"Nick," Maggie whispered urgently to her brother as they stealthily descended into the basement. "We're going to be in so much trouble."

Nick, undeterred, replied, "I don't care, Mags. I need to find the keys before Dad comes back. Quick! You start with the cabinets over there, and I'll check this table." The basement, though morning outside, remained dimly lit due to its lack of windows and ventilation.

"Do you really think Dad would hide the keys in the cabinets?" Maggie voiced her doubts. "I'm pretty sure they're not here."

"I saw him bring them down," Nick insisted, his tone filled with urgency. "Please, just help me look."

With a resigned sigh, Maggie agreed, "Fine," and moved to the cabinets, methodically searching through their contents. As she explored, her curiosity led her to examine the vintage armoire against the east wall. Once owned by their great-grandmother, it now belonged to their father.

Unable to resist, she opened its doors in a hurry. Inside, to her astonishment, lay an array of old costumes, wigs, and shoes. Clothes spilled out onto the floor, and she couldn't resist examining them.

"Nick! You have to see this. Are these Gran's vintage costumes?" Maggie exclaimed.

Nick, alarmed at what he heard, turned toward Maggie, his eyes wide with horror. "You weren't supposed to touch that, Mags! Look what you've done. We're definitely going to get caught now."

Realizing her mistake, Maggie apologized, "I'm sorry, brother. I was just curious. I'll put everything back."

"Quickly," Nick urged, his voice filled with concern. "And stay away from that armoire from now on."

Maggie rushed to collect the fallen clothes and return them to their racks. When she finished, she bent down to inspect the area beneath the armoire, searching for any overlooked items. There, she discovered a large black diamond ring with the emblem of a cicada etched on it. She attempted to reach it but couldn't quite fit her hand through the narrow gap. Seeking assistance, she called out to her brother.

"Nickoo! There's something down here. It's not your keys, but it looks like a ring. It must have fallen."

"Just leave it and keep looking!" Nick ordered.

"What if we get caught? Let's retrieve it and put it back inside," Maggie suggested.

Nick grumbled in frustration. "You keep messing things up." He approached her and commanded her to move aside. After a futile attempt to grab the ring, he made a decision.

"We need to move the armoire," he declared. "Hold that side."

Together, they managed to grip each side of the heavy furniture and slowly dragged it to reveal the fallen ring. Maggie let out a sigh of relief as she picked it up. However, Nick's attention was now fixed on the wall before him. As Maggie held the ring in her hand, a line began forming on the wall, shaping itself into a dilapidated wooden door. Like magic, this door manifested before their eyes.

"Ahhh...," Maggie screamed and jumped back. "Nick! What's happening here?"

Nick, equally bewildered, stammered, "I don't know, Mags. I'm seeing this for the first time too. Should we check what's inside?"

Maggie hesitated, fearful of the unknown. "Are you crazy? We don't know what's in there. We should go back."

"That's precisely why we should explore," Nick countered. "What if it leads to a secret room? What if Dad put the keys in there?"

"I don't think so. Let's put the armoire back and leave before Dad returns."

Nick stood firm. "I'm not leaving until we find out what's inside. Are you with me, Maggie?"

Reluctantly, Maggie agreed, her voice filled with anxiety. "Okay, but let's be cautious."

With a mixture of dread and curiosity, they gripped the door's handle, turned it, and stepped inside.

Her mind froze as they stepped through the door, confronted by a breathtaking sight unlike anything they had ever seen. Before them stretched a vibrant, emerald-green grassy path, flanked by lush lands and trees adorned with blooming cherry blossoms. As they walked upon the grass, their modern attire magically transformed into vintage clothing. Maggie wore a white undergown paired with a brown corset and a cream-colored skirt. Her hair was elegantly styled into a bun, and a lacy white hat adorned with pearls graced her forehead. Nick, on the other hand, was clad in a full-sleeved white shirt, trousers, and boots.

Maggie couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You look like a pirate!"

Nick chuckled in response, "At least I don't look like a budget Cinderella."

"Meh, I don't mind," she replied with a smile.

"Okay, let's go," Nick tugged her hand, and they ventured further into the meadows. As they progressed, they found themselves surrounded by an endless expanse of greenery. The only interruption in the scenery was a massive clock seemingly integrated into the sky.

"Hello, sunshine!" the clock chimed in with a deep voice.

"Hello!" Maggie greeted it.

"The OtherSide welcomes you. At this moment, we have 267 visitors in the OtherSide. You can pick up the brochure on your right and enjoy the day. You have 3 hours left to return to this spot. Have a nice day!" the clock announced before fading away into the sky.

Nick couldn't help but wonder aloud, "That's so weird."

Maggie, captivated by the enchanting surroundings, exclaimed, "Look at this place! It's so beautiful. Let's keep going."

Nick teased her, saying, "Look who's talking. Weren't you the one running away when I suggested we explore this place?"

"Yeah, yeah. Stop showing off. Let's go," she responded, walking ahead of him. She picked up a brochure that had mysteriously appeared on a nearby stool. Together, they examined its contents: a map and a list of events taking place in this extraordinary world—a vintage-themed soirée, street performances, dining events, musical shows, and people strolling along the streets. An adult area was also mentioned, though it was off-limits for the brother-sister duo due to age restrictions.

As time passed unnoticed in the midst of festivities, the sky gradually darkened, and a sense of urgency washed over them. They reluctantly bid farewell to the people they had encountered and began retracing their steps, aiming to return to the spot where they had initially entered this fantastical realm. However, they were met with a different landscape on their journey back—once-lush trees had withered, shedding their leaves, and the surroundings had taken on a desolate appearance.

Upon reaching what they believed to be the starting point, they were perplexed to find that the door had vanished.

"Hey, Clock! We're back! Can you show us the door?" Maggie called out, her eyes scanning the sky.

The giant clock reappeared, chastising them, "You're late!"

"We're sorry. We shouldn't have stayed so long. Can you help us find the door?"

"The door is gone. You can't leave unless someone opens it from the outside again," the voice from the clock stated ominously.

Nick muttered under his breath, "Holy shit. Did we really think this was Narnia or something?" He couldn't help but smirk.

Maggie, however, was anxious. "Nick, we need to get out of here. We can't wait for Dad to come and open the door. What if he doesn't? What if he thinks we deserve this?"

"Calm down, Mags. We'll figure something out. Let me think," Nick said as the air grew chillier, and the sky darkened further. In the distance, a cold white mist began drifting toward them.

"Clock! Help us! Is there another chance? Is there any other way out?" Maggie pleaded, shouting at the sky, but the clock remained silent. She continued to call out, hoping for a response, but the approaching white mist gave her little comfort.

Finally, a new voice emerged from the mist, belonging to a short figure resembling an imp. He wore a scaly leather jacket, puffed trousers, and pointed brown boots.

"What is it?" Nick asked cautiously.

Maggie inquired, "Who are you?"

The imp-like figure grinned mischievously, "Which question shall I answer first?"

"Answer me," Nick demanded. "We want to get out of here."

The imp-like figure, grinned like a sly devil. "Ah, but of course, I can help you escape," he purred, his voice dripping with temptation. "But nothing in this world comes for free, you see. A deal must be struck."

Nick and Maggie exchanged wary glances, but their desperation pushed them to entertain the idea. "What kind of deal?" Nick cautiously inquired.

The imp's grin widened, revealing sharp, glistening teeth. "Oh, just a simple arrangement. You will have to offer something precious in return. A piece of your essence, a sliver of your soul. It's the only currency that holds any value in this place."

Maggie's eyes widened in alarm, and she whispered to Nick, "Are we really considering this?"

Nick hesitated, then turned back to Rumple. "What exactly would you take from us?"

Rumple leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Ah, my dear children, a piece of your memories, a fragment of your dreams, perhaps even a sliver of your innocence. Nothing too valuable, I assure you." He chuckled softly, savoring their torment.

Maggie shook her head, feeling a deep sense of foreboding. "We can't do this, Nick. It's too risky."

But Nick, tempted by the thought of escaping this eerie realm, began to waver. "Mags, think about it. What if we never find another way out? What if Dad never comes for us? We could be stuck here forever."

Rumple seized upon Nick's uncertainty. "Ah, wise lad, contemplating the eternity that awaits you here, are you? Time is of the essence, you know. The longer you delay, the more you become a part of this place."

The siblings exchanged one last, desperate look before Nick finally relented. "Fine. We'll make the deal. Just get us out of here."

The imp's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Excellent choice, my dear children." He produced a small, ornate box from his pocket and handed it to Nick. "Simply think of a cherished memory or a precious dream and touch this box, and your passage out of this place shall be secured."

Nick took the box, his hand trembling. He thought of a memory from their childhood—a sunny day at the park with their parents—and carefully touched it. Maggie, her eyes brimming with tears, followed suit, offering her own treasured memory.

With the box now containing their most cherished moments, Rumple cackled with delight. "Oh, how delightful! You shall be free in an instant." He produced a rusty key and inserted it into an invisible lock in the air. The ground shook, and the door reappeared again.

A surge of excitement filled Nick and Maggie. They could almost taste the sweet air of freedom. But as they stepped through the door, something went horribly wrong. Their bodies emerged on the other side, but their souls were left behind, trapped in the OtherSide.

In the real world, Nick and Maggie's bodies moved, but their eyes were vacant, their voices hollow. It seemed that time hadn't passed in the other world, but they were not the same anywmore. Their father was overjoyed to see them, believing that they had returned unharmed. Little did he know that it was not his children who had come back, but the souls of the damned, using their bodies as vessels.

As for Nick and Maggie, they were forever condemned to wander the OtherSide as lost souls, paying the eternal price for their desperate deal with the devilish Rumpelstiltskin.

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Mixed with a little bit of fantasy in this chapter. What do you guys think?

If you had to make a deal with the devil, what would you give up?

Olivia_Benedetti