The Basement & The Door

"Curiosity killed the cat" - Ben Jonson

P.O.V: Narrator

[2:45pm]

On a beautiful summer's afternoon, a family of five were moving into a two story house, clearly indicated by the stationery moving truck, amount of brown cardboard boxes and a couple of muscular men moving said boxes.

The family consisted of the two parents James and Susan Hardwood, their twins Samuel aka Sam and Michael aka Mike, and their last born, Amy. The Hardwood family moved from Louisville to Meer Park due to their previous house being burnt down to ashes.

[4:31pm]

Approximately two hours past and the Hardwood family finished unpacking and arranging their things. James and Susan were in the kitchen talking in hushed voices.

"Do you want to tell them or should I??" James questioned.

"I think you should." Susan answered back.

"Ok I'll call them down. SAM, MIKE, COME DOWN HERE FOR A MINUTE, ME AND YOUR MOM WANT TO TALK TO YOU BOTH!" James yelled. His voice reverberating through the entire house alerting the two 17 year olds.

Almost immediately James and Susan heard two pairs of feet shuffling down the stairs and into the kitchen. Entering the kitchen Sammy and Mike saw their parents stare at them with serious faces, looking closely into their eyes one could see a hint of nervousness and determination in them.

"Ok before you go and explore the house, there are a few rules you need to abide by ok??" Questioned James, his voice laced with seriousness.

"Yes dad"

"Yup"

Answered Sam and Mike simultaneously.

"First no breaking things inside the house, second no playing ball inside the house and last but not least do not, and I mean do not, go into the basement. Do I male my self clear??" James questioned, his voice laced with seriousness, leaving no room for arguments.

Looking at their mom and dad, they could see the seriousness on their faces.

"Yes dad"×2 Both Sam and Mike answered back, nodding their heads in agreement.

"Good, now off you go." Said James.

Running back up stairs, they went to their agreed upon shared bedroom to do who knows what.

[02:50am]

Laying in bed awake, Sam couldn't go to sleep, he had a nagging feeling to go down to the basement and explore, he had tried pushing that idea to the back of his mind but it just kept coming back.

"Mike??" Sam called out in a hushed whisper, trying not to wake his brother if he were asleep.

"Yeah??" Whispered Mike back.

"Do you want to go and explore the basement??" Questioned Sam, straight forward with his question.

"Yeah!" Mike whispered back, excitement lacing his voice.

They both knew they were going against their parents rule but they just couldn't help it, curiosity got the better of them.

Slowly sneaking down the stairs, their footsteps silent as a cats, they arrived at the kitchen. Sam walked toward one of the lower cabinets situated on the floor. Pulling open a drawer Sam looked for a flashlight for their journey into the basement. Finding a flashlight Sam and Mike walked to the basement door with silent steps, careful as to not wake their parents up.

The basement door itself was filled with grime and dirt, but underneath it you could see the white colour of it.

Clasping the round door handle, Mike looked back at his brother checking if he's ready. Seeing him nod, he slowly turns the knob and pushes forward, the door creaking as if it hadn't been opened in a few decades. With a final creak, the door opens to an expanse of darkness with stairs leading down into the darkness.

Mike glanced back a Sam and with a nod journeyed down into the darkness. Looking at Mike's back being engulfed by darkness, Sams eyes showed a hint of nervousness but was soon washed away by a wave of determination. Shining the flashlight into the darkness, Sam could see Mike slowly making his way down the stairs.

As they walked slowly down the stairs they had to make sure not to step on any rodents scurrying along the steps, constantly dodge webs filled with spiders and make sure they did not step on any exposed rusty nails.

Finally arriving at the last step, a door awaited them, many intricate designs have been carved onto the door, it looked..... otherworldly.