The Secret Door

  The story of Van’s misadventure in the deserted corridor is quick to spread. At first his friends cannot believe it, and they only did when they meet Van moments later outside the Principal’s office. “Okay Van, tell us what you did,” said Alice sounding shocked and disappointed all the same. Van is not really in the mood right now to recount what happened. He just survived an excruciating hour in the Principal’s office and he reckons his ears are now bleeding after hearing words like idiot boy, or stupid lad, and mischief. Nevertheless, he did tell his friends what happened and as what is expected, no one believed his story that an invisible girl in black is to be blamed. “You’re joking,” Alice said for Van is insisting that he is telling the truth. “Do I look like I’m joking?” He replied coolly. “No wonder why the Principal is furious, it’s like telling him a Sasquatch broke into your home and ate your homework.” And as if the hour-long verbal abuse by the

  Kirsten’s sneering face is a nauseating sight to behold. There is a cold triumph in her voice as she recites to them how she, the appointed student of the school have all the authority to report any misdeeds, and they have broken an important school rule of not going to restrictive area. Don is now exercising every bit of self-control so he won’t grab Kirsten and choke her. “The penalties shall be discussed in the Principal’s office,” Kirsten concluded, her voice quivering with suppressed excitement. “Principal’s pet,” said Alice to herself. As much as she wants to nag at Kirsten, she knows that any wrong move will get them into deeper water. “But we just came here by accident,” Don explained. “No more excuses now, just tell it to the Principal!” She said and Cara’s face reddens behind Don.She then turns her attention to the unusually quiet Van. “And you, you are warned to never go back here. You never listen do you?” She nagged at Van. And Kirsten broke

  After seeing talking gates, floating flames and doors that lead to nowhere unless you bow, Van and his friends take turns to examine the staircase before them. The staircase looks innocent enough, except that there is no masonry or structure that supports it. The stairway simply floats in the air. To check for hidden jinx, Van will be putting his neck on the line. He tested the staircase by climbing a few steps. Nothing happens. “It’s safe to use,” Van concluded. Emboldened and convinced by Van’s act, his friends quickly follow him in the stairway. “How sure are you that the stairs are not cursed,” Kirsten, who refused to go with them sneered. “Please Kirsten,” Alice cried. She grabs Kirsten by the waist and drags her with them in the staircase.So far, they meet nothing unusual along the way. The only difficulty they have is holding the struggling Kirsten and making her behave. Van look down just to check how high they have gone. Down there is a dark and endl

  And Van wastes no time telling the others what Grizzlebark showed him. With an avid audiences listening to his tale, Kirsten included among them, Van is clearly enjoying himself. And when asked why Grizzlebark only spoke to him, Van is not sure what to say. Maybe Grizzlebark will only talk to someone who had the crazy idea of climbing his treacherous trunk. And Kirsten’s eyes flash when Van starts to explain to them that they will win an unspecified price if they beat the time in the hourglass. “I told you I never know,” said the annoyed Van when she asked him again what that prize could be. Kirsten looks more alive now and there is a strange glint in her eyes. It’s a common knowledge in school that she loves a good competition. “Disgusting,” Cara said. She just stepped on a fruit that fell from Grizzlebark. “Grizzlebark could use a bit of clean-up,” Alice muttered, for the surrounding ground is littered with fallen fruits. Van pockets some. It might come in usef

  The pigeon found Kirsten just a stone’s throw away from the house of the statues. And when they get to her minutes later, she is neither crying nor panicking. She did look confused but Kirsten still manages to put on a haughty air. “I was about to find my way,” she said. With the pigeon’s help, they are able to navigate back to the clearing where the others are still waiting. Alice immediately gives Kirsten a slap for making them worry. Kirsten never dared to retort, maybe this is her way of saying thank you. “Let’s move now, I’m enough of this place,” Van muttered, “too bad we won’t be winning that prize.” “Believe me, it’s not worth it. Do you know Grizzlebark?” The pigeon said. “Yes, he is that large and old looking tree,” Van replied. “Hmm, you have met. Then what can you say about his fruit?” Van lets go a snort after the pigeon said those. “That’s the prize?” “A year’s supply,” the pigeon chuckled, “It’s just Grizzlebark’s way of getting rid of his