After Akasha cut the air with her exclamation “BINGO” and discovered the sliding door, Ichabode had a feeling wash over him. “Hang on you two, something is really bothering me, like an incomplete thought. There is something about that metal box I discovered tucked away at the bottom of the bookshelf in the attic.” Akasha and Kassandra’s curiosity got the better of them and both nodded in agreement. Akasha then turned to Kassandra. “Like Ichabode, this house is filled with mysteries, and there may even be some sort of odd connection between the house and Ichabode.” Ichabode returned within a few moments, hugging the metal box as if it’s his last and only possession. Ichabode sits in a chair nearby while taking a deep breath. He now stares at the box resting on his lap in sheer reverence. The other two were carefully watching and observing, as if waiting for something, anything to happen. Ichabode’s concentrated expression remains steadfast as he carefully opens the metal box. As Kassandra and Akasha draw cautiously closer, they witness Ichabode’s face morphing from concentrated to a confused and perplexed look. As Ichabode slowly reached inside the box, a sudden glow washed over his face, as if cast from whatever it was that lied inside the box. Startled and scared, he closes the lid in haste. Both Akasha and Kassandra jump, being startled by the sudden noise and action. Ichabode describes the contents of the box to both Kassandra and Akasha. The looks on their faces say it all. They are just as puzzled as Ichabode. Akasha scurries over to check on Ichabode, “Is everything OK? What’s wrong?” Ichabode, still sitting, and without a word, deliberately hands the metal box over to Akasha. Kassandra watches from a ‘safe distance’ as Akasha opens the box herself. There is no glow, just an object that resembles some sort of advanced rectangular thin material. Its shape resembled that of a credit card with strange symbols that she did not recognize. Confused more than ever, Kassandra pipes up, “Let’s leave that box a mystery for the time being. It may prove useful later, just a thought.” Akasha tucks the box under her arm as she helps Ichabode up and out of the chair. They all headed over to where Akasha had discovered the obscure sliding door.
The room that they had just found was like nothing they had ever seen before. It was like walking into a cubed mirror. The ceiling, walls and floor were all mirrored. When you look at your reflection, you will see it bounce back at you from every direction and repeat. Infinity through a mirrored vortex. At the centre of the floor, a small square can barely be seen, lightly etched into the floor with a finger lip visible. Ichabode lifted it up with his finger to expose a metallic
plate that displayed a single rectangular recess with symbols engraved all around it.
“I think I know what belongs to you,” Ichabode says. He motions for Akasha to hand him the metal box. He opens it, and reaches for the object inside. As he touches the strange rectangular object, it starts to glow again, brighter than before, and yet there is no indication of a glow in any of the mirrors. Ichabode pauses a moment. “This must be some sort of key. Like on a keyboard, a dual meaning in a way, an enter or return key.” He then attempts to place the ‘key’ into the corresponding nook.
Ichabode, discouraged, utters, “it’s broken or some ‘flippin’ thing, nothing is happening.” Akasha flashes a quick and powerful glare at Ichabode …. “Wait … you said ‘Enter key’. What if it is as simple as that? Just press down, like you would an actual key on a keyboard.” Ichabode follows Akasha’s simple instruction, with a sarcastic giggle, “Are these symbols just for decoration?” He presses down on the key and, to everyone’s amazement, the nearest symbol activates and lights up. At that same moment, the perimeter of all the walls, floor and ceiling light up with a thin strand of fiber-optic light that makes all the edges and corners of the small room glow with a soft ambiance.
“Should we all be in here?” Asked Kassandra. “A room this small is not intended for three people, so I’ll just excuse myself.”
As she lets herself out, the door quickly closes behind her and makes an air-tight, hissing sound as it seals the room.
705 206 1909
[email protected]
