Chapter 1
Here I was, walking around this house again, even thought I know every single nook and cranny inside it. It was just another normal night for me, having nothing to, besides walking through the walls of this aged house and wandering aimlessly around it. Haunting the same residence does become little dull, especially if you have been here for over a hundred and fifty years, walking down the same hall, passing through the same walls, looking at the same items – the wooden stands, surfboards, electronic bits and pieces and the stained-glass windows. As well as that, I have watched the world go past in front of my eyes and even though everything is constantly changing, I feel like as if nothing moved on fast enough anymore. I suppose this may have something to do with the fact that I have lots and lots of time on my hands...perhaps forever.
As usual, I just decided to sit down on the window seat, which the father of the Ackerman family that lives here built for a mistress who was moving into this room tomorrow and started read one of the few books in this house. It held little interest for me as I skimmed over the pages as I've read it many times already. After a while, I decided to just sit and watch the sun rise, watching it throw magnificent colours across the sky, painting it brilliant orange, yellow, red and pink. This was one of my favourite times in a day, watching the sun rise, almost feeling the crisp, fresh air and the listening to the birds waking up and chirping merrily. I enjoyed this moment for a while, thinking how much of a shame it was that the people who were alive were sleeping, instead of enjoying this, because you can never really appreciate it fully once you're just a ghost on Earth. I suppose you never really know how much you take for granted until it's been taken away from you. I wistfully watched the rest of the sun-rise and finally, heard the noises which indicated that the Ackerman family were waking up.
"Come on guys, we need to get going soon," the father, Andy called out to his three sons and new wife. "David, have you got the sign ready?" He asked his youngest son.
"Brad has it," David answered, his reply accompanied by some banging, talking and footsteps.
I sighed and sat down on the window seat of the room again and trying not to think about the fact that I wouldn't have this room to myself anymore very soon. This property used to be a boarding house back when I was alive and it had been built in 1849 but now, a century and a half later, it belongs to the Ackerman's. It was and still is a very grand and beautiful Victorian building, with many rooms and a large backyard filled with pine trees, where there used to be a barn. Back then, building had a big reputation around here as many gunfights were staged here and there are even bullet holes in some of the walls.
I gazed out the window, which gives a spectacular view of the sea watching the seagulls fly around in the clear blue sky. I watched them soaring in the sky, alive and free and longed to be like them, alive and well but now I've learnt to accept the fact that it was impossible considering all that's left of me was my sprit or otherwise known as a ghost, caught somewhere between life and death.
I heard some footsteps and then the front door close as the Ackerman family made their way to their car and drove off. I knew that they were going to the airport to pick up Andy's (the father) stepdaughter, who was moving here into this very room from her old home, which she apparently shared with her mother for many years and now that the mother has remarried, they're moving here. I picked up a lot of loose information by accidentally overhearing their conversations but I know that I don't bother them as they didn't even know I existed, with them walking right through me, not being able to see or hear me.
I'm not sure how long I sat there for, just watching the sunny, bright sky and sea, when I heard the car of the Ackerman's drive up into the driveway. I heard them talking, but now, there was a new voice mingled in with the rest. It was feminine voice and it sounded quite pleasant although she spoke in a proud, demanding manner. When they got out and climbed up the porch steps, which were under this room, no-one spoke and when the mother finally broke the silence by saying: "Come on Suze. Come see your room," there was no reply. What did that imply? That the daughter wasn't happy that she was moving here? I heard three pairs of footsteps walking toward this room, one set a little hesitant and I saw Andy, the mother and the young mistress...