Levi

"Kiss me harder," my mistress moans, nearly choking me with her tongue. My phone starts to ring and I immediately pull away. What a lifesaver. "I'll get that for you," she chimes, getting on her fours. She turns around to pick up my phone, giving me a mesmerizing view of her behind. I love my life so much.

"Here you go Mr Hargreaves," she smirks and plants a kiss on my lips. I hope she doesn't think she's my favorite though. I pick up the call and bring the phone up to my ear. "Yes?"

"Levi... I got the ball!"Fitz says through the phone.

"Mhmm that's great... so why are you calling me? Didn't I warn you about calling me for pointless things?"

"Yes, I know that sir... it's just... there was a boy in the house," he shudders.

"A boy? I don't understand."

"Yes... I located the bedroom but when I got inside a boy was staring at me... just sitting there and not saying anything."

"So what did this boy do?"

"He asked me what I wanted... and well... I was a bit creeped out so I just told him I was sent to get a ball from there... then he asked me who sent him... and I told him it wasn't his business... then he said talk or I'll kill you-"

"And you talked?"

"Yes sir-"

"What have I told you about this Fitz!"

"I'm sorry sir you should have seen this boy... he was so pale and creepy... almost like a ghost."

"I'll deal with you when you get back... what happened after that?"

"Well after I told him your name... he showed me where the ball was... but then he asked me to extend his greetings to you before he left the room."

"What?"

"I don't know why sir." It then hit me what this person could have meant. "Fitz... this boy... what color was his hair?"

"Uhhh... black sir."

"And his eyes?"

"I wasn't looking at details... possibly grey or blue."

"Okay... we'll talk more when you get back."

I hang up and place my phone beside me. What could this mean? I reach towards my nightstand and flip open my humidor, taking out a cigar and placing it between my lips. "Heather," I mutter. She repeatedly nods and grabs a lighter, helping me light the other end of it. "Is everything okay sir?" she asks with concern. I ignored her question, still lost in my thoughts.

Back in high school, I wasn't so bad at basketball. I had pretty good friends on the team too. So after graduation one of them made all of us sign a ball. I take out the cigar and release a puff of smoke into the air. This guy died a while ago. It killed me because he was my best friend.

So remembering him, I gave Fitz a location and told him to get that ball for me. I'm pretty sure that mansion hasn't been occupied yet. But Fitz sees someone with a similar description. I don't know how. I don't why. I don't know where he came from.

But that's Ace.

•••

I fasten the buttons of my leather duster coat and pack my hair into a bun. Then I make my way downstairs and into the dining room where my parents and my brothers are. "I still don't understand why you're going back to that town," my father grumbles as he cuts into his steak. "Personal reasons... but it's important... I'll be back today hopefully."

"Hopefully? I hope you're taking some men with you."

I shake my head. "I'm not a prince... I lead a mafia... I should have outgrown men," I state. He guffaws at my remark, repeatedly smashing his fist on the table, leaving everyone startled. "What a stupid boy you are, thinking you can handle yourself on your own... I understand that you're trying to be independent but that shouldn't hinder you from making sensible choices."

I roll my eyes. "Let's not have this discussion please."

"What discussion..." he gets up and begins walking toward me, like a tiger stalking its prey. "You're just being immature and stupid, unlike Marco-"

"Marco is dead, can we stop talking about him? If you're that upset, please stab yourself and go meet him in hell. I promise no one will mind."

A guttural growl rumbles through this throat. "Maybe that's enough," my mother says, getting up from the table and approaching my father. She rubs his shoulders placatingly and glances at me. "Angelo go."

I nod and turn on my heels, but my arm gets caught. The moment I turn my head, my face connects with a brutal fist. I stumble back, teetering every which way as I struggle to regain my balance. The next thing I know my brothers are hovering around my father, begging him to calm down. "You think you're a man huh? You think you can just talk to your old man however you feel?" he sneers. "Well let me tell you something, Angelo. You're no man... the only manly thing you've done is to that maid who was spying on us when you lugged her to your room and whipped the everlasting-"

I charge forward, slugging him in the mouth. "Don't you ever get tired of spitting grass every time you speak?" I ask, balling my fist for a second punch, hoping this time I can knock out one of his teeth.

Gianni grabs my shoulder. "Angelo-"

"Get out of my face." I push him aside, slowly approaching my father. He's still covering his busted lip, cautiously backing away from me. If he knows he can't beat me why did he start a fight? Probably because he knew everyone would try to stop me and he was right. For the sake of my mother who's begging me with her wide eyes to let this slide, I step back and walk out of the room.

"You think you're going Scott-free for this Angelo? I'll be waiting for you when you're back!" he yells after me. He just had to wait till I was gone to say that. I exit the house and walk towards the car where Giovanni is standing. He opens the door to the passenger's seat for me. "I'm driving myself," I state.

"But-"

"I said I'm driving myself, now get lost." He heaves a sigh of defeat and hands me the keys before walking away. Everyone around me is so annoying. I walk to the driver's seat and open the door. Suddenly someone grabs my shoulder. Ready to punch whoever it is, I turn around to see my mum. "Oh... madre," I mumble.

"Angelo," she calls out softly. "Ignore your father hm? He's always going to be like that, cranky and mean, but he's just trying to bring out the best in you."

"Best in me by punching my face?"

"Don't mind him, okay? Thank you for not prolonging that pointless fight."

I nod and she kisses me on the cheek. "Be good, okay? Arrivederci," she grins and heads back into the house. She's the only person keeping me sane. Everyone else is asinine. I get into the car and insert the keys. When last had I been to Moorwood? Well, I moved out immediately after high school. That town was way too creepy. But I should still know my way around. I just hope Ace is alive.

Moorwood

Geez it's so cold. My breath keeps creating a mist on the windshield which I have to wipe occasionally to get a clearer view. Getting deeper into the town I start to spot some landmarks— the playground where we nearly killed the guy who snitched on us for vandalizing school property and also a small diner we always hung out in. I'm surprised it's still open though.

This place is always quiet during Christmas because no one is ever willing to stay in this stygian town for the holidays. But I still manage to see people walking by. Some are in the middle of a snowball fight or making snowmen. Man, I wish I could still goof off like that. But this stupid mafia thing has taken over my life.

Finally from a distance, I can spot it. The biggest house on Willow Lane. I park in front of it and get out of the car. I pause to take a good glimpse of the massive structure. Wow, this place has changed a lot. In a bad way.

I walk up to the doorstep and open the door. Wow. Everywhere is dark and it looks so abandoned. Why the hell did this place end up like this? "Levi?"

I freeze at the sound of my name and slowly turn around, reaching for my gun. My eyes almost pop out of its socket. It's him. It's Ace. He's just standing right there. "Ace?" I try to hug him but I pass right through him. Huh? What just happened? "Is this some kind of prank?"

"No, it's not... I'm here but disembodied."

"You're kidding, right? So you're trying to tell me you're a ghost or something?" I laugh.

He stares at me, blankly. His eyebrows frowning. "Wait? You're... a ghost? Those exist?" He heaves a sigh and walks toward me, passing his arm right through my chest. "Any other explanation for this?"

"Dude... this is great!" I beam. He raises his brows. "I can just move in here... I can renovate this dilapidated house... and even though I won't be around all the time we can still have fun."

"Levi-"

"Think about it... we can still watch TV... or play video games- oh wait you can't hold a controller..."

"Levi-"

"But regardless it's still going to be great... just two of us best friends again and at least I don't have to worry about you dying because you can't-"

"Levi shut the hell up and listen to me!" he hollers, throwing his arms in the air. "What's wrong bro?"

"Listen... all that sounds great but... I don't want to do this anymore," he sighs. "You don't want to be my friend anymore?" I ask. "No no... I don't... I don't want to exist anymore."

Wow, that's deep. "Why?"

"I just hate being a stupid ghost... for three years I've been trapped in this house all alone, watching people pursue their dreams. But look at me... I'm stuck here. Do you know how that kills me? I'm tired of this... I just want to vanish already."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't see it that way... that was so selfish of me," I mutter. I just want to create this crazy illusion in my head that he's still here, doing alright when he isn't. I can't seem to accept that he's gone.

"It's fine... but do you want to help me out of this?" he asks me. "Yeah yeah sure... anything."

"You have to help me find the person that killed me." "Really? That's it?" I ask.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Don't worry... I'll find your killer. Even if it's the last thing I do."

"I knew I could count on you," he smiles. "But why is it so important that I find this killer? I mean what's gonna happen after that?" I ask.

"Well ghosts have unfinished business I guess... and mine is knowing the bastard that stabbed me. After that, I'll disappear."

"So you'll be gone for good huh? That's sad... for a moment there I thought your death was just a hoax," I sigh.

He chuckles. "How are the others?"

"Well... that's a story for another day," I reply.

"Why? You don't talk to them anymore?"

"It's better off you don't know what happened Ace. Just keep the happy memories."

He nods. "If you say so- oh and I forgot to tell you..." he begins. "While you're carrying out your investigation... make sure you partner up with Cassi."

"What? Who's Cassi?"

"She lives on Main Street."

"Ugh Main Street? That place is creepy as hell."

"So you won't go?"

I heave a sigh. "You know I will."

Main Street

I glance at the rusty sign. It's been a while. So how am I going to locate this Cassi girl? Knock on each door asking 'Hey are you Cassi? Or do you have a daughter named Cassi?'

Suddenly someone jumps on my back. I grab the person by the arm and throw them over my head, pinning them to the ground. I find myself staring at a puzzled Gaia. "Oh it's you," I chuckle "Ouch! Get off of me nerd," she snaps. "Sorry." I let go of her and help her up then I bend over slightly to help her dust the back of her shirt. "What are you doing creep?" she hollers at me and takes a few steps back, evidently blushing.

"I was just helping you dust your shirt." I hear a disembodied giggle and turn around to see a girl who looks very much like Gaia but slightly more mature. "Gaia... is this your boyfriend?" she asks with a cheeky grin. "No! he's just a weird person that I don't know," she asserts and crosses her arms over her chest. The girl holds out a hand to me, still grinning. "Hey I'm-"

"Go away, sister!" Gaia yells and pushes the girl away. "What do you think you're doing here?" she snaps at me.

"Oh, nothing important... just thought I'd pay my little hometown a visit."

"You grew up here?"

"Oh let's not go into that conversation... by the way who's Cassi?"