Hailie couldn't understand what it was in this house that made everybody so afraid of it. She was never good at socializing with others, but she never also felt so excluded. People from the town clearly avoided her like she was marked. It was like nobody could even look her in the eyes. All the stares and whispers were from behind. It was awful. Hailie felt like going to the store became a nightmare.

She picked her groceries real fast, wishing to leave the store already. Even cashiers looked at her like she was an outcast.

Maybe I should rethink living with my sister, thought Hailie even though she knew that was not an option.

She took a pack of cereals. A voice from behind made her frightened, then she again reminded herself that nobody could hurt her in the store. She slowly turned around to the person who said "hello" to her.

"Hello again, miss Hailie," he repeated, probably thinking that she didn't hear him the first time.

It was that policeman whom she met the first day in the house. He looked just as handsome as then. Standing so close to her, she didn't know what to say or do.

"Um, hello," she managed to reply.

His intense stare was too much for her, so she looked the other way. In her family town all members of the police were much older and less attractive. This one had something alluring inside.

"How is living in the Bloody Mansion," he asked with such a soft voice.

Hailie was really surprised that he wanted to talk with her. She thought that the other day he was just being nice and that they'll never speak again.

Shane Blackwell. She had a talent for remembering names, but his? Probably every girl in town knew this one.

"Tell me about it," she tried to sound relaxed even though her stress level was above normal. "Right now I feel like I'm in a freak show," she admitted, deciding to speak the truth.

He nodded with acknowledgement.

"Sometimes it's hard, living in this town. It's small enough so townsfolk know everything about everybody. One mistake, bad situation or being provocative and you're on tongues for the next few months. Been through it, more than once, so I know how it's like."

"Really?"

He didn't look like somebody who would seek trouble. But then again, people were horrible. One small mistake and they think they know everything about you, she thought. Moreover, you don't even have to make a mistake, you can be a victim and people will also eat you alive, thinking they know what could have happened.

"I've made my mistakes in youth. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised I've become a cop. That was more of my father's wish than my own."

"How's that?"

His facial expression became sad. Hailie was afraid that she touched too sensitive spot.

"He couldn't become a cop due to a serious injury. It was always his dream, since he was a kid. When it became impossible for him, he wished that for me."

Living his father's dream. Hailie wondered if that was also something that he wanted, not only his parents.

"Knowing how caring you are, I would say it was a good choice." She wished to make him feel better, but then she realized how stupid she must have sounded.

He smiled like it was hard for him to not laugh. Hailie felt like she could forever stare at him, then she felt embarrassed again.

"And how caring exactly am I?"

Hailie hoped she wasn't as red as she thought she was. Her cheeks were burning, so did her entire body. Why she was always saying something stupid in the conversation?

"I... Um... I mean... Oh," she tried to come up with a way to fix it, but she felt like her head was empty. "You know, I just thought about our first meeting. You gave me a card with your phone number. I meant nothing bad."

Phone number? Great, so I could have made it even worse.

She wished she could disappear.

"Easy, miss Hailie, I was just kidding with you."

So he can see how embarrassed I am! Not good, not good.

"Yes, I need more cereals." She turned away from him and took another bag of cereals, and then another one. She didn't even like them so much. How many calories did they have? Probably a lot.

"You must really like cereals."

She wanted to hear more of his smooth voice but at the same time she just wished for loneliness right now. Her heart was beating rapidly and she started sweating. She hadn't felt that way for a long time.

"No!" He looked weird at her when she said that. "I mean, yes," she changed her mind. "It's a love-hate relationship." Now she started talking nonsense. "I need to go, goodbye officer Blackwell."

Hailie ran up to a cash register, pushing herself in front of an old lady. She didn't dare to say anything to a girl from a presumably haunted house. 15 minutes later Hailie parked her car in  front of the porch and put her head on the steering wheel.

"Pull yourself together, Hailie," she said to herself. "You don't need another man in your life. They are only trouble and disappointment."

She stepped out from the car, feeling tired and lost. She just couldn't fall for another boy, besides after today he will never want to talk with her again. It was a big failure all the way, but what else she expected from herself?

Hailie opened the door to the house and looked around. She suddenly felt so small and lonely. There was nobody in it. Even ghosts didn't want to talk with her. First resident not good enough even for ghosts living inside those walls.

There was a creepy crack on the second floor, but Hailie got used to it so she didn't even blink. There was always cracking, but never a ghost.

"Do better!" she screamed into an empty space.

"Oh, honey, be careful what you wish for," said Envy, but Hailie couldn't hear her.

One move of a hand and a painting hanging nearby fell on the floor, shattering into pieces. Hailie jumped in fear.

"It's okay, it's an old house, those things happen," she told herself, refusing to believe in ghosts until she sees one.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Envy looked around, but couldn't find any other demons. "Hello? Lust? She's back!" yelled Envy, but instead of Lust, Gluttony appeared.

"Yes! Time for lunch." He clapped hands and he licked his lips. "What would she eat, sandwich or maybe-"

"No, that's not time for lunch," said angrily Envy. Why does Gluttony always think about eating and food? "She ate a big breakfast thanks to you, now get lost, we got other things to do." She spun around. "Where the hell is Lust?"

"Why are you looking for him?"

Envy gazed at Gluttony, surprised he was still here.

"She's in a perfect devastated mood for our plan."

"Meaning?" Gluttony tried to find out something more, but she wasn't cooperating.

"Lust, you fucking-"

"Sorry," said Lust, who suddenly appeared behind Envy, "are we going to have a competition for calling each other names? Cause I don't think you wanna hear what ideas I have in my mind for you."

He watched Hailie, who went to the kitchen. She started unpacking groceries, unaware of being observed. Demons could partly read human feelings, so Lust knew a little bit of what was going inside her.

"She's sad and lonely right now. It's a good time to put some ideas into her head," stated Envy.

Lust came closer to her. She put five packs of cereals on the table.

"It's not only loneliness. It's... She met somebody."

"Maybe that policeman from the other day." Envy sit at the edge of the table. She crossed her legs and then saw something on Lust's face. "My, my, be careful or I might think you're getting jealous."

Lust burst out laughing in an unpleasant way.

"Don't worry, Envy. If I get jealous, I will kill him."

Envy rolled her eyes. She didn't care about that policeman, she even thought it would be funny watching Lust getting angry.

"So, operation roommates," reminded Envy. "Dear Haillie, aren't you jealous of the attention that others get? Of their bonds? You're so lonely. Nobody to speak with," she started talking to Hailie, making her hear a voice inside her head. "And it's a big, big house. How are you gonna pay for it? Bills are nothing nice. You don't want to burden your parents with this."

"You feel terribly lonely here. Poor Hailie, do you wanna know what you want the most? Company. You wish for people you could talk to. Spend some time with them."

Hailie heard those words like her own voice in the head, suggesting everything Envy and Lust said. It was a little bit like a spell she was under. Those things which they've said, she thought of. Then she felt it and wanted it more than anything else.

"You need roommates. Go on and post an offer. Come on, I know you can feel it. You want it so badly."

Hailie came to the living room and took out her laptop from a backpack. She had a brilliant idea in her mind. It was a big house and she had nobody she could speak to. Hailie thought that maybe roommates might change that. She didn't know if anybody would like to live in this house, but she could try at least. It was just an offer. Maybe she will find a company and then she will feel better. Besides, soon there will be bills to pay. Roommates will help with paying them.

"We did great." Envy looked at Lust, but he was staring at the window. He moved from the living room to the garden. So did she. "Seems like a prey came to us."

Two young boys were watching Hailie through her window. They waited for something to happen but it was boring.

"I told you. There's no such thing as ghosts. Stupid stories," said one of the boys. He kicked a stone. "Come on, before mum finds us."

"Wait, there must be something.

"But-"

"Do what I say and wait."

Envy and Lust exchanged glances. They knew exactly what to do.

"Your brother, he's always giving you commands, right? He never listens to you. And it's obvious you're the smarter one. Why can't he see it, why can't your mother? Oh, how you hate that it is him who is her favorite."

Lust kneeled next to the boy.

"Feel it. Feel all that anger and desire to finally show him who's the better one. He once beat you, now it's your turn." He watched a boy, who picked up a thick branch from the lawn. "One swing and then another, till you see him bleeding."

The boy took a swing and hit his brother with a branch. He fell to the ground, confused. Then the boy hit him again, and again, and again.

"Michael!" His mother's voice echoed in the street, when she ran up to them. She tore out a branch from her younger son and pushed him away. "Eli, are you okay? Say something Eli!"

The other boy was covered in blood, but except for a broken arm, he was fine.

"Mother in pain. Why can't your boys be like Karen's? She's always saying how polite and well brought up her kids are." Envy started messing with her head. "I suggest that the next time she will invite you for a visit, you bring her a very special cake with a little deadly something inside."

The seed has been sown and that was all. The mother took the injured boy in her arms with the intention to go to the hospital. The other one marched behind them, not knowing what has gotten into him.

"That was a good one. Now, where were we?" Lust came back to the living room, looking at a ready offer that Hailie posted on the internet. "Oh yeah, when do you think it will be the right moment to call? I'm very interested in living in this house." He smirked.

Who wouldn't want to have a demon for a roommate?

He was an excellent company.