Falling In The Dark (On Hold)

3 | City On A Hill

Song title that inspired this chapter: City On A Hill by Casting Crowns

Unedited.
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Lyndon, Brynlee, and Jarrett were carried to a land beyond the ocean, where rolling hills loomed about groomed plains and valleys. No blade of grass was left untrimmed, no tree was misplaced. The sight of perfection reminded Lyndon of a golf course.

Wind said, once their feet sunk into the soft soil, "We need to walk. We're headed to the city right up on that very last hill."

She watched the young souls nod their heads in compliance and follow her as she took large, graceful strides. They struggled to keep up with her, but this did not slow her pace. She knew they couldn't fall behind on schedule, they had to arrive on time in order to keep things organized and stress-free.

This was a very important meeting for the children; their entire lives and afterlives would depend on the decisions they made in that city, the city they were approaching. As their guide, it was Wind's job to direct them to the correct locations, lead the way to their tasks.

Though the distance between the edge of the water and the city seemed to at first stretch on for miles upon miles, Wind and the souls made it to the brass gates in a matter of minutes. Lyndon discovered this was because his soul floated, carrying him to the destination on swift feet - swifter than ever before. After all, him and his companions were no longer considered mortal, but rather immortal.

Standing at the top of the hill, hands grazing the cool bars of the gates, Lyndon and Bryn and Jarrett peered through the barrier and into the city composed of modest cottages and cobblestone streets. There were people scattered amongst houses and paths, contributing to small groups of chatter.

But none of the city's inhabitants seemed content, instead possessing lost, empty expressions.

Bryn turned to Wind, who hovered behind them. "This isn't a city."

"Of course it is."

"No, it's not. Don't cities have tall, bright buildings? Signs and billboards? This is from back in Medieval Times or something."

A smile fanned across Wind's face as she said, "Or something."

Before Bryn could protest, Wind brushed passed her and pulled a key out from a hidden pocket in her dress. She slid it into a keyhole, then pushed the gate and opened the entrance to the city.

The City of Lost Souls.

Once Lyndon stepped onto the street, the atmosphere around him seemed to shift to a shade of gray. It was a gray that could easily subside and reveal a beautiful, painted rainbow, but still a gray nonetheless.

It confused him to see a slight smile pop up on faces every now and then as he walked through the city, following Wind. Wouldn't people's attitudes reflect their surroundings? The idea of a facade of fake smiles being unable to always linger dwelled inside of Lyndon, peaking his curiosity of who the city members were and what their true feelings were. His mind wondered about this world, attempting to unmask the secrets.

It was rare to catch someone staring, contributing to the concept of new arrivals being anything but extraordinary. Lyndon concluded that lost souls were nothing new to the ones that lived in the city.