Memory Lane

22. To the shack

22. To the shack

After finding the door under a tree in the temporal plain, Fred and his band walked through onto a new realm. The next layer of the mindscape was called the Vision Room, holding a simulated reality made up of the ideal instead of the real. Anima resided in this realm and took charge in leading the others over the purple and blue hills on a brisk country walk. The pastures and rolling peaks gave way to a shimmering city that could already be seen by the group from a distance. Coming in closer, it became more evident that this was not an ordinary city. 

The streets were clean and beautifully paved, the buildings were draped in a golden hue and soared high above, and the citizens themselves all wore luxurious suits and dresses made of the finest leather, felt and fur. The only difference from this city and the posh neighborhoods of London was how each and every citizen had no features on their face, not even eyes or ears, but still managed to function as normal. No one was sure what the problem was with this utopia, but faceless city-dwellers was definitely something out of the ordinary.

"you live here?" Fred alternated between the hills and grand city while talking to Anima.

"yes. Got myself a little shack on a hill not too far from here if you're interested" Anima walked on.

"sounds great" Silhouette agreed.

"would you mind if I go check out what's happening in that city over there?" Fred had a change of mind.

"I don't mind. Just be back soon. You still have to get to the Frontal Barrier" Anima huffed her shoulders as Fred made his way across a navy blue plain to the big city in the distance.

"you sure the locals are friendly?" Silhouette spoke from the shadow on the ground.

"I don't usually go into town very often, so who am I to judge?" Anima replied.

"good point" Silhouette slithered up to form a small shadow on Anima's arm to watch Fred head off.

"anyway, off to the shack" Anima continued pacing, with Silhouette still attached to her arm. After fifteen minutes of walking, the two arrived at a large wooden plank house on a hill to the northwest of the city. Everywhere, inside, and out, slacks of paint were dotted everywhere on the wooden building, but the inside looked more like the inside of a cottage. A small kitchen, stools, and low wooden arches made up the bungalow.

"you'd think with all the rich people living nearby, it might be an idea to give this place a facelift" Silhouette drifted up to the front porch.

"what was that?" Anima looked back as she opened the front door.

"I mean... love the rustic feeling. Good to get away from it all really. Money can't buy happiness I always say" Silhouette uttered before entering the shack.

"I just hope Fred's fine out there" Anima rested her hands on the central plank table, dashed with multiple colors of paint as if it were part of the canvas that made up the entire house. Silhouette then saw Anima move further out to a veranda viewing the city and covered in a conservatory of glass. Here, she kept an easel and paints close to a chair so she could look up and paint the incoming color comets that lit up the night sky.

"I assume this is your studio" Silhouette followed Anima.

"exactly. I come out onto here at the twilight hour to paint the comets and be with my thoughts. Sometimes, it's good to be alone. You know?" Anima sat down at her chair and added the finishing touches to her most recent work of art.

"I do" Silhouette related. Hours passed, and the white sun set on the horizon as the realm saw the lights of the city and the coming color comets appear.