JD's Daily Writes 20 Nov 24
Today’s Prompt from PromptVault
You inherit an ancient key, and with it, the responsibility to guard the secrets of a door that must never be unlocked.
“Adam?”
“I’m here Grandad.” Adam replied, quickly coming to his grandad’s side.
“Are we alone?”
Adam, a little confused, checked the room.
“Yes, we are alone, why?”
“I don’t have much time left Adam. I need to give you something.” Grandad said, trying to sit up and reach for his top drawer. He could only indicate towards it before collapsing back onto his bed. “A box, in the top drawer, at the back. Can you get it for me?”
Adam rummaged through the draw, locating a small box at the back. It looked old and rusty, not charming in an antique way, like a throwaway. Something that should have been thrown away long ago. He handed it to his grandad. His grandad gently and ever so slowly opened the box. Adam tried to peer inside it, impatient to find out what on earth was in it.
Grandad smiled slyly.
“Ahh, the youth of today, always so curious and impatient.”Adam frowned slightly at the little dig but brushed it off as old man humour.
“What is it, Grandad?” he asked.
His grandad pulled out a small chain with a small key attached to it. Adam was surprised to see the key was gold. Not flat like modern keys, the length was tube-shaped, and embedded in the gold seemed to be small stones. Gemstones from what he could tell.
“This is a key to a door. A door that must never be unlocked. There are secrets behind this door that must never be known to others. Now the door is in the attic, Adam. I don’t want you playing around with the door. Just guard this key, okay. One day, you will pass it on to your grandson. Never mention it to anyone until that day.”
“But Grandad, what if I don’t have a grandson?”
“You must!” Grandad snapped. “This is important Adam!”
That passion and anger behind his granddad's voice startled him.
“Promise me Adam. Promise me you won’t tell anyone, or show anyone. Promise me you won’t mess with the door. Promise me you will have a grandson. Any means necessary. Adopt if you have to, Jesus Christ.”
“Woah, Grandad. Chill. Okay? Don’t get worked up. I promise. I promise.” Adam assured his grandad, surprised by what he was hearing.
“Thank you, Adam. Sorry, but this is so important. I wish I could tell you more, I’m feeling too tired and I need to rest,” Grandad said, placing the tiny key in Adam's hand and then closing Adam’s hand into a fist, “Thank you, son.”
Son? Adam thought, hat’s odd.
“Hey Grandad, I’ve never seen a door in the attic, where does it go?” Adam glanced over and was greeted by his grandad’s snores.
Adam got up and left the room, thinking he could ask him more after he rested. He walked into the kitchen and sat down, pondering what had happened.
His dad came in shortly after to break the news.
“Grandad has passed in his sleep, son. Do you want to go say goodbye?”
Adam stared at his dad for a second before replying.
“I was just in there a few minutes ago, we were talking and he went to sleep. He can’t be gone.”
“Sorry Adam, it happened just now as I went to give him his medication.”
Adam just stared, mouth agape. There were so many questions he still had about the key.
“So do you want to go say goodbye?”
“Ahh, no thanks dad, I think we said it just before he passed.” Adam lied, now curious about the attic more than ever.
“Okay son. Let me know if you want to talk or have any questions. I need to make some phone calls.”
Adam got up as his dad started dialling and walked upstairs to the attic entrance, pulling the cord that let down the steps.
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