You are surrounded by nothing.
It's not an empty room, or a black expanse, or even a //white expanse,// as those at the very least draw to mind some internal image. //This// is incomprehensible to anyone except those who have seen it.
Looking at it head on, it's as if reality itself has decided to stop existing, and everything in the universe, as well as the absence of everything, is laid out completely for you to bear witness. It's overwhelming in it's complexity, and yet it only exists in a strange sort of abstract state you can only begin to say you understand. Even then, that's probably just wishful thinking.
Questions run together in your mind... How did you get here? Who brought you here? Where did-- //when// did...
You pause and think, and slowly but surely the pieces begin coming back. You remember waking up in Brookdale and finding the apartment. You remember taking a taxi to the Strip and stealing a car. You remember venturing into the strange, almost suffocating forest...
...And then...
...
...Had something happened?
Did you... die?
It's like a switch has been flipped the moment you think those words. You're not dead, you realize, someone has brought you here for a purpose. Instructions flood together in your mind and a wave of understanding washes over you.
You know two things now. One, this is your captor, or as close as you'll //get// to your captor, and two, that you're here for answers, and for that you must ask the right questions.
You also only have one shot at this, so make it worth your while.
[[What is this place?]]
[[Who are you?]]
[[Where is Brookdale?]]
[[How do I escape?]]
[[Why are you doing this?]]
[[Can you see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?]]
"What is this place?" You ask. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"It's the in-between," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
"Who are you?" You ask. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"I am everything that is and ever was," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
"Where is Brookdale?" You ask. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"It is somewhere safe," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
"How do I escape?" You ask. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"You do not," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
"Why are you doing this?" You ask. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"To preserve," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
"Can you see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?" You ask, because you're an idiot who wouldn't know a good opportunity if it bit you on the ass. You wait a moment, and then the answer comes.
"Sure, yeah, I guess," it says, "That is your question."
[[Wake up]]
You open your eyes to find yourself back in your apartment.