Chapter 4

Not listening to what her thoughts told her, Justina reached over and over again trying to get back to the Emporium. There was a little shed standing lonely in the corner underneath a waterpark. It was a nice coral and amethyst colour with stripes. Justina was eager to open the door. She could just make out a polished porpoise door at the very back.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the chilly shed. It was damp and had claw marks all over the walls. Justina thought the monster was going to chase her for the second time. She tugged at the door but it didn’t budge. She did it for a second time and third time until it finally swung open and took Justina through with it. Shockingly, Justina’s clothes were clean. No claw marks, mud or anything. Just white, plain white. She was back in the Emporium. She didn’t know what was going on. Was that all just a dream?

Guiltily, she silently walked back to the shop where she met Bebe and surprisingly her mother. “Hello Justina,” her mother said to her, “I see you enjoyed your waterpark.” Bebe continued. Justina was speechless. How did they know? Was she going to be in trouble? “ You see, the Emporium is magical but there are some things better seen than touched,” Justina took a seat in front of the both of them. “ You are lucky you made it out of there young lady. I’ve not told you yet , but sometimes even the shops that can make their every desire come true have secrets.”

Justina left the shop with many questions. How? Just how? She turned around to say her first and last goodbye to the shop but it was gone. It was like it had disappeared into thin air. She felt a cold breeze flowing in her body. She quickly caught up with her mum and wondered. ‘It’ll be there tomorrow. Tomorrow’ she silently thought.

What she didn’t realise was that Toto the chihuahua was trotting by her side. When she went in, he patiently sat by the door as if he was waiting for someone to come. He lay down calmly on the welcome mat. He muttered something to himself.

“ My name is Dane. Madam Gigi Dane.” she smiled, she turned around to wipe the dust off her book. “Most people call me Bebe by mistake but I don’t mind.” Justina just listened to the old woman baffle on for hours and hours about the history of her shop until she finally said “And that’s all you need to know about my Emporium. She’s a beauty isn’t she?”

A couple of hours later, Justina noticed a little chihuahua race outside of the curtains. It was Bebe’s dog. She sent it to keep watch over the book. When Toto, the chihuahua was called back to eat Justina knew it was her chance to see what was in the book. Quickly but quietly Justina opened the book of wondrous thoughts that magically came to life. Inside there were things Justina had dreamed of for years. 

The next thing Justina knew, she was writing down a world full of dreams. It had beaches, waterparks, slides and much more.

“Come with me,” said Toto “ I’ll take you to your world full of dreams.”. Inconsiderately, she followed him behind the curtain and into a hall full of doors. She thought, stepped into a room but instead stepped onto a waterpark. Children were playing and you could smell chlorine everywhere.

Her eyes widened. The venue had everything she fancied: a slipping slide; a luxurious hotel;  the best beautiful beach Justina had ever seen; and a soothing spa. “ Hey everybody! Are you ready to par-tay? Justina shouted out as she heard a wave of cheering. But soon realised it was Just Toto.

Suddenly, she heard a crash. Slowly turning around, she opened the spa door. It was at that moment her eyes widened again, and not for good reason: two bloodthirsty eyes crawled towards her; mud stained claws and scaly skin. There was no time to wait this time. She picked up Toto and  barged through the door.

She raced towards the portal. It wasn’t there. The next thing they heard was a horrible song“Dee dee de death is coming for you!”

Prologue

There are some shops that are better off without customers. This emporium was one of them.

Even though, you could hear the amazing choir singing your favourite christmas carols. Even though, you could see the astonishing decorations and candy canes bring the shop to life. Even though, you could smell freshly baked gingerbread men out of the chocolate caramel stained window.

Nobody dared to step a toe into that shop. Until one day, a little girl approached.

Chapter 1

Justina had always been curious about her mother’s shop but was forbidden to set foot in there. One windy evening, she decided to take a stroll down Ellsworth Lane while waiting for her mum to close down the shop when she sneaked a peek at the Emporium. Justina couldn’t believe it, the lights were on. She couldn’t help it.The shop was practically calling her name and it was true. After all, Justina didn’t know that the Emporium was magical. Being her curious self, she leaped inside.

The shop was filled with life and laughter as she slowly entered, Justina was amazed by how beautifully the Honey-Brown House was. Sparrows chirped christmas carols that flowed across the moonlight shop. Bowls of tempting caramel flavoured chocolate gave it a soulful smell of a cheery Christmas coming soon. Justina was baffled by the finely polished clocks, the crystal clear jars of hope. She also noticed a line of Matryoshka dolls toddling into a silk ruby- red velvet curtain. There was a desk. This desk was different to anything Justina had ever seen. The book was dusty and had the writing on it ‘TOP SECRET DON’T OPEN WITHOUT PERMISSION.` Justina was triggered to open it.

“Excuse me young miss,” a voice calmly said. Justina turned around to see an old woman staring at her with bold eyes. “I think you have my book.” she pointed at it slowly. “Urmm….” Justina was scared.

If I were summoned

To create a treasure,

I would take:

The glimmer in,

 a stallions’ eye as it gallops through the mountains free and wild,

The sound of a herons’ wing as it soars across the River Thames 

The taste of lemon sorbet as the day slowly dies.

The flutter of,

a leaf floating into Mount Tambora. 

The twirl of the wind in a tornado.

An asteroid from 1 billion years ago.

The sight of,

A Crane painted by Celts,

 A dusty gun from WW2 

A mummy fashionising a tourist.

The fantasy of,

A carriage turning into a  pumpkin by midnigh,.

A poisonous apple given by a stranger .

Stonehenge falling down like dominos.

The hatred of,

A demonic look from a Cobra,

 The fiery red wing of a phoenix 

A strand of shedded snake skin from a gorgon’s hair.

A door of what?

Go and open the pewter door,

maybe you’ll go beyond the mysteriously magical mist and be devoured into a world full of clouds.

Go and open the carrot door,

maybe you’ll find a swarm of bees mistaking a honey-gold crown as their queen or a crowd of oranges bouncing to see a famous carrot.

Go and open the peach door,

maybe you’ll sneak a packet of nice biscuits and a cup of tea whilst gossiping about Tracy Lee.

Go and open the blush door,

maybe you’ll be treated with a new Chanel bag and Louis Vuitton perfume or a nice new lipstick for your party.

Go and open the chocolate caramel door,

maybe you’ll see the sorrow of toffee as it melts into one of your favourite delicacies.

A box is                                                                                                                                                                                     as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle,                                                                                                                          like entering a hallway of fears.                                                                                                                                          Suspense-cube.

A house is                                                                                                                                                                                as pointy as a knife,                                                                                                                                                               like walking on the edge of a cliff.                                                                                                                                     An Empty castle.

A pot is                                                                                                                                                                                     as confusing as a puzzle,                                                                                                                                                      like a bowl full of surprises.                                                                                                                                                 Metal-maze.

A crystal is                                                                                                                                                                               is as precious as a baby,                                                                                                                                                       like a guardian angel.                                                                                                                                                           Hidden-gems.

A book is                                                                                                                                                                                   as suspicious as a Sherlock Gnomes case,                                                                                                                       like hearing sounds in an alleyway.                                                                                                                                  Written-cases.

Suzie trudged up the creaky stairs furiously. Why did Mrs Kilding have so many rules? Why was she so strict? Outside, thunder roared as loud as a lion.Inside, Suzie could smell something yummy from downstairs but she was too annoyed to race down gobble it all.Her door slammed shut.

Life at home and school were pretty much the same for Suzie except school was worse.She had to sit at the back of the classroom where she couldn’t see the tiny writing of her teacher all the way at the front.At lunch, Suzie barely had any space to sit down let alone any friends.Mrs Kilding was kind enough but could be kinder.She’d give her less of the amount in her ration book,hoard all the fire in the winter and have a strict dress code in the house.Suzie would have to face it. Her new life isn’t what she thought.

Over time, Suzie began to realise that Mrs Kilding had been a little bit mysterious the past few days and Suzie got sent to bed earlier now.So one night when Suzie went upstairs instead of going to bed she hid behind the cupboard.It seemed like Mrs Kilding was heading over to the countryside. Outside, the night’s mist howled with the twinkling stars.Inside, Suzie could feel a cool breeze flowing through her bony arms.

Suzie couldn’t wait anymore. She had to find out what Mrs Kilding was doing,but how? Suzie waited. Just when Mrs Kilding left she raced for the door.It was locked.Luckily, she knew where the spare key was and twisted it as fast as a snake’s bite.Mrs Kilding wasn’t far ahead.Suzie approached.

“What are you doing here!” Mrs Kilding shouts,shocked.Suzie explained herself.It turns out that Mrs Kilding was hiding a snow leopard.

“This is Alexa.She reminds me of my son,Alex fighting the war.”

Suzie gasped.

Suzie stood frozen in fear. Alexa gave her a puzzled look, her eyes a gleaming green.Her fur as soft as a baby’s blanket waiting to be wrapped. Claws stabbing into the gloomy ground as she crawled close to her shivering body.Her nose rubbing on her nightgown like a wet tissue.Whiskers as straight as a ruler hugging Suzie’s body in comfort. Her ears twitched. 

“She’s found a new friend.” Mrs Kilding whispered. The big kitten turned back to face the fearful wild ahead. Suzie smiled. While walking back home,Suzie could see the whiskers of a truly great animal as the forest began to fade behind her.

“Her eyes will always be there.” Mrs kilding said with a smile. “You know she wasn’t always living in the wild, well that was until you came along,” Suzie sat on the bench,eager. “ I found her 5 years ago as a cub. It took a month for her to get her spots and usually it’s five days.I love her Suzie. If they take her I’ll become miserable.” Suzie saw a tear drop down Mrs Kilding’s cheek.

Suzie had a dream that night. A very pleasant dream with Alexa.

From that day onwards,Suzie began to spend more time with Alexa bringing her chopped up lambs, flowers and ************, Alexa didn’t like it very much she preferred Blue sheep and deers. It took some time for her to become more confident around Suzie, so she would talk in a calm and soothing tone.

One day after school, Suzie came to visit Alexa with some plants as a snack and Alexa bent her head down for Suzie to pet her.Suzie was overjoyed. She skipped into the house and told Mrs Kilding the amazing news.Now, everyday when Suzie finished school she would race into the forest waiting for Alexa to give her a tour ride of her home and teach her how to yew, meow and growl.

Throughout the different seasons Suzie began to connect with Alexa more, until finally it was summer break and Suzie could spend all day talking to Alexa about bullies,love and secrets.It was that bond that changed their lives forever.

Oddly Fun Rooms

As I entered the room of petrifying peers,

Models laughed at me.

In the room of joy,

Happiness was spread all over

Like butter on toast.

In the room of nature,

Tree branches lightly kiss my cheek.

In the room of silence,

Voices overlapped the room.

In the room of boba,

Tapioca balls were scattered across the floor.

In the room of beds,

Comfortable beds sank me into a world full of dreams.

In the room of sadness,

Tears dropped on me as heavy as boulders.