Welcome to Winterclear

Strange things happened when I didn't look into the light

Strange things happened when I didn't look into the light.

Well first, since i wasn't looking at it, I saw everyone else in the street, stone cold frozen. They had their mouths hanging open in wide freaky smiles, their eyes as big as dinner plates, and just stared as the massive bar of light hummed down the road toward us.

Unlike everyone else, I slammed my eyes shut and didn't move a muscle. I could tell when the light reached me because it sent a strange vibration through my entire body that was somehow both warm and cold as it passed. It was like that feeling when you get a chill up your spine so bad that your entire body shudders. But, I forced myself to not even flinch and I stayed that way for... Oh, I don't know. Maybe five minutes.

Then I began to hear the townsfolk start talking again.

"Wasn't that just WONDERFUL?" I heard Penelope say. I opened my eyes and she was looking at me, grinning, and stretching as though she'd just awoken from a long nap. "Alice? Did you hear me?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Wonderful," I mumbled.

She patted my arm. "First one can be a little off putting. Don't worry though, you'll sleep like a baby tonight! Well, thanks for having coffee with me. See you at the staff meeting tomorrow!" She smiled again and waved, then she took off walking briskly down the sidewalk in the opposite direction.

None of that was the weird part.

Not the weirdest part, anyway. I'll get to that.

Still dazed and confused, I decided to walk back to the school, where I collected my car, and then drove home. I drove slowly, being extra careful not to run anybody over.

The citizens of Winterclear seemed even more enthusiastic and full of energy as they went about the business of their lives. I saw children playing and laughing full of joy. People having animated discussions and howling with laughter. Maybe the update really was a wonderful thing. Maybe I should've looked into the light. After all, I felt more tired and defeated than ever, and certainly didn't fit in just then with my fellow townsfolk.

I pulled into my driveway and wandered in my front door. What I heard when I walked in was some sort of pounding and someone going, "Hellllloooo! Hello? Is anyone there? Can anyone hear me?" It was a woman's voice; muffled, and slightly panicked.

I stood stock still in the entryway listening for a second, and then, "Hypathia!" I exclaimed. I dropped my keys and briefcase and high stepped it into the kitchen to let the little kindly neighbor lady out of the pantry.

As soon as I opened the door she gave a great sigh of relief and then began fussing with her slacks and blouse as if to smooth and straighten them.

"Hypathia!" I cried. "I'm so glad to see you!" Without even thinking about it, I pulled her into a huge hug.

The little lady laughed and hugged me back gladly. "There there, dear, you seem upset!" she comforted.

Though it was greatly embarrassing, I burst into tears. "I just... I just thought you were..."

Hypathia backed away and held me at arm's length so she could peer up into my face. "What? Dead?" She threw back her head and cackled. "Oh dear me, no. Just crumbled, is all!" She whisked a tear from my cheek with her fingertip. "It's alright, Alice. Don't cry. I'm just fine. You're fine. We're all fine."

She gave a smile then that reminded me of the people frozen, and smiling strangely into the wall of light.

Hypathia soon excused herself to get home and catch up on housework and programs she'd missed while she was crumbled. I plopped myself into my arm chair and stared listlessly at the wall for... I don't know how long. A long time. I did not read any fairy tales. Didn't make any noodles. Didn't even check in with Reddit. I was just feeling some type of way and all I could manage to do was zone out. The day, and Winterclear, and the world went on around me and I completely lost awareness of it all.