Should Have Left Earlier!

5

  Mrs.Brown leads the way down a very long spiral staircase, my arm still in her grasp. It's dark, almost pitch black except for a soft glow illuminating from underneath us. I can just barely make out the steps. I imagine falling all the way down the staircase. Just one misstep, one trip, and I'd tumble into the unknown. I imagine that I fall and never stop falling, like Alice down the rabbit hole, but with no destination. Just free falling for eternity. It would be better than the situation I'm currently in.

Finally, we make it to the bottom. I was starting to get skeptical that there was even a destination to be reached; that we'd be walking in an endless spiral forever. Mrs.Brown moves fast, already making her way to the cellar.
 
"Do you prefer red or white, dear?" She yells from a distance "I think there's also rosé and champagne!"

"I don't mind, I'm not picky, really. Thank you." I yell back, but she doesn't respond.

There's one lightbulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling, and another in a corner. It's a really weird place to have a lightbulb; what could it possibly be illuminating in a dead end corner? There's a painting underneath it, sitting up on the floor against the wall, instead of hanging. I can't get a good look at it, it's too dark. Did they put a light here just to illuminate the painting, on the floor? Strange, but I pull on the cord to switch it on. I'm blinded by the light instantly; this bulb is much brighter than the other one. It instantly fills the entire room with a sterile white light. There are spots in my vision as my eyes are trying to adjust to the light, so I didn't really notice at first when the painting moved. Just a little bit, but it was like it was being kicked from the other side. I thought I was just seeing things. But, then it happens again. The painting is frantically banging against the wall now. I feel my stomach drop, and I quickly jump away from it.

"Mrs.Brown?!" I desperately call out "Where are you?"

No answer. The painting starts to move more violently, recklessly. I can feel my entire body shake as the anxiety engulfs my physicality.
 
"Hello?" I cry out again.

The light is flickering now, synchronized with my heart beat. The air feels heavy, and it burns in my lungs. It's almost like the basement itself is alive and has a mind of its own. The painting stopped moving now.

I slowly approach the painting, and get on my knees to analyze it. It appears to be a portrait, a smiling family sitting on the porch. I look closer and realize it's Matt's coworkers family. I should really remember his name considering I'm staying in their house for the weekend, but my mind is blank. Next to the family is an older asian couple, smiling and hugging each other. There's a gold plate at the bottom of the painting that reads;
  "The O'Connells and Mr. and Mrs. ————"

Their name is scratched out. Why? Maybe Mr. and Mrs.Brown replaced these people? Maybe something happened, and that would explain why this painting stays in the basement? It seems a bit childish to go as far as to cross out their names. I pick the painting up to get a closer look, I want to see if I can make out the scratched out name. Who are these people?

I pull the painting up off of the floor, and my eyes widen as I notice something behind it. Almost as if the painting was strategically placed there, there's a small door in the wall where the painting once sat. There's a soft light slipping through the keyhole. Why would a light be on in there? What the fuck is going on here? I try to jiggle the knob, but the door is locked. The banging starts again, and I jump, realizing that it's coming from the other side of the door.

"Mrs.Brown?" I yell, and the noises against the door get even more frantic. I'm getting really nervous. Out of options, I put my eye up to the keyhole, hoping it will give me answers as to what's on the other side.

Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I jump up and scream in terror, this trip has been entirely too much already. I've been on edge since the moment I stepped foot into Matt's car.

"It's just me, dear. I couldn't hear you so I just brought a variety for you to choose from. What are you doing over here? Snooping, are we?" Her boisterous laugh filled up the room, but it quickly fell silent when her eye caught the painting on the floor, exposing the door. "What did you do?" She's raising her voice, now. "You really shouldn't be over here."

"I- I'm sorry", I stumble over my words, "I heard something. The painting, it was moving. Shaking... as if someone was knocking on this door."

  "Nonsense. There are rats and raccoons who always try to make their way into the house. That's why we keep this door locked; it leads nowhere but the garden,
and critters try to sneak right on in!"
She laughs nervously, her voice cracking a bit, "Let's get back to our gentlemen and get this night started, shall we?"

I can tell she's trying to remain calm and pleasant for me. I shake my head in confusion and put my face in my hands. Maybe I'm going crazy.

"I'm sorry, I've just been feeling overwhelmed lately. I've been really on edge and I needed this trip but it just-"

"Dear, it's okay. Let me take care of you. You need to relax."