"What are you looking at, sweetie?" Lyra asked gently, an adoring look appeared on her face. Deep brown eyes with golden blonde hair that paired flawlessly with her darken skin tone and personality sweeter than sugar.
"Nothing, just thinking" I answered easily. "You know your dad called me to make sure that we are on our way to the house? I swear it's like we're still 8 to him" I joked at her, pushing my hair behind my ears. There were only just a few seconds of silence, a weirdly familiar occurrence whenever her father was brought up. Once she met my eyes, she gave her youthful smile and laughed.
"Yeah, anyways I just can't wait to get there. My dad and I used to go there on weekends, he taught me everything I know there" she mumbled the last part of the sentence. I felt the excitement running through my veins, falling into a perpetual high. I've never once seen this house. I imagine a large house with an even larger yard, a reincarnation of the Garden of Eden. We drove for almost 2 hours before finally arriving. Once we stepped out of the car I sprinted to the door unable to contain my excitement until I came across the front entrance. The overgrown and darkly colored yard that had a greater similarity to an Abaddon. The agonizing screams of lost souls cast a red and black shadow over me. When I walked in a cold breeze caused me to shiver. The slightly dimmed house was filled with old antique furniture covered with the lightest layer of dust. Portraits that followed every eerie creak that sounded the further I went inside. The excitement slowly seeped into uncertainty. I felt a familiar hand linger on my shoulder.
"I don't know about this. Something feels... wrong '' I whispered cautiously not wanting to upset her. "Maybe we can go b-"
"No, this is where we are staying," Lyra interrupted firmly. "Sweetie, I understand it might take some time to get used to but give it a chance" she mended in a caring tone. I must have looked unsure because she added "You're my best friend. This house means the world to be and I want to share it with you'" she held my shoulders and brought her face closer as she rubbed my arms. "Do you remember when we were 12 and we went camping by ourselves? You want to sleep in that old creepy cabin, with that even creepier neighbor. And I trusted you, so you need to trust me."
"You're right, I'm sorry" I apologized, realizing my immaturity. I walked further into the house, when I saw a door that stood out from the rest. It was detailed beautifully with an intricate design. That wasn't the only thing that made it stand out, it had an array of locks. "Hey Ly, what's in this room?" I yelled over my shoulder, my eyes never leaving the door as I ran my hand over what appeared to be a dent on the door.
"Oh nothing, don't worry about it, sweetie. It's probably just a couple of old family things" Lyra waived it off. I couldn't help but feel suspicious. God, I'm so paranoid, it's probably nothing.
"If it is, then we should go through it" I said stubbornly. I saw a flash of emotion going through her eyes, but I couldn't place what it was.
"How about we start unpacking ok?" Lyra asked but it sounded more like a command. Although it felt wrong, I complied. As I walked past the door, I felt its gaze burning into my skin.
Over the course of 2 weeks, I tried my best to not indulge the urge to find out what was behind the seemingly malicious door. Every time I saw the door it felt as though it was mocking me. Stop! It's literally just a door. The uncertainty never left me, if anything it seemed more prominent. I continually asked her about the basement until she finally snapped. She tightly grabbed my arm, I was sure there'll be a bruise tomorrow. She dragged me through the house before taking out a key from her pocket to unlock the door. Where the hell was that? Click, click, click, one after the other she unlatched each lock, click, click, click. I was harshly pushed into the pitch black basement, all I could smell was a terrible odor. Almost like... rotten flesh? No, that can't be right.
"You see! There's nothing there" Lyra dejectedly, her mouth drawn downwards. However, I could see a small little vein ready to pop out of her forehead. I looked into her delicate and charming eyes, which now seemed more harsh and demanding. She quickly switched her face to complete sorrow.
"You have to understand that I say these things for a reason" Lyra said condescendingly. "Now why don't you go back to the room, I left a glass of water for you there".
"Yeah, um don't you need to call your dad?" I reminded her as I dumbly nodded my head, confused by the rapid switch of emotions.The familiar pause materialized itself but this time she looked like she was carefully picking out her words. I worryingly made my way to my room.
The clock read 10:00 pm as my eyelids started to feel heavy. I heard the distant low sound of the TV. The thin cotton sheets now seemed heavy on my skin. Thud, thud, thud, my heart was rapidly beating out my chest, thud, thud, thud. What's happening to me? Creak, creak, creak, the last thing I heard before the darkness consumed me, creak, creak, creak.
I woke up with a start, a pain flashing through my body. The nauseating odor returned to my nose immediately, even greater than ever. As I took in my surroundings, I found myself back in the pitch black basement but this time my hands tied above my head. Then suddenly I felt a string dangling in front of my face and pulled it. A dim flickering light filled the room. I slowly looked up only to come face to face with a rotting corpse hanging by its neck. I believed it to be a man but it was difficult to tell because it had seemed to be disfigured. The head looked like it had been smashed against something hard. Like a door. His body was painted red and black, nails and teeth were nowhere in sight. The skin looked coarse with an outline of a skeleton. Drip, drip, drip I looked down to see liquid dripping off its feet and onto the floor, drip, drip drip. I let out an exasperated laugh before completely bursting into tears, staring into clouded eyes. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, the sound of locks seem deafening in the dead of night, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK. The door slowly opened and a figure entered the dark room, as tears escaped.
"Oh sweetie, why do you hurt me so?" Lyra said remorsefully. "I knew I had to take you before you got too curious. I had a plan and now it's a bit rushed". My eyes caught something reflecting the light behind her. Was she always like this?
"You drugged me?" I asked, finding my voice. When she stayed silent, I felt a stabbing of a million cuts. "Why are you doing this?" I cried out.
"Me?! This is you making everything difficult. I just want to share this part of my life with you. Why can't you understand that?" she spat out. Is this my fault?
"Ok, I'm sorry" I said shakily, nodding above to where my arms were tied.
"Good job, sweetie" she smiled sweetly, but it was in vain. Once she detached my arms from the rope. I jumped off and kicked with all my might in the stomach. Without a word I sprinted out of the basement. Tears of relief rushed down my face. Yes! I could leave and go to the police station. Thoughts rushing through my head. I have to call my parents to warn them. Oh no, I left my phone. Whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm actually getting awa-

After spending the night ridding her house of blood, Lyra fell to the floor. Sobbing in her hands, dread filled her with the realization of what had just occurred. She reached out for her phone when it started ringing.
"Hey dad, it happened" Lyra said as more tears fought their way out
"Shh it's ok, sweetie. Listen, I just need you to know this isn't your fa-" his voice carried on as
a woman strolled past the house casting Lyra into an eternal trance. Her dad's voice became nonexistent as she hung up without another word. She frantically threw herself out the door, a yellow aura enclosing her in a neurotic high.