A Dream of Bavaria

It was hard for me to wake up. I had been up all night taking shot after shot, and buying for anyone that could stomach more. It was a certain mixed drink that the bartender pushed me to try that really put me over the edge. It wasn’t even on the menu, and it came in a glass bottle closed off with a cork. I had already been too drunk to worry about any consequences, but I wished that I had. My head was pounding as I slipped out of the covers and opened the blinds in front of me. The light seemed to pierce my skull as it entered the room, my head now throbbing worse than before. Nonetheless, I took a moment to appreciate the view; it wasn't one many people had the privilege of seeing. Placed on a mountain, the hotel I was staying in dwarfed the city below, and I could see as far as my eyes would permit. The distance made the city lose its animation so that it felt as if I was looking at a painting; a snow village from some foreign land that I would never get to see, yet here I was, soaking it all in. The fulfillment of that seemed to ease my head and motivate me to get dressed. Putting on all of the layers needed to stay comfortable in the mountain’s town was the only downside of being there, but it was sedated as I poured myself a cup of coffee. While walking downstairs to the lobby, I checked my phone realizing it was barely 7:00 AM, but I wasn’t tired and sure as hell wasn’t going to waste my time while at this magical place.

Stepping outside I was met with a cool rush, I didn’t mind, it helped me feel awake. I took a left where I had usually taken a right to catch a cab for the city, and decided that I ought to do something different for my last day. It would be nice to explore the little village around the hotel and appreciate something a little more wholesome. Flipping my scarf over my face I noticed the tiny snowflakes that were falling in front of me. There was a certain serenity in the air. Down the road to both sides were mostly novelty gift shops, bakeries, and restaurants that lured in tourists for overpriced services and souvenirs. Regardless they stayed the theme of the area, and the traditional Bavarian architecture really did complete the scene. The road never stayed straight for long, and I found myself climbing up and around the mountain, deeper into the town. After a while I noticed that the novelty shops were dwindling and were replaced by small homes and more empty space along the wooded slopes. I hadn’t realized that the town went up so deep, and I hadn’t expected people to actually live that far away from the city below. The houses still fit the Bavarian theme, but it was obvious that they weren’t built to suit tourists' expectations. I thought about heading back, but I had a strange lust to keep on going even though I wasn’t likely to find anything profound. Though, profound wasn’t exactly what I was looking for that day. The walking had been peaceful, but my lack of sleep began to become apparent, and after an hour my head started to pound again with a vengeance. Deciding to head back, I realized I might’ve taken one to many turns and lost the direct way to the town center. I pulled out my phone, but as I suspected it wasn’t getting any signal. I opened up the maps app and tried to see if anything would load, but all that did was a book icon a few hundred feet in front of me. Looking up, my eyes met the old building with surprise. Strangely I hadn’t noticed it until that moment. Clicking on the book icon, the only description it gave me was “Library”. I felt strange then, but more intrigued as I looked through the snowfall and at the old stone building. It was at what seemed to be the end of the paved road, and although rather small, it had a colossal presence. Slipping my phone into my pocket, I decided to see what it was about. The short walk carried a certain weight I can’t describe, yet my curiosity now would allow nothing short of exploration. The gray stone was weathered, and there was a certain antiquity from the architecture. The massive wooden door was old, but not decrepit, and I could tell the building was not quite abandoned. Placing my hand on the giant metal knob, I turned until It was certain the door was unlocked. Even so, the prospect of entering was uninviting. Slowly, I pushed the door in. Peering inside to see what met me, my chest tightened.

 I felt weak as I began to take it all in. It was so vast you wouldn’t believe it. The interior was shaped like torus, and through the center was a staircase that stopped at every level. Around it there was a never ending maze of bookshelves, stacked to the very top of each floor, and ladders at least 50 feet tall to reach them. I moved in, cautiously weighing each step, mostly believing that I was dreaming. 

“Hello..” I was so full of awe it was hard to speak clearly.

“Is anyone here? Hello?” 

My only response was my own voice echoing around the vast halls. My heart thumped as I finally released my hand from the door letting it slam shut behind me. Tense with fear, I quickly turned around. My eyes met his. 

The man in front of the door was extraordinarily tall, skinny, and.. unconcerned. 

“Are you, um, are you open?”

There was a pause.

“We are open.” His words drew out slowly and his voice was unusually deep. 

 There was something bizarre about this man, yet I wasn’t quite sure if it was bad.

“Oh…well, good!.I’ll stop by later when I get some time, I was just exploring the area for a little bit, I have to go meet a friend.” Taking steps towards the door the man was in front of, I expected him to move. He didn’t. I came up close to the man, and looked up to find him looking down. He towered over me, and the black suit he wore amplified his presence. 

“Why leave? There is so much to see.” His facial features stayed callously still.

“I said…I have to, um…”

“Nonsense. Let me show you to the librarian. She loves her visitors.” He stepped forward and I moved out of the way. I turned to him, feeling something between fear and anger. 

“Sir, I am leaving.” I turned back and horror filled me as I set my eyes upon a ginormous book shelf where the door had just been. I looked right and then left just to find more of the same. Moving backwards in denial, I tried to put it all together.

I’m on drugs, I've been drugged.

Clumsily tripping backward, I was caught by the man. 

“Please, I assure you, meeting the librarian is your best course of action.” The man was as monotone as he was before, and brought me back to my feet.

“What did you do? Where am I?..I.. what..” A blanket of fear shrouded me.

“Come.” He said, and then nodded his head forward. With nowhere else to go, I numbly rose to my feet and began to follow. 

As we walked I began to uncover much more about the place I was in. There was no set layout, instead an endless series of turning shelves, circulating along the walls, creating new and different pathways by the minute. I followed timidly on the path behind the man, watching as I saw the very shelves to our sides grow animate. 

“What did you do to me? Please tell me what is happening.” My voice was hoarse with angst. 

He stopped and turned his neck so only his head was facing me. 

“You will not be hurt.” Then he turned back on his course.

Soon we came upon a door that looked like it could be an exit out the other side.

“The librarian waits for you.” The man stuck out his arm signaling that I should enter alone.

“You’re not coming?” I had accepted that whatever was happening to me was out of my control, and that I should at least comply with these people. 

“No. She is waiting.” He lifted his arm again.

Walking towards the door, I realized it was a replica of the one I came through. Hoping that meant I could reverse this insanity, I pushed through.

“Yes, I am so glad to see you!” The woman in front of me looked much too familiar. She had long and frizzy hair, the same color as her black robes.

“Please, sit down.” She pointed out a stick and began to speak another language. The floorboards shook, and eventually broke loose as they floated through the air and into the perfect formation of a rocking chair.

It was obvious that I had been drugged. The woman sat up from her desk and looked at the chair. 

“Would you rather stand? That’s fine.”

I recognized then who it was; the bartender the night before who had given me one too many drinks. 

“You?...How... You were serving me drinks last night? No, don't answer, I know that it was you… What did you give me? Or is this just part of the high? I..I don’t-” 

“Did Henchman forget to tell you that you will probably be fine? Ease yourself, Mr. Gleeson. Everything is working out.”

I had no idea what to make of her words, but before I could answer she broke out in a horrid laugh, snorting and wheezing as if everything in the world was a joke. I had never felt so lost as I did at that moment. 

“Oh, please lighten up. I’m going to explain. Yes, I was serving you drinks last night, but not all of it was…traditional. The speciality I gave you was truly a creation of mine, but it wasn’t alcoholic. I’m sure you know of witches and their potions? Well, someone has to see if they work, and I’m quite through with being the subject. Ever since my sister got pushed into an oven I grew to be more cautious of my health. The woman made us look like fools, although Gretal seemed a peculiarly brave girl. I assume you’ve heard the story? You know-”

Her speaking grew muffled, and I could hear that she was still talking but all I could think of was that I had been drugged. Drugged by a woman who thinks that she is a witch. I knew it was best to play along with her insanity.

“Anyway, I’ve gotten off track Mr. Gleeson. The potion is supposed to guide you towards me. It is a very shrewd concoction because you’d never realize its effect on you. You’ll simply wake up with a subtle yet convincing desire to walk into the Bavarian forest, never to be seen again. Although, I will let you go since you were my little rat. I do have a certain soft spot for rats.”

She is insane. I can’t deny her this reality or I might actually never return.

“I see. Then will you let me leave now? You know that your potion works, you have no use for me anymore. Am I truly going to be okay after…this?”

Her hideous laugh filled the room again.

“You won’t remember anything my dear. Or you will, but it will be a distant memory or dream, incapable of any real merit. You will simply blow it off as a childhood nightmare, or something of that sort. The last thing I want is any more hunters seeking these woods trying to find the witch that has a magic library. There were enough of them trying to find the candy house when my sister died, and that was before social media. I can only imagine how many of you people would be roaming the forests now in search of me. No, no, I don’t have time for all of that. As you can see I have been turning this library upside down for a certain spell book. I will find it soon enough to be sure.”

Holding back a tear, I looked away from her.

“Okay. Just.. just make things normal again.”

I could feel her eyes as they narrowed at me. 

“Usually my rats ask questions, but I won’t force any out of you. If you do happen to remember anything, remember to tell your friends that hiking in the Bavarian woods is as good as it gets. I haven’t tasted flesh in a very long time.”

She raised her stick and pointed it at me. A bright ball of light started to grow on the tip, and flew into my face without warning. I woke up.

“That was probably the worst dream I’ve ever had.” I told my group of friends as we huddled around the camp fire. My buddy Jack looked up at me through the flames. 

“That’s way creepy bro, ‘specially since you actually went out there this summer. You got some sick mind up there man.” We all got a good laugh at that.

“Honestly, it still sticks with me till this day, even after all these years.” I picked up my beer and took a swig.

“You know what though, I really had fun out there this summer. I’d love to go again with you guys if you’re interested.”