Discovering the Passage
In a dimly lit room, illuminated only by a small lamp in the corner of the desk, Seraphina sat on the floor, letting her body slump weakly. Her sobs broke the silence, muffled by the pillow she clutched tightly. Her heart ached as if the world had relentlessly battered her without mercy. The sting of her father's slap still burned on her cheek—an invisible wound that left pain deep in her chest. And then, there was John, who had left her without a word.
"Why was I even born?" she murmured, almost whispering, staring at her blurred reflection in the mirror. Her red, swollen eyes, her disheveled black hair, and the continuous stream of tears only added to her vulnerability that night. Yet, beneath her despair, a new feeling slowly emerged—a growing urge to escape from it all.
Her gaze shifted toward the long corridor visible through the slight gap in her bedroom door.
Her heart told her to stay in the room, but her feet moved on their own. Every step on the wooden floor felt like a journey toward the unknown. As she walked through the old corridor of the house, her mind wandered to thoughts of her mother. This large house was the only thing her late mother had left behind, yet now it felt foreign—as if her mother had taken away all the warmth that once filled it.
At the end of the corridor, she stopped in front of a stone wall that seemed unremarkable. Almost unconsciously, her hand reached out to touch its cold surface. At first glance, the wall appeared ordinary, but her fingers sensed something strange—a nearly invisible narrow gap. A surge of curiosity welled up inside her, like a gentle whisper urging her to push further.
"You shouldn't be here," a small voice in her heart reminded her, echoing her father's unexplained warning. But Seraphina ignored it. She needed answers. She needed something more than meaningless tears.
As she pressed against the gap, a soft click echoed through the silence. The wall shifted, moving little by little, revealing an old wooden door hidden behind it. Seraphina held her breath, her eyes fixed on the intricate carvings on its surface—patterns of flowers and circles that seemed centuries old, glowing faintly with a soft blue light.
"What... is this?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible beneath her astonishment. There was something strange, yet strangely inviting, about this door, as if it were calling to her.
Swallowing hard, her heartbeat quickened. Though fear crept into her, her hand slowly reached for the cold doorknob. As she turned it, the door creaked open.
A long passage stretched beyond the doorway, shrouded in darkness and mystery. The air was cold and damp, as if it had just been drenched in rain. The walls were covered with carvings even more intricate than those on the door—ancient symbols that felt oddly familiar, though she had never seen them before. Some resembled stars, magical circles, and a floral emblem she had seen in her mother's diary.
The small lamp she had brought from her room illuminated her path, but the surrounding darkness felt heavy, almost as if it were breathing.
Midway down the passage, she halted. Her eyes locked onto a deeply carved pattern, more pronounced than the others—a crown surrounded by flames.
Then, she heard something—a whisper, or perhaps just her imagination.
"Seraphina... you've finally come."
Seraphina turned her head in all directions, but the corridor remained empty. She tightened her grip on the small lamp, trying to dispel the growing fear inside her.
Her steps carried her to the end of the passage, where an even grander door stood. This one gleamed brightly, almost blindingly, adorned with the same floral engravings as the first door. As she touched it, warmth spread through her body, replacing the cold of the corridor.
As the door swung open, Seraphina was stunned. A brilliant light poured out, forcing her to squint. When she finally dared to peek, she saw what seemed like an endless forest—but the image was too blurry to be certain.
A cool breeze brushed against her face, carrying the scent of flowers and damp earth.
Just as she stepped closer for a better look, the door suddenly slammed shut with a loud thud, making her stumble back.
Would Seraphina dare to try entering again? Or was this door merely the beginning of something far more dangerous?
---
Her mother's old house had always felt different to Seraphina. Though she had lived there since childhood, something about it made her feel like a stranger, as if the walls and corridors held secrets they refused to reveal.
The night was restless, the sound of rain drumming against the window, wrapping memories in a rhythm both soothing and piercing. The soft glow of her desk lamp cast a dim, golden light over the room, barely strong enough to chase away the shadows lurking in its corners.
Her eyes felt heavy after a day consumed by endless family conflicts. Yet, for some reason, something unsettled her. An inexplicable urge pushed her to leave her room, as if a faint whisper was calling her, guiding her toward something she had never discovered before.
Following her instincts, she walked down the long corridor, her footsteps echoing against the wooden floor. The cold air clung to her skin, making her pull the scarf around her shoulders tighter. Then, she stopped in front of the old library—a room she had rarely entered since her mother's passing.
The wooden door creaked open as she pushed it. The scent of old books and damp wood filled the air, triggering a wave of nostalgia that almost made her turn back. But then, her eyes landed on something unusual in the corner of the room.
A slightly shifted bookshelf.
Her heartbeat quickened.
With trembling hands, she stepped closer and touched the edge of the shelf. At first, nothing seemed out of place—until her fingers brushed against a thin slit on its back. Carefully, she slid her hand into the gap and pulled out what felt like an old piece of paper.
An envelope.
Her fingers traced its surface, and something inside her trembled when she saw the familiar handwriting on the front.
"To my daughter, Seraphina, if you have finally found this."
Her hands shook as she opened the envelope. The paper inside had yellowed with age, but her mother's words remained clear.
"My dearest Seraphina, if you are reading this, it means the time has come. I know you have questions, and I hope this letter will provide you with some answers. I love you always. No matter what your father tells you, never doubt that you are the light of my life. I want you to know that this world is much bigger than you..."
Chapter 4: Curiosity
The night sky clutched the old house in a silence that nearly swallowed all of Seraphina's courage. Only the sound of rain tapping against the window and the whisper of the wind sneaking through the cracks in the walls accompanied her hesitant steps. She stood before the wooden door—one that had remained an unspoken prohibition within her family.
Her mother's letter was still tightly gripped in her hand. The words echoed in her mind.
"Find that door. The door you were never allowed to open."
Seraphina swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached for the doorknob. She wasn't sure whether what she felt was more fear or overwhelming curiosity. Perhaps both.
"This is foolish," she muttered, her voice small in the quiet room. "But I have to know."
She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the tension clawing at her back. Her mother's image flashed in her mind, smiling gently as she always did. She wanted to believe that her mother wouldn't lead her astray. But what if, beyond this door, something far worse than anything she could imagine awaited her?
She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, as if it could shield her from the creeping cold. Half of her hoped her father—or someone—would stop her. But the house remained silent, almost as if it were encouraging her decision.
Her hand reached for the doorknob, but she didn't turn it right away. Instead, she pressed her ear against the old wood. No sound came from the other side, yet a strange sensation coiled in her stomach. As if something—or someone—was waiting.
"Don't be foolish, Seraphina," she whispered to herself, yet she still didn't move.
She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing all the possibilities. What was her mother hiding? Why was she the only one who had to find it? Why had her father been so adamant about keeping her away from this door?
Then, as if something inside the room was pulling her in, her hand moved on its own, slowly turning the knob. A small click echoed, making her heart leap.
The door wasn't locked.
At that very moment, the air around her shifted. The chill that had been merely discomforting now felt thicker, heavier. Like air from somewhere else—somewhere that wasn't part of this house.
She drew in a sharp breath. Fear gripped her again, but curiosity burned through her veins.
"If I don't step forward now, I'll never know the truth."
With her heart pounding painfully in her chest, Seraphina pushed the door open—and what she saw beyond was not a mere hallway.
Not darkness.
Not light.
But something that had never existed in the world she knew.
**
Seraphina blinked, her breath still unsteady. She was standing at the threshold, but what lay before her was no longer her home's corridor.
The air was colder, seeping through the thin fabric of her nightgown. The scent of damp earth and leaves filled her lungs, mixed with something unfamiliar—something magical, like a flower that didn't belong in reality.
Before her stretched a dense forest. Towering trees with bluish leaves swayed gently, as if beckoning her inside. The sky above wasn't blue or dark but a deep violet, streaked with golden lightning. She wanted to turn back, to run home, but when she glanced over her shoulder—
The door was gone.
"Oh, no …" she whispered.
Her heart pounded. No way back. No safety. Just herself, alone in a world completely foreign to her.
Slowly, she stepped forward. The ground beneath her feet was softer than normal grass. It felt alive, breathing with her. With every step, faint lights shimmered beneath her soles, as if the earth recognized her presence.
She stopped, scanning her surroundings.
"Is this a dream?" she murmured. Her voice sounded small, nearly drowned out by the rustling wind and whispering leaves.
Yet, her body felt real. The rough texture of the branch she grasped was real. Even the sharp scent of the air around her was too vivid for a mere illusion.
Then, a low growl rumbled in the distance.
Seraphina froze, holding her breath. Her eyes widened as something moved within the undergrowth—a shadow, large and beast-like.
She took a step back. Then another.
The movement grew clearer, accompanied by the snapping of twigs. She could feel the warmth of a breath from whatever was hiding beyond the bushes.
"Who's there?" Her voice wavered, but no answer came.
Then, from within the darkness, it emerged.
A wolf—but not an ordinary one.
Its fur shimmered like silver, reflecting the violet glow of the sky. Its golden eyes burned with an unblinking intensity. Its breath was rough, sounding like fire crackling inside its chest.
Seraphina wanted to run. She wanted to scream. But her body refused to move.
The creature stepped forward, slowly, like a predator stalking its prey.
Seraphina's mind raced. She didn't know the rules of this world. Would the wolf attack her? Or was this some kind of test?
Before she could decide, the wind howled. A shadow flickered, moving impossibly fast.
A sudden boom echoed, and in an instant, the wolf was sent flying backward, letting out a pained snarl.
Seraphina gasped.
Someone was standing in front of her, their back facing her.
A man, draped in a long red cloak, his shoulder-length hair tousled by the wind. He held a slender, silver blade that glowed under the eerie sky.
"Don't move," he commanded without turning around. His voice was deep and cold.
Seraphina had no idea who he was.
But for the first time since she arrived in this world—she felt just a little safer.
Yet, deep in her heart, she knew this was only the beginning.
**
The forest around Seraphina felt denser than before. The violet sky peeked through the canopy, casting strange shadows that shifted with the wind.
Though her steps were light, every movement made the leaves crunch too loudly in her ears.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing.
Yet, even after the mysterious man had left, she still felt watched. She could feel unseen eyes piercing into her back.
Seraphina swallowed hard. Her breathing grew shallow, as if her lungs refused to work. This world was too foreign, too silent—and that terrified her more than the growl she had heard earlier.
Suddenly, the sound of leaves shifting.
She halted.
From behind a tree, another figure crawled out of the shadows.
She froze.
It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't a bear. It was something in between—massive, covered in golden fur that glowed faintly in the dark. Its crimson eyes burned, and when it opened its mouth, razor-sharp teeth gleamed under the moonlight.
A low growl rumbled—a warning.
Seraphina stepped back. The creature moved forward.
Her heart pounded wildly. She had to run. Now.
But before she could react—
The beast lunged.