Chapter 9: The Footsteps Beneath the Floor
The silence after the scream was louder than the sound itself. Thabo stood frozen, his hand still clutching the edge of the attic's wooden ladder. The dust in the air danced slowly in the beam of Lerato's flashlight, but even the light seemed too afraid to move.
Simo was the first to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. Did… did you guys hear that?No, Thabo said quickly, trying to convince himself. It could've been wind.
That wasn't wind, Lerato replied firmly, her eyes scanning the shadows. It came from below us. Like… footsteps.They had climbed up to the attic only minutes before, searching for answers. But now, every wooden plank groaned beneath their feet like it was trying to speak. Thabo's heart pounded. Simo clutched his flashlight like a weapon. Lerato stood taller than both, her jaw set with determination.
There's nothing here, Thabo said, trying to laugh it off. We're just spooking ourselves.
Then tap… tap… tap.All three froze.
The sound came again. Soft, deliberate. Not above. Not around.
Beneath.
Thabo's eyes widened. Under the floor? he whispered.There's something down there, Simo said, stepping back.Lerato turned slowly, shining her light around. Look for a hatch, trapdoor anything.
They scattered across the attic, checking behind boxes and peeling old wallpaper. Cobwebs clung to their clothes. The smell of mildew and rot grew stronger. Then Lerato stopped.
Guys.She was kneeling beside a large, faded rug in the center of the attic. With one quick motion, she pulled it back revealing a wooden trapdoor with a rusted iron handle.
There it is, she said, standing.You're not serious, Thabo muttered. We are not opening that.We have to, Lerato said. This house is hiding something.No, you have to, Simo said. I'll just cheer you on from over here.
Lerato gave them both a sharp look, then bent down and gripped the iron handle. She pulled. The wood groaned in protest, but after a few seconds, the trapdoor creaked open revealing nothing but blackness below.
Thabo shivered. That doesn't look like a basement.That's because it's not, Lerato said. It's a crawlspace.A rush of cold air swept past them. The darkness below felt alive.Simo swallowed hard. So, what now?We go down, Lerato said.
They all backed up. Lerato aimed her flashlight at the source of the sound. There, at the far end of the crawlspace, was a wooden door. It didn't belong. The wood was darker, older, almost rotten. Symbols were carved into it strange, twisting marks.
I don't like this, Thabo whispered. This wasn't in any floor plan.Lerato approached the door slowly. It wants us to open it.No, Simo said. That's exactly why we don't open it.
But Lerato was already reaching for the handle. It was cold. Too cold. The metal stung her fingers. She turned it.The door creaked open just a crack.Silence.Then a breath.
Hot, foul, and right in her face.Lerato stumbled back. There's something in there.They all stared at the dark gap. A shape began to form behind it. Tall,unmoving and then whispers.
Low and garbled. As if several voices spoke at once, all saying different things. The sound wrapped around them, made their skin crawl. Simo covered his ears.
Make it stop, he gasped.
Lerato grabbed the door and slammed it shut. The whispers stopped. The cold retreated. The silence returned but this time, it was heavier than before. Thicker.
They turned to leave but the way back was gone.What the where's the ladder? Thabo spun in place.They were surrounded by the same walls, the same shadows but the exit was gone.
We didn't come this far, Simo said. We didn't walk this much.It's the house,Lerato said. It's changing. Rearranging.Then how do we get out? Thabo asked, panic rising.
Lerato paused, thinking. Then her eyes fell on a plank of wood that looked out of place. She walked over and knocked on it. Hollow.
She pried it loose. Behind it was another narrow tunnel just big enough to crawl through.Are you serious?Simo said. We have to crawl into that?Unless you want to stay here,Lerato replied.
One by one, they entered the tunnel. The walls were tighter. The air barely moved. It felt like they were crawling through a throat.Then, from ahead a scream.
A girl's voice. Terrified.Help! Please, someone!They all stopped.Did you hear that? Simo said.Someone's alive in here, Lerato said, pushing forward faster.
The tunnel ended abruptly, opening into a small chamber lit by an old oil lamp. In the corner, a girl no older than them was chained to the wall. Her eyes wide with fear.
Who are you? Lerato asked, rushing to her.They call me Nia, the girl whispered. You shouldn't have come.Why are you here? Thabo asked.
Thabo looked at her like she was insane. Go where? Into that pit of death?You wanted answers, she reminded him. You wanted to know what this house was hiding.Yeah, but I also wanted to stay alive.
Lerato clicked on her second flashlight and clipped it to her shirt. Then, without another word, she began to descend the narrow wooden ladder into the darkness.
Thabo and Simo stared after her in stunned silence.I'm not letting her go down there alone,Simo finally muttered. Come on.Thabo sighed and followed.
The crawlspace was cramped and cold. The wooden beams creaked with every step. The air was thick, as if no one had breathed it in years. The flashlight's beam bounced off the dirt walls, revealing old pipes, broken furniture, and something else.
Footprints. Bare. Human. Fresh.Lerato crouched and examined them. They go deeper.Great, Thabo said. Let's follow the nightmare trail. What could possibly go wrong?
They moved slowly, ducking under low beams and stepping over scattered debris. The air grew colder, heavier. Then came the sound again.
Tap. Tap. Tap.But this time it wasn't footsteps.It was knocking.On the wall.Simo turned pale. Someone's knocking from inside the walls.
They feed the house, she said, her voice shaking. With fear. With lives. It never lets go.Lerato tried the chains. They were rusted but strong. She looked around the room for tools.
You have to hurry, Nia said. It knows you're here.Just then BOOM.The door they had entered slammed shut. The light flickered. Shadows moved.
Simo turned to Thabo. Tell me this isn't happening.Then the walls began to bleed.Dark red liquid seeped through the cracks, dripping onto the floor.The house was alive and it was hungry.