Illusions

"It's so cold here." Jaz whispered. "How can it be so cold?" Her breath floated around her head like a smoky halo. Quinn pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulders. How had they ended up here anyway? It had been a fall night like any other when they set out on their date. It felt like days since they had entered the theatre with Rose and Zane, but Jaz knew it had only been a few hours. The movie had been decent, but it seemed silly to think of it now. How could movies possibly important when this had happened? Zane had his arms wrapped tightly around Rose but her teeth were still chattering.

"It's cold because we are on a plain of ice god knows where." Zane was a little testy. "They better question is how the hell did we get here." Funny, Jaz had been thinking the same thing. The movie ended, they walked outside, that annoying husky was barking on the corner, Rose had forgotten her coat so they turned to get it, then...well then they were here. Try as she could Jaz could remember nothing in between.

"Does anyone remember what happened after we turned to get Rose's coat?" A coat she could really use right now Jaz thought. Rose's lips were purple and the rest of her body wasn't doing much better.

"I opened the door to the theatre I think." Quinn's voice was uncertain.

"He did, and there was a man behind the door." Rose's words were punctuated by her chattering teeth. Jaz remembered none of this. How could that be? "He said something, but I didn't really hear it. Then...well then we were here."

"No, wait you forgot the light. There was an aqua light." Zane's eyes were closed. Jaz just stared. A man, words, aqua light? How could she remember none of it? She closed her eyes and pictured the scene over and over, but no matter how hard she tried the last thing she remembered was Rose needed the coat. She looked around her hoping for a clue. Maybe there was a man or an aqua light in the distance. She scanned the horizon to no avail. The only thing she saw was more and more ice and snow.

"Look there's a building." Rose jumped a little and pointed. Jaz followed her finger but she couldn't see a thing. Quinn and Zane seemed to though. They grinned and the three of them started moving quickly towards it. Jaz had no choice but to follow.

They continued to move closer but still Jaz saw nothing. Then Rose put out her hand, as if touching a wall. She pulled at an invisible handle and Zane and Quinn stared eagerly ahead. Jaz put her hand in front of her but she felt nothing. Even placing her hand alongside Rose's she couldn't feel a thing. She considered shoving her hand through the "door" just to see what the others would say, but she held back. Rose entered the building.

"It's warmer in here. Come on." Rose walked through the empty space and the rest followed. "What a lovely cabin. A fireplace, a couch, a stove, it looks like there might even be a bathroom and a bedroom upstairs."

"I'll go check." Quinn ran forward across the ice and started climbing thin air. Jaz couldn't help herself any longer.

"Stop! Don't do it! There's nothing there!" Jaz was almost screaming and her breath was coming in short bursts. What was wrong with them? There was nothing here. She didn't even feel warmer. Quinn stared at her like she had sprouted horns, but he came back down to stand at her side.

"What do you mean there's nothing there? You don't think there's a bedroom?"

"No, there's nothing there. This place isn't real."

"Jaz are you ok?" Rose touched her cheek gently. "Of course this place is real. There are walls, a door, windows, and a sofa. It's all right here."

"No it's not. I don't see any of that. It's all a lie. Here I'll prove it. Show me where the sofa is." Zane walked over and placed his hand on what he saw as a sofa. Jaz walked back and forth through the area a few times. The other three gasped.

"Jaz, you just walked though the sofa." Quinn grabbed her arms as if checking to see if she was real.

"No I didn't. There is no sofa."

"A seer, I didn't expect one of your kind to be among those sent to me." The voice was deep and seemed to ring all around us. Rose screamed and they automatically huddled together. "True the building isn't real, but I can make it seem that way. Does it really matter if it's only in your head?"

"Yes, I'm not going to let my friends freeze to death in this godforsaken land tricked by an illusion." Jaz stood and stepped in front of the others. As soon as he had spoken Jaz had seen the source of the voice. He was a tall man, easily over six and half feet, and he was wearing a thick black fur coat. He had reddish brown hair and a pointed beard. Jaz hated him instantly.

"Really little Seer? Do you think you have the power to take me on? I'm more powerful than you can imagine, and I have been here longer than even the ice." His voice echoed oddly, as if he was in a room instead of on a plain of ice.

"I don't have to take you on. I know the truth, I can see past your illusions. There is nothing you can do to me." Jaz didn't know where the confidence came from but she welcomed it gladly. The others had stayed silent, and from the way they glanced around Jaz could tell they couldn't see the man. "There is a way out of this ice world, and I will find it." The man laughed, and it sounded like a rock slide.

"Silly little Seer. Do you think it is that easy? Do you really think I would leave the door open just waiting for you to find it?"

"No, but I know your game. You can only hold illusions as long as we believe in them. I will find a reason to quit believing in this world, just give me time."

"I see you are more observant than I gave you credit. True my illusions only hold when someone believes in them, but it is not enough for just you to quit believing little Seer, the others must too. Don't think that my other illusions will be as easy to crack as that little house."

"I don't expect them to be." Jaz closed her eyes and listened. "I will beat them anyway." Come one she thought, that has to make you say something.

"Your optimism is quite adorable, but it will do you no good. Call me again when you feel like giving in." Jaz listened intently to his voice, to how it echoed, to what she could hear beyond his voice. When he finished speaking she heard the faintest sound but she couldn't place what it was. When she opened her eyes he was gone.

"What was that?" Zane and the others were staring at Jaz.

"I think he's a wizard, or something. I mean did you see his outfit. He looked like a cliché movie villain." Jaz continued to look around as she spoke.

"What are you talking about Jaz? I didn't see anyone. I just heard a creepy deep voice." Quinn was holding her arms again and stared into her eyes.

"Trust me he was there. He controls this world, but it's not real. I'm sure about that. I just need to figure out how to convince you. This way." Jaz set of in the direction that she had first heard the echo. She figured it would be the closest wall. If she could show them a wall they would believe her.

"Jaz, we were warm. There was a fire and a place to sleep, why'd you have to take it away?" Rose had tears in her eyes and her lips were a deep purple now.

"Oh Rose, it wasn't real. The warmth was only in your head. You would have frozen to death in you sleep thinking you were wrapped under piles of blankets."

"Well that's better than freezing to death thinking I'm freezing to death. At least there it would have been peaceful, and I would have been happy." Zane had a pained look on his face. Jaz felt terrible, but she knew she was doing the right thing.

They continued to walk for about an hour, and that is when Jaz saw it. There was a slight disturbance in the landscape about 20 feet ahead of them. It was almost as if there was a mirror there, but it didn't reflect them, only the ice and snow. Jaz ran forward and placed her hand against it. The wall was rough and felt like plaster. Immediately the illusion vanished. She could see a long blue plaster wall. She turned triumphant, but they others were just staring.

"Jaz when are we going to stop. We've been walking a long time. Rose is tired and cold and Zane and I aren't fairing much better." Quinn was leaning on his knees and Zane and Rose were supporting each other.

"But we're here. This is a wall. Can't you see it? It's blue." They all shook their heads. "Here touch it." She dragged Quinn to the wall and placed his hand against it.

"I feel cold air. Should there be something there?" Jaz tried to press his hand against it, but try as she might it seemed to stop short every time. The same was true for Rose and Zane. Jaz was starting to get really frustrated, but then she remembered how she had discovered the wall.

"Ok stand back a little. Look for a break in the landscape, where it seems like there is a mirror. The horizon reflects back on itself. See it?" They stared at the wall and Jaz continued to instruct them in what to look for.

"Wait I see it!" Zane ran up to the wall and turned to Jaz with his mouth agape. "She's right, there's a wall and it's blue." With Zane's help it took only minutes for the other two to find the wall as well. Suddenly the man was back.

"So you've discovered that this isn't a plain after all. I must admit I'm impressed. Still knowing the place and escaping it are not the same thing. There is still much you must do." For the most part Jaz ignored his voice. Instead she closed her eyes and listened again. That sound was there again, faint like before. If only she could place it, she was sure it was the key to the illusion.

"No matter how much I will do it." Jaz just had to keep him talking a little longer. "Can you guys see him?" She whispered. They all shook their heads. Jaz launched into a detailed description from the top of his balding head to the shiny black boots on his feet until all three could see him.

"Perhaps I was wrong about you. You're turning into a worthy opponent little Seer."

"She's more than that. She's the woman who is going to beat you." Quinn stepped forward and took Jaz's left hand. Rose and Zane stepped up to her right.

"So now you have allies. How quaint. I might actually stick around to watch you die. I haven't seen this much spirit in years." He continued to speak but Jaz was done listening.

"Close you eyes and listen to his voice. When he speaks you can hear a faint sound. I think it's the key to getting us out of here. Try and figure out what it is." Jaz whispered. Quinn squeezed her hand in agreement and they all closed their eyes.

"Aww look you're all praying. Not that that will do you any good, but if it makes you feel better. I'd hate think that you're giving in though. After all we were having so much fun." Jaz worked hard to drown out his deep voice and focus on the sound behind it. What was that?

"It's a dog. Can't you hear it?" Rose whispered. As soon as she said it Jaz knew it to be true, but why would she be hearing a dog?

"I hear it." Zane muttered. "It's really faint but it's definitely a dog."

"I can hear it too. The dog sounds crazy, like something spooked it." Quinn breathed. "It does sound crazy. In fact it's barking incessantly."

"Just like that husky on the sidewalk." As soon as the words were out of her mouth the world shifted. Jaz opened her eyes and grinned at the man. "It is the husky. We never even left the sidewalk. Even the room is an illusion. That's why I don't remember the door or the man or the light. They were illusions too. The last real thing was that stupid dog, and it's still here."

"She's right that's what it is. I remember it." Rose opened her eyes as well. The others did the same and stared at the man.

"No...not...no one...can't." He stammered, but it was too late. Jaz opened her mouth.

"Yes." With that one word the entire world crumbled. The ice faded away, the walls disappeared, and the world went from freezing to pleasantly cool. The man lost his black coat and boots. He went from seven feet to less than six. His hair was still red but the beard was gone. They were back on the sidewalk outside the theatre. The man gave Jaz one last searching look and backed into the shadow of the alley and was gone. Jaz moved to follow but people blocked her path, by the time she reached the alley he was nowhere in sight. She returned to her friends. People were bustling along the street and that husky was still barking like crazy. Jaz thought it was one of the most beautiful sounds she'd ever heard.