Random Freestyle Writing

The Decoder Pt3I didn't understand what was going on. I saw Jacob pull away reality like it was all just a theatre set, not really disappearing but rather falling behind the invisible space where his hand was. It pulled in from all directions, without any sound or sensation. It was the same beach, only more - dull. Every colour was washed grey. The sun was obscured by both heavy clouds and fog. There were only a couple of small wooden houses at the far end of the beach, most of which looked to be in a state of semi-construction. Everything was silent, save for the waves crashing heavily on the shore."This is only a small simulation" explained Jacob "All I've programmed is this town. Since it's prototyped from your normal reality, the physical laws are the same. To get back, just come back here and do the opposite of what I just did."After gazing around, I turned back towards him. "How did you..." I stopped. Jacob had disappeared.I had nothing better to do. Despite being greyer, there was strange rustic warmth that seemed to emanate from the village at the other end of the beach. I casually strolled there. It couldn't hurt.Since it was just a simulation, I knew all the creatures I would meet were nothing but robots. My first impressions of their village, however, made them out to be anything but. They did not shun me or shoot me, nor were they self-obsessed. They welcomed me. I knew right away that these - well, people - were a lot more like me than I could have imagined."Good day" said an old man shuffling by."Howdy!" called a boy, waving."You look lost" observed a young lady in formal attire.I smiled. She reminded me of Jess, though somewhat older."I'm just new here" I said.The girl smiled back. "My name's Kate. Pleasure to meet you.""Pleasure's all mine" I laughed "Call me Adam."Kate invited me back to her humble home, where surprisingly enough she lived alone. Only one room had in fact been finished already - her bedroom - and the rest was still under construction. She had already constructed most of the frame by herself."You're welcome to stay here if you help me build it" said Kate.For a moment, I considered going back - back to a gangsterland that hated me, a job that hated me, a world that hated me. This world might have been fantasy, but perhaps there was meaning to it. I needed a world that makes sense. Jacob's earlier warning made me want to return just to prove I could, but what would be the point? My selfish pride?Kate laughed. "You know it is rude to keep a lady waiting."I didn't think for a moment longer. "Thank you so much, Kate. Of course I will help."I didn't mean it at the time, but I ended up staying with Kate for a full week. She first tasked me with gathering driftwood from the beach, where there were indeed fallen trees in abundance. These, she explained, would be the beams for her home. When I finished I saw that she had built me a simple tent to sleep in, and made me some supper. It was delicious - she made real pumpkin soup served with real bread - flavours that celery could not even hope to imitate. The tent was just a basic canvas, however. Sleeping on the bare earth was not comfortable. I was used to the spiders, beetles and bugs, but the night proved immensely cold.It was obvious to Kate the next day I hadn't slept well. "What's wrong?" she asked."Cold night" I replied laconically."Warm your heart" she said as she gave me hot toast for breakfast.I didn't usually eat breakfast back in my world. I had no time due to the demands of my work. But it was really true. Her kindness warmed me even before I ate.The next day was much the same. There was a lot of work to do. I collected more wood, cut some branches, and eventually ate a delicious burger Kate had cooked for dinner. I had not eaten meat in years. Home owners had no idea how good they had it, I thought.Over dinner, I took the time to tell Kate about my world. I told her about our wars and our problems. I told her how I was confused and didn't know what to believe in."That's horrible" remarked Kate. She seemed to believe me."It sure is a land of the blind" I replied "Though I am no king""What I mean is" corrected Kate "Not that your world is horrible, but that nobody has the will to change it. You looked to your parents and to Terra for your salvation.""And what saviour am I?" I asked."Even if you can't change the world you can change your outlook. It's all about this" Kate pointed to my heart."Well my world wasn't giving me much incentive to do that. I don't think I should accept misery."Kate thought for a long moment. I hadn't really seen her think before. She was usually very quick. Then, at last, she held my hand. "I guess you're right" she said.That night I slept much better.So my routine went on for another six days. Living a lie. Escaping from reality. Being virtually happy. But as the days grew on, for some reason I grew more conscious of the fact that every detail here was a facade. It was comfortable, but reality was not. I told Kate of my world's horrors. But each time I told her, I began to feel sorry for those still trapped in the world as I was. I began to regret abandoning them. I just reminded myself of how selfish I was being here. And in a strange way, I missed life outside of my tent. Kate could bring warmth to my heart, but she was not real. I had to return. I had to.It was so hard to finally tell her."But - they hate you!" said Kate."They may hate me - but they need me" I replied "You've made me realise that I'm never going to get over the problems from my old life by escaping from it. I must return.""Why?" asked Kate."I came from a town hot with violence and fear, a world fuelled by passion. If that's what my people can achieve with cold hearts, imagine my world with warm hearts."Kate sighed, looking deeply into my eyes. "Your mission will fail. You'll be rejected as always have been. You'll be laughed at. Hated!""I've been hated all my life" I said quietly "I must try.""But what good will that do?" asked Kate "Stay here. I can keep you safe."In that moment I became hot-headed. Kate was being possessive, as tears began to fall down her simulated cheeks. I kept reminding myself this world was not real, even if I would wish it. I wanted to believe it. I could not. "It would be a crime to stand by and let my people destroy themselves."With that, I turned my back on her and walked toward the rock pool. She did not physically stop me. She just cried and called. I don't think she ever stopped crying or calling my name, telling me to come back, apologising, begging for me to listen. But hers was a simulated heart I just had to break. I loved Kate more than anybody else I had ever met, but I still had no regrets. In that moment, I knew the fate of the world was something I had to try to change, because selfishness and greed were destroying it.I took one last look at the most homely place I had ever seen. Once I had called it grey, but now it seemed charming. This was a world I would never forget. With a heavy breath and a tear in my eye, I reached out into hyperspace and saw my hand disappear just as Jacob's had. Then, imitating him, I pulled myself back into the real world.I never saw Kate again.What happened next I remember only as a series of disconnected thoughts. Immediately I was struck by a syringe - and then next thing I knew, I was down.I remember being dragged along the ground with my head covered. More needles. Being driven somewhere with my head covered. Being dragged up some steps, unable to speak. And then at last, my captors took my head covering off.I had expected that perhaps I had been taken by Terra for talking with Jacob. Perhaps the government trying to cover up the death of my parents. The town pranking. Jacob not wanting me to tell people about the simulation. I had made so many theories that nothing could prepare me for the truth.When my head was uncovered, I was on the top floor of the Florence apartments - face to face with Greg.