Ethan

I woke in a cold sweat, gripping for my neck. I let out a harsh sigh, then turned to lay on my stomach. I ended up in my bedroom this time around. I buried my face in my pillow remembering the pain, I started crying. I can't die, its obvious, but I still feel the pain. I wish I didn't feel at all. It's a day before my birthday that should be okay, I guess. I checked the clock, 2:46am. I leaned back, and relaxed. I'll die everyday for the rest of my life, great. I began to this about those kids that were snooping around my house the other day. No one even comes to our house, no matter what the purpose. I've never seen much of the outside world, but Ontar did say we didn't always live here. I love repeating that in my head because it means that at some point in my life, I played and enjoyed myself. This is hell.

Two Years Old

Before the small Crane family stood Father's Uncle Morty's mansion. The famous Crane mansion. Father and Mother stared up at the large establishment with starry eyes. Little Ethan was asleep in his mother's arms. Many people passing by would stop, stare, and gasp as the family walked up the steps and entered. The first thing they saw, was a note.

It read, "Go to the cellar."

Father and Mother looked at each other, then began to search for the cellar. When they came across the wooden door, they hesiatated.

"Um, love, can we check later, when we've settled in?" Mother questioned.

"That is a superb idea." Father replied.

With that they turned away from the door, only to have it creek open. Looking back, Father looked inside and flicked a light on. They nervously decended down the rigidy stair way. When they reached the bottom, they found another note.

It read, "Open the chest in front of you."

Father did as it said and an eerie blue began to come from the chest. The lights blew out and Mother screamed causing Ethan to wake and begin crying. Mother cooed to the toddler, quieting him. A deep voice came from inside the chest, causing their hearts to accelerate.

"You have entered the Crane mansion of your own free will." The voice chuckle. "Thus you have had the tendrils of cursed blood entwined within your hearts."

Father stepped forward bravely, "What do you mean?"

The voice chuckled again, "Your deepest sins of the heart will become your curse." Just then, an old man began to rise from the chest. Mother sqeaked her fear, and Father jumped back pulling her along.

He bowed, "I am Ontar. I will forever be the servant of this household, and a guide for the cursed." He noticed little Ethan in Mother's arms. He stepped out of the chest, "Surely you do not intend to give the child the curse."

"The child has no sins of the heart, but because of you he'll also be your curse." The parents didn't understand. They just wanted to leave and go back to their quaint home in Washington. The chest closed leaving Mother and Father dumbfounded.

Upstairs Ontar began to explain to them what their curses were, and how no body has ever broken theirs.

Juniper

Dispite what my friends thought about the boy, I couldn't get my mind off of him. I told Nathan about my dream hoping for some wisdom from that gorgeous brain of his.

"Could it have something to do with all the horror movies you watch?" Nathan asked with a laugh.

"Dude, come on, I'm serious!" He looked at my serious expression and calmed down.

"So, you saw him get stabbed in the neck by that woman from the other day?" I nodded. He focused within his thoughts, "Did anything else happen? How'd you feel when it happened?"

I thought a momment, "I felt like I was there. It was as if I was standing in the room watching. I saw him look at me. Well, in my direction that is."

He nodded, "Maybe you feel a connection to him, or just couldn't get him off your mind."

There was reason in his words, so the next time I walked past the Crane Mansion, I checked for cars. Everytime I walked past cars were in the driveway. It irritated me, I wanted to see if the boy was still there. I guess I'll have to keep trying.

Ethan

Ontar made me breakfast and asked me how it happened. I told him everything, and how it happened. "A bit harsh this time." I nodded. "Was it as painful as the last time?"

I shook my head, "It was pretty quick. I think she was trying to severe my head." I paused, "Ontar, when I die, how do I end up in my room perfectly fine again?"

He took his time before answering me, "When you die, your body evaporates."

"Why?" I questioned, sounding more like a child than I wanted to.

"That is one question I do not have the answer to." He smiled and patted me on the back.

"Where are Mother and Father?"

He shrugged, "Probably downstairs."

I'm not allowed in the cellar. My parents said never to go down there. When I was younger I use to think there was a secret exit there. I stood in front of the door and knocked. No answer, I turned to leave but the door creaked open. "Come here child." I looked down the dark steps, and saw a faint blue glow. Making my way down, careful of any loose floorboards, I found a medium sized chest.

"Hello? Father? Mother?" I looked around for the blue and any sign of life.

The chest opened and the blue lit the room magnificently. "Child, your parents have not been fair and have left you out of the circle. This knowledge is something required to vanquish your curse."

"My curse?" I asked with ignorance.

"Yes child, when you entered this mansion you got your own unique curse of the heart. At the time your heart was pure, and you were given a gift. The gift of immortality." It seemed more like a curse to me. "Because of this, your mother and father's curse's are entwined within your own."

That registered in my mind completely, "Is that why Mother kills me?"

"Yes child." The chest answered.

"Wait, what about Ontar." I asked gingerly.

The voice chuckled, "Ontar has been trapped within this home for centuries. He will forever be the servant of this mansion." That meant Ontar had a curse too, but he's such a sweet old man. I frowned.

When my conversation with the chest was over, Mother and Father were waiting for me on the steps. "Um, hi?"

"Ethan Crane what have your father and I told you about going down in the cellar!" My mother looked furious.

"What haven't you told me about it?" I murmured under my breath.

"What was that young man?" My Father gripped the collar of my shirt. "Up." My parents pulled me upstairs and sat me in the kitchen with them.

"What were you doing down there?" My mother questioned.

"I was looking for Father, and Ontar said I should check down there. I knocked but there wasn't a answer, then a creepy voice coming out of a chest told me to come here." They looked at each other. Mother stood and began to walk away, she screamed in frustration. "What's going on Father?"

He massaged the bridge of his nose, "Nothing son, run along." I did as he said, and went straight to my room. I relaxed in my bed and stared at the ceiling. It's the start of the day and already I've caused trouble.