At the top of the stairs, she found a circular room filled with bookshelves — but these shelves were different. The books glowed faintly, as if lit from within. Some hovered slightly above the shelves. Others whispered softly, their pages fluttering even though there was no breeze.

The sky shimmered with swirling colors. A river flowed upward instead of down. Trees grew upside‑down, their roots stretching into the air like tangled chandeliers. A herd of rainbow‑striped animals galloped past, leaving trails of sparkling dust.

That afternoon, the school held its annual “Healthy Habits Fair,” and Chef Bixby was in charge of snacks. He unveiled his newest masterpiece: Veggie‑Pop Crunchers — tiny green cubes that fizzed like soda.

They walked carefully across the playground, weaving between frozen classmates. Everything felt strangely quiet, like the world was holding its breath.

At 8 p.m., the school felt completely different. The hallways echoed. The posters on the walls seemed to watch them. Lila scribbled notes while Mateo held a flashlight like a sword.