Hush

Chapter Six

Hush coughed when he entered. It was extremely dusty. Already, he could feel the dampness starting to cling to his skin and clothes.

"Sarcasm doesn't go well with you," Rune said, coughing. "You sound too serious."

Hush nodded. "I know." He always talked more when he was nervous. "I wonder how long this place has been closed off for?"

They continued through the door. The presence could still be felt, though not as strongly for some reason. It was like they had gotten farther away from it. Maybe it was at the front of the house...

The room here was somehow darker than the last. The flashlight only illuminated the space in front of them. Hush kept bumping into furniture, and so did Rune. At one point, Hush thought he saw something move.

They found their way to the front door --Hush recognized the doorknob-- and tried to open it, and then unlocked it. They pulled. Then pushed. It swung outwards, almost dragging the two Magi along. Rune pulled Hush back before he could fall.

After the darkness, the light seemed blinding. Thankfully, it illuminated the interior of what looked like a simple living room.

The paint on the tables were peeling, of course. The couch and armchair looked worn. There was a cup sitting on a coffee table, along with a lamp. On the floor, Rune and Hush's clumsy walk could be seen, along with the hand print where Hush had steadied himself on the table.

The two boys looked at each other, then looked back into the house. The only things that seemed out of place were the cup... and the footprints leading up the stairs.

Rune looked at Hush, who looked back at him. "You're going to drag me up there, aren't you?" Hush nodded and Rune sighed.

So up the stairs they went, stepping inside the footsteps even though it was almost pointless. "Maybe they'll think we left," Rune had said. Hush doubted it.

It wasn't long before the boys had to switch their flashlights on. It was just as dark upstairs as it had been downstairs.

There were three doors to one side of Rune, two doors to the side of Hush, and one door in front of them both. The one in front of them emitted a chilled feeling.

"Which one... should we go in first?" Rune asked, staying close to Hush. "None would be nice."

"We'll be fine..." Hush said, though he didn't feel certain. He patted Rune's head. "It's not like anything mortal can hurt us."

"Yeah, but still..." Rune muttered.

They could just turn back. Leave the house and forget about it... But the red spirits hadn't taken over and Hush wanted to know why. Was it really worth it? The Elders could just fend the reds off...

Hush turned around, intending to just go back. But where the staircase had been... there was only a wall.

"Oh... no..." Hush breathed.