The Blue House

Chapter 1

I blink again, trying to reconcile the blue of our house with the cream I remember. It’s not just a different shade; it’s as if the color itself is alien, vibrating with an energy that makes my teeth ache. Glenda’s warmth is a comfort, her 7'7 feet tall massive frame a shield against this… wrongness. I am just 5'1 feet tall.

“Are you sure? Please, look again,” I plead, my voice barely a whisper against the wind. We are standing on the small patch of lawn in front of our house, a lawn that yesterday was green and ordinary, but now seems to pulse with a sickly, yellow light.

Glenda sighs, a sound like the rustling of leaves in a hurricane. “Tevin, sweetheart, you know I would never lie to you. It’s the same color it’s always been. Cream. Like vanilla ice cream.”

Her words are meant to soothe, but they scrape against the raw edges of my fear. She sees cream. I see this… this monstrous blue. It’s been happening for weeks now – small things at first, a fleeting flicker of a different color, a misplaced object. But now, the shifts are bolder, impossible to ignore.

“But the flowers,” I insist, pointing to the rose bushes lining the walkway. “They were red yesterday. Now they’re… purple? Almost black?”

Glenda follows my gaze, her brow furrowed with concern. “Red roses, Tevin. Just like always. Maybe you’re just tired. Let’s get you inside.”

She starts walking, her strides long and effortless, my feet barely touching the ground as she carries me toward the front door. The brass handle feels cold and strangely smooth under my fingers, not the familiar textured metal I remember.

Inside, the living room is a kaleidoscope of subtle horrors. The floral pattern on the sofa seems to writhe, the colors bleeding into each other like a watercolor painting left out in the rain. A framed photo on the mantelpiece shows Glenda and me at the beach last summer, but in this version, her eyes are an unsettling shade of violet.

“Glenda, do you see this?” I ask, my voice trembling. “The picture… your eyes…”

She sets me down gently on the sofa and kneels before me, her large hands enveloping mine. “Tevin, listen to me. There’s nothing wrong with the picture. Or with my eyes. You’re safe here. I promise.”

Her touch is grounding, her voice a warm current in the storm raging inside my head. But even as I cling to her reassurance, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m alone in this. Utterly, terrifyingly alone.

"But... what if I'm not safe, Glenda? What if reality isn't safe?"

Glenda pulls me closer, her brow furrowed with worry. "What do you mean, baby? You're safe here with me. Always."

Her words are meant to reassure, but a shiver runs down my spine. She doesn't understand. None of them do. "But what if it's not just me? What if the world is... changing? And I'm the only one who sees it?"

She strokes my hair, her touch gentle. "Maybe it's stress, baby. You've been working so hard lately. Why don't you rest? I'll make you some tea."

Tea. As if chamomile is going to fix this. As if a warm beverage can restore the very fabric of reality. I want to scream, to shake her and make her see what I see, but I know it's pointless. I've tried before.

"Okay," I say, my voice flat. "Tea sounds nice."

She smiles, relieved, and heads towards the kitchen. As soon as she's out of sight, I stand up, my legs shaky. I have to do something. I can't just sit here and wait for reality to unravel completely.

My eyes dart around the living room, searching for something, anything, that can help me understand what's happening. The photo on the mantelpiece catches my attention again. I pick it up, examining it closely. In the altered version of reality Glenda's eyes are violet, but is there something else? A clue I missed?

I squint, focusing on the background. The beach looks the same, the sky a clear blue, the sand a golden yellow. But then I notice something odd near the horizon. A faint shimmer, a distortion in the air, like heat rising off asphalt on a summer day. Except this is a photograph.

I grab my jacket from the coat rack, ignoring the way the wood feels rough and unfamiliar beneath my fingertips. "Glenda, I'm going for a walk," I call out, my voice louder this time, laced with a newfound determination.

"Okay, baby. Be careful," she replies from the kitchen, her voice muffled by the sound of running water.

I don't tell her where I'm going. She wouldn't understand. I slip out the front door, the unnatural blue of the house looming behind me like a warning. The air outside feels charged, electric, as if a storm is brewing.

I walk towards the beach, my heart pounding in my chest. The shimmer in the photo... it has to mean something. Maybe if I go to the place where the photo was taken, I can find some answers. Or maybe I'll just find more questions.

As I walk the rose bushes lining the path seem to pulsate with the dark violet that is not red. I pick one. It feels cold, almost metallic in my hand, and as I look at it closely, I see the petals aren't soft but consist of small, overlapping plates. What is happening?

The beach is only a few blocks away. Each step I take feels like a step further into the unknown. The closer I get, the stronger the feeling becomes that I'm not just walking towards the beach, but towards something else entirely. Something that could change everything. Or break me completely.

The beach is eerily deserted. The waves crash against the shore with a rhythmic violence that feels discordant, out of sync with the tranquil scene I remember. Even the smell is different – sharper, almost metallic, like ozone after a lightning strike. I scan the horizon, trying to pinpoint the location where Glenda and I took that photo. The shimmer I saw in the picture is more pronounced here, a visible distortion of the air about half a mile down the coast. It wavers and pulsates, like a heat mirage, but there's something unnatural about it, something… deliberate.

I start walking, my bare feet sinking into the cool sand. The rose I took from the garden is still clutched in my hand, its metallic petals digging into my palm. As I get closer to the shimmering distortion, the air grows colder, and the sound of the waves fades into a dull roar. The sand beneath my feet changes color, shifting from a golden hue to a pale, almost translucent white.

A figure emerges from the shimmering air, tall and gaunt, with eyes that gleam like polished obsidian. Its features are androgynous, impossible to define, and its skin is the color of storm clouds. It wears a long, flowing robe that seems to ripple and shift with a life of its own.

I stop dead in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. Fear grips me, cold and paralyzing, but curiosity overrides my instinct to flee. "Who are you?" I manage to croak out, my voice barely audible above the roar of the waves.

The figure smiles, a slow, unsettling curve of its lips. "I am a traveler," it says, its voice a melodious whisper that seems to resonate directly in my mind. "A seeker of truths. And you, Tevin, are a key."

My name on its lips is a shock, a violation. "A key to what?" I ask, my voice trembling.

"To understanding the unraveling," the figure replies, gesturing towards the shimmering distortion with a long, slender hand. "The shifting of realities. You see it, don't you? The world is not as it seems."

I clutch the metallic rose tighter, my knuckles white. "I... I don't understand," I stammer. "Why me? Why can I see it when no one else can?"

The figure steps closer, its obsidian eyes piercing my soul. "Because you are sensitive, Tevin. You are attuned to the subtle vibrations of existence. You are a canvas upon which reality paints its secrets."

It reaches out a hand towards me, its touch a promise and a threat. "Come with me, Tevin," it says. "Let me show you the truth. Let me show you what lies beyond the veil."

I hesitate, torn between fear and a desperate desire to understand. This figure, this traveler, could be dangerous. But it's also the first person who hasn't dismissed my experiences, the first person who acknowledges that something is terribly wrong.

"What... what lies beyond the veil?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

The figure's smile widens, revealing a glimpse of sharp, predatory teeth. "Everything, Tevin," it says. "Everything lies beyond."

A dizzying array of possibilities floods my mind. Everything? The thought is terrifying and exhilarating. I glance back towards the town, towards the unnatural blue of my house, towards Glenda, who, even now, is probably brewing my tea, oblivious to the monumental choice before me. This traveler, this being from beyond the shimmer, offers answers, but at what cost? Can I trust it? Can I trust anything anymore?

"What do you want from me?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. The traveler's smile doesn't waver. "Only your willingness, Tevin. Your openness to see. The truth is a heavy burden, one that cannot be forced upon anyone. I simply offer you the opportunity to carry it."

The rose in my hand feels heavier now, the metallic petals pressing into my skin. It's a tangible reminder of the world I know, the world that's slipping away. But the world beyond the shimmer… it calls to me, a siren song of forbidden knowledge.

"What if I say no?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper. The traveler's expression doesn't change. "Then you remain in ignorance, Tevin. You continue to see the cracks in reality, the glitches in the matrix, but you will never understand them. You will be forever haunted by the knowledge that something is wrong, without the power to fix it."

The weight of that potential future crushes me. To live a life of quiet desperation, knowing that the world is unraveling, but unable to do anything about it… it's a fate worse than any unknown danger.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Okay," I say, my voice trembling but firm. "I'll go with you. Show me the truth."

The traveler's eyes gleam with satisfaction. "Excellent," it whispers, and then it reaches for my hand. Its touch is surprisingly cold, like grasping a block of ice. As soon as our skin makes contact, a jolt of energy surges through me, a wave of pure, raw power that threatens to overwhelm my senses.

The shimmering distortion intensifies, swirling around us like a vortex. The sand beneath my feet dissolves into mist, and the roar of the waves fades into a deafening silence. The world around me blurs, colors twisting and merging into a swirling kaleidoscope of impossible hues.

I close my eyes, bracing myself for the unknown. When I open them again, I'm no longer on the beach. I'm standing in a place that defies description, a landscape of impossible geometry and shifting perspectives.

Towers of iridescent crystal rise from a sea of liquid light, their surfaces covered in intricate patterns that seem to writhe and change as I watch. The sky above is a tapestry of swirling colors, a canvas upon which reality itself is being painted.

The air hums with an energy that vibrates through my very being, a symphony of pure, unadulterated existence.

"Welcome, Tevin," the traveler whispers, its voice echoing in the vast emptiness. "Welcome to the realm beyond the veil. Welcome to the truth."

I gaze around at the alien landscape, my mind reeling. "Where… where are we?" I stammer. The traveler smiles, a hint of madness in its eyes. "We are everywhere, Tevin. And nowhere. We are in the space between realities, the nexus point of all possibilities."

My breath hitches in my throat. The air crackles with unseen energy, each inhale a spark igniting a new, impossible sensation. I’m overwhelmed, terrified, and yet… undeniably exhilarated. "The nexus point?" I repeat, the words feeling clumsy and inadequate in this place where language itself seems to bend and break.

The traveler inclines its head, a gesture both regal and unsettling. "Indeed. From here, all realities are visible, all possibilities accessible. But be warned, Tevin," it says, its voice losing some of its previous warmth. "The truth is a dangerous thing. Once seen, it cannot be unseen."

I tear my gaze away from the impossible architecture to focus on the traveler. "What kind of truth are we talking about?"

"The truth about your world, about all worlds," the traveler replies, gesturing to the swirling chaos around us. "The truth about the forces that shape them, the beings that inhabit them, and the inevitable decay that awaits them all."

A shiver runs down my spine. This isn't just about understanding the glitches I've been seeing. This is about something far bigger, far more profound. "And you're going to show me all of this?" I ask, my voice laced with a mixture of dread and anticipation.

"I will guide you," the traveler corrects. "But the journey is yours to take. The truth is not a gift, Tevin. It is a burden that must be earned." The traveler begins to walk, its feet gliding effortlessly over the liquid light. "Come. There is much to see."

I hesitate for a moment, glancing back in the direction of the shimmering portal that brought us here. It's a faint glimmer in the distance, a reminder of the life I left behind. Glenda, my house, my ordinary, predictable existence… it all seems like a distant dream now.

But I know I can't turn back. The traveler is right. I've seen too much. I can't simply ignore the cracks in reality, pretend that everything is normal. I have to know the truth, no matter how painful it may be.

I take a deep breath and start walking, following the traveler into the heart of this impossible realm. The towers of iridescent crystal loom closer, their surfaces pulsing with light and energy. As I approach, I notice that the intricate patterns are not just random designs. They are symbols, glyphs, a language I don't understand but somehow feel in my bones.

"What are these?" I ask, reaching out to touch one of the symbols.

"The language of creation," the traveler replies, stopping beside me. "The code upon which reality is built. Touch it, Tevin. Feel its power."

I hesitate for a moment, then reach out and place my hand on the crystal. As soon as my skin makes contact, a surge of energy flows through me, even stronger than before. Images flood my mind, visions of galaxies being born, of worlds colliding, of civilizations rising and falling. It's overwhelming, terrifying, and utterly mesmerizing.

I stumble back, gasping for air. The symbols on the crystal seem to glow brighter, resonating with the energy within me. "I… I saw things," I stammer. "Worlds… I saw worlds being created."

The traveler smiles. "Indeed. You have glimpsed the truth, Tevin. But this is only the beginning. There is much more to see, much more to learn."

Chapter 2

I try to process the cascade of images, the sheer scale of creation I briefly witnessed. The weight of it presses down on me, a crushing reminder of my own insignificance in the grand scheme of things. ´I don’t understand,´ I confess, my voice barely a whisper. ´It’s too much.´ The traveler places a cold hand on my shoulder, a gesture that is surprisingly comforting. ´Understanding will come, Tevin. But it will take time. For now, simply observe. Allow yourself to experience.´ We continue our journey through this impossible landscape, the towers of crystal giving way to vast plains of shimmering sand that stretch as far as the eye can see. The sky above is a constantly shifting canvas of color, swirling nebulae and impossible constellations painting a breathtaking spectacle. As we walk, I notice strange creatures flitting through the air, beings of pure energy that dance and twirl like living flames. They seem to pay us no mind, absorbed in their own ethereal games. ´What are those?´ I ask, pointing to the dancing lights. ´The spirits of possibility,´ the traveler replies.

´The raw potential that exists within all things. They are drawn to places of great change, of great potential.´ I watch them for a while, mesmerized by their graceful movements. It’s hard to believe that such beauty can exist, that such wonder can be hidden just beyond the veil of reality. After what feels like hours, we reach the edge of the shimmering plains. Before us lies a vast chasm, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality. The air above it crackles with energy, and strange, distorted sounds echo from its depths. ´What is this place?´ I ask, my voice filled with trepidation. The traveler’s expression darkens. ´This is the Abyss of Lost Realities,´ it says. ´A place where worlds that have failed, that have been consumed by decay, are cast aside. It is a graveyard of broken dreams, a testament to the inevitable entropy that awaits all things.´ I peer into the chasm, my stomach churning. I can see fragments of shattered worlds falling into the abyss, remnants of civilizations that once thrived but are now lost forever. It’s a horrifying sight, a stark reminder of the fragility of existence.

´Why are you showing me this?´ I ask, turning to the traveler. ´Is this what awaits my world?´ The traveler doesn’t answer immediately. It stands at the edge of the chasm, its gaze fixed on the swirling chaos below. ´All things are destined to end, Tevin,´ it says finally. ´But the manner of that ending is not predetermined. Your world is at a crossroads. It can either succumb to the forces of decay, or it can find a way to transcend them. The choice is yours.´ I stare into the abyss, the weight of that choice pressing down on me. It’s an impossible burden, a responsibility I never asked for. But I know that I can’t turn away. I have seen too much. I know too much. I have to do something.

´What can I do?´ I ask, my voice filled with desperation. ´How can I save my world?´ The traveler turns to me, a flicker of hope in its eyes. ´That, Tevin, is what you must discover. The answer lies within you. But be warned, the path ahead will be fraught with danger. There are forces that would see your world destroyed, beings that thrive on chaos and decay. You will need to be strong, Tevin. You will need to be brave. And above all, you will need to trust your instincts.´ The traveler points to a narrow path that winds its way down into the abyss. ´Your journey begins there. Go now, and may the spirits of possibility guide you.´ I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what lies ahead. Then, without hesitation, I step onto the path and begin my descent into the abyss.

The path is treacherous, crumbling beneath my feet with every step. The air grows thick and heavy, filled with the stench of decay and the whispers of forgotten voices. Fragments of lost worlds drift past me, ghostly reminders of what once was. I see shards of crystal cities, twisted metal from forgotten machines, and the skeletal remains of creatures I can’t even begin to comprehend. Each one a testament to a reality that failed. The deeper I descend, the more oppressive the atmosphere becomes. The whispers grow louder, coalescing into a chorus of despair that threatens to overwhelm my senses. I clutch the rose in my hand, its metallic petals providing a small measure of comfort, a reminder of the world I’m trying to save. After what feels like an eternity, the path levels out, leading me into a vast cavern filled with the detritus of lost realities. Mountains of broken artifacts and twisted wreckage rise around me, forming a surreal and unsettling landscape. In the distance, I see a faint glimmer of light, a beacon in the oppressive darkness. Driven by a desperate hope, I begin to make my way towards it, navigating the treacherous terrain with caution. As I draw closer, the light resolves into a small, flickering flame. It burns atop a makeshift altar constructed from salvaged materials, casting dancing shadows on the cavern walls. Kneeling before the altar is a figure cloaked in rags, its face hidden in shadow.

It’s muttering in a language I don’t understand, its voice raspy and weak. As I approach, the figure senses my presence and slowly turns its head. A pair of hollow eyes peer out from the darkness, filled with a mixture of fear and desperation. ´Who… who are you?´ the figure croaks, its voice barely audible above the whispers of the abyss. I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to respond. ´I’m… I’m Tevin,´ I say finally. ´I’m here to… to find a way to save my world.´ The figure stares at me for a long moment, its eyes searching my face. Then, a faint smile flickers across its lips. ´Save your world?´ it whispers. ´Many have come here seeking the same thing. Few have succeeded.´ The figure gestures to the altar with a trembling hand. ´This flame… it is a spark of hope in this desolate place. It is all that remains of a world that was once vibrant and full of life. But it is fading, Tevin. It needs to be rekindled.´ ´How?´ I ask, stepping closer to the altar.

´What can I do?´ The figure looks at me intently, its eyes filled with a strange intensity. ´You must offer it something of value, Tevin. Something that represents the essence of your world. Something that is worth saving.´ I rack my brain, trying to think of something, anything, that I can offer. But what do I have that is truly valuable? What represents the essence of my world? My house? My town? Glenda? The thought of sacrificing something so personal fills me with dread. But I know that I have no choice. If I want to save my world, I have to be willing to give something up. I look down at the rose in my hand, its metallic petals gleaming in the flickering light. It’s a symbol of the strangeness that has invaded my reality, a reminder of the truth I’m seeking. But it’s also a symbol of hope, a sign that something is still alive within me.

I take a deep breath and hold the rose out towards the flame. ´I offer this,´ I say, my voice trembling. ´A symbol of my world, and my willingness to fight for it.´ As I release the rose, it floats gently towards the flame. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a sudden burst of light, the flame flares up, burning brighter than ever before. A wave of warmth washes over me, filling me with a sense of hope and renewal. The figure before the altar lets out a gasp of relief. ´You have done well, Tevin,´ it says, its voice stronger now. ´The flame has been rekindled. But your journey is far from over.´ The figure rises to its feet, its face still hidden in shadow. ´Now, you must find the source of the darkness that threatens your world. And you must destroy it.´

The figure before me, now seemingly emboldened by the renewed flame, points towards a narrow passage leading deeper into the cavern. ´The source lies that way,´ it rasps, its voice echoing off the walls of salvaged debris. ´Prepare yourself, Tevin. It will not be an easy task.´ I nod, steeling my resolve. I have come this far, faced impossible odds, and rekindled a dying flame of hope. I will not falter now. I step into the passage, the darkness closing in around me like a suffocating shroud. The air grows colder, the whispers louder, and the ground beneath my feet becomes slick with an unknown substance. I press on, driven by a fierce determination to save my world. The passage twists and turns, leading me deeper and deeper into the heart of the abyss. I pass by more remnants of lost realities, each one a haunting reminder of the darkness I am fighting against. After what feels like an eternity, the passage opens into a vast chamber. In the center of the chamber, hovering above a pool of swirling black liquid, is a pulsating orb of pure darkness. It radiates an aura of malice and decay, its presence corrupting the very air around it. This must be the source.

As I approach, the orb pulses faster, its dark energy intensifying. The whispers in the chamber reach a fever pitch, coalescing into a deafening roar. I feel a wave of despair wash over me, threatening to crush my spirit. But I resist, clinging to the memory of the rekindled flame and the hope it represents. I reach into my pocket and pull out a small, smooth stone I picked up on the beach before all of this started. It's nothing special, just a simple rock, but it's a connection to my world, a symbol of everything I'm fighting for. I hold the stone out towards the orb of darkness, focusing all my energy on it, pouring all my hope and determination into it. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, with a blinding flash of light, the stone shatters, releasing a wave of pure, positive energy that slams into the orb of darkness. The orb recoils, its pulsating light flickering violently. The whispers in the chamber turn into screams of agony. The black liquid in the pool begins to evaporate, revealing a shimmering pool of clear water beneath. The chamber starts to shake, the walls crumbling around me. The source of the darkness is being destroyed. I stand my ground, refusing to be intimidated.

I focus all my energy on the shattered remains of the stone, willing it to continue its work. The orb of darkness continues to shrink, its power fading with each passing moment. Finally, with one last, deafening shriek, it implodes, vanishing into nothingness. The chamber falls silent. The shaking stops. The darkness recedes. I stand there for a long moment, catching my breath, letting the silence wash over me. I did it. I destroyed the source of the darkness. My world is finally safe. As the last vestiges of the darkness fade away, a beam of light shines down from above, illuminating the chamber. In the center of the light, a shimmering portal opens, leading back to the world I left behind. I take one last look around the chamber, then step into the portal, ready to return home. The journey back is swift and painless. One moment I’m in the abyss, the next I’m standing on the beach where it all began.

The sun is shining, the waves are crashing gently on the shore, and the air is filled with the scent of salt and sea. Everything looks… normal. I turn and look towards my house. It's blue, ordinary, and perfect. I smile. It's good to be home. As I walk towards the house, I see Glenda standing in the doorway, a worried expression on her face. She sees me and her face lights up with relief. ´Tevin!´ she cries, running towards me. ´Where have you been? I’ve been so worried!´ I embrace her tightly, burying my face in her shoulder. ´I’m okay, Glenda,´ I say, my voice choked with emotion. ´I’m home.´ And for the first time in a long time, I truly believe it.