You stand in the center of the living room, surrounded by the grieving and the mourning. It's a somber affair, as befits the passing of a man as beloved as he was eccentric. You can't help but feel a sense of relief at his passing. Your grandfather was a mystery, and you've never really known what to make of him.
You look around the room, taking in the faces of those gathered. Your family members, the townspeople, and even a few strangers who have come to pay their respects. They all look solemn, lost in their own thoughts. You know they'll remember him as a quiet, withdrawn man who loved to tinker and read, but you can't help wondering what secrets he was hiding all this time.
Bored out of your mind, you slip away from the crowd and wander through the house. You've always been curious about his private space, and now that he's gone, you figure you might as well take a peek. You head upstairs, quietly exploring each room. It's clear he was a man of simple tastes. Everything is neat and orderly, but there's nothing of any real interest here.
As you enter his old studio, a sense calm washes over you. It's a comfortable, cozy space, filled with the scent of wood and leather. You spot an old desk, covered in books and papers, and an antique typewriter. There's also a very ornate fountain pen and a dusty bottle of ink laying there. It's like stepping into a different time, a different world.
As your gaze drifts over the furniture, your eyes catch on a small, locked drawer. Your fingers brush against the brass latch. It's old and deteriorated. As you are admiring it, the latch breaks, and with a sudden crash, the drawer swings open and a small, leather-bound book falls to the ground.
You crouch down, examining the book. There's no title, just a blank cover. As you open the first page, you notice an odd symbol etched into the paper. It looks like a five-pointed star, but there are three lines drawn across it, like a cross.
You turn the pages, quickly skimming through them. They are covered in a strange language that resembles nothing you have ever seen. You quickly realize that this is no ordinary book. A particular page stands out to you. It's completely blank except for a very detailed drawing in the center; almost like a photograph, but somehow more alive.
Curious, you reach out and touch the drawing. As soon as your fingers make contact with the paper, a blinding light flashes before your eyes. Startled, you drop the book. You find yourself zooming through a strangely lit tunnel adorned with vivid glistening veins of color. You feel yourself being sucked forwards. All the while, you still feel the floor under your feet, even though you can't see it anymore. After a short moment of disorientation, you begin to feel like you're being cupped and carried along the tunnel, more slowly. Then, it begins to brighten, and the colors begin to change from blues and purples into bright, over-saturated hues of orange, green and red. As the light increases in intensity, you see ahead of you a place where another tunnel converges with yours.
As you approach this intersection, an image begins to form. It's an image of another place. At first, it is only a blur, but the closer you get, the clearer it becomes. Then, suddenly, you find yourself there. The book, the studio and your grandfather's house are nowhere to be seen.