The Gateway

I still remember the first time I ever went to the library. I can perfectly recall the sensation of dry paper drifting across my fingertips as I looked at the plethora of colours sprawled across the pages. No words existed within the confines of the books. Instead, scattered across the seemingly infinite expanse of oak wood shelving, were an array of images and sounds that echoed and called for people to gaze upon them. I however was the only person with access to this expanse of sensations, a thick layer of dust covered everything, the only sight of human intervention was in my footsteps that left imprints on the cool stone floor that wound between shelves. For days at a time, I would roam around, searching and listening for signs of life other than myself, never having the urge to eat and drink. I wandered endlessly. This library appeared to me once a year, a doorway into another dimension, giving me as long as I wanted to stay, but always disappearing upon my exit. I was ten years old only on its first appearance, I remember as clear as day strolling the fields on the hills closest to my house, the crisp morning air was cool on my skin, biting at my lips with each breath, skylarks were chirping above me, sailing the air currents of the autumn like ships at sea. That was when a murmur caught my attention, so faint I could barely recognise it, a sweet melody, yet toneless. I followed the sound down into the valley, each brisk footstep down the hill bringing me closer to its source. After an hour of searching, I found it. A stone slab on the floor, from which the sound was emanating. Captured by the magical nature of the peculiar circumstances, I reached out, placing my palm onto the stone, it was rough to touch and unbearably cold, stinging my fingertips. As I yanked my arm away, it appeared. Before me, a rectangular opening presented itself, looking into the first room of the library. Shocked, I fell over backwards, unsure as to what I'd done. Panicking slightly I got back to my feet and looked around, the hillside was as it was. Nothing had changed. Grass still waved in the wind, birds still chirped, and I was still the only person in the vicinity. Composing myself with a few deep breaths, I turned to face the portal. I felt like my eyes were deceiving me, it was like a perfect cut out. No rim or border, just a clean cut between my current reality and the one on the other side of it.

Peering a little closer, some coat hangers and a desk could be seen, all wooden of which were, sitting upon the stone floor, a similar light grey to the slab I'd just pressed on, golden natural light poured down from above in massive beams cutting through the slight haze of dust lingering in the still air. The ceiling wasn't visible, only a few piles of scattered books lay around piling up to about six feet in places.

Deciding this was all a bit too much and daunting, I headed back home, unable to bring myself to enter.

The next day, I awoke with a newfound sense of determination. I'd decided last night that I would be brave, and find out whatever was on the other side of the gateway. So, without a second though, I headed out, straight in the direction of the slab that had revealed it all. Only, when arriving and trying to activate the rock, nothing happened. I tried again, placing my palm exactly where I had done the day before. Alas nothing happened. Thirty frustrating minutes later, I gave up and started on the short walk home, convincing myself that what had happened the day before was all a dream. A week went by, then two, and soon that was all I believed it was, a figment of my imagination.

The next year passed like all had done before it. I had begun to work in the village alongside my parents at our Inn, where I heard many tales of adventures slaying dragons and other monstrous beasts from passing bards, as well as songs of distant lands and memories. Soon I found myself having completely forgotten about the mysterious portal, as daily life consumed me. Once again, on a crisp and cold autumn day, I heard the melody floating in the wind. As I tried to place the familiar sound, all my memories suddenly came flooding back to me. With a wave of excitement, I leaped out of bed, dressed, and rushed out of the house all within a couple of minutes, much to the surprise of my mother who was preparing breakfast. My long brown hair fluttered in the wind made my way to the top of the hill, loose strands occasionally obscuring my vision. In what seemed like the blink of an eye I was kneeling at the base of the entrance. This time it would work. I could feel it. Pressing my palm to the surface of the slab, the cool sting again scored at my fingertips, proving to me that this was not an illusion. The next thing I knew, I was beyond the gate, standing in the centre of the lobby panting, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

My eyes darted left and right as I took in my surroundings, it was the same as before, desk books lighting, each in the exact place they were left, with no signs of being touched. After ensuring the coast was clear, I cautiously moved over to the desk. A sign lay on top of it read, 'those who wish to enter the library, please take a library card and write your name on it. Without one access will be eternity denied.' To the left, in a box, was a quill and ink, along with a few blank cards. Plucking one out, I slowly and meticulously wrote my name out letter by letter, so as not to misspell it. "Ava Steelton"

As soon as my quill left the paper having written the last letter, the world around me warped. I started twisting and turning, distorting everything within view. This only lasted a second however, and when it finished, I found myself within a maze of bookshelves. In my left palm, I noticed the card, now the text on it read,

Ava Steelton.

To leave the library, recite the phrase twice.

'Postortis Cavis.'

This first trip to the library lasted only a few hours before I repeated the phrase. After the words left my tongue, the familiar view of the valley appeared, with no sign of the entrance, I tried reactivating it to no avail. In the end I headed home. I had to wait another full year until I could re-enter the gateway, my visit that time lasted for what felt like half a day, only when I returned. It was still the morning. A year after that, I packed some food and a pillow, planning to stay for longer. Only I never found myself needing to eat or sleep. I could wander the endless expanse of leather bound books without ever feeling fatigued. Each year my time spent there became longer and longer. Soon the small dusty footprints of a girl exploring were replaced by those of a young woman, slowly uncovering the mysteries hidden within the limitless boundaries of the labyrinth of knowledge. Over the years, I had found and collected a very small amount of books of which contained words. I would Sometimes spend months and months following the voices and colours of the novels in search of these rarities. There was a limit however. I could only ever find two per visit, regardless of how long I stayed. They each contained unique insights on the library's existence, and gave clues as to where I could find the next addition to the collection. Sometimes there were puzzles, or codes that needed cracking, the possibilities were endless. What was most amazing about all of this, was that it was all secret, no one knew of it. Or at least that's what I thought…