His whole life changed when he saw the door. Far at the back of the public library. The big, gold wooden door led into a world beyond books where all people had different lives and lived different experiences and stories.
Maven held the door's knob and wondered why a door would be in a sea of modern literature. Placed in an old, dusty corner beside rows of shelves. He took the time to study its shape. The wood looked worn and old with strange writings embedded in it.
Maven approached it and turned the knob and then it clicked open. He didn't bother to wait for the door to open fully. He stepped all through the doorway and entered another universe. Another timeline. A new world with a new culture and language.
"What the..." he mumbled as he looked around him.
He had stumbled upon an enchanted land, with rivers like clear glass flowing from huge chasms to a vast lake that shimmered and pulsated like a living being. Tall mountains stretched upward into clouds above the water, their tips lost in the sky. Maven could only imagine what lay on the other side of those snow-capped peaks. His curiosity burned deep inside his chest as his eyes roamed the area.
The trees around were green, tall, and thin, their branches so delicate they appeared almost feathery. The trees stretched upwards like towers dominating the grounds of this strange realm.
Maven nervously smiled when his eyes landed on a delicate foreign building that looked like a castle, palace, temple, or whatever you want to call it. It was a huge white stone building shining under the midday sun, casting long shadows across the waters. Its size dwarfed even the tallest of structures.
As if in response, a soft humming drifted toward him. It sounded like the sound of rushing waters, like the wind rushing past him.
Maven wanted to step back through the door he came. All this beauty couldn't possibly even exist. He was surely imagining things.
But still, he stood there, staring at the structure. What was this place?
It somewhat looked familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it.
From a drawing? A photo?
Maven squinted his eyes, trying hard to recall what had drawn his interest. But then he remembered what he'd been doing in the library.
He was supposed to meet his friends at a particular spot at 11 am but somehow ended up here already.
A wave of nervousness washed over him as he realized he must've gotten caught in some sort of magical bubble or trap. Maybe he just dreamed all this!
He shook his head to dispel these thoughts. It didn't matter. All he needed to do was go back through the door.
Maven turn to leave but the sight before him caused him to halt in his tracks.
The door was not there to be found.
Instead there stood a large tree, about twenty feet tall. Its trunk was wide and thick and seemed as if it reached high up to the sky. It loomed above him, blocking out the bright sunlight and blotting out much of the beautiful scenery around him.
Maven swallowed and took a cautious step back looking up at it.
This was no illusion. It was really there. And it wasn't going away any time soon.
For a moment Maven debated if he should try and figure out how to get home again. Then again, he doesn't know anything about this place. Let alone, are there people? Were they normal? Are there monsters lacking around? Would anyone help him?
Maven shook his head and tried his hardest to push these worries from his mind. It wouldn't do him any good to worry about such trivial matters right now.
Maven turned and looked at the farcical building. He wondered if someone was there. Maybe they could help him.
Then again, what did he have to lose?
Maven shrugged and started walking towards the building. Maybe if they were nice, he could find out more about what this place is. Maybe they'll even let him stay until he returned home.