The Never-Locked Door

A short mystery story about an unlocked door, a deserted house and a secret from the past.

The door that has never been unlocked before
It all began in a stormy morning in the calm town of Bideford. Dark stormy clouds, heavy with water vapour, lay hovering over the town closing the sun's bright morning sunlight. A cold stormy wind howled around the town, making trees groan. Few people were on the streets, faces covered, fighting the wind. Inside a two storeyed house was a strong built 13-year old boy dressing hurriedly for school.
Years before Guy was born, a family made a bunk in the town. Their house was deserted until now, Guy would pass the locked front door of the deserted house as he went along the street to school. As Guy took the street that went near the deserted house to his school, he felt that something was wrong. The morning was mysteriously dark and quiet. Thunder crashed and lightning struck above. Guy hurried along the street, with his teeth chattering in the cold wind.
Guy glanced at the deserted house as he passed it. To his enormous surprise, he saw that the front door had been unlocked and opened a crack. Guy looked at his watch and saw that he was getting late for school. Guy felt as if he was being watched and he turned sharply around. No one was there in the streets. Curiosity got ahead of him and Guy tiptoed to the front door. With his heart racing and mind whirling, Guy grasped the cold handle and swung open the heavy door.
The door opened with a small creak. Inside was a small living room, with a now moth eaten sofa, expensive looking fittings and a marble topped table. The walls were covered with cobwebs and the curtains were thick with dust. Guy stepped in. The walls seemed to listen and closing in. Suddenly SLAM went the door shut. Guy banged on the door, calling for help. The room darkened and thunder crashed above the house. A cold wind shifted near Guy and send a chill down his spine.
A bright light illuminated the whole room and on the far corner of the room was a small boy in a life jacket. The boy walked near to Guy, its footsteps sounding wrong and stretched. Guy felt adrenaline churning through his veins and his heart beat faster than ever.
"The house must be remembered" the boy said in a chill whisper. "The front door should be remembered".
Guy suddenly remembered. The front door was the last place the family had seen when leaving this house. Guy nodded his head to prove that he understands.
"Thank you" said the ghost boy and shimmered into the musty air. Guy felt as if a heavy load had been lifted off his shoulders. The air felt fresh and light. The storm blew over and a ray of sunlight penetrated through the clouds.
The house was never strange, the front door was remembered daily and it remained locked. Guy now knew that locked doors that had never been locked before are not just mysterious but contain things to be remembered.