She entered the numbers. The lock clicked open, revealing a narrow stairwell that seemed to descend, not rise. She hesitated, then followed the spiral downwards—until the steps led her back up, emerging onto a that rose above the rooftops.

My attention was drawn to a small, quirky shop with a faded sign that read "Curios and Wonders." The store seemed to be a magnet for the neighborhood's eccentric residents. I pushed open the door, and a bell above it rang out, announcing my arrival.

If you ever find yourself typing a similar string into a map app or muttering “I couldn’t resist” to yourself in a dark car, stop. Use the :