Return to Hotel California
Topher didn't feel the pain. He wasn't sure if he would, or if it would kill him quickly enough for him not to notice. When the explosion hit him, it felt more like a strong wind for half a second, then he blacked out, probably knocked over by the blast.
What he didn't expect was to wake up and open his eyes, and there being nothing but blue sky above him, and cold, cold snow under him. The snow was a pretty strong incentive to get up rather quickly, brushing it off himself before it soaked him. So much snow, everywhere, and Topher has never seen this much snow, not that he can remember, and it's blinding. And confusing.
Where is he? He's never believed in the afterlife, and sure, clouds are wet and cold and white, and maybe if you could walk on them they'd feel kinda like snow, but he's pretty sure he'd never go to heaven. For a moment he entertains the notion that hell has frozen over, and the thought amuses him.
His smile fades when he gets distracted by the sight of a building in the distance. He starts trekking towards it, shivering a bit in the cold. It looks familiar, he realises as he gets closer. Like something he's seen in a dream. Maybe this is a dream. Except you don't dream when you're dead, but maybe he's in a coma. Or maybe he's been imprinted onto someone else's body. He looks down at his hands and his clothes, and feels his face, but no, they're his same familiar hands, and his same big nose and stubbly face. Back to the confusion, then.
He reaches the building and pushes the doors open, and doesn't even blink at how the worn down outside contains such a lavish inside, nor when the concierge wishes him welcome back and hands him a key. It all seems strangely familiar, like a constant deja vu. Nor does he consider going any other way as he walks up the stairs, down the hall and to the room with his camera above the door.
His room. He's not sure how he knows, but the key he was handed fits, and inside he finds all sorts of familiar stuff. The computer is on, and the top screen is showing the webcam. Bennett's bracelet is lying on the table, and Topher wonders how it got here, picking it up, and examining it as he sits down on the bed.
What he didn't expect was to wake up and open his eyes, and there being nothing but blue sky above him, and cold, cold snow under him. The snow was a pretty strong incentive to get up rather quickly, brushing it off himself before it soaked him. So much snow, everywhere, and Topher has never seen this much snow, not that he can remember, and it's blinding. And confusing.
Where is he? He's never believed in the afterlife, and sure, clouds are wet and cold and white, and maybe if you could walk on them they'd feel kinda like snow, but he's pretty sure he'd never go to heaven. For a moment he entertains the notion that hell has frozen over, and the thought amuses him.
His smile fades when he gets distracted by the sight of a building in the distance. He starts trekking towards it, shivering a bit in the cold. It looks familiar, he realises as he gets closer. Like something he's seen in a dream. Maybe this is a dream. Except you don't dream when you're dead, but maybe he's in a coma. Or maybe he's been imprinted onto someone else's body. He looks down at his hands and his clothes, and feels his face, but no, they're his same familiar hands, and his same big nose and stubbly face. Back to the confusion, then.
He reaches the building and pushes the doors open, and doesn't even blink at how the worn down outside contains such a lavish inside, nor when the concierge wishes him welcome back and hands him a key. It all seems strangely familiar, like a constant deja vu. Nor does he consider going any other way as he walks up the stairs, down the hall and to the room with his camera above the door.
His room. He's not sure how he knows, but the key he was handed fits, and inside he finds all sorts of familiar stuff. The computer is on, and the top screen is showing the webcam. Bennett's bracelet is lying on the table, and Topher wonders how it got here, picking it up, and examining it as he sits down on the bed.