The Secret Passage

As the stone gave way, the wall slid open. Rebecca started to tumble backward, but Thomas grabbed her. He could just make out the outline of a staircase winding down into the depths of the hill. "No way!" he yelled.

Thomas pulled his iPod Touch from his jacket pocket. Turning it on, he flipped to the flashlight app. "I _knew_ this would come in handy." He shined it into the passage, illuminating a twisting stairwell. "Come on, let's check it out!"

Rebecca grabbed his sleeve. "Wait! Just a second ago you were terrified of this place, and now you want to go exploring random staircases? Let's just go. You were right before; we shouldn't be here."

"Are you kidding? We just found a real life secret passage!" Rebecca could only manage a worried look. "Look, you can wait here. I'll just follow the staircase to the bottom to see what's there, okay?" Thomas kissed Rebecca on the forehead and gave her his boyish smile. "I'll be right back."

He disappeared down the stairs, the light of his iPod fading to blackness.