A chocolate restaurant, where Shane took Hailie, was a lovely place. It had that romantic aura, so she wasn't surprised there were so many couples. Bright lights and flowery compositions were hanging from the ceiling and pink walls. Plants were everywhere, making tables seem private and hidden from other people's eyes. Calm music was coming from speakers, the song Hailie loved.

"Good evening, we have a reservation. Shane Blackwell."

Young waiter checked him in the system and showed them to their table, at the end of the restaurant, close to the entrance to a sweet rose garden.

"This place looks incredible."

"I'm glad you like it. I used to come here a lot with my friends. I know it seems like a 'couples only' place, but we spend some great time here, studying and talking."

Back in her family town she also had that kind of a place. She loved spending time in the local pub with her friends and boyfriend. After what happened to her, she didn't set a foot there. Sometimes it was scary how much she lost because of her choices. Moving out and being here seriously seemed like starting a complete new life.

"There's so many choices, how should I know what's the best?"

"That one." He showed her a picture named 'My Chocolate Dream'. "I can recommend it with clear conscience, Miss Hailie."

"Hailie is just fine," she said although she liked when he called her 'miss'. Coming from his mouth, it was so sweet and honeyed.

"And you can call me just Shane," he proposed, because until now she always referred to him as 'officer Blackwell'.

"So, Shane, how is it in your work? Are you not bored? In my family town nothing ever happened." Until her case.

He put away the menu.

"Same here. The only murder and suicide cases we've ever gotten were from your house."

"Seriously?" she was surprised. For now it was bizarre to think that such a lovely ghost like Pride could lead anybody to their death. Then again, there were another six ghosts living with Hailie that she hasn't met.

"No, I was just kidding. Most of them though. Some didn't even happen in the house, but they were connected with it."

"Meaning?"

He leaned to her on the table.

"The people who lived in this house didn't only kill their families or themselves. They've also killed others. Moreover, we got information that even some guests changed after just visiting this house. For me, this place is unexplainable and... Different." Shane noticed that his words scared Hailie a bit. "But you seem great. I mean, you're not planning on killing me on our way back home, right?"

Her mouth gave a slight twitch.

"I guess you're gonna find out on our way back home."

"Well, Hailie, I sure hope you will rethink what you're planning, because I'm too fine to die at such a young age."

She loudly laughed just when a waiter came to their table. He gazed at her and calmly asked what they wished to order. When he was gone, Hailie laughed even harder.

"And what would you say if I told you that this house is haunted by seven ghosts?"

They were joking so she felt free to tell him that secret. Besides, she wouldn't mind if somebody else also knew what was going on in the 'Bloody Mansion'.

"I think I would believe you. I'm not into supernatural stuff to be honest, but that would explain a lot of things. Then I would be really worried about you."

"Even if ghosts are nice to me?"

He always thought that there must have been something paranormal in this house. Too many people went mad there, too many were saying that they've heard voices. They were scared to the bone, yet Hailie seemed okay.

"Ghost might be nice at the beginning, but knowing the house history, I wouldn't be so sure about their intentions," he said, not sure if Hailie was still joking with him or trying to say that she experienced something supernatural. "Is everything okay, Hailie? Have you seen a ghost?"

There it was. She had to make that decision quickly.

"Easy, officer, I'm fine. This house might stimulate the imagination, but it's just a house. For now, I feel safe there." She decided not to tell him the truth. It might cause too many problems. What would he have thought about a girl befriending a ghost? Probably that she must be crazy. Hailie knew that she wouldn't stick to someone with house history like hers. "Safer than in my previous place of living," she added quietly, so he barely heard her.

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

It made him feel calmer. He didn't want Hailie to get hurt there. He felt like she was under his protection now.

Too many people died there already. She shouldn't be the next one.

"What do you mean that you feel safer in your new home? You didn't get along with your parents?"

She bit her lip.

Oh, I'm doing it because of Pride. It's easy to acquire a habit.

"No, no, my parents are real sweethearts. I can rely on them with everything."

Shane could tell that there was something she was hiding. Her face actually looked familiar yet he couldn't remember where he saw Hailie. She just moved to this town, but maybe she used to live somewhere close enough to visit? Or maybe she was similar to some other girl he has dealt with in the past? Anyway, whatever happened to Hailie, he didn't want to push her into telling, so he changed the subject.

"There are coming our chocolates!" he said, but it was not the waiter who attracted his attention.

When Hailie looked at the chocolates, her eyes became brighter and there was a big smile on her face like she felt happy about being here with him and having a chocolate.

She loved this feeling of freedom. Right now there was nothing she had to worry about. No calories, no fearful situations. She could just be happy about the moment. Being with Shane felt different than being with Jayson. She still couldn't trust others, but she believed that it might change in the future. Small steps to the better times. She wanted to believe that she could run away from her past. But the past wasn't something she could just shake off and leave behind.

And it was only later, when officer Blackwell finally remembered where he had seen Hailie Millis. He was right thinking that her family town wasn't that far away from her new home. She seemed familiar to him, because he saw her once or even twice.

Hailie was on the front pages of the newspapers as she lost the trial to the Larsen family. It was stated there that she accused her ex-boyfriend Jayson Larsen of an assault, battery and rape attempt. She lost the trial as it was proven that nothing of above was true.