Chapter 2 – The City Of Neon [Part 1]

  A white glow partially covers my vision, I feel something breaking. My vital essence is slowly draining away. When I regain consciousness, I see my two coworkers lying next to me, a young woman and a old man, well, he's still young compared to me. They both get up slowly.

  We appear to be on a kind of bridge, but it's not made of wood. It shines like the sun, in an intense yellow that illuminates the darkness around us.

  The darkness surrounding us is filled with a mist, white as snow. This mist spreads across this black screen, creating shapes in the darkness, similar to human faces.

  I look at the horizon and see a city as bright as a jewel. Its glow is so intense that it's as if the light were solid. Such a city rises out of the darkness. Surrounded by fog, it illuminates the darkness like the stars illuminate space. The colors reflected by such a marvel cannot be described; while they are familiar, they are alien.

  I'm enchanted by what I see, I feel like this is the mysterious place I was looking for in my dream. The others, apparently, have the same feeling, you can deduce this, just by observing the look on their faces.

  – Well, it looks like we're stuck here. – I say to my two companions. They're both staring at the strange luminous city, their gazes a mixture of realization and dread.

  – You must be Jo?o, nice to meet you, I'm Laura. – The young woman says, shifting her gaze to me.

  – Nice to meet you. – I say politely. We had met before, but due to the nature of our work, we had never really spoken properly. - Sir? Sir? – I call out to the man. Hypnotized by the intense glow of the structures in the distance, he ignores my calls. – Sir? What's up? – I nudge the man, and he jumps as his trance breaks.

  – Good morning? Good night? What happened? Where are we? – Says the confused gentleman.

  – I don't know how to answer that. I just know that this place... calls to me in some way. – I answer calmly.

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  – Where are my manners! I'm Henrique! I think we're work colleagues. I remember you guys... well, I also have this strange feeling. — Henrique says after regaining his composure.

  – Then, there are three of us. – Laura says, approaching.

  – We can't stay here! We have to find a way to get back, a way to wake up. – Henrique says abruptly, after a few seconds of silence.

  – I agree. I believe the best path for us to follow is the direction that leads to the mysterious city. – Laura speaks, softly, pointing towards the city.

  – The other alternative would be to go the opposite way. – I say, as we turn and face the alternative path. A route towards the void, where the bridge slowly disappears into the darkness and fog. – No, it's better go to the city. – I say, as I realize how intimidating this alternative path really is, my colleagues just nod positively.

  --*--

  After finishing talking to Henrique and Jo?o, we started following the path towards the city on the horizon. Now that I can observe the light emanating from the bridge more closely, I can see that it propagates across its surface, forming peculiar shapes that resemble yellow bricks.

  As we walk along, I can't help but wonder, what really is the town at the end of this strange road? It's as if we're following the yellow brick road towards a mysterious and unknown land, just like in the old fairy tales.

  Gradually we get closer and closer to the city of light, all along the way my companions remained quiet.

  As we get closer to our destination, the grandeur of the city becomes apparent; its size is colossal, three or four times larger than any metropolitan center.

  We reach the city, we walk and walk, and finally we reach its entrance; a large gate, gilded like gold, shines, surrounded by white walls. These walls surround the immense city, and the only access point is the great golden gate. Some details stand out; glowing faintly pink on the surface of the gate, circles are drawn, moving slowly through the yellow light, like flowers dancing in the wind.

  We were mesmerized by the vast gate in front of us, and didn't even notice the animal approaching. The pig walks like a man, standing upright with its hind legs.

  As soon as he spots the animal, Jo?o stands guard, preparing for a fight or something. Henrique is terrified, little by little, he distances himself. I don't know how to react, I stand still, in shock, just watching.

  – Greetings brothers. I see that the transformation has not yet occurred... when did you meet our lord? – Says the creature, his voice is inhuman, it is as if his grunts formed words.

  Fortunately, Jo?o takes the lead and starts a conversation with the creature, obviously, keeping his guard up.