The door of Tarnished Gold
From Create Your Own Story
You approach the door of Tarnished Gold, taking a deep breath and reaching out for the handle. The gold is cool beneath your fingers, and smooth from years of use. Up close, you realize that the designs on the door have not all been worn away. There's one, by the door... Upon closer inspection, you realize it says something:
"So that you remember, even when you forget."
That sentence strikes some kind of chord in your heart, and a wave of uncontrollable tears pours forth from your eyes. Why are you crying? What has happened...that your memories cannot recall but your body does?
Wiping your eyes, you steel your courage and grasp the handle once more. With a single swift motion, you pull open the door and disappear into its dephs.
---
At first, you don't see anything. Curious, you take a step forward, and find solid ground beneath your feet. Looking down, you see you're standing on a black marble floor. Little spiderwebs of white run through the stone, giving it an odd appearance.
As you look back up, light floods into the area from an unknown source. The area around you, identified now as a long hallway, is now lit in a way that every inch of the hallway is bathed in light and there are no shadows. The walls are covered in enmpty picture frames that are several feet across and tall.
You are wary, not of the hall, but of the fact that it does not end. You strain your eyes in a futile attempt to see the end of the hallway...for nothing. It goes on for as far as you can see. Knowing that you can't stay here, you take a few cautious steps toward the first picture frame, on your left. Moving in front of it, you face the empty frame and frown. Why are there no pictures? Shouldn't there be something here?
At that very moment, the edges of the frame, where the picture would be, begins to warp. At the center of the frame, a small pinprick of color erupts like water and floods across the frame. Before your eyes, the frame is filled with color and finally settles into a picture...of you.
However, you are not alone. Three other girls sit with you, smiling, laughing at some unknown joke. Their eyes are bright and happy, and they look as though they have known each other for years.
And you are sitting there with them, leaning forward to add your laughter to the photo. Who are these people? Why can't you remember them?
All at once, the picture becomes animated, and laughter fills the air. You step back in surprise, your back hitting the wall behind you. The image has become more like a movie now, and is playing out that exact moment. All the sounds, smells, and images from that exact moment hit you at once, momentarily paralyzing you. The group laughs, smiling and turning to continue their conversation, which draws more laughter. A voice, seemingly behind you, rings out, and the group turns to look straight at you. No, you realize, they're looking at the camera...
"Look here, girls!" the male voice behind the camera says. "I'll take your picture!"
The girls turn to face the camera, smiling brightly. A brief flash lights up the hallway - and then it is silent again. You stare at the now-still image in disbelief, sinking to your knees.
What is this place? What...was that just now? Was it a memory?
You shake your head, rising slowly and glancing back down the hall. This place...you want to get out as soon as possible...but the other frames might hold some clue to regaining your memory!
What should you do?:
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