"Ah, welcome, welcome, Affendi," said the young man emerging from between a rack of hanging carpets. The shop is a classic curio shop filled with brass, bronze, marble, alabaster and various objets d' artes.
"It's just your standard import junk shop," says your friend, "Let's go to Macy's."
"Haha, no, no, Affendi, this shop is unique. You have heard of the Cave of Wonders? The tale of Ala-deen?"
"Any relation to Paula Deen?" asks your friend with a snicker.
The salesman merely forces a smile and shrugs. Guess he never heard of Paula Deen.
"He means Aladdin and the Magic Lamp," you explain.
"Indeed, except it was not just the lamp. There was also the djinn of the ring in addition to the one in the lamp. Many, many, other priceless things, and Ala-deen was no thief, but an honest but poor boy. That is the key to entering the Cave of Wonders, only one who is pure of heart may enter."
"Oh, you mean he was a virgin, like this one here," your friend says tousling your hair in a teasing way.
"Yes, well, your friend is indeed pure of heart, or you both wouldn't be here," the proprietor said.
You notice the sign painted on the door says "CAVE OF WONDERS- ENTER IF YOU DARE".
"Doesn't look that much like a cave," you comment.
"Haha, look more closely," says the proprietor waving his hand and the rack of carpets open like a theater curtain. They stare into an enormous cavern filled with glittering and glowing objects. It looks like it goes on forever.
"Everyone remembers the Ala-deen, but everyone forgets about those who entered the Cave of Wonders before him and after him," says the man wistfully.
,
"Uh, how did you fit that in this mall?" your friend asks nervously.
You are curious and have already stepped between the carpets and begun down the pathway leading into the cave.
Nervously, your friend whispers to the proprietor, "That thing about being pure of heart, uh, what happens to the person if they're not? Maybe I should wait outside," you gesture back toward the entrance door, and notice that this no handle on the inside and that where the exit sign should be over the door it reads "NO WAY OUT".
"Ah, the exit is at the other end of the caverns. I suggest if you are less than pure of heart, you stick close to your friend. Real close, if you want to make it out alive."
Your friend turns to the proprietor, but he's gone. Then looks back at the door, but it is gone too. The carpets slowly start to move together closing the entrance to the pathway. Your friend makes a made dash after you.
"Hey, wait up!"