Chapter.13
The Hidden Room
Ricks POV
" Where does your dad keep the tools Ricky," Allen asked. " They're in the basement, follow me I'll show you," I responded as I ran down into the basement. " Wow slow down speedster, I can't see shit down here," Allen said grabbing a candle on a table and lit it with a match. "Haven't you guys heard of electricity, what is this," Allen asked. I responded with "about that, my dad was really fucked up one day and he thought the lights were attacking him so he started smashing them all with a bat," Allen held his head in curiosity and said "yeah, that sounds about right, anyways, the tools," Allen asked moving the candlelight around to see and found the tools on a table with a sheet covering it. "Ricky what's under here", Allen asked. I made my way over to him and grabbed the tool box, "I don't know and I probably don't want to, I'd leave it alone", I said and started walking to the stairs leading out of the basement. "There's some really old stuff down here", Allen said just staring at everything, " I mean look at that dresser, it looks like an antique", Allen said looking at the dresser closer with the candlelight. I watched him closely, "ok buddy, let's not light it on fire and burn the house down", I said sarcastically, Allen looked at me and laughed, "ok alright", he said and fallowed me up the stairs to go fix my door. As Allen started repairing the door he asked about Diane and I's relationship. "So you and Diane huh? You guys look really happy together," Allen replied keeping his focus on the door. "Yeah we really love each other, she makes me happy. You ever have anyone that just gets you? I mean we don't always agree with each other but that's okay ya know," Allen blushed a little bit and said, "you now what? I don't get that at all, I mean I have Raven but she's basically like a sister," I giggled a little bit and patted Allen on the back, "have you ever considered trying to ask her out on a date," I asked him. " First off ew, and anyways I doubt she's into me, she's probably into jocks or some shit, she's out of my league," he said. I smiled at Allen and said, "it can't hurt to try", I said and helped him with the door.
Dianes POV
Raven and I we're downstairs on the lookout for Ricks parents to come home. "I think you're really good for Ricky Diane", Raven said placing her hand on my shoulder, "huh, what do you mean", I asked. "Not just as a girlfriend, but as support for him, especially with Erins passing he really needs you, you seem to make him extremely happy", Raven smiled. "I hope so. I really want him to get the courage to get his dad taken cause I know my parents would let him stay with us", I said touching her hand on my shoulder. "He wouldn't accept your offer though", Raven said then added, "he thinks that he'll be a burden to people thanks to his parents treatment", I nodded understanding.
After a moment of silence I asked her, "have you and Allen ever thought about dating before", I asked, "what, me and him, ha no I don't think he's even into me. He's sorta like a brother", Raven laughed a little bit. "Unlike you and Ricky, Allen and I get along better as friends than anything", she said. "Raven, how do you know if you don't try", I asked, "I don't know but I don't want to ruin what we have if I said something", she said. I understand what she was saying, it's scary to ask someone out.
After Rick and Allen fixed the door they stayed for awhile until they thought it was time to go home.
After they left Rick and I went upstairs, we started play fighting with each other, pushing the other slightly. Our game quickly stopped when Rick stumbled back hitting the wooden wall with his back and the wall gave a sound the didn't sound right. "Ricky are you ok", I asked, "yeah, can you do me a favor and grab the flashlight from my room", he asked. " Of course", I said and quickly ran to his room and grabbed the flashlight. When I got back, he was tapping around the area. I handed him the flashlight and he started knocking and that part sounded hallow. "Ricky what is that", I asked moving closer to him. "I think my dad or someone put a hidden door or hatch in the wall. Rick started feeling around the wall until his fingers touched a crease in the wall and started pulling at the crease with his nails. The wall make a loud creak and moved. Rick grabbed it and pulled.
Ricks POV
I fell against the wall and heard a hollow echo sound. I knocked against the wall, and again I heard the echo. There was a crease in the wall and I started to feel around what seemed to be a hatch, I pulled the hatch and it crashed down revealing a opening about ceiling height but it was too dark to see what was inside. " Are you alright?" Diane asked I looked at Diane nervously and asked "yeah can you do me a favor and grab the flashlight from my room?" She nodded, "of course", and ran off to get the flashlight. I got curious and was about to walk in when Diane came up behind me, "hey, I got the flashlight", she said holding it out to me. "Thanks D, here", I said and grabbed the flashlight. "Wait here", I told Diane as I crept into the wall, I turned the flashlight on and what I saw made my blood run cold. "Erin, oh god, no, NOOO", I screamed dropping the flashlight and backing out of the wall falling to my knees next to Diane who immediately got worried. "Ricky what's wrong, what happened," I slowly covered my mouth and started crying. "Hold on", Diane said and picked up the flashlight and walked in. I wanted to stop her but I couldn't move or speak. The next thing I knew I heard my girlfriend let out a high pitched scream and saw her walk out if the wall with sad eyes and went to her knees hugging me tightly. I couldn't move and I tried to speak but I just kept hyperventilating, it felt like I was going to suffocate.
When I was finally able to think of words I spoke softly, "we c-can't leave h-him in th-th-there", I stuttered. "I know, what do you want to do", Diane asked me still holding me rubbing my back. "I want to give him a proper burial but, I don't know if now is a good time, I can't hold him like I used to anymore", I whispered. "Should we get Allen and Raven tomorrow, maybe they could help", Diane suggested. I only nodded.
When Diane and I told Allen and Raven they were beyond shocked hearing that we found Erins body inside the walls of my house.
We searched around my backyard for a place to bury my little brother when we were far enough I marked the spot that was perfect. I had asked Allen if he wouldn't mind picking Erin up for me, I couldn't do it, I couldn't look at my little brothers face.
I opened my eyes as Allen laid Erin on the white sheet we laid on the ground I finally saw Erins face, his blue eyelashes resting gently against his cheeks, his face so peaceful. If it wasn't for the blood I would have thought he was sleeping. We laid another sheet over him and buried his body. I placed blue flowers on his grave as the four of us knelt down around him. We all said our parting words to him, but when my friends and girlfriend got off their knees I stayed down. I just looked at the grave and started to cry again, "Ricky", Diane said and got down next to me when I started screaming, "I miss you Erin, I wish you were here with me, I love you", I screamed. If the neighbors didn't hear my cries I'd be surprised. I felt Diane take my hand and place it on the grave, Allen and Raven placed their hands over mine. "We will forever remember you Erin, watch over your brother with us", Raven whispered. "Protect him", Allen said next, "love him", Diane said. I smiled sadly. "He will, I know he will", I whispered. We all slowly took our hands off the grave and stood up. We all walked back to my house. "Its gonna be hard, but I'm ready to accept that he's gone, he'd want me to keep going", I said as my friends, Diane, and I relaxed in my room till the night started to creep it's way in.
Allen and Raven left together. Diane insisted on staying so I let her.
Diane took off her sweater so she was in her tank top with me in my clothes still. "I'm happy to spend the night with you again baby", she said and climbed on my lap and kissed me. I laid back as Diane crawled off me and laid down next to me we just sat their in silence for a while. "Can I lay on your chest again", Diane asked, I nodded as she positioned her head I started to wonder, "D, I'm curious why do you like doing this so much", I asked. Diane hummed in content and responded, "hm, I don't know, you know how they say new born babies like to hear their mothers heartbeat cause they're used to it, well that's how I am with yours, I guess I never grew out of the baby habit", Diane said. I felt my face get warm. "Though it's a little faster than normal", Diane said raising her head and looking at me, "yeah, I have a tightness feeling I'm guessing it's cause of today's events", I sighed. "Still shaken up baby. It's gonna be ok", Diane said placing her hands on my face. "Rest easy baby, I'm here with you", Diane whispered kissing me again. I nodded. "I love you D", I whispered. "I love you too", she whispered back and repositioned herself on my chest. I love having someone with me at night. The feeling of safety is a good feeling.