Under the floorboards

Chapter 3

I shifted my satchel out of the way so I could climb the ladder that lead to the world of the Beans. I was slightly nervous and excited at the same time. My heart thumped in my chest and I could feel a bit of nervous sweat form in my palms as I began to climb. I never did this before and I sure as hell want to do it again, no matter what happens. Even if I almost get eaten by the cat or get stuck in the freezer like my mother did. I just want to get out of the house.

"Serena, remember, you're a Borrower and borrowing is in your blood. You can do this." my father reassured my from below. I turned around and gave him a small smile before continuing up the ladder. When I reached the top I pulled myself up and onto a wooden floor. I stood up and looked around. Above me was something... but I wasn't sure what it was. It was the bottom of some house hold object and it smelled old and dusty. I looked down at my feet and saw where the smell was coming from. All around me were huge bundles of dust and what I thought was hair, but it was too thick and it was bright orange.

"It's called fur. It falls off the cat and blows under just about everything." Father answered that question for me.

"And what's this?" I looked up at whatever it was. Father chuckled and told me to see for myself. So I walked out from under the object and looked up.

"It's a clock! A huge, grandfather clock!" I stretched my neck as far as I could to take in every detail. The clock was a dark shade of brown with a few chips in it here and there. The time read two, fifteen and the numbers were all curvy. It was amazing! I had never seen anything like it in my life!

I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked to see my father.

"Turn around." He whispered, then let go of my shoulder. I turned and saw the most amazing thing. It was like our living room, but a hundred, no, two hundred times bigger! There was a beige carpet on top of dark wooden floors.  There was also a glass rectangular table surrounded by a dark beige couch and sever very comfortable looking chairs of the same color. On the couch and chairs were brown pillows. Everything matched and looked very nice. But it was all huge! Everything towered over me and at first and I was slightly scared. 

I saw my father walk past me and walk over to one of the chairs. He beckoned me over and I did as he told me. But before I reached him, I stopped. The carpet was right in front of me. I gave my father a worried look but then took a deep breath and stepped forward.

As I stepped onto the carpet, I felt my feet sink into a field of fluffiness. I giggled as I bent down and touched the carpet with my bare hands. It was so soft and actually didn't smell too bad either. I heard father laugh as he watched me mess with the fabric like a little child.

"This is amazing!" I squealed before laying down in the carpet and engulfing myself with softness. Father laughed again. Causing me to laugh along with him. But that ended withing a minute or so when father asked me to get up so that we could start Borrowing.

I stood up and walked next to him and watched as he grabbed his satchel and pulled out a lot of rope that was attached to what looked like a claw on another end.

"Its my grappling hook. Borrowers use these to get to high places. Watch." Father stepped back about two yards from me and began to swing the rope with the hook in the air. After a few seconds he threw the hook up. It made a swoosh noise, flew up and got caught on the handle of the chair as it was falling. I looked at my father in amazement as he walked up to the rope and gave it a firm tug, making sure that the hook was tightly in place.

"And now my dear, we climb." He placed his hand on the small of my back and gave me a slight push towards the rope. I grabbed it tightly before pulling myself up. To my surprise, I was able to hold on very well.