The Old Fireplace

My parents have two fireplaces: one for the ground floor, and one for the absement. The one you see here is the latter. It is not used very often now, if at all. When I was a child, I was fascinated by it. I think it has to do with the stones there, it looks very rustic. I remember in our make-belief games, it used to be the entrance to an ancient cave where cthonian monsters dwell. Like a gateway to Hell. When there was a fire, nobody could get in... or out. It felt deliciously sinister. Even looking at it now, I get a shiver.