Chosen...

‘So this is what my charm's for,’ said Thomas, already anticipating which way he would insert it into the locking device. As he thoughtfully matched up the grooves to that of his charm, an unnerving silence lingered in the air. Uneasily, Inka took hold of Thomas’s shirt collar, watching as the charm clicked into place, as if it were the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly, the unnerving silence heightened into a buzz of excitement that now soared throughout the potting shed, and in the moment that followed, the hatch to the chamber screeched and scraped as it moved across the floor. In confusion, Thomas clambered to his feet.

‘You’ve broken it,’ said Inka.

‘But all I did was to connect my charm,’ said Thomas.

‘Then you must have put it in the wrong way round.’

‘And you, Inka,’ said Hollie, ‘can stop teasing.’

‘You little rascal,’ said Thomas. ‘I’ll get you back for this.’

‘Come on,’ said Hollie, ‘you’re both as bad as each other.’ Just then, Thomas’s eyes wandered down into the depths of the chamber, which now revealed a bronze spiral staircase, finely beaded with the most spectacular crystals of amber and jade. Inka, still parked on Thomas’s shoulder, was jiggling about with excitement at the thought of returning home. Cautiously, Thomas put his foot on the first step of the staircase.

‘Hello … anybody down there?’ Thomas called out.

‘You’re not expecting to find goblins down there, are you?’ said Hollie.

‘Don’t be daft. I’m only checking to see if the coast is clear.’ With the green light on go, Thomas continued to make his way down the spiral staircase, and with each passing movement, he became mesmerized by the amber and jade crystals that followed his every move. Suddenly, a loud crashing noise stopped Thomas in his tracks.

‘What was that?’ yelled Inka, tugging at Thomas’s shirt collar.

‘I dunno!’ said Thomas.

‘It’s only the hatch door closing behind us,’ said Hollie. Thomas felt uneasy that the way out was closed, but for now, he thought it would be best to keep his thoughts to himself.

‘I can see the ground,’ said Inka, flying off to explore all the newfound treasures. Thomas paused as he stepped onto the last rung of the staircase, and in a moment of euphoria, he gazed on the heart of the chamber, which now revealed the entrance to a cave bejewelled with crystals of all shapes and sizes. Some of the gems were rooted into the crevices above, and others encrusted into the walls of the cave.

‘By ’eck!’ said Thomas. ‘This is bloomin’ incredible.’

‘And it’s all yours,’ said Hollie.

‘Mine! You mean all this belongs to me?’

‘Every single crystal,’ said Hollie, ‘and if you follow me over here you’ll be able to see the gateway to the underworld.’ Excitedly, Thomas scurried across the room, a curious Inka following behind him. The gateway reflected a distorted image of the world beyond its barriers, softly glistening and shimmering with a never-ending cascade of images from the underworld.