In-between

Chapter 3: Hallway

They wake up groaning, staring up at the ceiling, sighing, they stand-up. Ah, they had blacked out again. Not very nice if they were to admit.
They sit-up, looking at the endless hallway in-front of them. This was not going to be nice. They felt uneasy, in a way.

They stood-up, walking.
And walking,
And walking further….
And further….

They look towards the hallway, not particularly lighted, oh god, it was still going on. So they walk further, without looking back, they reach a painting. It was a painting of a woman inside a lake; they assume, looking at the details; they notice she holds a bundle of blue hydrangeas. It looked beautiful, yet lonely.

They stare at the painting.
They move on further.
They’d rather not feel. Sometimes not feeling at all is better than feeling everything all at once.
They hear white noise at the back of their head, not feeling unpleasant but not pleasant either.
What were they thinking again? They had forgotten.

So they walk, walking and walking. It feels inhuman, they think; the way they don’t lose stamina, the way they don’t go hungry, the way it they feel so detached.
The white noise grows louder.
They walk even more, passing by an old grandfather-clock.
It ticks and ticks.

They observe it even closer, it looks like an antique, they note. They glide their finger across the clocks surface, the tick ticking reminding them of sound. Something always there even in the most tragic of time.
And sometimes, silence can even be louder than sound.

The white noise grows even louder.
They walk even with the knowledge of knowing it was something never-ending, a futile attempt at escaping this solemn hell.
Something endless.

But that is the beauty of mortality, the power to chase after something we aren’t even sure exists, a futile attempt. But that is what it means to be human is it not? They ignore the whispers of their traitorous mind.
I want to go back.
Back where?
The words go unsaid.

They continue walking even more, trying to escape their thoughts.
The see a porcelain vase sitting on a wooden table, it looks lonely.
It has a humanoid face on it, a woman’s face if they look closely. It’s eyes are closed. They poke the side of the vase. It’s eyes open abruptly.
They jump back in shock.
Sound escapes their throat.
“Ah…” They could talk now, that was nice they supposed.
“Uh, wh- what are you?” they ask the vase.
It makes a deadpan expression. Ah so it couldn’t talk, but it could emote.
“Do-... do you perhaps know where we are?” they ask in a futile attempt, even with the knowledge that it couldn’t talk.
It makes a grumbling expression.
“So you don’t?” they ask.
It closes it eyes, trying to mimick a nod.
Ah, so the vase doesn’t know, alright then.
You try to get more information. You see the vase break and turn to dust. Excuse them for their crudeness but what just happened.
The white noise grows louder.
What were you doing again? And why was there dust on this marble table?
Well it doesn’t matter to them.
They don’t walk for awhile. Opting to take a better look at the never-ending hallway.
It doesn’t have windows, they note.
They find themselves missing the way the sun would shine light upon their skin, that steady heat that made them sweat.
They miss the way the moon would gently shine it’s light, the way the stars would twinkle with delight, as if dancing with each other.
They look closely at the hallway and notice that it was somewhat akin to a Victorian styled mansions hallway, although it was missing features such as windows and enough lighting.
It looks familiar.
They hear the white noise grow even louder.
What were they thinking about again?
It doesn’t matter, they don’t care.
They noticed it felt desolate and cold. They felt lonely.
Where were the water spirits speaking of which? Strange.
Step.
Step.
Step.
They could hear footsteps coming closer.
Squinting their eyes they see a black silhouette that looked quite like a person in a bunny mascot outfit coming closer and closer, well wasn’t this quite terrifying.
They hear the white noise grow louder.
You felt threatened and unsafe.
What were you going to do?
You try opening your mouth. You close it. You don’t think speaking is the right choice.

The white noise grows the loudest it has ever been.
The Black silhouette comes closer.
You feel the world shift beneath your feet.
Your vision turns black.