fantasy literature
fantasy
Journey Begins Now
"What are you thinking about?"exclaimed Aakriti in a soft voice. She jolted Anushri who was staring at the chair on the other side."Shhh!" the librarian warned Aakriti for the second time with her crazy eyes. "Just imagine!" if we can visit the world of any book we want" Anushri said, combing her hair with fingers as she continued staring at the chair. "You and your imagination. Will you stop staring at the chair and focus on our project?" "Right," Anushri hastily agreed. "Shhh!" Another warning signal.
Aakriti and Anushri have been best friends since they were in second grade. Both of them loved reading books.For each of them books were the gateway to explore new world. "Hey! my brother was saying that there's a new library in that corner of the street where we used to have panipuri. We should visit it tomorrow." Anushri said. This time the librarian with crazy eyes pulled their ear and asked them to go out.
"Yes!we should go and check the books out there and hope the librarian there does not have crazy eyes." Both of them bursted out laughing. That night, Anushri, before sleeping took out the small key, once gifted by her grandfather on her 10th birthday and as usual wondered on it's purpose. She always kept that key under her matress not because she loved her grandfather. Next day, as decided Aakriti and Anushri went to visit the library. The library was at the corner of the street. The entrance of the library was lined with wall tiles depicting night and morning. It was a small library and looked compact with five book racks. The walls were also corner was a librarian arranging books. "No one is here."said Aakriti. "Well, it is obvious. Everyone must be busy watching movies on the weekend and here we, busy scrolling the library." Aakriti sighed. "Can I help you?" The librarian emerged in front of them out of nowhere. Both of them were taken aback for a moment. The librarian was an old man in his seventies. Anushri said, "We just wanted to visit the new library." "It's such a great pleasure to welcome two young minds in my small library."said the old man. "You people are my first readers."he added. "Thank you!" exclaimed Aakriti, with a bright smile on her face. "Let's explore!"exclaimed Aakriti.
Next weekend they again visited the library. "Today I will go through this book rack."said Anushri, pointing at the book rack, full of old books. Aakriti went to the other side. Anushri noticed that in that particular bookrack, one book was standing out. The book appeared bulkier in comparison to the other books. The title of the book was "The Journey Begins Now" She picked out the book. The outer cover of the book was blank. The layer of the cover was
red,completely red. She excitedly turned the cover of the book. The first sentence on the first page was,"Welcome! to my world." She felt like the book was inviting her. She decided to burrow the book from the library. That night, after having dinner, she jumped on her bed with the book in her hand. As she turned the pages of the book, her matress started vibrating. "Earthquake!" she uttered. However, the water bottle on the side of her bed was still. She closed the book. The mattress stopped vibrating. She turned the pages of the book. The mattress again started vibrating. She kept the book aside without losing it and turned over the vibrating mattress. To her amazement, it was not the mattress which was vibrating but it was the key, the same key, gifted bu her grandfather. The key was shining and vibrating at the same time. "What is happening?! Should I call my parents?! No! They must be asleep. Is something wrong with me, which is making me see things. No! it was vibrating for real...what should I do? What should I do? OK!" She slammed the mattress down and closed the book. As soon as she closed the book, the mattress stopped vibrating. She locked the book inside her closet and took the key and threw it inside the drawer." That night, she was not able to sleep properly. Next morning as soon as she reached school, she poured every detail to Aakriti. "Really?!" Aakriti shockingly asked. "Then, today night stay is on!"
As soon as they finished the dinner, they locked their door. "Should we consult our parents?" Anushri said with a shaky voice. "Arey yaar! Don't be a coward. Where is the book?" "It's inside the closet. This is the key." Aakai opened the closet. The red book was there, lying quiet and calm. Aakriti slowly took the book as if it is going to break and kept it on the bed. "You open it." Aakriti said. "You're the daredevil. You open it." "You burrowed the book." Aakriti rolled her eyes. "Ok! stop rolling your eyes."
Anushri slowly turned the page. As soon as, she turned the page, the drawer started vibrating. She again closed the book. "The key is is there." Anushri pointed at the drawer. Aakriti opened the drawer and took tye key. Both of them sat in front of the bed and kept the book and the key together. Aakriti held the key in her hands and Anushri turned the pages of the book. The key started vibrating again. "Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Aakriti. Anushri kept on turning pages but as soon as she was on page number 55, the key flew and dropped on the page. It also stopped vibrating. There was a picture of key on that page. Both of them looked at each other with astonishment. As the key was not in alignment with the picture. Anushri kept the key in an alignment. As soon as, she did that, both of them pulled inside the book.
Both of them popped up in front of thr big gate. "What happened just now? Are we inside the book? Where are we?" Aakriti said. She was very nervous whereas Anushri was spellbound. "Yes! both of you are inside the book. Welcome to my world." The loud voice came out of nowhere. The voice continued "I will guide you in this journey." Aakriti and Anushri looked at each other and gave the signal of agreement as there's no other option rather than following the voice. "Ok! we will follow you but first tell us...Will we ever get out of this book?!, What is this world? Why are we here?"
" I cannot share all the details right now but all you have to know is, the creator of this world is captured by the evils. Both of you have to help him set free. Once he is free, you will also be free." "But...how are we suppose to do that? We arejust kids." "Remember kids are the most powerful beings as you have the power of imagination with you. Use your power and help the creator." Both of them looked at each other and gave a signal of agreement with their eyes.
They summoned up all the courage and entered the gate. They were mesmerized by the view out there. "Look there!" said Aakriti, noticing the big trees with colorful feathers. The trees even had doors. Anushri ran towards one of the trees nearby. Four feathers fell from the tree. "Take the feather and keep it on your feet."the voice said. Both of the girls kept the feathers on their feet and the feathers turned into silver shoes. "These shoes will help you travel faster...will help you levitate." They started floating in the sir and movies around. "Ok now the first stop is door number 10." the voice said.
The door number 10 was a small wooden door in front of a huge stone cave. " Take a look on the crack of the door. There's a key. Alone with the key there are two small black pearls. Attach the pearl in your ear. This pearl will help you listen to me." Anushri took the key and did what the voice asked them to. The voice spoke to both of them "Now knock three times softly and unlock the door." Aakriti knocked three times softly and Anushri opened