The attic air hung thick. Kassandra, at a loss, cursed under her breath, sweat pricking her neck. The tube which lay on the floor, not far away, started a
pulsating glow gradually getting righter with each pulse. The tube reached a sudden and constant brightness and at that moment Ichabode jolted awake. The light from the mysterious tube waned to a ghostly ember. Ichabode blinked against the dim light of the attic. Akasha and Kassandra still crouched before him, started by his sudden movement, stared at him in amazement. With genuine concern, both asked if he knew what had happened and if he remembered anything right before he passed out. Ichabode still a little confused, “I really don’t…I seem to be ok, just unnaturally tired.” Ichabode turns his gaze towards the tube. “Thank you for your concern, both of you. I think I am ok to finish what we came here to accomplish.” Both Kassandra and Akasha nodded in compliance and also shifted their attention to the blueprints which were now sprawled across the floor.
As he approached, his eyes narrowed on the main floor plan. Something was off. His heart raced as he pointed with a shaky finger. “That empty space there — it’s surrounded by the library bookshelf, the fireplace mantle, and two walk-in closets. No access point. How strange is that? It’s a secret room, for sure. I thought I knew this house inside and out. Turns out, I was wrong. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve played hide and seek here? Countless!”
Frustrated by the mystery, Ichabode dashed out of the attic and sprinted down the stairs. He reached the living room and examined the fireplace. “One of these stones has to open a door,” he muttered. His fingers explored every crevice, searching for a hidden lever, but found nothing.
Next, he raced to the library. The massive oak bookshelf loomed before him, filled with hundreds of books. He first pulled out titles that seemed significant, hoping for a clue. After a while, he grew impatient and began yanking books at random, each one a potential key to the secret room. Again, nothing.
Feeling defeated, he collapsed onto the floor, exhaling loudly. Moments later, Akasha and Kassandra descended, blueprints in hand. “Hey, Doctor Jones, did you find it yet?” they asked, surveying the mess of books. Ichabode shot back, “What does it look like?”
“Mind if we try?” Kassandra asked.
“Knock yourselves out, Cagney & Lacey,” he replied, sarcasm dripping from his words.
They each picked a closet to investigate. A minute passed before Akasha’s voice rang out, filled with excitement. “BINGO!”
In the wood storage closet beside the fireplace, hidden behind a stack of firewood, a sliding door had been discovered. They peered inside, and in unison, exclaimed, “What the…?”
