Processed by ghosts

The New Tenants

Prestwick Airport, Glasgow.

The information of the arrival and departure of various flights were announced in the background while people with boarding passes paced around.

On the departures side, people with placards and those who want to welcome their relatives filled the waiting area, their eyes scanning all those with luggage trying to spot the person they were waiting for.

But, soon their gazes were attracted to the tall woman and the two adorable twins following her. The woman was stunning and the kids were adorable to look at, but, what attracted them was the similar outfits the three of them are flaunting. The trio was dressed in similar overalls, blue denim paired with a white t-shirt, the woman was pulling a large trolley while the kids were following her while carrying small backpacks. While observing the family of three they wondered where the father was.

Unaware of their whispers, the trio coolly strode forward.

Pulling the trolley behind, Ameya Dawson swept her eyes across the congregation of the crowd who were holding placards. She could feel pairs of eyes on her and her cute twins, she had long been accustomed to such stares, both admiring and judgemental. But, she was never affected by them.

As she surveyed her surroundings, her glass like eyes came to a halt on the scrawny man who was dressed in a brown suit, his hands were holding the placard which read 'Welcoming the Devil.'

Ameya Dawson felt her lips curve up at the sight, turning around she addressed her twins "Kiddos, follow me."

On seeing them nod their head, Ameya sauntered her way towards the scrawny man. The man who had his line of sight fixed on the carpet covering the floor did not hear someone approaching him. It was only when he saw a pair of red Nike sneakers blocking his vision did he lift his head, a smile lit his bony face at the sight of the woman standing before him.

"Ameya..." he called out, an excitement rivaling that of a child shining in his eyes. Getting up from his seat, Troy hugged his best-friend who he had last seen in the high school. After high school, they had pursued their respective dreams and in the bustle of their busy careers, there was no time for them to meet.

Not until now.

Returning his hug, Ameya drawled, her voice hoarse "I've missed you."

As her close to tears voice fell on his ears, Troy tightened his hug. There was nothing romantic to it, but there was a beautiful serenity accompanying their anxious hearts, calming them in the process. It felt as if all the worries of the past were put down to rest.

Just when Troy was about to say something in response, he felt a tug on his loose trousers. Loosening his hold on Ameya, he looked down only to find blonde haired little boy glaring at him with displeasure.

"Let go of my mama bear." the kid threatened in a tone close to anger making Troy smirk in amusement.

"Get off my mama bear..." the kid started to push Troy using all his strength.

"Easy young man! I surrender!" Releasing Ameya from his embrace, Troy stepped back while raising his hands into the air as a sign of his mock surrender.

The kid narrowed his eyes, he truly did not believe the bony man before him.

Ameya who was very familiar with the look chortled while Troy appeared genuinely amused by the young kid's hostility.

"Ethan baby, say hello to Troy." With a beaming face, Ameya instructed the blonde kid.

Ignoring her, Ethan grumbled "Goodbye and I hope not to see you again!"

"Ethan, uncle is mama's friend. Don't be rude!" A cute girl with blonde pigtails chastised, crossing her chubby arms against her chest, she ordered: "Little brother, take your hands off uncle's trousers."

Ethan who was initially glaring at the man who took advantage of his mama now shifted his attention to his sister. Sporting an extremely stubborn expression, he retorted "If I remember correctly, I'm the elder one. Ember, you should call me elder brother."

"Hah!" Ember rolled her eyes, in a duh tone, she said: "You are shorter than me and that makes you the little one here."

"If I say that I'm the elder one, then I am." Ember scrunched her nose at her foolish brother's words.

"Fine, it's as you say shorty!" she teased him earning a growl from the said shorty.

"Enough kids, stop fighting and come here."

At Ameya's command, both Ethan and Ember turned towards her.

"Kiddos, this thin man you see here is my best friend, Troy. Say hi." In a gentle tone that reeked of command, Ameya spoke.

"Is he the one you spoke of, mama?" Ethan asked, his voice both curious and anxious at the same time.

"Yup! He's the one."

"Oh!" Ethan looked as if he was struck by lightning, his mouth forming a big O.

Mama told me to get along with her best friend, but I did the opposite. I never thought the bony man is mama's friend. I need to apologize now...

Sporting an apologetic face, Ethan bowed, catching Troy off guard by the sudden gesture.

"I'm sorry... Ow!" Ethan started to apologize but he screamed in the middle as he felt someone lifting him up.

"C' mon young fella! Let's go and eat hamburgers..." Troy chuckled as he carried a very reluctant Ethan in his arms.

With a helpless sigh, Ameya followed the pair while holding Ember's hand.

...

After having their fill in the McDonald's, Troy personally dropped them off at their brand new villa. It was only with great difficulty did she manage to send Troy away, he had wanted to help them in unpacking but she had adamantly refused. She and her kids are more than enough to sort out the luggage into the shelves, truth be told she was afraid that if she made Troy work he would soon be nothing but a pure white skeleton.

Now, they were standing before the gates of the stone villa which seemed refined with time, the almost black walls giving off a mysterious vibe to the entire place. Ameya felt that the huge intricate iron gates resembled the gates of hell, all thanks to her out of the box imaginative skills.

Though the huge villa might frighten the weak-hearted ones, Ameya found the entire scenery to be artistic. She was strangely satisfied with the house even though she had yet to see it in person.

Stepping forward, Ameya pressed the bell on the wall beside the gate.

Soon she found an old man dressed in loose three fourth khaki pants and an orange t-shirt that read 'I'm a ghost, duh!' hurrying towards them. In an instant, she recognized the old man as Freddie, the old housekeeper which the previous owner had mentioned to her. And, she did not know why but she felt that she would like this particular old man.

Opening the gates that made a screeching sound, Freddie panted "I-I'm at the backyard cleaning the leaves, so I was a bit l-late. Oh! Pardon my manners, please come in."

All the time, Freddie was busy with dusting his clothes and he had yet to take a good look at his new owners.

"Hi, Freddie! I'm Ameya Dawson, the new tenant of this house. Unless you approve of us, I and my kids would not dare to enter in ah!" Ameya spoke in a cheeky tone.

"I would not..." Freddie felt his voice choke as he eyed the three fine specimens standing before him. The kids were cute but what worried him was the beauty of the woman, it almost blinded him. The woman looked both seductive and innocent at the same time, Freddie instantly felt an alarm in his heart. A murder happened in this house before and the mere notion of the same thing happening to the woman before him made Freddie's emotions go haywire.

Freddie had initially thought of warning Ameya about the whispers in the house, but, he decided against it. He didn't want another person to think that he was a senile old man. He would keep a lookout on the trio, just in case...

Taking in a deep breath to calm himself and to prevent himself from looking like a fool, Freddie immediately smiled, his eyes forming crescents.

"Ms.Dawson, it's my pleasure to have you here. Please do come in, and if I may add your children are totally adorable."

"Thank you Freddie!" the twins chirped in at the same time.

"My kiddos are in love with ya! Let's catch up on later, Freddie. Have tons of unpacking to do."

"Okay miss, if you want any help you can call me on."

After chatting with Freddie for a while, Ameya realized that she was still standing outside the gates.

"Kiddos, this is our new home!" Ameya exclaimed as she stepped forward.

As soon as her foot stepped inside the gate, Ameya felt a cold wind envelop her entire body, one which made her shiver involuntarily. The wind was bitingly cold making Ameya cross her arms seeking comfort and warmth. She could even see the puffs of white coming from her nose, the cold was now sinking into her bones. Slowly, the surroundings started to turn blurry.

"Mama, it's too hot out here! Let's hurry and get inside."

Ember's shout was like a wake-up call for Ameya as she snapped out from her daze. It felt as if she was woken up from a dream which she had no idea. Strangely, she felt the cold around her disappear and now she could feel the heat from the sun, the beads of sweat on her forehead being the testament to it.

Turning towards Freddie, she asked, her voice shaky "Did you not feel that the air turned cold for a moment?"

"No miss..." Freddie answered as he sub-consciously lifted his head to look at the scorching sun above them.

Ameya felt a red flush creep up her cheeks as she realized how foolish her query sounded.

"It's nothing, I might be tired from the journey..." Ameya tried to salvage the situation but Freddie still stared at her with worry.

Leaving some pleasantries behind, Ameya hurriedly paced towards the main door with her kids in the tow.

Even as she closed the door, Ameya saw Freddie still standing at the same place looking at her with worry and fear?

...

The sounds of tearing the tape and the soft thump of the footsteps sounded which when mixed with the soft crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace made the empty villa seem more lively.

"Mama, I've dropped the vase!"

"Mama, where should I keep my toys?"

Ameya felt as if she had finished a marathon by the time she helped the kids settle in bed. Closing the doors to their room, she then observed the unsealed boxes which contained her work equipment.

"Where should I start my office?" Ameya wondered out loud. She needed room to work on her drawings and set designs, where she would have some peace of mind and no disturbance from others.

Their duplex villa had a living room, kitchen, and gym on the ground floor while all the bedrooms were on the first floor. With her kids taking away the best two rooms, there are still three left behind. And, her previous tenant had mentioned that he had sealed the room because of some unfortunate incident- a murder.

So, there was no question of using that room.

But, she did not like any of the other two rooms for her office.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Ameya marched towards the two unoccupied rooms to decide which one was better for her office.

...

Inside the dark sealed room.

The whispers of excitement echoed.

I'm no longer alone.

I sensed the scent of the three souls.

Man or woman? Young or old?

My questions are yet to be answered.

But, now, I'm no longer alone, I have company.

The soft sound of the footsteps neared the room, the sound at which the whispers fell into a silence.

Ameya Dawson was now standing outside the sealed door, her current thoughts unknown. She had surveyed the two empty rooms but she did not like them. Currently, she was contemplating whether to open the door or not?

Thinking the better of it, she decided to not open the door. Retracting her hand which was hanging in the air, Ameya Dawson turned around to go sleep in her room.

The sound of the footsteps lingered for a while before it started to disappear slowly, indicating that the person who was strolling outside the door was now leaving.

As the sound of the footsteps slowly disappeared into oblivion, the whispering frenzy started, once again.

I smelled the scent, the scent of the soul...

It's the fragrance of a woman- untainted and pure.

One which makes the desire of my ghost heart flare.

What is the color of her eyes or the shade of her silky hair?

How steep are the curves of her body and how deep is her love?

Can she make me fall in love?

Is she my Queen or my Bane?

I will soon find out.

Or, maybe it's time to welcome my new tenants...

Once again, the room fell into silence.