The Bookworld Chronicles: The Door in the Stacks

Lily loved the library more than anywhere else in the world. The musty smell of old books, the way the sunlight filtered through the high arched windows, and the endless rows of shelves stuffed with volumes just waiting to be explored - it was all magical to her.

On this sunny Saturday afternoon, Lily was meandering among the stacks, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books as she went. She had already gathered an armful to check out, but she could never resist peeking around just one more corner to see what other treasures she could find.

As she turned down a narrow aisle between two tall bookshelves, something caught her eye at the very end. A wooden door stood there, slightly ajar, tucked away where no one would notice it unless they ventured all the way back here. Lily's curiosity was immediately piqued. She had never seen that door before in all her years coming to this library. Where could it possibly lead?

She approached it slowly, pushing it open a bit wider with one foot. It didn't make a sound as it swung inward. Lily could see it opened into some sort of small, dimly lit room or closet. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure none of the librarians were watching, then slipped inside to investigate.

What she found on the other side was not a closet at all, but a vast, seemingly endless landscape of grassy fields, winding rivers, and wind-swept plains studded with trees. An orange sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the bucolic scene.

"What is this place?" Lily wondered aloud, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Why, it's the Bookworld!" answered a tiny voice near her feet.

Lily gasped and stumbled backward, nearly dropping the books she carried. At her feet stood a miniature man, no bigger than her forearm, dressed in a dapper suit and vest. A petite woman wearing an apron and bonnet was at his side.

"A book sprite!" Lily exclaimed, recognizing the characters from illustrations in some of her storybooks. "But how...?"

"There's no need to be frightened, my dear," said the little man, sweeping off his cap and bowing formally. "We book sprites are the guardians and inhabitants of this realm. Please, make yourself at home!"

The little woman curtsied politely. "I'm Mrs. Elphabat, and this is my husband, Wizemore. Welcome to the Bookworld!"

Before Lily could respond, a loud roar echoed across the plains behind them. She whirled to see a massive, scaly dragon swooping down through the sky, its wings churning the air into a frenzy. Giant globs of flame dripped from its gaping maws as it roared again, this time louder and closer.

"Oh dear, here comes trouble!" fretted Wizemore, wringing his tiny hands. "That's the dreaded Smaug from The Hobbit. Quickly now, inside before he spots us!"

The two sprites scurried a few yards away and threw open a large, hollowed-out tree stump, motioning frantically for Lily to follow. Just as the dragon's immense claws thudded into the grassy field where they had been standing, Lily tumbled headfirst down a slide that curved through the stump.

She scrambled to her feet at the bottom, brushing dirt from her clothes, and found herself in an underground cavern. Countless doorways and passages branched off from the central chamber in every direction as far as her eyes could see.

Wizemore and Mrs. Elphabat appeared beside her, unruffled. "That was a close one!" exclaimed the sprite woman. "Smaug takes his fiery duties very seriously around here."

"Welcome to the heart of the Bookworld," Wizemore told Lily grandly. "Through those tunnels lie all of the book realms - every tale ever written is given life in its own world behind one of those doors. As book sprites, it's our job to keep things in order and prevent any of the characters from causing too much ruckus in the real world."

"Amazing!" Lily marveled, drinking in the sights all around her. Just then, a hulking, green-skinned figure with bugging eyes and sharp teeth lumbered out of a tunnel nearby.

"Braaaiiinnssss...." it moaned, dragging one misshapen foot after the other as it advanced.

"Oh no!" cried Mrs. Elphabat, quickly hiding behind her husband. "One of the zombies from that horrible World War Z got loose again!"

"Quickly dear, to the World of Oz!" said Wizemore. He grasped Lily's hand and pulled her toward a nearby archway, the zombie's groans growing louder behind them.

They emerged into a vibrantly colored landscape of rolling hills, scattered forests of swirling candycane trees, and a dazzling emerald city in the distance. Tiny munchkins and creatures of all sorts scurried about. As a fluffy cream puff of a woman floated gently down from the sky in front of them, Lily's face lit up with a delighted smile.

"Why, it's Glinda the Good Witch!"

"Welcome to Oz, my dears!" Glinda greeted them warmly. Her pink ball gown sparkled under the bright midday sun. "I see you've brought a visitor from the other realm."

"Indeed," replied Wizemore with a respectful nod. "This is Lily. She stumbled upon the gateway to our world from her library."

"How wonderful!" Glinda exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I'll have to whip up a special welcoming celebration at once. We simply must--"

Her words were cut off by a shrill cackle that caused the hair on the back of Lily's neck to stand on end. A putrid cloud of red smoke billowed up through the trees, quickly taking the shape of a wrinkled, hook-nosed old woman in a tattered black cloak. With a wicked grin, she aimed her long, gnarled fingers at Glinda and bright green flames erupted from her fingertips.

"Step aside, Glinda, you sparkly fool!" the hag cawed. "The Wicked Witch of the West is here to run this show!"

Glinda deflected the fiery blast with a wave of her wand, but the force of it still sent her tumbling backward through the air. Lily gasped as the good witch slammed into the ground with a puff of dust. Before she could react further, Wizemore tugged urgently at her sleeve.

"This way, quickly now!"

He ushered Lily back through the opening they'd entered, Mrs. Elphabat on their heels. Behind them, gleeful cackles and bursts of flame echoed through the tunnel as the two witches clashed.

"This path will take us to Wonderland," wheezed the sprite man. "We'll be safe there for the moment while those two sort out their squabbles."

They emerged into a sunny forest glade, criss-crossed with winding dirt paths and vibrant mushrooms and toadstools of every color dotting the landscape. A grinning cat appeared in the air beside them, its body fading in and out of visibility.

"Well hello there!" it purred in a languid drawl. "I haven't seen a human around these parts for simply ages. How curious!"

Its striped tail swished lazily back and forth as it regarded them with a mischievous look in its eyes. Lily couldn't help but giggle at the bizarre sight.

"If you're looking for a place to avoid the Oz ruckus, I'd suggest paying a visit to the Hatter," advised the Cheshire cat. "He's just down that way having another perpetual un-birthday party."

With a flick of its tail, the cat vanished into thin air once more. Wizemore brushed some dirt from his lapel and harrumphed.

"Yes, well, I suppose that's our best option for the time being. This way, everyone!"

They followed a twisting trail deeper into the woods until raucous laughter and clinking dishes became audible up ahead. Pushing through a jumble of massive toadstools and hanging vines, they emerged into a sunny clearing where a motley assortment of creatures and animated objects were gathered around a long table laden with steaming teapots, pitchers of mysterious liquids, and towering cakes and platters of all sorts.

At the head of the table, a man with a battered top hat, disheveled clothing, and a perpetual look of confusion on his face was animatedly narrating some story while creatures of all shapes and sizes chimed in with raucous laughter and commentary.

"...and then the Unicorn said, 'Well, if you can't get the bacon, bring me some mu--' Oh! Hello, hello!" he broke off, noticing their approach. "Welcome to my un-birthday party! Always a pleasure to have more guests, although I'm quite certain you're all very late."

"Salutations, sir," Wizemore said with a small bow. "We've just arrived from the realm of Oz, fleeing a terrible skirmish between the witches. Might we impose upon your hospitality for a brief respite?"

"Of course, of course!" the Hatter exclaimed, gesturing grandly to the cluttered table. "Have a seat, have a seat! Tea? Crumpets? Perhaps a tart or two?"

As Lily settled onto a cushion beside a massive grinning cat made of cheshire cheese, Mrs. Elphabat gratefully took a cup of steaming brown liquid from a potbellied stove scrubbing furiously with a rag.

"Do be careful with that Burble-tonic, dear," the stove cautioned her. "It can make one quite lightheaded if imbibed too quickly."

All around them, an assortment of talking flora and fauna, silverware, and miscellaneous objects were engaged in nonsensical debates and meaningless chatter. A rambunctious Puppy Dog repeatedly tried to drag off the tablecloth until a loud booming voice echoed, "OFF WITH ITS HEAD!" from somewhere unseen. The playful pup quickly retreated, whimpering.

Despite the chaos, Lily found herself instantly charmed by the warm, lighthearted atmosphere of the party. She nibbled on a scone as the Hatter regaled them all with another fanciful tale about the Unicorn's quest for bacon and why a raven was like a writing desk.

Just as she was starting to feel pleasantly drowsy from the Burble-tonic, a piercing screech like nothing she'd ever heard before sliced through the jovial banter. The entire party went deathly silent and still.

Wizemore paled visibly. "Oh dear, that didn't sound like good news..."

A massive, bulbous head slowly pushed through the shrubbery into the clearing, mottled green and brown with beady black eyes and rows of pointed teeth lining its slavering jaws. As more of the monster's immense, slug-like body oozed into view, Lily recoiled in horror.

"The Jabberwock!" exclaimed the Hatter in a trembling voice. "Burblering and burbling as it comes!"

The gigantic creature reared back, opening its gaping maw to release another deafening roar that shook the trees. As its boneless body began undulating forward, aiming its dripping fangs at the frozen tea party attendees, Lily could only watch in petrified dismay.

Wizemore sprang to his feet upon the table, drawing a slender sword from a sheath at his waist. "Back, vile beast!" he shouted in a booming voice that belied his tiny stature. "Leave this company be or face my blade!"

The Jabberwock paused, snakelike tongue flicking out to taste the air as it regarded the boldly posturing sprite. Then its bulging eyes seemed to glint with malicious intent and it surged forward, crashing through the underbrush in a slithering rush.

"Run!" Wizemore yelled to them all. "Quickly, to the warrens!"

As the monstrous Jabberwock bore down upon them, jaws agape and slavering for flesh, the Mad Tea Party descended into pandemonium. Dishes, furniture, and guests scattered in every direction in a wild frenzy...