Lost

By bjaybrooks on
Confused shopper carrying a bag walks through a decorated mall, asking where the entrance is.
A confused shopper searches for the mall entrance amid festive decorations and echoes of Christmas music.

‘We will see what is in the old mall,’ Chet said. ‘The lights are on someone is decorating of Christmas,’ Chet noted. ‘People enter the University Mall but no one leaves,’ Chet continued. ‘I walked in the Mall recently and passed a black lady a few times who stared at me intently then she disappeared,’ Chet said. ‘I walked the length of the Mall a few more times but never saw her,’ Chet commented. ‘Apparently there is custodial service the restroom was immaculate,’ Chet explained. ‘Somehow the Mall flourishes with no occupants,’ Chet mused. ‘Christmas music was playing as the empty store fronts stared at me as I passed them,’ Chet commented.

Comic: “A quiet afternoon in the University Mall. A space usually bustling, now strangely still.” A woman greets an older man, who says, “Hmm... Afternoon.” He says, “...Don’t see many folks around today.” She disappears, and he asks, “Wait... where did she...?” Caption: “A liminal space, where boundaries blur and connections vanish as quickly as they appear.”
A quiet university mall encounter turns uncanny when a woman suddenly vanishes into a liminal space.

‘I was in the Mall last week; there was a Wicks and Sticks open, selling Tom Clark Gnomes and playing Christmas music along with offering holiday cookies,’ Neva J said. ‘Elizabeth, the proprietor, asked me to follow her to the basement where she would look for the Santa Claus Statue I was looking for,’ Neva J continued. ‘As I followed Elizabeth, her voice became fainter. I could not see her; she blended in with the carpet and walls,’ Neva J said. ‘Soon I was in the basement room by myself it connected to many rooms with connecting halls,’ Neva J note with fear in her voice. ‘Then I came upon a Wicks and Sticks store in an attached hall that looked like the one upstairs in the Mall,’ Neva J said with dismay. ‘Elizabeth was smiling broadly as she asked me if I had been to the upstairs store,’ Neva J explained. ‘She seemed a little off somehow with almost a painted-on smile and her voice sounded recorded,’ Neva J said.

Comic panel showing Elizabeth in a basement corridor with text: “ELIZABETH BLENDS INTO THE WALLS…,” “WHERE AM I…?,” “AM I EVEN HERE?,” “THE BASEMENT LIMINAL SPACE… UNIVERSITY MALL…,” and “SHHHH… HSSSS… FADE….” Signs and graffiti read “STAIRS,” “UNIVERSITY MALL,” “LIMINAL,” “LOST,” and “MALL.”
Elizabeth stands alone in a decaying basement corridor as her presence seems to dissolve into the walls.

‘Chet you know come to think of it I do not remember leaving the Mall yet I must have since I am here talking with you,’ Neva J said quizzically. ‘My last recollection is of Elizabeth laughing and my sinking into the carpet,’ Neva J said.

Comic titled "THE LIMINAL BASEMENT" showing "WICKS & STICKS - CANDLES & INCENSE," a woman saying "IT'S... SUCKING ME IN! H-HELP!," Elizabeth saying "HAHAHA! WELCOME TO THE BASEMENT, DEARIE!," and "JUST A PART OF THE INVENTORY NOW!"
A terrified visitor sinks into the floor as a gleeful candle-shop proprietor welcomes her to the basement.

‘I am going back to the Mall to see if I can find me,’ Chet laughed. ‘I have felt a bit disconnected since I last visited the peculiar store,’ Chet commented. ‘This time I shall take all of you with me to witness the strangeness and perhaps to buy a Santa Claus for Christmas, Chet grinned.

‘My goodness the parking lot is full of cars,’ Jane said with surprise. ‘I do not know where everyone is going as there is one store in the entire humongous place,’ Jane proclaimed. ‘Let us enter to see what we can see,’ Jane laughed.

‘Please enter this door folks,’ the Doorman said. ‘Your experience will be enjoyable, the Doorman continued.

‘I swear it is as it was 50 years ago,’ Chet noted with astonishment. ‘There are the old restaurants and the theatre in the middle of the Mall people scurrying about shopping for Christmas,’ Chet observed. ‘Let us go in Wicks and Sticks to see if Elizabeth is still the Proprietor,’ Chet said.

Comic panels show a busy 1974 Christmas mall and a quiet closed corridor.
A comic-style scene contrasts a bustling 1974 Christmas mall with its quiet, closed corridor decades later.

‘Look there is a Christmas Statute of one of Santa’s elves and it looks exactly like me,’ Neva J said with delight.

Holiday shop scene with elves, family, and doll labeled “NEVA J.”; text reads “WICKS AND STICKS” and “I know, right? I was telling them this little one is named Neva J!”
A festive family discovers a charming elf doll named Neva J. in a holiday gift shop.

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