A single metallic groan shuddered through the room, long, low, like the settling of old hinges or something heavy scraping the other side of the door. That was enough. Megan grabbed his arm. “We’re not opening that. We’re not. This is not some treasure wall. This isn’t a forgotten cellar. Something’s not right down here. We need to call someone.”
Daniel exhaled hard, adrenaline warring with rational thought. “Yeah. Okay. Yeah.” They scrambled up the ladder, emerging into the living room as if escaping a sinking ship. Daniel pushed the ladder away from the opening and set down a plywood board over the hole just to feel safer. Megan’s hands shook as she dialed 911.