06-18-2020, 04:40 PM
Marcus' little legs pumped as he ran a fast as he could, bouncing off the mirrors when he wasn't careful. It was then he noticed something. A trick that had come to him after the third or fourth time. He looked at the ground to see where the glass met the ground. There was clear difference between a real mirror base and none at all. By refusing to look at the reflected reality, he could see what was true. It made getting through the maze that much quicker.
Once again, he was outside amid the swirling carnival lights and sounds, ghostly people- families and groups of kids- excitedly moving through park. He didn't even try to dodge them, instead swirling through and on to the center, marked by the grand Ferris Wheel. Not there, though. Some place to hide. The merry go round, in the center booth. He could see the carved wooden horses, lined in gold trim and garish colors.
As he ran, he noticed he was not as low to the ground as he remembered. Just as he jumped on to the base of the ride he passed a paneled mirror and stopped. It was him. But not little Marcus. No. He was in his workout gear, basketball shorts and a tank top, his tattoos on his arms prominent, the goatee on his chin full.
He froze, feeling strength return to him. The wheel continue to go around but the atmosphere of the park had changed. He was no longer out of breath. He realized he was no longer scared. The Fun House in the distance came into view at the next rotation and he stepped off on to the ground, looking at it. He was angry, he realized. His fists were clenched, as was his jaw. Eyes narrows, he started stalking forward, no longer the hunted.
As if the world had bent, he was suddenly at the entrance and without thought stepped in. There, through the glass, he saw him, eyes glowing and red. His companion. His support. His friend. And he felt no fear.
And there she was, the woman from before, looking at both of them.
The world shifted...the smells of cotton candy and pop corn and concrete and sawdust vanishing in a moment, to be replaced by that of flowers, the cool mist of water in the air, and the sounds of a river trickling peacefully bordered by lush verdant grass.
Once again, he was outside amid the swirling carnival lights and sounds, ghostly people- families and groups of kids- excitedly moving through park. He didn't even try to dodge them, instead swirling through and on to the center, marked by the grand Ferris Wheel. Not there, though. Some place to hide. The merry go round, in the center booth. He could see the carved wooden horses, lined in gold trim and garish colors.
As he ran, he noticed he was not as low to the ground as he remembered. Just as he jumped on to the base of the ride he passed a paneled mirror and stopped. It was him. But not little Marcus. No. He was in his workout gear, basketball shorts and a tank top, his tattoos on his arms prominent, the goatee on his chin full.
He froze, feeling strength return to him. The wheel continue to go around but the atmosphere of the park had changed. He was no longer out of breath. He realized he was no longer scared. The Fun House in the distance came into view at the next rotation and he stepped off on to the ground, looking at it. He was angry, he realized. His fists were clenched, as was his jaw. Eyes narrows, he started stalking forward, no longer the hunted.
As if the world had bent, he was suddenly at the entrance and without thought stepped in. There, through the glass, he saw him, eyes glowing and red. His companion. His support. His friend. And he felt no fear.
And there she was, the woman from before, looking at both of them.
The world shifted...the smells of cotton candy and pop corn and concrete and sawdust vanishing in a moment, to be replaced by that of flowers, the cool mist of water in the air, and the sounds of a river trickling peacefully bordered by lush verdant grass.