The hidden emporium. A place no one goes. That’s the hidden emporium.

Imagine a street bustling with everlasting joy, modern buildings towered blocking the sun, and the smell of savoury food wafted through the air.

Then you have “The hidden emporium”. Despite the name, the hidden emporium sticks out like a sore thumb. Broken blinking lights flashed constantly, and rusted walls fell to the ground in a blink of an eye. Of course, no one dared to enter this abomination of a building, until an inquisitive boy came along.

Chapter one

Ezra never liked people, as a matter of fact, the strange boy would rather stick his head in a swamp then socialise with another person his age.

The only people Ezra had a good time around, was his grandparents, Micheal.J. Rina and Samantha. P. Parker-Rina. His grandparents had been the only parental figure in his life, and Ezra would feel lost when they weren’t around.

Samantha, his grandmother, had always scolded him to never set foot near “The hidden emporium” as rumours of cursed treasure in the shop frightened her.

At the age of 4, he made a promise never to set foot in the shop.

Unfortunately for him, fate had other plans.

“Come back here, you little piece of trash!”

Deafening voices called, as Ezra hurried to find shelter, with the showers of rain pouring down onto his red cheeks. The boy had found himself in trouble again, as he would every night. Ezra didn’t know what they wanted this time. First they took his money, cut his hair, even beat him until he was black and blue.

He had nowhere to go, unless… no, he had promised his grandmother he wouldn’t… but… he couldn’t go anywhere else…

Without thinking, he dived into the abandoned shop, hoping the men would walk away. Petrified, he edged backwards then slammed the door, his legs shaking every step.

Fortunately, the voices became quieter and quieter, and Ezra knew it was safe to

come out. He pulled the door, and it didn’t budge.

Endless thoughts rushed through his head.

Shattered bottles of glass spread around the dirt floor, and ripped out newspapers made a long pathway lead him to a broken bookshelf.

Suddenly, something caught his eye, it was a leather book, with dust gathering up around it. It was mesmerising, his leg started moving without thought.