The Door

By Nelly Asher

"You're on the threshold of a dangerous adventure. What will you choose? Staying on this side, with little sores of your problems? Or entering, putting your mind and life at stake?
Step by step, door by door you will penetrate into the depths of your consciousness. Things that you could never think of will be revealed to you. Something that doesn't lie on the surface. Layer by layer you'll clear your brain, until you'll get to the true you...
Consider it carefully. There will be no way back. You won't be able to open the next door before closing the previous one. And by the way – you've already started playing once you've read this far."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nelly Asher
• Release date: May 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310983627

Nelly Asher

I've never experienced the (mis)adventures I'm putting my characters through, so anything that could be written here will be boring in comparison to the book - so I suggest you to check it out first, and come back later if you figure that you want to take a closer look at a person whose twisted imagination has produced all those things. In that case, feel free to contact me via Facebook.

Book preview

The Door

By Nelly Asher

Copyright 2014 by Nelly Asher

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

Made of Wood

While the city was melting from the heat, this neighborhood turned out to be relatively serene. The street Selena was walking on earned its name after the chestnut trees that were planted along the road – in their thick shadow one could take shelter from the scorching sun. Automatic sprinklers that turned on a minute ago were also refreshing the air. The girl has never been to this district before, and now she realized why it's considered the most prestigious in Texven. Looking around in fascination, Selena couldn't help but envy. Well-groomed mansions were making a way better impression than an apartment she was renting in a high-rise. And just to think of it, she gave up on driving a car to get a chance to live there... Her parents were going to present Selena a used car to celebrate her entering the university, but the girl prefered to spend that money on paying for her own apartment – she didn't want to be cooped up in a dorm. Both her house and university were close to subway stations, and after the late-night parties someone would always offer a ride. At the end of the second semester, all her high heel shoes were as good as new.

Selena stopped in front of an iron fence with a fanciful grating. It took some time to find the doorbell button concealed in the door's metal ornament. She recalled professor's words: Push it for no less than five seconds. It seems that uninvited guests weren't welcome here... About a minute later a woman went out and approached the gate.

Whom did you come to see? she was looking somewhat surprised. Obviously, visitors like that didn't show up every day.

I came to see Mr. Evanford. Selena Silver, if it tells you anything.

After a few seconds of hesitation, a woman nodded and let the guest in. The moment they've entered the house, she said:

Wait here, I'll call him.

Selena leaned against the front door, watching a woman walking up the wide and quite steep staircase. It was clear that this forty-something lady was sick and tired of climbing those stairs. Who is she, anyway? Evanford's wife? Probably not – someone at the university has said that he doesn't have a family.

***

There are people who solve crosswords in their spare time; there are those who cross-stitch or make paper models. As for Kevin Evanford, he liked solving equations. That was soothing him, making him concentrate. But the June heat did no good to his thinking process. Kevin was reluctantly writing down a solution, even though he realized that it's wrong. He made a mistake somewhere, but couldn't be bothered to look for it.

Mister Evanford? their housemaid, Mrs.Mackolei, knocked the door. Some girl came to see you.

A girl? he drew a question mark and put the pencil aside. Some girls he knew were meddlesome for sure, but no one came as far as showing up at his place. Kevin shrugged, went out into a hall and stopped at the top of the staircase, examining his guest.

The girl looked gorgeous – he has established that fact at the very first glance. Fine features of her face could be very well called perfect, and her physique was certainly good. But her most extraordinary feature was hair. Not yellowish, not acidized to the loss of pigment – a pure white color. At the same time, the girl wasn't an albino – dark hazel eyes, framed with long, mascara-tinted eyelashes were brightly standing out on her face. Contrast between the hair and the eyes was making her looks especially striking.

Do I know you? Kevin inquired. He was good at picking up details, and obviously would've remembered a person like that.

Selena took a look at a tall, very slender guy. It occurred to her that it must be not that easy to find clothes for such a body type, but his garments were tasteful and fitting, probably tailored.

You didn't quite understand me, Selena turned to a woman. I came here to see professor, Henry Evanford. He invited me to come here at this time.

Sorry for disturbing you... the housemaid said confusedly.

It's all right. You can go, I'll deal with it. he waved to the visitor, beckoning her to follow. I think my uncle is in the library. I'll show you the way.

Selena started climbing the staircase, holding onto the railing. The carpet on the stairs did nothing but hindering the movement – stiletto heels of her shoes were catching on its stiff pile. After overcoming the staircase she looked back – the feeling was similar to standing at the top of a mountain.

How many stairs are there? she asked, catching her breath.

Twenty, Kevin replied, walking further down the corridor.

It seems like no less than fifty, the visitor snorted.

You can go back and count them yourself, young man said without even glancing at her. Before Selena had time to retort, he entered the half-open door.

Library shelves were filled with rows of books from the floor to the ceiling. Their sheer mass was oppressing – even the light pouring from wide windows with low windowstills couldn't make up for it. One window was open wide, and the light breeze was blowing. Professor was standing near the window, gazing into the distance.

You've got a guest, Henry's nephew turned his back to leave.

Ah, Selena... You're right on time, Evanford casted a cursory glance at the visitors. Kevin, you stay here, too.

He shrugged and wanted to close the door behind him, but something was impeding it. Kevin jerked the door, and it closed with a crunch. Selena gave the guy a disapproving look – the air in the library was stifling enough already, and this way they'll suffocate completely. After hearing the sound of the closing door, professor slightly flinched and turned to his visitors.

Sometimes, a long-forgotten past starts chasing you... And it leads you into a corner, into a dead end, he slowly said. Selena and Keving unwittingly exchanged glances and looked back at Evanford, waiting for an explanation. But he started talking about something else entirely:

There is a book... The more you read it, the deeper you plunge into the madness. It all starts with the fear of doors...

What book? What are you talking about?! Selena couldn't hold it any longer. Why did you call me here, anyway?

I proved myself weak, he changed the subject again, ignoring the girl's questions. Too much of a coward, both to move on and to withdraw from the race at my own will. Thus I decided to flip a coin, so to speak, to rely on a trigger principle, he looked somewhere behind Kevin's back. I've established for myself – if a thin piece of wood will turn out to be tougher than me, I'll struggle on. If it'll break... So will I.

Henry made a few steps towards young people, still looking straight through them, and stopped. His face turned into a grimace of disgust that has immediately turned into fear, and then – into indifference bordering the hopelessness. Man turned around, ran to the window and stepped onto a windowstill.

I'm sorry! he yelled and jumped. There was a muffled sound, and then everything turned quiet.

Kevin and Selena, already shocked by professor's odd behavior, were utterly stunned. They were standing still, gazes fixed at the open window. The only thing breaking the moist silence was the buzz of flies. In half a minute a woman's scream pierced their ears.

***

...Sound of the library door opening snapped the girl out of her stupor. All that time she was sitting behind the desk, vacantly gazing at the books' backs. When ambulance arrived, Selena didn't want to go downstairs with Kevin – she couldn't bear to see professor in such a condition... In whatever condition he could end up in. But Evanford wasn't alone – two cops walked in after him. A young blond one, looking no older than twenty-five; the second one was bulkier than his partner, and seemed to be about ten years his senior. When Silver saw them, her eyes widened:

What happened to professor? Why are these people here? she asked nervously.

Broken hand, fractured hip and, most probably, brain concussion, young Evanford summed up. He's alive, but in a coma. Ambulance took him to the hospital. And police has arrived to investigate the circumstances of his fall.

What circumstances? He started raving like a madman and jumped out! she leaped up, almost toppling the chair. We didn't do anything!

If you really aren't involved, you have nothing to worry about, young policeman was intently looking at the girl, who was terribly regretting that she didn't get out of here right away. It was obvious that after Evanford has suddenly got crazy everything can only turn for the worse! Now Silver started worrying less about professor and more about getting into trouble with the police. She gave the members of law enforcement a sullen look.

I'm sergeant Clarkson, the older one introduced himself. That's Jack, he pointed at his young partner. Tell me your name, and how you are related to that man.

Kevin Evanford, his nepthew, he replied coolly. After my parents' death, Henry was my guardian.

Selena... Selena Silver, his student! the girl was stumbling through her sentences. We didn't have any relations... It was just interesting to listen to professor's lectures and talk to him! That's why I was really surprised when Evanford has suddenly invited me to his house. He didn't quite explaing why, just said that it's important... I should've known from the start that something weird is happening to him, and not to come! Professor started spitting out some incoherent mess, then ran to the window and jumped out! That's it, I don't know anything else! Silver shouted. She sat back down and turned away defiantly.

An incoherent mess? sarge repeated. What exactly did he say?

That the past has driven him into a dead end. He mentioned some book... Kevin started, but a clear ringing sound has interrupted him. It's the gate. I probably should answer.

I'll come with you, Clarkson said. They left, leaving Selena alone with a young officer.

The girl was beside herself with anger. She and that arrogant guy aren't prisoners after all, there's no need to watch them at all times! The uniformed man kept silence, but Selena felt his fixed gaze. Does he watch her so that she wouldn't run away or jump out of the window? Or is he just staring? Silver didn't want to look at him out of spite – she didn't want to deal with the police even that much. Selena hanged her head, grimly staring at the table, and then suddenly realized what was there right before her eyes.

A book in a cover with wood pattern. Quite realistically done – at some distance it could really seem that it's a piece of polished wood. Maybe that's the reason she didn't notice the book before – it was almost blending in with the desk. A metal plate was drawn at the upper part of a cover; similar to those that hang on office doors. Haurot Sputkee, The Door. Professor's words flashed in the girl's mind: It all starts with the fear of doors... Can this be the book he was talking about?! Selena's eyes turned wide from the sudden guess. She desperately wanted to glimpse inside, but was stopped by recalling Evanford's words: everyone who reads it gets insane. Judging by his behavior, her lecturer wasn't lying... Besides, Selena didn't want to open the book with that cop breathing down her neck. She was nervously twiddling the corner of a cover, not daring to turn it over.

***

There were four people behind the gates – members of the investigative group. When Evanford started opening the latch, a man in business suit got out of the car parked nearby and headed to the mansion gate.

Good afternoon. Kevin Evanford, I assume?

Young man nodded, looking at a stranger with surprise.

My name is Orlando Kinsley, I'm a lawyer of your uncle Henry. He left me certain instructions. Is a girl named Selena Silver in this house? If she is, I'll tell everything in her presence.

All right, the face of professor's nephew didn't convey any emotions anymore. Come on in, he opened the latticed door.

...It gets damn crowdy in here, Selena muttered under her breath when another five people came in after Kevin and the sergeant. Forensic expert went straight to the window and started to powder the windowstill and the frame to dust for fingerprints.

Hello, Selena, said the lawyer. "Henry Evanford asked me to give something to you and his nephew. I'll start from the top. Two days ago Mr.Evanford came to my office and asked to notarize his declaration of will. The paper is kept in a sealed envelope. He told me to come here and read it to you in adherence to certain conditions. My client said that on June twenty-eight – which is today – I must drive to his house a little while before three in the afternoon, and wait for his call to my cell phone. If there will be no call, I must wait till the investigative group arrives, come in with them and read the contents of the envelope in presence of the police, Kevin Evanford and Selena Silver, if she stays in the mansion. He wrote those instructions, though he didn't notarize them. I can show you the paper if you want.

I think there's no need to, one of the officers replied. Announce his will.

So, you knew what will happen to my uncle? Kevin asked.

No, lawyer shook his head. Kinsley went to the table and placed his briefcase on it, moving The Door a little towards the girl. Orlando didn't pay any attention to the book. I saw a man on the stretcher being taken into the ambulance... What's happened?

Henry jumped out of the window. He's comatose now, young Evanford answered evenly.

Of course, my client's requests looked strange to me, but I had no idea what's on his mind. My condolences, Kinsley lowered his gaze. He took an envelope out of the briefcase, opened it and pulled the paper out. I, Henry Evanford, am writing this being in sound mind and judgement. In case of my sudden death, complete or partial loss of physical capabilities I ask not to blame anyone. Whatever happens, I'm the one responsible, the lawyer paused. My client told me to show the contents of this envelope to the police, Orlando gave the document to the senior officer. He ran his eyes through it and turned to the person near the window:

What's with the fingerprints?

It looks like a man jumped on the windowstill, put his hand on a window frame and jumped out, forensic expert replied.

I hope you don't suspect us of anything? Kevin asked.

There are no grounds, angrily replied the officer. It was obvious that he barely holds himself back from saying everything he thinks about some kooky idiot that distracts people from important work. Your testimony was proven true. You won't even have to play the piano.

What piano? the girl moaned. She couldn't believe they've got off that easy.

It means giving your fingerprints, he replied with a voice of a man deadly tired of idiots and turned to the forensic guy: All right, wrap it up, we have some more calls to attend to.

Policemen left the library, but Orlando Kinsley remained. Once the sound of footsteps in the corridor has subsided, he spoke:

Of course, that's not all, the lawyer pulled another envelope out of his briefcase. It had the word READ written on it in big, uneven letters. I, Henry Evanford, am writing this being in sound mind and judgement. In case of my sudden death or loss of physical capabilities my mansion passes into ownership of Kevin Evanford – a nephew who has never become my son...

Hearing this, young man cocked his eyebrow in slight puzzlement. His son? He didn't even know Henry had that attitude towards him. Today uncle surely keeps the surprises coming. What else is in store?

However, he only gains the right of inheritance under a certain condition. He has to take a picture near the Unity statue in the Park of Blue Rocks, together with Selena Silver. You can use the snapshot camera Flashphoto, it's in the equipment storage room. Kevin knows where it is. Selena and Kevin must come together to Orlando Kinsley and give the snapshot to him – it's only then that the agreement comes into effect. Other than that, in exchange for a photo the lawyer will give something I've left him.

That was Henry Evanford's will, concluded Kinsley. The two kept silence. Here are my contacts, he placed one card on a table before Selena and gave another one to Kevin. My address and working hours are written there, come at convenient time, the lawyer closed his briefcase. Do you have any questions?

A billion, Silver gloomily replied.

Maybe not that much, but there are at least thirty seven, noted professor's nephew.

I've already told you everything that I knew. Mr.Evanford didn't say anything else to me, Orlando shook his head. If everything's clear on the subject of the will, it's time for me to go. Once again, accept my condolences.

Kevin walked the lawyer to the gate. On the way back he noticed something on the floor near the library door. Taking a closer look, he realised that it's a part of a broken pencil, the back end with the eraser. He opened the door and looked from the opposite side. The guess turned out to be correct – the second part of a pencil was lying inside the room. Kevin took both parts and pieced them together. Now it gets clear what thin piece of wood Henry was talking about... Selena recalled it too:

If you weren't forcing this door and left it open, professor wouldn't have jumped, she grumbled.

Henry knew that I'm always closing doors and, obviously, was counting on that, Kevin replied coldly. And who are you to blame me, anyway? What's your role in all this, Selena Silver? Are you saying you were just a regular student of my uncle? he sceptically looked over the cute girl.

Well yes, imagine that! she replied harshly. I said it already, but I'll repeat for those who have trouble hearing from the height of their pedestal! Professor was teaching a class in this semester... He was a good lecturer, I even stayed after the class a couple of times to ask some questions. Being his student was easy and interesting, but after the exams were over, I thought we won't communicate much. Then, all of a sudden, he called my rented appartment yesterday night – I have no idea where he got the number from, was too confused to ask. He asked me to come at three sharp, and explained in detail how to get to the mansion. I suspected that something is wrong, but decided to go anyway. Who could've thought that professor was up to something like that?!

We won't understand his logic now anyway, all that's left is to follow the orders, young man was frowning to his thoughts. We need to take a picture in Park of the Blue Rocks. I figure there's no reason to postpone it, so let's go there tomorrow morning.

No-o, you're the one who needs it, Selena drawled, or else you won't get your heritage... As for me, I don't owe anything to anyone!

I won't beg you and I won't quarrel, the gaze of Kevin's grey eyes was fixed on her face. But do you hate me that much already? putting the question this way was no accident. Evanford himself has felt a steady aversion since the moment he saw her. Even if her behavior isn't determined by stress, and she is always so short-tempered, it's not enough to justify such a strong, almost hostile attitude. Young man wan't able to find the cause of those feelings, and that was confusing.

Hate you? It's like I've got nothing better to do! Silver scoffed. Okay, see you tomorrow at the park entrance... At about eleven. Don't forget the camera! After a few seconds of pondering she added: If there will be any news regarding professor, drop a message to my pager, the girl tore out a sheet from the notebook, wrote the number down and headed to the door.

Hold on a second, what is it you're taking? he nodded at the book that Selena picked up from the table. For a moment Silver looked like she herself couldn't understand what she holds in her hands, but collected herself instantly:

No, I've changed my mind. I've got nowhere to put it, she placed The Door back at the table. By the way... It seems to be the book professor was talking about.

Really? Evanford raised his eyebrows. So, have you read it yet?

No... I'll read it later, when I have time, without even looking, Silver opened the book cover and suddenly tore out the first page. Folding it in four as she walked to the door, Selena stuffed it into her purse with one hand – the other one was already turning the door handle. Tomorrow at eleven! she shouted and darted out into the corridor.

Evanford shrugged. The girl didn't need to run away – it's not like he's going to chase her because of something like that. If the guest was wrong, an unfamiliar book from the uncle's library will simply be of no interest to him. If she was right – all the more reason to leave it as it is, not risking by opening it. Kevin glanced at the book again, turned away and left the library.

***

Strolling slowly, Selena didn't notice the beauty of the neighborhood any more – before here eyes, there was professor's shape in the window opening, the book cover, cops' faces were flashing, a prison gate started looming... The girl shook her head. The day was absolutely awful, but in the end, noone has died, noone was jailed, and anyway, there's no point in thinking about this any longer. She could use some distraction... Maybe it's worth calling that man that wanted to ask her out? They've exchanged their numbers, and the guy has even dropped some messages on her pager, but Silver hasn't replied then. Selena barely knew him, but it's for the best. They'll make some small talk about music, get