Lennan had built his refuge in a hut-like structure. From there he looked out at his forest, which wasn't dissimilar to the northern forests of his homeland, with the redwoods and oaks. He had no idea how long he would be trapped in his own mind, and felt anger welling in him that was aimed towards the creature that kept him here. He was confused as to why it wanted him- what did he have of value in his soul? What power did he possess, that this demon wanted? He had no idea. No clue at all.<br/><br/>He found himself missing his friends as he caressed a leaf at his side. Particularly Erica. He brought the leaf up to his lips, and gently blew it away, watching it float to the ground.<br/><br/>It was too slow; the leaf did not move enough. His mind could not completely replicate the reality of life. Little things caught his attention that weren't right. The small things he noticed marked his world as artificial, and he hated it. This place of his creation, however beautiful, was no match for the sensations of reality.<br/><br/>His heart throbbed for everything that waited back in the real world. His friends, his family. The trees, the wind, the ground. The animals, the sounds, the people. Especially Erica. He hadn't realized how he felt about her until he had been shut off from the world.<br/><br/>A sound reverberated through this world, and he heard her voice again.<span style="font-style: italic">"Lennan I'm coming to bring you back and you better have a good reason why you left."</span>He heard that, and thought for a moment. Perhaps is wasn't his imagination playing tricks on him? Maybe he really did hear her, from the coma his body was in.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>To those on the outside, the door to his mind was distinctive. He was a complicated person, with many grains of genius. His door was hard oak wood, except for that the grains were in an odd pattern. To anyone who knew him well, this pattern could be recognized as something he often drew in the corners of his notes, as if he were puzzling over its meaning. The handle of the door was a silver latch.