Amanda stood at the top of the cold basement stairs, her knuckles white against the dark wooden railing.
Amanda: Did you hear that?
Jason: Hear what, Amanda? There is nothing down there except old holiday decorations and water heaters.
Amanda: It sounded like breathing. Like someone trying to whisper through a locked door.
Jason: You have barely slept since the flight landed. Let us just go back upstairs and talk to Claire about the estate paperwork.
Amanda: No. I am not signing any documents until I see every room in this house.
She took the first step downward, her boots clicking softly on the bare concrete steps.
Jason: Amanda, please. Claire specifically asked us not to mess around in the lower level before the appraisal team arrives.
Amanda: Claire is my stepmother, Jason, not my warden. My father built this house with his own hands before he passed away.
Jason: I know that, but she has the legal authority right now under the will. Causing a scene will only hurt your chances in probate court.
Amanda: I do not care about the money. I care about why my mother's letters stopped coming three weeks ago.
She reached the bottom landing where a dim yellow bulb buzzed against the damp ceiling.
Amanda: Look at this door.
Jason: What about it?
Amanda: Since when does an old storage room have a heavy steel deadbolt and a brand new padlock?
Jason: It is probably just holding valuable tools or old records from your father's business.
Little footsteps scurried down the wooden steps behind them, light and frantic.
Lily: Amanda! Amanda, do not touch that!
Amanda spun around and dropped to one knee to meet her seven-year-old sister's wide, terrified eyes.
Amanda: Lily? Sweetie, why are you shaking?
Lily: Claire said nobody can come down here. She said bad things happen to people who ask questions about the iron door.
Amanda: Who put this lock here, Lily?
Lily: Claire wanted extra security.
Jason: See? It is just Claire being overly cautious about burglaries while the probate settlement is pending.
Amanda: Extra security for what, Lily? What is behind this door?
Lily leaned close to Amanda's ear, tears spilling down her pale cheeks.
Lily: Mommy is inside.
Amanda felt the air rush straight out of her chest as a cold, sickening silence filled the concrete hallway.