The alley was so dark that even the light beams from the headlights couldn't break through the shadows swirling in the corners. A fused lantern hung precariously of a bracket on the rock wall, buffeted by gusts of wind swirling in the narrow passage.
The faded sign announcing the store's name was barely visible through the small window of opaque glass that occupied the center of the door. The dust accumulated in the joints and the old earth-colored pegboard made even more difficult to read the worn out capitals.
The dashed laughter of two kids echoed in the brick walls of the alley. Both figures were half hidden, crouching behind a pile of cardboard boxes at the entrance of the street. It was obvious that they were trying to hide, probably from anyone in the main street that could be watching them.
- Here it is! - The child's voice rang out in the alley.
A young girl, not more than 12 years old went into the dark hallway, glancing nervously over her shoulder like hiding from a possible pursuer. The smooth brown hair, cut diagonally from the back of her neck, unruly fell over her eyes when she reached down to cover herself from the walkers who remained in the main street.
Behind her, a young boy of about her age, messy hair and mischievous eyes, pushed gently, forcing her to walk.
- Lets go, Adhara .- He whispered restless.- Lets get inside.
The girl nodded. As imitating a movie of secret agents in which the hero must defeat his enemy in the most confidential manner, the little girl stood up and stuck her back to the wall of bricks. She turned her head towards her friend with a smile, and slowly began to move toward the battered, sinister looking entrance decorating the center of the alley.
The tiny bell hanging from the ceiling tinkled loudly as the two kids entered the store. They looked at each other nervous, with a mixture of fear and excitement in their musky eyes.
The room was small and dark. The tiny light bulb hanging in the alley could only lit up the landing of the shop, narrow and full of shelves and cabinets full of the most bizarre objects.
- I was waiting for you, girl.- A deep, hoarse voice came from the back of the room.
Adhara flinched, and her fingers closed clawlike around the arm of her friend.
All around them they could see stored countless antique looking books and small multicolored glass bottles which kept inside a liquid that she could not quite pin down.
- Uhm... Me? You were waiting for me?.- The girl asked confused, afraid to take a step further.
She had the door behind her, where her friend still kept it open. It was difficult to decide which of them was more scared. But that was what they had been looking for, the little shop of magic that came and went at will, never two nights in the same place. It had taken them forever to find it.
No, they would not run away. Not after having managed to enter, not after all the work that had take them to finally make it.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward, making her way into the thick darkness of the room.
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