Her words didn't make any sense. Dumbfounded, I stood there waiting to wake up from the nightmare.

'Any minute now.' I chanted. But I didn't wake up. I was going into a deep slumber instead.

She had killed herself, putting my pistol on her head, stealing my life with her.

Later, I would ponder why didn't my life didn't end when Gabriela died. I loved her too and that's how the curse would break, being heart torn over the death of your love. It took me years before I acknowledged, I didn't love her enough.

My existence vanished the moment Gabriela took her last breath. I was breathing a moment ago, my heart rapidly beating against my ribs, blood flowing through my veins, my mind trying to process what to make of the situation but then, I was floating in nothingness.

I didn't feel the warmth of my blood in my body, sensation of touching the ground, my senses were blurry and hazy. It was like dissolving into air, mixing with the microorganisms.

But there was a moment in between. Between everything and nothing. I saw Dora, watching me from distance, feeling all the pain I was feeling. Her eyes were wide with fear; if she strained it for a moment longer, blood would flow out of it. She was standing her ground but her insides were trembling, shattering. While I dissolved, she turned to stone with no one around.

Most threatening realization hit me when I saw her for the last time. She was all alone. As an elder brother and his guardian, it was my job to take care of her. My parents trusted me and delegated that responsibility. I was supposed to be the man to shield my family, my little sister from all the troubles. Instead, I stranded her with such brittle memories.

I was a ghost. A memory. A silent observer. I didn't even have a normal thought process. Everything was so calm and serene. That was the silence before the storm I was about to create.

My uncle took care of Dora. They'd tried to find me, bring me back but of no use. I was gone. Gabriela was indeed a witch. Uncle Jim began the construction of the house next to mine, now Monroe's house.

Sometimes, I'd hear Dora's echoing, calling me out, begging me to return. I was so far. I tried to swim towards her but I was in the never ending mist.

For few years, nothing happened. I was swimming in an endless time and space; gloomy and lost. I didn't have any idea what happened to me or was there any ending to it.

Dora had moved to the next house, she was closer than ever to Benedict. I was happy, if you could say that to a little satisfaction that my heart felt. He wasn't as worthless as I thought he'd be. They both started working at Sands & Witches. They took over the restaurant, making it successful and popular than before.

But one summer evening, while I was strolling in my house, a girl entered. She was Clarissa, I'd known somehow. Dora's friend.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" She proudly folded her hands and asked.

And I would've passed out from shock if I was a normal functioning human.

"How can you? How can you see me!" I touched my neck, realizing I was still able to speak. It sounded so human.

"I see. It was you who'd been scaring my dog the other day. What are you? A robber?" She was already running out of the house, shouting, "Theodora is going to be pissed."

I would've explained her then if given a chance. She returned few days later.

"For heaven's sake! I thought you'd be gone. You won't find anything here!"

She was such fierce girl although she appeared very fragile. I was attracted to her fearlessness. But she deserved to know. And maybe she could mediate my words to Dora, so I explained.

"I'm Dora's brother, Ander. I passed away few years ago. I'm just his ghost."

She obviously didn't believe but she was silent.

"I'm still don't know why can you see me. But, you have to trust me, Clarissa." On saying her name, her eyes went wide and she stared me with horror.

"You mean you'd been haunting all these years? Who are you fooling? I came here many times but I never saw y-"

Before I could further explain, something took over me. A surge of force. A wave of power.

That feeling of jumping when you're on the edge of a cliff. That feeling of firing the trigger of a pistol experiencing the power you had to take someone's life. This was similar but far more forceful and violent.

And I had lost any conscience I was left with. Clarissa was withering on the floor, crying for help.

"I liked you. But, I had to kill you."

I realized hours later what I'd done. I took another life. Dora cried for days. I heard her sobbing in the distance.

"It's him. I know it's him."

"Shh, Dora. It's okay. Please, don't cry."

"No, Ben. I know it's Andy. He killed her."

"He'd never do that."

"I know! I trust him. But Clary said she saw someone in that house. Who else would it be? You know what that bitch said before she died. That curse!"

Later, I learned that Clarissa turned 17, few days before she saw me. An eligible adult. A mate, suitable candidate to be my prey.

My hunt for love had just begun.

Months later, Dora began researching about witchcraft and spells. I'd eavesdropped her conversation with her boyfriend. She regularly went to Old Haven to learn witchcraft. She was finding ways to communicate with me, trying her best to bring me back to life.

But communicating with me was lethal, we both knew that.

Later, she rented out the house to young girls on purpose. Girls around 17 to 19. Girls that could be my prey.

Soon enough, one of them would be able to see me. From experience, I avoided telling her the truth. I'd lied about where I lived. About what I did. My name. My family. Everything. I tried to stay away from the house so they wouldn't have a suspicion. I tried to stay away from them so they could stay alive. But something more concrete and powerful would take over. I'd lay the perfectly woven net and they fall in it. They'd confess their love for me, I'd kill them instead.

One by one, I'd devour the sacrifices. I'd feel nothing but guilt. No love, just pity for the innocent souls and self-hatred.

All the dead bodies were buried in the backyard as they wouldn't move past the house's boundary no matter what. Everyone knew that house was cursed so there was no denying it. In a witch town, believing in curses was common.

Dora married Benedict and had a son. The restaurant business was booming, her family was happy and peaceful. But not Dora. She suffered with me. Watching all the deaths, facing all the investigative questions, reports, sirens, sadness.

I continued taking lives. She continued providing me girls. We had an unspoken treaty. And I hated her for that. I wished she'd quit. But with each kill, she'd get more determined. Benedict and her son went away from her. They couldn't see her suffering this much.

Then came Rebecca, Claire's aunt. She was already getting married to a guy named Andreas but she was cheating on him with me. As no one could see me (and I'd avoid any circumstances where the girls would realize only they can see me) she continued her affair with me.

She said, "I love you." Her confession, my kill time. But, when I was stripping her soul- killing her, Andreas saw me. I thought no one could see me. But he did.

And before I could do anything about him, I killed him too. My demonic part took his life as well.

Dora had reunited with his husband years ago. But during that time, when Benedict passed away, she decided to stop. She'd realized her sins.

For many years, there was no one in the house. Which meant, no more deaths. The house was so famous for many deaths with no closure on the cases.

Dora tried to take her life and reunite with Benedict but she'd survive. Her sins would not let her escape. So she continued living her life equivalent to hell and so did I.

Her son died too but she had a grandchild she unconditionally loved. Her grandchild, Vincent took over the restaurant, married a nice girl Rachel and had kids. However, Vincent didn't own the restaurant. He denied taking his grandmother's brother's property. He couldn't take over what was mine.

After he had kids, Vincent decided to live in the house by the lake - not the haunted one. But the one where Dora lived. As Dora thought I'd never harm her family, she didn't say anything. Over years, they lived happily. Vincent had a son, Will and a pair of cute twins that reminded me so much of Dora. It was as if she regenerated - twice. Rachel stayed at home mom, preciously taking care of her children.

And then, last year.

Rachel decided she wanted to help her husband. Her kids were big enough. However, the twins still needed a babysitter.

Emily.

She was from a very small town with no place to stay. Rachel gave her the cursed house to live although Vincent wasn't fine with it. He believed his grandmother's stories, Rachel didn't. Dora was completely unaware of this situation. Due to her age, she hardly visit them.

Emily went to school with Will and would babysit the twins in her free time. She became good friends with the three. Months later she turned 17.

She saw me.

I tried avoiding her.

We still met.

She fell for me.

She told Kathy, one of the twin, about me. Emily also told her that someone had been stalking her.

Kathy saw me because she knew about me. She understood I might be the one stalking Emily, harassing her.

I killed her. I killed my sister's great grandchild. I hurt her. Dora came to funeral heartbroken. I was sure she'd hate me. I think she did.

Emily told Will about Kathy's possible killer- her stalker. Will too saw me and knew I was responsible for Kathy's death. I killed him too.

Emily, heartbroken about the loss of her friends, begged me to take care of myself. She confessed her loved for me.

I killed her.

I completely destroyed what was left with Dora. Rachel was mentally affected, Kasie was torn after losing her two siblings, and Vincent was sad, deeply sad and heartbroken.

And I was tired. Tired of hurting everyone. I was sick of it since day one but killing someone so close to Dora did for me. Also, I was sure Vincent would never rent that house again. I'd suffer for eternity but I was OK with that as long as I don't kill anyone.

Everyone I killed was suffering with me too. Their spirits would come to me, begging me to free them. I'd also see Gabriela but I'd forgiven her. I was completely broken, so torn that I couldn't even hate someone or feel anything for that matter.

Rachel would come to the cursed house as if her children were there, still laughing and playing. On many occasions, she talked with them too without realizing they were dead. When Vincent learned that, he was forced to take actions. Only I was unaware of that.

One cloudy evening, I was floating on shore.

When you have an eternity of life left, it's impossible to pass time. I'd watch people, families enjoying their weekends, love confessions, people falling in and out of love. The lake gave me something to do.

That evening I saw someone excitedly walking towards the shore ready to take the lake in her arms. Her eyes were full of wonder and curiosity, yet the dark circles underneath them told me she passed so many sleepless nights, crying to herself mostly.

I'd never seen her before. She was much younger- at least she seemed so. For a minuscule of a second, I thought she saw me, straight into my eyes. If I was alive, I'd have asked her named and pass a joke to see her smile.

I wanted to make her laugh. Just seeing her, it made my heart flutter after a century as if she made it pump again. There was something different about her.

I knew it was impossible for her to see me but I wanted to test it. Bending down, I picked up some stones and threw it in the lake. I was sure she'd run away, scared of the magically floating stones. She stood her ground.

To skip the stone multiple times, I bend a little and threw with grace. It dipped without skipping.

A laugh broke out of her throat. "Show off." Her sweet voice echoed around me.

And I swear I felt my heart pump for a second again. I was freaking dead, for heaven's sake! I was terrified. I was only visible to eligible preys or when in emergency, I intentionally want someone to see me.

None was the case in her matter. I blocked her path and spoke for first time in a year, "Can you see me?"