The MiddleRooms Part 2

By Francesco Armada

Chapter 2 

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Book

Once I had stepped into the mansion, Axle and Eric had already found the TV and were trying to figure out how to connect the PlayStation (mother had done the connecting the first time around). Father was most likely situated in a room and ready to set up his computer and take pictures. Most of the pictures would likely be sent to Mother, the rest would be sold online. The first thing I noticed about the interior was the stairs. I knew that the mansion was built in a Victorian style, but I didn’t realize that meant the long spiral staircase. It seemed, for a second, to spiral into the heavens. The second thing I noticed was how high the ceiling was. I didn’t know yet how many stories the mansion had been, but just by looking at the ceiling, I could tell it was somewhere around three or four stories high. I started exploring the mansion; my first goal was to find my room. 

My room was most likely the one with Eric’s and Axle’s bags tossed on the ground. I quickly found the room as it was on the second floor. (They wanted to set up the PlayStation as soon as they could) I was a little disappointed to say the least, although it also meant that I didn’t have to walk much to our rooms which was probably a good thing. Walking out of the room and into the hallway, I passed Father’s room and what would have been my sister’s room if she hadn’t died before the ride. She was already older and had her own life ahead of her. It’s quite unfortunate that she died so young. She might have been 23 at the time. I didn't see her very often though, which is why I and my brothers are not as impacted as Mother and Father. The trip was almost canceled because of the tragic event, which might have been for the better. I went up the spiral staircase one story more and right in front of me was a door. For some reason, I didn’t expect to see a door right in front of the exit to the stairs. The handle had an engraved image on it. I could not make out the engraving on the handle but it must have been very intricate. I tried twisting the handle but it wouldn't budge. It did not feel as though it was locked, there was some leeway as to how much it would twist. It almost felt like something was holding the handle on the other side, and keeping it from opening. I tried twisting it harder and it gave away. Whatever was keeping it from opening must have broken which might have scared me. (Not because I thought something ominous was behind the door, but mostly because I didn't want to get blamed for a broken door, especially since the handle might have been very expensive.) Opening the door was much easier than I thought it would be. It almost seemed to open itself. A light tap could open the door as long as the handle was turned. The room inside was extremely dark, and ominous. I was walking inside but as I was about to take my first step inside the room, I stubbed my foot on something on the ground. Whatever I had stubbed my toe on felt as though it was bolted to the ground. Like I stepped on a lifted tile or even a wall. I was instead surprised to see a book. The cover was blank and didn’t have any engravings or grooves like the handle to the door did. It was rather boring at first glance. After studying it, however, something like an intrusive thought had urged me to pick up the book. It wasn’t a normal thought, I remember thinking. It was something of an impulse, which led to an involuntary bend and picking up the book. 

After picking the book up, I was able to see in further detail, the engravings on the cover. I couldn’t see the engraving but I felt it. It was intricate (as far as he could tell just from feeling it) as the doorknob to the room in which the book had sought refuge. The last thing I remember before blacking out was what I thought was a light in the distance. Although I had originally thought the room was very small because of its placement, the light looked like it was further into the room. He could almost feel the whoosh that may or may have not happened as he fell to the ground. The fall was almost peaceful, and I didn’t feel the fall either. I had not even realized that I had fallen until I awoke the next morning.