The Unknown Room
The cardboard box is nearly full and Tyler decides to close this one. He takes the shipping tape dispenser and liberally tapes the box shut. After moving it to the front of the basement he opens another, and begins filling it with the odd clutter.
It is August 2020, and two months trapped at home has been a blessing in disguise. He had found more things he had lost, than he remembered owning, in the first place.
It had been like the world’s most accurate random box adventure, furthermore, the space he had reclaimed was a terrific bonus! The plan was to sell some of the odd things he had reclaimed, at the next yard sale.
If ever there was such a thing again.
The house
Tyler had moved to the house on 1331 Elmor Street, three years ago. It had been an adjustment at first, because he wasn’t used to living alone. The house was an old victorian style, three bedroom, and there was much more room than he needed.
The previous owner had left the country for points unknown, and was selling it far below market value. Tyler had been in the right place at the right time, and couldn’t afford not to buy the old home.
It sat atop a basement that Tyler had used to store extra things, hence the clutter. Now two and a half years and one pandemic later, Tyler is clearing the clutter.
The staircase leading to the main floor, and the upstairs from there, is a spiral, and sits near the front of the spacious area. This is where Tyler has stacked the cartons of odds and ends.
The many wall shelves, that line the back wall, are almost empty and Tyler feels pleased with this morning’s work. The entire area should be clear by this evening.
Moving to the end of the row of shelves, his foot catches on something solid. He nearly trips, but avoids the tumble, and moves in for a closer look at the object on the floor.
Unknown room
It appears to be some form of handle. He leans in a little closer and notices a strange emblem engraved on the handle. This was very odd. He can’t understand how he did not notice this when he had moved in.
Deciding to see if the old handle did anything, he twists it clockwise and is surprised when it rotates easily and a rather large door is revealed. In the floor.
Unbelieving, yet utterly transfixed, he pulls the large door upward and it opens smoothly. There is a slight swoosh of stale underground air that exhausts from the darkness below.
Another spiral staircase twists downward into darkness. Tyler feels blown away and wonders once again how he never noticed this before.
He pulls out his phone and strikes up his flashlight. The spiral staircase goes down further than the light reveals. Now Tyler feels curious as well as amazed and decides to see where the staircase leads.
The Room
Tyler descends the narrow staircase into the darkness. His flashlight reveals a large open area below. He continues to the bottom of the staircase, and shines the light around, as he reaches the bottom.
It is a large room that appears to have been constructed long ago. The ceiling is lined with antiquated pipes and old wiring. The floor feels as hard as concrete under Tyler’s feet as he steps further into the long deserted room.
As he walks further into the room, he notices a door at the other end. Other than this door, the walls are featureless, and the room is devoid of any objects. He marvels that he has found something so unknown and unexpected.
He reaches the door at the other end of the unknown room and grasps the doorknob. As he does, the door leading into this room, swooshes softly shut. He has opened the new door, and is stepping through, he doesn’t hear his world close behind him.
Febuary 2021 Realtor today listing
Available! Price reduced! 1331 Elmor Street. House is in excellent location, and an incredible deal! Previous owner out of country to points unknown. Price reduced!