Tommy loved the alleyway behind his house. It was a secret world of bricks, shadows, and the occasional stray cat. One sunny afternoon, as he was chasing a particularly elusive butterfly, a crow swooped down, landing on a nearby fence post.

"Hello there," the crow squawked, its voice surprisingly clear. Tommy blinked in surprise. Crows didn't usually talk to him.

"Hi," Tommy replied, his heart pounding.

"You're playing in a dangerous place," the crow continued. "There's a book at the bookstore that can help you."

"To Delve? That book store?" Tommy had only heard of it. It was a mysterious old bookshop at the end of the alley, its windows always dark and dusty.

"Go inside," the crow urged. "Find the book with the golden feather on the cover. It will show you the way."

With a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, Tommy headed towards the book shop. The Delve swallowing him whole. The...