The Secrets Below

There was only one rule: don’t open the door. If only I had followed my grandmothers rule everything would be different. I’d still have Angela, and I wouldn’t be forced to feed this curse.

Growing up me and my sister Jackie knew never to open the basement door. We considered it silly at the time, and with Nana on the decline for many years when she finally crossed over we joked to each other in an eerie mocking tone.

“What are we going to find down there, maybe Nana had a creepy sex dungeon” Jacky teased.

Angela my five year old daughter clung to me like a leech, as we looked around the old house.

“Ah fuck it I’ll do it. Maybe the old bat kept her real valuables down there, lord knows we need the money.” Jacky went pale, then shrugged .

I shuddered slipping the key into the lock. A cold chill swept over me, goosebumps forming as the door crept open.

Waddling like a penguin downstairs Angela clawed at my leg like frightened animal.

Flicking the light switch offered no salvation. Reaching the bottom of the stairs the scent of sulphur burned my nose and made my eyes water.

“Ah, you’ve brought me another” Said the deep grim menacing voice, as a gargoyle like creature lept forward snatching Angela. Her shriek touched the heavens. Blood rained down as he began to devour her. Cries became a macabre like orchestra. Shaking, twitching, eyes wide and tears falling, I became paralyzed with dread. “Wha-“ Jacky stopped mid-word as she approached.

“Wait you’re not her, same blood line tho. It was time. Fresh young innocents is what I crave-you were born condemned. Keep me fed and I spare ya from Satans rage. That’s the deal till your bloodline ends!”