I fell.
I fell, plummeted, dropped, pick your verb.
The ground that turned out to be water rushed up to greet me, and I splashed like a cannonball. The flying drops of water turned into a rain of silver spikes. I swam out of the way just in time to avoid becoming some human Chia Pet.
There was a little beach nearby. I swam to it, got to my feet, looked around.
Not much to look at. Endless black sea in one direction, with black clouds looming over the horizon and a silver sun peeking over the rim of the world. Small rockets were buzzing around the sky as if searching for a giant gorilla to attack. I didn't have to look to know that they were piloted by the best space monkeys my brain had to offer.
I looked the other way, and saw a city made of green and black crystal, a city bigger than any I had ever seen before. An endless field of spiked turrets, towers, and streets paved with gold. Ikea billboards were everywhere. A single road led to city, paved with pieces of melted silverware.
There was a sign a few feet away.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF JACK'S SUBCONCIOUS.
POPULATION: YOU.
Well, it wasn't what I pictured my mind to look like, but I suppose your mind can only tell when it's looking in a mirror. And if your mind can look into a mirror you need to check into a hospital for a gaping head wound.
There was a loud roar, and a yellow motorcycle pulled up beside me. A hamster was sitting on it. It was wearing aviator goggles. It was about three feet tall.
"You're the chosen one," the hamster told me. "The Dark Master will be most displeased that you are here, but you're our only hope. Her only hope."
I'm not really sure what that means, I said to him.
"The power animal," the hamster said. "The one force keeping this world together. If the power animal is killed, then he will be free again."
I didn't bother asking who. I am Jack's flash of insight.
Where do I go, I asked the hamster.
"First, find your younger. Then, find the object of desire, and the object of loss. They are your way to him."
The hamster peeled out, leaving a cloud of dust and powdered sugar.
I started walking to the city.