Frame of Soul

The Lakehouse

Time was not. Light was neither. All Matthew could feel was a slight tickle of cold on his feet, but he was not yet awake enough to know that he was him. Sunshine broke through his closed eyelids and a wave of chilly water washed his legs up to knees. Matt opened his eyes for a brief moment, only to close them again from the tremendous brightness. His head was buzzing and aching and he didn't want to get up for nothing, even though his white linen pants were getting soaked. But then came the sudden realisation, which made him sit up quickly - this felt like a blow of hammer into his brain. Yes, it was the hangover and yes it was the painful fall, but soon enough, Matt put all those thoughts aside. The only thing on his mind was - where the heck he was? Mesmerised by the wonder in his sight, a mountain, a lake and a man standing over him, smiling.

For quite some time, the two men were just starring at each other. Sound of wind howling through the conifers and over the surface of the lake filled the silence. Matt couldn't take the stare anymore - though it was comforting in a way. He couldn't tell why, but the man seemed familiar. Upon smelling wood logs burning, Matt searched the surroundings and found the cabin, which's chimney was puffing peaceful fumes of smoke.

"Sir, are you all right?" the man finally broke the nature's quiet symphony.

Matt wanted to say something back, but found the inside of his mouth completely dry. "Yes, I guess," he said after clearing his throat.

"Really? You don't look all too well," the man exclaimed as he scanned Matt from heel to toe.

"Actually, no. You're right. I feel like..." Matt shook his head confused, "where? Where am I?"

"Why, you are here. That's where we are!" the man laughed at him as if it was an all known fact.

"And where's 'here'?"

"Don't you see for yourself?"

This made Matt look around again. Of course he knew where he was, but this was also impossible. Somehow a quote rose in the back of Matt's mind "If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth", but Matt didn't see the place as being true. It felt real, more real than walking through streets crowded with strangers. No, Matt couldn't believe that, he chose to think it a dream - and so he pinched himself to wake up, to no avail.

"Do you need any help, or are you ok just by yourself?" the man asked and looked around as to leave.

"I am confused. This is your house? Who are you anyway?"

"My house?" the man asked and let out a feral yet cordial laugh. "No, it is not my house, though I live nearby. But that house," the man pointed at the cabin near the lake," that is your house."

"My house?" Matthew said to himself and finally got up on his feet.

"Yes, yes. Now if you excuse me, I have things to chase after," the man said and trailed off into the woods.

Matt watched him disappear and chose to go towards the house - instead of blindly following the unknown and quite awkward man. Large garden lay to the right of the estate. The building itself was mostly made of grand wood logs, but it was no shack. Matt stepped up onto the porch with a pair of rocking chairs. Then he tried the handle and upon finding the door unlocked, slipped inside into the warmth of the house. It smelled like aged wood, fire smoke, non-perishable food stocks and fresh cloth - but most of all, it smelled like home. Somehow, Matt knew his way around.

The first floor was an open space mostly and the windows were letting a lot of sunlight in - making the room look even more spacious. There was a door leading right to a modestly large bathroom. The floor were blue coloured wooden planks and the tile wall a mosaic of blue and white shaded squares. Next to the bathroom door was a straight wooden staircase. The left side of the open room was divided by a dining table into kitchen and living room - which continued to the far right corner under and behind the stairs. A kitchen isle surrounded by link and glass-doored cabinets and cupboards composed the food preparing area, though it didn't look as it had been used much - yet. The living room began with a large bookcase under the staircase and a set of couch and two armchairs of the same light brown texture. Opposite the couch was a wall-mounted HDTV and next to it, in the middle of the far wall, were French door leading to the backyard of the house. Left side of the living room was nearly empty, with just a grey-bricked fireplace in which lazy flames played a game of shadows.

After taking in the cosy and friendly environment Matt simply said 'Hello?', but heard no answer and so he went upstairs. The door to the right led to a huge bedroom with a double bed - empty - and another set of door. Those led to a spartan decorated study, just a bookcase to the right and a large desk overviewing the lake. The view was spectacular as the sun was slowly setting near the edge of the mountain, colouring the sky vivid red.

Matt went back to the hallway of the second floor and tried the door opposing bedroom, those opened to a small bathroom. Further the hallway there were two more door. Small bedrooms - yet unfurnished and likewise empty.

Matt was on his way downstairs thinking about making himself some food - since there was nothing to do and he was getting hungry - when he heard a whisper of laugh. He stopped and tried to listen - nothing. Matt went outside through the backyard door and looked up into the trees, then he heard it again, coming from the deep woods with a blow of fresh air - a female laugh. Of course that his first thought was of "Her", though excited, Matt was also scared. If he had somehow really gotten into the painting, who was she? For he didn't finish painting her.