Day1: Endless
Would you stop dreaming if you have a choice?
"Just follow this road for an hour or two and you should arrive at a great country." Kino quoted what the directions which the traveling family told him, her brown hair covered by her goggles and head wear. Her usual calm smile spread across her face.
"Are you sure Kino, for all we know there might not even be a country." Hermes said, doubting the words of the traveler. His headlight reflected the light from some invisible source as the sun hid behind the clouds.
"Relax Hermes; if there isn't a country, we'll simply turn back round." She said, driving off with the Cannon and the Woodsman pistols shaking gently in their respective holster over the stone path.
They stopped over the edge of a cliff as the road came to an end, below which was covered by a thick mist. Land could barely be seen but yes, it was there. But as for a country, even if there was one, it was nearly impossible to see through the mist. A path down laid not far to the right, the road disappearing half way down.
"Well Kino?"
"It doesn't seems like there's a country, let's head back Hermes." Kino said, placing her goggles back on.
Just as they turned round, a strong wind blew through, breaking the stillness of the air. The two turned back as a small layer of mist was blown away, showing the outlines of a wall, possibly that of a country.
"Well would you look at that!" Hermes exclaimed.
"Well, shall we?" Kino asked his partner.
Getting back onto the motorrad, they began making their way slowly down the narrow path and with each turn down, the mist grew thicker, slowly till the path could barely be seen as night steadily approaches.
"I think I'll walk from here Hermes." Kino said, getting off after a sudden stop. She could barely see the path, let alone the end of the trail. She continued on, pushing Hermes as she went along.
Kino was now deep within the mist, unable to see the sky, but the moon light shone through the thick vapor, as if one was watching the sun from under the sea. The path almost seemed endless. Passing some light stick placed by the side of the road, Kino sigh a sign of relief, confirming that there is indeed civilization down there and that the journey down was not a complete waste, just as she stepped on straight road. Straight ahead, two balls of light seemed to float above the ground, but stayed in spot.
When does a journey never ends? When does a journey never start?
"Well Kino?" Hermes asked, as Kino sat back on its seat.
"That maybe a gate or a signal of some sort, let's go see what it is." She said, starting the engines and reassuring that her guns are in place.
They ride on and in a few minute, they reached a gate. The giant steel gate towered over them. Intricate designs were engraved on it, and some seemed like the names of travelers. To the left and right, the wall disappeared over a distance into the mist and nothing above the gate could be seen. Kino then gently knocks the gate.
And eyehole slide opened and a man's voice came from it. "Who's there?"
"My name is Kino and this is my partner Hermes."
"Hello." Hermes greeted.
"We're travelers and were wondering if we could visit your country?" Kino continued.
"How long will you be staying?" the man asked.
"Three days. If it's okay with you, we'll be leaving the day after tomorrow."
"Okay," said the doorman. "Enjoy your stay." And the eyehole closed.
Small door slides open to the side, just big enough for Kino and Hermes to go through. They found themselves in a small corridor, greeted by a young man in uniform, probably the same person who spoke from the eyehole. His uniform was of blue long sleeve shirt and a metal breast plate. His white pant was long enough to cover his feet. A gun was kept in a holster on his right.
"My name is Tain, I'll be your guide for your stay." Said the man called Tain. "Follow me this way; I'll lead you to the city.
"Thank you." Kino said, pushing Hermes along.
They past by countless number of doors before arriving at one which was left opened. The sign outside read, 'Break Room'. Inside, three soldiers were seen resting. One on a chair, and two sleeping soundly on beds. The beds has a machine dangling above them, each were placed right over the head of the soldiers.
"Those are the Ivan Bed." Tain said upon noticing Kino little peek of the room. "We named them after Ivan Mathew, a great inventor. It allows us to have more freedom in our sleep. It allows us to move around in dreams."
"Wow! That's an amazing machine" Hermes complimented.
They group went through one last door and found themselves in a quiet street. The lights of the housings nearby were off. Strangely enough, the place wasn't covered in mist. The moon and stars could be seen clearly. They were shown to a nearby inn where Tain bade goodbye at the stairs.
"While you're here," Tain told them before he left. "You may like to try the Ivan Bed. There is one in every room. The innkeeper will show you how to work it. I'll come back tomorrow and I'll take you to our history museum."
"That sounds great, thank you." Kino said, as she pushed Hermes up the stairs, following Mr. Dain, the innkeeper.
Mr. Dain left the room after preparing the Ivan Bed as Kino took a hot shower. The room overlooked the streets and is above the nearby house, giving in much to sight.
With her usually good night, Kino slowly dozed off into her dream.
XXX
"Where am I?" she stood in a plain of flowers. "This must be the effect of the Ivan Bed." She thought.
A small breeze blew through, lifting the petals into the air, creating a beautiful scenery of freedom. In the distance, a lone figure stood unmoving.
"Who's there?" Kino shouted out and the figure slowly turned around…
XXX
"Kino! Kino wake up!" Hermes voice was heard.
Though still giddy from her sudden pull from dream, Kino steadied herself and replied with a yawn, "What is it Hermes?"
"It's already morning. Mr. Dain said Tain is waiting downstairs.
Tell me, how do one look deeper down… when you're drowning everyday?