A little tired but feeling better than yesterday. Finger’s crossed that illness was avoided. So before we caffeinate, let’s jump into the morning prompt. Timers set to fifteen minutes and remember, this is the time to let the words come out and not think about editing. Since there is no planning or research you are free to write the most improbably, illogical drivel imaginable. Later you can edit, research or burn the printed version in a penitent offering to the gods of literature. For now, deep breath and just write.
I love the idea of a hidden room. I think I want to figure out if this is going to be a mystery or a horror story before I open the hidden room though. A part of me likes the thought of leaning towards a Hell House Vibe. (Incidentally the book – Hell House by Richard Matheson – is a really good read. I found it far more terrifying than the movie, although the movie is still fun).
Wednesday, February 7th: The window was bricked up.
The window was bricked up. ‘How strange,’ I thought as I studied it. “A window just he would provide much needed light to the room.” There was no one in the house to hear my musings and I ran my hand over the wall. Perhaps I would take the bricks out. Let light stream into the space. I turned away from the wall and studied the room. It was bar of furnishings now, but I could see it in my mind, the pleasant space it could be.
I wondered what was on the other side of the house that caused the window to be bricked up. Curiosity fueled my steps as I made my way out of the room and indeed out of the house. I walked around to the side of the house. Was there something so objectionable that the view had to be blocked? I didn’t know.
I looked down the hill. The land sloped gently away before reaching the cliffs. Ther the land fell away. Even from where I stood, feet on the ground I could still see the ocean beyond. In the upper floors the view out to sea was spectacular. I saw no reason that the view should be blocked.
“Indeed thee would be a fine sea breeze most days,” I said to myself looking. I was certain storms would be calamitous but each of the windows had heavy storm shutters for such an event. Each of the windows had them and there were a few extra sets stored in the attic as well. Since I found several bricked up windows on the house I guessed they were removed and placed n storage to use as replacements should they be necessary.
I found the blocked up window on the other side of the wall. It looked different from this side though, broader. “A double window.”
I frowned. The bricked up window on the inside was a single one, I was sure of it. Yet here was clearly the space for a double window. I let my eyes wander down the wall. I blinked and took a step forward. There was a doorway bricked up as well.
“How can that be?” I asked myself. Then I saw the single window I thought was bricked up. Remembering the house plans I retraced my steps and stopped at the corner of the house. I paced off the distance to the interior of the bricked up window. My steps took me to the single bricked up window. It was as I thought. I merely stopped at the first shadow of a bricked up window thinking it had to be the one.
Confident my eyes had not been playing tricks on me I walked backwards. A door and a double window. I could not think of what they would connect to, no room within the house or wall that I studied. Had I missed an entire room?
‘If so it isn’t on the floorplans either.’
I heard a car pull into the driveway. I smiled. “Perfect timing.” If anyone knew of a hidden room it would be Frank. He studied the plans and forgot more about houses like this than most people ever learned.
Ten til Midnight 