Elara pushed open the door, expecting to find the back garden, but instead, she was met with the shimmering blue of a swimming pool. A small, fluffy dog paddled frantically in the deep end, its head barely above the water. Without hesitation, Elara kicked off her shoes and plunged into the cool water. She reached the dog, a shivering ball of fur, and scooped it into her arms, hauling it back to the edge.
She set the dog down on the concrete, relieved to see it shaking the water from its coat. Elara turned back towards the door, ready to return to her own world, but the dog barked sharply, stopping her in her tracks. It wasn’t just a regular bark; it was insistent, urgent. Elara looked at the dog, really looked at it, and realised it was trying to tell her something. “What is it, boy?” she asked softly. The dog whined and then darted off in a semi-fast jog. It was a small dog, so Elara had to almost run to keep up.
A thought flickered through her mind: I could just go back through the door. But she knew that was a gamble; she could end up anywhere. The dog clearly needed help, and she couldn’t abandon it now.
The dog led her to the entrance of an old mine, the gaping hole in the hillside a stark contrast to the sunny day. Hesitantly, Elara followed, the air growing colder and damper as they ventured deeper. Then she heard voices, muffled at first, then clearer, laced with menace. Rounding a bend in the tunnel, she saw them: a little girl huddled in the corner, her face pale with fear, and a burly man looming over her, another man standing guard nearby. They were surrounded by glittering rocks, clearly a gold find. The little girl must have stumbled upon them. The dog had clearly been trying to get help but had fallen into the pool on the way.
Fearlessly, Elara stepped forward. The men jumped, startled by her sudden appearance. “Leave her alone,” Elara said, her voice surprisingly steady. The men exchanged uneasy glances. They were clearly not expecting any witnesses. One of them took a threatening step towards Elara. But Elara simply walked past them, straight to the little girl. She took her hand, and with the rescued dog trotting at their heels, she turned towards a small, almost hidden doorway in the mine wall.
She didn’t know where it would lead, but she trusted it would take them away from danger. She stepped through, pulling the girl and the dog with her.
Bang.
The world shifted, and Elara found herself standing in a brightly lit room. The smell of disinfectant filled the air. She looked around, confused, and saw a police officer staring at her with wide eyes. Behind him, she could see desks, computers, and the familiar trappings of a police station. The doorway, sensing the danger and the need for immediate help, had brought them to the safest place it could. The little girl, still clutching Elara’s hand, began to cry softly, relief finally washing over her. The dog barked once, a small, grateful sound, and then nuzzled against Elara’s leg. Their adventure, it seemed, had come to a very unexpected, but very necessary, end.
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