“Grandma!” I shouted “is this a joke? Where are you?”. She isn’t in the house, she was there just a minute ago before. My grandma asked me to pay her a visit, but it has been hours of me searching for the trace of her. The relationship between us were excellent, people hardly see a grandma having a good relationship with her grandsons in our town. The only thing that I am forbidden to do in her house is to enter a locked door. I’m now alone in the house, the front door wasn’t opened at all, could it be that she entered the locked door? I theorized. Just as I decide to check inside the locked door, I noticed that the door is wide open. How could I be? It was locked just a moment ago.

The door led down to a basement like place, the stairway were covered in dust except for a couple footprints. I walked inside in search for my grandma, even though I am confused by the fact that who opened the door. The only thing I brought that produce a light source is my phone, I opened the flashlight function on my phone. The light goes down to a far distance, yet it is not enough to show the bottom of the basement. I explored deeper and deeper down the stairs, but it seems like it has no end.

As I finally reached the bottom of the stairs, I was found to be in a small room. The wall was damp and worn. There was a small table, a book was displayed on it. I started to read the book, it seemed to record a kind of monster. A monster that lurk people into their nest and devour them. They can shapeshifter their appearance into humans and can easily fool their relatives. My realization filled me with terror, just as I want to escape, I felt something behind me. It is the monster in the appearance of my grandma, the last scene that I see, was the mouth of the monster.

My grandma is the living definition of a sweet, kind old lady. She’s short, has a voice that’s smooth and warm as honey, loves to knit, and has the loveliest smile in the world. Her house is very much like her. Old, sweet and homely, and a scent that reminds you of everything pleasant. Except that one room in her house, the door to which would always remain locked. None of us were allowed to go in there, and if any of us tried, she’d say in a voice as sweet and deadly as elderberries, “My dear, you wouldn’t want to go down there. Not unless you want to meet a very sticky end. Now that would be simply ghastly for your darling granny, wouldn’t it?”

For twelve years, the sight of the door’s redwood grooves and polished sheen, crowned by an ornate bronze knocker, had tantalised me. Drawn me like a moth to a flame with its juicy secrets. I’d refused to yield, for I refused to let my gramma down (more so because she scared me half to death). But one summer evening before high school, I decided to let the adventure seize me. It guided me downstairs, where, astonishingly, gramma had left the mystery door wide open.

I walked in. Flicked a light switch on. My jaw dropped.

Before me was a host of high tech gizmos and gadgets, all too sophisticated for a lady who could barely use the landline. There were pictures of people, notes, pins on soft boards- all around a big screen with at least twenty active windows, which looked like something right out of a crime show.

“Daniela?” A voice called. Elderberries. I whipped around to find my grandma, attired in black tactical gear, eyes covered with a stylish pair of shades. Her hair was piled atop her head in a sleek silver bun.

Still reeling with the revelations, I could only ask one question, “Grams, wh-who… are you?”

She pulled off her shades, winked, and whispered conspiratorially, “I’m Mond. Jane Mond.”

My eyes became saucers. “Like…”

“Don’t say it. I shall never let myself be compared to that copycat. Like lethal old ladies aren’t cool enough.”

I looked at the door at the end of the hall way with wide eyes I’ve been staring at the wide open door for about a minute and a half now debating on walking towards it or not. “ I don’t think I’ll have another chance, I have to go in.” I said out loud to myself, walking forward down the hall I realized that led I got caught I would be grounded probably since my mom and grandma told me not to touch the door, I did once and got grounded for a week. Pushing the memories and warnings to the back of my mind I ran into the room nearly slipping before catching myself stumbling to a stop looking up into the room all I saw was black as I didn’t turn on the light before coming in, Turing around closing the door and reaching for the light at the same time I flicked the light on while the door came to a close.

Turing around with a devious smile on my face and excitement in my eyes finally being in the room that I and even my mother were forbidden from entering. Turing around to face into the room with my back to the door the thing I noticed first was that the room has no windows but I had no time worry about windows my mouth dropped open, my eyes wide I stared in disbelief I just couldn’t believe what I was seen! There was a hug globe almost the size of the room perfectly in the centered in the room with just enough space to walk all around the globe. If that wasn’t surprising enough the globe was what I can only describe as alive.

No really I saw it moving like if I was looking at a screen shaped into a ball, there were clouds, oceans,birds ,land masses and islands! In shock I haven’t moved an inch from the spot I was originally when I closed the door my mind trying to process what I was looking at I finally moved closer to the globe in a daze reaching my hand out to touch it only for my hand to pass through the clouds! I felt a slight breeze. In even more shock now I flinched my hand was before it touched the water. Staring into the globe with an overwhelming amount of emotions excitement, fear, worrying and confusion.

“What the fuck?” Words finally coming out of my mouth kind of surprising me, bringing my back into reality I looked around the room once more glancing at the globe as I backed up towards the door Turning around twisting the doorknob I swung the door up. With a blank face I walked out the door Turning of the light before closing it not sure on how to lock it I walked away hoping no one would notice.

I felt a cool breeze brushing against my skin as I slept on the couch in the living room. Out of pure curiosity, I sat up, seeing the mysterious door that I had always questioned was opened. I looked around for my grandparents, but none of them seem to be around. I crept off the couch and walked towards the mysterious door. There was a cool breeze coming out of the door, it had left goosebumps crawling down my skin. I turned on the flash from my phone. Nothing was inside the room, just a regular empty room. I turned off my flash, about to leave when a loud sound caught my attention. A sound of a loud crashing sound, like plates falling from the shelves during an earthquake. Shakened, I turned on my flashlight, shining it again to only an empty room. My heart started to pound in my chest as I slammed the door shut. What was in there? Where had the sound come from? Before a moment of thought, the door swings open as the cold breeze sucks me into the room. Everything was cold and dark.. I couldn’t see or hear anything.. until. “So you got curious about my grandparents door too?”

Growing up Ethan never cared about the door. For one thing, it was always locked, but beyond that, it had a huge table in front of it. A table that was littered with Grandma's countless issues of "Time" magazine, unnecessary issues of "TV Guide". And prehistoric copies of "Highlights".

Dad called it junk, and Ethan remembered him bringing it up to Grandma on almost every visit.

"Ma what are you doing with all this? Who the hell needs an issue of TV guide from 1984??"

"Mom, this table is a mess. These Time magazines are older than me for Pete's Sake!"

"What the fuck are Highlights?"

Everyone loved Grandma. Her room illuminating smile, her immaculate baking of the most delicious cookies. And the warmth she provided. The warmth she gave to everyone, especially her grandchildren. A warmth that no one could replicate.

It killed Ethan when she passed. Everyone knew that it was coming. But it stung, and he thought that it would for some time.

And that was fine, he loved her. He always would.

Ethan closed the front door behind him. His eyes locked on the dark and unknown abyss that stood in front of him. Again...he'd forgotten about that door, yet here it stood. Wide-open. He remembered the table with a bunch of junk on it, but not the door.

"Dad?" Ethan shouted.

The only response was his voice echoing off the hollow and empty walls of the house that was once occupied by Grandma.

Ethan cleared his throat and made his way towards the door.

"Dad? Are you here?" Ethan repeated. And once again there was no response.

Ethan pulled out his iPhone and switched on the flashlight. He aimed it down a dark stairwell that led down to what appeared to be a basement.

Hesitation held him back, keeping him firmly planted at the top of the stairs. But this was Grandma's house. What could be down there? It couldn't be anything bad...

Right?

Of course not. This was Grandma's house after all. Ethan shook himself free from the hesitation and made his way down the stairs. The wooden stairs creaked and groaned under his weight, despite feeling sturdy. He could feel the coldness from the room as he reached the floor. He shined his light to take in his surroundings.

Ethan's mouth fell open. Like that of a puppet with no puppet master. Ethan felt his body temperature drop lower than the coldness that surrounded him. He began to shiver as his mind processed what lay before him.

The first thing he saw were the handcuffs on the bedpost, a pair on each of the four posts. Chains with leather cuffs hanging lazily above the mattress. To the right of the bed, mounted on the wall was an assortment of masks, all crafted from various leathers. Some with spherical orbs at the mouth, others with perfect round holes.

A large "X" stood at the corner, with leather bindings on each corner. A workbench stood off to the right with a robust assortment of long spherical objects that altered in size. Short, Fat, Long, and Ridiculously Long. Some so long that they slouched over like sad trees. Each one beaming with vibrant color. On the wall to his right hung an assortment of whips, ropes, and paddles, some made of wood, others made of metal. Random couches and stools littered the massive basement that Ethan had never known about.

The front door opened from upstairs. He could hear the sound of numerous voices, numerous footsteps. Ethan shook his head clear and jolted up the flight of stairs.

Standing before Ethan, in Grandma's living room was a sea of people. All wearing robes, all wearing the mask of an animal. A man in a bird mask to his right, a woman in a tiger mask to his left. A sea of safari animals stood before him.

The Lion spoke: "Ethan? Son? What are you doing here?"

When grandma Isabella died, her viewing was the talk of the town. All ears passed the tale of wiry metallic haired, puggy faced, razor nose Isabella—taken so early in life. She was 71.

The viewing, at her house, was filled with men and woman from her generation, talking about how they’d known her—or in the men’s case danced with her at the parties when they were young. The women called her a wild child with a knife despite being a homebody. She frowned at the mention of a day without air conditioning and TV. Even more, any time I suggested unexpected adventure, she told me I lost it. What they said just made me more suspicious of the whole lot as they circulated the house during the viewing.

A few stories passed around town about her made me a little suspicious of her past, but none ever seemed to hold truth. They said she used to go out with new men every week when young, and it’s true, I never knew my grandfather. The family was sure he was a one nighter, though her personality was more of a couch potato than a lady of the night. I never figured she’d get up to switching bed partners every week, and to my credit as her caretaker, I was mostly right.

All my life, I roamed the halls of her corner of the street house—everywhere except the room she called her memory room. She went there from time to time and lock the door, and if I ever knocked, she told me to go elsewhere. I never thought much of it, and so I cooked dinner, or vacuumed the living room carpet.

Now, all of this was fine until that day at the viewing. At that point, I still never thought to enter the locked memory room, though I figured it needed a good cleaning. A couple of the older ladies found their way to using a bobby pin on the door. I heard the door open from the other room. I rushed back to hear their ghoulish shrieks in full force as they passed me.

Walking in the room, I saw a wall of knives, each one stained with dry blood on a wall of nails.

I turned to try and leave the room, but the door closed behind me revealing her other collection on the back of the door. Human skulls mounted on each other to form a superglued collection on the back door.

After the cops got done with me and the evidence, they found her prints on all the knives. What I still don’t get is the picture of the mayor from 40 years back hugging her. They figure that he might have been her accomplice, but he’s got the same chin as my father—who knows if it’s a coincidence. I wonder if his chin ended up on the door…

There was always a locked door in grandmas house that nobody ever entered. At least not until now…when the door appears to be wide open. Well that’s strange. Syd thought, moving closer to the partially lit doorway. His grandma had passed away the day before, as neighbors began to notice the never to be read newspapers piling up on the front step. A long forgotten memory of Syd from childhood surfaced in his mind at that particular moment, of him wandering in the same place where he stood now, looking at the then locked door. His grandmother was babysitting him and his cousin Ian, who had brought over their pets-a couple of hermit crabs. One of the crabs had pinched Syd on his palm, and as he tried to shake the thing off, it finally let go as it clattered onto the floor, it’s pretty coat of purple on its shell sliding across the wood and landing softly on the carpet. His hand had started to bleed, so Syd went upstairs in search of his grandmother. He looked in her room, and then the bathroom inside of her bedroom and found nothing, then retreated back to the hallway, passing her dark wooden Egyptian figurines. He went and tried the door, which was locked shut. However, when Syd’s pink skin had touched the doorknob, he immediately got chills, and a feeling of wrongness entered his body. He felt faint, and called for his grandmother again. She appeared a few seconds later, having been in the attic. When she saw him near the door she almost scolded him, and told him to never go in it, for it had never been finished being built, and was full of danger for little boys like himself. She had gotten him a bandage and he joined his cousin Ian and the hermit crabs once more. The hermit crab that had pinched him died a week later, and his grandmother seven years after that. Now Syd was alone, with nothing separating him from the door. He walked near it tentatively, and feelings of adrenaline coursed through his body. His fingers began to tingle, and he looked through the door to see nothing but blackness, he stepped in it, looking for a light, and somehow the opened door behind him was gone, and he there was nothing but black. He took a step forward but realized there was no ground, and he was stepping into nothing, like he had walked into a dream. Syd became the darkness. Faded hues of green and orange twirled softly around him. And then, suddenly, everything was white.

Years ticked by after that moment, and I grew stronger while my Grandma grew weaker. However, despite all those years, I still visited her house often.

It had just been another one of those days. I had finished work and driven to her house, but as I stood outside her front door, something felt different, but I had no idea why. My fist hovered inches from the weathered wood, twitching slightly, almost hesitant, before proceeding to knock on the door.

Usually I could hear the shuffling of my Grandma’s feet down the creaky hallway, or the occasional shout, but today there was only silence. Maybe she was asleep? I knocked again. This time the knock echoed in my mind, amplified by the eerie quiet. The stillness crawled up my skin, and I began to feel alone and afraid.

My heartbeat quickened, as I began to pound on the door, calling out my Grandma’s name in between knocks, but the only response I received was the silence that screamed in my ears. Panic surged through me, as I hastily reached for the doorknob. It was unlocked, and I wrenched the door open.

A brisk breeze greeted me at the door, as I stared down the all too familiar hallway. I called out my Grandma’s name once more, but to no response. I stood there, petrified, as I decided what I should do. I began to search the house, hoping with every fibre of my body that she was safe. But I was still terrified at what I might find.

As I strode past, I turned my head to quickly look into the living room. But it was empty, except for the cluttered furniture that filled the tight space. There were far more worn lounge chairs than necessary, and quite some many side tables, all facing the same old-fashioned television.

As I marched down the hallway toward the kitchen, I stopped abruptly. My breath caught in my throat. I had seen it through the corner of my eye, but I knew it couldn’t be possible. I was still facing the direction of the kitchen, as I began to step backwards, without daring to turn my head.

I could hear my breath coming in and out in sharp movements, and in that moment, I felt as if it was the only thing keeping me from collapsing. Dread engulfed me, but I knew that I had no choice but to look. My heart beats felt unsteady, and a lump had developed in my throat. I gulped it down, preparing myself for what I may find, before turning my head.

There, standing in front of me, was an open door. I sucked in a quivering breath, for that wasn’t just any open door. It was a door, that for my entire lifetime at least, had never been opened before. And now it stood, hanging loosely on its hinges, as if now that it had been opened, it would never close again.

The memory of the day I had first seen it was sharp in my mind. I remember my excitement at potentially discovering the room’s contents. But now when I finally had the opportunity to find out, I felt like running away, leaving the truth far behind me, but my eternal love for my Grandmother was far more powerful than the fear that gripped me in that moment.

I took a step forward, my legs shaking unstably, as my eyes strained to see within the door, without having to walk closer. But all I could see was complete darkness, which camouflaged anything its midst.

I gathered up any courage I had in me, and stepped forward, as my body shook uncontrollably. I had reached the doorway. Despite the darkness, I saw a shape. It was smothered in black, blending in with the dark that covered the rest of the room, making it impossible to tell where the room actually ended. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, the shape appeared deformed, almost crumpled.

Curiosity overwhelmed me, and I stepped toward the figure. My breath hitched in my throat. I felt my own heart splinter into two. The entire outside world was completely muted, as cold tears streamed down my cheeks with grief. The blackness in the room blurred, making the shape undistinguishable. I felt my knees slowly fall to the cold, stone ground, and the noise echoed distantly in my mind. And I knew in that moment, that curiosity hadn’t just killed the cat.

None of us was brave enough to see why the door was open. We had heard our whole life never try and get into the locked door. We called it The Masquerade. It looked like a normal door. Until it was open. Despite all of our unwillingness to go in, we could see in. It was like light being fractured into a million tiny pictures. Each very different from the previous one. Until it looked like one of the shards of light expanded over the rest. It was of a crown. Of a kingdom. Each of the 4 kids saw vastly different surfaces. They saw what they wanted most in life. No one could resist. It seemed our wills were all weak. We entered into heaven. For one of the girls she was sent into an actual masquerade ball and lived through an enemies to lovers sequence. She was the bookworm. She was living her own book and flew through the pages exploring everything known to kind. It seemed she was happy. For one of the boys he found himself living through modern world. But he was top of all his classes, graduated with honors, and got to be an astronomist like he always wanted. He was the one who struggled but dreamed of ideas larger than those around him. He was, and he couldn’t believe it, successful and happy. For the other boy he found himself as the king of an empire. Vast riches, women, army. He conquered and he thrived. He grew his army and was able to control his subjects. He was powerful. And he loved it. He was one who was always picked on. Bullied. But here he got to rule. He got back at those who had wronged him. The final girl walks through the door and sees nothing. She walks and walks and walks but only sees nothing. Suddenly 3 screens pop up. She turns to one to see her sister. She turns to see her sister stuck in a jail cell screaming that he betrayed her. That he had loved her once. She sees her sisters beheading in a ballroom that was where the first masquerade ball happened. She forced herself to watch as her sister died beheaded in a place she loved so much. She turns to see her astronomist brother talking to his boss. She sees as his idea was rejected. Something that in this world had never happened to him. She sees as he lost faith in himself and ended up poor and dying in the street. She forced herself to watch as people walked past her dying brother without a care. She turned to see her kingly brother in a meeting. She sees as who seems to be her brothers closest companion pulls a knife out. She forces herself to watch as the blood seeped out of his robes. She saw how her siblings dreams tortured them in the end. A last screen popped up with her grandmother laughing and clapping.

“Encore! Welcome to the family business darling. Those who want for nothing and see those they loved die can achieve anything.” Her grandmother said. The last thing she heard before maniacal laughing and then. Nothing.

Written in journal