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Grandpa's Strange Property
#WritcoStoryPrompt36
Write a short story that uses atleast two of the given situations:
1. An old, locked box in the attic. ✔
2. A winding staircase that goes nowhere. ✔
3. A broken mirror. ✔
4. An old desk with a locked drawer. ✔


I got a call from a random number yesterday. The person on the phone said my grandpa died and that in his will, he gave me is property somewhere in the woods.

At first, i was in denial because i loved him and why would the people working on his death call from an unknown number? I just thought it was weird. But when my mom came home, i noticed she was off. Not like herself, this is where i knew something was up. I didn't connect the dots between that and my grandpas death, though.

She was just shut down. She wouldn't talk, wouldn't eat, would only get up to go to the bathroom. That's when i knew something major happened and then i remembered about the call i got. My mom runs to the bathroom, and screams bloody mary, and then i hear this breaking glass sound.

She broke the mirror. I go up to check on her, and her hand is bleeding crazy. "Ma how did this happen" i told her. "Idk it was an out of body experience, it's like i did but didn't do that" she replied. "Well lets get you cleaned up and we'll go to grandpas property in Oregon."

"Pop pop doesn't have a property in Oregon" She remarked. "Well, it was in his will for me, can't just be nothing. So I'm getting in the car, come with me if you want" I snarled. "Ugh, fine, have it your way. I'll come with you, but only cause I'm just as curious -if not more- as you.

We started heading on the road. Once we got so close to the area, we had this strange feeling. A gut feeling. We both were also hungry so we just thought that, but i know for a fact -with hindsight- it was a warning.

We had to walk to get to the property because there wasn't any room to park a car. So we had to park it far out -not a smart idea, i know-. By the time we walked about 2ish miles we saw a spiral staircase in the middle of nowhere. We even checked it out, and it went no where.

We must've walked another 3ish miles before it started getting dark. Where we once heard sounds of nature; the birds chirping, twigs snapping, Howls, hoots from owls Etc. Everything now just fell silent. After, walking for another 3 miles (8 miles from where we park the car, just about) we found the property.

Now, i don't know why we didn't leave before this point. But at the time we arrived at the property i starting wishing we would've left cause you can't just walk 8 miles to a property and not check it out.

We tried to open to door, but it was locked. We looked for a spare, everywhere. Under the "LEAVE NOW" Mat, In the plant's pot, Under rocks, back of a clock. So, we decided, since the place is ours now. That we'll just break the door down.

Once, we got the door broken. We went inside, and starting looking around. This place has a basement, attic, and like 6 rooms. It's giant compared to our lil condo we have. But the only downside was there was cobwebs, dust, and other dirt. It looked like it hasn't been used in decades.

Ma and I, decided to split up. So, i decided to check the attic while she checks the basement. I check the corner of the attic, and i see this box. Must've been at least 40 years old. But it was locked with one of those locks you'd see a hs student would have. So, an old box but new lock? Why is that? i can't help but wonder to myself. So i call over my ma to see for herself.

She thought it was weird too. "This means someone was here, right" She exclaimed. "Yeah, and obviously didn't want anyone to see whatever is in that box". "We should open it, how can you not?" ma told me. "Idk ma, it has a new aged lock and this box is from way before it's time, someone was here to lock it. There's probably a reason for that ma" I respectfully tried to show my side. "I'm your mother, you're going to help me get this open or it's the road for you" She demanded. "Okay okay, I'll help you ma".

We first thought to just drop it on the concrete but in case something in there was fragil in there we decided to not go that method of trying to open it. We took a hammer to it, a wrench, all the tools we could fine but nothing worked.

So, we decided to check out the house more and then come back to that box; our curiosity took the best of us otherwise we would've left it alone. After that, we went on down to the basement of grandpa's property. Ma and I, started looking around, we noticed stuff like canned food, stuffed animals, pictures, prized items, first aid, like a mix of survival stuff and random stuff from grandpas life. "Ma does any of this stuff seem familiar, ring a bell, something?" I asked. She just gave me a blank stare and said "we should leave, now". "Mom we came for a reason, and we aren't leaving without it." I replied to her claim.

We continue looking around, we make ourselves to the side of the room where a bookshelf, an old drawer, and an old bed sat. We scimmed through the books moving on to the drawer. It was locked but this one had a key hole. We must've looked through the boxes of crap for hours until ma told me "Read through every page of steady avatar uno (can't say real-name) and tell me if there's something there. I go through two chapters and on the thirteenth page. Something was written, real sloppy, it read "You SHOULDN'T have come" in bold blood red... Ink.. I hope. "Eh, who cares right now, get something and help me break open this box" momma told me. I grabbed a shovel and started hitting it, cracking it, just until the lock popped off.

I opened the box up. There were papers, classified documents, conspiracy theories, just a bunch of "crazy" stuff -as my mom put it-. But most important, there was a key. Mom and I tried it out on the drawer and it opened, they was a confession in it saying "you're next, shouldn't have came. I killed myself because i told classified information and know that you have it, you'll be joining me in hell but first I'll have to kill you two". "What do you think that means mom?" I turn around and she's gone. Everything fell silent and no sign of mom.

So, I go upstairs calling for mom. I heard some feet scuffle sounds -the sound walking on carpet type- so I scream for ma, But nothing responded. I checked out the area where the noise came from.. and.. I saw my grandpa.. I think I'm going to d-


© MattTheOneAndOnly