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y/n stooped in front of the small door, her breath shallow as she carefully inserted the black key into the tiny keyhole. the metal clicked softly as the key slid in, and with a gentle twist, the lock disengaged. for a moment, she froze, the handle in her grasp, her ears straining for the faintest sound of her parents' car outside. nothing but the quiet hum of the house answered her. letting out a small, shaky sigh, she closed her eyes and slowly pulled the door open. a soft breeze stirred her hair, brushing against her face like a whisper. her pulse quickened, and she didn't need to open her eyes to know that the bricks were gone. the air smelled different, carrying a faint hint of something sweet and unfamiliar. her lids fluttered open, and there it was—the colorful tunnel. swirling with rich hues of golds, purples, and blues, the passage seemed to stretch endlessly, its walls alive with an iridescent glow.
it was real. it wasn't a dream or her imagination. it was real.
a smile broke across her face, wide and genuine. "i knew it..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over her excitement. she reached forward and placed her hands on the edges of the tunnel, feeling the cool, smooth surface beneath her fingertips. without a second thought, she crawled forward, her movements quick and eager as she disappeared into the vibrant corridor.
unbeknownst to her, a pair of opal eyes watched her every move from a nearby window sill. the black cat, the one that always lingered around wybie, sat perched silently, its tail flicking behind it. its gaze followed y/n as she vanished into the tunnel. its expression, though unreadable, held a flicker of concern. with a small leap, the cat disappeared from the window, its bony figure trotting along a mud-covered path as it tried to look for a way inside the pink palace apartments whilst inside the tunnel, y/n felt a giddy, almost childlike joy bubble in her chest.
the colors seemed to pulse and swirl around her, drawing her further in with every crawl. she emerged on the other side and straightened up, brushing off her knees as she looked around. the warm glow of the other world greeted her like an embrace, filling her with a deep sense of comfort. "hello?" she called out, her voice echoing softly in the familiar-yet-different house. she stepped into the living room, her eyes scanning the space for a sign of the other mother. "other mother?" she tried again, but the room was empty.
then, her gaze shifted to the dining table, and she froze. waiting for her was a feast: foot-long hot dogs neatly dressed with relish, perfectly golden grilled cheese sandwiches paired with crisp gherkins, a heaping basket of curly fries, and bowls of creamy coleslaw and potato salad. five bottles of soda-pop stood at attention, each a different color, the glass glistening with condensation. her stomach growled at the sight, and for a moment, she couldn't help but admire the spread. but the happiness she'd felt moments ago began to falter. as tempting as the food looked, she didn't want to eat alone.
"other father?" she called, her voice quieter this time as she turned away from the table. walking down the hall, she peeked into the office, half-expecting to see the other father at his piano, his fingers dancing over the keys in a lively tune. but the room was empty, the chair pushed in, and the piano closed. her brows knitted together in confusion.
