Ada and Franek find a tiny door hidden behind the fairy-tale shelves. When they open it, the library seems to change in a very strange way.
Ada and Franek loved the old library on the market square. Mrs Zosia, the librarian, always had a good book ready for them and a riddle that made them giggle.
One rainy afternoon, the children raced between the bookcases, hunting for a book about dragons. Ada stopped so suddenly that Franek nearly bumped into her.
“Franek,” she whispered, pointing. “Look.”
Behind the tall shelf full of fairy tales was a tiny wooden door. Neither of them had ever seen it before. A little gold key waited in the lock, as if someone had left it there on purpose.
Franek’s eyes grew round. “Do you think it opens?”
Ada glanced toward Mrs Zosia’s desk. The librarian was busy stamping books and humming to herself.
Very carefully, Ada put her hand on the key and turned it. The lock clicked. The door gave a long, low creak and swung open.
Darkness waited on the other side, but deep inside, something glimmered like stars moving in the night sky.
Ada took one breath. Franek squeezed her hand.
Then quiet voices drifted out of the dark, and the floor beneath their feet began to tremble.