Plateau

Part One: The Cottage

To Leonard, the dusty smell of grass and the feeling of the cool breeze tossing around his unkempt black hair was more intoxicating than any drink had had ever drank, or any herb he had ever smoked. He lay there, letting his mind go blank. All of his senses we're focused on observing, on experiencing the now. His hands cushioning the back of his head, and his body laid out flat and stiff on the grassy hillside overlooking a thickly wooded pine forest.

The sun hid behind the seemingly infinate treeline, throwing out a spectacular gradient of orange's and purple's all over the sky. Directly above him the moon was just beginning to appear, like a blemished pearl slowly coming into focus through a deep blue water. Leonard smiled to himself, thinking of of how he was so much like the moon at this moment, half there and half gone at the same time. He took in a deep breath, and let it out until his chest couldn't possibly be more empty. He lay there, refusing to breath, wishing he could melt into the cold and stiff hillside and stare at the sky forever. But as Leonard felt a twinge of pain in his chest, he took another deep breath in.

With the air filling his lungs, his mind was also filled with a drab and painful reminder that this was only temporary. That he had to get back to the real world. Leonard sighed, and lifted his body from the ground. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at the massive twisted oak tree behind him. "Guess I'll see you this time tomorrow?" He jokingly asked, snickering at his own stupidity. He jogged along and down the hillside until he met the barrier of massive pine trees that led into the forest.

He let out another sigh, wishing badly he didn't have to leave. His eyes caught sight of a branch on the ground. He picked it up and began his walk back to the cottage. Smacking the branch on every tree he passed, the sound echoing throughout the secluded forest. Ping. Pong. Ping. Pong.

After a few minutes Leonard came to a clearing. A line of massive metal power lines running through the forest like a razors cut. Leonard walked into the open space and looked down the row of power lines. From here he could see the sun on the horizon, perfectly lined up with the gap in the trees and only partially blocked by one of the giant metal man like towers. It was just beginning to dip out of sight. He hurried through the clearing and into the other side of the forest.

Soon after the rich oaky smell of smoke hit his nostrils, and he knew he was almost back. He finally came upon the cottage. It was a small, humble looking place with faded red siding and green window shutters. The tall stone chimney jutted up from the back of the house, thin wisps of grey smoke dancing into the air from its mouth. It was like something out of a dream. He frowned. How could something so beautiful, so serene, be this depressing?

He made his way to the front of the house, and nudged the heavy wood door, letting it creak open. He walked into the cottage and shut the door behind him. Glancing at the clock above the doorway leading to the kitchen he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Fuck, late again." He growled to himself.

For no real reason he kicked off his boots and put away his polished green overcoat. Leonard knew it was pointless, but it made it feel real, like this was his real home. Or maybe he was just procrastinating, trying to soak up and cherish ever second spent in this old dusty cottage. Not even he knew.

Leonard meandered across the room toward the cherry wood door that lived under the staircase, every neuron in his brain shouting and begging him not to. He casually brushed his thoughts of remaining detached from the real world under a mental rug, as he did every day. He placed his hand on the antique brass doorknob, the frigidness of it running through his hand and up his wrist. Turning it the latch clicked, and he gave the door a little nudge with his foot, letting it swing open on its own.

It was so impossibly bright he has to close his eyes as he walked through the threshold of the door. He rubbed his eyes and slowly opened them, letting them to adjust to the light as his mind was also adjusting to the idea of leaving. In this 'room', Leonard could could see nothing but white in all directions, stretching on twoard infinity. He looked behind him. The door was gone. "No going back now." He mumbled to himself. The only thing in sight was a thin black rectangle that reached just below Leonard's chest. A cherry red button on top. Leonard hated that button. Why did he have to make it so ugly? So fake? Hell, why did he make this room at all? Well, maybe he didn't hate it because of the way it looked, but for what if foretold, he thought to himself. He walked up to that pedestal he loathed so much, and let out a deep breath. "Fuckall" he muttered to himself. Clinching his eyes shut he slammed the button down with his palm.

Darkness.