Typically when one steps through a doorway there is an expectation you will end up in a destination you can already see. Like if you open a door and see a bed when you enter the room you expect to end up in a bedroom.

For Dana and Billy when that door was opened they saw a mostly empty space, with the exception of a cheap plastic table, a few folding chairs and a ladder leaning in the corner. Dark grey carpet, a main staircase leading to the second floor and an elevator were the few features left.

No sign of the tall man.

At least that's what they saw.

When they actually moved past the frame and into the room they found themselves not inside at all.

The first thing that stood out wasn't anything visibly different, it was the smell. 

Like a hot summers day; scorched grass, burnt flesh and a general sensation of the sticky heaviness of muggy air.

The second thing to stand out was the fact that they were somewhere completely different, and not just somewhere different, somewhere they could say with certainty they had never been before.

They were standing on the front porch of a building, like when they'd followed the tall man in they had somehow turned around to be facing out to the street except it was a different street and this was a different city.

For one thing the cars here were much fewer, only two or three, and mixed in with carriages and carts drawn by creatures made of bone. They resembled something between a horse and a goat, with blank, ruby-red eyes.

For another everything held a reddish/orange tint to it, like the sun was covered in a filter. When Dana looked up to the sky, which was now a pinkish orange, to find the sun she realized there wasn't one. 

There were three. 

All in a a row, pointing towards something hiding just out of sight.

"Dana." Billy tugged the back of her sweater to get her attention. She looked down at him but found his eyes not on hers but staring intently at something in the distance.

She followed his line of sight to see a familiar figure in the distance, a man in a black coat and hat, holding a takeout cup of coffee.

The pair ran across the street in pursuit. He may have been a threat but now he was an anchor. At least he would've been if they'd caught up to him on time.

"Boiled Kraken-tail?" A short being squeaked, cutting into their path. His head just barely reached Billy's shoulders, a platter of pale-purplish slug-like appendages dusted with red specks balanced over top. Around his neck dangled a pouch that jingled with the sound of metal. 

They pushed past him, but found that only landed them on a much busier street. A market of some sort. The air was thick with the stench of competing aromas from every direction, most of the stands appeared to be selling some sort of fish. Others sold jars of either black or red substances and one had racks of clothes with tags still on them, from stores the siblings knew from their world.

Dana halted and caught Billy's arm before he could get too far ahead. There was no sign of the tall man. 

"What are you doing?" Billy asked. "He's gonna get away!" 

Dana crouched down. "Get on!" 

 The two siblings were about five years apart in age, in height there was maybe a few inches difference. Collectively, with Billy dangerously perched on Dana's shoulders they added up to about 8 feet. 

"There!" Billy shouted, pointing to a familiar black hat at the end of the street, making its way towards the corner. 

The siblings did their best to push through, but they didn't make it in time. Through shoving, kicking, toe stomping, climbing and all kinds of other forms of man handling, as well as plaine old brute force, they managed to make it to the end. But by the time they did the tall man was long gone.

Around the corner was an intersection between six different roads. Each just as busy as the one they'd just fought through. "Great! Now how're we going to get home?" Billy yelled out to the dead end. 

"You need help getting home?" A woman's voice asked from behind them. 

She wore an almost disgusting amount of jewelry. Layers and layers of necklaces, each more expensive and fine than the next. Her arms were covered in a variety of metal bands and bracelets, chain belts and waist bands dangled from her waist. Her ears were covered in different earrings of various shapes, feathers, spiders, skulls. 

All in all she had the appearance of an eccentric princess. 

Dana gazed hungrily at all her wealth. Planning to pickpocket a few pieces first chance she got.

"Yeah!" Billy responded, clasping his hands together. "Can you help us?" 

"Of course!"

Dana didn't like the look in her eyes. 

"If-"

"Of course there's an if." Dana grumbled. There was always an 'if'. Didn't matter what world they ended up in, that would never change. 

"If what?" Billy asked, giving his sister a look. 

"If you can beat me in a fight, lets say, first to knock the other over for," She paused to consider, "Five seconds?" The woman answered, holding up a hand, wiggling her fingers. Her many rings sparkled. 

"So, if I knock you over, and you stay down for five seconds, you'll help us get home?" Billy repeated slowly. 

"Exactly! So are you in?" She reached out to shake his hand.

"Ye-" He started to take it

"No. Absolutely not." Dana interjected, barring him away from her with her arm. She eyed the woman warily. "Does it have to be him?"

The woman shrugged. "Makes no difference to me." 

"I'll do it then." Dana decided, in a tone that left no room for argument. 

Worst case I can grab a bracelet or two to pay someone else to help us. 

Then she shook the woman's hand. Making the biggest mistake since walking through that door.