As Nobody and the little girl made their way up the musty stairs, they approached the painting on the wall, a black canvas framed with ornate bunnies carved in aged gold. She surveyed the dusty and damp foyer once more before resuming her ascent of the stairs.
As she gazed at the painting, Nobody could not shake the feeling that it was more than just a piece of art. It seemed to emanate a cold and dreary aura, almost like a void that could swallow you whole. She found herself drawn to it, compelled to touch it.
With a hint of hesitation, Nobody inquired of the little girl, “Why is this painting pure black? And why does it feel so cold and ominous? May I touch it? I must say it piques my curiosity as many things seem to have been done in this house already.”
The young girl responded by gently shaking her head, retracting her hand, and offering a gentle admonishment. She then pointed toward the left staircase. The hallway had a faint, flickering light, much more welcoming than the complete darkness shrouding the right wing. For some inexplicable reason, Nobody couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear creeping over her when she looked in that direction. Glad we’re not going that way, she thought.
As Nobody and the little girl ascended the dusty staircase, causing clouds of dust to billow with each step, she couldn’t help but recall the adage, Don’t judge a book by its cover, lingering in her thoughts. As they passed the painting on the wall and continued up the stairs of the left-wing, Nobody found herself unable to shake the feeling that the painting was more than just a piece of art. The darkness within it was so intense that it felt like a colossal, insatiable void capable of consuming everything in its path, even devouring the very essence of one’s being. It was an unsettling sensation, and she considered inquiring further about it later. However, she didn’t want to risk another scolding from the child, who was tugging her toward the rest of the left wing’s stairway.
As Nobody turned to steal a glance behind her toward the right wing, the adjoining hallway seemed to have transformed into an even deeper abyss of darkness than it had appeared to be from the entrance. The child persisted in pulling at her arm. “Yes, yes, I should go and introduce myself to our friends. I’m excited to meet everyone and enjoy a delightful meal in pleasant company. I wonder how long it has been since I have been here? Has it been long, you think? I do admit, however, that I am not looking forward to the uncomfortable conversations that may arise due to my forgetfulness. But perhaps talking about the scrumptious food will deter their attention from my little mishap,” Nobody rambled on, as she had earlier, much to the amusement of the young girl, who shook her head with a lighthearted sigh, and her shoulders slumped dramatically simultaneously.
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With newfound enthusiasm, the young girl grabbed Nobody’s hand and urged her to come along. Nobody was happy to oblige, as she was unfamiliar with the house and didn’t want to overstay her welcome in case things went awry. But also, to see if anyone could help her during this unfortunate time of her forgetting everything. At this moment, her desire for a cup of tea poured from the exquisite chandelier was surpassed only by her yearning for her lost memories, accompanied by a delightful selection of desserts, of course!
As they proceeded slowly down the hallway, the red carpet that extended from the stairs here was not as badly kempt as in the foyers, but the scent of musk from all the dust still lingered for who knows how long. Despite the lack of light, the walls were adorned with black paintings similar to the one on the mid-section of the stairway, adding a touch of grandeur to the hallway. “This hallway is quite long. There must be several rooms on this side alone,” she mused to herself. “I wonder how many people live here. Are there many?” The young girl nodded her head, agreeing to there being many housemates.
As they approached their first room on the left, the old wooden floors began to creak and moan, sending a slight shiver down Nobody’s spine, like a cat puffing up its tail. The sound seemed to make every hair on her neck stand on end, and the unsettling squeals of the floorboards only added to her unease. She whispered with a forced smile, attempting to maintain her composure despite feeling like she had walked onto the set of a horror movie.
“I hope this house won’t be the end of me. I swear I just want that cup of tea! Oh, and some assistance! I assure you my priorities are just fine!” Nobody muttered to herself, trying to stay positive even though the situation felt like something out of a chilling horror tale. She couldn’t help but recall stories of young women trapped in old, decaying houses with lurking monsters, with no escape from the looming fear of being devoured or killed.
On the other hand, the child shook her head, letting out a sigh, her shoulders slumping forward and letting out small puffs from her noise much like that of silent chuckles. This caused Nobody to look at her and give a small smile as it was clear to Nobody that despite her clear nervousness, the little girl found her animated reactions and rambling rather amusing. The girl led Nobody to a stop in front of the first door they were meant to enter, the initial step into a possibly complex journey that lay ahead.
With a slight flutter of nerves, Nobody hoped to make a good first impression. In a home as enigmatic as this, one had to remain slightly on edge, always expecting the unexpected!
