Library in the Woods
What happens when an archer’s arrow goes astray, and an impossible library emerges from the forest?
In one smooth motion, she drew the bowstring back and released.
The arrow sliced through the air. At the last moment, the wind betrayed her. The arrow flew high above the deer’s head, swallowed by dense woodland.
She cursed under her breath as the deer bolted, disappointed with another miss.
She ripped back a patch of brambles to retrieve her arrow and froze.
The arrow was wedged in the wood of an iron-bound door.
The whole door stood freely, unconnected to any structure, framed only by the tangled forest.
Her eyes fell to a thick black handle. She could feel power emanating from it, drawing her in.
Against her better judgement, she heaved the door open. The air shifted, seemingly pushing her through into an impossibly vast open space.
Endless bookshelves lined walls that vanished into the distance.
A single desk sat at the centre of the cavernous room, a book open on its surface.
She leaned forward and saw a sharp script writhing on the page. As she tried to decipher the words her chest tightened.
Black smoke curled from the pages, tendrils crawling and clawing towards her.
One of the long wisps lashed out, raking across her cheek.
The burning pain was enough to break her daze.
She turned, charging for the door.
Pain shot through her ankle, sending her tumbling back through the door, skidding into the soft forest floor.
She reached out, ripping the arrow from the door, stabbing blindly. The pain eased momentarily and she slammed the door shut.
The black mist lingered for a breath before drifting away in the breeze.
Limping away, she muttered to herself, “Bloody wizards. Who leaves a magic door in the middle of the woods?”
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