In the depths of the nation's largest city, where the streets grew narrow, the buildings dense, and the alley ways dark, there existed a shop, hidden away from the main roads. Few knew it existed, and those that did spoke little of it. It was a curiosity shop, and one most peculiar. There were no signs above its door, no windows to display products; only a red door, hidden among the twisting alleys and crumbling concrete. Within its walls existed items with fantastic properties; items capable of granting wishes, curing diseases, even increasing wealth, or so rumors said. Those who heard the stories attempted to find it, though none succeeded. No one knew where it was, only that it was tucked away in the city's darkest blocks. However, on one fateful day, a young woman, having lost her way, stumbled upon its door. What she found was a simple red-painted steel door with only a faded "open" sign nailed to its front. Thinking this might be a shop, she entered, hoping to ask for directions.
Hannah stepped in from the harsh air of the city, only to find a small room lined with shelves. On these shelves sat a multitude of odd artifacts, seemingly placed at random, and at the end of the room, a counter manned by a strange, bent old woman. Hannah was initially put off by the dimly lit environment, even disturbed, but the gentle smile of the old lady calmed her nerves, if only a little. Hannah began to speak, hoping to ask for the way out of the maze of alleys, but the old woman spoke first.
"Welcome dear. Please feel free to look around. I'm sure there's something to fit your needs on these old shelves."
Hannah paused, processing the last statement for a moment, before finally speaking.
"Sorry, but I'm not a shopper. I'm lost here, and I was hoping you could show me the way back to the main road..."
"Oh don't worry about that. Please have a look around while I draw up some directions for you. Relax a bit. In fact, something here may even help you on your way. I know just the thing actually. Something to help you find your way no matter where you are."
The old woman hobbled from behind the counter to one of the shelves. From the piles of seemingly useless junk she pulled some strange object, quickly wrapping it in paper and taking it back to the counter. Not willing to spend her last few dollars on some trivial item, Hannah began to object, however, the old woman insisted, even offering it for free.
"Now now, don't be shy. This may be a business, but I'm no stranger to charity, especially when some poor woman is in need. Please, consider this a gift. Perhaps you'll return some day when you have greater needs."
With this, the old lady quickly placed the mysterious item into a box and handed it, along with some directions out of the alley way, to a very confused Hannah. Not even bothering to tell her what it was, the old lady showed her to the door, giving her a warm farewell, and closing the door behind her. Once again, Hannah was alone in the city, but now at least she knew how to get home, with the simple directions the old woman gave her. But the question remained, what exactly was in the box, and how would it help her find her way in the future?
This question would soon be answered when she reached her small apartment elsewhere in the city. After discarding her shoes and changing into more comfortable clothes, Hannah opened the box and unwrapped the paper. Inside she found...