Mela finds a tiny rainbow door in her room and a golden key beside it. When she opens it, a strange new world begins to wake up.
Mela was seven, and her room was full of the things she loved best: storybooks, teddy bears, and cushions as bright as sweets. She knew every corner of it.
So when she woke up one morning and saw a tiny door under the bookshelf, she froze.
It was new. It was small. And it shimmered with rainbow colours, as if someone had painted it with light. Beside it lay a golden key, just waiting.
Mela picked it up with both hands. Her fingers tingled.
"Where did you come from?" she whispered.
The key slipped into the lock with a soft click. Mela pushed the door open.
Behind it was not her room at all.
There was a glow of warm light, the smell of sweet fruit, and the sound of giggling somewhere deep inside. A little purple cat in a tiny hat sat just beyond the doorway and lifted one paw.
"Hello, Mela," it said. "We’ve been waiting for you."
Mela took one small step forward. Then something rustled in the dark behind the cat, and the purple cat’s smile vanished.