The Basement

I had just moved into a new city in New York, it was a bit scary at first as I have never been in this area before, and I heard many murders occur here, but it was one of the only places I could really afford to go. I stared out the taxi window as I was driven to the new apartment complex I was moving into. We arrived moments later and I thanked the taxi driver, paying him before stepping out of the car. I looked up at the building, it was definitely an old building by the looks of it. I grabbed my luggage and walked towards the entrance, opening the door and stepping into the building.

I walked up to the elevator, pressing the button for the 7th floor. The button refused to work at first but with a few more presses of the stubborn button the elevator door closed and the machine ascended to the 7th floor. I waited for the doors to open before stepping out and walking down the hall, fiddling with the keys in my pocket. I arrived at room 714, my new home. I opened the door and stepped in, admiring the large, empty space. I wandered around the room and examined every detail, picturing where I would place my furniture and other items.

I was snapped out of my day dreaming session as my phone rang. I grabbed it and answered it. “Hello?” On the other end of the line I heard my best friend’s voice, “Hey Kokoa! I heard you just moved here and was wondering if you needed any help.” Kai said, I smiled as I heard her cheery voice. “Sure, I need a bit of advise about where I should have everything.” I replied as I set my bags down. I could tell Kai was smiling as he tone changed slightly, “Okay! I’ll be over later, I have a few errands to run. I’ll see you later.” She responded before hanging up.

I smiled and sighed as I laid down on the floor in spread eagle position, staring up at the ceiling. I was a bit bored as I waited for the moving truck to arrive with my things, and then Kai was most likely going to take a while to get here. Soon I heard a door slam from outside and looked out the window, seeing the moving truck had finally arrived. I walked back to the elevator and rode back down to the first floor as I met with Ryuchi, one of my other friends. He had agreed to help me move here.

“Hey, thanks so much for getting everything down here. I hope the drive was okay.” I greeted him, Ryuchi smiled as he replied, “Don’t mention it, and the drive went smoothly.” I smiled as we began to get a few of the heavier items moved into my apartment. “One...Two...Three!” I counted as we lifted my bed into my room, setting it down on the floor for the moment. I sighed as I brushed a bit of my ginger hair out of my eyes. We then walked back down to the first floor to get some of the other things, I then saw Kai running up to me, her scarlet hair swaying behind her as she pounced on me.

Kai giggled a bit, “Hey Koa! I see Ryuchi has been helping you out.” She said, looking over at Ryuchi. Ryuchi smiled warmly as he gazed at her and I jokingly rolled my eyes. “Get a room you two, now help me out here.” I joked as I lifted my bedframe, Kai helped me carry it to the bed room before we headed back down to get all of the boxes. All three of us grabbed a few boxes and just set them down in the living room, soon everything was moved inside.

I thanked both of them as I sat down on the floor a bit tired from getting everything moved inside. We chatted for a bit before Ryuchi had to leave, Kai thankfully stayed to help me organize everything. After a while of resting we got up off the floor and started unpacking everything. I placed all of my clothes in my dresser and a few items in my closet. After that was done we lifted the bed onto the bed frame and moved the bed to the middle of the wall. Kai and I rearranged all of the furniture and hung up a few pictures on the walls before getting the rest of the things unpacked.

After hours of hard work we finished and it was already dark outside. I thanked her again, “Oh it’s no problem!” she replied with a bright smile. I then mentioned something, “Hey, I heard there’s a basement here, wanna check it out?” I asked. I saw Kai’s grey eyes shoot down toward the floor as they darkened a bit. “Don’t go down there.” She said in a stern tone that scared me, it was every uncharacteristic for her to have such a dark tone of voice since she was such a happy girl all of the time. “Kai?”

“Listen to me, it’s dangerous down there. If you want to stay alive and sane, you will avoid that place at all costs.” Kai replied, getting up and leaving. I sat alone on my bed, questioning why she had said such a thing. A basement can’t be that bad, right?

I was wrong, dead wrong...