Chapter 4 - The Tapes of 1986
We couldn't sleep. We locked every window, secured the front door, and sat at the dining table with Rada sitting glued to my knee. We brought out an old boombox from the garage to play the first cassette tape from the cylinder.
Mark pressed PLAY.
The tape hissed with static, followed by the sound of a woman crying softly.
“If anyone finds this... my name is Eleanor Vance. My husband, Mark Vance Sr., isn't who he claims to be. He built a secondary basement beneath the bedroom floorboards—a hidden room accessible only through the chimney shaft.”
The voice on the tape gasped for air, as if terrified of being overheard.
“He brought something into this house from his work at the government facility. He says it's a prototype, but it draws people to it... it makes them remember things that never happened. If you are reading this, Mark... if you are my son... DO NOT LOOK FOR THE LOWER DOOR. Leave the house immediately. They are watching the property.”
I looked at Mark, terrified. "Mark, we're taking our daughter Chloe and getting out of here right now. We're going to a hotel."
"Sarah, look at the bottom of the cylinder," Mark said softly, his voice hollow.
May you like
He reached inside the brass tube and pulled out a small, metallic key with a tag attached to it.
The tag read: BEDROOM FLOORBOARD #12.
