Chapter 2:
To explain a little better, here's the housing situation. There isn't enough room for all of us to move in together (they have a fairly plush 3 bedroom apartment), but that's no reason for us to be really separated, according to Annie and Dad. Since I'm going to college so soon anyway, they thought it would be good for me to get a place of my own. Not just a little roach motel either, a nice loft a just block away from their own place. And interestingly enough, rather cheap. Annie is a real estate agent, so she can get first dibs on places she really wants, or in this case, for her stepson going to college. I tried to turn down the offer of such a nice place (since I technically wasn't paying for it) but admittedly, I didn't try very hard.
But now I can see why the place was so easy to get.
Jenny continued, "The building dates back as far as the 1800's but ever since about the 1900's, the residents have only stayed a few weeks before giving it up. I've looked on the internet and pulled up several cases of typical ghost haunting: banging noises, lamps thrown, the works!" She looked positively delighted.
I wasn't sure I felt the same. Oh, yes, it's my job and all, but I wasn't expecting having to de-ghost my own loft the day I got here. And by the sound of it, this particular ghost sounded violent enough as it is. I suppressed a sigh as I could practically hear Father Dom now. Now now, Jesse, he would say, it is our sole responsibility to guide these unfortunate souls to their proper rest. As their guide and beacon, blah blah blah blah…
Hey, I adored the old guy, but he can just talk forever about the subject.
Carrie suddenly turned into a parking garage and we all filed out. Dad and Annie were not too far away and were waving to us to follow them into a nearby building. Dad had all my suitcases. Carrie, Jenny, and I complied and made our way down to them to the front lobby of the complex. Annie talked to the front desk while we found an elevator to fit us all. Once she was done, we piled in and rode it to the top. There was quaint elevator music that did nothing to soften compact space. Finally stepping off, our little troop made our way to door number 515. Annie searched her pockets and pulled out a card key that she scanned and swung the heavy door open.
The place was huge.
Well, not warehouse huge, but enough room for a studio, electric fireplace, living area, dining space, kitchen, and whatnot to fit comfortably. The only reason I saw for the rest of the family not to move in here instead was that it only had one bedroom. The rest was just comfort space. Not only that, but the place already had a good amount of furniture already there, bought courtesy of Annie and Dad, although it hadn't been unwrapped or put in place yet.
Dad put my stuff down and rose his arms up to emphasize the vastness. "Well? What do you think," he asked.
I said sincerely, "It's wonderful. I really don't deserve all this on your bill."
Annie waved it off, "Oh, it's nothing, Jesse. This place was practically made for you. Plenty of room to put your books and such. And every young man needs a place of his own."
Carrie replied, "Hey! What about me?" Carrie was seventeen, but still didn't get any benefits from her mother's real estate business.
Annie patted her shoulder, "We'll get to that when we see your next grade report, honey."
Remembering Jenny's remark, I looked cautiously around. Nothing seemed out of place yet. Annie and Dad obviously didn't have any trouble getting the furniture here. As I took to walking around the place, I heard Jenny say from near the doorway, "Wow, is this really haunted?"
Megan let out a little scream, "Ghosts are bad!"
Annie calmed the two of them down, "Jenny, are you still on that? Just because this loft is old, doesn't mean it's haunted."
Dad ruffled Megan's hair, "Don't worry, little one, no ghost could ever harm you. Not with me and Jesse here to protect you." If he only knew. Unbeknownst to him, on more than a few occasions a ghost has taken a swipe at dear old dad, but paid dearly for it later.
Still, Megan smiled brightly at Dad and rose up her arms to be held by him. He obeyed and lifted her up as she laughed again. Dad called out to me, "Hey, Jesse, we're going out for a nice family dinner. Why don't we all get changed and we'll be back in ten minutes to pick you up?"
"Yeah, that sounds great, Dad." I turned back to exploring as I heard the door shut behind them.
The loft was mostly open space divided into sections by open doorways and furniture groupings, but there were only three actual doors and a few windows. The windows led out to the fire escape and the front door out to the hallway. The slightly smaller door between the kitchen and living area was a bathroom. A part of me already knew what I would find as I turned the doorknob to what was to be my bedroom.