After the initial shock of being in this new place has passed, I strive to understand the situation with more clarity. I need to organize my thoughts quickly, but before anything else, I mutter an "Ouch" while pinching myself, just to make sure I'm not dreaming.
The woman, who was lost in her own thoughts, turns her gaze to me and says, "I know what you're thinking. As I've already explained, this isn't a dream. It's... complicated to explain right now, and I promise I'll give you a better explanation later, but we need to stop soon."
"Why stop now?" I ask, confused. "We've been here less than an hour and it's still light."
She points to the sky, where the Sun, disturbingly, seems to have moved too quickly. "Time here passes differently. I predict that in half an hour the Sun will set. We need to find a safe place to camp before it gets dark."
As she speaks, she examines the map closely, clearly looking for a place where we can take shelter. Her concentrated expression is a relief, as it indicates she has a plan. However, the sense of urgency she conveys doesn't make the environment seem any less surreal.
"So..." I begin slowly, trying to find the best way to start a conversation. "I don't think we've had the chance to properly introduce ourselves. My name is Oliver Lennert. I assume you already know that."
She smiles subtly and observes me with interest. "Well, we can sort that out while we walk. My name is Caroline. It's a pleasure to meet you again," she says, with a touch of humor in her voice. It's a relief to finally have a name to call her, rather than referring to her as 'mysterious woman' or something similar.
However, something intrigues me. "Why did you say 'again'? I don't remember ever meeting anyone named Caroline before. Unless you were a client of the company, but I usually don't remember their names. I should remember, shouldn't I?"
"Oh, that's a secret for now," she responds with a light laugh and an enigmatic wink. Her answer only heightens my discomfort, but it also sparks a curiosity I can hardly contain.
With each step we take, the uneven terrain seems to shift, as if subtly changing shape beneath our feet. The Sun moves across the sky with an unsettling speed, and I struggle to keep up with the rapidly changing light. Caroline walks beside me, her eyes fixed on the map, with an expression that blends determination with an almost contagious calm.
"Caroline," I start, trying to make conversation as we look around, "this place is... different from anything I've ever seen."
She lifts her gaze from the map and regards me with an amused smile. "Yes, 'different' is an appropriate word. It's hard to explain, but I think that's what makes the journey interesting, don't you think?"
"Interesting is a mild word," I say, laughing nervously. "I'd say it's completely surreal. I can't stop thinking about how everything seems out of place."
Caroline gestures for me to continue in the same direction. "That's true, but part of the charm is the uncertainty. Sometimes, we have to adapt to the unknown and see what happens."
We walk in silence for a few minutes, with the sound of leaves and dry twigs under our feet filling the space. I feel like I'm starting to relax a bit, which is surprising given how strange the situation is.
"Have you always been so... calm in situations like this?" I ask, trying to understand the person next to me better.
Caroline gives a light laugh and shakes her head. "Not exactly. I've learned to stay calm over time. When you're faced with things you can't control, the best thing to do is deal with what's within your reach and keep an open mind."
"That sounds like a practical philosophy," I comment. "I, on the other hand, am still trying to process all of this. The idea of time passing differently... it's hard to accept."
She stops for a moment and turns to look at me with a sympathetic expression. "It's normal to feel that way. Being in an unfamiliar place can be frightening. But sometimes, it's in these situations that we discover things about ourselves that we never imagined."
The depth of her words makes me reflect, and I find myself thinking about how her calm and perspective contrast with my state of shock. "You're right. It's just... I wasn't prepared for this. For all of this."
Caroline resumes looking at the map and adjusts our path, seemingly familiar with the area, even though we haven't yet found the safe place she promised. "I wasn't prepared to be here either. But that's how the best stories start, right? With a bit of chaos and a lot of discovery."
Her optimism is contagious, and I feel a strange sense of comfort amidst the uncertainty. "And what's your story?" I ask, before realizing what I'm asking. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be intrusive."
She smiles, a smile that seems more understanding than mocking. "Don't worry. I think everyone has a story to tell. Maybe, in time, you'll get to know mine. But for now, let's focus on finding a place to settle."
As we walk together towards our destination, the Sun continues its hurried trajectory across the sky, and I realize that, despite the surreal environment, Caroline's presence makes the journey a bit more bearable.
After a long walk under the sky changing colors in an unsettling manner, we finally find a place that seems suitable for resting. In front of us stands an old, somewhat abandoned convenience store, but with a peculiar touch that sets it apart.
The store has a facade of weathered bricks covered with a light layer of moss. The sign above the entrance is simple, with metal letters that occasionally flicker, and its paint is faded and peeling, indicating that the place hasn't been frequented in some time. The windows, framed by aged wooden frames, are dusty and partially covered by vines that intertwine with the frames, giving it a somewhat rustic and neglected appearance.
"It looks like we've found a good place to rest," Caroline says, pointing to the entrance. "Let's go, let's check it out," she says, while pulling me a bit inside.
We enter the convenience store, the wooden door, with a slightly rusty bronze handle, creaking as it opens. An old metal bell rings softly, marking our entrance.
The floor is dark ceramic, with some loose tiles and visible signs of wear. The wooden shelves, some with stains and scratches, are loaded with products that seem to have been preserved by time. Although covered in dust, it's still possible to distinguish packaged foods in glass jars and some cans.
In the center of the store, an aged wooden counter displays a modest selection of products, such as bread, simple fruits, and a few bottles of liquids. Behind the counter, there are shelves with a variety of canned goods and spices, all with a somewhat antiquated appearance and signs of wear.
The ceiling is supported by wooden beams showing signs of aging. Oil lanterns hang from the ceiling, some still lit, casting a weak and flickering light that illuminates the space with a cozy feel. The air is mixed with subtle odors: the smell of old wood, a faint hint of dust, and a touch of freshness from the visible products.
I'm relieved to see a safe place, but soon realize something important. "This place is better than I expected," I say, glancing around. "At least we have shelter and some supplies. But there's something that bothers me..."
Caroline, who was examining the products on the shelf, looks up. "What is it?"
"Well, I noticed that..." I start, observing the lack of any camping gear. "We don't have anything to set up camp. You know, I was thinking..."
Caroline hesitates a bit before giving a somewhat embarrassed smile. "Oh, right, I didn't bring any equipment. In the rush of breaking into your apartment, I ended up forgetting about that."
The revelation hits me like a bucket of cold water. My frustration is clear. "Seriously? You forgot the equipment? You planned to bring us to a completely unknown place and forgot the basic things we'd need?"
Caroline looks a bit embarrassed, laughs nervously, and averts her gaze. "I know, I know, it was a mistake. I was so focused on leaving quickly that I ended up forgetting the basics. Sorry, Oliver." She tries to mask her embarrassment with a nervous smile.
I let out a sigh of frustration, trying to calm down. "It's okay, it's okay. At least we have food and shelter. But I still need to understand better..."
Caroline, still a bit embarrassed but more amused, asks interestedly. "What else bothers you?"
"Why do we need to camp if time passes faster? Wouldn't it be better to continue the journey, considering that night will also pass quickly?"
She looks at me with a serious expression. "Look, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you don't want to be out and about at night in places like these. It's asking for trouble or getting hurt." Her eyes seem to drift into memories for a moment before she continues. "And don't worry about that. Even though time passes faster, our bodies also work faster, so we can rest more quickly too."
She finally picks something off the shelves and hands me a protein bar. "Also, since our bodies work faster here, we need to eat more. You just didn't notice because you were adjusting to the place."
Now that she mentioned it, the hunger I had been ignoring becomes almost unbearable. I take a bite of the protein bar, and her explanation makes sense.
"So, ready to tell me what all this is about?" I ask, taking another bite of the protein bar. "You mentioned you'd explain earlier."
Caroline, who was savoring her own protein bar, nearly chokes on my question. After a quick cough, she turns to me, visibly nervous. "Oh, I promised, that's true," she says with a forced smile. "Of course, I'll tell you, but... wow, look at the time." She glances at her watch, which seems frozen at the time we entered this place. "We need to rest, Olly. As I mentioned, our bodies function differently here. So, good night."
She quickly gets up and starts gathering some bags of rice and beans, preparing a corner to lie down. Her movements are hurried, as if she's trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.
I mutter to myself, frustrated. "This woman..." I murmur, annoyed at how obvious it is that she's trying to avoid my questions. "I'll get my answers tomorrow, anyway." There's no way she can avoid this forever.
After finishing my meal, I take one last look at the mess of the small shop and head to the corner where Caroline is settling. I gather some bags of rice and beans and arrange them beside me, trying to create a minimally comfortable space to sleep. The setup is rudimentary, but for now, it's the best we can do.
As I lie down and close my eyes, frustration and curiosity still linger. The night will be long, and the anticipation of getting answers from Caroline only heightens the tension I feel. But for now, the need for rest wins out, and soon exhaustion takes over.
I find myself in a familiar but unwelcome landscape, though this time I can move and look around better.
I'm in a serene landscape, with tall grass reaching up to my waist, like a savanna. The environment is dotted with small purple and red flowers whose names I don't know, but they add a vibrant touch to the scene. The sky, eternally at sunset, displays a palette of colors blending purple, pink, blue, and yellow in a soft spectacle, as if a painter were creating a celestial masterpiece.
The few clouds scattered across the sky are long and ethereal, stretching as far as the eye can see, as if woven with colorful cotton candy. They soften and blend the colors of the sky, creating an effect that seems unreal, almost magical.
The environment is undisturbed, save for the gentle whisper of a breeze blowing from right to left. The wind makes the grass and flowers sway slightly, producing a nearly imperceptible but soothing sound.
In the center of this idyllic scene is a small hill with a solitary tree standing atop it. Its roots are partially exposed, intertwining with the soil in a pattern that seems almost artistic. The tree trunk exhibits a range of dark and light brown tones, with spiral patterns that capture and hold my gaze for a few moments.
The tree's branches are thin and branch out abundantly, while its leaves shine in a range of green tones. The soft sunlight filtering through the foliage creates a unique and ethereal glow, illuminating the tree with a gentle and calming aura.
The tree's radiance is difficult to fully describe; it's not like the shine of the leaves or the sunlight, but has its own quality, a glow that exudes palpable tranquility while evoking a sense of caution. It's a strange feeling, as if there's something mysterious and fascinating about it that defies verbal description. The sight of the tree sends a chill down my spine, a mix of tension and awe, as if it holds a deep and enchanting secret.
Why am I back?