Split-Screen Dreams, Chapter 2

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Jenny shook her head in amazement and gazed all around her, at the mis-colored grass, trees and even a sickly green picket fence. The environment didn’t make sense, and neither did the situation.

“Car? I know you’re out there somewhere, Cosmo, but can you hear me?” She called out.

“Yes,” came the voice of her friend… and then, static interference wracked Jenny’s ears. “That’s all the direct communication you two get, my little ones!” came a different, much more sinister voice. “Come. See if you can defeat…. The Time Lord! Hahaha!”

Resourceful as she was, Jenny didn’t quite know where to start. So, like in class, at first, she asked questions. “How am I supposed to find Car and partner up without talking with him?” she shouted into the open air.

No answer came.

“Is there anyone that can hear me or help me?”

Still, no answer.

She scanned her surroundings once more. A few birds sat on branches high above the tree she sat under, watching her in silence. Other than those, there seemed to be few signs of life, beyond two structures, each of which lay a long walk ahead but stood near completely separate sections of the horizon.

“If we’re to reunite before our real selves would otherwise wake…” Jenny supposed that there was little time to waste, that a choice needed to be made and then stuck to.

One structure was very familiar to her, a big red barn just like the one on the farm on which her grandma and grandpa grew up and worked the harvest. It even appeared to have the very same square, quilted banner hanging from the side.

“Jenny?” Her grandfather’s voice came to her, seeming to beckon her forward. Something about the voice echoed in her head, reverberating unnaturally.

A squirrel skittered from within a nearby tree, calling Jenny’s attention elsewhere, and she saw in that different direction a tremendous white spire. It sported large windows, through which she could see geometric patterns of all kinds, almost dancing and definitely playing tricks on her vision.

Jenny thought for a while longer. If someone is inside the barn, maybe they can help. No voices came from the spire, but it appealed to her exploratory side more. On the other hand, maybe the barn could allow her to somehow interact with her grandfather, who had passed away when she was only ten.

Towards which structure should Jenny start walking? The barn, or the spire?