A Night of Secrets

Down the stairs

«Look at all that snow!"

Peter tried to act cool and didn't look up from the book he was reading, but Susan came over to the window. She leaned her forehead to the glass, grimacing. "I hate snow."

There was a screeching sound, signalling that someone was about to talk over the school's intercom.

Students present on school ground, please be advised that we will be locking the doors due to heavy snow. It is predicted to get worse, so check that you have warm clothes and candles in your room in case the power goes out.

Lucy frowned, she didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid of the dark. "Maybe we should just stay here in the library?"

The door opened suddenly, and Edward came huddling through it. "It's freezing outside, I've never seen so much snow." He hung his coat up by the fire and went to stand before it, warming his hands.

Lucy embraced herself, the wind was howling around the corners. She sat down beside Peter, who laid down the book he was reading. He rolled his eyes; "This is about to be the most boring weekend ever, locked in here with only you guys." Susan smacked him in the back of his head, "Don't complain, you love us."

The four of them, very different in person and looks, had somehow found each other; the only thing in common was this school.

Peter smiled and stood up. "I do, but a whole weekend?" He grabbed the book and walked over to the shelves to put it back. The library was one of Lucy's favourite places in the world, you could almost get lost in there. "Maybe we can play a game? I find a book, read the first sentence and then you have to guess the book."

In lack of something else to do, they all agreed. Lucy walked behind a shelf so they couldn't see which one she chose. Picking one out, she read the sentence out loud.

"In a hole in the ground"

They all groaned. "Too simple" Edward yelled. Lucy knew that, she picked another.

"Where is he?"

Silence. Lucy smiled for herself.

"Now you're just making things up" Susan complained.

"No, wait, I got it." Edward's triumphant voice boomed under the ceiling. "Over sea, under stone."

"One point to Edward."

Lucy picked out one of her favourites, she was named after one of the characters. Yanking it to get it loose, she stumbled a step backwards. She would have made it if it hadn't been for the loud sound from the shelf. Lucy fell on her behind, staring in front of her.

"Lucy? Are you alright?" The others came around to check but were left gaping. The three-meter-high library wall had moved. It was impossible, since it was a shelf on the other side as well, but they all saw it.

A soft glow came from the stairs that led down, and they could hear music. Lucy got up on her feet, and all four stood before the opening.

Peter looked at them; "You know we have to go down, right? Every story we love begins like this."

Susan shook her head, "And every horror-story."

Lucy closed her eyes and took a step forward. "I think we have to."

Edward grabbed her hand, looked back at the others and together they took the first steps down the stair. Behind her, she could hear Peter and Susan follow. They couldn't see the bottom, there was a turn. Lucy swallowed, and continued down. The smell of dust, books and candles rose from the bottom. They reached the last step, before them a long hallway clad in stone appeared. There were doors on each side, lighted up by torches. Peter pushed her gently and she kept going. Edward's hand was sweaty in hers.

When they reached the first door, they saw a small window. Peter was the tallest and looked into the room. Susan pulled his sleeve; "What do you see?"

"There's a man, sitting behind a desk, writing something on a paper." His whispering voice could be heard clearly. "He looks kind of familiar, but I can't remember where I know him from."

Edward investigated the door on the other side. "Same thing her, but it's a woman. And I recognize her. I'm pretty sure that's Mary Shelley."

Susan laughed. "Mary Shelley died in 1851."

Peter turned away from the door. "And this is Lewis Carroll!"

Lucy ran to the third door and jumped to get a look. She saw a man wandering around, pulling his hair. She slapped her hand over her mouth to stop the scream; "This have to be Tolkien, with his pipe and all."

"Dead authors, what is happening?" Susan looked bewildered.

"Welcome"

A deep voice startled them; making Lucy hide behind Peter's back.

The man had a big nose, kind looking eyes and curly hair.

"Welcome to the Forevermore."

He had a strange accent, hard to place. Lucy took a step forward, "Excuse me, sir. What do you mean, Forevermore?" He smiled back at her, "This is the place where stories stay alive Forevermore. The ones that live on forever. You see, we get a choice; our stories can be told and be forgotten, or we can let them live forever. The downside is this place. We don't see many outsiders, you have to be a true lover of books to enter."

Peter made big eyes, "So you have to stay down here forever?"

Andersen nodded, "As long as we want our stories to be remembered." Susan had tears in her eyes, "Wow, that sounds awful."

"In the whole, it's worth the sacrifice." He smiled at Lucy, "What do you say, want to meet Clive and take a trip to Narnia?"

Her heart jumped out of her chest, "We can do that?"

A booming laughter came from one of the doors, Mr Dahl smiled at them. "Here we can do anything you want."