Cyndi and Jane shared a deep love for books—that's how they became friends, and eventually, best friends. Their taste in stories was almost identical. If Cyndi liked a book, Jane was sure to love it.
So when Jane spotted a dusty book on the table, she immediately assumed Cyndi had read and recommended it. Without even realizing it, she opened the cover and began to read.
The very first line gave her pause:
"If you go there and want to come back, do what the book says."
Jane blinked. What a strange sentence. She repeated it silently in her head, trying to understand. Maybe it's part of the plot? Curious, she flipped to the next page.
"If you're ready, then solve this riddle to fill in the pages."
Fill in the pages? What does that even mean? she wondered, turning a few more pages. They were filled with strange symbols—but no actual content.
And then, she found the first riddle:
---
"I hold a secret hidden in time,
With petals soft and pages that rhyme.
To unlock my door, you'll need a key,
But it's neither metal nor something you see.
Place me where words and blooms entwine,
And a new world will be yours to find."
---
Jane read it aloud, confused. "What is this supposed to mean?" She read it again, and again, but nothing clicked—until her gaze landed on the flower she had moved earlier.
Petals soft… could it be? she thought. It's not metal... Do I have to place the flower on the book?
She picked up the dried flower and gently placed it on the book. Nothing happened. Frowning, she sat back down, still holding the flower.
Then she noticed a second riddle on the same page:
---
"I'm the end, yet I lead to the start,
A hidden shape plays a quiet part.
Trace my edge with gentle care,
Where the story begins, you'll find me there.
Look not inside, but on the outside track,
The answer lies upon my back."
---
The back? she thought, turning the book over. Sure enough, on the back cover, she found a faint outline—an imprint of the flower in her hand.
She placed the flower onto the outline.
Suddenly, the book began to glow.
Before she could react, the world around her blurred—and she was pulled into it.
---
Jane landed in a dense, shadowy forest. Towering trees stretched high above her. Everything was silent.
"What the hell…" she muttered, spinning around in confusion. "No, this has to be a dream. Where the f**k am I?"
She pinched her arm. "Ahh—okay, not a dream." Panic surged through her. "Am I inside the book? No way. This can't be one of those K-drama situations where the female lead ends up in the book she's reading!"
She slapped her own cheek. "Nope. Not waking up. I'm really stuck."
"Okay, okay, okay—I'm here. I need to get out. What do I do?" she whispered to herself. "In K-dramas, they never die because the story needs them. That means I probably can't die… right?"
Just then, a noise came from the trees.
"Who's there!?" Jane shouted, picking up a stick and waving it wildly. "I said, who the f**k is there!?"
A voice replied, "Jane? Is that you?"
"Who are you?! How do you know my name?! Am I dead?! Are you the Grim Reaper!?"
From the shadows, someone stepped forward. Jane screamed.
"Cyndi?! How did you—?!"
Before she could finish, Cyndi rushed over. "Jane! What are you doing here? No, wait—how did you get here? It was the book, wasn't it? I'm so sorry. I left that note for you because I thought it was just a good book. But when I saw the outline on the back cover, I matched it with the flower and then—then it started glowing and I got pulled in!"
"Breathe, Cyndi. It's okay."
"No, it's not okay! We don't even know how to get out of here—and my son! What if I never get back to him!?"
Jane hugged her tightly. "We're going to be fine. Don't panic."
Cyndi nodded weakly. "I'm so sorry. You ended up here because of me."
"DO NOT blame yourself," Jane said firmly. "We're in this together. Our kids will be okay. We'll figure this out."
Even though doubt gnawed at her, Jane forced herself to stay strong—for both of them.
As she comforted her friend, a warm golden glow appeared behind them. They turned. Floating in the air were glowing golden words—another riddle.
---
"Five keys are needed for the door to unlock,
But scattered they are, like hands on a clock.
To escape the tale and end your stay,
Gather the others and start to play.
Time is fleeting, don't let it slip,
Find the three, or you'll lose your grip."
Jane read it aloud, heart pounding. The real adventure had only just begun.