John and Mary squinted into the darkness beyond the strange concrete door. Their new home had a basement with a secret. Odd that they had not noticed it before, nor had the real estate agent mentioned it.

Mary fumbled for a light switch beyond the doorway. With a flick and a flash, the room erupted with reflected light. Everywhere she looked, she saw silver. It all gleamed as if freshly polished.

John noticed a small trunk in the center of the glittering piles of coins and jewelry, shining more brightly than its brethren. Mary watched her husband step forward. John held his breath as he opened the box with a twist of the latch.

“What are you doing?” Mary trembled. Everything about the room and its contents felt like a trap.

She reached to pull him back, but it was too late. The lid sprang open and a sickly green mist burst forth. Mary could hear voices laughing evilly as they escaped.

Pandora’s Gate, indeed. Now their new neighborhood’s name made more sense.

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