House of Sin

House of Sin(Joseph Logsdon) House of Sin
By Joseph Logsdon

Joseph Burton loved his father. When Joseph was a young boy, he played with his father until the sun went down and the world seemed beautiful. As time passed, Joseph’s relationship with his father began to weaken. Eventually, Joseph left his hometown and went to college. Once there, Joseph became a new man. He learned values, morals, and principles. After attending college for several years, Joseph got married to a kind and loving nurse. Joseph Burton had a successful life, but that life would soon take a dark and tragic turn.

It was no surprise when Joseph learned that his father had committed suicide. Joseph’s father had been an alcoholic for decades. Nothing pleased him, not even the sight of his own grandchildren. He had become bitter, lonely, and angry. Joseph hated the fact that he could not save his father and he wanted to make amends. Joseph’s father was a poor man, but his house was filled with valuable family artifacts. Throughout his life, Joseph had never seen his father’s basement. Despite his curiosity, his father never allowed him to travel to the lowest part of the house. After years of being kept in the dark, Joseph Burton would finally get to see the dark and gloomy basement.

Joseph’s father had left him everything. In Joseph’s mind, his father wanted to make up for not being the perfect parent. The house was dark and damp as Joseph opened the front door. To Joseph’s surprise, a woman was standing inside the house. At first, he was frightened. However, he eventually gained the courage to approach her.
“Who are you?” Joseph asked.
“Who are you?” she replied.
“I’m Todd Burton’s son. What are you doing in his house?”
“I was his girlfriend,” she answered.
“I didn’t know my father was seeing anyone.”
“He was most certainly seeing me,” she laughed.
“What’s your name?” Joseph asked.
“My name his Gloria Holden, but my name wouldn’t mean anything to you.”
“What do you mean?” Joseph asked.
“I’m not a respectable woman. You see, your father was paying me to see him. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth,” she said.
Joseph’s heart skipped a beat as he learned that his father had been dating a prostitute in his final years.
“My father would never degrade himself in such a vile and disgusting manner!” Joseph shouted.
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?” Gloria replied.
“Get out of his house!” Joseph shouted.
“Or what?”
“I’ll throw you out,” he threatened.
“Your father said that I could live in this house as long as I wanted,” Gloria stated.
“He’s dead, Gloria. I want you out of here in 10 minutes!” Joseph demanded.

Without further hesitation, Joseph got out the key to the basement and unlocked the door. Gloria stared as Joseph made his way down the dark and gloomy steps. As time passed, a filthy and disturbing odor began to reach Joseph’s nose. Despite his courage, Joseph could barely stand the smell. When Joseph reached the bottom of the steps, pure darkness surrounded him.
“Do you need any help?” Gloria asked from upstairs.
“I’m fine!” Joseph shouted back.
Joseph struggled to find a light switch as he wondered through the darkness. The room was cold, wet, and ominous. Sadness entered Joseph’s heart and he became frightened. Suddenly and without warning, Joseph tripped and fell. However, he did not land on the floor. To Joseph’s surprise, a dead eye stared back at him. He didn’t want to admit it, but Joseph realized that he had fallen on a dead body. The body was cold, stiff, and damaged. Joseph rose from the floor in horror. Suddenly, sunlight traveled through the window and revealed that the basement floor was covered with corpses. Joseph was shocked, horrified, and ashamed to learn that his father had been a serial killer.
He wanted to scream, but his rational mind prevented him from crying out. He could not let the world know that his father had committed horrible and unforgivable crimes. Joseph kept calm as he made his way up the steps. Once Joseph reached the top, he closed the door behind him.
“What did you see?” Gloria asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he replied.
“I’ve always wanted to know about his basement. You see, your father would never let me go down there.”
“You don’t want to go down there,” Joseph replied.
“Why not?”
“There are some things in this world that should never be discovered, Gloria. I know you don’t want to, but you must go home.”
“Sir, I don’t have a home.”
“What do you mean?” Joseph asked.
“My mother kicked me out of the house when I was sixteen years old. Ever since then, I’ve been living off of damaged and greedy men. I wanted to go to college and get an education, but I didn’t have the money for that. Sir, this house is all I have.”
“I feel sorry for you, I really do. However, you can’t stay here.”
“Why not?” Gloria asked.
“I can’t tell you.”
“It’s about the basement, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Joseph replied.
“Do you have money stashed away?”
“That’s complete nonsense!” Joseph shouted.
“What are you hiding?” Gloria asked again.
“Leave this house!”
“Not until I get the truth,” she declared.
Without further hesitation, Gloria ran and opened the basement door. She hurried down the steps and disappeared into the darkness.
“Gloria!” Joseph shouted.
Joseph followed her into the basement. Once there, he saw Gloria staring at the dead corpses. At first, she didn’t seem to have any emotion. As time passed, tears poured down her delicate face.
“I told you not to come down here.”
“They’re dead,” she said.
“I didn’t want you to know.”
“Did your father do this?” Gloria asked.
“I’m afraid so, Gloria.”
“We have to tell the police,” she declared.
“We can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“He was my father! I don’t want people to see him as a monster, Gloria.”
“Are we just going to pretend that this never happened?” Gloria asked.
“I’ll never forget. However, I cannot destroy my family name.”
“I’m calling the police,” Gloria stated.
Without further hesitation, Gloria attempted to get out her cell phone. Despite her effort, Gloria was stopped by Joseph’s powerful arms.
“What are you doing?” Gloria asked.
“I won’t let you destroy my family name. I’m sorry, but I have to do this!”
Gloria's face turned pale as Joseph continued to strangle her. After several seconds, Gloria Holden was dead. Like his father, Joseph Burton had become a monster. Gloria joined the countless other corpses in the basement. As Joseph left the basement, he realized that he had become his father. In time, he would most certainly follow in his footsteps.