Rob was walking in a forest, with
pine trees all around him. The ground was covered in snow and there was a
strong wind blowing. Rob was wearing what he had worn to meet Dr. Crane; which
was not enough to protect him from this cold.
Although the weather was cold,
Rob did not feel cold; in fact he could not feel the environment around him. He
touched a tree, and then proceeded to lick one; he heard voices to his right
and proceeded towards the same. Except for his sense of sight and hearing,
others were simply not there. He could see a small campfire up ahead, with a
man and a woman sitting around it. Rob started to run towards them hoping they
have an explanation for his condition.
‘Hello, sorry to bother you, but
could you just tell me where I am and where the nearest phone is?’ he asked the
two upon reaching the campfire.
The man and the woman did not
turn around to greet Rob, nor did they make a move. Rob stepped forward and
proceeded to ask again, when he was interrupted by the man, who said, ‘Welcome
Matthew Robert Smith, please have a seat’ he gestured towards a tree stump
opposite to them across the fire.
‘Who are you and how do you know
my name?’ Rob asked, alarmed.
The man sighed in reply, got up,
turned towards Rob and introduced himself.
‘Hello Rob, My name is Carlos
Salzedo.’ The man was about the height of Rob, with the skull cap making him a
few inches taller.
‘Mr Salzedo, I believe there is
something-‘
‘Carlos’ Salzedo interrupted Rob,
‘please; call me Carlos. There is no need for formalities don’t you think?’
Rob, at that moment did not know
what to think. His mind was preoccupied with the fact that three of his five
senses were not operational. He took Carlos’s outstretched hand and shook it.
There was no sense of handshake as he was not able to feel another person’s
warmth. This kept Rob on edge he was feeling claustrophobic;
‘Carlos, there is something
seriously wrong with me I’m-‘ Rob’s voice quivered, with tears about to leak
from his eyes.
‘Not able to feel? Taste? Smell?’
Carlos asked, smiling.
How the hell can he smile if he
knew about his current predicament? There was something Carlos was holding out
from him. And Rob was determined to find out.
‘How- how is it that you know?’
‘Because, the sense of smell,
touch and taste; they are not required in this place.’ Carlos said taking his
seat next to the girl. ‘You only need the sight and the hearing for a
conversation’
‘Conversation? This place? You
are not helping Carlos.’ Rob asked, puzzled.
Carlos chuckled.
‘It’s not funny Carlos.’
‘You are wrong. It is funny
because you are the one that called us here.’ Carlos looked at the confused
look sported by Rob and ceased his chuckling. ‘Unless you are not aware that
you have done so’
‘I have done? Me? Tell me Carlos
how can I do something without real-‘ Rob was interrupted by the loud howls of
wolves. The howls were not far.
‘This is bad.’ Carlos said
standing up, his eyes looking into the forest from where the howls came from.
‘You need to get out fast!’
‘Why? what’s happening?’
‘Why?’ Carlos asked puzzled, ‘Because
it’s Johnny’
