Through the Portal

INT. KAIA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Kaia bursts into her room, slams the door shut, and leans against it, panting.

Her eyes are wide. Her hands shake. Her backpack hangs half-open, her notebook peeking out.

KAIA (breathless, whispering):

“I saw it… It was real. That place—”

She paces the room, clutching her phone like it might help.

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INT. KITCHEN – MOMENTS LATER

Kaia’s parents sit with tea, mid-conversation. She enters fast.

KAIA:

“Mom. Dad. There’s a portal inside the shop across the street! I went inside, and it’s… not normal. It’s magic!”

Her dad lowers his cup. Her mom blinks.

MOM (softly):

“Kaia… are you feeling alright?”

DAD (chuckling nervously):

“You’ve been reading too many fantasy books again.”

KAIA (desperate):

“I’m not making it up! I saw people going in. It’s bigger inside. There’s floating lights! And—”

MOM (concerned):

“Sweetheart, maybe take a break from staying up so late. Your imagination’s running wild.”

Kaia stares at them, stunned. Frustration boils up.

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INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – NEXT DAY

Kaia stands with her best friend Maya and a few classmates.

KAIA (urgent):

“Maya, I swear. There’s something weird inside Elder & Finch. A portal. I stepped inside.”

MAYA (uncertain):

“The dusty shop with the weird door handle?”

KAIA:

“Yes! I saw cloaked people go in. It’s like they live on some other schedule—some other world.”

Maya pauses… then laughs awkwardly.

MAYA:

“You sure it wasn’t a dream?”

CLASSMATE #1:

“Sounds like Kaia’s writing a new novel again!”

Laughter. Kaia’s face falls.

KAIA (to herself, determined):

“Fine. I’ll prove it.”

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EXT. GRIMWOOD STREET – NIGHT

The wind howls. Lights flicker.

Kaia stands across from the shop, staring. She wears a hoodie, her backpack on, a flashlight clipped to the strap.

She walks up to the lion-shaped handle, takes a deep breath, and pushes the door.

It creaks open.

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INT. ELDER & FINCH SHOP – CONTINUOUS

The warm glow greets her again. Shelves shift gently, as though breathing. Paper birds flap lazily above her head.

She walks toward the arching blue portal at the back.

KAIA (to herself):

“Okay. I’m ready this time.”

She steps through.

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INT. THE OTHER SIDE – THE LUMEN MARKET

Kaia gasps.

She stands in the middle of a magical street, lined with shops that shimmer, float, or change shape. Cobblestones glow underfoot. The sky above is indigo and full of floating lanterns.

Magical beings roam the street:

A fox-headed baker selling rainbow pastries

A clockwork owl delivering letters

A woman with cloud hair reading fortunes in glass spheres

KAIA (awestruck):

“This... is real.”

She spins slowly, eyes wide.

Children with wings giggle as they fly past. A merchant cart zips by without wheels. Music hums from nowhere.

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INT. ALLEYWAY – EDGE OF THE MARKET

A pair of glowing eyes watches Kaia from the shadows.

Unseen. Waiting.

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KAIA (V.O.):

“I thought no one believed me.

But this world… this place… it’s been waiting for someone like me.”

FADE OUT.

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