The Map Under the Floorboard

Start writing...One rainy afternoon turned into the adventure of a lifetime.


Jake was a twelve-year-old boy who lived with his grandmother in a small wooden house at the edge of the forest. His parents were scientists who traveled a lot, so Jake stayed with Grandma most of the time. He didn’t mind. Her house was full of old books, secret boxes, and strange smells that reminded him of cinnamon and rain.

One rainy afternoon, when Jake had nothing to do, he started jumping around in the attic. The wooden floor creaked and groaned under his feet. He landed hard on one of the boards—and heard a loud crack. Curious, he got on his knees and lifted the loose piece of wood.

Under the floorboard, he found a thin leather roll tied with a red string.

He opened it slowly. It was a map. But it wasn’t a normal map. This one had drawings of trees with faces, rivers shaped like snakes, and a large red “X” near a strange rock formation called “Dragon’s Jaw.”

Jake’s heart raced.

“Grandma!” he yelled, running downstairs. “Look what I found!”

His grandmother held the map and gasped. “I haven’t seen this in fifty years,” she whispered. “My brother and I drew this when we were your age. But some parts…” She paused. “They weren’t just drawings. We thought it was a game, but some things… they were real.”

Jake’s eyes lit up. “Can I follow it?”

She looked at him carefully. “Take the compass in my drawer. Be back before sunset.”

Jake packed a sandwich, a flashlight, and the compass. Then he set off toward the forest, map in hand and heart full of excitement.

The first part of the map led him past a tall pine tree with two trunks. Just like the drawing. Then he had to cross a tiny stream that looked just like the snake-shaped river. Everything was there, just as the map showed.

But soon, things got strange.

He came to a clearing where the trees seemed to lean in, as if watching him. A cold wind blew, and he heard a whisper: “Keep going.”

He took a deep breath and followed the path. Soon, he saw it—the rock that looked like a dragon’s jaw, sharp and jagged, just like in the picture. Below it was the red “X.”

Jake dropped to the ground and started digging with a stick. After a few minutes, he hit something hard.

A small wooden box.

Inside, he found a golden key, a rolled-up letter, and a tiny glass bottle with a glowing green liquid.

The letter read:

> “To the one brave enough to follow this path—you are part of the story now. This key opens a door in the oldest tree near the pond. Drink only if you dare to see the world beyond.”



Jake wasn’t sure if it was a prank or something real, but he had come too far to stop now.

He ran to the pond, where a huge, ancient tree stood. It had a small door, just like the letter said. The key fit perfectly.

Inside, he found a staircase made of roots, going down into darkness. He lit his flashlight and slowly stepped in. The stairs led to a glowing cave filled with crystals, paintings on the walls, and soft music from nowhere.

In the middle was a stone with the words: “Only the kind, the curious, and the brave may enter.”

Jake stood there in awe. He didn’t drink the potion. Not yet. He decided to come back another day—with his grandma.

He ran home as the sun was setting. His shoes were muddy, his shirt was torn, but his eyes sparkled with joy.

“You were right,” he told Grandma. “Some things are real.”

She smiled. “And some adventures are just beginning.”