I liked this story too. I have always been a sucker for stories that have a touch (or more) of the fairy tale in them.
I guessed the ending in that one of the party was the missing "goat" from years back but I thought it was going to be the quiet kid who ended up being super creepy with his disturbing drawings. So I was surprised when it turned out it was the ex-soldier.
I would like another peek into the world beyond the little door. What happens next? What happened before? Maybe Joe will revisit it sometime.