granite, the cabinets stark white.

It wasn't very interesting. Keith looked to the right. Two doors.

"The door closest to you goes to the bathroom, the other one to the bedroom. And there's a door in the kitchen- I don't think you can really see it from where you are. It goes to a closet/laundry room duo."

"Alright."

Finally Keith didn't just nod. He gave himself a mental pat on the back before taking the few steps to the bathroom. The door opened with a drawn out squeak, and he flicked on the lights. They blinked, the noise they made ridiculously close to what you might hear in a horror movie. He shook his head. The bathroom was nondescript.

The bedroom was nice, Keith decided. The window was large and looked out over a road, a general convenience store on the other side of it. The location was hindering on being out of town, and so the buildings weren't on top of each other.

The closet was smaller than he might expect, but Keith didn't really mind. He didn't have a lot to put in it. So, with quiet footsteps he wandered his way out of the room, closing the door gingerly.

"I can leave you to look it over some more, if you'd like. It's not usually what I do, but I think I can make an exception for a place that's given me so much trouble." a croaking but warm-hearted laugh.

"That'd be great…"

Keith dropped his bag on the couch, dark violet and storming grey eyes once more scanning the room. The landlord shut the door with an assurance of where to find him, and a hearty wish of good luck. Keith showed his gratitude with a soft, distracted thanks and then he was alone.

He could hear his own breathing in the space, could hear the very faint sound of the landlord walking away. It was midday. The neighbors must be at work, or school, or whatever they did for it to be so completely, starkly quiet. He took a slow seat on the couch. He ignored the squeals of the frame at his weight.

"Is anyone else here?"

His words were hollow, and they reverberated off the polished wooden floors and the blank plaster walls.

"It must be lonely, having no one for two years."

Keith set his hands in his lap anxiously, shifting around. He pressed his knees together, excitement bubbling in his stomach. He pushed it down. Now, now. No getting your hopes up. You know that, Keith.

"I might move in. Would that make you happy? Or do you prefer no one lives here?"

His foot tapped on the floor, and he mentally berated himself for it. If he was making noise, then he couldn't hear any sounds from any apparition that could be there.

A sigh escaped his lips. There'd been nothing. He nearly stood, but gave in to a hope that if he stayed for one more minute there might be something.

There was nothing.

He let out a groan of a breath and he crossed his arms. Dammit, he had gotten his hopes up. All when he'd told himself time and time again not to. Way to go, Keith. Get a grip on your emotions.

He stood with a fervor of self directed anger and shook his head. The strap of his bag was rested on his shoulder in no time, and now his ripped up and tattered red converse smacked against the floor. He hesitated one more time at the door, his hand gripping the knob dangerously tight. Maybe, maybe.

But still, nothing.

"Dammit…"

It was just a whisper under his breath as he threw the door open and stomped one foot through the threshold.

The door slammed shut and Keith trudged his way down the hall. What a waste of time. He was so stupid. Why did he have to waste his time hoping that that stupid apartment would be haunted?

Keith had no luck. Of course there was nothing. God damn it all…

Okay, Keith. Take a chill pill. A couple breaths. He paused, both feet on different steps in the dim and dreary stairwell. His chin tilted up. He looked at the bottom of the stairs above him. Dark, boring grey. Calm down.

He should just take this place. Maybe it's not haunted, yeah, but it was a great deal. A low price, a nice place, a caring landlord. Plus, it was only about an hour drive from his brother. Besides, he didn't even actually know for sure.

He continued down the stairs.

The landlord was where he said he'd be.

"I'll take it."

Keith stormed his way over, slapping a hand down on the desk and startling the kindly man.

"You will?"

He sounded unbelieving. Keith nodded, averting his eyes and glaring at the ground. Embarrassment filled his mind at his outburst, showing itself as horribly contained animosity directed right at a small crack in the tile to the left near a trash can.

"W-well, that's great. Unexpected, but, great." another laugh.

The next couple hours were spent going through paperwork, settling financials and figuring out this and that. The landlord was more than happy to be renting out the apartment that'd been a thorn in his side for two years, and Keith was happy to be getting a place of his own to be independent.

Keith left with a new sense of autonomy.