Strange Antique Store

Walking around, Vanessa couldn’t get over how big the mall was. It felt like it extended on forever. Eventually, Vanessa saw a store that caught her eye. It looked completely out of place, with an old aesthetic that stood out amongst the modern architecture. The store didn’t have a name, and the entrance had velvet curtains that obstructed any view of the interior. The mysterious store enthralled Vanessa, her curiosity overtaking every other thought. Vanessa had to know what was inside, walking through the heavy curtains.

The inside was dimly lit, her eyes taking a minute to adjust to the darkness. Once she was able to see, Vanessa was in awe of what she saw. All around her were a variety of trinkets and antiques that looked right out of history. Half of the stuff was completely alien to Vanessa, little contraptions and knickknacks that were probably replaced by some modern machinery. On one wall she saw a collection of antique weapons and armor. On the other was a bookshelf lined with tomes that could easily be hundreds of years old. And in the far back, Vanessa saw vials of various liquids, strange looking plants, and jars with statues of fictional creatures inside. It was only then that Vanessa noticed an short, old woman behind the counter, watching Vanessa with an unending stare.

“Umm, hello?” Vanessa said meekly, her face growing red with embarrassment for not noticing the woman.

“Hello dear.” The old woman responded, her voice dry and unnerving. “Welcome to my shop. You are welcome to look around my collection to your heart’s content. I sure you will find something to your liking.” A toothy grin stretched across her wrinkled face.

Vanessa was immensely creeped out by the old lady, but she didn’t want to come off as rude. Taking the owner’s advice, she continued exploring the shop and all its many curiosities. The woman’s words lingered in Vanessa’s mind, but Vanessa pushed all of her concerns away. After all, it is just a normal antique store, right?