Infinite Loop - Chapter 47

The Wonderful Trail of Mirrors Direct from Shangri-La

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Chapter 47

“I wonder what happens next for him,” she wondered aloud as they continued walking the brick path.

“I guess it will be like his purgatory, but there seems to be a plan somewhere in this place. It’s funny that we’re told that free will won’t stop when you’re dead,” he said. “It sure seems that we can still make choices which affect our future.”

“Like you said before, it doesn’t look that much different from our loop of living inside some stupid script or movie.” Amber frowned with a shake of her head. “I’m not sure what’s real or not.”

“Well, we got out of some type of purgatory. Dio told us that. Just think about those still stuck back there,” he said as they stopped at another portal. The scene between the trees showed a dark forest path leading to an unknown forest.

“Maybe so,” she agreed. “But it makes me wonder if Gerald Fane or that Inspector Stevens were like us, trying to leave, but they just don’t realize it yet.

“…”

Warren paused about to say something, then sighed.

“It seems beyond knowing. I suppose everyone we met could be like us. Either way, I think now we go wherever we want. Maybe we start again, just you and me. What we’ve seen is totally weird. I mean, there’s no logic, only a vague type of fantasy. It goes against everything the world teaches us about life and the afterlife. Do we walk around forever? Is it like some strange karma thing?”

He let out a breath.

“It’s a tough call to make.”

Suddenly, ahead of them, the couple heard carnival music as several people hurried past them. When the pair reached the start of the curve in the road, they found a calliope creating the loud melody. A row of large tubes, sending out the off-pitch notes, rested inside the wheeled cart as a mechanical device rolled through a paper roll of punched holes. On the other side of the heavily adorned wagon, a painted longboard advertisement hung.

The Wonderful Trail of Mirrors Direct from Shangri-La.

A tall man in a red suit stood on a colorfully decorated box. Behind the barker was another decorated wagon with side walls of black painted wood, topped by an arched roof. The wagon backed between two large, ancient trees, blocking the view of a portal behind. Steps led to a red painted door on the back of the cart.

“Step right up, young and old, and enter a world of enchantment and mystery like no others along this path. Inside our hall of mirrors, you will see things never encountered. Witness legendary events and celebrate with extraordinary people from the past and the future.”

The barker spoke in a low, gravelly voice which carried over the discordant music behind them.

As they stepped closer, the couple finally got a good look at the barker. Despite his red coat and white pants, the man looked more like an undertaker, with his unusually pale face and sharp features. Still, his animated gestures and piercing eyes captured the attention of the few souls standing outside the curtain entrance. They stared at the next person walking into the wagon. A young man stepped past the red door, allowing everyone to see the tantalizing glimpse of mirrors inside.

“It looks like one of those old fun houses,” Warren mused while he looked at the small number of people. “Seems like a strange place for a carnival.”

“Like anything we’ve seen here is normal,” Amber smirked. “But you have to admit, it looks pretty cool.”

The couple stepped closer, then stopped when the man on the platform called out to them.

“This new person is the perfect candidate to enter Shangri-La. Come right up and discover our fantastic reflections.” The undertaker pointed to Warren, who slowly walked forward. Amber reluctantly followed.

“And even better, the young lady will join our adventurer,” the barker’s eyes danced with happiness. Amber sensed a growing unease when she glanced at the few people around them. She noticed the vacant expressions of the people they walked by.

“What’s the fee?” Warren asked, and the woman realized his voice seemed unusually meek. However, she could not pull her eyes away from the memorizing eyes of the barker staring down at them.

“My young man, there’s no charge for this journey. Just enter and experience the insights provided. From there, you can determine your destiny.” The thin face replied with a smirking grin. “I’m sure both of you will find answers to those nagging questions.”

“I don’t see a way out,” Amber stated.

“Oh, but I assure you, there is a way to leave the wagon,” the grin disappeared, returned the man’s face to the mask of a cadaver.

“Enter and find out why so many recommend the Wonderful Trail of Mirrors to their friends.”

Warren walked forward, ignoring the woman’s tug on his arm. “I don’t like this place,” she whispered to him.

“But we need to see inside,” he insisted. “Can’t you hear the voices?”

He failed to notice Amber’s confused expression.

“Warren, there’s nothing but that damned music.”

He didn’t look back as he opened the door and stepped inside.

“There, now you can hear it. It’s like when I was a kid.”

She felt a rush of air and heard a soft, almost mocking laugh. Following Warren through the door, she nearly ran into a short version of Warren. Instinctively reaching out, she felt the smooth glass of a mirror. The person in the mirror giggled like a child at her reaction before moving over to the next mirror. Just as quickly, Amber noticed Warren wasn’t beside her. Instead, there were mirrors of all types, each with convex or concave distortions in the glass. The strange and confusing reflections from the images enthralled her as she walked the short distance to the forward section of the wagon.

Where is he?

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