THIS OLD PLACE IS ALIVE. I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES. NO, NOT THE BUILDING ITSELF. OF COURSE NOT A BUILDING. NOT A PILE OF BRICKS AND WOOD. THEY’RE COMPLAINING AGAIN. THEY CAN FEEL A DRAFT. THEY SWEAR THERE’S RATS IN THE WALLS, BITING HOLES AND LETTING THE WIND THROUGH. I WONDER IF THEY’RE JUST MAD WE HAD TO SETTLE FOR THIS AS OUR HONEYMOON, BUT I DIDN’T CAUSE THE TRAVEL BANS. THEY WANTED A TROPICAL ISLAND AND ADVENTURE. THIS WAS THE NEXT BEST CHOICE; A HOUSE, HIGH ON A HILL, FILLED WITH A MYSTICAL AIR. THE SURROUNDING FOREST HAS AMAZING HIKING, AND WE CAN FINALLY BE ALONE, FAR FROM THE BUSTLE OF THE CITY. THEY DIDN’T REFUND US FOR FLIGHTS. THIS WAS THE BEST WE COULD DO. AND THEY HATE IT. I WONDER IF THEY HATE ME. THEY SIT UP, RESTLESS, WANTING TO EXPLORE AND ADVENTURE. “I’LL GET A TORCH AND HOLY WATER, WE CAN STALK THESE HALLS LIKE REAL MONSTER HUNTERS!” MY JOKE DOESN’T LAND. THEY SCOWL. THEY TURN ON THEIR PHONE FLASHLIGHT. WE WALK DOWN THE HALL OUTSIDE OF OUR DOOR. WE MEASURE EVERY STEP. HER HAND IS ON MY SHOULDER, BEHIND ME. WE WALK INTO A ROOM, ADORNED WITH PORTRAITS. THE FACES ALL SHARE A COMMON VISAGE BUT NO TWO ARE ALIKE. WHO ARE THEY? WHERE ARE WE? MY QUESTIONS SIT ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE AND BEFORE THEY CAN ROLL OFF OF IT, A VOICE ANSWERS. “MEET MY FAMILY. WE’VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME”. I LOOKED AROUND AND SAW NO ONE. NO ONE INCLUDING MY PARTNER. THE EMPTY ROOM. I COULD FEEL IT BREATHING.