Chapter Five
Ben stopped at the top of the stairs and thought about what had just happened. There was no real explanation that could even be considered logical. Fear ambushed him as the thought of insanity crept into his thoughts again. Could this be real, or was his mind folding under some unseen pressure in his life? As much as he thought about it, the answer never came. He wanted to cry, overwhelmed by the sensation, but still, he choked back the tears. “If this is real,” he thought, “then I have to keep moving forward. It’s the only option I have. I can’t be crazy…I can’t.”
After taking the hole back the attic, Ben stood at the top of the stairs looking down. The empty house had a spooky feel to it as he took them on step at a time. At night, there were always weird sounds that his parents attributed to “settling,” but the recent events made him wonder. Regardless, there was an apparent change in the atmosphere; was it him, or was this the effect of the key in his pocket? The air was stale and the light coming from the fixtures was dulled, like something was diluting its power. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but everything was different. Like looking into a mirror and seeing the reverse image for the first time. So many questions plagued his mind as he stepped down into the basement. It was best to put them away for now and focus on the task at hand.
When Ben stepped into the secret room below the stairs, he saw Franklin’s ethereal form standing in front of a box. His gaze was fixed on a painting that had been stored in one of the crates. Ben walked behind him and saw that it was an oil portrait of a beautiful woman sitting in an elegant gown. She wasn’t smiling or frowning, but had a look that reminded him of the Mona Lisa. Her hair was golden brown and her complexion was fair from the thick make up she wore that was typical of her time.
“My beautiful wife,” the ghost said. “I can’t believe this is still here, but then again, I can’t believe this room has been sealed off since I…” His voice trailed off.
“She is very beautiful,” Ben said, not sure what else to say.
“I built this house and had this painting done for her thirtieth birthday, so that it would immortalize her beauty forever. Like many women, that was her main concern as she got older. As you can tell, she didn’t want for much, as I provided plenty,” he said, pointing out the wealth he felt the house represented. "I loved her with all of my heart, but in the end I failed her. If she hadn't died, I never would have gotten mixed up with the book in the first place. Now look at me, trapped between worlds…trapped in this room trying desperately to help you fix my mistake.” Then, almost to himself, he said, “For a moment, I actually thought I could use the book to bring her back...like you did to me.”
“Trapped?” Ben asked, side stepping his comment.
“Yes, I tried to leave, but every time I get away from the book, I feel my essence dissolving. I fear what may come when you do leave and take the book with you. Who knows what black oblivion awaits?” Franklin said.
“Let’s not dwell on that now,” Ben said, trying to keep both of their minds off the wretched truth they surely faced. “If what you say is true, then we have no choice but to keep moving forward.”
“Yes, you are right,” the ghost said, but his face showed his inner struggle as he put the painting back. Ben helped him return it to the crate and covered it with the wooden lid. Ben watched as the ghost did his best to say goodbye to the past. Reluctant to move, Ben gave Franklin a moment to stare at the crate before beckoning him over to the table.
The heavy key clattered against the wood as Ben dropped it from his hand. Still starry-eyed with nostalgia, the ghost snapped out of it as the sound resonated through the room.
“The key…” Franklin said.
“So you knew?”
“Yes. The book only shows you the door, but the key is what will unlock it. The Phoenix’s cave was merely the precipice of your journey. You are standing on a cliff, looking at your goal in the distance. Once the doorway is open, you will have to leap into the abyss to get to the other side.” As he spoke, Franklin flipped through the pages of the book again.
“I don’t understand,” Ben said. “Why are we opening the door, if my goal is to close it?”
“Maybe door isn’t the right word,” Franklin said, turning towards the boy. “The book can be difficult to translate at times. Um… what we must close is a rip between the two realms, a rip that’s allowing one world to spill over into the other. The actual door before you is the passageway into the other world, where you will find someone who can teach you about the book.”
“Why can’t you teach me?” Ben asked.
“Oh, my poor boy, my knowledge is so very limited. I understand only a fraction of what is written, and every time I learn something new, it becomes apparent how little I really know.”
Ben ran his fingers through his hair as he let out a low sigh. “Damn,” he said.
“So, the abyss?” Ben asked, resigning himself to the task at hand.
“Yes, of course. The separation of the two worlds left a great abyss in its wake. I believe it’s there to keep people from coming and going as they please. You will have to cross it in order to find your way into the other world. Once you are there, you will need to find someone who can help you with the book. Someone who can teach you about the spells inside of it.”
“But I…” Ben tried to say, but slunk down against the wall instead. “I’m afraid.”
“It’s okay, son. I’m afraid too,” Franklin said, turning away from the book, revealing the sympathy on his face. “There is only forward, remember?”
“Yeah…forward,” Ben replied, still reluctant to move. He sat motionless, trying to get a grip on what was happening. Turning back and running away wasn’t an option, but he wasn’t sure if he could move on. Frozen in place by his own panic, Ben felt his whole body lock down. The anxiety was too great for him to bear, and a tear escaped from his eye. Wiping it from his face before Franklin could see it, Ben did what he could to seem stronger than he was.
Franklin gave the boy a few minutes to stew before walking over. In a calm voice he asked, “Are you ready?”
Ben nodded and stood up, despite the turning feeling in his stomach. The nerves in his gut were already shot as he staggered over to the wall where Franklin was leading him. The pounding of his heart only facilitated the sweat collecting on his palms and in his armpits. He felt sick, a feeling that only worsened when the carpet that covered the back wall fell, revealing a large double door. It was covered with intricate, detailed carvings and etchings and was outlined in gold trim. It had a keyhole about six feet from the floor.
“I had this built before I truly understood what I was doing,” Franklin said. “I thought maybe this would be a good thing; a way to see my wife again, but instead, I dragged you into it. I’m terribly sorry it all worked out like this, Ben. I hope you can one day forgive me…”
Ignoring his words, Ben looked at the key in his hand and with a deep breath walked up to the door. Placing the key in the lock, he felt the grooves of the token in his other hand. Closing his eyes, he thought again about the person his grandfather was, and who he wanted Ben to become. Almost lost in the memory, he exhaled and turned the key until he heard a hollow click. The sound was tiny compared to the massive size of the moving mechanism. They stood there as mechanical parts moved behind the scenes, and waited for the climactic moment when the door would open.
Ready for anything to happen, Ben took a step back, giving it space to open. Instead of an immense grandiose action which would reveal the way to them, the door popped out about a foot and stopped. They both stood there waiting a moment longer for something else to happen, but it never came. Ben finally exhaled after he realized he had been holding his breath, and took a step closer.
A cool breeze rushed through the crack, fluttering his hair a bit. He couldn’t overcome an ominous twinge in his mind as the darkness from the opening seemed to escape into the room. There was no way to prepar
e for what was on the other side. A feeling of terror approached, climbing up the back of his throat, drying out his mouth, and making it hard to swallow. His clammy hand clasped the cold frame of the door and pulled the monstrous barrier open. Ben was surprised at how little it weighed as he stared into the encompassing blackness before him.
There, behind the door, was nothing. There was no light, no floor, no ceiling, and no other side. Just an infinite abyss, as Franklin had told him to expect. The human mind isn’t able to comprehend the idea of nothing, so when Ben stood there staring into it, he had no thoughts in his mind. Even the fear that once gripped him was gone, because there, before him, was nothing to be afraid of.
Franklin, standing behind Ben and looking over his shoulder into the abyss, broke the silence. “I need you to promise me that you will do this; that you will follow this through until the end. I need to know that you are a man of your word and that I will be remembered.”
“Okay,” Ben said, although the word seemed too simplistic for what looked to be a massive undertaking.
“Is that a yes?” Franklin asked.
“Yes, I promise! I will do everything I can to stop this,” Ben said.
“Okay. Are you ready?” Franklin asked. The vacuum seemed to suck the sound of his voice into the void, along with the meal that made up his form.
“Do I have a choice?” Ben asked, louder than necessary
“No, I don’t think so. Look behind you, the darkness is already consuming the room,” Franklin said. Around them, a twisted shadow crawled across the walls of the room, like the diabolic tendrils of some terrifying beast. Everything it touched became obscured by darkness as it devoured every bit of light. It consumed everything it covered, leaving an opening into a black eternity.
“Aren’t you coming with me?” Ben asked. He was begging although he tried not to show it.
The sound of Ben’s voice alone was enough to show Franklin how scared the boy was. After all, he was only a boy, forced to do the work a man had started years before.
“You know I can’t, but wait, you have to take the book!” he yelled, over the sounds of emptiness. Already the growing darkness had made its way down to the floor, creating a hole into nothing. Ben looked at the table and without a thought, ran and grabbed the book just as it was about to fall from sight. With no time to waste, he threw the straps over his shoulder like a backpack, and gripped it tight as he ran back to the doorway and jumped into the lightless hollow beyond. The words “I’m sorry for bringing you back!” did their best to reach Franklins ears as he did.
Franklin stood there as his form was torn apart, with one last word on his lips. “Good luck.”