His oppression

Where the Key Fits

Chapter Twenty: WHERE THE KEY FITS

Radcliff was right with his instincts about the basement, when we got to the place something just felt relatively wrong. It was almost as if they were millions of eyes observing our every movement and it kind of made me a little on the edge. I could never fathom how that’s even possible that a place so homey-like could seem so sinister.

There could be underlying factors to it that I'm afraid I won’t be able to accept. Maybe because it was just cold underneath the house so it’s adding to the atmosphere. But is that even rational? That it’s cold below. It’s supposed to be colder higher, right? Like at the peak of a mountain or at the very top of a building.

That’s why it’s hot in hell.

I had to drag Radcliff down with me when he stood by the top of the stairs, still refusing to even take just a peep in the basement. He was complaining all the way but my ears were shut to all his blabbering because of how distracted I was looking around the area I was on.

The place was another different kind of mess and it was tragic looking. A lot of grandma’s antique stuff has gone to waste when they’re all broken into bits and pieces on the ground so I had to carefully maneuver over the obstacle.

I was still holding on to Radcliff’s arm, convinced when I’ll just turn around to look for something he’ll be out of here in an instant. I’m really sure he’d be someone who’d do that. He does look like he was going to s**t his pants earlier. If this place was ever haunted, I would have not gone back here even for grandma’s sake.

Maybe it’s haunted by my grandparents now, who knows?

“It kind of looks cool,” I just said, letting my finger cross the dusty table.

“Kind of? It does not. In any way, shape or form.” Radcliff was quick to counter my comment. “It’s terrifying and my guts tell me to run away now.”

“Oh come on,” I chuckled before looking back at him. “You scared me too the first time and what happened when I tried to run away? You came back.”

“That’s exactly it, isn’t it? As soon as we get out of here, we won’t be harmed.”

“You’re overexaggerating this.” I pulled his arm again when he’s using his weight to resist. “We’ll be out of here when I find it.”

“I don’t think either of us know what it is.” he pointed out with an amplified sigh, like it was intentional but I like to think he’s just being overdramatic. “Can’t I just wait for you upstairs?”

“No.”

“Why not? You are torturing me, Aria.” all I hear is him making a fuss of going to the basement and this is the first time since I met him was he like this.

It was really entertaining. A tough looking guy is scared of ghosts. Grandma said to fear humans more because the dead don't do any real life harm. It’s all in the mind of the person if they want to believe in it or not. And it’s funny that he’s been living in this world a few centuries later and he’s the one who’s scared? He’s probably discovered a lot of unexplained phenomena by now but here we are. I wouldn’t be scared of anything anymore if I was just as old as he is. But then again, he’s old. Anything can give him a heart attack at this rate.

But then again I didn’t want to be alone in this spooky area. So he just had to deal with whatever was giving him the ‘fright’. Like I said, he’s an old man.

Everything was curious but the moment my eyes landed on the open cases on the shelves, I began to grow suspicion of what could have been in there. Those display cabinets look like they were especially made for dolls. How did I come up with that assumption? It’s because there were initials there. No last names but just initials and dates. I think if they were holding other stuff like vases or something, it would have a label or some sort. And Grandma does it that way but she never gets things mixed up.

Also, she might have mentioned she collected antique dolls and gave them names, took care of them like they would a child. It was bizarre but I said nothing of it since they weren’t hurting anyone with what they do. I just didn’t think they’d be serious about it. I just thought it was just coping with a child after they lost one.

My mom had a sister who lost her life to a hit and run. It was a terrible tale to tell but it wasn’t mine to fill in for them. The sister was also my mother’s inspiration so when she passed away, my mother’s life has been a wreck from there.

And there it is, a picture of the said child that was deceased on the table nearby. It appeared untouched and no dust can actually be seen. It’s clean. And the only thing that seemed not broken. My mother can have a soft spot for her sister and I kind of acknowledge that. Even though she’s likely a monster now with my father, every monster still has a heart and can actually care. And in spite of that, I’m the only child they have, they don’t even show me enough to know that I am. That’s fine nevertheless.

I’m not going to put their trauma against them.

“Has this place been ransacked or some sort?” Radcliff asked, seemingly out of his state of ‘fright’.

“Yes, by my mother. My grandparents are respected people here so neighbours wouldn’t think of anything to destroy their home, let alone have dirt on them.” I just said, picking up the remaining of the books that were there. “Let’s just see what we can find for now.”

“Why would your mother do this?”

“You saw what she said to me before,” I sighed, looking around if I find anything else interesting. “What she says is what she does. So whatever they want to do I just let them. I tried, I tried to be the bigger person but they’re just too difficult to handle. They’re supposed to be the mature adults here but in the end, I’m left with no choice.”

I could see him nod his head as he was looking at him. “You don’t think she had any motives?”

“The motive is money, simple as that. My grandma helped people in need and in exchange they paid for her service. But up to this day, I still have no idea what she did for a living. Even though she didn’t want it in the first place, people insisted. Sometimes in exchange, they give her gifts and those gifts are put here, I think. I don’t know. I wasn’t allowed in here.”

“Do you think your grandma had to do with… paranormal doings?” he asked, curiously.

“How did you come up with that?” I asked, really confused. “Are you saying she was a witch or a psychic whatever people call them nowadays?”

“It’s curious.”

“What’s curious?” I asked, putting all my weight on my right leg as I put a hand on my waist. “You’re really being strange right now, you know that?”

“Her things… look at her books. They’re about witchcraft. Every single one of them.”

“Big deal!” I put my hands up. “People are curious about some other things too, you know. And my grandmother was very nice, if I have to repeat that over and over again.”

“Are you saying witches are bad?”

“Well, what did they do to you? They cursed you.” I pouted.

“Well,” he tilted his head a little before a small laugh came out of him. “I don’t think every single one of them is bad. You said you never know what your grandmother did.”

“Yes,” I replied with a nod.

“Perhaps, she’d done this. Look at her things.

“My grandmother loved vintage things, not witchcraft. These are vintage things. Who knows? They’re not bad people!” I defended my grandparents.

“Why are you insisting that?” he chuckled once more. “I just think, there’s no assurance.”

“Because if they’re using their power to take control of people, they’re bad people-- witches. Then, witches are bad.” I just said. “My grandparents do not do that.”

“I’m not saying they are--”

“You are!” I cut him off.

I really dislike it when people would want to talk s**t about people that are important to me. Even though they won’t do it back for me, it doesn’t mean I won’t defend them.

“I just think--”

“Yes, just think. Don’t assume.” I turned my head to the side with a frown before marching towards the unlit area where I got a little hesitant.

But if I find the light, maybe I will proceed.

“Careful, Aria.” Radcliff sounded like he was a few distances away from me. He’s going to leave once I turn on the light, isn’t he?

“Yeah-yeah,” I disregarded him and went further to the area which appears to be a hallway… somewhat. “Where the hell is the light switch!? How did grandma ever get to this part of the basement?”

I stopped.

I stopped when I heard the echoing sounds.

Women. Women calling out my name. There were many and the audio soon became distorted. I have not the faintest clue if I was having a manic episode again where I hear voices in my head when the people around me are oblivious to it.

It was dark. Everything was dark now-- nothing but the darkness. I looked back to see if Radcliff was still there but much to my surprise, the exit looked to be blocked. And it was like deja vu.

Have I been in this situation before?

“Radcliff! Hello!”

I turned to face the direction where I had come from and tried to run towards it. But it seems like the path was endless and I felt like I was running in place. There was just no progress.

“Help me! What is going on!?” I called out, trying my hardest not to panic so I could think rationally.

My voice just echoed back to me.

But it was so dark. There was no source of light that I could find. Even though I had been tapping the walls for a light switch, I felt the air getting heavier and heavier. It was still cold but it’s not even a nice feeling of cold.

So dark that I didn’t notice the hole in the ground and I fell right into it.