My Jacket rustled as I got up to escape the lecture, normally I would stay, but the Professor's monotone voice gives me a Headache right now. The impossible task of leaving silently already failed, as the Professor gave me a short look and then resumed his ruminations on the importance of Algorithms. Well I am a big Guy you could say.
Leaving the lecture hall gave me that forbidden feeling of skipping class. Even though what I was doing was not forbidden, it still felt that way. Entering an Elevator to bring me to ground level my thoughts started to intrude.
"You really shouldn't skip lectures, this is the fifth time this month.", my conscience said.
It is nice to have a conscience that looks after you but in my case there is also my inner Pig dog.
"Don't worry you can still make up the classes there is still time.", I knew it was lying.
Leaving the building, the warm german winter air hit my face, and immediately I regretted wearing the thick Jacket I am wearing. Opening my Jacket, I made my way to the Train station.
Along the familiar path, there were the usual sights, but what captivated me was the Vendors setting up their Stalls for the Christmas market.
As memories of Christmas past ran through my head, I started to crave some fried Fish.
"We really should move on and...", but that was as far as my conscience got.
"FRIED FISH", resounding in my head. After pondering for a second, I decided why not have a delicious treat.
"It is literally a Fish dipped in batter and then submerged in Fat we should not...".
"FRIED FISH!!!!!"
The People have spoken. My mind was made up, so I approached the Plaza where the Vendors were setting up shop.
But to my dismay, there were no food stalls yet. The only stalls that were there, were beckoning me with scented candles and of course mulled wine.
And then like a Sign of God it appeared before me, a sign advertising the Cultural appreciation Festival from November the twentieth to December the fifth. And today was the last day of said Festival.
"You have seen this everyday for the past month, it is a Sign, but not from god.", my conscience rebutted.
"Shut it. Festivals have Food stalls, maybe Fried Fish. And we might be able to get some Knick-Knacks for Christmas Presents. You know, Mom loves anything vaguely Asian.", the Interjection was met with a short answer.
"Fine."
After quickly googling where the Festival was, I journeyed on my Quest for fried fish. But soon I realized it would not be as easy as expected. As I made my way through the city streets, my Crusade for Fried Fish came to a sudden and unexpected halt. An entire street was blocked by a construction site, so I did what anyone would do, I tried to walk around it. After a few minutes of walking, I came to the realization that this was an unusually large construction site. But before I could even ponder what happened here to block several Streets and Alleys, I found a small passage between two buildings. Quickly checking my Phone, I confirmed that my destination should be down the road to where this path led.
Continuing on, I walked into the twilight of this narrow alley. The beige walls looked relatively new, but you could already see some dirt on them. Exiting the Alley I found myself in some sort of Park?
Well the App didn't show that there was a Park here, after I shook off my confusion I saw a gravel path before me that went in the Direction where the Festival should be. Following the path, I noticed that the amount of trees had dramatically increased, I couldn't even see the buildings anymore. A smile intruded on my face as I thought about how nice it would be to live next to such a Park, leaving the hustle and bustle of the City behind and entering this quiet Sanctuary.
Walking onwards, I eventually made my way to a clearing and lo and behold, there are stalls here. It was however a wild hodgepodge of Stalls and weird Carnival rides. One ride on my left was a Ferris wheel that moved oddly fast. The stall next to it presented corn, they didn't sell it, just had some fliers. A man dressed in a Lizard costume handed me a Brochure with the Title "Corn and me! When times get rough, start popping!" I shoved it into my pocket and thanked the man.
Weirded out by the encounter, I moved on to a Stall which housed a large, futuristic looking machine and embedded into the machine was a wooden door with a large metal door knocker.
"Hello there!", I was a bit startled by the sudden appearance of a young woman, wearing a rainbow tutu, a purple sweater, suspenders and Combat Boots. Her face looked like a glitter explosion, and on top of her head she wore a Halo made out of glow sticks.
"Geneal Kenobi.", was of course the only appropriate answer right now. After a short blank stare from her, she closed the distance between us and extended her arm for a handshake. Reluctantly, I reciprocated the gesture.
"Nice to meet Mr. Kenobi, my name is Susan. Do you want to try the machine?", after the disappointment of my Joke not landing dissipated, I asked, "What does it do?".
With a large gesture of her arms, she pointed at the machine, "See for yourself." With a skipping motion, she went to the machine and removed a rectangular Slab from it. Then she balanced it carefully on my head.
"Now stay still, it needs a moment," she whispered into my ear. Baffled by this entire encounter, I did exactly as I was asked. After a few seconds, she removed the Slab and reattached it into the machine. Then she dramatically opened the wooden Door to reveal a small, empty room.
Entering, I heard the door close behind me. Now in complete darkness, I wondered what was going to happen next.
Then I felt the ground giving in, suddenly falling I grasped around as panic set in. After what felt like an eternity, I managed to grab something, however it turned out to be a branch. As I could not hold on to it, it just tore open my hand. Another branch followed shortly after, this time I landed on it with my Stomach, and another on my back. Eventually I hit the ground. Writhing in Pain, I tried to get up and get my bearings. I was in the middle of a Pine Forrest.
What the hell just happened?
I just wanted some Fried Fish.