This was stupid. Noah realized that. He had known that when he agreed to it in the first place, but he just couldn't let that smug delinquent think he was scared. Damn his pride, it would be the death of him. Probably quite literally.

Noah stared at the house before him. An old building with boarded up windows, holes in the roof, and old wood. Rumor had it was haunted. Of course, this wasn't why Noah thought going in was stupid. The reason for that was the house's severe state of disrepair. The steps leading to the large porch were splintered, and it was pretty obvious a lot of the wood was rotting. It was a structural nightmare ready to collapse at any moment...and he had agreed to enter it.

It had started in English lit. Their assignment was to write a story and read it dramatically before the class. The story could literally be about anything. So of course Duncan decided to write a 'scary' story. The story was about a group of campers trapped in the woods being plagued by a malevolent ghost. Reactions varied, there were those like DJ and Geoff, who were scared, those like Gwen and Izzy who were excited, and those who pretended not to be scared, but the story was clearly getting to them. Like Heather and Courtney.

When Duncan reached the climax most of the class screamed, or jumped back. Duncan laughed, with Izzy, Gwen, and Heather joining him.

"I can't believe you were scared!" The queen bee said.

"But Henna you were also-" Lindsay began.

"Shut it Lindsidiot." Heather cut her off.

"That was a pretty good story Duncan." Gwen smiled.

"Izzy loved it too!" The ginger agreed with him.

"It was pretty fun." Geoff added.

Duncan looked pleased with himself. He should have left it there. Duncan was always pleased with himself in one way or another. As usual his inability to keep his mouth shut got him into trouble.

"Please it was stupid." He scoffed.

"You're stupid." Duncan snapped back. Normally at this point the teacher would intervene to stop the fight. Not in drama class. Mr. McLean loved watching them argue. In fact Noah was surprised he didn't bring popcorn. You'd think a college professor would be more professional.

"Nice comeback genius." He rolled his eyes. "Anyway ghosts don't exist."

Duncan raised his unibrow. "You don't believe souls exist?"

"I don't believe ghosts exist. There's a difference." Noah pointed out.

"Then how do you explain all the sightings?" Gwen asked.

"Hearsay and the power of suggestion. People hear a place is haunted and become convinced any little thing is evidence of a spirit. " He explained. It was obvious right?

"What about the house on Maple drive?" Katie asked.

Noah was worried his eyes would roll into the back of his head from all the stupidity. "The house on Maple Drive is not haunted. It's just an old house."

"But what about the noises?" Beth asked.

"It's an old house. It makes noise. The creaking is just the house settling, the howling is just the wind, and the banging is probably just broken water pipes." He told them.

"What about the ghost sightings?" Gwen pointed out.

"Please, most of them happen at night, tell me honestly that you can't see someone like DJ thinking a cluster of bushes was a ghost in the dark. Especially if he was told the place was haunted?" He challenged.

Heather smirked. "Yeah he would totally do that." The classroom started to mummer unsure how they felt. Noah looked at Duncan with a triumphant smile, but it faded from his lips quickly as he saw Duncan was smirking. He must have something up his metaphorical sleeve.

"Well if you're so sure it isn't haunted, then why don't you prove it?" The delinquent said.

"How am I supposed to do that?" He asked.

"Spend the night inside. If you come out, you'll prove you're right." Duncan suggested.

Noah scoffed, trying to hide how nervous the suggestion made him. "And how would you know I spent the whole night in there?"

"Simple." Duncan smirked. "I'll watch the house all night, so if you chicken out we'll know. Tomorrow's Saturday so I have no classes. I assume you don't either?"

"No." He admitted. "But I shouldn't have to prove anything." Noah said.

"I think you should!" Gwen said.

"Totally!" Katie agreed.

"Come on, Noah. You're not scared are you?" Heather smirked.

The next thing Noah knew the entire classroom was chanting. "Spend the night! Spend the night!" Normally Noah wouldn't buckle under such pressure. He didn't really care what others thought of him in general. In this case however, he couldn't have these people thinking he believed in ghosts. Duncan gave him an intense stare. Noah met that gaze.

"Fine." He had answered foolishly.

After class he was heading home to prepare for staying in the house when a short girl with pale blonde hair approached him. "Noah I heard a concerning rumor that you are spending the night at the house on Maple Drive."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Yes."

"You mustn't! That house is full of negative energy!" The girl said.

Noah smirked at her. "Let me guess, Duncan put you up to this. Well you can tell him there's no way he's scaring me out of proving him wrong. It'll be too fun to rub in his face."

The blonde sighed. "I can see from your aura that I can't change your mind."

"Aura? Great you're one of those people." Noah scoffed.

"Well, if I can't stop you then at least take this for protection." The small girl said, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small necklace with a black stone.

"And this is?" He asked with a skeptical eyebrow.

"Obsidian. It'll ward off negative energy, and keep you spiritually grounded." She explained.

"And you just happen to be carrying that around?" He frowned.

"Of course, you never know when someone will need the protection." She answered.

"Whatever." He said walking off. the girl followed. He sighed. "You're not going to leave me be until I take the necklace are you?"

"No, I cannot allow you to enter that house without protection." The blonde said seriously.

"Fine, I'll take the stupid necklace. Now go away." He said, taking the necklace and putting it in his pocket. Reluctantly The girl did.

Back in present Noah realized he'd never taken the necklace out of his pocket. Honestly there wasn't a point now. He might as well keep it in there. He glanced back to see Duncan watching him from the street. If he left now, the whole school would know. They'd probably assume he'd gotten scared, rather than the actual reason of being concerned the house would collapse around him.

He gingerly stepped on the first of the splintered steps, half expecting them to break. Though the wood groaned loudly it remained intact. Still, the very fact that someone of his weight was causing that much strain wasn't a good sign. He slowly climbed the stairs, wincing every time he stepped down. He was just waiting for the one step that wasn't as sound as the others to come out from beneath him.

He heaved a sigh of relief as he reached the porch. The boards here weren't much sturdier, but anything was an improvement. He entered the house. From the outside you could tell whomever had lived here was well off. The inside reflected this. The living room was huge, with a burgundy couch, and two matching chairs to either side. Noah wasn't sure what material it was made from, but it didn't seem cheap. A low mahogany table sat in the middle of the seats, an old candelabra in the center. near the back Noah could see a chandelier that had fallen sometime ago. He made a mental note to avoid that part of the room, as the floor was bound to be weaker there. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.

Noah stepped forward, his feet leaving small prints in the dust beneath him. A good thing he wasn't deathly allergic to dust then. He made his way to the couch and sat down. Dust flew around him, making him cough. He recovered quickly enough. He pulled out the book he'd brought for reading and checked his watch. Nine o'clock, only around ten more hours to go.

Noah started reading, allowing the book provide the escape from reality he loved them for. Eventually he yawned, and checked his watch again. Eleven now, still way too many hours to go. Still, did he have to stay awake? Duncan only said he had to stay in the house.

Absentmindedly he reached into his pocket, his finger brushing against the obsidian necklace. Right. He had that. Such a stupid trinket, he couldn't believe that girl thought it would keep ghosts away.

That was when a thought occurred to him. If Duncan found out he had the obsidian on him, he might say the challenge was forfeit. Since it would keep the ghosts from bothering him. So what? How would Duncan know if he had it on him? He could easily not mention it. Of course, he'd know.

Noah took out the necklace. If the belief was that it helped against ghosts, then by having it he wasn't disproving the existence of ghosts. Since people would believe the ghosts let him be due to the obsidian, and not because they weren't real.

He threw the necklace across the room from him. Not for Duncan, but for the sake of proving without doubt that he was right. He smirked. He felt no different now. It wasn't like he suddenly felt vulnerable or the house was suddenly awash with horrors. Which in his mind confirmed that the obsidian had done nothing.

He returned to his book, but only got a couple more pages in when he felt something brush against his neck. Instinctively he reach up to bat the thing away, only to find his hand hitting nothing but thin air. Huh. That was weird. It was probably the wind. An old house like this was bound to be drafty after all.

He continued reading, but not much further in he heard a crash. It made him jump, but he calmed quickly. Another part of the floor collapsing no doubt. It concerned him slightly, but he was well aware that if the floor was that weak, him moving would only be more hazardous.

He went back to his reading but hadn't finished his sentence before the candelabra on the table flew across the room into the wall. At this point he figured it wasn't the wind, still it wasn't hard to figure out what was causing it.

"Okay, whoever you are I know Duncan's put you up to this. I'm not falling for it. So you might as well come out." He challenged.

No movement. He rolled his eyes. Whatever, let the idiot try to scare him. He turned back to his book, only to see someone else was on the couch next to him holding it. The figure was translucent but clearly a male of Spanish origin. He had tan skin, a hooked nose, shoulder length brown hair, and a matching goatee. He was wearing a maroon frock coat open over a matching vest and white linen shirt, black woolen pants, boots, and a silver bull shaped necklace. His most disarming feature was the narrow murky green eyes staring at him.

"That's mine." He deadpanned holding his hand out expectantly.

The figure raised an eyebrow. "So it worked? You finally see me? About time, it's rude to ignore your host."

Noah huffed. "You can quit the act already. You're clearly just someone Duncan is trying to punk me with."

The figure looked confused. "Is that truly how you plan to speak to a ghost?"

"You're hardly a ghost." He scoffed.

"I'm see through. What other explanation could there be?" The 'ghost' asked.

"Hologram. So walking through walls and floating won't convince me either." Noah said.

"What's a Hologram?" The figure gained a serious look. "Not important right now. I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice."

The Spaniard moved forward and walked right through him. The moment he entered his body Noah felt deathly cold. Tingles ran along his body, a sense of foreboding filled him. By the time the ghost was through Noah had no doubt he was telling the truth. A hologram wouldn't be able to do that.

He found himself staring at the ghost in shock. It didn't last long, as the smug look on the ghost's face broke him out of it. "Okay, so you're a ghost... My worldview is shattered."

"Good. I've been trying to talk to you the entire time you've been here, but that obscene stone wouldn't let me. After that you kept ignoring me." The ghost huffed.

"So uh. Are you planning to haunt me?" Noah asked.

"No, I wish to have your help." The Spaniard said.

"Why would a ghost need my help?" He wondered.

"Like all ghosts, I'm stuck on this mortal plane because of unfinished business. The thing is, I don't remember my death."

"How could you not remember?" He frowned.

"I don't know. I know I died, but that's all. I've been trying to seek help from the living for a while now, but every time I get close, they run off." The ghost explained.

"Makes sense, all the idiots at my school were scared of this place." Noah scoffed. He was more intrigued now that he'd had time to register the knowledge of ghosts being real.

Maybe helping the ghost out would give him some more information on all this. "...Fine I'll help, but only because I'm curious."

"Bueno. If you could find out what happened at the time of my death, I might be able to escape this purgatory."

"You know if I'm supposed to look for information on you, I need a name." Noah pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

The ghost looked taken aback. "I apologize for that oversight. I am Alejandro Burromuerto." He gave a slight bow. "And you are?"

"Noah." He answered. "So why do I have to find this information anyway? Can't you do it yourself?"

Alejandro shook his head. "No, I am bound to this house."

"So, you can't leave?" He asked.

"No." The Spaniard said sadly.

"Well if you don't mind, I'd like to sleep. I'm tired, but first give me my book back." Noah ordered.

"Demanding aren't we?" The ghost said, sounding amused. He handed the book back. "Come back tomorrow night with any findings you have."

Noah nodded lying down on the couch. It only took him a few minutes to fall asleep. When he woke the next morning he was unsure if what had happened last night was even real. It probably wasn't.

He exited the house triumphantly. Smirking at Duncan, who was waiting for him. "I told you ghosts weren't real."

"Whatever. This doesn't prove shit. There could still be ghosts in other places." Duncan scoffed.

Noah rolled his eyes and walked back to his apartment. He quickly changed his clothes and went to his computer. He was so going to tell Owen about Duncan's loss. As he booted it up he thought back to last night. Obviously it wasn't real...but maybe he could look up the name Alejandro Burromuerto anyway? It wouldn't hurt. He typed the name in fully expecting no results. He was shocked to find not only was there a person named Alejandro Burromuetro, but the person looked exactly like the ghost from last night.

He clicked on the first link and it led him to an e-book entitled, 'The life and times of the Burromuerto family.' He decided to buy it.

He spent the day engulfed in the book, which he downloaded to his phone. The Burromuertos were an aristocratic family from the late nineteenth century. There were five family members. The patriarch and matriarch as well as their three sons. José , Carlos, and Alejandro. Alejandro was the youngest, being born in 1864.

It was a fascinating read. Apparently there was a scandal with Carlos dating and marrying a commoner. After that he was disowned. José was the eldest, and most accomplished child. Then there was Alejandro, who was still accomplished, but less so than José . About halfway through the book he found out that Alejandro had disappeared at sixteen. Never to be seen again.

That didn't help much, but he had an inkling it meant Alejandro had not died of natural causes. It would explain why his soul hadn't moved on. He read through the rest of the book, just to be sure there was no other information. Nothing that he could see.

He glanced at the clock. Eight P.M. already. He could probably had over to the house now. For the second time in as many days Noah walked to the house at Maple drive. This time of his own choice. While he was still nervous about the stairs, he made it up them and entered the house. "Alejandro?"

"Yes?" An accented voice answered causing him to jump from the abrupt appearance.

"Don't do that!" he snapped at the ghost.

"You're the one who called for me." Alejandro retorted. "Have you found out about my death?"

"Yes and no." He admitted walking to the couch and sitting down. Alejandro followed. "So, i found out you disappeared at sixteen. No one knows what happened to you. I get the feeling your death wasn't natural though. Which would explain why you have unfinished business."

"I disappeared?" Alejandro said, looking surprised. "So, I just vanished? No ransom or anything?"

"Not that I could find. So if you were kidnapped money wasn't the motive. Maybe it was some kind of revenge? Did your family have a lot of enemies?" Noah asked.

Alejandro frowned. "No, my family was the picture of success." He sounded bitter about that. Noah wanted to press, but decided it wasn't his business.

"Well maybe there's something in this house that has a hint to your death? Like something to indicate what happened?" Noah guessed.

"It's possible. I've already searched much of the place and never knew I'd disappeared. So I'm doubtful we'll find anything that specific." Alejandro said.

"We don't need to. If you can find any records of the time around your death, we might be able to figure out who had motive to make you disappear. From there we can attempt to extrapolate how you disappeared." Noah explained. He had taken his phone out and was writing notes on it.

Alejandro had slid very close to him now. Noah could feel the air around him grow cold. "What's that?" The Spaniard asked, curiously.

"It's my phone?" Noah said.

"A phone?" Alejandro frowned. "It doesn't look like any telephone I've ever seen. In fact telephones were rather rare when I was alive."

Noah nodded. Now that he thought about it, Alejandro was from the late nineteenth century. The telephone was incredibly new at that point. "Technology has come a long way since then. Practically everyone I know has a phone."

"Are they all portable?" Alejandro asked seeming genuinely interested.

"A lot of them are. Landlines do exist, they're just not common anymore." Noah said.

"Fascinating. What's the round thing on the back?" The Spaniard said, pointing to it.

"That's the camera." He explained.

"A camera?!" Alejandro looked shocked. "You fit a camera in that?!"

Noah chuckled despite himself. "Like I said, technology has come a long way."

"Evidently. " Alejandro said. He paused, "I know this is a bit off topic, but what else has changed?"

Noah began to explain the many things that had been made in the time since Alejandro was alive. He spoke of computers, television, sliced bread, microwaves, and many other things. Since Alejandro wasn't alive he had to explain how each of the things worked. While he could tell some of it went over the ghost's head, Alejandro seemed eager to learn all he could. Noah, being the know it all he was, enjoyed having an excuse to explain it all. He'd never get the chance with anyone else. No one really cared how their utilities worked. Content in the knowledge that they did work, and completely unaware how easy they had it. It was one of the reasons Noah loved survival video games so much. It let him experience what it was like to live without those things.

It didn't feel like very long before it was nearly six in the morning. He glanced at his phone. "I didn't realize it was getting so late."

"You have a clock in the phone too?" Alejandro said. "i suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Humanity's figured out how to heat food in a matter of minutes, of course you have a clock in the phone."

"I'd really like to chat more, but I should get some sleep." Noah yawned.

Alejandro looked disappointed. "It feels like no time has passed at all."

"I know." Noah sighed. "It's weird, but I think this is most I've ever talked to someone."

"Talking with you feels natural. More so than most of my conversations have. When I was alive there were very specific ways to say and do things. With you, I can just talk. I don't have to worry about the social cues." Alejandro smiled. "It's feels nice."

Noah smiled a bit. "Yeah, we have social cues too. I just don't care." The two of them chuckled.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" Alejandro asked.

"Of course, though I'll have to leave much sooner. I have school Monday." Noah told him.

"School?" Alejandro said. "You look a bit old to still be in school."

"What? Alejandro I'm only nineteen." Noah frowned. Then he realized. Back when Alejandro was alive, you weren't required to complete any schooling beyond elementary. A lot of people his age would have been working for years at this point.

"I'm taking college classes." He explained.

Alejandro nodded. "I see."

Noah stretched. "Anyway remember what I said. I need you to search the house for anything that gives us information about what happened around the time of your death."

Alejandro gained a determined look. "I will do my best."

Noah went back to his apartment and collapsed on his bed. It took him all of two seconds to fall asleep. The next day being Sunday he had nothing to do, so he read as he usually would. Oddly enough every once in a while he thoughts would drift to Alejandro. Ideas of things he could tell him about the future, wondering what exactly had happened to make him disappear. It was strange. Noah had never known anyone to occupy his thoughts to the point where it distracted him while reading.

Eventually it was night, and Noah headed for the house at Maple drive. When he entered it was to find Alejandro already on the couch waiting for him. "Found any records?" Noah asked as he sat down.

"I decided to check the Library. There are records in there..." Alejandro trialed.

"But?" He interjected, knowing there was more.

"But they only go to 1870." The Spaniard said. "I don't know if the family record keeper died, or if they're lost, but I haven't found anything newer. I doubt we'll find much to do with my disappearance in them."

"That's odd, maybe they ended up somewhere else?" Noah asked.

"That's possible. I've only checked the library so far." The Spaniard said.

"I'd help you look, but I'm worried the floor will collapse beneath me." The cynic chuckled.

Alejandro smirked. "I sincerely doubt that. You look quite light. Were you built like me, you might have a point."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Not everyone can be built like an ox."

"I'm far less clumsy than one." The Spaniard said.

"Really?" the cynic said, unable to let a chance to tease pass him by. "I wouldn't know it. You float most of the time, so you could be all left feet."

"Very well then." Alejandro said standing up and bowing towards him graciously, a hand offered to him. "May I have the pleasure of dancing with you?"

Noah was surprised. Alejandro was from a time when two men dancing together would have been scandalous, and yet he was treating it like a normal occurrence. "I...Don't know how." He admitted.

"Just follow me. I'm an excellent lead." The ghost said.

"Well." Noah smirked. "If you insist." He took the ghost's ice cold hand into his own. Alejandro's hand was somewhat intangible. It felt a bit like he was holding a gaseous substance. That made no scientific sense whatsoever, but science disproved the existence of ghosts too, and there was one in front of him. So clearly science wasn't completely accurate.

He stood up and quickly found himself swept into the arms of the ghost before him. With their left hands at about shoulder height, Alejandro guided Noah's right hand to rest on his shoulder, before placing his own on Noah's upper back. Alejandro began to lead him. Slowly teaching him a very basic waltz. It wasn't long before Noah was able to do it without thinking. Which was good because his mind was somewhere else. Alejandro's eyes stared into him, their murky green depths drawing his own brown. There was an intelligent gleam to them that Noah appreciated. Sadness, and a profound sense of loneliness filled them. Noah didn't realize it, but he was staring.

"You've stopped." Alejandro noted. Noah blinked. He had stopped moving too lost in thought. "Are you struggling to remember the steps? I can remind you."

"No. I remember the steps. I was just thinking." He admitted. "About how long you've been here. I assume I'm the first to ever talk to you?" Noah asked.

Alejandro nodded. "Si. It has been too long since I've been able to enjoy the company of another. Being stuck in this house for over a century has been horrible. People say they want their soul to live on after their death, but I'd be perfectly happy to fade into nothingness at this point."

"Well, we're gonna figure out why you're stuck here." He said. It was odd, but he felt sympathetic to Alejandro's situation. Noah was hardly ever sympathetic. "In the meantime I'll keep you company." It was all he could do.

Alejandro smiled. "Thank you."

They talked for a bit after that. Noah explained more of what had happened since Alejandro's life. The Spaniard was fascinated with the changes to things he knew. Back when he was alive the closest thing to a fridge was an icebox. Cars were still very simple, and peanut butter didn't exist. Every so often Noah would find Alejandro staring at him, or he at Alejandro and quickly glance away. He wasn't sure what that was about.

All too soon Noah had to return home. "I wish I could stay longer, but I have a class at seven."

"Must you leave?" Alejandro frowned.

"Yes, but I'll come back tomorrow. Keep looking through the house. Anything you can find with information near your disappearance will be helpful in figuring out what happened." Noah told him.

"Very well. take care then." Alejandro replied.

Once again Noah found himself falling asleep the moment he got into his bed at home. The next day he went to his classes. He was more than happy to rub the fact he'd stayed in the house all night in his English Lit class' faces. Apart from that things were relatively normal. Aside from the fact Noah would occasionally think about Alejandro. Whatever, it wasn't like he paid attention in class most of the time anyway. He paid just enough attention to answer questions and that was about it.

It was after school that things got a little weird again. The blonde from last Friday approached him. "You've been going to the house haven't you?" She said.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Just the one time."

"No." The girl shook her head. "You've gone more than that. I can see it in your aura."

Right. The aura thing. Loathe as he was to admit it, if ghosts existed then she might have actual powers. Not that he'd admit that to her. "What of it."

"You need to be careful. That house is full of negative energy." The girl said.

Noah found himself answering on instinct. "It's full of something alright, but it's hardly negative." He didn't know why he felt the need to defend Alejandro, but he did.

The blonde sighed. "I'm not talking about the specter you've befriended. I'm talking about the house itself. The imprint of negative energy is strong. Often when strong feelings are felt, they leave a mark on a place. That house has a lot of strong negative emotions attached to it."

Noah frowned. Strong negative emotions. Alejandro had seemed bitter when he'd talked about his family. "Well, there's not much I can do about it. The obsidian stopped the 'specter' as you call him from interacting with me."

"I could give you something not as strong. Something that keeps your spirit safe, but doesn't actively ward things off. Basically since the specter does not wish to harm you, you will be able to interact with it." the blonde said. "I know what to give you, but I don't have it on me. I can give it to you tomorrow, assuming your interested."

Noah sighed. "You know what? Fine."

The girl smiled. "Excellent."

"Will I owe you payment?" He asked

"No, I'm happy to do it for you."

"Mind telling me your name?" He said.

"It's Dawn." The moonchild said. Of course it was something like that. "I'll meet you at three tomorrow."

With that they parted and Noah headed back to his apartment. As he did his homework he couldn't help but think back to what Dawn had said. What exactly happened to leave an imprint on the house? He wasn't sure if it was his place, but he wanted to ask Alejandro what his family was like in life.

He headed over to the house at eight. Hoping to find some answers. He entered to find Alejandro was once again waiting for him. "Buenos Noches mi amigo."

"Evening." Noah replied. "So any luck finding information?"

Alejandro sighed. "Sadly no, I have nearly searched the entire house at this point. I'm beginning to believe we won't find anything."

Noah sat next to him. "You haven't searched everywhere yet. Don't give up hope."

Alejandro smiled at him. "You make me want to hope." Noah was silent as they sat. Should he ask? Maybe it was too personal. "Amigo, you seem to have something on your mind."

Noah took a deep breath. "So there's this girl I know. She warned me to be careful entering this house. Apparently it's full of negative energy. It got me wondering... what exactly was it like when you were alive? The girl said strong emotions were usually what left an imprint." Alejandro was silent and Noah wondered if he'd pressed too far. "If it's too painful-"

"No." Alejandro shook his head. "You are trying to help me, for all I know the key to my death is in these memories."

"Mi Padre was a very strict man. Image was everything to him. As his children were held to a very high standard. José was the favorite as he effortlessly achieved everything mi Padre would have wanted. Carlos was a close second, not as accomplished as José, but enough to satisfy mi Padre." He sighed. "Then there was me. The youngest, the weak link, the one who never did well enough. Padre was never happy with me."

Noah winced. High expectations. He knew all about that. Luckily for him it was never hard to meet those expectations. It seemed Alejandro did not have that luck.

"As tense as things were, we functioned. Until Carlos fell in love with a commoner."

"I read about that in the book. He was disowned right?" Noah asked.

"Si, Padre warned him. He told him to break all ties with her. She was of a low class, not befitting of the Burromuerto name. Carlos was always a free spirit, so he did not care. They eloped and Carlos was written out of the will." Alejandro continued. "Things were tense enough as it was, but with Carlos gone, more pressure than ever was on me. More and more I disappointed mi Padre. I was at my wits end. Then Padre found out my secret. There were rumors I was in..affairs with other men."

Noah thought back to last night, when Alejandro had offered him a dance as though it was completely normal. "Were you gay?"

"What? No. I was not happy, where would you get that idea?" Alejandro asked in confusion.

Noah wanted to face palm. Of course he didn't know what the new definition of that word was. "I mean, were you interested in other men?"

Alejandro nodded. "I was interested in both women and men. Usually I was able to hide the latter inclination, but Padre found out. I should not be surprised, he was always in my business."

Alejandro's face darkened. "Naturally he was furious. I was considered a blight on the Burrmuetro name. I was sure he'd disown me. Then mi mamá stepped in. She had let him have his way with Carlos and she had regretted ever since. She was not losing another son. She reminded him that if I were suddenly disowned without a reason it would tarnish the family name, and if they revealed the reason I was disowned it would be even worse. In the end mi Padre relented, but things were never the same after that."

Noah was speechless. No wonder the house had the imprint of negative energy. He reached to grab Alejandro's hand for comfort he was inacapable of truly touching him, but he figured it would help. Alejandro looked at him in surprise. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"You're not disgusted?" Alejandro asked.

"No. " Noah admitted. "You see attraction happens very rarely for me, I've been attracted to both genders, but only a handful of times. I could count the number on one hand. My mom always wondered why I didn't date."

Alejandro smiled weakly. "Then perhaps you understand more than some."

They remained like that for a few minutes. Eventually they talked of lighter things. Noah explained how his class has reacted to him 'proving' the house wasn't haunted. Eventually Noah had to go home. He had classes tomorrow and needed the sleep.

The next day as he headed for class, he was accosted by a familiar ginger. "Noah! Hey Noah! Owen, Eva and I are totally going to the lake tomorrow. None of us have classes and you don't either so I'm inviting you!"

Owen and Eva joined Izzy. Owen looking exhausted and Eva deadpan. "I tried to say no, but she wouldn't let me." The iron woman said.

"Izzy I'm kind of in the middle of something important." Noah said. Alejandro needed his help far more than he needed a lake day.

"That's what you said the last time I wanted to hang out." Izzy whined.

"It's true I remember." Eva added.

"Come on little buddy. I haven't seen you since last Thursday. Don't you wanna hang out?" Owen asked.

Noah sighed. He wasn't going to get out of this was he? It might be good for him to take a break, and it wasn't like he could go see Alejandro until night anyway. "Fine."

"Woo! Okay! Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock and if you aren't awake I'll wake you myself!" Izzy told him.

Noah rolled his eyes. "I'll set an alarm."

The rest of his day was normal. As he finished his last class, he glanced at his watch. Three o' clock. Time to meet Dawn. He walked to their usual meeting spot. Funny how less than a week ago he would have tried to avoid Dawn and now he was actively seeking her out. She arrived quickly. "Did you bring it?"

"Of course." Dawn replied, holding up a necklace with a small pouch attached to it. "I cut off a piece of my angelica plant from home and placed it in this pouch. It should protect you from negativity."

"And you're sure it won't block the ghost?" Noah asked.

"Not if it does not wish to harm you." Dawn told him. Noah put the necklace on. "By the way, your aura has gained a pink tint. Have you been gaining affection for someone recently?"

Noah blinked. Well he had been hanging around Alejandro a lot. Not that Dawn needed to know that. "It's not any of your business is it?"

Dawn sighed. "Very well, just keep an eye out for it. You should probably determine who's causing it."

Noah didn't respond. He was too lost in thought as he headed back to his apartment. Gaining affection? He had been hanging around the ghost a lot. It would make sense if he were starting to like him. That was all Dawn had meant right? He and Alejandro were friends.

Noah didn't even know why he was wasting his time thinking about it. He had schoolwork to do and if he was going to be spending his last waking hours with Alejandro he needed to get it done now.

His schoolwork wasn't really that hard for a genius like him, just time consuming. So it wasn't too much of a set back when he could only half focus on it. He just couldn't stop thinking about the pink Dawn had seen. What did it mean? Was it really just friendship? Or had she meant something more. No, she couldn't have. Noah wasn't dumb enough to fall for someone who was already dead. Right?

Around eight o' clock he headed over to the house as has become habit. He felt excited. Like he'd been waiting for this moment all day. He frowned at the thought. Had he really been waiting to see Alejandro all day? Maybe, but he was his friend. Wanting to see your friends was normal.

He entered the house to find Alejandro absent from his usual spot on the couch. He ignored the disappointment he felt. "Alejandro?" He called.

Alejandro floated down through the ceiling startling him. "Yes?"

"I wish I could put a bell on you." He muttered without thinking.

A mischievous gleam filled the ghost's eyes. "Like a cat? Would you like to take me home and keep me as well?"

"What? No. Of course not." He protested, blushing lightly.

"I am merely teasing you amigo." Alejandro chuckled.

"Well," He huffed trying to change the subject. "Have you found anything?"

Alejandro sobered quickly. "No. I have searched nearly the entire house and still not found anything."

Noah raised an eyebrow at that. "Nearly? Where haven't you looked?"

Alejandro seemed anxious. "My parents room."

Noah could understand why he wouldn't want to look there. Bad memories, and such. Still Alejandro seemed deadset of finding out about his disappearance. So why hadn't he looked there anyway?

"Why haven't you looked there?" He asked.

Alejandro looked him dead in the eyes. "You mentioned negative energy yesterday. Well that room is where it's the worst. As being made of nothing but spiritual energy, it has a very bad effect on me."

So Alejandro couldn't enter the room? "I could do it." He found himself saying. He could hardly believe it. Who knew how unstable the floor was? He could die.

Alejandro frowned. "I suppose, but it might be dangerous for you to walk across the floor. You'd need protection too."

Noah pulled out the pouch around his neck. "It has angelica in it."

Alejandro nodded. "Alright...but I'm going to wait outside for you. If things get to be too much, yell my name."

Noah nodded and Alejandro led him up the stairs. Noah winced at every creak they made, worried that at any moment the floor beneath him would collapse. Luckily those fears were unfounded as he reached the landing safely. Noah knew which room it was before reaching it. He could almost feel the negative energy, even with the angelica.

"Well, here we are." Alejandro said quietly.

Noah took a deep breath, and stepped inside the room. It didn't look all that abnormal. A plush two person bed, a side table, a vanity, and a small bookcase were all that was in there. Yet, walking through the room felt like it took effort. It was almost like the air was thick, and weighing him down. He was thankful for the angelica. Who knew what effect the energy would have on him otherwise.

He looked everywhere he could think of. In the vanity, under the bed, behind the bed, in the bookcase, on and in the side table. Nothing. Noah was beginning to think he might have entered the room in vain, but he spotted a hole in the wall. On a hunch he looked inside. A small leather bound book was inside. He grabbed it and made his way out of the room as fast as possible.

"Did you find anything?" Alejandro asked as he exited.

"I found this small book." He answered, holding it up. He opened it. "Looks like a journal. " He held the book up to Alejandro whose eyes widened.

"This is mi mamá's handwriting." Alejandro said.

"Whatever's in this book, must have been important to her. She had it hidden in a hole in the wall." Noah said.

"We need to read it." The Spaniard claimed. He frowned as he looked at the page. "I can't tell what it says."

"Didn't you just say it's in your mom's handwriting?" the cynic frowned.

"It is, and I can read it, but it's like the words leave my mind the moment I read them. Like I can't comprehend it." Alejandro admitted.

"I can read it for you. Maybe if it's spoken by me, it'll stick in your brain?" Noah suggested.

"I suppose we could try that." The Spaniard admitted. "How long can you stay?"

Noah felt guilty. "Well... I don't have any classes tomorrow, but I promised my friends I'd hang out with them tomorrow. So I should go to sleep relatively early. I could always stay up later and tell them I have to cancel tomorrow."

Alejandro shook his head. "No, you need not put your life on hold just to help me."

Noah sighed. "I want you to have peace."

He felt Alejandro's cold ghostly hand touch his face. It felt light as the wind. Despite the supernatural cold that filled him, Noah felt his cheeks warm. "I have waited over a century for that. I can wait another day."

Noah nodded wordlessly. Dawn's words from earlier echoed in his mind. Though he'd tried to brush it off as friendship earlier, there was no doubt in his mind now. He was falling in love with a ghost. He pushed the concern filling him to the back of his mind. Helping Alejandro with the journal was more important at the moment.

They made their way back to the couch, Noah once more wincing every time a step creaked. When they made it back to the couch, he opened the book. It was written in Spanish, but he was fluent, began to read.

(For the sake of simplicity the contents of the Journal are shown in English.)

April 4, 1879
I spotted this journal at the shop today, It was a little costly but I had the money. I intend to use it to rid myself of negative thoughts. My husband is not a tolerant man and if I express these thoughts outward, it may upset him.

April 22, 1879
Alejandro is under too much pressure. I saw him awake at five in the morning pouring over books. I doubt he has gotten enough sleep. His father expects too much of him.

May 15, 1879
I have tried to comfort Alejandro anyway I can, but he insists he's fine. I'm sure he views needing help as weakness. I am equally sure his father taught him that mindset. I let it be, but it hurts to watch him struggle.

June 5, 1879
While at the market today I saw Carlos with commoner girl. He wasn't hiding it. When he got home I took him aside to speak with him. I reminded him how scandalous it would be for someone to see him with a woman of lesser breeding. He doesn't care. He wants to see her despite the scandal. I worry for him, but i can see his mind is made up. I advised him to at least be more careful.

July 7, 1879
While Carlos has heeded my warning, my husband has found out about his affair with the commoner woman. I overheard them fighting. My husband warned him that he would not tolerate this bismirchment of the Burromuerto name. He wants Carlos to drop all ties with her or he will be disowned. Carlos said he was willing to deal with that. I spoke with him afterwards, telling him his father wasn't bluffing. Apparently neither was he.

July 18, 1879
Carlos has decided to elope with his love. Though I wish he would stay I cannot blame him. My arranged marriage is a loveless one. Something I have keenly felt over the years. If I had the chance to abscond with someone I truly loved, I cannot not say whether I would do it or not. I gave them what money I could and let them leave. As much as I will miss Carlos, he is more free than I am.

August 27, 1879
Ever since Carlos left the house has been tense. My husband had been placing a lot of pressure on Alejandro to hold up the family name. It is breaking him, I can tell. I want to help but he won't accept it. I fear he will burn himself out.

September 9, 1879
Alejandro has taken to building his social reputation by going to a gentleman's club. It seems to be helping him somewhat. He is less stressed than usual and I am glad of it.

September 29, 1879
Alejandro has been going to the gentleman's club more and more. I can hardly blame him as the tension in the house is often suffocating. Still, I worry his father may come to view it as too much of crutch. Alejandro has made many more connections since he began. So perhaps that will be enough to satisfy my husband.

October 17, 1879
Alejandro has arranged a business meeting with one of his friends from the gentleman's club. He will not be home until late tonight. Hopefully all will go well and he'll have something to feel proud of.

November 10, 1879
Terrible news, the friend Alejandro made at the gentleman's club is being suspected of sodomy. Due to this all business ties have been severed. Alejandro claims to have no knowledge of any such acts. I hope for his sake that's true.

December 1, 1879
I overheard the staff talking. Apparently Alejandro is sneaking out at night. I have a sinking suspicion he's visiting his friend from the gentleman's club. I hope I'm wrong because if he is his father will be furious.

January 16th 1880
I followed Alejandro out tonight. I didn't want to pry, but if he's putting himself in danger I should know. I saw him with his friend from the gentleman's club. I understand he wants to be with his friend, but this is risky.

February 6, 1880
The staff are talking again. Alejandro was spotted with his friend, and from their tittering, it was clear they thought more than friendship was going on. Whether or not that's true doesn't matter. The very fact that people think its going on will be enough to get him in trouble.

March 23rd, 1880
I came home to hear my husband shouting in fury. I ran towards the noise to find my fears have come true. His father found out about the rumors. He was calling Alejandro a blight to the family name. He was threating to disown him when I stepped in. I reminded him that disowning Alejandro would basically confirm the rumors around his proclivity for men. I managed to get him to back down for now. I worry it won't be long.

April 11th 1880
I got into an argument with my husband today. He was threating Alejandro physically. It took all I had to stop him. I will not allow him to hurt my child.

May 6th 1880
My husband changed the will. Jose will inherit everything now. I suppose I should consider Alejandro lucky. I do not. His father never stops reminding him about his misjudgment. So far I have stopped things from getting any further, but I'm unsure how long it will last.

June 2nd 1880
I cannot stand to be in this house. My husband and I argue all too often. The staff is talking. I hope they know better than to say anything to those outside the house. For their own protection.

Noah yawned. Alejandro smirked. "Tired already?"

"I've had a long day." Noah sighed. "I suppose I should leave." He didn't want to. After reading all Alejandro had to go through, he didn't want to leave the ghost alone.

Alejandro frowned. "Do you have to? I mean, I know you have to sleep, but can't you spend the night here? Like when you first arrived?"

Noah could hear the uncertainty in his voice. The journal had clearly affected him as well. Noah smiled. "I guess I can do that." He moved to lay down. "Are you going to move?"
The Spaniard smirked again. "Do you want me too?"

Noah paused. Did he want Alejandro to? He imagined laying down on the couch. His head right next to Alejandro's lap. It was a nice thought. He probably shouldn't do it as it would only make his emotional attachment to the ghost stronger. Something he should avoid as Alejandro would hopefully be moving on soon. Still if Alejandro was going to leave soon. Didn't that mean he should enjoy the time he had? "No." He said

He lay down and closed his eyes. He could feel a cold hand on his head, stroking his hair as he relaxed. It made him feel comfortable. It was not long before he drifted off. The next morning he awoke to find Alejandro gone. He checked his phone. It was around eight thirty. If he was lucky he could make it home before Izzy showed up to force him into coming to the lake. He shoved the journal into his pocket to read later.

He arrived back at his apartment just in time as no more than a minute or so later Izzy showed up in his room. Through the window. Even though his apartment was on the second floor. "Izzy can't you use the door?!"

The ginger shook her head. "Nah that'd be boring! Let's go, I'm going fishing!"

Noah raised an eyebrow at this. "Fishing?"

Izzy nodded. "Uh huh, with my bare hands!" He should have expected something like that.

The ride to the lake was fairly uneventful. Well, for his friends standards anyway. Eva only broke one thing, Izzy didn't try to ride on the roof, and Owen only mentioned food ten times. He was grateful for this as while it was Eva's truck they were using, he was driving. Luckily the drive was short, as the lake was only about a half mile out from the town they lived in.

When they arrived Izzy rushed to the water immediately. Owen wasn't far behind, already stripping his shirt off. He and Eva followed at a distance, much less enthused about being there. Noah took his shoes and socks off and put his feet in the lake. It was cold, but it felt nice. As Eva swam out, he pulled out the journal to continue reading.

July 16, 1880
Alejandro will be hurt if he remains here. I know my husband. There's only so long he will stay his hand. I have to get him out of here. A woman on her own might not be the easiest, but it's better than worrying about my son's safety.

August 5th 1880
I have a basic list of things i need to do before we can leave. We'll need money, a place to stay, food for the journey, and a change of clothing. The clothing is simple enough, but the other things will be harder.

September 3, 1880
For the past month I've been saving all the money I can. When I buy groceries, I always get what I can at a cheaper price. It's not much but it's the only way I can do it without the notice of my husband. Similarly, I have been setting aside scraps of food. Small things won't be missed. I wish I could do this faster but I must be discreet.

October 17, 1880
I have managed to find a place to go. It's a farm in the country that will supply room and board in exchange for work. It will be a different life but I'm sure we can manage. I've told Alejandro. He's nervous and doesn't want to burden me, but I've assured him it's what I want to do. We don't have quite enough money yet, as the farm is further out than I'd expected, but we should be out of here soon.

November 20, 1880
Tonight's the night. I've packed our suitcases, gathered our food, and hidden the money. As soon as night falls I will take my son away from here. He's gone out for one last walk about town. I cannot blame him, it's all he's known. I hope he's careful though, if José or his father realize what we're planning all is lost.

November 21, 1880
Alejandro never returned from his walk. I've asked about town but no one has seen him. I'm worried, but there's not much I can do but search.

November 27, 1880
No sign of Alejandro. I have searched everywhere I can think of. Asked everyone who might have seen him. The authorities are looking, but they've not found anything. My husband doesn't seem care he's gone.

December 4, 1880
It's been two weeks. I fear my son is gone. Still part of me wants to hold out hope that perhaps, he escaped without me. It hurts to think he would leave him behind, but it is better than the alternative.

That was where the writing stopped. Noah guessed she'd been too upset to write anything after that. So Alejandro had left for one last walk around town, before he left forever, and never came back. Noah couldn't see Alejandro leaving his mother in such an environment. So something must have happened on the walk, but what?

"Ooh! Noah look I found this shiny thing at the bottom of the lake! I'm so good at diving! I bet no one's gone that far down!" Izzy cheered showing him her prize.

Noah rolled his eyes as he put the book back in his pocket, expecting Izzy to have found nothing but a candy wrapper, or an old tool at most. His eyes widened as he saw what she was holding. It was horribly tarnished, to the point it was a completely different color, but he could still recognize Alejandro's bull shaped necklace.

"Izzy, could I see that?" He asked. Maybe he was mistaken. After all there could of any number of bull shaped necklaces out there. It didn't necessarily mean anything.

"Okay, you can hold it while I dive back in!" Izzy handed it to him and plunged back into the water.

Noah looked at the necklace. It looked just like Alejandro's. Still maybe it was some popular necklace from his time period? He looked up bull necklaces and the Burromuerto family. His heart froze as he looked at the results. According to the article, the necklaces were bespoke only made for the three sons for the Burromuerto family. One of them, belonging to José was in a musem but the other two had never been found.

He stared at the lake in dread. There was no doubt in his mind. Alejandro's body was down there. It was a deep lake, he could see no one finding it. The question was, how had Alejandro ended up there?

Izzy popped up again. "Hey Noah!"

"Izzy...do you think i could have this?" He asked, wondering what she'd want in return.

"Sure, but you have to hang out with us more! I never get to see you! What's the point of college if you don't have any crazy stories!" Izzy said.

Noah smiled. He probably should see his friends more, and it was a lot better than what she could have asked for. "It's a deal."

"Neat! Now come on get in the water!" the ginger told him.

"Izzy I forgot my swim shorts-" Apparently Izzy didn't care as she dragged him into the water clothes and all. He spent the rest of the time at the lake getting revenge on Izzy, playing with Owen, and chilling with Eva. The whole time the mystery of what happened to Alejandro was in the back of his mind, but for now he ignored it. He needed a respite from all that.

By the time they got back home it was around six o' clock. Noah decided to shower and get a fresh set of clothes on before going to see Alejandro. They were close he could feel it. Who knew, maybe the necklace would help Alejandro remember what happened. He fingered the necklace, which he had placed around his neck for now. The fact that Alejandro had once worn it gave him a warm glow. It made him feel closer to the Spaniard.

He frowned. He definitely liked Alejandro. A lot, it was probably the first time he'd felt so close to someone. He was dead though. He didn't belong here, and as soon as Noah helped him finish his business, he'd leave. The thought made him feel sick to his stomach.

At around seven he headed for the house. When he arrived it was to see Alejandro waiting for him. "About time you got here. I awaited your arrival with baited breath."

Noah's heart pounded. "You did?"

"Si, we're so close to finding out about my death after all." Alejandro replied.

Oh. Of course. Noah tried to ignore his disappointment. "I read the rest of the entries. Your mother was worried your father would get physical with you, so she planned to run away with you."

Alejandro nodded. "I remember this, Mamá had it all planned out."

"Then the night you were going to leave you went for one more walk around town. You didn't return." Noah explained.

Alejandro frowned. "That doesn't help much."

"Well it wouldn't except," Noah was filled with a desire to hold off on telling Alejandro about the necklace. He had a feeling it was the key to unlocking Alejandro's memory. If he remembered his death, he might end up leaving. Noah could wait a few days to tell him. Give himself more time with the ghost. Alejandro had waited over a century, so what was another week or so?

He couldn't bring himself to do it. Alejandro didn't deserve to be stuck here anymore. As much as it hurt, it was better for Alejandro if he let him go. "My friend found this while diving into the lake." He held up the tarnished silver necklace. Alejandro's eyes widened.

"Mi collar." Alejandro gasped. "I only took it off to sleep. My mother had one made for each of her sons. It was at the bottom of the lake?"

Noah nodded. "I don't suppose you threw it in?"

"I would never." the Spaniard said. "If it's at the bottom of the lake..." Alejandro froze. Noah wasn't sure what was happening. "Alejandro?" He asked reaching out to touch the ghost' shoulder.

Suddenly Noah was no longer in the house. Instead he was standing on the snowy bank of the lake he'd been to earlier. Alejandro stood nearby, clearly lost in thought. Noah approached him. "What are we doing here?" But he received no answer.

"Hello Al." A voice said. Noah found himself turning with Alejandro to face a person Noah recognized as José . He was wearing the same thing as Alejandro, but his frock coat was blue.

"José ." The Spaniard spat the name like it was poison. "Did you follow me?"

"Of course, what older brother would I be if I let you leave without saying goodbye?" José smirked. Alejandro froze. "Did you really think no one would realize what you and mamá are planning? Padre may have been too busy trying to piece together the remain pieces of our shambled reputation to notice, but I wasn't. You ruin our family name and then you try to leave?"

"José, I simply refused to abandon a friend." Alejandro glared.

"A friend who is suspected of a heinous crime. You know how hard it is to maintain out reputation Alejandro, even without scandal. You know why too." Jose said. Noah saw Alejandro glance at his hands. Noah came to a realization. Back in the late nineteenth century Alejandro's skin tone would be a point of contention. Especially with his family being so well off. No wonder this father was obsessed with image. Not that it made Noah hate the man less.

"If you a mama leave, we will never restore our family name. I cannot let you do it." José told him.

Alejandro scowled. "I suppose you're planning to stop me then?"

José nodded. "Mamá won't leave without you, and you cannot leave if you are incapable of moving."

Neither brother moved for a moment. The tension was strong, Noah watched with his heart in his throat. Then at the same time the rushed each other. They began to exchange blows, neither holding back. Noah watched as they fought, both men were strong. Things seemed even, but in the end José was stronger. He punched Alejandro and Noah watched as his friend slipped on the snowy bank into the water. For a second José looked shocked, then he shrugged.

Noah watched as Alejandro struggled in the water. It was late November, and the water was bound to be near freezing levels. Swimming in that cold of water, with full soaking wet clothing dragging him down... it was only a matter of time before he lost the fight. Even though Noah had known what was going to happen, he had held out some hope that Alejandro would get out. He felt tears in his eyes.

As suddenly as he left he was back in the house. Alejandro was in shock. Noah wiped his eyes. They sat in silence absorbing what they'd just experienced. Eventually the Spaniard spoke. "José...meant to cripple me... and when I ended up in the lake... he watched me drown." He still sounded like he didn't believe it. "I knew he disliked me but I never would have thought..."

Noah attempted to wrap his arms around the ghost in comfort. This didn't work as he was intangible, but Alejandro seemed to appreicate it. "No wonder you forgot. It was probably so traumatic you blocked it out after you died." Noah said.

Alejandro nodded. "No one found me after that. My body's probably still in the lake."

"it was late November too." Noah noted. "The lake probably froze over soon after, and by the time it thawed the police figured the case was dead."

"Well, I am glad at least one person knows my fate." Alejandro smiled at him. That was when Noah noticed he was starting to fade.

His eyes filled with tears again. "You're leaving already?"

Alejandro cupped his cheek. "indeed, and while I am happy to know peace, i will miss you."

"You can't leave yet. I'm not ready." Noah whispered.

"I am glad to have met you. Perhaps if we were born in the same time things would be different." Alejandro said sadly.

"I like you. It's not fair, one of the few people in my entire life I've been attracted to, and you can't stay." The cynic said, tears streaming down his face. Alejandro attempted to wipe them away, though of course he could not.

"You can keep the necklace. I have no need of it anymore." The Spaniard told him.

Noah clutched it to him. "I'll treasure it."

At this point Alejandro was nearly gone. "If there is an afterlife, meet me on the other side." He leaned forward and their lips connected in a kiss as Alejandro disappeared.
Noah continued to cry. He was gone. He'd never see him again. At least in this life. A bitter smile took his face. As heartbroken as he was he was glad Alejandro had been able to move on. He brushed his fingers again the bull shaped necklace that was now his. At least he had something to remember him by.