The Edge of Town (part 5)

The house was small, having only a kitchen and living room with a small alcove at the rear door. Off of the side of the living room was a closed door, I suppose a bedroom, I don’t know because my focus was immediately drawn to the stairs. I wondered what was at the top of those stairs? I felt a strong urge to go and find out.

I moved to the landing and looked up. My eyes had become used to the low lighting of the downstairs and now I was having trouble sifting through the shadows that waited above me. Now was the time for new choices. I could turn and leave now, because I had actually went into the house, which was more than any of my pals could say, or I could be brave, braver than anyone that I knew, and walk up the stairs. The house held it’s breath while I debated with myself.

Then, I held my own breath as I slowly took the first step upward.

The stairs creaked, announcing my movements. I tried to step softly, catlike, but the stairs were vigilant sentries. I made my way to the top step and stood waiting and listening. Passing through the space from the first floor to the second, was like moving from one world into another. It was darker and more ominous here. I allowed my eyes time to adjust to the darker setting and realized that I was standing in a hall that led either to the left or right of me. Again, a strong feeling told me which way to go. I followed the urge to a small room at the left end of the hall. When I reached the room, intuition began to sound a warning in my mind that this was a dangerous place. I was going to turn and run when I spotted the closet door, slightly ajar, across the room. Just by looking at the door, I could feel a powerful uneasiness seep through my body. Whatever the force was that had pulled me into the house, it seemed to live in the closet.

Some people say that we live in a world within worlds; that there are unexplainable powers that intermingle with our lives. I believe that in some cases that statement is true. I believe because something other than rational thinking tempted me to cross the room, take hold of the closet door handle, open the door, and then to look inside.

The first thing that I noticed was the old stained mattress that took up most of the closet. The stains were a faded rust color and some spots looked newer than the others. The newer spots even seemed to be more reddish than brown. The second thing that I noticed were the objects on the closet walls above the mattress. On the wall at the head of the mattress and the wall at the foot of the mattress, were two sets of iron rings driven into the thick studs. Each ring had a rusty pair of handcuffs dangling from them. Even at ten years-old I knew what this place was.

A spike of terror induced revulsion jolted through me and I felt dizzy. I wanted to throw up, but all that I could do was dry heave. I fought to keep from screaming. Then a new horror consumed my mind, leaving me too scared to move.

First one, then two, then three…the steps of the stairs began creaking.

Slowly and methodically, something was coming up to find me.

To be continued…