Chapter 4: A Secret Passageway

Of course, Toby was NOT having a good time in the pantry. The area was too cramped and whenever he went to get a drink, one of Nick's books landed on his head by accident. Meanwhile, Nick was calmy reading some of his favourite books from history to fantastical adventures. If only he wished that Toby was like that.

One day, while the storm still continued, Toby asked for some snacks and therefore mum and dad gave him some for him and Nick to share. Nick moved his eyes from the current book towards Toby who placed the snacks on the washing machine.

"I see you haven't gotten bored already" noted Nick with a wiggle of his glasses. "Which snacks did you get this time?"

"Oh, just some crips and fruit." Toby munched on some crips mum gave to him. "Want some?"

His brother grabbed an apple from Toby's snack bowl and bit into it. He then carried on reading. "So, what did mum and dad said?"

Toby laid his back against the wall. "Unfortunately, they did say the rain just keeps on pouring and pouring down." He turned to look at his younger brother. "What should we do?"

Nick put his book down on the side and stood up. "I honestly don't know Tobe. Usually, I would know but I don't think there's nothing we can do."

Toby started to look around the tight space. "I'm sure there's something. One of your books must have something that-"

"Toby, look out!"

Before Nick warned him, Toby's fingers accidently touched the grate that was used to keep the heating and gas in. The grate fell to the floor in an almost slow-motion way. When it finally reached to the wooden floor, both boys looked at each other.

"Oh well done," snapped Nick, looking at the grate. "Now we're going to be in trouble with mum and dad."

Toby looked at his brother with confusion. "Well, don't be mad at me! I didn't mean to knock it over; it was an accident!"

Nick sighed and carefully picked up the grate with both of his hands. "We better put it back before mum and dad find out."

Toby had to agreed with his brother and turned towards the place where the crate had once been. It was only then were he saw a button. It was a typical button that you would have pressed on but it was in the middle. "Hey Nick, check this out."

Still carrying the grate, Nick walked over to where his older brother was. He carefully studied the little button; it was grey as buttons would usually look like but he noticed that it was in the middle of the grate-place as most buttons would but why was it there, in their own home as well?

"Hmmm. Interesting." Nick inspected the button like what a professor would do. "I'm surprised that there was a button the whole time but…I can't figure out why it would be there?"

Toby shrugged his shoulders in confusion. "Maybe when they built the house, they just had to put it there." He felt his fingers going towards the button. "I wonder if we should-"

"I don't think it's a good idea," Nick began to interrupt his older brother, concerned about what would happen. "Maybe we should tel-"

Too late. Before Nick could finish his sentence, Toby pressed the button.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the boys began to shake as if another earthquake was happening. Nick had to hold on the washing machine even though there wasn't a grip while Toby pressed his back again against the wall to made sure his posture and strength would help. All of the things that were piled up suddenly collapsed and fell swiftly to the floor. Luckily, none of them didn't break or spilt.

Once the quake was over, the boys saw that one of the boards of the floor were gone. In its place were a set of stone stairs that seemed to be going into the darkness. The walls along the stairs were also made from stone as if another place was waiting for anyone who entered.

Nick couldn't believe his eyes. There was a hidden staircase under the pantry the entire time and they didn't know about it until now? He was curious to find out more about this mystical staircase but didn't want mum and dad to think they were lost. Still, this was interesting to find out, even if it did mean leaving the pantry for a while.

He slowly started to go down the steps, one step at a time.

"Hey! Wait! Where are you-?" Toby began, but he too was curious by the stairs.

Soon the brothers slowly both went down the stairs into the never-ending darkness.

The stairs took a while, it was a long way to go down. Nick was sure he counted at least 50 stairs or more but finally they reached the bottom.

At the bottom, both of the brothers couldn't believe what they saw. They were no longer in the pantry but instead in a dark aquamarine place with floating specks flying. The whole place was covered in stone with the same aquamarine colour as the walls. There were even more steps but only a few leading to a crystal clear pool-like circle surrounded by four different coloured crystals.

Toby was amazed by this beauty of this new 'place. It was unlike anything he and Nick had seen. Especially with all the sparkly crystals and the calm atmosphere that occurred throughout the place. From his point of view, it almost looked like an ocean of calmness or a peaceful paradise.

Nick had to agreed. This place was indeed peaceful but there was something else he noticed. Over to the left, there was a whole library stacked with thousands of books as well as a little stone stand and table for them to be placed on. There was also a computer-like setting over the same side with a rather comfortable looking chair. Small, pale white crystal laid on top of the keyboard computer with a round circular screen that would be the communication.

Nick walked towards the library area and grabbed one of the books. It was quite heavy but somehow, he managed to lift it despite its dustiness. "There are so many interesting books! I hardly know where to start."

Toby sat on the chair. "Worry about the books! I mean look at this place! It's way bigger than the pantry!"

His younger brother nodded in agreement. "You're right about the placement but why did we follow towards it?" He flipped through the pages of the heavy book. "There's nothing in this book that says about where we are?"

"Could we try the crystals?" asked Toby. "Maybe there's something we could use to try and figure out about this place?"

But before Nick could answer his brother's question, the pool-circle began to glow…