You Gently Open The Door Novels & Stories

he says while bowing is head slightly and extending is arm towards the door, opening it for me and nodding politely. I hesitate for a second, not entirely sure if I actually want to go in after them, “it’ll be all right doll, they’re not gonna bite your head off” I sigh and mutter a soft “thank you” as I step through the door Sam is still holding for me, feeling like a first time visitor in my own home.

Swiftly, I seize the opportunity to offer him my pillow, which he gratefully snuggles into. With Neo content for the moment, I swiftly spring into action, selecting comfortable attire and swiftly slipping on my shoes. As I cautiously crack open the door, I steal a final glance at Neo, silently hoping that he won't be too upset upon awakening. With a soft click, I gently close the door behind me, leaving Neo undisturbed in his slumber.

“Open the door.” My pulse spiked. No. Not this time.

I back out of the room and I pull the door to its original position. The front door moves. Not opens. Moves. The specific sound and quality of a key entering a lock from the outside, the slight pressure change of a door about to be opened, the pause of someone whose key is already inserted and who is about to turn it. I am standing in the kitchen. I have approximately two seconds.

I can't look like I've been crying. I walk to the door, hesitating with my hand on the latch. I peer through the wide-angle peephole. It's a young man in a white uniform, holding a large, silver-domed trolley. He’s standing perfectly straight, looking professional and entirely harmless. No sign of Zeke lurking around the corner. Good. I undo the latch and open the door just enough to slide my body partially behind it. “You can leave it right there,” I say flatly, pointing at the small entryway table.

It would be much less messy if Gladys would simply open the door. “We are looking for Gregory,” I said. “Open the door, let us conduct our search, and we will be on our way.” “Gregory isn’t here,” Gladys said, like I was just supposed to take her word for it. “We have to come in and check.” I waited for a response. When she didn’t give one, I told her, “Open the gate, Gladys, or we will knock it down.” I waited a moment more, my irritation rising. I lifted my hand, yet before I could give the signal, a buzzer sounded and the gate at last popped open.

“But keep your fire, princess. We’re gonna need it for what comes next.” He opened the door with a casual flourish, letting her step out first. To anyone else watching, it looked like nothing had happened…

I would handle it. Then I opened the door.

The question was, how to open it. Quietly and slowly, I opened up the door and peaked out. There was no one in the hallway and I finally opened the door fully and stretched. Rolling my shoulders, I looked at the wall opposite of me. Looking down at the phone and where the line of the stone door was, it was imperceptible to the eye or touch. I started to touch every stone on either side of the door, thinking one of them maybe was a mechanism to open the door.

A small smile crept onto my face as I sensed her trepidation. "Alicia, I know you're in there. Open the door before I handle it my way," I warned, my voice firm. Still, there was no response, and it seemed she wasn't willing to yield, given the lack of movement from inside her room. "Alicia, I'm still being considerate. Open this door... or..." I began, but before I could finish my sentence, the door creaked open without anyone appearing behind it. Cautiously, I pushed it slightly to ensure she wasn't standing there, so I wouldn't accidentally hurt her. Then, I slowly entered and closed the door behind me.