The Playground Between Worlds: The Age of Innocence

The Playground Between Worlds: The Age of Innocence

Josh, Ahmed, and Jaymie have been inseparable since they outgrew the jungle gym. Now, as college students, they fall back into their old rhythm—late-night study sessions, caffeine-fueled debates, half-hearted attempts at adult responsibilities. Then Josh unearths a discarded USB drive in a quiet corner of campus, its contents sealed behind locked folders and cryptic file fragments. What begins as a puzzling diversion soon spirals into something far more ominous: surveillance in unmarked SUVs, shadowy figures tailing their every move, and a hidden control room tucked deep in an abandoned warehouse. Suddenly, their unshakeable friendship becomes their only shield against forces determined to reclaim what they’ve found—by any means necessary. From whisper-quiet playgrounds to moonlit industrial yards, The Playground Between Worlds is a taut coming-of-age thriller about the fragile boundary between childhood certainty and adult peril. Michael Lakeman’s debut novella deftly weaves nostalgia and suspense, following three friends whose shared courage and loyalty will be tested long after the final bell rings.