Shawn's POV

"I had no idea you could dance like that," Jay says surprised. "You're amazing!"

I laugh with my head down in embarrassment as I take my pointe shoes off and slip on my flip flops. "One of her many hidden talents," Zak smiles.

"Thanks, guys."

We head on out of the studio with the infamous mysterious look the front desk lady gives Zak whenever he walk by her. I really had no idea what her problem was whenever he came here with me. She surely didn't seem bothered by Jay being here. Her eyes trail Zak the entire way as we talk out of the building and to Zak's car. Zak takes us to GA headquarters so I can sit down and have the conversation with Dakota that I've been trying to procrastinate. I get settled in my office and take my phone out of my back pocket. As I bring up his contact, Zak walks in and sits down at my desk. "Can I help you, Mr. Bagans?"

"Just making sure you were okay before you make the call."

"Yeah, I'm good." I take my eyes off my phone and stare at Zak trying to tell him to leave without actually saying the words.

"Okay, okay. I'll go. Just let me know if you need anything."

"I will, babe. Thanks." We share a quick kiss and he shuts my office door as he exits. The ring tone comes through my phone after pushing call and I wait for Dakota's answer. He picks up by the third ring and I'm nervous as all hell.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Dakota?"

"Yeah?"

"I know we haven't met yet, but my name is Shawn and I'm working with Zak and the Ghost Adventures Crew."

"Oh! Hey! Zak has told me a lot about you! Good to meet you!"

"Same to you! Hopefully he's said all good things," I say nervously not knowing he already knew about me.

"All good, I promise," he laughs. "So, what's up?"

"So, our next location is Hill View Man-"

"Yeah, I heard. Sorry, I told Zak no."

"That's what he said, but I don't blame you," I force a laugh, though Hill View Manor was no laughing matter. "I know that you, Tanner, your sis, and Alex have been there. I guess I just wanted to talk to you about it and take some notes before going there myself."

"Honestly, Shawn, all I can tell you is don't go there and if he's insistent on going to this location then do not be alone."

"Well, that makes me feel good."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to scare you, but that's the reality of this place. It's awful."

"So I've gathered."

"I don't even know what to tell you about it. I mean, I'm sure you've seen our episode and did research yourself so you know what kind of things to expect."

"Yeah, I'm just scared."

"I get that. Good luck, Shawn. Call me anytime."

"Thanks, Dakota. Bye."

"Bye."

Well, that was a bust. He's right though. I mean, what is he going to tell me besides what I already know about the place? I guess I just needed some reassurance, but he didn't seem like he wanted to talk much about it. I get it though, he just went not too long ago himself and I'm sure he just wants to forget all about it.

Knock, knock.

"Come in!" I yell through the closed door.

"How did it go?" Zak wonders.

"Well, he didn't have much to say."

"Figures. It'll be okay."

"I wish you would stop saying that," I roll my eyes. "You can't know that for certain."

"I will do my damnedest to make sure everything will be okay, okay?" I nod and let out a heavy sigh. "Look, I have a lot to talk to the network about this location so I'll be here for a couple more hours. If you want to head back to my place and hang out that's fine. You can take my car or wait here. Jay said Kelsey is getting off work a little early so she'll be coming over here to pick up Jay."

"I don't mind hanging out."

"Okay, don't work yourself too hard. I love you," Zak gives me a kiss before leaving my office.

I sit and ponder in my office for about ten minutes before I decide to not wait around anymore. I walk down the hall a few doors to Jay's office and let him know that I'm going back to Zak's and text Zak so he doesn't worry. I never received a reply so I figure he must be really busy with the network crew. I take his keys from his office and head back to his house. Gracie begs for me to play for a few minutes before I start hearing odd noises coming from behind the dungeon door. Of course when I'm alone these kind of things would start happening. Again, I question why Zak wanted me on the crew because I can be a huge baby when it comes to this kind of stuff. Gracie lets out a whine when I stop throwing the ball and walk over to the door. I get a shock through my fingertips as I place my hand slowly on the door handle. Remembering Zak telling me didn't want me down there alone for my first time makes me hesitate to turn the knob, but technically it was my second time. I wanted to see for myself what I keep hearing. As soon as I open the door Gracie starts barking at me as if to tell me 'no', but I ignore her and I take my first step down the creaky staircase. Half way down the steps I hear a huge bang making me jump and almost lose my balance. I grab a tight hold of the railing and find my footing again on the next step. Finally, my right foot finds the floor of the dungeon and I start laughing uncontrollably. "Oh, no," I cough again.

I try to pay no attention to my coughing spell and continue deeper into the dungeon, but with my lungs on fire it's a little difficult to ignore. This feeling was all too familiar from when I was about 19 and got a certain diagnosis from my doctor. I cough some more and take my hand to my mouth. Feeling a splatter of liquid against my hand I get more concerned and start to get teary eyed. Seeing the blood drops on my hand and my shirt makes me fall to my knees. The dungeon starts spinning and the red Hughes of the room mess with my head making me seeing things that weren't there. Or, maybe they were being that I was in Zak's dungeon. "This is not good. I gotta get outta here." I try to come back to standing, but my body says no. All these years of fighting and I feel like it's giving up on me. Right here, in Zak's dungeon. "So, this is how it's gonna end, huh?" I start to get mad at myself, at my body, not being able to fight for another ten minutes so I can get back upstairs and call Zak. I'm able to get my right leg up so I'm kneeling on my left knee, but it's no use. I cough for one last time before my vision turns black and I pass out on the dungeon floor.