We reached a point where we saw a large sign in the middle of the main street, reading "STREET CLOSED." I knew that that path was no longer a viable option.
"Come. We cannot go this way. We must detour."
An alley, of which I was unsure of it existing before my observation, was to our right. I led them into it. It was wide and the walls were grimy and covered in graffiti.
"Ignore the drawings on the wall. They are designed to scare us. Don't let this place have power over you any longer."
They followed close behind. We wandered down the path. At some point, I realized that the alleyway seemed much tighter than it originally was.
It was getting smaller. And where the hell did the exit go...?
"Run."
They immediately ran beside me as I ran and the alleyway realized that I knew. The rate of its constriction increased. Soon, my companions could not run beside me any longer. Space was precious and time... almost none of that left either.
We barreled out of the tiny crack left between the two wedges of building and found ourselves at the top of a staircase leading downwards.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sidewalk
It was nighttime in the city. Streetlights illuminated the dark street, and empty shop windows filtered out different sorts of lighting. The glow of the city spread throughout the environment. Everything felt so alive in such a dead and empty world.
We picked up the pace. The excitement had come back to the pair. They were moving quickly beside me, desperate to escape their pain. So eager.
I kept looking into the windows to see my reflection, to see the image of a shepherd leading his flock away to be slaughtered. I frowned. I did not want to see that image, but it's what kept coming back.
Behind everything, I could hear the faint sounds of the city echo all around us.
We were getting close.
We picked up the pace. The excitement had come back to the pair. They were moving quickly beside me, desperate to escape their pain. So eager.
I kept looking into the windows to see my reflection, to see the image of a shepherd leading his flock away to be slaughtered. I frowned. I did not want to see that image, but it's what kept coming back.
Behind everything, I could hear the faint sounds of the city echo all around us.
We were getting close.
Bus IV
"I can hear things the two of you can't."
We turn and face the professor.
"I keep hearing these.... things, and you both aren't really reacting, so I suppose it truly is confined to me. That is probably for the best."
"What do you hear?" The journalist asks.
He sighs.
"I can hear my children, crying. They keep calling my name. They won't stop. They've been dead for years, and they won't stop."
He covers his ears.
"I came here to get away from this, guide. I came here to get away from this."
The bus stops. The doors open. I grab the two of them and swiftly drag them out of the bus. The bus fades away as we step off. We are now on the side walk of the main street of the city.
Back on track.
We turn and face the professor.
"I keep hearing these.... things, and you both aren't really reacting, so I suppose it truly is confined to me. That is probably for the best."
"What do you hear?" The journalist asks.
He sighs.
"I can hear my children, crying. They keep calling my name. They won't stop. They've been dead for years, and they won't stop."
He covers his ears.
"I came here to get away from this, guide. I came here to get away from this."
The bus stops. The doors open. I grab the two of them and swiftly drag them out of the bus. The bus fades away as we step off. We are now on the side walk of the main street of the city.
Back on track.
Bus III
The journalist woke up and I covered his mouth so he did not speak. I nodded to the shadows, and commanded him to keep quiet. He nodded and looked down to the floor. He tapped his foot on the ground nervously and I could feel him shake in fear.
The bus shook and vibrated as it made its way through uncharted territory. I fought the urge to look outside, because at this point, I could feel something staring through the windows at us. We were being watched by the city.
The journalist made the mistake of looking. I had to cover his mouth once again to quiet his gasp. One of the shadows looked right us, but ended up only looking through us, as if it had swore it heard something but in the end it knew it was only daydreaming.
The professor woke up. I repeated myself and assured him into silence. The bus stopped. The shadows emptied out. I realized too late that we should have followed them off of the bus. The door slides shut and the bus heads back to the road.
The bus shook and vibrated as it made its way through uncharted territory. I fought the urge to look outside, because at this point, I could feel something staring through the windows at us. We were being watched by the city.
The journalist made the mistake of looking. I had to cover his mouth once again to quiet his gasp. One of the shadows looked right us, but ended up only looking through us, as if it had swore it heard something but in the end it knew it was only daydreaming.
The professor woke up. I repeated myself and assured him into silence. The bus stopped. The shadows emptied out. I realized too late that we should have followed them off of the bus. The door slides shut and the bus heads back to the road.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Bus II
I could feel the presence of others in the bus. They moved up and down the aisle past us, without appearing to notice us at all. I felt part of one being brush past my knee. It felt as if my knee froze solid. They were trapped just as we were inside of the bus.
If I didn't know any better, I would have called them ghosts. But they weren't ghosts. They were Shadows, lost souls within the multiple dimensions of the city. They didn't belong to anything human anymore. They were unrecognizably apart of the inner folds of the universe. I did my best to ignore them.
I was thankful that my companions were asleep.
If I didn't know any better, I would have called them ghosts. But they weren't ghosts. They were Shadows, lost souls within the multiple dimensions of the city. They didn't belong to anything human anymore. They were unrecognizably apart of the inner folds of the universe. I did my best to ignore them.
I was thankful that my companions were asleep.
Bus
I woke up with a jolt. I sat on a bench in a city bus. On my left side, the professor. On my right side, the journalist. The bus shook as it hit a bump in the phantom road. I got up and made my way to the front of the bus. Nothing was in the front seat. It was driving itself. I walked back to the bench and sat down. I felt immensely tired for whatever reason.
I went back to sleep.
I went back to sleep.
Bridge V
The cables snapped and the concrete gave in as the crescendo of cars' horns honked and blared into one continuous noise. Cars crashed into each other and people jumped over and onto each other in an attempt to get out and the bridge lurched downwards.
The center of the bridge began to bend in place. It cracked and broke and bits and pieces of it fell off into the abyss below. Children screamed and their mothers cried and their fathers were silent. We ran to the center of the bridge. A school bus stood alone at the very center of it.
We ran into the bus and began to ferry children out of it. We tried to awaken the unmoving bus driver but he was clearly dead. We saw ourselves in the school bus mirror and we weren't us.
When we realized this fact the bridge collapsed and the school bus plunged into the abyss.
The center of the bridge began to bend in place. It cracked and broke and bits and pieces of it fell off into the abyss below. Children screamed and their mothers cried and their fathers were silent. We ran to the center of the bridge. A school bus stood alone at the very center of it.
We ran into the bus and began to ferry children out of it. We tried to awaken the unmoving bus driver but he was clearly dead. We saw ourselves in the school bus mirror and we weren't us.
When we realized this fact the bridge collapsed and the school bus plunged into the abyss.
Bridge IV
The professor incessantly bothered me with his ancient shrill voice. I blocked him out and focused on the distant sounds of silence. The realm was so calming. I could lose myself in it.
But a child screamed and I looked around, puzzled by the noise. And I swear I heard the sound of glass breaking. And... scuffling on the concrete. And these moments of collapse-
I fell to the ground. They didn't notice.
I got up and caught up with them.
But a child screamed and I looked around, puzzled by the noise. And I swear I heard the sound of glass breaking. And... scuffling on the concrete. And these moments of collapse-
I fell to the ground. They didn't notice.
I got up and caught up with them.
Bridge III
The damn guide led us on without answering any of my questions.
"What's the meaning of this?" "What's the city's game?" "Why are we on a bridge right now?"
The guide ignored me. I brought this up with the journalist. He just shook his head and looked out into the distance. He walked curiously, with his head trained on the mist, without any regard for where he was walking.
I heard a car's honk. Or at least, I thought I did. I spun around and surveyed the area behind us.
Nothing. Another of the realm's tests, eh? Or maybe I was going crazy. Maybe I'm going crazy. Yeah, that's it. Gotta be. I'm going crazy and I don't belong here.
I didn't belong there.
"What's the meaning of this?" "What's the city's game?" "Why are we on a bridge right now?"
The guide ignored me. I brought this up with the journalist. He just shook his head and looked out into the distance. He walked curiously, with his head trained on the mist, without any regard for where he was walking.
I heard a car's honk. Or at least, I thought I did. I spun around and surveyed the area behind us.
Nothing. Another of the realm's tests, eh? Or maybe I was going crazy. Maybe I'm going crazy. Yeah, that's it. Gotta be. I'm going crazy and I don't belong here.
I didn't belong there.
Bridge II
Before I realized I was against the railing of the bridge, looking straight down into the abyss. I stared down, without any regard for what I was actually looking at. I realized there wasn't any water down there. I realized what I was down at was impossible. I just didn't care. I was staring past all of that.
Into the creature's eyes.
I snapped out of it when the journalist tapped my shoulder.
Into the creature's eyes.
I snapped out of it when the journalist tapped my shoulder.
Bridge I
We were on an abandoned suspension bridge. The cables stretched out far and wide. Mist clung around the bridge, obstructing our view. I could feel moist air pushing gently against me.
"How did we... get here?" The journalist asked.
No one answered or responded to him. We continued our journey. Everything felt haunted. I shivered. There was this noise behind everything, shrill and high. The city was singing. It was happy, and yet forlorn. Saddened. It wanted to keep playing with us, but-
The singing stopped. We kept walking.
"How did we... get here?" The journalist asked.
No one answered or responded to him. We continued our journey. Everything felt haunted. I shivered. There was this noise behind everything, shrill and high. The city was singing. It was happy, and yet forlorn. Saddened. It wanted to keep playing with us, but-
The singing stopped. We kept walking.
Sinkhole
We fell with the concrete into a giant gaping hole. Foul heat rose up from nonexistence, and blasted us in the face. One rock pelted my left leg and I felt blood splash out and bones crack. My pants tore and I crashed against a boulder. The professor screamed. We fell with the concrete into darkness.
I don't remember the impact. And I don't remember my leg ever healing itself. One moment, everlasting pain, and then the next, nothing but my cold breath and the foul heat and light falling upon my face from above.
I scrambled up to my feet. Rocks and debris cluttered the area around me. I saw the professor on the other side of the piles. Then I saw the journalist beside me. They were both unharmed.
I went to the journalist first and helped him up. He complained about his back as I navigated over to the professor. Soon we were all together again and attempting to figure out a way to climb out.
"Well, obviously there's no fucking way out. This is our sign... to give up." The professor said as he sat down upon a giant boulder.
"I'm with him. This is ridiculous."
I shook my head.
"This is the worst place for submission. The city could keep us in here forever, you know. It's worse than hell."
They barely reacted to what I said. I sighed, and sat down beside the professor. He handed me a cigar. He offered one to the journalist too, but the journalist politely pulled out a cigarette. We smoked together, silently.
The piles of rock underneath us began to spill into the center of the sinkhole. A hole formed, with the rocks falling into like they were being pulled in by a whirlpool. I don't remember being pulled into it, but we were.
I don't remember the impact. And I don't remember my leg ever healing itself. One moment, everlasting pain, and then the next, nothing but my cold breath and the foul heat and light falling upon my face from above.
I scrambled up to my feet. Rocks and debris cluttered the area around me. I saw the professor on the other side of the piles. Then I saw the journalist beside me. They were both unharmed.
I went to the journalist first and helped him up. He complained about his back as I navigated over to the professor. Soon we were all together again and attempting to figure out a way to climb out.
"Well, obviously there's no fucking way out. This is our sign... to give up." The professor said as he sat down upon a giant boulder.
"I'm with him. This is ridiculous."
I shook my head.
"This is the worst place for submission. The city could keep us in here forever, you know. It's worse than hell."
They barely reacted to what I said. I sighed, and sat down beside the professor. He handed me a cigar. He offered one to the journalist too, but the journalist politely pulled out a cigarette. We smoked together, silently.
The piles of rock underneath us began to spill into the center of the sinkhole. A hole formed, with the rocks falling into like they were being pulled in by a whirlpool. I don't remember being pulled into it, but we were.
Highway IIII
We approached the city near the 24 hour mark. The buildings stretched far above us. It seemed like they were never ending as they shot up into the sky. The desert disappeared behind us, leaving behind a great big blank nothing all around.
As we pressed on, the highway behind us erased itself from existence as well.
Their excitement didn't show any longer. They only had the residual determination left to keep going. They wanted an ending, and by God, they'd be getting one. I only wanted out. At the pace we were going, I didn't think I'd get that. I felt like it was the end.
"What happens once we're inside of the city?" They asked.
"We have to reach sanctuary."
"How does one do that...?" The professor asks frustratedly.
"One doesn't do that. That's the city's will. If it wants you to reach it, you will. We must earn its favor. You both must care to remember.... we are not in control."
And just as I said that, the highway below us cracked, and then everything collapsed.
As we pressed on, the highway behind us erased itself from existence as well.
Their excitement didn't show any longer. They only had the residual determination left to keep going. They wanted an ending, and by God, they'd be getting one. I only wanted out. At the pace we were going, I didn't think I'd get that. I felt like it was the end.
"What happens once we're inside of the city?" They asked.
"We have to reach sanctuary."
"How does one do that...?" The professor asks frustratedly.
"One doesn't do that. That's the city's will. If it wants you to reach it, you will. We must earn its favor. You both must care to remember.... we are not in control."
And just as I said that, the highway below us cracked, and then everything collapsed.
Highway III
At some point the highway signs appeared on the side of the highway. They were green and had various languages on them. Most of them were not in English, so we could not tell what they were actually saying. A few of them were, however. We could have gone without reading them.
They started out innocent and straightforward, just as the realm usually starts out as. "Richmond, VA - 80 Miles." "Edgewater, MI - 415 Miles." "Splitsville - 10, 000 Miles." But they changed.
"No ending." "The silence begins." "City UnLimits"
The air grew cold, bitter, and stale. Smoke and smog covered the sky. It descended. We choked on the fumes. I felt lightheaded. I grabbed the professor and the journalist close to me.
"Keep near me. It'll take us if we're split by this."
They don't respond. I drag them a few feet when I feel them pull out of my grasp. I scream at them and grasp out for them repeatedly. The smoke disappears.
They're both far away from me.
"...What's wrong?" The professor asks.
"Why did you both let go of me?"
They seem confused.
"What are you talking about? You never grabbed us in the first place."
I look behind me. Nothing there.
"It's... it's especially playful today."
Why?
They started out innocent and straightforward, just as the realm usually starts out as. "Richmond, VA - 80 Miles." "Edgewater, MI - 415 Miles." "Splitsville - 10, 000 Miles." But they changed.
"No ending." "The silence begins." "City UnLimits"
The air grew cold, bitter, and stale. Smoke and smog covered the sky. It descended. We choked on the fumes. I felt lightheaded. I grabbed the professor and the journalist close to me.
"Keep near me. It'll take us if we're split by this."
They don't respond. I drag them a few feet when I feel them pull out of my grasp. I scream at them and grasp out for them repeatedly. The smoke disappears.
They're both far away from me.
"...What's wrong?" The professor asks.
"Why did you both let go of me?"
They seem confused.
"What are you talking about? You never grabbed us in the first place."
I look behind me. Nothing there.
"It's... it's especially playful today."
Why?
Highway II
By the seventeenth hour they were impatient, agitated, and on the verge of collapsing. The city's buildings didn't increase in size at all, and the sun didn't either. The clouds stayed in the same relative position, and we had passed the same patch of cacti formations at least twenty times.
"Goddammit. Goddammit. I have to stop. I have to stop. Hold on, let me rest. Goddammit."
The professor dropped to the pavement. The pavement began to burn him. He screamed and rolled onto the sand. He was crying in pain. We picked him up and held him up.
Our feet were no longer on the path. The path disappeared, and so did the city. The journalist yelled and kicked sand. I helped the professor up.
"This isn't good." I said simply.
"Oh no, it's grand! We're lost in an eldritch sandlot with nowhere to go- seems great to me!"
The journalist wandered off behind the cacti formation to take a piss. I dusted off the hot bits of sand on the professor. He muttered a thank you. He asked for water. I told him we didn't have any.
The journalist came back. He looked panicked.
"There's something stuck inside of the cacti."
I left the professor so he can rest, and I followed the journalist to the cacti. He pointed to the center of the mounds of it. I saw nothing.
"It's still... moving..." He whispered.
"What are you pointing at?"
"There! Don't you see it!? It's so ugly! The blood alone... fuck! Christ, look!"
"I see nothing."
He grabbed me.
"You're lying."
"No I'm not. There's nothing there."
"Im...impossible..."
His grip loosened. I removed his hands from my shirt.
"I don't disbelieve you. I just don't see the creature. There very well might be something there. No matter what, the realm is playing us. We need to keep moving. Sitting still solves nothing."
"But it's... right there, it's-"
He looked back over to the cacti. He seemed confused.
"Not there anymore?"
"Not there anymore."
We grabbed the professor and prepared to venture into the open desert. However, the highway appeared once again, as if it never disappeared in the first place. The city was once again in the horizon, and we continued towards it.
"Goddammit. Goddammit. I have to stop. I have to stop. Hold on, let me rest. Goddammit."
The professor dropped to the pavement. The pavement began to burn him. He screamed and rolled onto the sand. He was crying in pain. We picked him up and held him up.
Our feet were no longer on the path. The path disappeared, and so did the city. The journalist yelled and kicked sand. I helped the professor up.
"This isn't good." I said simply.
"Oh no, it's grand! We're lost in an eldritch sandlot with nowhere to go- seems great to me!"
The journalist wandered off behind the cacti formation to take a piss. I dusted off the hot bits of sand on the professor. He muttered a thank you. He asked for water. I told him we didn't have any.
The journalist came back. He looked panicked.
"There's something stuck inside of the cacti."
I left the professor so he can rest, and I followed the journalist to the cacti. He pointed to the center of the mounds of it. I saw nothing.
"It's still... moving..." He whispered.
"What are you pointing at?"
"There! Don't you see it!? It's so ugly! The blood alone... fuck! Christ, look!"
"I see nothing."
He grabbed me.
"You're lying."
"No I'm not. There's nothing there."
"Im...impossible..."
His grip loosened. I removed his hands from my shirt.
"I don't disbelieve you. I just don't see the creature. There very well might be something there. No matter what, the realm is playing us. We need to keep moving. Sitting still solves nothing."
"But it's... right there, it's-"
He looked back over to the cacti. He seemed confused.
"Not there anymore?"
"Not there anymore."
We grabbed the professor and prepared to venture into the open desert. However, the highway appeared once again, as if it never disappeared in the first place. The city was once again in the horizon, and we continued towards it.
Highway
On the horizon, a city sprawled out above everything. The clouds encircled the location. It was our destination. The professor and the journalist smiled as they saw the buildings. I could feel the anticipation of the end seep out of them. They needed to reach the center of the world.
But I knew something was strange this time. I knew that something didn't feel right. In all my life, I'd never seen the realm manifest in that shape before. It felt... it felt like a deathtrap. Too narrow, too open ended. Too surrounded. It was almost obvious.
I didn't say anything to the two. I didn't want them to panic. Besides, nothing we could do at that point. We had to keep moving.
My biggest fear was that we'd have to keep moving forever more. The arid heat encircled us and punctuated the feelings of imminent ruin within me.
And yet they didn't stop moving, nor stop smiling.
But I knew something was strange this time. I knew that something didn't feel right. In all my life, I'd never seen the realm manifest in that shape before. It felt... it felt like a deathtrap. Too narrow, too open ended. Too surrounded. It was almost obvious.
I didn't say anything to the two. I didn't want them to panic. Besides, nothing we could do at that point. We had to keep moving.
My biggest fear was that we'd have to keep moving forever more. The arid heat encircled us and punctuated the feelings of imminent ruin within me.
And yet they didn't stop moving, nor stop smiling.
Road III
When I shook the journalist to wake him he swung at me. I stepped back and he jumped up. He grabbed me and tackled me to the ground. He screamed in my face. Spit sprinkled my forehead. I grabbed his arms and pushed him off. I got up and kicked him to the ground. He screamed like some rabid creature. His face was cherry red and he kept squinting his eyes, studying me as he screamed.
"GET OFF OF ME!! I CAN SEE YOU!! I CAN SEE YOU-"
I covered his mouth. The professor approached from behind.
"What's wrong with him?"
I shook my head.
"Nothing. It's the realm. It's taken control over him. He'll be fine. Give him five minutes."
The professor seemed unsure, but then he nodded and stepped off of the road. I kept the journalist pinned. About three minutes later, he began to calm down. His eyes cleared up. I held him for two more minutes to make sure. He was alright.
"I'm alright now, off, off!"
I let go and he pushed me away. He got up off the ground and cracks his neck.
"Let's go, I'm sick of this goddamn ro-"
The dirt below us became concrete. We were no longer on some lone dirt road in the wilderness, but on a highway in the middle of a desert wasteland.
The professor laughed.
"It at least has a great sense of humor, huh?"
"GET OFF OF ME!! I CAN SEE YOU!! I CAN SEE YOU-"
I covered his mouth. The professor approached from behind.
"What's wrong with him?"
I shook my head.
"Nothing. It's the realm. It's taken control over him. He'll be fine. Give him five minutes."
The professor seemed unsure, but then he nodded and stepped off of the road. I kept the journalist pinned. About three minutes later, he began to calm down. His eyes cleared up. I held him for two more minutes to make sure. He was alright.
"I'm alright now, off, off!"
I let go and he pushed me away. He got up off the ground and cracks his neck.
"Let's go, I'm sick of this goddamn ro-"
The dirt below us became concrete. We were no longer on some lone dirt road in the wilderness, but on a highway in the middle of a desert wasteland.
The professor laughed.
"It at least has a great sense of humor, huh?"
Road II
We stopped to rest. They did not want to stop, but I forced them to.
"We cannot go any further along on this path until we are well rested. I will continue to escort the both of you when we are able to proceed."
They rolled their eyes at me.
"This is ridiculous, we don't require any breaks."
The professor left the road and sat down on a lone tree stump. I kept my eye on him.
"Everyone, stick to being near the road. If you wander too off path, this place will you swallow you whole."
The journalist leaned against a tree. He smoked a cigarette alone.
I sat down at the center of the road. My stomach rumbled. The worst part of any voyage into the realm is always the lack of food. You cannot take food into the realm.
Food offends It.
We lost track of time as mysterious stars began to dot the sky above. The blank sky peeled away to reveal darkness. It was different than ordinary night. Darker.
I did not fall asleep, but I dreamed that I did, somewhere else.
"We cannot go any further along on this path until we are well rested. I will continue to escort the both of you when we are able to proceed."
They rolled their eyes at me.
"This is ridiculous, we don't require any breaks."
The professor left the road and sat down on a lone tree stump. I kept my eye on him.
"Everyone, stick to being near the road. If you wander too off path, this place will you swallow you whole."
The journalist leaned against a tree. He smoked a cigarette alone.
I sat down at the center of the road. My stomach rumbled. The worst part of any voyage into the realm is always the lack of food. You cannot take food into the realm.
Food offends It.
We lost track of time as mysterious stars began to dot the sky above. The blank sky peeled away to reveal darkness. It was different than ordinary night. Darker.
I did not fall asleep, but I dreamed that I did, somewhere else.
Road
The field went away sometime afterwards. It was replaced by the wilderness sprouting anew. The forest stretched out all around us. It was completely silent except for the crunch of our boots against the dead gray grass. A blank sky contrasted with the colorfully bland trees.
At some point, shadows ceased to exist. A sun without coloring popped into the sky above us and its light eradicated traditional shadows. There weren't any clouds. No birds. Just the sky, the sun, the forest, and us. And of course, the road.
We came across a lone car sitting lonesome on the road. It was an old car, a relic of humanity's past stranded within the realm. We walked past it without investigating its insides. Good decision.
But then the car turned itself on. The headlights of the car illuminated us and for the first time shadows returned to the world. We were blinded. The engine revved up. The car seemed as if it was on the verge of running us over. Instead, it went into reverse and rolled away swiftly in the opposite direction. It hit a tree and it merged with the tree. Rust covered it and vines did as well. The tree rotted while the car fell apart. Then, everything stopped, and the tree fell over, flattening the car completely. We forget this and keep walking.
Nothing of importance happened for a long time. The sun disappeared and we were left alone in the great emptiness once again.
At some point, shadows ceased to exist. A sun without coloring popped into the sky above us and its light eradicated traditional shadows. There weren't any clouds. No birds. Just the sky, the sun, the forest, and us. And of course, the road.
We came across a lone car sitting lonesome on the road. It was an old car, a relic of humanity's past stranded within the realm. We walked past it without investigating its insides. Good decision.
But then the car turned itself on. The headlights of the car illuminated us and for the first time shadows returned to the world. We were blinded. The engine revved up. The car seemed as if it was on the verge of running us over. Instead, it went into reverse and rolled away swiftly in the opposite direction. It hit a tree and it merged with the tree. Rust covered it and vines did as well. The tree rotted while the car fell apart. Then, everything stopped, and the tree fell over, flattening the car completely. We forget this and keep walking.
Nothing of importance happened for a long time. The sun disappeared and we were left alone in the great emptiness once again.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Fence II
We were still walking alongside the tall, rusted fence when a foreboding wind drifted through from the other side of it. I tried to ignore it. A certain scent was hidden in the wind. I tried to think of other things. I could hear its whistle surround us. I tried to ignore it. I could feel it grabbing hold of me and not letting go. I tried to think of other things. I could taste salt water.
"Do not trust the wind. It deceives us. Do not look past the fence. It wants us."
They did not listen. They couldn't. They had become possessed by the evil air. One of them stopped and looked past the fence to the open field behind it. The other also stood there, looking.
Then the professor jumped at the fence and shook at it violently, with his face contorted into a desperate smile.
"Let me in, let me in! I've found you, I've found you, I've fo-"
The fence grabbed him. I can't make sense out of what happened by saying anything else. That's the only description that will suffice. The fence grabbed him, and wrapped around him. The chainlink wiring broke off and cut into his skin. He didn't scream. He felt pleasure.
But then he was back on his feet and the fence was gone and only the field remained. It was as if that never happened.
"Do not go into that field."
The professor got up and shook his head. He ran off towards the open field. I tripped him, and punched him out.
I turned to the journalist.
"It's a trick. That is not the way. Don't fall for its tricks. If this happens again, I will abandon the both of you here, and you will be lost forever within the madness of this place."
The journalist nodded. He took the professor and shook him back to consciousness.
I continued to walk alongside where the fence used to be. There were no signs that it had ever existed between us and the field.
"Do not trust the wind. It deceives us. Do not look past the fence. It wants us."
They did not listen. They couldn't. They had become possessed by the evil air. One of them stopped and looked past the fence to the open field behind it. The other also stood there, looking.
Then the professor jumped at the fence and shook at it violently, with his face contorted into a desperate smile.
"Let me in, let me in! I've found you, I've found you, I've fo-"
The fence grabbed him. I can't make sense out of what happened by saying anything else. That's the only description that will suffice. The fence grabbed him, and wrapped around him. The chainlink wiring broke off and cut into his skin. He didn't scream. He felt pleasure.
But then he was back on his feet and the fence was gone and only the field remained. It was as if that never happened.
"Do not go into that field."
The professor got up and shook his head. He ran off towards the open field. I tripped him, and punched him out.
I turned to the journalist.
"It's a trick. That is not the way. Don't fall for its tricks. If this happens again, I will abandon the both of you here, and you will be lost forever within the madness of this place."
The journalist nodded. He took the professor and shook him back to consciousness.
I continued to walk alongside where the fence used to be. There were no signs that it had ever existed between us and the field.
Fence
They always react the same. The clients. When we step through that door, they always have the same face as they take in their new surroundings. They're stuck in awe, and yet they're so so frightened. Not out of fear for personal safety, or of possibly losing themselves within this place. They're scared because their dreams have actually come true.What they've lusted after for years isn't some myth. It wasn't fantasy. It wasn't some lie they clung onto to give themselves security. No.
It was the real deal. It's sanctuary to them. It always is.
"We must get moving. Keep close. Don't leave my sight. Go."
I led them into the labyrinth. They stared up at the impossible structures. The journalist's mouth hung open. I chuckled. They hadn't seen anything yet. I led them into the labyrinth, down an empty street. Cracks in the concrete. Shop windows broken. Streetlights blinked furiously.
The sound of silence perpetuated despite our footsteps.
It smelled just the same as I left it. It's an unknown smell. I couldn't describe it. Even if you gave me an eternity to work out the description. It filled me with melancholy. And yet, something else too. It felt like I was home.
Then suddenly we were no longer in the recognized labyrinth, but in a new environment. Ancient trees pushed up from a dense, gray ground and rusted cars lay hidden throughout our surroundings. I panicked a little. This was new.
Usually, the sanctuary appears as a forested wasteland near the end of the journey. This was not the case here. Everything was being shuffled around, as if to spook me and push me out of my comfort zone. It wouldn't make a difference though. I still knew my way there.
We rested at the center of a field on the hood of a burnt out car. The two of them obviously detested rest. They hardly settled down, even after I explained to them how important strength was in this journey. They rolled their eyes and patted their feet against the ground in anticipation of movement.
And then, after fifteen minutes of good rest, I was leading them once again. We heard the roar of some river, but we never came across it. This was perplexing. The roar of the river surrounded us, as if it was directly nearby, and yet we never saw one drip of water.
It was at it's loudest as we turned a bend in the trail. It was as if the river would reveal itself to us finally. Instead, a rusted fence and a barren field greeted us, with hardly anything else in sight.
We couldn't hear the river any longer.
We've been walking alongside the fence ever since.
It was the real deal. It's sanctuary to them. It always is.
"We must get moving. Keep close. Don't leave my sight. Go."
I led them into the labyrinth. They stared up at the impossible structures. The journalist's mouth hung open. I chuckled. They hadn't seen anything yet. I led them into the labyrinth, down an empty street. Cracks in the concrete. Shop windows broken. Streetlights blinked furiously.
The sound of silence perpetuated despite our footsteps.
It smelled just the same as I left it. It's an unknown smell. I couldn't describe it. Even if you gave me an eternity to work out the description. It filled me with melancholy. And yet, something else too. It felt like I was home.
Then suddenly we were no longer in the recognized labyrinth, but in a new environment. Ancient trees pushed up from a dense, gray ground and rusted cars lay hidden throughout our surroundings. I panicked a little. This was new.
Usually, the sanctuary appears as a forested wasteland near the end of the journey. This was not the case here. Everything was being shuffled around, as if to spook me and push me out of my comfort zone. It wouldn't make a difference though. I still knew my way there.
We rested at the center of a field on the hood of a burnt out car. The two of them obviously detested rest. They hardly settled down, even after I explained to them how important strength was in this journey. They rolled their eyes and patted their feet against the ground in anticipation of movement.
And then, after fifteen minutes of good rest, I was leading them once again. We heard the roar of some river, but we never came across it. This was perplexing. The roar of the river surrounded us, as if it was directly nearby, and yet we never saw one drip of water.
It was at it's loudest as we turned a bend in the trail. It was as if the river would reveal itself to us finally. Instead, a rusted fence and a barren field greeted us, with hardly anything else in sight.
We couldn't hear the river any longer.
We've been walking alongside the fence ever since.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)