The bookstore hadn't been there yesterday.
Lily paused in front of the narrow doorway, brows knitting together. She knew this street—walked it nearly every day—and yet, here it was. A weathered wooden sign hung overhead: Forgotten Stories.
Something about it made her uneasy. But still, she stepped inside.
The air was thick with the scent of dust and parchment. Lanterns flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the shelves, which stretched impossibly high, crammed with books that seemed to shift when she wasn't looking directly at them. Behind the counter stood the bookseller.
He was watching her. Not in a welcoming way, but like he already knew why she was here. Like he has been expecting her. His coat was a little too worn at the edges and his fingers drumming restlessly against the counter. In front of him sat a single book.
"You shouldn't be here," he murmured.
Lily swallowed. "Then why is your shop open?".
A flicker of something crossed the bookseller's face—regret, maybe. But his hand rested on the book, as if unwilling to let it go and yet knowing he had to.
"This is yours," he said.
She frowned. "I didn't ask for a book."
"You don't have to." His voice was quiet. "It's already chosen you."
Lily eyed the book. Deep blue leather, gold lettering she couldn't quite read. A strange pull settled in her chest.
"How much?" she asked.
The bookseller's fingers curled slightly. "Not money."
Lily hesitated. "Then what?".
"A trade."
A chill ran through her. "A trade for what?".
The bookseller's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "A memory."
Lily blinked. "What kind of memory?".
"Something small. Something you won't even notice is gone."
His voice wasn't coaxing. If anything, it was almost reluctant.
Lily should have walked away.
Instead, she reached for the book.
The bookseller closed his eyes.
The deal was made.
Lily stepped out into the cold night, the book clutched tight in her hands. She turned back.
The bookstore was gone.
Her stomach twisted, but she didn't stop. She just kept walking.
...
"Where were you?". Lily's mother snapped.
"She skipped school," her stepfather said, barely looking up.
"I didn't—" The slap came fast, stinging her cheek.
"Don't lie to me."
Lily didn't argue. She just turned, went to her room, and locked the door, the book pressed tight against her chest.
Lily lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She was done. Done fighting, done hoping.
Her hand tightened around the book. Maybe it was her way out.
"What could a book do to help me anyway?" Lily muttered.
Still, she didn't let it go.
A sudden breeze swept through the room, even though the windows were shut.
Lily's breath caught as the book's pages flipped open on their own.
"Dreamland is a place filled with hopes and dreams, whether you choose to believe or despair, your dreams lead you from everywhere."
"What does that mean?". Lily murmured, her eyes tracing the words on the first page of the book.
The ink shimmered, shifting like it was alive. A chill ran through Lily.
Heart pounding, she reached out and touched the page.
The world flickered.
Then, the book whispered.
A whisper drifted through the air, barely a breath. Lily froze.
Ink spread across the page, reshaping itself into new words.
"Welcome home, Lily."
Her pulse hammered. How did it know her name?
She shut the book with shaking hands. The air around her felt different—thicker, heavier.
Then, a voice. Low, calm.
"You opened it."
The ground tilted. The world blurred.
And then—nothing.
When she opened her eyes, she was somewhere else.
Lily stood frozen, the book clutched tight in her hands. Around her, a dense green forest stretched endlessly, sunlight breaking through the towering trees in scattered beams. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers.
Leaves rustled, though there was no breeze. Somewhere in the distance, a bird called out—its song unfamiliar.
Turning slowly, she searched for anything familiar. A road, a sign, a way back. But there was nothing. Just trees. Just green.
Her chest tightened.
Where am I?
Lily's breath came fast. Her clothes were different—soft green tunic, braided belt, leather boots. But the book was still in her hands, real and solid.
A low hum drifted through the trees. Chanting? Voices?
She turned toward the sound. Standing still wouldn't help.
She moved forward, passing trees etched with faintly glowing symbols. The hum grew louder, vibrating in her chest.
Then she saw it—a stone archway covered in vines, standing alone in the forest.
Waiting.
Lily tightened her grip on the book and stepped closer. The archway loomed before her, its stone worn and tangled with vines. The air felt charged, humming with something unseen.
Then—silence. The humming stopped.
She hesitated, then reached out, fingertips grazing the stone. A warmth rushed through her arm. The vines curled back, and beneath the arch, the air shimmered—gold and deep blue, shifting like water.
Her pulse pounded.
No turning back now.
She took a breath, held onto the book, and stepped through.
Lily stepped through.
Warmth wrapped around her, pulling her forward. Colors swirled—gold, blue, green—blurring together. A rush of sound filled her ears, like wind and whispers all at once.
Then—solid ground.
She stumbled, catching herself against a tree. The air was warm, thick with the scent of flowers and damp earth. Sunlight streamed through towering trees, their trunks carved with faintly glowing symbols. Soft petals drifted down, disappearing before they touched the ground.
She turned. The archway was gone. But the book was still in her hands.
A rustling ahead. Footsteps.
She wasn't alone.
Lily froze. The book whispered in her hands.
"Keep going."
The voice was soft, almost comforting, like it was speaking directly to her.
"You're not alone. Trust the path."
Her heart raced, but the words calmed her. The footsteps were closer now.
With the book still in her grip, she took a deep breath and moved forward.
Lily took a step back as a figure emerged from the shadows. A voice that seemed to echo through the stillness.
"You've come."
Her heart raced. She gripped the book tighter.
"Who are you?" Lily asked, her voice trembling.
The figure lowered their hood, revealing delicate features and sparkling eyes—a forest fairy, her wings shimmering in the dappled light.
"A guide," the fairy said, her voice light and soft. "And perhaps, something more."
She smiled and gestured for Lily to follow.
"Come. The path awaits you."
Lily followed the fairy, the forest around them growing denser, more alive with every step. Strange creatures peeked out from the shadows, their eyes glowing as they passed.
After a long silence, they reached the Red Castle. Its towering, blood-red walls loomed ahead, casting a dark shadow.
"That's where you need to go," the fairy said quietly. "The answer you are looking for are inside."
Lily felt a strange pull, a mix of fear and curiosity. The castle's sharp turrets seemed to pierce the sky, and she could feel something powerful coming from it. The book in her hands thrummed with energy, matching her rapid heartbeat.
They stopped at the gates, and the fairy turned to her.
"It's time." she said gently. "Go."
Lily hesitated, glancing at the fairy.
"Will you come with me?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with hope.
The fairy's wings fluttered, and she shook her head gently. "I can't."
Lily's chest tightened, but the fairy smiled at her, her eyes kind. "You won't be alone inside. The answer you're seeking—they're waiting for you."
Lily swallowed hard and nodded, her fingers tightening around the book. "Thank you."
With one last look, the fairy gave a small nod, her wings fluttering lightly. "You'll find your way."
Lily took a deep breath and stepped through the gates.
Lily stepped through the gates, the Red Castle stood quiet in the twilight, its crimson walls warm with the last light of day. Roses climbed its arches, and the air felt thick with unspoken stories.
A voice, low and soft, broke the silence. "Welcome—Lily."
She froze. It wasn't the fairy's voice. It wasn't the book's.
A shadow shifted in the distance.
"I've been waiting for you."
Lily's heart raced. She instinctively stepped back, but the figure moved forward, and with a deafening crash, the door behind her slammed shut.