CHAPTER 6: THE DOOR

I lay back down as I am having a morning thought. What was that dream just now? It seems like it is telling me something. "Oh come on Elina, don't expect that it's real." I mumbled as I closed my eyes and shook my head again for the third time. I sigh as I decided to get up again and put my stuffs inside my bag. After that, I grabbed my backpack along with wearing it and went outside the tent, then I took the tent off as I stashed it away inside my bag. Afterwards, I obtain my sunglasses and the map from the bag as I stared at the blue sky as I perceived the bright sun shining towards where I stand. I hold the map as I wear the sunglasses to protect my eyes. At that point, I began sauntering.

Day two in the desolated land, I am traveling afresh by foot under the blazing sun. I am eyeing the map as I was complaining because I don't understand a single thing that's being drawn on it. I scratched my head as I am baffled. I halted for a minute, then I started to look at the map, one more time. My forehead creases as I observed that there is really something wrong. Oneself then realized that I am holding it the other way around and that is causing me to be perplexed the whole time. I just slapped my forehead, when realizing my foolishness. I viewed the map, at the same time, I eyed the surrounding. "I am currently standing near the cactuses, so I needed to go--" I stopped as I am scrutinizing. "Aha! Up north." I uttered. I begin to stroll as I am wondering, then I passed by some dead bodies laying on the sand. "Poor souls." I mumbled as I continue to walk without stopping. I mustered all my courage as I took my bottled water inside my bag and then I started to drink it. "There's only little left." I say as I saw the water left in my bottle. I place it back inside the bag again as I breathed heavily and trudge the soft sand. I am already exhausted, but it didn't stopped me from searching for something.

While walking I hum a song that used to be my fathers favorite. I don't know what's the title, but I always heard him singing that song. "Hmm hmm hmmhmmm.." I hummed.

"It was sunday mornin' and I found myself alone.

Walkin' through the desert with a crow..

I took me a shovel and I dug myself a hole.

Walkin' through the desert with a crow."

I kept on singing to atleast enjoy myself walking to I don't know where this map would lead me.

"At times I thought that I would die

but I left those days somewhere behind

there's only so much a man can take

before he knows.

He knows he's gonna break."

"'Cause a man's gotta take what he can take.

When he's got one foot down in the grave

you never know where the road is gonna end.

Sometimes I think this bird,

this bird's my only friend."

I looked above the sky and I perceived the black birds specifically crows flying as I heard their series of loud cawing.

"Walkin' through the desert with a crow."

"I murdered my past life and I covered up its bones,

walkin through the desert with a crow.

I gathered my possessions and I took out on the road,

walkin' through the desert with a crow.

There's been nights I drank myself to sleep.

I lay my head on nails with bottles at my feet,

when I awoke I thought I was free,

but there he'd be,

that bird that follows me."

"A man ain't meant to be alone, with demons scratching at his soul. If I had wings I'd probably fly–" I halted singing when I noticed something at the distance. I look at it by squinting my eyes to clearly see what is that from afar. At the moment, I discern people standing as they were moving forward. I became curious to whatever they were doing, but I just shrugged my shoulders as I continue to walk in my own direction. "I should trust this map." I said as my right hand were clutching my bag and my left is clasping the map. I trudge again without any hesitation. But then, as I am trudging, I reached a dead end. My eyebrows furrowed as I looked at the high bronze-colored wall with lot of cracks. I raised my eyebrows as I eyed the map, and I haven't discern the small written word that says 'dead end.' I rolled my eyes as I walked back again with heavy steps. "How exhausting." I murmured, forming a frown on my face. I faced downwards as a realization hit me. What if those people were also travelers? What if they also survived in this place? Oneself gasped, as I quickly ambled back towards the people.

When I reached them, I noticed that they are forming a line. I stepped closer as I shyly approached the guy infront of me.

"Uhmm–hey." I said as I slowly poked his back. He turned to me with his fierce face as he is raising his eyebrows. "What?" He mouthed coldly.

"Uuh–are you a traveler?" I curiously asked and I smiled, not to be rude.

"No." He shortly responded as he turned his back on me. "Rude." I said under my breath, enough for him not to hear me. I just wanted to slap his back as I gritted my teeth. I stopped as I rolled my eyes and peek at what's infront of the line. And there, I saw a door standing alone without any walls to support it. Strange. The line is moving faster and faster as it is finally the guy's turn to come inside.

Even though he's rude to me a little while ago, I called him once more. "Wait--" I uttered, stopping him from stepping in. He looked at me with his eyebrows still raising.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.

"You're already asking." He responded that made me upset. I exhaled as I began to ask. "W-where this door would lead us?" I query. He smirked at me. He's actually handsome--

"You'll find out if you will come in." He just answered as he walked away and stepped inside the door, until he was completely swallowed by the door's light and gone out of my sight.

"Why can't he just specifically answer my question?! Uggh! That guy!" I remarked as I am stomping my feet. "He's handsome, but rude!" I added as I shook my head. Then, I faced again the door and scrutinized it. It is exactly the same door as I perceived in my dream. Could it be that my dream is real?