Chapter One. Winning.

Chapter two. The First Cut here

Daniel Davenport had always considered himself an average guy, working in collections at a bank. He was good at his job—problem-solving for customers who struggled to keep up with their arrangements to pay. It wasn't glamorous, but it paid the bills. At 5'10", with short brown hair, a light scruff on his face, and a perpetually tired look in his eyes, Daniel was unassuming. His clothes were typically button-down shirts and khakis—practical but nothing that would make him stand out in a crowd. What Daniel didn’t expect was that a seemingly innocuous trip to a mystery auction would alter the course of his life forever.

On a whim, Daniel attended the auction, winning a storage lot for £50. No one else seemed interested in it, and the auctioneer had practically given it away. When Daniel opened the storage unit for the first time, he was astonished by what he found: a trove of magical props, old magician’s equipment, and a dusty book that appeared to be an instruction manual for a number of complex illusions.

Curious but sceptical, Daniel invited his two friends—Veronica Halter and Elizabeth McGee—over to help him explore the strange items. Veronica was a no-nonsense woman in her mid-20s, slightly shorter than Daniel at 5'6", with sharp, calculating hazel eyes and straight black hair that fell just below her shoulders. She dressed in simple, practical clothing, usually a jacket and jeans, favouring comfort over style. She had a grounded, logical presence and had always been sceptical of anything that seemed even remotely outlandish.

Elizabeth McGee, on the other hand, was a stark contrast. Tall and graceful, with striking auburn hair that cascaded in waves past her shoulders, Elizabeth had the air of someone who had always been in the spotlight. She was 5'9", with a dancer’s posture and a carefree, excited personality. Her bright green eyes always sparkled with enthusiasm, and she moved with the grace of someone accustomed to being on stage. Elizabeth had been an actress and dancer for years, including working as a background performer in a magic show years ago. When she stepped into a room, she was always the centre of attention without even trying, and her energy was infectious.

Elizabeth was wearing a simple yet elegant outfit, reflecting her dancer’s grace and performer’s style. She had on a flowing burgundy dress that reached just below her knees, with a fitted bodice that hugged her curves and a skirt that swirled lightly as she moved. The dress had small slits on each side, allowing for ease of movement, a practical detail for someone who was used to performing. On her feet, she wore soft, ballet-style shoes that matched the color of her dress—sleek and comfortable, ideal for someone who spent most of their time on stage. Her long auburn hair was loosely styled, with gentle waves cascading down her back, adding to the overall elegant yet relaxed look.

The air was thick with the smell of dust and forgotten things as Daniel, Veronica, and Elizabeth arrived at the lock-up. The steel doors of the storage unit loomed before them; its dull grey surface streaked with the marks of time. The light from the overhead bulb flickered slightly, casting long shadows on the concrete floor.

Daniel fumbled for the key, excitement and a trace of nervousness mixing in his chest. The lock clicked open, and with a deep breath, he pulled the door wide. The dim light inside revealed rows of cluttered shelves, packed with boxes, worn furniture, and strange, unmarked crates. But amidst the haphazard piles, one thing stood out—a large, ornate cabinet, beautifully crafted but covered in a layer of dust, as if it had been waiting patiently for someone to notice it.

"Well, this is it," Daniel said, his voice carrying a note of awe. "This is what I bought."

Veronica stepped in first, eyes scanning the space with a sceptical air. "It just looks like junk," she said, her tone practical, arms folded across her chest. "What are we even supposed to do with all this?"

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was already walking toward the cabinet with a gleam in her eye. "Look at this! This looks like something from a magic show," she exclaimed, brushing off the dust to reveal intricate carvings along the edges. She ran her fingers along the designs, her excitement palpable.

Daniel followed her, intrigued. "It is a bit... theatrical, isn't it?" He knelt down to examine a box nearby, opening it to reveal brightly coloured silk ropes, a set of mismatched mirrors, and other strange props. His eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What if these are props from an actual show?"

Veronica raised an eyebrow. "You seriously think someone left all this behind just for fun?"

"Maybe," Daniel replied, brushing dust from a top hat, "Or maybe... they had a reason to leave it all behind. Something serious."

Elizabeth, now inspecting a large wooden crate, tilted her head. "Do you think it’s cursed or something? Or is this just... normal magic stuff?"

"We’ll find out soon enough, I suppose," Daniel said, a grin spreading across his face. He moved toward the book that had been left on a nearby table, flipping through its pages. "Seems like instructions for stage magic... or something more."

Veronica glanced over at him, still sceptical but intrigued despite herself. "You really think this will work? Like... actual magic?"

Daniel’s smile widened. "There’s only one way to find out."

The trio began digging deeper into the strange storage unit, feeling the thrill of discovery, but none of them could shake the sense that this wasn’t just some ordinary auctions find. Something about the props—the cabinet, the ropes, the mirrors—felt charged with possibility, as if they were just the beginning of a much bigger mystery.

Elizabeth’s fingers traced the edges of the large cabinet again. "Maybe it’s a performance," she murmured, a spark of inspiration lighting her eyes. "Like a real magic show... one where we get to be the stars."

Veronica snorted lightly. "Yeah, or we’ll end up like those people who disappear in magic tricks."

Daniel chuckled. "Maybe. But it’ll be fun to try."

They continued to sift through the clutter, unaware that the magic in the storage unit was already beginning to stir, waiting for them to unlock its secrets.

The cabinet Elizabeth was drawn to stood tall and imposing in the corner of the storage unit. Its wood, though aged and weathered, held an air of elegance beneath the dust that coated its surface. The paint, once vibrant, had faded to a muted shade of deep crimson, streaked with time and neglect. The intricate patterns of golden filigree wrapped around the edges of the cabinet, swirling in graceful spirals, though the fine details were nearly lost beneath years of grime.

As Elizabeth’s fingers brushed along the surface, they traced the smooth, worn edges of the ornate carvings. The wood felt warm to the touch, as if it had been waiting for someone to return. The patterns seemed to shimmer faintly under her fingertips, almost as though the designs were alive in some way. She ran her hand along a particularly delicate swirl, where the gold leaf had peeled off, revealing deeper layers of rich mahogany underneath.

At the centre of the cabinet, a large rectangular panel stood out, slightly recessed from the rest of the structure. It was framed with a set of brass rings, worn from use, with small, round holes spaced evenly along the sides. The holes, curious in their placement, looked just large enough for a person’s head, hands, and feet. The cabinet was clearly built for a person to step inside—there was a space carved out for a body to fit within, and the proportions seemed eerily exact.

The front of the cabinet bore a long, narrow slit running from the top to the bottom, barely wide enough for a thin figure to squeeze through. Elizabeth bent down to examine the base of the cabinet, her eyes narrowing as she noticed small, hidden slots near the bottom edge. They seemed to have been added with precision, likely for fastening or locking parts of the cabinet into place.

All around the cabinet were the marks of a well-used illusion—a prop crafted not just for show, but for a purpose. It felt oddly personal, like it had been built for someone who knew exactly how it should work. And as Elizabeth lingered, tracing the details, a shiver ran up her spine. The cabinet wasn’t just a tool for magic; it was something more. Something that had been designed to deceive, to transform, to make the impossible feel real.

She stepped back slightly, feeling both awe and a growing sense of unease. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her voice tinged with wonder. "But also... a little unnerving."

Veronica, still sceptical, leaned in to get a better look. "It’s a prop, Elizabeth. A piece of a show. Nothing more."

But the way the cabinet seemed to pull at her, calling for her attention, suggested otherwise. Something about it felt like it had more to give, something beyond mere theatrics—something that they hadn’t yet begun to understand.

Elizabeth, unable to resist the pull of the cabinet, slowly stepped forward. She hesitated for only a moment, the coolness of the dust-covered wood brushing against her fingertips as she placed a hand on the smooth surface of the door. Her heart raced with anticipation, a thrill of excitement running through her veins. She glanced back at Daniel and Veronica, who watched her with varying degrees of scepticism and curiosity.

"I'm going in," she said with a grin, though there was a nervous edge to her voice.

"Are you sure?" Veronica asked, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. She wasn’t sure whether to be worried or amused.

Elizabeth nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. "It’s a magic trick, right? If I’m going to see it up close, I may as well try it myself."

With a final glance at Daniel, who was now crouched by a pile of props and taking notes in the book, Elizabeth turned and stepped into the cabinet. The interior smelled musty, a mix of old wood and something faintly metallic, like the residue of long-abandoned props. She could feel the weight of the cabinet around her, the tight fit as she slid her body into the space that seemed to have been crafted just for her.

The panels inside were surprisingly snug, fitting around her form like a glove. She placed her hands on the sides of the cabinet, feeling the carved edges of the small holes—one for her head, two more for her hands. A shiver ran through her as she realized just how perfectly the cabinet had been designed for someone to step inside, as though it had been waiting for her, or someone like her, to step into the illusion.

She positioned herself carefully, lifting her hands to slip them into the rings on the sides, then pressing her face against the opening for her head. The slit above her was narrow but just wide enough for her to poke her head through. Elizabeth gave a small laugh, half nervous, half excited.

"Okay, here goes," she murmured, her voice muffled by the cabinet's walls. As she took a deep breath, she braced herself for what was to come.

For a moment, nothing happened. The silence in the small storage unit was deafening, the only sound the soft creak of the cabinet’s wooden frame as she shifted her weight.

Then, the air around her seemed to grow heavier, the temperature dropping just a little. Elizabeth froze. A faint tingling sensation began at her fingertips, spreading down her arms and into her chest, like a spark of electricity skittering beneath her skin. The sense of being enclosed in the tight space shifted into something else entirely—something much more profound.

She pressed forward, pushing her head and arms through the cabinet’s openings. It felt like she was being pulled, almost as though the cabinet itself were alive and inviting her deeper into its embrace. Her breath caught in her throat as the tingling grew more intense, like every inch of her body was awakening, stretched between two worlds. The sensation was strange, but not entirely unpleasant.

It was as if the cabinet, this relic of magic, was beginning to transform her—body and mind.

"Elizabeth?" Daniel’s voice called out from the shadows, startling her.

She blinked, suddenly aware of her surroundings again. The tingling sensation began to fade, but a sense of unease remained in the air. Her body felt different, lighter somehow, almost as though it had shifted imperceptibly, but she couldn’t quite place why. Stepping back, she carefully withdrew from the cabinet, her breath quickening as she took a few steps away, shaking off the strange feeling that lingered.

She looked at her friends, a mix of excitement and confusion on her face. "That was... something," she said, her voice a little breathless. "I don’t know what, but something definitely happened."

Veronica raised an eyebrow. "You, okay?" She took a cautious step closer, looking at Elizabeth as if trying to assess whether she had just stepped into something more than a magic trick.

"I think so..." Elizabeth responded, glancing back at the cabinet. "But that wasn’t just a prop. I can feel it."

Daniel, eyes wide with excitement, stepped forward. "Feel what? The magic?" he asked, his voice filled with awe.

Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Yeah. It’s like the cabinet is... reacting to me. I can’t explain it, but I swear it felt like something was alive inside there. It’s like it wanted me to go further."

Veronica shook her head, unconvinced but intrigued. "Well, it was definitely weird. But let’s not get carried away. It’s just an old prop, right?"

Daniel turned back to the cabinet, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "We’re going to find out for sure."

Daniel flipped through the worn pages of the book, his fingers trembling slightly as he traced the faded ink. The text was dense, filled with stage directions and old, almost poetic instructions, but it was the diagrams that caught his attention. The cabinet Elizabeth had stepped into was there, sketched in precise detail, with arrows marking where the blades should be placed.

He swallowed, glancing up at Elizabeth, who stood just outside the cabinet, watching him expectantly. The strange tingling sensation from before still buzzed faintly in her fingertips, but curiosity had overtaken hesitation.

“Well?” she asked, tilting her head. “What does it say?”

Daniel exhaled. “It’s... pretty clear on what to do,” he admitted. He ran his thumb over the edge of a page, considering the next step. “There are even instructions on how the assistant should breathe, how they should position themselves before each part of the trick.” He looked at Elizabeth. “You sure you’re okay to go again?”

She grinned, stepping back into the cabinet. “I want to see what happens.”

Veronica sighed, folding her arms. “I still think this is all just an old prop, but whatever. Just be careful.”

Elizabeth positioned herself inside the cabinet again, slipping her hands and head through the openings. This time, she felt more prepared, more eager. The cabinet’s interior was still snug, still carried that faint metallic scent, but there was an energy to it now, like it was waiting for the trick to be completed.

Daniel ran his hands along the side of the cabinet, feeling the grooves where the first blade was meant to go. A long, gleaming metal sheet sat propped against the pile of props nearby. He picked it up carefully, feeling the weight of it, the solid craftsmanship. It didn’t flex like a trick blade should. It felt... real.

“Okay, here goes,” he murmured, gripping the handle tightly.