Little Lightning

Chapter 28

Lyrical followed Zaylee down the ramp leading from the ships cargo bay. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she let out a gasp.

It was beautiful.

Tall white spires stood stark against the gold sky, short, stubbly buildings crowding the bottoms of the towers, contrasting against the tall lankiness of the spires of the white steeples. Gold and light blue veins spread in blocky spider-web like patterns across the houses and towers, bright against the alabaster white, the design abating the closer it got to the top. Lush green and blue grass waved in the gentle breeze that blew across the wide plain, vibrant flowers in every color imaginable throwing sparks of color across the sea-like landscape.

"It's incredible." She whispered in awe. Everyone else had the same reaction, save for Zyan and Zaylee. Confused at Kalypso's awe, she turned to Kalypso. "Wait, why are you surprised? Haven't you been here before?" Kalypso turned to her and shook her head.

"This is the first time. I mean, I knew it existed, and Zaylee had shown me pictures, but its so much more...vibrant in person." Kalypso responded, turning back to the incredible scenery. "I had no idea it was so..."

"Beautiful." Zyan finished for her, turning to look at them and smiling. "Trust me, that awe doesn't go away. Even I, having grown up here, still loose all breath when I see it." Lyrical smiled and nodded, clasping her hands behind her back, turning her pale eyes back up to the sky.

"There will be time for sight seeing later." Zaylee's voice shattered the peaceful quiet that had descended, shocking them all back into reality. "It is pretty, I'll give you that. But a pretty cage is still a cage." A shiver ran down Lyrical's spine as they began to walk forward. As they waded through the field, Lyrical couldn't help but let her hand trace the tall blades of grass, a small smile slipping on to her face as she marveled at how soft the grass was. They reached the city in no time at all, and Lyrical was almost surprised at the fact that they weren't going to keep walking in the wonderful field forever. As they walked through the gleaming city, Lyrical couldn't help but notice that she didn't see very many people. Any people, for that matter. The city, though beautiful, was desolate and silent.

"Why aren't there any people?" She wondered aloud, still scanning the street for any kind of life that wasn't them.

"Because they don't live here." Lyrical turned to look at Zaylee. "This place is not the true city of Folum." 

"Folum?" She asked, curiosity rising.

"It's where we come from. I suppose you know us as the Formus. Its where we live. This place--" She gestured to the empty city. "--is a trick. The beauty is meant to lure you in, to seduce you into staying. I've seen people be locked up in this city, and die thinking they are in the best place in the world, no matter the hardships they endure while here."

A pretty cage is still a cage. Lyrical's mind whispered. A chill ran up and down her back despite the warm sun.

"People loose track of time, and end up living their entire lives here. They think they've only spent a few hours, when its been years, and maybe even decades. That's why no one lives here." Lyrical remembered the feeling she had experienced when they had left the field and shuddered. If it weren't for Zaylee and Zyan knowing how to deal with this, would she had ended up like all those other people? Trapped in their own delusions, convinced they were in paradise for only a few days when really living here their entire lives?

The conversation dwindled into a tense silence. Finally, after what seemed like several hours of unnerving quiet, Zaylee spoke.

"Here." She stopped suddenly, and crouched at what looked like a normal piece of white tile. She placed her right hand on the tile, not quite in the middle. Zyan crouched down next to her, placing his left hand on the other side of the tile, their pinkies almost touching. At first, nothing happened. Then, as if by magic, the tile slid back to reveal a ladder descending into the darkness.