18. Hanako Stops By A Farm For Tea.

The journey back was long and arduous.

Hanako rode onward, across desert-like salt plains that seemed all too bright against the brooding abyssal clouds. Through long forest trails, slick with muddy mountain paths, so high up, the river resembled a snaking bootlace of cerulean blue.

Campfires were lonesome, but had the benefit of never sleeping, which meant she was always on high alert.

It didn’t make nights better. She missed her new friends.

***

On the outskirts of a Temple village, she stopped at a single bridge. It had a Victorian design, decorated with spherical lanterns on either side.

Unfortunately, the bridge was riddled with holes and too weak to support a small horse and girl in a  Plague Doctor outfit. Hanako wondered and how she would get the Pony across if she got to the other side.

After stripping off the plates of leg armour, Hanako slowly approached the edge.

There was nothing to suggest it could hold her weight, even while she was dressed in bandages.

Carefully navigating the thin path, she tried her best not to catch sight of the distant ravine below. Every footstep felt like a trial, for any inch sent her hurtling into oblivion.

It didn’t help that the polka dot pattern caused her to hop and skip over multiple holes, whilst landing as light as possible.

All was going well enough until the path started to disintegrate into chunks, shedding stonework at a rate.

Running ‘til blood felt like hot venom in her legs, Hanako barely made it back and was shocked to see the bridge reduced to nothing but a singular arching frame over thin air. Frustrated, she kicked rocks and stamped her feet.

Now what? 

Slipping her armour back on, the girl felt too tired and was in no condition to ride. Still rattled from the near-death experience, she slowly led Moany-Pony back up the hill.

***

The winding road led them to an area shrouded in a dark mist.

The Plague Farms.

On closer inspection, the mist turned out to be a formless mass of insects, droning and shifting on a Mackerel sky.

The farmlands were overly quiet, as if the world was holding its breath. Even shadows lining the edges seemed to bristle with hidden dangers.

Hanako kept her eyes forward, noticing how the earth was pitted and spent. Churned mud was hardened into dry ruts, and every shack appeared to collapse with a passing glance. Somewhere, a Crow squawked from the handle of a rusted shovel.

Pulling her cloak tighter, they passed through an abandoned ranch, with its forlorn-looking grass, broken machines and crumbling buildings.

By taking a shortcut, she noticed how shadowy figures would peer out from corners, melt into blobs and disappear.

Hanako shuddered and pushed on until she reached a two-way junction on the corner of an ancient barn. 

Now she had to make a choice. 

Since she didn't have a map, both routes were uncharted and everything smelled of damp hay.

While Hanako was checking the map, Moany-Pony neighed loudly and galloped down the right-hand path.

Surprised at the increase in speed, Hanako caught the reins in time to save herself from being thrown clear. Bucking wildly, the horse kicked up in a panic and continued to whinny in despair.

Unable to maintain her balance, the girl was launched off, landing heavily on the hard mud right outside the stables.

Rubbing her back, Hanako sat up and watched helplessly as Moany-Pony reared up. She could see it now, the thing that was causing the most distress. A series of lumps had formed on its hind quarters; lumps that pulsed and oozed.

Insect bites.

Hanako raised her hands in an attempt to pacify the beast, but it was hopeless. Its eyes were bulging, and blood seeped from its ears. It was buck wild and maniacal, there was nothing to she could do.

Feeling brave, Hanako grabbed the Javelin from the saddle area, just in time for Moany-Pony to charge off into the dark woods, never to be seen again.

***

It took a while for the shock to bleed off. Hanako could only brush herself off and sigh.

Great. She thought. Thanks a lot.

Turning around, Hanako was shocked to see a man standing in the middle of the muddy yard; his eyes locked steadily in her direction.

He was middle-aged but young-looking; slim with a long neck that reminded her of a giraffe. Dressed in a thick Fisherman's jumper, he tipped a 'Baker boy' cap in greeting.

"Help you?" He said, with eyes that appeared too big for his face. "I see your Horse has taken a quick exit.  Shame, it would appear it did not take too kindly to the local wildlife."

Hanako cupped a gloved hand to her ear.

"Ahh, my condolences. It's always the quiet ones." He gave a little chuckle. The girl folded her arms. "I mean no offence, and right now you're thinking: 'Stranger danger'. So your first instinct would be to run from creepy men who offer sanctuary. But uh..." The man shook out a handkerchief and flicked it away to reveal the blue crystal ball. "Everything you want to know is right here."

Shocked, Hanako reached into her knapsack. Empty. Annoyed, she held the Javelin in both hands. "Kill me if you want, but I have a feeling you need the other one to survive." He threw her the ball and she caught it with both hands, dropping the weapon. "If you don't believe me, be on your way. No harm, no foul." He turned and headed back toward the farmhouse. "Name's Seth, by the way; this here is Macha's farm."

Hanako looked at the ball, confused. She took a minute to weigh up her options. If this could aid in her quest, would it be wise to turn it down? Then again, he was still some stranger offering a young girl sanctuary. Not a good look.

Bunching her fists, she gave her helmet of knocks.

 I am so going to regret this. 

Reluctantly, she trudged up the hill in pursuit.

***

The entrance of the Farmhouse was a mud room, with fifty-two plastic boots and a number of coats that were too many for a single man.

Off to a good start. 

"You'll have to excuse me," Seth said, noting the girl's bird-like helmet. "I don't get many Plague Doctors around these parts.” He paused and gave a sideward smile. “Try not to freak out."

Hanako cautiously stepped into what she thought was the main house, only to be hit by a bright light. Once her vision returned, she saw how the floor was decorated with diamond tiles, leading up to the storefront window..

On the right was a L-shaped counter, where an ornate cash register sat, dotted with white buttons like a pearly king.

The shop floor was occupied by rows of display cabinets filled with ancient books, ancient maps and brass instruments.

High above were skulls of things containing too many eye-holes, diorama's of stoats and a display case containing a Lobster with a giant snapping tongue. She recoiled and backed into Seth, whose smile did not reach his eyes.

"Welcome to Hoboken, New Jersey." He said. "This is what I call: 'The Little Curiosity Shoppe. I am rather partial to Ye Olde English, they are a funny lot."

Hanako approached the window and felt a throb of hard rain lash against the glass.

"I'm afraid you have arrived in the middle of a particularly nasty storm," Seth said, pouring green liquid from a long glass teapot. "Otherwise, I would have taken you on a tour of the local coffee house. They do the best white chocolate raspberry muffins. Oh, so tantalising! I have to limit myself to once per day." The man gestured to a decorative wrought-iron table with matching chairs. "Please, take a seat."

Hanako didn't know what to think at that point. The place crackled with a dangerous energy that made her feel on edge. Getting information was going to be tricky.

Seth lifted up an ancient box. "Care for a game of Senet? It is from my homeland, although the rules have been lost in time. The ones that remain are vague, and most people make up their own. I suppose that's why I am drawn to it." Hanako just stared at him, unsure. "Don't worry; it's not one of those: 'If you lose, I will take your soul.' kind of things. I actually think you can serve a purpose. Very soon, the end of the world will come and I am going to need your help," He raised a hand. "All above board, no funny stuff."

Hanako pulled out the blue crystal ball and placed it on the table.

"Ah, to business. I remember the first time I saw this. It washed up on the shore, right about the same time a God fell in love. Anyway, to make an example of this malfeasance, the Abyssal Lord kidnapped the love of his life and imprisoned her in darkness. And what did our hero do? The usual cautionary tale from mythology: Hero attempts a rescue, pays the price...so on and so on. Whether he succeeded or not, I don't know, and I care even less. It just goes to show. If you try to fight the monster, the monster you will become."

Smoke curled inside the crystal ball. Beguiled, the girl could only stare with fascination.

"Honestly," Seth continued. "I didn't think our paths would cross; otherwise, I would have just let things slide. You seemed determined to find the Empress, with no idea of who she is." The girl shook her head. "I know that's not your mission; you just want to go home. But what is home, exactly? Look out there, I guarantee you will never see the world in the same way."

Hanako watched an old woman pet a small dog. Very quickly, the scene shifted when a creature the size and shape of a Rugby ball phased into reality, above the woman's head.

Flea-like in appearance, it pulsated with a warm orange light from within and had a face resembling that of a spider's web. A similar insect was attached to every person that came into view; all of whom were oblivious to its presence.

"They are called Gnoglets," Seth said. "Gnoh Og G'zog', or 'Reality mites'. They're used to keep humanity in check, by way of a hallucination." The stranger sipped his drink. "Without these creatures attached, a person would become a gibbering lunatic upon seeing the Earth for what it truly is. Multiply that by billions, and the entire structure of society would collapse into chaos and insanity. Personally, I am all for it."

Still bathed in shock, Hanako stood up and slowly lifted up Javelin. Seth raised his hand.

"Relax." He said. "They're just harmless lice feeding an illusion into every person. You are in a unique position of being the only one to see the truth." Hanako waved her hands above her head. "No, once you become aware, the creature disappears. Even so, the effects of it take a while to wear off. It could take decades; it's hard to tell. No one has ever been released. My point is...knowing what you know, can you ever go home?"

The girl backed away in horror and exited toward the farm. Except, it wasn't there anymore; opening the door, she was met with a city yard in autumn.

Slightly confused, Hanako crossed the room and entered a long hallway decorated with dark panelling. At the far end, she found a small bathroom with just enough room for a toilet and a half-sink.

Barely holding it together, she closed the lid and sat down with her head in her hands. Who was this guy? He was obviously some kind of trickster.

Hanako didn’t care. She just wanted to leave.

What were you thinking? Never talk to strangers! Argh! 

The girl could feel her thoughts slipping away and reality breaking. The walls felt like they were closing in and vibrating.

Wait a minute. 

Something was vibrating!

Taken with a curiosity, Hanako wandered over to the next room and placed a hand on the door. There was a definite activity coming from the other side.

Upon opening the cupboard, what she saw hit her with bone-freezing terror.

Within the walls were rows upon rows of disembodied mouths all talking at once.

It was like white noise of confusion, a chaotic stream of begging, pleading and crying in several languages. Lips, teeth and tongues were all visibly animated with an endless commotion.

"Never a dull moment," Seth said. "Funny story about these people, they were all on their deathbed, but didn't want to die. I granted their wish. I ask you, what makes a person think they are worthy of a second chance? Another guy wanted to rule the world. He never specified which world, so right now he is being tossed around Jupiter at seven hundred miles per hour. He won't die though, I couldn't do that to him. My point is that I am very good  at changing giving people what they want. I can do the same for you. Give you back everything you lost. No catch, no Monkey Paw surprises. Alternatively, you can take your chances out there. Soon you will find something you can't outrun."

The girl looked down, and her shoulders sagged.

"Yeah, well, something to think about. The other Beacon you seek is a grey pyramid. If you wish to leave, follow me." Seth led Hanako into the kitchen. He placed a hand on the metal bar of an emergency exit. "Remember, sometimes it is easier to trap than to kill. It was a pleasure meeting you...Kajero."

Somewhat taken aback by the sound of a familiar name, Hanako entered the room and fell into a pit of blinding white nothingness.