I followed him to an alley behind my house. There, hidden behind ivy, was a small wooden door. He handed me the key.
"Open it," he said. My hands shook as I turned the key. The door creaked open, revealing a spiral staircase leading down into darkness.
"Why are we going down there?" I whispered.
"You'll see," he replied, with a mysterious smile. "The world above is not safe anymore."
I had no choice but to follow. The air grew colder with each step, and soon, I realized that this wasn't just a basement… it was another world entirely.