W5: "The Secret Door in My School Leads to..."

For almost two years, I had spent countless hours in the radio lab, buried under assignments and the soft hum of static-filled frequencies. Right beside the lab, there was an old emergency exit door, its edges coated in dust, its handle untouched. I had always assumed it led to a forgotten staircase or an abandoned storage room.

But that day was different.

Frustrated with my assignment, I leaned back, stretching my tired arms when I noticed something unusual—the door was slightly ajar. A thin sliver of golden light seeped through the gap. My heart pounded. That door had always been locked.

Curiosity took hold.

I hesitated only for a moment before reaching out, fingers trembling. As I pushed it open, I expected to find nothing more than a dimly lit stairwell.

Instead, I stepped into another world.

A magical kingdom stretched before me, glowing under a sky that shifted colors like an endless sunset. Floating islands drifted lazily in the distance, connected by shimmering bridges. Towering castles gleamed like crystal, their spires twisting toward the heavens. The air smelled of wildflowers and honeyed pastries, and a soft breeze carried whispers of laughter and music.

I turned, expecting to see the door behind me. It was gone.

"Another traveler?"

I spun around to see a girl standing nearby, her robes woven with what looked like threads of stardust. Her silver hair moved as if caught in an invisible current, her violet eyes shimmering with curiosity.

"You came through the hidden door," she mused, tilting her head. "That means you're the chosen one."

I blinked. "Chosen for what?"

Her gaze turned serious. "Our kingdom is in danger. The Heart of Lumora—the crystal that keeps our world alive—was stolen by the Shadow King. Without it, the land will fade into darkness."

A hush fell over the crowd that had gathered around us—elves with glowing eyes, knights clad in shimmering armor, and even creatures I had only seen in fairy tales.

"You," the girl continued, "are the only one who can retrieve it. The Shadow King’s magic cannot sense you, for you are not of this world."

I had no way back, and an entire kingdom’s fate rested on me. What choice did I have?

The journey that followed was like something out of a storybook. I crossed rivers of liquid silver, climbed mountains that shifted beneath my feet, and wandered through forests where the trees whispered my name.

Finally, I reached the Shadow Fortress.

The air was heavy with darkness. The fortress loomed, an eerie black mass swirling like a frozen storm cloud. I crept through the entrance, my heart hammering as I spotted the Heart of Lumora, glowing faintly from within a crystal cage.

As soon as I touched it, the air shuddered.

A deep voice filled the chamber. "You dare steal from me?"

I turned to face the Shadow King. His form flickered like fire, his eyes burning embers in the dark. I had no sword, no magic—only my words.

I told him about my world, about stories, dreams, and how light and shadow must coexist.

For a moment, he hesitated. His eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then, without a word, he let me go.

As I returned the Heart of Lumora to its rightful place, the kingdom came alive once more. Light spread across the land, and cheers erupted like the rising sun.

The silver-haired girl smiled at me. "Your journey is over. It’s time to return."

A familiar door materialized behind me—the same one from my school. My heart ached. I had found magic, a place beyond imagination… and now I had to leave it behind.

With one last glance at the world I had saved, I stepped through.

I was back in the radio lab.

The door stood shut, as if it had never been opened. My assignment still sat on my desk, the hum of the machines filling the air.

Had it all been real?

I reached into my pocket—and pulled out a tiny, glowing shard of the Heart of Lumora.

I could tell everyone. I could prove what I had seen.

But instead, I smiled.

Some secrets… are meant to be kept.

 

References

Koch, B. (2022, September 13). Facts about using multiple locks with the same key. https://www.oliphantlock.com/emergency-exit-door-locks-selecting-the-right-lock

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