Lost Within

CHAPTER 2

As she descended the stairwell, Della could only see darkness. Her now sweaty hands grazed the stone walls on each side of her. Gradually making her way down, Della noticed a small warm glow beneath her. Down and down she went, all in anticipation as to what could be at the end of the stairs. The stairwell ended at last but now set before her was a long tunnel, with a single lit torch upon one wall. As she walked forward, each wall burst with light. "Torches? how are there lit torches down here?" whispered Della to no one at all. As she continued walking, more torches burst to life, to each side of her. Della placed her shaking, sweaty hands against the rough stone walls; staying near the light, and out of the shadows. The tunnel continued onward,  with beautiful old lit touches, following her every step forward.

The tunnel continued on, ten minutes turned too, fifteen, and fifteen turned into an eternity. The walls stayed the same, nothing changed since entering this tunnel. Della began to get hungry and tired. Her feet began to ache, and wearing thin dress slippers didn't make her feet feel any better. Despite her minor pains she kept going onward, there has to be something here! I'll just go on a little longer, Della thought to herself. Her curiosity compelled her to go onward and reach the end. After walking for another ten minutes or so, she concluded that she couldn't risk being out for so long.  Della just could not bring herself to walk on like this, without knowing what was actually at the end. Exasperated, Della turned around to head back to the library.  When her nose was suddenly tickled with a faint scent of firewood, freshly brewed tea, and old books. Della stopped midstep and sniffed the air. How could this be possible? She twirled around and ran down the tunnel ahead of her. Down the way, she had been walking before.

The smells spiraled around her, growing stronger until she was engulfed in bright light. Della found herself in the middle of a massive circled room. She stood there, mouth agape, taking it all in. The shock slowly subsiding, she then began to wander the massive room. The entire room had walls made of stone with, rows and rows of bookcases, full of books; things she hadn't read or even heard of.  She picked up a book, and the title was in French, she picked up another, and the photos inside the book moved! It had moving pictures. This place is full of magic, Della thought with giddy excitement. And between two bookshelves a grand fireplace roared with life. In front of the fireplace was the comfiest chair Della had ever sat upon, it was a chair where one sinks deep into it, and never wants to get up.  To Della's right, a small elegant wood side table stood. The table contained a beautiful blue teapot, a matching teacup ready to be filled with tea, and a small stack of books beside it. Della picked up the teapot and poured some tea. It was still piping hot. How is this place real? she thought. It was as if someone had been waiting for her to find this place, that's the only explanation for the freshly brewed tea. Knowing about this place made Della smile. This place can't be real, but it is.

She knew she needed to get back to her room before someone noticed she was missing, not just trying to get out of her studies. Della just stood there an extra moment taking the wonderful place in. All she knew was that someone planned for her to find this place, but who? This all made no sense, the secret library, the hot tea, the magical letters, and torches. I have to come back, Della concluded. For now, she needed to run back, before anyone notices she's not hiding in her room as usual.