When Savannah spoke again, her voice was little more than a whisper. “I’m scared to be stuck with myself for so long.”

In this instance, I knew exactly what she meant. When you were faced with eternity, all you considered was everything wrong with yourself. “Hey, listen here. I’ve been trapped for nearly fifty years. And if I can put up with Felix for fifty years, you can put up with yourself.” I smiled, but she was still looking down at her cup. “You don’t need to be afraid, sweetheart. We all have skeletons in our closets. We’re just bored enough to let them out from time to time.”

She nodded slowly, finally raising her eyes to look at me. “You mentioned books. Where are they?”

I smiled, her enthusiasm unmarred by her nerves. “There’s a library on the second floor. I think it used to be Felix’s office. I take it he didn’t give you the grand tour last night.”

“We were…occupied.” She blushed, and I had no problem understanding what she meant. Felix too?

“Finish your drink and I’ll show you around.” I drained the last little dregs in my cup, trying to ignore the images of Savannah on top of Felix, or Felix kneeling between her lush legs.

What was wrong with me? I was growing hard, imagining her writhing in pleasure, the perfect “o” her lips would form when she came.

Savannah set her cup down with a tiny clank and rose to her feet. “Let’s go.” She was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, and for the first time I realized how much she genuinely loved this house–haunted or not.

I started at the small hallway off the back of the kitchen, pointing out the water closet. It was basic, but functional. A tub, sink, and a toilet with a pull cord. We were connected to the town’s water but again, thanks to the house’s curse, no one ever came to check it out. Same with the electricity.

She frowned. “So no showers?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We’re just lucky Felix decided to have running water installed at all, otherwise we’d be shit out of luck.”

“Good thing I like baths,” she murmured.

And just like that, I was hard again, imagining Savannah in the metal tub, scrubbing her legs with the rough lye soap bars Felix stockpiled by the hundreds.

“Alright, next!” My voice was a bit too forceful, and even Savannah gave me a strange look. The pantry was next, stocked to the brim with wood for the stove, toiletries, and the waning food stores.

The dining room we never ate in was next, still laid out for supper. Then came the foyer, stunning enough to make you forget where you were for a minute.

Savannah pointed to the door behind the stairs, the one that was always locked. “What’s in there?”