My parents have decided that it’s best to move out. I really don’t want to, especially since it’s the beginning of my sophomore year. I already spent all of last year making new friends, and now I’m just gonna have to start all over? It really pisses me off. But of course, I’m only 15. So technically, I can’t move out yet.

“George!” my mom yells from the kitchen, impatiently waiting for a response. Dad rushes down the stairs, holding on to the banister so he doesn’t slip. He knows when mom uses that tone that she’s not in a good mood.

“Yes honey?” he gets out, trying to catch his breath. “Can you PLEASE tape those boxes in Aliyah’s room? If you don’t do it now, she’ll open them and she might break something.” she say’s, looking concerned. Aliyah is my 5-year-old sister. She’s such a pain, and she breaks EVERYTHING. Mom ought to be worried. “Yes yes, of course honey.” says dad. “I should’ve done it earlier. I’ll get everything done, don’t worry.” he gives her a reassuring smile. No wonder mom married him. “Thank you honey. What would I do without you?” she says, smiling back at him.

As dad scrambles back up the stairs, I realize that it’s just mom and I left down here. Oh no. I try to sneak up to my room, but she catches me right before I can. “Uh-uh. Now have I got a job for you, Will.” she says with an eerie smirk on her face. I sigh. “What is it?” I say, dreading whatever she’s gonna say next.

There is so much junk down here. We could have a full on garage sale with all of this stuff. “Just start with the shelves and work your way to the boxes.” Mom says from the top of the basement stairs. “Most of this we can donate, but if it looks important then just put it aside and I’ll look at it later.” she says as I scour the area. After mom leaves, I decide to make two boxes. One for donations, and one for mom to inspect.

I’m about halfway through the big metal shelf of junk when I hear a sound. At first, I just think that it’s mom, so I ignore it. I continue sorting through the stuff when I hear it again, but louder this time. I look around to see what it is. (Maybe it’s a rat or something?) But I don’t see anything.

I walk up the stairs and find myself at the door. Im about to turn the knob, but for some reason I hesitate. I should ask her if she made the noise, right? I don’t wanna spend my time down here looking for something that might not even be here. But then again, my mom is really stressed right now. If she didn’t make the noise, she’s gonna ask a bunch of questions and try to find whatever it was. That won’t do her any good right now. So, I decide to do what dad would do. Be a man.

The light is dim down here, since this lightbulb is old. I grab a flashlight and start inspecting the nooks and crannies of the room, seeing if anything is hiding in them. I see this weird looking rope sitting next to a bucket on the metal shelf. It has an old, raggedy texture to it and looks like old hair. It was attached to the wall. That’s not normal, is it? I pulled on it.

Suddenly, there was a creak. A door opened on the empty wall. Slowly, I walked towards it with my flashlight. It cast a shadow from across the side. The noise had stopped. My heart’s pounding so hard that everyone in the room could hear it. I contemplated whether I should fight or flight. I’m feeling flight, but I have to face my fears.

Eventually, I was standing right in front of the doorway. Hesitantly, I shined my flashlight into the darkness. All of a sudden, a group of rats fled out of there and scurried all around the room. There was a nauseating stench from where they came from. I pointed my flashlight in that direction, only to see the most sickening thing that I have ever seen.