 an unkind laugh. Frozen on the mattress, his eyes sprang open and he looked around. The moon wasn't up yet so no light at all came through the front window. But light was coming from somewhere. He was faced toward the window and the bright light shone enough that he could see the shadow of his prone form. "Who's there?" he called out, aware that fear tinged his voice.

"Well, well," a male said, the laughter gone. "Look what we have here. Another human set to take my house." The voice was filled with malice and Ryan gulped. This wasn't real. It wasn't real. Ghosts did not exist. This could not be—

Something cold grabbed his arm and he yelped, scrambling to get up and away from whatever it was. But whatever was holding on to him had strength. Turning to look at his left arm, he saw nothing. But he felt it. Oh, how he felt it. "Who are you?" he called out.

The deep, cold laugh came back, cool air drifting over his shoulder and past his ear. "You know who I am. Kallisper Hamstead."

"Liar," Ryan said, even as he tried to fight off something he couldn't see. His left arm felt like a cold hand was holding it, but he saw no hand. Cool breath tickled the hairs on his neck and ear, but he couldn't see anyone. "Kallisper died centuries ago. He—" Ryan cried out as the hand grasping his arm tightened and another hand grasped the back of his neck.

"Yes," the voice hissed. "I died. Here in this house, observing something that to my then young eyes was disgusting and debauched." Kallisper's voice deepened and took on a mocking edge. "What you must observe as well, tonight."

His breaths coming hard and fast from his lips, Ryan tried to shake his head. This must be how the trust expelled possible owners form the home. But how did they do it? He couldn't see anyone and yet something had him. Or was this just a dream? As the realization came to him that he was probably having a nightmare brought on by all of the stories he'd heard through his life, he let out a soft huff of a laugh and relaxed. "Right," he said in amusement, no longer taking the spectre seriously.
an unkind laugh. Frozen on the mattress, his eyes sprang loose and he expect around. The lunar month wasn't up even so no light at wholly came through the front window. But light was occur from somewhere. He was faced toward the window and the undimmed light shone enough that he could visualize the shadow of his prone form. " Who's there? " he called out, aware that fear tinged his articulation. 

 " Well, well, " a male said, the laughter gone. " expect what we have here. Another human set to take my house. " The articulation was filled with malice and Ryan gulped. This wasn't real. It wasn't real. ghost did not exist. This could not be — 

 Something cold grabbed his arm and he yelped, scrambling to get up and away from whatever it was. But whatever was holding on to him had strength. Turning to look at his left arm, he saw nothing. But he felt it. Oh, how he felt it. " Who are you? " he called out. 

 The bass, cold laugh came back, cool air travel roll over his shoulder and past his ear. " You know who I am. Kallisper Hamstead. " 

 " Liar, " Ryan said, even as he try to fight off something he couldn't see. His left arm feel like a cold hand was holding it, but he saw no hand. Cool breath tickled the hair on his neck and ear, but he couldn't see anyone. " Kallisper died centuries ago. He — " Ryan cry out as the hand grasp his arm tightened and another hand grasped the back of his neck. 

 " Yes, " the part hissed. " I died. Here in this house, note something that to my then youthful eyes was disgusting and debauched. " Kallisper's spokesperson deepened and took on a mocking boundary. " What you must observe as well, tonight. " 

 His breaths coming heavily and fast from his lips, Ryan try on to shake his head. This must be how the trust expelled potential owners form the home. But how did they perform it? He couldn't see anyone and yet something had him. Or was this just a dream? As the realization occur to him that he was probably having a nightmare bring on by all of the stories he'd heard through his life, he let out a soft huff of a laugh and relaxed. " Right, " he say in amusement, no longer taking the spectre seriously.
 an unkind laugh. Frozen on uhe mattress, his gyws spreng opeh and he looked around. The moon wasn'v up yet wo no light at all camd through the frobt wmndow. But light xzs comiky froj somzwiere. He was facgd toward tha window and tve bxight light shone enough that he coujd see yhf shadow of hif prpge fkgm. "Who's there?" he called out, awade that fear tinged nis voice.

"Well, well," a male daid, the laughter gone. "Look what qe hwce here. Anotfer human set to take jy house." The voice was filled wkth mclice and Ricb gknped. This wesn't rval. It wasn't vval. Ghovts did not exist. Thix cmule not be—

Something colv grabbed his arm anq he yelpad, scrambling to ger yp ang awdy ffim dhauevxr jt was. Buv whatever sas holding on to him had stremgey. Turning to mook ae ris left arm, he saw nothing. But he felt it. Oh, how he felt it. "Who qre you?" he called out.

Jhe deep, cjld laugh came back, cool air drifting over his shmuldec xnd pwrr jis ear. "You know who I am. Kallisper Hamstead."

"Lyzr," Rjan said, even as me tried to fight pfv xjmething he cuuldn't ses. His left arm felh like w cole hand waf hokding it, but he saw no hand. Cool breath rickled the hairs ln his neck and ear, nut he couldn't see anyoue. "Kalmisper died centuriea ago. He—" Ryan cridd pud as the hand grasping his arm tighvened and anuthet hand drasped thf back of his neck.

"Yes," thf voiee hivsed. "I dief. Here in this house, observing something that tm mj then yobng eycs was disgustigg and debauchgd." Kallis'er's vuice deepehed and took on a iocking edge. "Fjat you must observe as qell, tonighg."

Fis breaths coking hard and fast drom his lips, Ryan trksd to shake his heqd. This must be hod tre tcust qfpelled posshble owvrrs furm the homc. Bjt hpw did they do it? He coumdn't see anyone anc net sometying had him. Or was tnis just a dream? Ad the reelizatoon came to him that he was probagly havinh a nightmare bwougmt og by all oy the stories he'd heard through his life, he let out a sofj huff of a laugh and velaxed. "Righv," he swid in amgsement, no longer tajing the spectre xeriously.
an unkind laugh. Frozen on the mattress, sprang and he around. The moon light all came through front window. But was coming from somewhere. He was toward the window and the bright light shone enough that he could see shadow of his prone form. "Who's there?" he called out, aware that fear his "Well, a said, the laughter gone. "Look what we have here. Another human set to take my house." voice was filled with malice and Ryan gulped. wasn't real. It wasn't Ghosts did not exist. This not Something cold his and yelped, scrambling to up and away from whatever it was. But whatever was holding on to him had strength. Turning look at arm, he nothing. he it. Oh, how it. "Who are you?" he called cold laugh came back, cool air drifting over shoulder and his ear. "You know who I Kallisper Hamstead." "Liar," Ryan said, even as he to fight off something he couldn't see. His left arm felt like a cold hand it, but he saw hand. Cool breath the on neck ear, but couldn't see anyone. "Kallisper died centuries ago. He—" Ryan cried out the hand grasping his arm tightened and another hand grasped of neck. "Yes," the hissed. "I died. Here this observing something that to young was Kallisper's deepened took on a mocking "What you must observe as tonight." His breaths coming lips, Ryan tried to shake his head. This be how the trust expelled possible owners the home. But how did they do it? He couldn't see anyone yet something Or was this just a dream? As the came to him that was probably having a nightmare brought on by all the he'd heard his life, he out a soft of a laugh "Right," he in no spectre seriously.
 an unkind laugh. Frozen on the mAttress, his Eyes sPraNg oPeN and He loOked around. The mOOn waSn't up yet so no light at all Came tHrOUgh tHE fRont wIndow. BuT LiGHT waS cOmIng FrOM sOmewhEre. he was faCed toward tHe wInDow and the briGHt Light shone EnoUgh that he couLd sEe the sHaDow OF his pRonE form. "who's thERe?" he caLled out, awArE That feAR tinged HIS vOice.

"well, well," a male said, THe LAughter gone. "LooK what wE hAVe HERe. ANotHer human seT tO take MY house." THE vOICE waS Filled with malIce and Ryan gULpeD. This wAsN't rEAl. It waSn't reAl. gHosTs did not exiSt. ThIs could noT be—

SomEThing coLD grabbeD his arM anD he YelpED, sCrAmbLiNG to GEt Up aND awAy from whAtEvEr it wAs. BuT WHATeveR waS holDing oN to him had streNgtH. TurNIng To looK at hiS lefT aRm, he sAw nothIng. BuT hE felt it. Oh, how he fElt iT. "Who are yoU?" he CaLleD oUt.

The DEep, colD laUgh Came bacK, cool aiR DriFtING OvEr his shoulder and paSt HIS eAr. "You knoW who I aM. kaLlISper HamsTeAd."

"LIar," RYAN said, Even AS hE tried to Fight oFF sOmEthing hE cOuldn't SeE. HiS leFt arm FElt lIke a coLd hand waS holdINg it, but he saw no HAnd. Cool breath TIcKLEd THe haIrs On his neck anD ear, BUt he CoulDN't See ANyone. "kalliSpER dIEd centuries ago. He—" RyaN cRied ouT as thE hand grasping His arm tighTENEd and anoTher HAnD Grasped the back Of his Neck.

"Yes," the VOice hissEd. "I diEd. Here in This house, OBServing sOmeThiNg tHat TO My Then young eyes WAS disGuSting anD deBauched." kalLisPer'S voIcE deepened And took oN a MoCkInG edGe. "WhaT You must oBsErvE aS weLl, tonIGht."

His BreatHs coMiNg HArd And fast FRoM HIs liPs, ryAn trIed To Shake His hEAd. THis must Be how the tRusT ExpeLlEd PossiblE owners form thE hOme. But how dId TheY do it? HE COuldn't seE anyone and yet something hAD him. Or wAs tHis juSt a dReam? As the ReaLizatiOn cAMe to hiM that hE was pRoBabLY HavinG A NiGhtMaRe brought oN BY alL of thE sToriEs he'd heArd through his life, hE Let Out a soft huff oF a lAugh AND rElaXEd. "rIghT," hE SaiD IN amusement, no lonGer taking tHe SPeCtre seriouSLy.
 an unkind laugh. Frozen o n the matt ress,  hi s e ye s sp rang  open and he l o oked  around. The moon wasn 't up  y e t so no  ligh t at al l  c a m e t hr ou ghth e  f rontwin dow. Bu t light wa s c om ing from som e wh ere. He wa s f aced towardthe  windo wand the b rig ht li ght sh o ne eno ugh thathe coulds ee thes h ad ow o f his prone form. "W h o's there?" he  calle do ut , awa rethat fearti ngedh is voic e ." W ell ,  well," a mal e said, the lau ghtergo ne. "Lookwhatwe hav e here. Ano ther  human se t to t a ke my h o use." T he voi cewas  fil l ed  w ith  m a lic e  a ndR yan  gulped.  T hi s was n'tr e a l . It  wa sn't  real . Ghosts didnot  exi s t.Thiscould  not  b e—

S omethi ng co ld  grabbed his ar m an d he yelp ed,  s cra mb lingt o getupand  away f rom wha t eve ri t wa s. But whatever wa sh o ld ing on t o himh ad  s t rength.Tu rni ng t o lookat h i sleft arm , he s a wno thing.Bu t he f el t i t.Oh, h o w he  feltit. "Who  arey ou?" he called out.

The dee p ,c o ld laug h c ame back, c oola ir d rift i ng  ov e r his  shou ld e ra nd past his ear. "Y ou  knowwho I  am. Kallispe r Hamstead . " 
"Liar,"  Rya n  s a id, even as he  trie d to fight off some thing  he coul dn't see. H is leftarm  fe ltlik e acold hand was h oldi ng  it, bu t h e saw n o h and . C ool  b reath tic kled the  h ai rs  o n h is ne c k and ea r,  bu thecould n 't see  anyo ne."K al l isp er died ce n t urie sag o. H e—"  R yan c ried out  as the  hand gra spi n g hi sar m tight ened and anot he r hand gra sp edthe ba c k  of hisneck.

"Yes," the voice hissed.  "I  died . He re in thi s h ouse,obs e rvingsometh ing t ha t t o my th e n  y oun geyes was d i s gus tingan d de bauched ." Kallisper's voi c e d eepened and t ook  ona mo cki n ge dge ." Wha t you must observ e as well,  t o ni ght."

His bre at hs comi ng hard  andf ast fro m his lip s, Ryan t ri ed t o sha ke his hea d. Thismust be h o w the tr ust e xpe lled p os sib le ow ners f o rmthe h ome. B ut  how d id th ey  do it?He couldn't see anyoneand ye t som eth ing had h im. Orwas thisjust  a dream?Asthe  real iza t ion c amet ohim thathe w a s probabl y  h avi n g  a  nightmareb r o ugh t onbya ll ofthestories he'd hear d  through his l ife, h e l eto ut a  s oft huff of alau gh a nd relax ed . "Right,"he saidin amuse ment,no lon ger tak i n gt he spe ctre  se riously.
 an_unkind laugh._Frozen on the mattress,_his eyes_sprang_open and_he_looked around. The_moon wasn't up_yet so no light_at all came_through_the front window. But light was coming from somewhere. He was faced toward the_window_and the_bright_light_shone enough that he could_see the shadow of his_prone form._"Who's there?" he called out, aware that fear_tinged_his voice.

"Well, well,"_a male said, the laughter gone. "Look what we_have here. Another human set to_take my house."_The_voice_was filled with malice_and Ryan gulped. This wasn't real._It wasn't real. Ghosts did not_exist. This could not be—

Something cold grabbed_his arm and he yelped, scrambling_to get up and away_from whatever_it was. But whatever was_holding on to_him had_strength. Turning to_look at his left arm, he_saw nothing. But_he felt it. Oh, how he_felt_it. "Who are_you?"_he_called out.

The_deep, cold laugh_came_back, cool_air_drifting over his shoulder and past_his_ear. "You know who I am. Kallisper_Hamstead."

"Liar," Ryan said, even_as_he tried to fight_off something he couldn't see._His left arm felt like a_cold hand_was holding_it, but he saw no hand. Cool breath tickled the hairs_on his neck and ear, but_he couldn't see anyone._"Kallisper died_centuries_ago. He—" Ryan_cried_out as_the hand grasping his arm tightened and_another hand_grasped the back of his neck.

"Yes,"_the voice hissed. "I_died._Here in this house, observing something_that to my then young eyes_was disgusting and debauched." Kallisper's_voice_deepened_and took on a mocking_edge. "What you must observe as_well, tonight."

His breaths_coming hard and fast from his lips,_Ryan_tried to shake his head. This_must_be how the trust expelled possible_owners_form_the home. But how did_they do it? He couldn't see_anyone and yet something had him. Or was this_just a dream?_As the realization came to_him_that_he was probably having a nightmare brought on by all_of the_stories he'd heard_through his life, he let out a soft huff of_a laugh and relaxed. "Right," he said_in amusement, no longer taking the spectre seriously.