1The front door swung open farther than Steven had pushed, thanks to the wind, and banged against the side wall. He cringed at the fresh dent there, then quickly put his back to it as his wife and children walked past him. Each of them carried a box sealed with packaging tape and marched into the den before carefully setting them down near the fireplace.
Lydia placed her hands on her hips. "Almost done with this room, so you kids can start grabbing your stuff off the truck."
They children cheered and raced each other back out the door. Steven grabbed his wife and dipped her, then kissed her intensely. She pulled back with a grin, "Save that for when we unpack our room."
He laughed. "More like when we christen the sheets."
Lydia smacked his arm playfully, "The kids might hear you!"
Steven took her up in his arms and kissed her again, Lydia wrapping her arms around his neck. "This house is incredible."
"Wait til tonight, then you'll see incredible." He widely grinned.
He hoisted her up and carried her off toward the staircase, as she threw back her head and laughed.
As the lovers climbed the stairs, the unseen man they passed took a drag from his cigarette then stared straight ahead.
"Submitted for your approval," he spoke, "a normal family, whom we'll call the Rendell's, settling into what appears to be a normal home in a quiet neighborhood. A seemingly clean, warm house with no real problems, except for the problem that this home is already occupied." The man tipped his ashes onto the floor, "And these residents have a warning for the Rendell family: stay away from the basement. For it is within that basement that lies the biggest problem 56 West Clover Lane has. Strategically placed behind a line of shelves is a door that opens up a once hidden secret released by the tenants before them. A door...to The Twilight Zone."
As Steven rummaged through his box of shirts, Lydia cut the tape on the box before her. She spotted the towels and linens for the hall closet.
"Knock, knock!" A high pitched voice rang out. They both turned to see Patricia Harly, the realtor, standing in the open doorway.
Lydia smiled, setting down the wash cloths on the floor. "Hi Patty, what brings you by?"
Patricia opened her purse, "I forgot to give you the keys to the front and back doors..." She then produced three keys, each one brass and ornate, save for the last one.
Steven took the first two while Lydia looked over the final key.
"What's this?"
Patricia tapped the key, "That's the house's skeleton key. It'll open any door inside here. So if you do change the locks like we talked about earlier, don't forget to have another one of those made."
The skeleton key was a deep red, much darker than the others Steven held. Lydia turned it over and spotted a carving of an odd creature along the back. A cross between a dragon and a lion, it's mouth was open in a roar, revealing many rows of jagged teeth.
"Okay, that's all," Patricia shut her purse and shook their hands, "I hope you two have the best luck with this house."
They bid each other farewell, and Patricia slung her purse over her shoulder as she walked out toward her car. She pulled her keys from her coat pocket and opened the door, then climbed in. As she pulled it shut, a hand grabbed the edge and forced it open.
A young man's face sneered at her, "So you finally sold it, huh?"
Patricia Harly narrowed her eyes at him, "Get away from me you little freak."
He smiled, "Scared Ms. Harly? You should be. Remember what it looked like when you found the Conner's?"
Patricia wrenched the door closed, starting the engine, she rolled down her window, "There's nothing wrong with that house."
The young man scoffed, "Keep telling yourself that."
Patricia scowled as she pulled out of the drive, "You leave these people alone. Just go to hell!"
He waved at her as she sped away, "Your already there Ms. Harly."
