Gateway

She looked at the lift before them and then at the two for any reaction or perhaps even an explanation. She received none.

The trio entered the open metallic chamber in silence and its door rumbled, closing behind them. As the lift made its way up, it shuddered and croaked and rasped.

"It's alright I can stand on my own." The girl spoke, watching the three’s hazy reflections in the closed metallic door.

Skadi and Skald looked at each other in silent communication and withdrew their hands which had been supporting the girl. That was all the conversation that had happened in the awkward climb of the lift.

A few moments passed in silence. A bulb that she didn't know existed, lit up on top of the closed door. The lift stopped.

When the door creaked open, she found herself standing right before a middle-aged man looking down at them, looming over the three. Behind him was a dark cavern.

The man before them wore old-fashioned clothes complete with an eye patch and leather boots which stretched till right below his knee to top it off.

His only visible eye narrowed as he inspected her for a moment.

The girl stayed still, afraid to breathe.

The man suddenly barked, "Take her to the Newcomers Dorm." The girl looked at Skadi and Skald who seemed to have predicted this outcome from their expressions. Skadi nodded and motioned at the girl to follow. However, Skald didn't come with them, staying back with the man. She was led up a small spiralling staircase made of grey stone which led to an opening on the ceiling of the cave above. Eventually, her head was above the ground, her hair being ruffled by the wind, followed by the rest of her.

When she had climbed past the last step, found herself on a windy plateau. The girl was quite grateful for the wind as it seemed to be taking away all of her fatigue up into the sky with it. The blades of grass bent their heads in waves around her, dancing to welcoming her. When she looked around at the seemingly endless top of the plateau, she could see the star-studded sky. Skadi stood there waiting for her. Oblivious to the impatience of Skadi, the other girl turned to take in the sight behind her. A gloomy forest encircled the plateau as far as her eyes could see.

"Woah. So I came from there?" The girl asked, pointing at it. It was a strange feeling that she felt when looking at the forest. Something akin to pride for having survived in something that looked that desolate.

"Yes. And so does everyone." Skadi answered in a flat voice and the other girl's confidence crashed to the ground.

"Everyone else?" She asked in an attempt to make the other girl explain further however it was to no avail as the pale girl had already started walking the other way. Disappointed, she quickly followed.

Up ahead was a silhouette of a structure which grew clearer as the two walked towards it. It wasn't inspiringly massive, however here in the wilderness where there was nothing else made out of a human's hands to overshadow it, it seemed towering to her. It was dotted with windows from which bright yellow lights emanated like fireflies. What was most fascinating about the structure was that it was constructed in a spiral that rose up to the sky. It had a silent and mysterious feel about it.

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Skadi had led her to the entrance which could be found from where the spiral of the structure would begin as it rose from the earth. The entrance was a plain, yet large wooden door on which hung two metal door knockers. Skadi lifted one of them and rattled it against the door.

The other's eye however was taking in the sight of the two menacing statues next to the door carved out of rock. The statues featured a pair of winged deers, with their eerie gaze fixed down on the two. Perhaps that was the desired effect for which the statues were placed there for. To know that one is being watched when one enters the building. Unsettled, the girl turned her attention away to the rest of the structure.

The Institution looked simple yet majestic, from the rising columns to the elegant arches, the large wooden door and the sharply sloping roofs on which red tiles rested.

The door creaked catching the two’s attention as it swung open. Behind it was a young boy who seemed no more than ten years old. Unlike what the ushered girl had expected, there was no conversation and the boy left.

The girl had noticed that the boy who had left, had been wearing the same clothes as Skadi and Skald. A black shirt and green pants.

She decided to ask one of the questions out of the million that had formed in her mind, unable to keep the bursting dam of questions in anymore:

" Who are you? And what is this place?"

"I'm Skadi and the one you met before is Skald," The other answered bluntly from beside her without one single expression on her face.

That was not what I asked.

Skadi continued moving onward to answer the second question as she entered through the door and looked back at her, “We are at the Institution."

Behind her was a high ceiling and a huge hall enclosed within walls of a soft pale yellow shade adorned with neatly carved wooden furnishings.

While the newcomer feasted her eyes on the 'Institution' which radiated a strange mix of simplicity and elegance, she couldn't help but wonder,

The Institution? For what?

She was too tired to pester Skadi with her questions further as Skadi had shot annoyed looks at her all the time on the way to the Institution.

She followed Skadi as the girl led her through the corridors, climbed up wooden stairs and then entered yet another corridor. Skadi abruptly stopped before another wooden door.

"This right here is the Newcomers' dorm," Skadi announced, turned and strolled away just like that. The pale girl left so quickly that the other didn't have enough time to react and now she stood there, confused, awkward and pulling lightly at the hem of her shirt. Perhaps it occurred to her in a while that standing there would produce no results hence she mustered up the courage to enter the 'Newcomers' dorm.' When she laid a hand on the door, pushed it open slightly and peeked in gingerly, she found it open and entirely empty.

Both relieved and disappointed at the discovery, she walked in. It was a clean room, furnished with nothing but multiple rows of beds and a small wooden shelf beside each bed. A wall clock watched her as it hung from the walls. There was not a single soul in sight.

All my fears and I are going to have a little party tonight.

But then she had more pressing worries to think about, even if she was exhausted.

She lay down on the bed staring at the ceiling on which stretched an orange beam, its origin possibly another room facing the one she was in.

Her thoughts were far too scattered as every single thing here was a mystery. Dread crawled in and conquered her thoughts like an uninvited guest. One can't help but fear the unknown.

Breathe. Try to focus and think. And gather all that you've understood so far.

She wanted to make sure that it really was the reality. That's all a pitiful human in darkness can do: Grasp onto any and all pieces of knowledge, facts and recollection when nothing really makes sense.

What is this strange place?

What was I doing in the forest?

And more importantly

Who am I?