30 Reasons To Read

Episode 18: Basement

"A big no to the basement!" Mary said sternly, her gaze fixed on her ten-year-old twins, already knowing that they wouldn’t listen. Not even a little.

It was their new home. Beautiful, pristine, and full of charm. A shimmering lake stretched out behind it, a magnificent garden filled with vibrant flowers and exotic plants wrapped around the house, and a grand staircase branched elegantly from their stunning living room to the upper floor. They’d explored every inch of their luxurious new mansion, except for one place: the forbidden basement.

"I didn’t hear a yes from you both!" Mary snapped, her hands planted firmly on her hips, towering over Paula and Marcus. The twins exchanged a mischievous glance, their lips twitching into identical smirks before turning to their mother and nodding obediently. Mary narrowed her eyes, suspicion flickering across her face, but she had too much to do to dwell on it. There were rooms to clean, boxes to unpack, and a whole mansion to organize.

That night, long after Mary had gone to bed, Paula and Marcus crept out of their enormous bedroom, their bare feet silent on the polished floors. They tiptoed down the grand staircase, their eyes darting around to make sure no one was watching. The basement door loomed somewhere in the maze of narrow hallways that, despite their elegance, felt like they were hiding something sinister.

The twins skidded to a halt when they rounded the final corner and crashed into something solid. Heart racing, they almost screamed, but when they looked up, they sighed in relief. It was only Laura, their maid, a kind-hearted woman in her fifties who had been with their family since they could remember.

"What are you both doing here?" she hissed, her voice a mix of shock and worry.

"Uhh… Ummm… We were just looking for the bathroom and got lost," Paula blurted, her voice trembling slightly. Marcus nodded enthusiastically, trying to look innocent.

Laura’s eyes narrowed. "That’s enough. Should I call your—"

"No, no, no!" they shrieked in unison, the panic in their voices betraying them. Laura let out a heavy sigh, her fierce eyes boring into the twins.

"Go back to bed. Right now. And I better not see you down here again!" she said, her voice a low warning.

The twins quivered under her stern gaze but didn’t move. Marcus hesitated, then pointed a trembling finger toward the dark corridor. "What’s in there?" he asked quietly.

Laura’s gaze flickered to the shadowy passageway, her face tightening.

"You need to go, now," she said firmly, her voice strained.

"Why won’t you tell us?" Paula’s voice softened, her eyes wide with a practiced innocence. "You always tell us everything!" She pouted, and Laura’s stern expression wavered.

The maid glanced back at the dark hallway, her resolve cracking. "The sellers warned us," she said reluctantly. "They even made your mother sign an agreement." She bit her lip, her eyes darting back to the twins. "We’re not supposed to go down there. No one is."

The twins exchanged a glance, their curiosity blazing even brighter. Something was hidden down there, something important enough for grown-ups to keep secrets.

"But why?" Paula pressed, her voice barely a whisper.

Laura looked back at the darkness, her face pale. "Because some doors," she said softly, "are meant to stay closed."

"Weird!" The twins said in unison.

"Yes, how about you both go back to be—"

"Can we check what’s in there?" Marcus interrupted, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Laura’s face twisted in shock. "What? No!"

"Please?"

"No!"

"Please? Please, please, please?" The kids pleaded, tugging at either side of her nightgown. Laura groaned, throwing her head back in exasperation. She glanced back at the dark hallway, then back at the children’s pleading faces.

"Okay!" she finally relented. The twins jumped up and down, their excitement contagious.

"But on three conditions!" she added sternly, holding up her fingers to emphasize the point.

"Anything!" The kids squealed in unison.

"One: You stick with me and don’t run off. Two: You never tell your mother I took you there. And three: You never ask me to take you there again!"

"Of course, yes!" The kids yelped.

With a deep sigh, Laura took their small hands in hers, leading them slowly and hesitantly into the pitch-black hallway.

---

The next morning, the local police station received a frantic call from a wealthy single mother, newly moved into the neighborhood, reporting her children missing. The officers exchanged weary glances as she rattled off her address. Despite the concern in her voice, they were familiar with this house- the same one where countless people had vanished without a trace.

When they arrived, the door swung open immediately. A breathtakingly beautiful woman stood before them, her face etched with worry. She ushered them inside, where a brief inquiry took place. As the officers prepared to leave, one paused, turning back.

"So you live here alone?" he asked, his gaze sweeping across the vast, empty rooms.

"I did, with my kids. Now, I’m alone," she stammered, her voice breaking.

"No husband or boyfriend?" the officer pressed.

"I have no boyfriend. My husband doesn’t visit us. No one visits us, ever," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

"So it was just you three here? No maids, no help?"

"No one," she replied, shaking her head.

The officers nodded and left, their footsteps echoing through the grand foyer. Mary collapsed onto the couch, clutching her head in despair. But then, a memory surfaced, a warning about the basement and the twins’ relentless curiosity.

Her heart pounded as she sprang to her feet, racing down the dim hallways. Even in daylight, they seemed to swallow all light and hope. She skidded to a halt as she nearly collided with someone in the shadows. She gasped, then exhaled in relief.

It was Laura, her maid. The kind woman who had helped her with the children and managed the household for years.

"Where are you going, dear?" Laura asked, her voice laced with concern.

"The basement. What if the kids are down there?" Mary’s voice trembled.

"They’re not down there! We’ve been warned never to go there!" Laura whispered urgently.

"But what if they are? We’ll just check quickly!" Mary pleaded, tears spilling down her cheeks. Laura’s eyes flicked toward the dark hallway, her expression troubled.

"Okay," Laura finally agreed, her voice heavy with reluctance. She took Mary’s hand, as she always did, and together they stepped into the darkness, the air around them thick with unspoken fear.

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