A pounding headache spreads across my head, while my eyes flutter reluctantly. "What happened?"

Everything comes rushing back. A boy, kissed me, Maximus wants me to kill him.... I shot off the gun. Oh my god, did I kill him? Am I a murderer!

I turn my head to the right, a shriek escapes involuntarily. He moved. Now, what's his name is laying next to me. Like Romeo in the scene when he dies. The fall and rise of his chest assure me, that my Romeo is still very much alive.

Wait, "My Romeo"? In what way is he mine? Let alone a lover!

Sometimes I wonder how long it will be till the hopeless romantic in me signs away my life to a handsome stranger.

He kissed me.

I touch my lips, remembering the odd tingling sensation.

Even if there is never to be an 'us', I have one hell of a story to tell about my first kiss. I don't think anything can beat a handsome stranger falling from another world to plant one on me.

My heart lurches when the phone blairs. The ear-splitting ring tone that caused the beginnings of my migraine. I reach in the bag, only to discover that it is no longer there. Where did it go?

I sit for a moment, in hopes that the direction of the noise will reveal the phones location.

Weird, it sounds as if it's next to me... But I don't see it.

My eyes drift over the still form of the boy to my right. The dried blood hidden slightly among his light brown curls makes me grimace. What happened to him? Did the blow he received on his head really make him forget a long length of time? Amnesia? Is it possible another head injury could reverse the effects? No, now I'm just being ridiculous.

A subtle glow on the opposite side of his body stole my attention, attracting my eyes to the phone ringing in his hand... Why does he have my phone?

I crawl around him slowly. Black dots trickle in and out of my vision, accompanied by an uncomfortable level of dizziness. That can't be a good sign.

My fingers grasp the phone, at last ending the obnoxious noise. "Hello?"

"Kai! Thank god. I've been calling nonstop for the past hour. I-I didn't know if the bastard killed you or... Did worse things." Maximus pauses, his voice cracks slightly.

"It's so good to hear your voice. I'm glad you're okay. Now. Did you find the gun? Use it immediately. Don't give the boy a chance to wake up and take off."

I blink, my mind slowly taking in his words. "Y-you really want me to k-kill him? I can't kill him. He didn't do anything wrong, he doesn't deserve it."

Maximus sighs, "This isn't the time for human decency. It is a matter of world-preservation. If you let him live, there will be dire consequences. Think about more than corrupting your morals Kai, his presence could bring world destruction. He is a danger to everything."

Biting my lip I glance at the boys still figure. Maximus seems to be talking nonsense from what I see. There's no way one injured dude could cause the end of the world. It simply doesn't make any sense.

Unless of course he has super powers... Super destructive powers that he is unaware of like a Mr.Hyde. What if his evil side wakes up and he kills me?

I squeak, putting distance between myself in the fellow.

"What's happening Kai? Are you hurt? Did the dead attack you!" Maximus cries, his voice panicked and raising in volume until it makes my ear ring.

"I'm fine, just scared myself with a few thoughts is all. What's all this crap about the undead and dead? You know I don't believe in any of that superstitious nonsense. Is it some kind of code word for your staff? Be honest with me, and stop trying to convince me to become a lunatic." I state, clenching my jaw.

This is the last time I just brush aside what he keeps saying. I want to know the truth. If he says one more time that it's all true I may hang up.

"When you see it, all will be clear."

I groan, that's not cryptic at all.

"Fine, continue to be a mysterious rich bastard with a large staff I never see. You know what, since I know you are coming back, I will put the gun in your room. If you want to kill this kid, do it yourself. I'm going to be a decent human being and help him with his injuries, maybe even cook his last meal. Because I don't just assume every guy who comes from.... Wherever he came from is an evil bastard about to cause world damnation. Until you give me evidence, I'm not going to listen to your crap anymore Maximus." I say with my anger boiling.

Forcing a false calm, I sigh, "I'm grateful you took me in. You feed me, provide me with all necessities, and even additional things like the books I love. But you are simply asking too much. I'm not a murderer and I never will be."

He clears his throat, "Well, done ranting now? If that's what you want fine. Just be warned that every choice has consequences. The world is grey. When you wake from your childish dream of a clear right and wrong, you will make better decisions."

A loud click signifies that he ended the call.

"Childish? He thinks I'm childish? He's the one pretending to live in a haunted mansion! And going on about world destruction. If you ask me, he's the childish one. Ugh, I guess I will go grab the first aide kit from the bathroom and see if I can do anything for you. Since I know Maximus won't. Don't go anywhere," I command pointing at the boy like I often do with my perfectly stacked book piles.

I use the dresser for support to pull myself to a standing position. Luckily, almost every room has a bathroom attached with a first aide kit available for use. That is one of the things I highly appreciate. What if there was one bathroom in this entire mansion?

For one, there would likely be multiple occasions where I pee myself before I reach the toilet. Especially if it is on one of the upper stories. The stairs take forever and Maximus chose not to install any elevators. 

The large, suite style bathroom sparkles like it has recently been attended to. Even though I know for a fact that no one has set foot in here since three p.m at the latest. Because I would have seen them, wouldn't I?

Cold tile floor steals what little sleepiness I have left. Which is a good thing, especially since I have no idea what I am doing. Besides knowing wounds should be clean and protected against the elements, I know nothing of the medical field. Never had a reason to retain the information, so my brain simply got rid of it. The pesky thing has a tendency to do that.

I open the medicine cabinet, pausing for a moment after I close it to stare in the mirror. Oof, that bruise looks gnarly. Guess that's what happens when you attempt to shoot a gun for the first time and have no idea what you are doing.

A sudden gust of cold steals my breath away. Ice forms on the edges of the mirror, traveling towards the center.

Holy crap, what the hell is going on?

My heart pounds like a war drum in my chest, threatening to pop out into my hands.

The figure I have so often dismissed appears behind me, visible in the reflection. But this time, it is different, because I know they are there, my fear declares them real.

Their eyes are one shade of a ghastly blue, the face is missing a large piece, along with the left side of the head. It's obvious the bloke died in a terrible way...Wait, died? G-ghost? U-undead? Do I believe that?

My scream stops short in my throat when the fellow places glowing hands on my shoulders, the icy touch burns, causing my skin to blister beneath it.

Maximus' words echo in my head, "Do not look into the eyes of the undead."

I downcast my gaze instantly.

Everything he said, it's true, it's all true.

But if this is true, that means Grayson really came here to do us harm.

And I left him alone in my bedroom... With a gun.