Saturday, 14th June, 2025
Dear Diary,
So, it was the Saturday, and most kids would be playing Fortnite on their PS5s or just hanging out at the local park. Not planning to venture into a hidden tunnel under the town that might lead them into a parallel universe, wake up some ancient curse, or maybe both.
But there I was. And the craziest thing?
I wasn’t alone.
I told Lucas. I had to. He’s my best mate since Year 3, and if anyone was going to hear me out on glowing maps, secret passages, and ancient riddles, it was him. At first, he thought I was pulling his leg. Then he saw the map. Then he said the greatest two words in history:
“I’m in.”
We planned to meet at the corner shop, stocked up on snack (Jaffa Cakes, two Lucozades, and a bag of Sour Skittles), and rode down to the rear alleyway behind the bakery. Lucas saw the stone doorway and just breathed softly, “No way.”
I put my hand once more on the spiral symbol and, just like yesterday, the wall moved.
It actually moved.
This time, having Lucas by my side, I wasn’t afraid. Well, okay, I was, but not the kind that paralyzes you. The kind that does make your heart pound and your head yell, this is real.
In, the tunnel spiralled downwards, damp and silent, as if the world had gone by and wasn’t even aware it existed. The map lit up with every step we took, lighting our way like some kind of magic satnav. Lucas kept looking over my shoulder and repeating, “This is mental,” every five seconds.
And then — the chamber.
We stepped into this enormous underground chamber, and we both just froze. There, right in the middle, was the machine.
It was like something out of a steampunk dream. Gears, glowing tubes, mystical runes — it was like a hybrid between a spaceship engine and a grandfather clock.
As soon as we stepped up to it, the whole thing sprang to life.
Lights came to life. Gears creaked and turned. The floor vibrated. Lucas held tight to my arm, and then this voice echoed all around us:
“Bearers of the Map. You have been seen.”
We didn’t scream. (Okay… Lucas might have squeaked a little.)
And then everything was still again. Like that. Back to still. The machine stood frozen. The voice was not spoken. But something knew we were here now. Watching. Waiting.
We looked at each other. No words. Just this feeling like… everything had changed.
The map glowed brighter than ever. It feels like it’s charging up, or maybe showing us the next step.
We’re going back tomorrow.
Together.