Read Online R.E.M.: The Hidden World by Corrie Fischer - Free Book Online

silence.
                  “Wait till you see the city.”
                  City?  What a strange word to use for such an un-modernized town within the woods…
                  Emily’s perspective changed when they were only a block away.  The music that so faintly played before was now almost blaring.  It sounds like a party is going on.   Emily felt excitement rushing through her.  Over the past year, she finally started to emerge socially.  This was mostly credited to Carrie who introduced her to all the wild possibilities alcohol could offer.  Her birthday party was not her first rodeo. 
    In the last year, Emily spent more than one night crawling through her basement window, completely eluding her father’s judgmental opinions.  Just a few weekends prior, Carrie came over for a ‘sleepover.’  When Emily attempted to follow her friend’s example and crawl through the window like numerous times before, she took a wrong step.  A loud snapping sound indicated she broke a branch of her mother’s beloved shrubs.  Both girls froze in place for seconds that seemed to stretch on for hours.  Thankfully, no lights came on and Emily did not hear the roaring sound of her father’s yell.  Relieved, both girls giggled and trampled into the night, fully prepared for the adventure awaiting them.
                  Oh Carrie…I wonder when I will see her again….or if… Before Emily’s mind could lead down that dark path of possibility, her eyes were enchanted by the sight in front of her.  With a much better view of the city, she could now understand the words of Lucy.  It was marvelous!  There were mansions everywhere of all shapes, styles and sizes.  The first that distinctly caught her attention was composed entirely of logs.  It rested up ahead and to the right of their current position.  The wooden structure had the elegance of a modern home and the class of a building far older.  It towered over the trees surrounding it and was at least four stories tall.  Large, lovely glass windows sporadically lined its sides and front; its structure jutting out in a variety of angles.  “Wow!”  Emily could not disguise her amazement as her jaw fell open.
                  “It certainly is incredible, isn’t it?  Wait till you see the owner…”  Lucy let out a loud chuckle and started approaching the house.
                  “That’s where the doctor lives?”  Emily could not believe it.  A million questions arose within her but she quieted them all; in this moment, curiosity was her sole guide.  She was not about to allow logic to overrule her enjoyment, not this time.  Instead, her eyes wandered across the incredible buildings, scanning each one individually. 
                  The first structure on the left was composed almost entirely of glass.  Its metal connecting beams were the only sign of any other material used.  She could easily see directly into the home’s living room.  A massive television stretched across the entire far wall.  She could just make out the image of actors flashing across its screen.  It was now she noticed long red hair flowing down from the back of the couch facing the television.  The woman watching it was sitting alone.  Emily did not see any other sign of life in the entire place.
    Wow…does she have that place all to herself… As the thought crossed Emily’s mind, the woman stood up and turned to her right.  Then she faced Emily’s direction and simply stood there with a blank expression for a long moment.   Is she staring at me?  The scene was almost eerie.  Emily did not know how to react.  Embarrassed for staring, she looked away, shifting her focus to the structure beyond the log cabin. 
    This one, though still large by normal standards, was far smaller than the other mansions surrounding it.  It was also the most normal of the buildings.  Its outer lining