Kyle followed Sleep out of the church, feeling a mixture of confusion and frustration. The town buzzed with activity, a bizarre mix of the familiar and the fantastical. Everywhere he looked, people went about their business, seemingly unbothered by the strange rules of this world.
So what.. is this place, exactly? Haven't been given a straight answer yet..
"What about a gay answer?" Sleep laughed, a surprisingly warm sound that made Kyle feel a bit more at ease. "Well, like I'm sure you heard, this is Teal Town. We call it that because of the mark of the Manifestor, like Akio mentioned." Kyle nodded, though he still had many questions.
And what is.. manifesting? How the hell did 'The Manifestor' just.. make those things?
Sleep's expression relaxed, still smiling pleasantly. "Honestly, Kyle, I wish I could tell you. Only the Manifestor themselves know. Some think it's magic, others, some sort of advanced technology. But really, who knows."
They walked past various buildings, some resembling shops, others homes. Each was unique, constructed from both regular materials, and scrapped together with things like street signs, or in one case, a large traffic cone. The residents waved at Sleep, giving Kyle curious glances but saying nothing.
Who was that guy earlier, the one who tried to kill me? Egin.. Eggin..
"Ah, Eginix. He's...complicated. He's not inherently evil, just has his own way of doing things. Thinks new arrivals need to toughen up quickly," Sleep explained. "He won't bother you again, at least not for now." They stopped in front of a roughly put-together shack of sorts, the door barely holding to its hinges. "This is your place," Sleep said. "Consider it a welcome gift. It's not much, but it'll keep you comfortable while you get your bearings."
Just like that? A house for free? No mortgage, rent..?
"Yeah, I guess so," Sleep shrugged. "We look out for each other here. It's not like there's a housing shortage or anything." As Kyle stepped inside, he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. It had been an overwhelming day, filled with more questions than answers. The house was small, only being one room, but it was cozy. As much as he enjoyed the idea of staying here, and as much as he didn't remember much from before waking up here, Kyle did know one thing.
This is not my home. I need to go home.
He lay down on the small bed in the corner, the mattress almost uncomfortably crammed into the frame. As he stared up at the ceiling, his mind raced, trying to piece together everything that had happened. Who were these people? What was this place? Why couldn't he remember anything before waking up in the field? Sleep's words echoed in his mind, providing little comfort.
The room was silent, the only sound being his own breathing. Kyle closed his eyes, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he would wake up in his own bed, in his own world. But as he drifted off, he knew deep down that this was no dream.
