Chapter 2: The Plot Thickens
"So, anyway, can you at least tell me where I am?" Ryo asked, hopefully.
SURE, WHY NOT? YOU ARE IN THE DEPTHS OF MY MIND.
"Um...yeah, sure. You've got little blue janitors and truck drivers in tutus in your mind?"
YUP! NEAT, ISN'T IT? ACTUALLY, I WAS SORTA KIDDING. I DON'T THINK THIS PLACE EVEN HAS A NAME, TO BE HONEST.
"Oh."
ANYWAY, YOU'RE STUCK HERE, BUDDY! HOW 'BOUT YOU JUST WALK AROUND A BIT, SEE WHAT YOU SEE!
"How? There's no EXITS, in case you haven't NOTICED!"
OOOOHHH, LOOK WHO KNOWS SO MUCH! IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT THERE IS A DOOR JUST ACROSS THERE! I'LL SEND SOMEBODY TO OPEN IT FOR YOU.
"Hi, I'm Barb. I'll be your door opener for today!" A crazed flight attendant popped out of nowhere with a giant ring of keys. "Would you like some club soda? Peanuts? A pillow? A towel? Perhaps, a homing pigeon? The original copy of the Constitution? How about some..."
"Uh, I'd really just like to get out of here, if that's okay," said Ryo, slightly nervous. "Although I will take some peanuts!"
"Sure thing!" Barb chirped. She pulled a tiny little package of eight USAir honey-roasted peanuts out of her pocket and handed them to him. "I smuggled them off the plane," she said furtively. "You can't get these on the ground, you know!"
"Mm-hmm. How's about that door, now!" Ryo interjected.
"Okee-dokee!" She skipped over to the blue janitor sign and pulled it down. Behind it was a huge wooden door, quite ancient-looking. There were two or three keyholes in it, and Barb inserted a key into the third one and turned it. It clicked and she pulled it open, only to be squashed by an avalanche of footballs, basketballs, and other sports equipment.
"Argh! Damn equipment closet!" she shrieked, muffled by the tennis ball in her mouth. Ryo snickered as she pulled herself out, spit out the tennis ball (which Ryo artfully avoided), and dusted herself off. "Well, can't be right all the time!" she said, once again perky. She replaced the fallen supplies and relocked the door. She inserted the key into the first one, and turned it again. It clicked and she opened it up, revealing the door to a twilight garden.
"Whoa!" said Ryo. "I knew this place was weird, but... whoa."
"Thank you for unlocking with us! Come again! I luv ya! Bye-bye! Bye-bye, now! Bye-bye!" Barb gave the traditional flight attendant farewell and, waving the whole time, shimmered out of view.
Ryo carefully stepped through the door, which swung silently shut behind him.
"AAAAAUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!!"