Mr. Pak, “Don’t you worry about it; hair grows back, probably quicker than you think.” He winked at her and said, “Let’s go see what Mrs. Pak has on the stove.”
Stevie was already at the table, mouth watering, when Abby sat down. Mrs. Pak put a plate in front of each of them. “You want a fork, Stevie?”
“Nope, this time I’m going to get it.” Stevie had been trying to master chop sticks for a while, but he usually gave up and grabbed the fork. With great concentration he picked up a dumpling with the chopsticks. Stevie dipped it carefully into the tiny bowl of teriyaki sauce. Mr. and Mrs. Pak cheered when he popped it into his mouth while Abby giggled as she had mastered the chopsticks long ago. Before long, both Stevie and Abby were full and were listening to Mr. Pak tell one of his stories about the “old country”. A tiny bell rang.
Abby looked around to see where it had come from but didn’t see anything. “What was that?”
Mr. Pak and his wife looked at each other, a look of surprise on their faces. Mr. Pak got up and left the room while Mrs. Pak started to clear away the dishes.
Stevie was leaning back and listening having heard it, too. “That’s weird; I don’t see any bells.”
Mr. Pak returned from the front with Stevie’s bag. “Here you go, Stevie, you don’t want to forget your purse.”
“I’ve told you. It’s not a purse; it’s a satchel.”
“Oh, yes,” he said with a wink. “I keep forgetting. Well, you don’t want to forget your satchel.”
Mr. and Mrs. Pak started speaking in Korean. She seemed concerned, and he was trying to calm her down. After a little while, she threw up her hands and disappeared up the back stairs.
“The snow is starting to come down pretty heavy; you two better be heading home.”
“You kicking us out, Mr. Pak?” Stevie joked.
“The front of the store is closed; why don’t you two go out the back way? Hurry along. You’ll be late, er, you’ll get stuck in the snow if you don’t get moving.”
Abby and Stevie waved goodbye to Mr. Pak as they headed down a short hall and into another room. They hadn't been in the room before. Abby noticed something behind a heavy, red drape. “What is that?”
“What is what?” Stevie asked.
Abby pointed to a tiny door in the wall. “Look, there is some light coming from the little door.”
“What door?” Stevie asked. Then he saw it.
Abby slung her arm through his as she leaned over to look at it closer, “Why would there be a tiny door in the wall? And where is the light coming...”
The tiny door slammed shut. They both jumped.
“I don’t know. Let’s see if anyone is home,” he said. Stevie reached out and, using their secret knock, tapped on the little door.
Abby giggled, then went silent. The door opened, a white light poured out, and there was a flash.
Chapter Four
Abby held her breath as the flashes started. There was a crackling, and she noticed a funny taste in her mouth like she was chewing on a battery. She saw a field, then it was gone. The bright light was frightening at first, a pause came, and the world seemed to slow.
Abby still had her arm linked through Stevie's. They stood in a long hallway with a red runner carpet leading down to a door at the end. To their left was an arched doorway to a sitting room. Abby took a couple of steps forward and looked into the room. Two old women sat at a table just inside the sitting room. The women both had long, brown, slightly graying, hair, pulled back and put up in a bun, and they looked like sisters, maybe twins. In front of one of the women was a massive book. She was furiously running her fingers along the pages. The other woman had a stack of paper- old-looking paper - and a fountain pen. Neither woman looked up but sensed Abby and Steve's presence. The one with the papers said, “More stragglers.” She wheezed, “It gets worse every year.”
The woman with the book nodded, not looking up. “Yes, it does. People don't raise their young to be respectful or prompt.”
“Now, hurry up, you two, don't stand there gawking, get down the hall. They have already begun. I will note your tardiness and…” she looked up and stopped talking mid-sentence.
Abby and Stevie didn't know what she was talking about but didn't want to wait around and chat with these strange old birds. They looked at each other, gave a shrug, and hurried down the hall.
The woman with the papers nudged her sister, “Did you see that?”
“No, what?”
“Her hair,” she gasped.
“Uncombed, I imagine,” she said still not looking up and sounding even more disgusted.
“No, well, yes, but it was…” she started to hyperventilate and passed out.
As her head fell onto her stack of papers, the door at the end of the hallway closed. Abby and Stevie stood in the back of a large crowd of children of similar age.
On a platform at the front of the room six adults sat in chairs while another stood at a lectern. His back was turned, and he was talking with the people sitting behind him. The children in the room were all craning their necks and trying to hear what was going on. Finally, he turned around and said, “Well, we can't wait any longer. Mr. Alouicious Troon will have to catch up once he arrives. Now, children, I need you to form your lines. And please settle down, the selections will begin as soon as you are quiet.”
The room got very quiet, and everyone except Abby and Stevie seemed to know what to do next. They formed two lines facing one another with a space down the middle. Abby thought it might be best to leave and was about to tug Stevie out the door when it opened, and a small, chubby kid walked through. He hurried into line, and the door slammed behind him just as the chatter had settled down. Everyone turned and looked at him.
There was mostly quiet and a few giggles. The boy said, “Sorry, I couldn't find the door.”
The man who had been speaking said, “You mean the one at the end of the hall?” He looked down his long thin nose with a sneer.
Everyone laughed now except for Abby and Stevie who took spots at the end of the line. The boy hung his head and fell in line across from Abby. She tried to smile at him, but he just looked down at the floor.
The room fell quiet again. The man who had been speaking gave a nod to the man on the end who stood and came forward. He wore a black robe with a bright blue symbol over his heart. He looked like he was in his sixties and had graying hair and a cold stare and was very tall. His chin seemed to jut from his face. Abby didn't like the looks of him at all.
“Mr. Pincer will have the first selection. Please be still while he is making his choices.”
The man walked right off the front of the stage, but he didn't fall. He just sort of floated down to the rows of kids who were all impressed and stopped in front of the first boy. “What is the oldest forest in the realm?”
Abby and Stevie looked at each other. They were both thinking the same thing: What is this place and who are these people?
Stevie whispered, “I’m not sure I like it here...we just got out of school and we stumble into a pop quiz.”
Abby smiled and wanted to laugh but held it inside. Neither of them heard the boy’s answer, but they assumed he had gotten it right because they saw the man nod and move on. He went back and forth, turning his head from child to child, stopping and talking to some, asking questions of others. That is, until he stopped at the girl next to Abby. He was about to ask her a question but then pivoted his head and looked right at Abby. He lurched back and now hovered three feet off the ground. “What is this?!” He flew back to the stage. Everyone turned to look, and Abby's face turned a bright red. Stevie grabbed her hand and said, “Let's get out of here; these people are freaks!”
Abby and Stevie took two steps towards the door. A voice boomed, “Stop!”
They both froze for a moment, and then Abby ran to the door. The knob wouldn't turn. Whispers and gasps floated up from the lines of children, but nobody moved from their spot. Abby turned around a
nd looked at Stevie. He didn't look scared. Stevie looked angry because he hated locked doors. He reached around her and tried it himself. The knob was cold and seemed to be frozen. Defeated, he turned around and stood slightly in front of Abby, “Open the damn door!”
Both lines fell silent.
The people on the stage stood like statues, and the voice said, “There is no need for that sort of language.” Neither Abby nor Stevie could tell who was talking. There was a flutter from the back of the stage. A great horned owl spread its wings and with three powerful beats sailed towards them. The owl morphed before their eyes and landed as a short Asian man with glasses. He said, “Let me introduce myself. I am Chancellor Alphius Omega, but you may call me Alphie...everyone does.”
Abby looked straight into his eyes and said, “I’m Abby; this is my best friend Stevie; and I'd like to know what is going on.”
Alphie stuck out his hand, and Stevie shook it. Abby just stared at him. “My dear Abby, we too would like to know what is going on. How did you find us?”
Stevie said, “We went through a tiny door in the Kim's back room.” After he said it, his face crinkled. “Or at least that is what I remember. It doesn't seem possible now that I think about it.”
Alphie turned around, “Well then, you are welcome to take the challenge with the rest of the children. But first, please come with me.” He walked down the middle of the room, and every eye was on the tiny man. Abby noticed their faces were a mix of excitement and awe. Stevie said, “I think it’s okay...let's see what happens next. It's a long weekend.”
Stevie always made her feel safe. Abby fell in behind Alphie. A spiral staircase wound its way up from the floor. Alphie changed back into an owl and flew upward through the opening that appeared in the ceiling. Abby started up the stairs and gave a look to the man who had noticed her. He had a scowl on his face. His jet black eyes met hers, and she felt cold. Stevie put his hand on her shoulder and whispered, “Don't look at him. Let's go see where Alphie the owl went.”
They continued to climb, and the stairs followed them up, disappearing behind them. There was no turning back.
Chapter Five
They stood in a round room with a high, domed ceiling. Half of the room was covered in bookshelves with a ladder on a rail. Abby loved books, so this made her smile. She walked forward and lightly touched one of the spines. It was leather. She had only seen books like this in Mr. Draper's study. He had said she shouldn't touch them, and she drew her hand back quickly.
Alphie had changed back into the little man. “It's okay, Abby, the books don't bite.”
Stevie tapped her on the shoulder, “Look!”
Abby turned around and saw the other half of the room. From floor to ceiling were rows of tiny doors. “Those are like the one we went through,” she said.
“Yes. But the question is how did you know how to use the door?”
Stevie answered, “We used our secret knock.”
Alphie pulled his glasses off the end of his nose and started to clean them with a handkerchief. “That is very interesting.”
Abby asked, “You are a very nice man, er, owl, but I'd really appreciate you telling us what is going on here.”
Stevie added, “And what is this challenge?”
Alphie sat down at a desk, which neither Abby nor Stevie had noticed before that moment. “It’s not such a simple answer...to either question, but I’ll try to shed a twinkling of light. You see, you’re not like other children; you’re not even like the other children downstairs.”
Stevie said, “You getting racial up in here,” then laughed. Abby put her hand on his arm. She did this when Stevie's sense of humor wasn't quite appropriate. He quieted down.
Alphie was thrown and said, “No,” but smiled back and continued. “There are children all over the world. A very tiny number of those children are different than the rest. Some have parents who were special and those children we expect on this day each year, but occasionally there are those who simply have the spark in them. In truth, it has been many years since an unscheduled child has found their way through the doors.”
Abby asked, “Where is here?”
Alphie smiled, “Well, you won't find it on a map. A day will come when it'll make sense, but, for now, let's just say you are right where you belong.”
Stevie asked, “What is this challenge all about?”
Alphie spun around, became an owl again, and flew to a shelf very high up. He pulled out a book, arced down, and dropped it on the desk with a thud. Alphie the man returned to his seat and opened the book. “In the early days, it was clear who had the spark, but time has dimmed the light, and now we must be sure.” He started to read in some strange language, then gave a grin. “I like that part, but it doesn't really translate well. Basically, it is a greeting from the first chancellor wishing you well. This book is 1000 years old, and this is the 1000th calling.”
Stevie gasped. “You're 1000 years old?“
“Oh my, no, I said the first chancellor. Do I look 1000 years old?”
Stevie sort of shrugged and said, “You do look pretty old. No disrespect, though.”
“I’ll have you know that I am only 712 years old, thank you. I've been Chancellor for the last 112 years.”
Abby looked at him with suspicion, “Nobody lives that long.”
“I will admit that very few live past 500 years, but I do try to take care of myself. I avoid eating the really fatty rodents. Actually, I don't really eat rodents anymore as I prefer pasta. Raviolis are my favorite, but I digress.”
Abby said, “Ewww on the rodents; the pasta sounds good, though.”
“We are getting off topic. It seems you have found your way to the calling, and I need to know if you wish to continue.”
Stevie asked, “Mister, I don't think you covered the part where you explain what the heck is going on.”
“Didn't I?”
Abby said, “Why did that guy freak out when he saw me?”
“Oh that...yes...well, we don't get too many ginger kids here since…”
Stevie asked, “What the heck is a ginger kid?”
“Sorry, red heads.”
Abby shook her head, “I think we'll pass on your little game of weirdoes. Now, will you please show us the way out.”
Stevie took her by the arm and whispered, “Aren't you a little curious? We just went through a door barely big enough for a mouse, found a secret club of some sort, and have been talking to a magical owl man.”
“I don't like his attitude about my hair.”
“What else are we going to do?”
She shrugged and said, “Okay, we've decided to overlook your hair bias. What do we do for this calling thing?”
Alphie smiled. “It is simple. You must follow a dangerous path of mystery and deception. If you come out the other end, you will learn what it means to have ‘the spark.’”
Stevie raised his eyebrow. “All I heard was 'if you come out the other end,' what's that all about?”
“That did sound a little ominous; I apologize. You can't be harmed per se during the journey, but if you fail, you will find yourselves back where you started - at the little door.”
Abby asked, “So it is safe?”
“Yes, absolutely...well mostly...anyway, all that usually happens is that you don't remember anything about the whole ordeal.”
Stevie said, “You need to work on your sales pitch, Alphie. I'd substitute adventure for ordeal as a starting point.”
Alphie replied, “You are quite right. In truth, there hasn't been a mishap since the 300th calling.”
Abby and Stevie looked at each other, then Abby asked, “Was that your class, er, calling?”
Alphie was caught off guard but only for a moment. “You are a very clever girl. Yes, it was, but it wasn't my fault. I had no idea that practicing before the calling would develop skills that...It isn't important. You must make your decision now as I'm sure the choosing is almost complete. Once the te
ams enter the caves, it will be too late.”
Curiosity had them both, and they said in unison, “We’re in!”
Alphie said, “That is excellent. I think you are both going to do very well, but remember it is a team exercise. You only succeed if everyone makes it to the final chamber. Please follow me.”
He went to the bookcase with all the tiny doors, reached down, and touched the tiny white door at the bottom left. It started to sputter and flew off the shelf and landed in front of them, growing to full size. Alphie knocked three times, tapped it once with his toe, and knocked quickly two more times. It opened. They walked through and it seemed like time was rushing by them like a speeding train through a tunnel.
They came out in the room where all the students had been. Most were gone except the boy who arrived late, a confused-looking girl with ratty black hair, and a tall girl with blonde hair who looked bored. The two women from the hall stood talking with a middle-aged man that Abby and Stevie hadn't seen before. He was around six feet tall, had a mustache and beard that badly needed trimming, and wore a thread bare hat that made him look like an English chauffeur. As soon as the man saw Abby, he walked up to her and extended his hand. “You must be Abby with the red hair, which makes you Stevie.”
“Yes, sir,” she said but didn't add and you must be Mr. Scruffy Beard.
“I am your professor or team leader or guru or...well, you get the idea. It is my job to answer questions along the way.”
One of the women spoke up in a rather hysterical tone, “They can't start the journey with only five of them. It is impossible.”
Alphie dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “It isn't impossible; it is improbable. They'll do fine.” He changed into an owl again and flew away. The bored girl perked up a bit.
***
The two old women gave a simultaneous “harrumph” and waved for the children to follow them. They walked into the hall, turned left, and stepped through a mirror. On the other side of the mirror, the hallway led to an octagonal room. There was an identical arched doorway across from the one they had just passed through. The other six sides of the room had staircases leading up and around the room. Abby stayed close to Stevie but kept an eye on the boy who had shown up late. He was straggling a bit. When he finally caught up with the group after having tripped through the mirror, Abby whispered, “My name is Abby.”
Secret Doors: The Challenge Page 2
