Conscious Travellers
For years, the old theatre on Gdańska Street has attracted those seeking refuge from the world with its silent presence. On this evening, the walls of the building were lit only by the pale light of the moon, and from behind the heavy, dusty curtains, barely visible trails of light seeped through the holes in the windows. The smell of dust, rubbed velvets and something unnamed lingered in the air.
They sat quietly in the empty hall: Ada, a philosophy student, Olek, a computer scientist, and Karol, who had just quit his corporate job to 'search for meaning'. Each of them carried the baggage of their decisions. What united them was the need to understand what to do next. That evening they decided to choose the theatre as their meeting place, hoping for a moment of authenticity away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life - instead they encountered something completely different.
They talked for a long time, sometimes falling into silence when neither of them could answer basic questions about the future. It was already the middle of the night when Charles, wandering his eyes around the room, noticed that, near the old director's desk, the wall was rippling. He wasn't sure if it was fatigue or imagination. He broke off and walked over to the wall. Ada and Olek, initially sceptical, joined in after a while.
They stared at the wall, which was now visibly pulsating with velvety light, as if someone from behind it was switching a lamp on and off in a heartbeat. Olek put his hand on the surface - he felt warm under his fingers, as if he were touching human skin. Suddenly, the outline of an oval door shimmered on the wall and opened silently, revealing an intense blue glow.
"Is this... a portal?" - asked Ada in a half-hearted voice, not taking her eyes off the open space.
A cool breeze and echoing laughter and distant, disturbing voices pierced from within. They seemed to see passing shadows, laced with light and smoke, inviting them inside. Olek looked at Ada and Karol. Neither of them could back out. They slowly slipped inside - step by step - feeling the light begin to envelop them and the air thicken from the intense sensations.
On the other side, a world seemingly familiar but pulsing with energy and anxiety awaited them. The streets seemed familiar, though they vibrated underfoot, and each gate they opened led to a completely different neighbourhood. Neon lights flashed in the distance and heavy dark blue clouds slowly descended from the sky, as if heralding unknown events. They were lost after just a few steps, trying to understand the rules of the place - here, every decision made instantly shaped the surroundings.
Suddenly, a figure in a black cloak stepped out from behind a corner, holding an object they could not recognise. Their every move echoed through the unknown world. Silence fell for a moment.
In that moment, there was no going back - but were they ready to take the next step?
Author of this ending:
English
polski
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