West of Reality

Dan, excited by the materials appearing before them, glanced over at the table belonging to the woman he stood by. Her gear was similar to his, just as Claire had said, but the style had a Victorian flair—polished brass buckles, leather straps, and lace trim that reminded him of another era.

Huh, fascinating he thought before deciding to break the ice, “Can you believe this?" He gestured his journal, then turned it over in his hands—running his fingers over the embossed leather. “I’ve been dreaming about this for months. Everything is better than I imagined. Especially the ‘move’ into this place. I really thought the transition would feel… weirder.. I guess?” He chuckled, flipping through the blank pages. “But it’s all felt so real, almost too real.”

"Name's Dan!"

The woman surprisingly smiled, although faintly. She adjusted the brim of her hat before replying, “Nancy. Yeah, they really nailed the details.” Her voice was steady, but Dan noticed a slight tremble in her hands as she opened a small, ornate compass. She had the air of someone who was just told to act natural. “It’s everything I was hoping for, I guess.”

“You don’t seem very excited.” He motioned to the group—all talking loudly, admiring their new gear. “What’s holding you back? Nerves?”

Her smile faltered, just for a moment, before she tucked the compass away into her coat. “No, I’m happy. Really. It’s just…” She trailed off, adjusting the straps on her bag, avoiding the question. “Leaving everything behind… It's a lot to process. It’s not strange or anything. In fact I think it’s pretty normal to find this difficult.” She sharply cut her words off in agitation.

Dan frowned, still sensing something unsaid, but recognizing that he was being impolite to a complete stranger. “Sorry, yeah, I get that. Totally…” he said a bit too hastily. “But we’re free now, right? Isn’t that what this is all about? A fresh start at something amazing?”

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a brief second, her expression softened—guarded, but honest. She gazed back down at her compass, and sighed “Free. You’re right.” Her nerves showed once again, despite her attempt to hide them. Not wanting to pry any further, Dan pretended not to notice. When their eyes met again, she snapped the compass shut with an unsettling familiarity. As though she’d had it her entire life. Did the program give some people items they had in their previous lives? That wouldn’t be suspicious, he supposed.

"It’s beautiful," Dan said awkwardly, pointing toward the compass, trying to keep the conversation going despite the tension. Even though Nancy was guarded, he liked her already. He hoped he hadn’t just ruined any chance at a friendship with her.

"Thanks," Nancy replied, forlorn, then turned back to her packing with more haste than before.

Shit

Dan stepped back to his table and quietly secured his bedroll then strapped it to his back. Silence hung between them, leaving him deflated. He pried too much, he knew. He glanced at Nancy now and then as she packed, the weight of the moment building. Pressure built up in Dan’s chest as he wrestled with himself, debating whether he should try to fix the awkward tension that had just settled between him and Nancy. The air felt thick, and each heartbeat echoed in his ears, amplifying his uncertainty about how to bridge the gap that had formed. He recognized that he was being selfish in his desire to resolve things, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that it would be in bad taste to leave their first conversation hanging in the air like this. The thought of walking away without addressing the tension gnawed at him, a reminder that connections—however fragile—were worth nurturing. Finally, he took the shot:

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I know I can be a bit much. I just…” Nancy glanced over at him, her brow furrowing as annoyance flickered in her eyes. “I get excited... and it feels good to share that with someone. And that’s selfish behavior, so… Just, I’m sorry. And I’ll leave you alone from here on out.” Dan finished by giving her an affirming nod before turning to his things, waiting to leave.

A few moments later, Nancy conceded quietly, to herself “God damnit, Nancy…” She turned to Dan, “Okay… No. You didn’t do anything wrong. I understand why you’re excited—anyone would be.” She paused, her gaze drifting away as if searching for the right words. “I’m just... in a different situation than most. I didn’t exactly choose to be here. This was my last option.”

"You… didn’t choose to be here?" Dan's voice softened to a near whisper. He stopped himself from prying any further, not wanting to push it. "I’m sorry it had to be that way for you. But, hey... we're here now, and this may be too much at this point, but, if you’re open to the offer, I’d like to make it up to you with a drink. No obligation, no… anything really. But you can find me at the saloon after this is all over." Nancy hesitated at first, then nodded wordlessly.

"Great, and don’t worry," Dan added quickly, a small grin tugging at his lips. "I’m not trying to hit on you or anything. We can talk, or not talk; hell, you can leave right after you’re handed the glass—whatever you’re comfortable with. But if you do decide to hang back with me, I’ll just make it look like we’re together so no one else bothers you. How’s that sound?"

Nancy seemed like she wanted to say something more, but after a pause, she simply replied, "Yeah... that’d be nice. Thank you."

"Great!" Dan said, still smiling, the tension between them easing slightly. I’m saying “great” too much… cool it "Let’s get through this first, and then we’ll get a seat together in the far corner where, surely, no one will already be." Nancy offered him a small, appreciative smile before turning her focus back to her pack. The weight of their earlier conversation still lingered, but the moment felt lighter now, less strained.

#

Dan’s group was herded outside by Claire after everyone had stowed away their new equipment and was ready to go. As the welcome center’s doors closed behind them with a heavy thud, a wave of excitement rippled through the gathered crowd. The crisp air was filled with the earthy scent of hay and the distant whinnying of horses. In the distance, horses lined up, their coats gleaming in the sunlight, waiting patiently for their new riders. Each one was striking to behold, a blend of strength and grace.

“And now, finally, our last gift to each of you,” Claire called out, her voice rising above the murmurs of the group. She gestured toward a pen where a handler stood, surrounded by a variety of horses. “Every one of these horses will suit your needs. None is better than the others. Strictly speaking they are physically the same—the only real difference being their coats. That said, each horse does have its own personality. Some may not warm up to you as quickly as you’d like, so remember to be careful—being kicked by a horse can knock you out cold! Now, make your pick!”

Dan took a deep breath, his heart racing with anticipation as he approached the pen. His eyes roamed over the horses, each one a potential companion for the journey ahead. His gaze finally settled on a pinto stallion, his light brown coat splashed with white, his long mane and tail gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Dan held his hand out for the horse, palm up, the same way he recalled learning in his childhood. As the stallion approached, he exuded a calm demeanor, his large eyes radiating a wisdom that went beyond any horse Dan had ridden before. The stallion gave a confident, calm neigh then nudged Dan’s open palm in acceptance.

Holy shit this is awesome.

“Hey, Buddy,” Dan said gently. The stallion nipped at his fingers, playfully, in response. “You like that name, huh?” Buddy nudged Dan with his muzzle. “That’s it, it’s confirmed. Claire’s crazy,because you’re definitely the best horse here, aren’t you?” Buddy shook his head, and Dan was amazed at how they, somehow, understood each other. There was no doubt, this was already Dan’s horse. Although, not in an ownership kind of way. No, they were old friends finally meeting after years of separation. Dan began running his hand along Buddy’s warm neck, feeling the soft, muscled contours beneath his fingers. He then moved toward Buddy’s back, tied his new bedroll and gear onto the saddle, and a sense of peace washed over him—this was the partner he had been searching for his entire life.

Nancy, standing nearby, selected a quarter horse—she was a mare: sleek, light brown, with her mane trimmed short, no more than four inches long. A white stripe ran down her face from forehead to nose, giving her a dignified look. She rubbed the horse’s muzzle as she secured her own supplies, a slight smile playing on her lips.

“You figured out her name already?” Dan called over to Nancy.

“Cadence,” Nancy yelled out in reply, her smile becoming a giggle as Cadence breathed into Nancy’s face causing her hair to fly into it and tickle her. Dan’s smile grew, feeling a bit warmer as he saw genuine joy from Nancy for the first time.

#

Claire gave the group a final once-over, nodding approvingly. Introductions were over. It was time to set everyone loose. The other Lucid employees had gathered around her, waiting. Now that the excitement was over, it was clear that Claire was in charge of everyone. Which in hindsight, Dan admitted was obvious given that she introduced the “leadership” group.

“That’s it. You’re now free to explore, wranglers! There’s an inaugural party happening tonight at the pub. Drinks are on the house tonight only. There are also complementary rooms for anyone who wishes to stay, or you can begin your adventures if you’re feeling eager.” Her tone was as gleeful as ever, though finality was there. She had made her offer; the rest was up to them.

Dan turned to Nancy. “Ready?”

Nancy looked down the road toward the pub. Laughter and the bustle of adventure filled the air. “Whiskey, one ice cube.”

“Intriguing choice. Why only one cube?” Dan chuckled, as they began their trek.

“Doesn’t water down the whiskey, but it does bring out the aroma,”

“Huh, I think I’ll try that. Thanks for the lesson!”

They guided Buddy and Cadence toward the pub. As they approached, the building’s wooden facade creaked under the weight of the festivities growing inside. The porch was lined with people, some already deep in their cups, but Dan and Nancy slipped through the crowd with little notice. They tied their horses to a post and stepped inside.

The pub was warm, its low ceilings and flickering lamps creating an intimate, if rowdy, atmosphere. They found a table near the back, away from the worst of the noise. Their server came over, took their order with a gentle smile, and then went off to fetch it with confident professionalism.

Dan grabbed his glass, “So how do we do this?”

Wordlessly, Nancy swirled her drink, took a quick sniff inside of the glass then sipped with a loud slurp. Dan followed suit, and though he hadn’t doubted Nancy, he was surprised at how much the single ice cube augmented the whiskey experience.

“Holy shit!” Dan gasped after swallowing, “That’s excellent!”

“Told you,” Nancy said, smirking at him.

“Where did you learn that?”

“My dad taught me. He worked at a craft distillery.”

“I’m glad to stay with you then,” Dan said, then trying to backtrack said, “I mean, just saying I appreciate your opinion. Not that I think you’re staying with me after this.”

“It’s fine,” Nancy said, awkwardly. “I know.”

“You ever think you’d end up in a place like this?” he asked, eyeing the lively crowd to change the subject.

Nancy let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Not exactly. I was a coder and gamer in the real world—spent more time behind a screen than in places like this.” Her voice softened slightly. “So much time, actually, that I fell in love at work, too. Not a client, someone I worked with.” It was an innocent statement, but she stiffened a bit after saying it.

“Didn’t turn out well, huh? You don’t have to explain. But, I understand, that can be rough.”

Nancy regained her composure, “No. I just lost him last year. He got sick.”

Dan’s eyes flicked toward her, his expression shifting from curiosity to quiet understanding. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks,” she replied, though her gaze remained fixed on her drink. “I came here… not for adventure or a new life, but to find someone who can give me closure.”

Dan frowned slightly. “Closure?”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her compass. Dan hadn’t noticed her pull it out from her saddlebag earlier. “This thing,” she said, holding it up. “It’s supposed to guide me. Probably meant to help me find my way.”

Dan stared at it, the needle spinning lazily in a direction only Nancy seemed to understand. “You must have given precise answers in your tests if you already know that.” he said. He pulled out his journal, “Not me. I think I just wanted to be surprised.” He began feeling the worn leather, and flipped it open. “And so, this is my little piece of mystery,” he said, showing her the blank pages. “I haven’t figured out how to use it yet.”

Nancy raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. “You haven’t checked it?”

He shook his head. “No clue what it does. But when I opened it earlier, words appeared on the first page.”

“Maybe try asking it something,” she suggested, curiosity lighting her tone.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, like you said, it’s your mystery.”

Dan shrugged, giving it a shot. “Where do I go next?”

Immediately, the pages of the journal shifted on their own, writing slowly appearing on the parchment. Dan and Nancy watched in awe as a map appeared—revealing with clarity the path Dan and Nancy had taken from the welcome center to the saloon. Yet, every location they hadn’t visited was still blank. They also noticed that it was marked with two small stars—one blue, one turquoise—indicating his and Nancy’s locations.

Nancy’s eyes widened as she stared at the page. “That’s… incredible.” She seemed almost mesmerized by the display of information. “Wait, why is it including me and not everyone else in the saloon?”

“I’m not sure… maybe it’s just because you’ve been with me?”

“Okayyy…” she said, disbelief now showing in her expression.

“No, really. I know we just met, but please believe me when I say I don’t know why.”

Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “Ask it who you are.”

“O-okay,” he muttered, then looked down at the journal, “Who am I?”

Once again, the journal’s pages flipped to a blank entry, and sure enough, there was a detailed breakdown of his identity, surprisingly including his attributes—strength, agility, intelligence—everything laid out for him.

“Wha- it’s like a video… game?” Dan said, confused and intrigued.

He looked back at Nancy, who was still gazing at the character description, but something in her expression had changed.

“This could really help,” she whispered, almost to herself. Then, as if she’d been caught off guard by Dan’s presence, she turned to him. “Dan…” Nancy began, then stopped as if questioning the rest of her request, “Do you think you can help me get to where I’m going? Wherever this compass is pointing?”

Dan leaned back, his eyes twinkling with a blend of excitement and bewilderment. “Of course. That’s what I’m here for. Adventure, right?”

Nancy let out a breath, a hint of relief crossing her features, but still betraying her hesitation. “Then I guess we’re partners.”

Shadows grew as the sun slid further behind the horizon. The noise from the party had grown louder, but it felt distant now. The two stood, then made their way outside, where the burnt orange glow signaled the end of the day. Saddling up onto Buddy and Cadence was far easier than the two had expected. Like riding a.. well .. horse Dan thought in surprise. He turned his journal toward the fading light, and they began riding out of town, Nancy’s compass their guide. As expected, the map revealed more of their surroundings as they traveled along. For the first time, their journey was truly beginning.

Dan and Nancy rode until the sun had gone, and night encompassed them. Dan noted a small clearing on the map—the perfect spot for a night’s rest.

“Looks like we have our camp for the night,” he said, pointing to the mark.

Nancy nodded, and they hopped off of their horses. As they reached the clearing and set up camp, the stars overhead blinked into existence, the moon lighting their path forward into the unknown.