Truly Madly Ghostly

Chapter One : Finding Him

It is a widespread truth that a single girl can hardly ever get a decent apartment on cheap rent in the city.

However, it seemed like fate had decided to shine brightly upon Charlotte for a change. For, never had she thought that right after making the decision of moving out of that god-awful dormitory she would be able to so easily find a place--a one-bedroom apartment that came with such a low rent. The money her dad would send her every month was more than enough for it.

Now she could smoothly cover all the monthly bills, and fees for her final year of College and still have enough cash in hand to do whatever her heart pleased. And she wouldn't even have to search for another part-time job, just being a librarian in the afternoons would be sufficient.

And so, with an excited smile on her face, Charlotte stepped out of her second-hand Sedan.

Her flip-flops made a crunching noise on the gravel driveway as she put a hand over her forehead, shielding her eyes from the glare of the afternoon sun.

She squinted at the ordinary-looking four-story apartment building.

A pleased sigh escaped her mouth. She nodded to herself in satisfaction.

Her new abode met each one of her whims.

The rent was affordable, there was next to no noise, except for the birds tittering sweetly around and the distant sound of cars from the main way--which was a couple of turns away. Moreover, with that park at the right side of the building, just across a fairly quiet alleyway of this block, her new residence looked like perfect heaven.

Charlotte would have almost patted herself on the back for this victory that she'd almost independently achieved, but then, the landlord spoke up beside her.

"The keys, Miss Hart."

She turned her face towards her landlord, Happy Dias, and took the keys he was jingling in his hand.

"I promise I will give you the rest of the security money in two months—" She was saying but Mr. Dias cut off.

"Don't worry about it at all, take as much time as you wish," He gave her a broad grin, his mustache with streaks of grey hair curved funnily upwards as he did so. Sunlight reflected from his bald head, adding even more brightness to Happy Dias's perpetually happy mood.

Charlotte had a sudden pinch at the back of her mind. The landlord seemed way too generous about almost everything.

Weren't landlords supposed to be a little bit rigid? Especially with money and the matter of tenants?

But so far, Mr. Dias had not fussed about money, he had even gone as far as to tell her that she could bring as many guests or housemates as she could. There were no restrictions for her.

It seemed way too good to be true.

But maybe it was her luck and karma which were all finally catching up to her, all at once, Charlotte thought.