Dimensional doors, things supposedly existing only in legends and childhood fairytales, are nonsense in the real world. But the fact is, my grandfather had one. A dimensional door that would take you to a strange place, a place people called another world.
If I hadn't come back, perhaps that door would never have been found by anyone.
My only family was now gone too. After my father, mother, and older brother died in a plane crash, I, now alone in the world, held a simple funeral for Grandfather. No relatives, only neighbors from the village came to see him off.
After the funeral was over, the true silence of Grandfather's old but well-maintained house finally sank in.
I quickly packed my things, steeling my resolve to leave and seek my fortune elsewhere. It wasn't without reason; my heart felt like it was being stabbed whenever I saw that house full of memories now masterless.
That's how it began, I thought... until eight years passed since Grandfather's death...
**
Viana gazed at the semi-traditional designed house, now visibly neglected, grass growing tall in the yard. She hadn't expected that after years away, she would decide to return, to the village where she and her grandfather once lived.
Viana slowly pushed open the now-rotted wooden gate and looked at the yard overgrown with grass and fallen leaves.
Taking a deep breath, Viana had come prepared with tools in hand. After a short rest while waiting for the moving truck to arrive, she intended to clean the house.
"It seems like this needs renovating..." Viana whispered, looking at the house as sweat drenched her body.
The tall grass in the yard was finally gone, just as the sun began to set and the moving truck arrived. Once her belongings were unloaded, Viana carried them inside.
She hadn't brought much: just two large suitcases filled with clothes and five large cardboard boxes containing books and other knick-knacks. Viana stretched her arms and started unpacking, until midnight arrived.
"Wow, all I've done today is clean and unpack..."
Viana rubbed her stomach as it began to rumble. "I forgot to eat..." she murmured.
Without wasting time, she headed to the bathroom, changed clothes, and then busied herself making instant noodles in the kitchen.
The delicious aroma of noodles filled the air. In no time, a whole pot of noodles had migrated to Viana's stomach.
"Wow... Amazing! Time for sleep..." she exclaimed, collapsing in the living room amidst the uncleared noodle pot and bowl.
Viana fell into a deep sleep, so deep that even the knocking at the front door couldn't wake her.
Tok!
Tok!
Tok!
The knocks sounded normal and polite at first, but when the homeowner didn't respond, the knocking began to change.
Jder!
Jder!
Followed by a call for Viana, almost a shout loud enough to wake the roosters at night.
"Viana!"
Only after that brutal call did Viana begin to stir. She stumbled towards the door. When the sunlight hit her face as the door opened momentarily, she squeezed her eyes shut with a sour grimace.
"Oh god, it's bright..." Viana mumbled, shielding her face.
The person who had been knocking and calling stared at Viana with a weary expression.
"Are you sure you want to live here?" the person asked, glancing around at the quiet surroundings.
Viana nodded, "Yes. Besides, this is my childhood home. Come in..."
The person followed Viana inside, still surveying the surroundings. Occasionally, their hand brushed against the walls and furniture, and they frowned when they saw mold clinging to the walls.
Viana, seeing her friend's expression, let out a small laugh.
"Sorry, sorry... this house is old and hasn't been lived in for several years," said Viana.
Viana then served tea and some small snacks. They sat on the worn-out sofa in the living room where Viana had fallen asleep the night before.
"So, what brings the sweet Lady Rose to visit my moldy shack..." Viana asked playfully.
Rose, hearing Viana's words, snorted irritably, "What else? You sneaked off to the middle of nowhere like this, right after *that* incident... do you think that doesn't make me worried?" she exclaimed.
Viana gave a small smile but didn't answer. Rose, seeing this, grew even more annoyed.
"I know I'm in no position to say anything about your condition right now. But Vivi, at least tell me where you're going..."
Viana sighed deeply and looked at Rose. "I'm sorry. I couldn't think straight..."
Rose hugged Viana and breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, at least now I know you're here..."
"By the way, how did you know my address here?"
"Hm, I knew from this..." Rose answered, showing a partner tracking app on her phone. "I secretly installed it on your phone.. Haha!"
Viana stared at the screen Rose showed, then switched on her own phone. Viana couldn't help but smile slightly at her friend's antics.
They hugged for a while longer, until finally Rose broke the embrace and asked again. "So? What are you going to do next? You're not going to live here forever, are you?"
"Yeah, I don't know for how long. But clearly, it seems like it will be quite a while..."
Rose, hearing that, unconsciously bit her inner lip. Feelings of guilt and anxiety churned in her heart.
"Okay, do whatever you want. I'll drop by often to check on you... so don't cause any trouble, okay?"
Viana laughed, and they chatted for a long time. As the sun began to set again, Rose said goodbye.
"You're not staying over?" Viana asked.
"Not this time, I came here in a hurry."
Viana laughed at Rose's expression. It was true; Rose had arrived wearing a plain white t-shirt and black sweatpants – an unfamiliar look for the usually elegant and classy Rose.
After Rose left, the sun had fully set. Viana stretched her arms upwards, grabbed a towel, and disappeared behind the bathroom door.
Viana sighed deeply, her mind drifting far away as she soaked in the bathtub with thin wisps of steam rising. Flashes of her past slowly circled, making Viana unconsciously bite her inner lip.
"Hah..." the sound of Viana's heavy sigh. "It's okay, I'm strong!" she whispered to herself, her arms crossed as if hugging herself.
.
.
.
The minimalist house with a traditional design, floors and walls made of the finest quality wood, and furniture crafted by hand that accentuated a natural feel. Viana felt so nostalgic for the vintage atmosphere of the house.
After bathing and eating dinner, Viana felt a little empty after spending the day with Rose. Now she wandered through the house, remembering old memories with her late grandfather.
Her hand brushed against the wall with a longing expression...
Clek...
Viana unlocked the door to her grandfather's room. The smell of dust and musty mold instantly hit her. Yesterday, Viana hadn't had time to clean all the rooms; only the living room, kitchen, and her bedroom on the 2nd floor were cleaned.
"Grandpa..." Viana murmured, sitting on her grandfather's worn-out bed.
"I'm back here. I'm home, Grandpa..."
That night, the sound of Viana's weeping sounded sorrowful, as if lamenting her heart, shattered by the world. Alone under the dim glow of the incandescent bulb.
.
.
.
Tok!
Tok!
Tok!
The sound of knocking at the door woke Viana. Stumbling, she walked towards the door. When the door opened, an elderly woman stood there with a kind smile.
But a second later, that kind expression changed to concern. Anxiously, the old woman asked.
"Oh my! Child, what happened? Are you sick?"
Viana shook her head; she seemed unaware of her own appearance. Last night, after entering her grandfather's room, Viana, overwhelmed by her longing for her grandfather, couldn't hold back her tears. She had cried herself to sleep...
As a result, her eyes were now swollen with dried tear tracks on her face.
"Your eyes are swollen, child..." said the old woman.
Only upon hearing that did Viana touch her face and give a small smile. "Oh, it's nothing, Grandma..."
But despite that, the old woman called Grandma still looked worried. "It's been so long. Grandma thought you wouldn't come back, child. But, if there's anything, tell Grandma, okay?" she said.
Viana nodded, smiling as the grandma patted her back.
Grandma Anna, the closest neighbor in the village, her house only about 20 meters away. When she was little and her grandfather had to go to the market to sell farm produce, she was often left at Grandma Anna's house. Now, eight years later, the kind-hearted grandma looked increasingly frail.
"Here. Yesterday when Grandma saw you arrive, I didn't come over right away to greet you... so Grandma brought you this. You used to always ask me to make it. Eat it, okay..." said Grandma Anna. After a short chat, Grandma Anna went back home.
Viana stood on the doorstep, the warm morning sun shining on her still-puffy face. In her hands, she held tightly a simple wooden box from Grandma Anna. A warm, genuine smile spread across her lips – a warmth rare after the series of sad events that had befallen her.
"Thank you, Grandma..." she murmured softly.
She stepped inside, closing the rotting front door. The quiet atmosphere of the old house enveloped her once more, but this time tinged with emotion and a little warmth from Grandma Anna's visit. Viana walked to the old wooden table in the living room, where the noodle pot and bowl from last night still lay uncleared, along with the added glasses and plates from the snacks. She placed the wooden box on the table carefully.
Her fingers gently opened the simple latch on the box.
A sweet and savory aroma, intensely familiar, instantly enveloped her – the perfect scent of Grandma Anna's kue cubit, still warm, exactly as she had always craved as a child. Her eyes welled up again, this time with touched nostalgia. A small piece of paper was tucked between the cakes. Viana picked it up, reading Grandma Anna's neat handwriting...
"Welcome home, Child Viana. Your favorite cakes. If anything happens, or... if you find anything strange in that house, don't hesitate to come to Grandma's. Grandma is always here."
Viana frowned. "Something strange... what does she mean?" Her heart fluttered.
But Grandma Anna's message... it sounded specific, like a subtle warning based on knowledge.
She sighed, trying to dismiss the strange thought. "Ah, maybe Grandma is just worried because the house is old and empty," she reassured herself.
Viana picked up a piece of kue cubit and bit into it. The perfect taste instantly brought back fond memories. She smiled faintly, her focus diverted by the delicious cake and the warmth of remembrance.
As she was enjoying the cake, staring blankly towards the hallway leading to her grandfather's room, the door still open from last night, suddenly...
Tok...
The sound was very soft, almost like an illusion. But loud enough to break the total silence of the old house.
Viana froze.
The piece of kue cubit stopped at her lips. Her eyes widened, staring intently down the dark hallway towards her grandfather's room.
Tok...
The sound came again.
Clearer this time.
Not from the front door. Not from a window. Not an animal sound. It was the distinct sound of wood knocking – solid, and... coming from inside her grandfather's empty room.
Viana slowly lowered her hand holding the cake. Her heart pounded fiercely, pumping blood so hard she could hear it in her own ears.
Her breath hitched. A chill not from the morning air crept up her spine. She could still smell the warm aroma of the kue cubit, but now it mingled with the metallic taste of fear on her tongue.
Her eyes remained fixed on the darkness at the end of the hallway. The door to her grandfather's room stood wide open, letting the darkness within yawn like a cave mouth. No light entered there, despite the bright morning sun outside.
Tok!
A third knock. More forceful.
And this time, followed by another sound. A sound that made the hairs on Viana's neck stand on end and her blood feel like it froze.
From the darkness of the supposedly empty grandfather's room, came a slow, low groaning sound... like... like an old, long-unused door hinge, slowly being opened from the other side.
Viana was caught half-standing, her body rigid, her eyes glued to the darkness at the end of the hall. Every fiber of her being screamed to run, but her feet felt rooted to the wooden floor. The box of cakes from Grandma Anna lay forgotten on the table.
The warning about "something strange" flashed through her mind.
From the darkness of the grandfather's room, the groaning sound of the hinge grew clearer...
...and a thin shadow began to creep out, touching the wooden floor at the room's threshold.