The Stairs


In the Mansion’s unused wing, there’s a staircase that links the ground floor to the first… the staircase fills most of the hallway it occupies, although it is possible to squeeze between the sides of the stairs to the space beneath.

Under the stairs, there’s a trap door… a creaky, dusty, cobweb-covered hinged door that lifts up to reveal another set of stairs.

At the bottom of these stairs, which are lit by candlelight, from candles held in dusty holders on each side of the walls, is another room, behind a large oak door.

In this room, there’s a dusty, round table in the centre, with an old wooden box on top.

This box is as dusty and cobweb covered as everything else in this area and quite difficult to open.

But inside the box is a replica of the staircase in the Mansion’s unused wing, which fills most of the box, apart from the tiniest of spaces down the sides…

Posted for Six Sentence Stories. Denise has chosen box for this week’s word. The image below links to Girlie On The Edge, Denise’s blog, if you’d like to find out more about this writing challenge.

36 responses to “The Stairs”

  1. Visionkeeper avatar

    Ahhhh….It’s basement time again 🙂 It’s been a while TL…Take you cell phone with you just in case and of course a flashlight! Keep in touch as you go if you can. You may need extricating at some point in time…VK

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Sort of, VK… we’re circling the rabbit hole that contains the Basement / Cellar / whatever else is beneath that! 😁
      I shall be well prepared when next I venture down there!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Destiny avatar

    apart from the tiniest of spaces down the sides…🥴

    much enjoyed, Tom🤍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Destiny… just dipping into the realm of quantum realities here! 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Destiny avatar

        Nicely done 😁👌

        Liked by 1 person

  3. 100 Country Trek avatar

    Thanks for sharing this idea with these tiny spaces. Anita

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      And the further down we go, the tinier they get! 😀 Thanks, Anita.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. pennsivity avatar

    Ah, boxes within boxes, Tom,, ..…and so many cobwebs, …I’ve brought my handy duster, to help, cough clean them away,..cough….I was expecting to meet Miss Havisham, …and maybe try a bit if crumbly wedding cake, …but no such um…luck, …perchance I ducked food poisoning, …a round table too, …no end of things to explore, …just leave a light on, …Tom? You still there? Um, …did I perchance take a wrong turn?…✨👀✨👏✨

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      There are that many turns to take in the Mansion, Penn, it’s more than likely! Thanks for bringing your duster… most thoughtful! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. pennsivity avatar

        No probs, Tom, …✨🕸️🕸️🕸️✨

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Sue Dreamwalker avatar

    Those basements are dusty places Tom…. A little like those Russian Dolls…

    The Deeper we go Tom… The more Dust gets uncovered 😉 Always a delight to step into your underworld at the Mansion. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Sue… yes, a Russian Doll. The Mansion is a bit like that! And very dusty, too! 🙃

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sue Dreamwalker avatar

        Lol…. 🙂 A little dust never hurt.. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  6. europasicewolf avatar

    Now what else could one possibly expect to find in a box but a Mansionic staircase!!🤣 I must find a way to investigate this disused wing of the Mansion…it sounds just the kind of place I would love to explore… disused, secret/forgotten/abandoned places draw Icy like a giant magnet 🧲 The older and dustier, and untouched the better! The hidden, secret and disused tube stations from past times in London are my usual source for such ventures, but the Mansion…well! That’s a whole new dimension!😃

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      There’s many a nook and cranny waiting to be explored as well, Icewolf! 🙂
      I remember well your photos of that disused station from a while back… really interesting!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Spira avatar

    Ut supra, ut infra.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom avatar

      Exactly, Nick… as above, so below. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Nicole Horlings avatar

    Very well described – felt like I was playing a video game, exploring these dark spaces. I loved the idea of the miniature of the space we just explored, like a Russian doll mansion/stairwell.

    Very fun story, Tom!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Nicole… it’s fun going exploring! 😀 I like your video game comparison.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Frank Hubeny avatar

    If only one could find the trap door behind the staircase in the box and go down that stars one might find another box equally hard to open. Nice tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      How far down the rabbit hole – er… Mansion staircase – would you like to go, Frank? It’ll be like being caught in an ever-decreasing loop! 😆
      Thanks, Frank.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. messymimi's meanderings avatar

    It sounds like a neverending story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      It does, Mimi… and it can be/is… 😉

      Like

  11. clark avatar

    Surely there are few scarier parts of a house (mansion or everyday raised ranch) than underneath the stairs. (Unless it’s the attic) (But wait, how does one get up into the attic)
    You’ve done well to hint at the nature of staircases… a passage to a level from another level… but what about the hole in the level they create, what about that, huh

    I too picked up on the video maze vibe

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Clark… yes… the bridge between the upper and lower levels / dimensions (that’s the hole!)… and the bits in between (that’s the mystery!)
      I’m liking this game vibe that’s coming through… that was an angle I never thought of when writing this.

      Like

  12. messymimi's meanderings avatar

    Be careful in the basement, you want to come back, right?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      I always manage to get back, Mimi… just not exactly to the same Mansion! 😅

      Like

  13. martilouplunk avatar
    martilouplunk

    The secret must be in the stairs. Good one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thank you! 😊
      Although there are lots of secrets! And stairs… 😏

      Like

  14. Chris Hall avatar

    Gosh, how exciting. I love the secrets and the stairs…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      Thanks, Chris! There are lots of both at the Mansion! 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Chris Hall avatar

        Yay!😁😉😂

        Liked by 1 person

  15. europasicewolf avatar

    I bet there is too! Your Mansion is a wonderful world of hidden possibilities and dimensions, that I for one, can’t get enough of!😃You never know what the Mansion is going to do next or how it will transform itself and open up a plethora of new nooks and crannies with doors to who k own where😜
    Wow, you remember those photos?!! I am honored, Tom! I’ve removed those posts from the blog but I have copies of the posts on the laptop 💻 🙂 I’d been thinking around the idea of rehashing them in a slightly different style…OK….very different but like most ideas at the moment I have tiny windows of weird ideas 💡 but not enough to create a plausible post…I’m too distracted with holiday stress to concentrate on anything for more than 5 minutes at a time but the image side is fine!! Would just help if the writing ideas would consolidate themselves into written form! But then again the Mansion is calling…and The Grinds are probably bursting with spring/summer thrills and spills🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      You know the Mansion well!
      It would be good to see those photos again, so even a start of an idea in that area is a good one! Enjoy your holiday first, though, blogging will still be here when you get back!
      And as for the Mansion… we’ll have to wait and see what comes along next! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. europasicewolf avatar

    Wow! That comment was THAT loooonnnnnggggg?🫣😮😂 So sorry Tom! I didn’t realise till it posted and it’s too late to change it!😳🫣🤪

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom avatar

      No worries… it was a pleasure to read! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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