There was the sidewalk. The concrete stretched only as far as the lobby's front. Marcus, Marvin, Ignas, and Charlotte, walked out of the office, only to find that beyond the sidewalk was overgrown grass and weeds, growing up to their knees. Tall twisted wooden shafts, as tall as street lights, were stuck in the grass, topped with burning torches in metal cages. 302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufFjmgTRIW
"Where'd all the buildings go?" Asked Ignas.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi5kGYbAic
The lobby was alone, the buildings that housed the guests nowhere in sight. Above them, there was no sky; there was no sun, stars, or moon. Only an endless abyss to look up to.
"Fuck, man, 'where are we?' is the real question." Said Marvin.
The torches were arrayed in two straight rows, the space between them looking like a path.
"Maybe," began Charlotte, "we follow the lights."
"It's not like we got anything else to point us into a certain direction." Said Marcus not unkindly.
As they walked between the torches, the ground seemed to narrow, as if the path was becoming a land bridge. Beyond the edge of the grass was more darkness, an endless fall if one of them slipped off the edge. In the distance, there great chunks of land, islands floating that had the same kind of torches and some buildings. One island had a camping tent. Another a bone-white mausoleum. A single door frame holding a red door sat on one island that opened and shut on its own.
The path soon narrowed to the point that they could not walk abreast. They walked single file, hoping that the end to their journey would come soon.
"Everyone ok back there? You all are still there right?" Asked Ignas who led.
"I really gotta pee." Admitted Marcus.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakpFHwyOta
"Go ahead, we'll wait." Said Charlotte.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0zQXIe5Tt
As Marcus relieved himself, sending a stream into the darkness below, they heard laughter coming from the behind them. Grey fingers gripped the edge of the grass, and from below a man in a torn-up, bloody, white t-shirt threw himself over the edge. He grinned through broken teeth and began to laugh as he limped towards them, arms stretched out. Many more were climbing onto the land bridge, all with the same condition.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaij5IMCJb
"Hey," Marvin said to Marcus, "you almost done their, bud?"302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsxijl9oLZ
Right after Marcus zipped himself up, a hand shot out of the dark and wrapped its icy cold fingers around Marcus's ankle.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGP7Nwz3uN
"Get it off me!" He screamed.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrrVKGvOlr
He had both of his hands in a death grip on a lamp pole, kicking at the one that intended to pull him down. Marvin took out the pistol and took aim. He fired, and the bullet opened the attacker's skull, silencing its laughs as it fell into the abyss. Marcus sighed in relief and waved, telling his companions to get moving.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6e7HmSsy0
"Nice shot, Marv." Complimented Marcus through heavy puffs.
"Used to go to the shooting range to clear my mind," said Marv, "didn't know how useful it'd be."
Behind, the press had become thicker; some were even being shoved off the bridge by their own kind. The four of them ran, though trying to be careful enough to not trip and fall off the side.
The end of the path was near, and they saw it.
The giant stone tower loomed, hundreds of floors and thousands of windows lit with light from within. The narrow land bridge led to stone steps that were much wider than the bridge.
"I saw this in a dream," Marvin said out loud to no one in particular.302Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP1wpj1eHG
"You too?" Ignas gave him a look of disbelief.
"I did too," said Charlotte.
"While we were asleep at the cabin," Marcus remembered.
The laughter grew louder. There was no time to explain, and they all knew it. They sprinted up the steps and when they reached the door, they all went in and shut it behind them.
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