Chapter 1: An Unexpected Discovery

The sun was out, and that was a good thing. Winter days in Feelston were bad enough without snow and sleet eating your face. On a day like today, outside was just the place you could expect to find children. And not surprisingly, there was just the sort hurrying through a snowy field this morning with a wooden sled. Jess and Ellison were their names, sister and brother, and a closer pair is rarely found. The Bradburry hill was supposedly first-rate in the winter, though neither had received the information first hand. They plodded through ankle-deep snow, complaining about their shoes (though not admitting to Mrs. Bryce’s correct judgment about boots) which were now absolutely soaked.
“Hurry up, little brother, or I’ll leave you behind to freeze solid!” said Jess, but not unkindly.
“Oh you’re an awful sister!” The boy cried, “I cannot imagine any hill is worth this misery. Not the greatest hills in the world, and certainly not Bradburry hill”
“And how would you know anything about the greatest hills in the world? Not unless you’ve been to them.” Jess pulled a rope tied to the end of the sled, as to tow it along behind. She stopped to sling it over her other shoulder, putting her left hand through the loop, for comfort’s sake, “now come along then.”
By the time they got to the woods, stretching over the crest of a hill, talking had ceased. It required too much effort to talk between the chattering of ones teeth. Jess set the sled down, “Now you can go first, Ellison, since you are so stubborn.”
Gazing down that twisted slope of spiky evergreen, Ellison found his willingness on the wane. To his recollection he had been forced here in the first place. He pushed up his glasses (as he often did when nervous) and pulled his little overcoat tight around his shaking body. He stared hard at the hill and bit his lip. It would be a much better situation to be inside, and reading a book at that. Books were at least as exciting as Bradburry hill, and one did not have to endure such displeasure to read one.
“Oh come on then Ellie,” said Jess, “just a bit of a hill, nothing to hole yourself up about. Don’t be such a…”
“Sissy Baby!”
The siblings turned around to see a group of unwanted playmates emerge from the surrounding trees. They were bundled up more than these two, and carried several sleds between them. Ellison groaned. He knew he should have stayed inside. Jess’ face went red with anger. She stomped up towards the leader, the one who had spoken, and waved a fist under his nose.
“You leave my brother alone, Harry! You have no right picking on other kids like you do,” for he did, and was quite notorious for it, “ones that can’t defend themselves from no-guts all-show bullies like yourself!”
Harry’s wind-bitten face scrunched up in anger behind his red scarf. “So is that what your mother planned for you to say to me next?” Jess dropped her gaze, “Did you say everything right? Did it work?” The gang of guys behind him started laughing, though it was hardly a clever response.
“Now, calm down. I’m about to do your brother here a favor.” Harry walked menacingly towards Ellison, shivering and looking rather unfortunate in the snow. “He is about to experience the great Bradburry hill. Of course he will be taking a different route than the rest of us, but still it will be the most exciting ride of his life”
Ellison’s eyes had barely time to widen behind his thick glasses before Harry launched towards him, pushed his body at the waiting sled, and easily topped him in. Now you might be wondering exactly what kind of sled this was, and rightfully so. This was not a classic sled, the ones which stand apart as true works of craftsmanship. This was a plastic, cheap-as-a-soda-can sled that resembled a bathtub more than anything else. For someone as small as Ellison, climbing out was not so simple. It just so happens that the crest from which he was about to slide down was the steepest, most dangerous part of the entire length of a hill. Yes, Harry was being quite nasty.
At the sight of her younger brother rapidly descending into uninviting forests, Jess screamed and immediately leaped forward in desperation. She managed to land on the sled, but was not expecting her weight to only add to the vehicle’s acceleration. Now before you get all upset at the cruelty taking place, putting down the book before any redeeming qualities can develop, let me tell you of Harry. The great bully’s plans had only reached so far, and certainly had not accounted for the end of the rope, the one used in towing the sled, to catch his foot. As you know, snow can be very slippery, and is usually more so for those who are as cold inside as Harry. Before he could say whatever awful word he had prepared for such a predicament, he was being pulled down the hill right after them, arms flailing like he was trying to fly.
Ellison, that poor boy, on his back at the bottom, was so confused and horrified, as he could see nothing past his sister’s winter coat. It would have been no better if he had been able to see. Jess saw trees whistling by on either side, some with branches hanging low enough to scratch her hair. Her screaming hardly helped the situation, but there was nothing she could do about it. Down and down they went, banking off of bush and tree, sometimes leaving the snowy bank for what seemed like minutes before crashing down again. Slush and mud fountained over their heads like fireworks. Trees creaked and branches rattled.
Her screams would have escalated if her lungs had not already been strained to their maximum at the sight of a sudden drop off. She had only time to realize what it was, and then they were truly in the air, soaring a span of at least fifteen feet before slamming into an opposing bank. The screams cut off. Dead leaves and more snow came crashing down upon their landing. A terrible mess.
Jess lifted her head up, ruffling snow from her hair with blue mittens. She stood up shakily, looking around in bewilderment. Ellison lay where he was, silently quivering. All thought vanished in a moment of dazed uneasiness. The trees lay thick all around, with scarcely an opening to be seen. Jess was not certain from where they came. The sled was scrunched in the crook of a tree’s roots, which reached down to touch a frozen creek. The snow around the sled was rumpled, but that aside, the place looked undisturbed. Jess felt remote, like she wasn’t just out of her neighborhood, but out of the country, though that was impossible. Though utterly lost, she was at peace.
Both were brought to their senses by a terrible moan. A little pile of snow they thought was from the tree suddenly burst open to reveal Harry, looking quite pitiable. Sticks and leaves stuck out from his hair and jacket, and every inch of his visible body was powdered with snow. He had sat up, but immediately plopped back down with another groan. Despite herself, Jess laughed and clapped her hands.
“Oh Harry oh Harry! How does it feel my friend, to receive the bitter end of your own joke?” The smile fell from her face when she realized he could be hurt. Really hurt, as in the kind that requires adults to take care of. She pushed away some of the snow (not all of it, for there was an awful lot) and put a hand on his head.
“Harry, I was only joking. I do hope you are all right. As long as you never try that again, of course. I believe we were given quite a bit of luck, to land here in one whole.”
Harry only groaned, tried to roll over, groaned again, tried to push Jess’ hand away, gave a third groan, and became content as he was. For him to show dislike for me in his current state must mean he’s OK she thought. She then went back to her brother and helped him out of the sled. He was a bit unstable on his feet, but managed to stay up. She was surprised he was not crying. She certainly felt like shedding a few tears herself. When she reflected upon what just happened, on what could have happened, she shuddered. Ellison just rubbed his glasses on his coat, seemingly unharmed outside of a scratch along the rim, and returned them back to his face.
“Imagine those guys up there,” moaned Harry, “I’m sure they’re still laughing at me. Those bullies.” He had managed to move an arm so it lay across his forehead.
“Oh you silly” said Jess, “If that is what they are doing, let them. You hardly deserve any less.” Yet all the belligerence was gone from her voice, “now stand up, before you freeze.”
This proved slightly easier said than done. It took Jess and Ellison, none to sturdy themselves, to help him up, all the while having to put up with groans and curses that will not be printed here, for they were most inappropriate and entirely without warrant. Even so, Harry had clearly had the worse of the journey, and so a small side of compassion was in order. It was an abominable thing he had done, but once a penance is paid, there is no use bringing it up again, or you are just as cruel as the offender. In fact, given Harry’s condition, even Ellison found it hard to retain the slightest bit of resentment towards the boy.
“It is strange…” said Jess, now rather thoughtful, “I am not very cold, though by all reasons I should be.”
“Yes, I am quite the same.” Answered Henry, “There is something off about this place, I am not sure what. Yet there it is. I have never been to Bradburry hill before, but I don’t believe this is in it.”
“Oh I don’t see what you two are talking about,” muttered Ellison, “We are lost, and wet, and I am cold all the same. Mother will be furious when she sees me in this state, and the sled!”
“Oh calm down, Ellie. Look at the positives: we are alive and unhurt. You are right though, we should check on the sled.”
It took them three tries, though it should be mentioned that Harry was not pulling his hardest, to yank the sled from the tree. It had fallen so parts were wedged between the roots and the ground. When the sled finally came loose, the whole group fell backwards together onto the frozen lake in a cloud of snow. The snow began to clear, and there where the sled had been stood an odd little door, the strangest door they had ever seen. It was slanted at such an angle that it functioned as much like a doggie door as the normal way, but sized for humans. The top tapered into a point, much like a medieval archway, and the dark wood was ancient, hardened by decades of cold. Outside the frame, the little they could see, was mortared stone. Two lengths of metal ran longwise down the door, and nearest the snow was a black iron latch. No one said anything.
After a time, Jess broke the silence, “I guess we should open it.”
“Open it?!” Cried Ellison and Harry in unison. They then looked at each other, grimaced, and looked the other way.
Jess eased herself up and pushed the sled carelessly aside. She began to move slowly towards the door, “Well yes, it is the only logical choice.” She looked back at them, ” You are telling me, after finding a peculiar door in the middle of a strange forest (“peculiar” and “strange” being unjust words to describe them), you wish to turn your back? To be ignorant to all that might come of it? To say no to everything that may lay behind?”
“It may be dangerous,” said Ellison.
“It is just silly, that’s all,” said Harry.
Jess was not listening. She cautiously approached the door with unconcealed excitement. Her hand stretched out towards the knob, “Well, we can at least see if it is unlocked…”
The knob was cold to the touch, but it turned with little effort. It creaked a couple times, then the door pushed itself open with a loud yawn. Only an inch or so, but it was enough. Jess clapped her hands and grinned, “Guys, look you see! It is unlocked! Now come and help me, I can not move it alone. Come on, now, get up!”
Ellison grumbled something about his books , Harry about something sulky. She wouldn’t be so willing to go on an adventure if she had been dragged across snow and rock for a hundred leagues. Of course it had not been a hundred leagues, or even one league, but that sounded a long distance to Harry, which was why he picked it. Complaints or no, the three of them were soon pulling up and across at the door with all their might. It was a difficult angle, but soon it was open, and resting on a root besides. It looked dark inside, and even squinting they couldn’t make anything out. Jess went in first, very cautiously. There was a slight drop from the doorframe, but nothing tremendous. She could feel the floor was slanted same as the door, but not enough to provide a problem. Soon she was all the way in, with one hand gripping the doorframe.
“Come on! It’s safe I promise.”
“I don’t know,” said Harry, finally deciding this was not something he wished to be apart of. “I was right before. You two are stranger than a left-handed octopus. I’m out of here.”
“And you called my brother a sissy!” She shouted. “You come back here this instant, or I’ll tell all your ‘friends’ how brave you are!”
“If you weren’t a girl, I’d fight you for that.” He said, rather sullenly for a boy so strong and confident not long before, “besides, you can hardly see anything.”
“That is because you both are in the way of the door. If you’d just climb in here.”
Harry was still uneasy, and not entirely sure this was the truth. He had a hope she might never return from there. But if she did? And she told his friends? He let out a long sigh and stepped in. Ellison was likewise nervous, but as much so about being left outside alone as being led inside with his sister. He had more confidence in his sister than Harry, and that, if not the only reason, was why he stepped inside.
The sun was sparkling off the ice and snow. As the two climbed out of the way of the door, the sunlight reflected off several massive structures hidden in darkness before. Light blossomed in the room, throwing shadows against the walls. In front of them lay a series of glorious golden objects, hanging at an odd slant from wood slates and shafts on the wall to their left. The space was much bigger than they had thought. The objects went back in rows, and were of various sizes. It was hard to imagine such a space fitting beneath the hill outside.
“Why,” said Jess, breathlessly, “they’re bells! Look at them! It is like in those old churches you hear about, except larger than anything I’ve imagined.” Indeed, they were bells, and exactly like in an old church. The wall to their left was not a wall at all, but a ceiling from which the bells were suspended. And now that they could see, they realized this was no room at all, but an incredibly long shaft that ran down to their right in a complex pattern of smoothed rock. You may have guessed they were looking at stairs, leading to the bottom of the bell tower, for that is where they were. Though from their orientation, it looked a scary mass of stone. It was certainly one of the most awe-inspiring moments to be known, and not just for small children.
Even Harry agreed that they had to go on now. Perhaps a small fire had been lit somewhere between the front of his jacket and the back, or perhaps he was swayed by the excitement Jess was emitting. At this sudden spark of beauty, his fear slunk quickly to the back of his mind. Though the floor slanted precariously, by using the stairs as they needed, they were able to climb down. At times, the formations of rock were as much hindrance as help, but all the while they made decent progress. Strange objects jutted from the walls: curved pieces of shaped metal and intricate rock sculptures too wrapped with shadows to identify. Every now and then their hand would slide against something soft and moist. They dismissed it as moss, of course. In truth, the tower was lined in places by flowing tapestries, damp from time but still marvelous when seen clearly. Ellison imagined the rock surface to be warm on several occasions, but knew it was impossible. Harry heard echoes through the hall ahead, but convinced himself it was only a pounding heartbeat. Jess continued on, hand after cautious hand.
Jess reached a point where her hand met jagged rock. Here, it was shorn off in rough edges, rather than smooth as it had been. They were now very far from the entrance from which they came, and the bells sparkled dimly at the far end of the corridor. Jess risked a look over the side, and saw a floor, about 15 feet beneath her. The stairway had collapsed here, leaving no clear way to descend. The church, if that is what this was, lay almost flat, with the floor at a slight incline away from them. It was not preserved whole, you see, for the tower had fallen away at an angle.
Before Harry could voice his plans to turn back, Jess hauled herself over the slab of broken rock and onto a pile of rubble beneath. From there, quite delicately, she made her way down to a dusty stone floor. Ellison wanted desperately to find some excuse to turn back, yet the only thing behind him was Harry. He was not going to give the bully another chance to insult him. But oh how he wished he were somewhere else. With all the courage he could muster, he lowered himself to the rock pile. He bit his bottom lip to stop it from quivering. Pushing his glasses against his face, he closed his eyes, and let go. Something must have been on his side then, because he toppled backwards, rolling over bits of stone and landing at the bottom by his sisters feet covered in grey dust. He just coughed once and stood up. One could hardly believe he had been so very afraid a moment before.
Harry rolled his eyes and muttered something cruel under his breath. He was beginning to like these two less every minute. Concealing uneasiness behind a confident smile, he swung his legs over the broken piece of rock and tried to stand on the pile. Well, he was not as confident as he wished to be, for the rock slid out beneath him, and he fell. Lucky for him, he landed on his side and rolled down much like a young child might roll down a grassy hill. This was no grassy hill, and when Harry reached the floor, there was a loud crunch. Jess gasped.
“Ow, now look what you’ve made me do!” shouted Harry, “it is broke, it is. You’ve broke it!”
Jess hurried to his side and helped him sit up. Pain was written across his face. With some pulling she got him to stand.
“What are we to do?” he wailed, “us all alone in this big ugly house with no one to help! Two fat meanies getting me broken! I am trapped!”
“Listen here, you stop that screaming this instant,” perhaps she was being a bit inconsiderate, but you must understand she still had little affection for the boy, “your arm isn’t broken. Look how you’re moving it around like that. I think you only hurt your wrist a bit. Can you bend it like this? No, I didn’t think so. Listen, things aren’t quite so bad as you’re making them out to be. We’ll be out of here soon. Ellie, what do you make of this place. Ellie?”
There is one thing the children had failed to notice at this point in their journey. The room in which they now stood was lighted, if rather dimly. Much like a house hallway covered in moonlight, they could make out walls and objects, if not colors and textures. As far as this room was away from the outside light source, it should have been as black as a basement at night perceived through sunglasses. Children of this age are so convenienced, you know. They rarely expect things to be dark when they don’t want them to be. Rather than rejoice at their luck, they are more likely to be disappointed at its lack. This being the case, none of them made any question as to the origin of the unnatural light. Where did it come from? Be patient and I will tell you.
Ellison had seen something quite magnificent in his eyes. Everything else fled his mind, and he was instinctively drawn away. By the time Jess noticed, he was in a completely different room.
Jess was about to call her brother’s name a bit louder, but something inside warned her against it. The room, the atmosphere, required quiet. She said instead, “come on Harry, can you move?” Harry groaned in response. “Good enough then, we must find him. Follow behind.”
Where they were, the huge mound of debris took up a large part of the wall. Behind them was another wall, and to the right another. The only way to go was forward, up the slight incline of the floor. As they walked, they noticed the things around them. Here was a carved wooden desk, toppled over. Besides it lay a wooden box of ivory, delicately carved with some mysterious creature. There sat a bronze pot, wedged on its side against the wall. Jess thought she saw a glimmer of dark liquid inside. A long golden rod lay slanted across the floor, which looked to be some kind of lamp. It had several arms that ended in shattered glass. They stepped over that gingerly. Jess accidentally stumbled over something wooden, and when she looked down she found a chest of random items, all spilled across the floor. One specifically caught her eye, a smooth green carving of a horse. If I give mother this, perhaps she won’t be so upset at us coming home in such a dirty state, she thought. She slipped it into her pocket.
“Look what I found!” shouted Harry. His right arm was cradled against his coat, while the other held aloft a shiny dagger. The blade glimmered in the light, an eerie gold. It was more ornamental than anything else, but it made Jess nervous. She almost told him to put it down, but then changed her mind. Instead she continued towards the doorway ahead. Finally, she noticed her own shadow, stretching back the way they came. The light source came from ahead.
They entered the room together. The light was brighter here, revealing the space in detail. Everywhere were bookshelves. They covered every spare inch of floor, leaving just enough room to move between them. They lined the walls in rows upon rows to either side. Some sagged in the middle, weighted with immense tomes almost as thick as they were tall. Jess thought it might take a year or more for her to finish reading just one. Dust lay heavy on everything, carrying with it the burden of ages. Jess had always thought herself mature for her time; she had to look out for her brother, after all. Yet here she felt young and ignorant. She imagined she could crawl into those books and be lost between one sentence and the next. They looked to be covered with cloth of various colors, all old and faded, but in good condition. The first thing Jess noticed was the lack of title. The spines were blank. Such an excitement of mystery was suddenly upon her that she almost screamed, or shivered, just to release it.
Directly ahead was Ellison. He stood in front of three great gilded pillars, cradling three monstrous books. All three pillars were mounted on a squat podium. They were elevated enough that Ellison with arms outstretched could only just touch the pages. He swiftly climbed around to the back and stepped up onto the podium. From there his eyes were level with the books. He opened the first, which was all the way to the left.
“Why, there’s nothing here!” he said as he flipped through the heavy pages. He touched the one on the right, “It’s locked!” He was looking quite upset but then he opened the one in the middle and grinned. He had to turn it upright in order to read it. On the back cover was an ornate golden bird.
“It is written in our language, I can read it quite clearly.” He flipped back to the beginning, pushed his glasses tight to his face, and said, “This is fantastic, a little poem:

These words aloud provide the key
To send the falcon through the tree
But do beware how long you stay
When bells sing out to end this day.”

KRONNNNG. A terrible vibration ran through the room. Dust fell from the walls and rose up from the floor. Jess lost her balance and fell backwards onto the floor. A terrible brassy sound echoed in her head, pulsating painfully. She moved to cover her ears, but just as suddenly the noise was gone.
Harry was slightly less fortunate. He was standing between to rows of shelves when the noise came. He was not sure why he was there, as he had a very mild interest in books. One second he was staring blankly at old books and the next he was falling forward, straight into a shelf. He was soon enclosed in a small pile of books, sneezing constantly between moans for his banged wrist. He was very glad none of his friends were there to see him.
Jess sat up shakily and gasped. Ellison was gone!