Ghosting Around (Watty Awards 2012)

Chapter Two

I reached my doorway and with an old feeling, I realised that Derek wasn’t there. I felt like someone was watching me closely, but I shrugged off the crazy notion. I walked closer to the panel, holding the key tight to my chest and gave it a strong push, stumbling and almost falling down yet again.

I was about to descend when I realised that it was near impossible to see down the stairs. The dark clouds looming out my window refused to let any light through. I took a step back and felt a cool chill rush through me, looking around I saw nothing but I still felt like there were eyes burning a hole through my back. Warily, I left my room and took lengthy strides to my kitchen to find a torch.

I reached into the draw and with a smile of success pulled out my torch. I turned it on for a test but to my dismay it was out of batteries. I frowned as I saw a note that was left on my fridge, ‘Buy new batteries’ with a red line marked ‘urgent’ under it, I sighed. I dropped the torch back into the draw, slamming it shut and trudged back through my living room before something caught my eye. On my side table I found an old, antique lantern and my face lit up with hope as I walked over to it with a skip in my step.

The metal lantern was square shaped, with a looped over handle and entirely black. I gently lifted it from the table, inspecting it, ‘It seems to hold,’ I thought to myself and I moved back into the kitchen. With relief surging through me, I found a candle and a box of matches. Marching back up to my bedroom I placed the candle into the lantern and patted my pocket for the matches. Once I reached my bedroom I struck a match, the flame burning brilliantly and lit the candle. The lantern illuminated within seconds and I raced back to the panel.

The darkness evaporated into light as I paced down the stairs, holding the lantern high. I trailed my hand along the opposite wall and was met with the feel of cool brick greeting me. The stairs seemed to go on forever and every corner I turned I felt like my journey was endless. A cold, eerie feeling seized me and racked my body. It was then when I realised, I wasn’t alone.   

“Hello? Wh-who’s there?” I whispered, my heart thumping erratically in my chest.

“Your prince charming,” Came the husky reply, with a hint of laughter.

I rolled my eyes, swinging the lantern around to face Derek. He grinned at me smugly and lifted his shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.

“So...What are you doing?” Derek asked, peering past me,

“Food shopping,” I said casually, batting my eyes at him.

Derek laughed at my response and followed me as I kept shuffling down the stairs. Squinting into the darkness I spotted the main door that led to the forest and I extended the lantern in front of me to see the path ahead. Derek breathed a sigh behind me as he glided towards the old door. His hand came into contact as his palm travelled up the door in slow motions, an expression of yearning on his face. After some time he turned towards me and the contrast of darkness and light exposed his features clearly, showing anguish and despair.

I sighed sympathetically and moved towards him, but he dived away and advanced towards another door. I tried to follow him, but he slinked away to yet another door.

“I’ve seen this all before,” Derek mumbled, “Where’s the key I found?” He asked.

Confusion etched on my face, I lifted the key out of my pocket and held it up to the light. He studied it for a moment and then whipped his head towards the first door, which sat to the left of the main one.

“Come over here,” Derek motioned with his fingers, “Use the key for this door.”

I treaded over to him and using the lantern as my guide, placed the key in the lock. I quickly glanced over at Derek and he had excitement written on his face. All doubts resigned, I turned the key to the right and with a creak and a groan the door became ajar. Pushing it back slowly, I eyed the room and a small gasp escaped my lips. 

It was beautiful; the room was laden with Persian rugs, golden lamps with shimmering lights and massive wooden chests. I ogled the room, taking in as much of it as I could. I observed Derek in the corner of my eye as he moved, with the same expression of admiration as me, towards the masculine chest that was placed in the middle of the room. He bent down to his knees, silent as the grave, as his gaze lingered on the wooden chest. I silently proceeded to where Derek was and dropped to my own knees, gaping at the room in its magnificence.  

“What is this place?” I asked.

The silence stretched and I peeped at Derek, but he seemed to be lost in his thoughts. An idea struck me and I pulled the key for the main door out of my pocket and scrutinized it, “It might work.” I mumbled. Taking the key into my right hand, I shifted closer to the chest and pushed the key into the rusty lock. With a flick of my wrist, the lock snapped open and fell to the floor, echoing throughout the room.

Derek stared at me in surprise as I stared back at him. After a moment I smiled sheepishly and shrugged my shoulders.

“Would you expect anything less?” I asked.

Derek hesitated, but joined in and smiled back at me. Together we lifted the lid of the chest and with a shriek it relented, falling backwards. We both lent forward and peered inside, but were met with dark shadows. Realising I had placed the lantern besides me, I grasped the handle and extended my arm, illuminating the chest.