The Invitation (Credit belongs to original owners such as the images)

      A bright sunny day on April 23rd, we've received an invite to a city I've never heard of. City of Mayland is what was written on the invite. A city of grand beauty, wonderful government, exotic foods, and prosperity. We are to go to the nearest port and get on a large ship on the next day, before 7:30 AM.
"Best to get to sleep, son."

       We've awoken thirty minutes before seven. Packing our stuff for our new vacation, canceling plans and work for the time being, in order to get there on time. About twelve miles away from where we lived was the port we needed to go.
"Got your stuff son? We have to go very soon."
"I've got everything Father. Oh! Can we pack extra snacks and toys?"
"Make it quick, or else we'll be late."

       The car is loaded, plans canceled successfully, along with work. We make our way to the port. Several minutes later, we've finally made it to the port. Citizens and workers alike climbing aboard a large ship, told on the invite. Each one of them presenting their invitation to a gloomy looking captain. Worn out vest, chipped and scratched hat, skin looking more gray, and had a face of ill person. No one seemed to notice as they were all excited to jump aboard the ship to the City of Mayland. There were also people protesting about the ship's presence. Outraged citizens were yelling at everyone who were going on the ship. Including myself and my son.
"Do not go on the ship! You will never come back. My grandmother went on the ship. Never returned!"
"Doom is all you get on that ship! The City of Mayland and just a folklore! Just a mirage on the vast sea!"
Finally, we get towards the gloomy Captain. The captain looked up at myself, then to my son, and smiled widely towards both of us.
"Present the invitation, sirs," the Captain said to us in a very deep voice. Fairly unsettling as well.

We listened to the Captain and presented our one pass. Children get on for free as long as they're with a parent.
"Good. Very good. Enjoy your stay," the Captain said to us. Except, with more of an awkward laugh.

     As we climbed up the ship's boarding plank, it kept making a creaking noise. The ship started to look more dirty. Somehow it seems as if seaweed is handing off the edge of the ship. The wood looks more aged and water damaged instead of a smooth bright wood. My son however is enjoying everything, and went talking to the other children on the ship. Laughing and enjoying the ride. I looked back to see if the Captain is coming on board of the ship. He wasn't there anymore. The boarding plank is also up.
"Were we the last people to board the ship?" I've thought to myself.

      My son comes back to me happy.
"Did you happen to see the Captain come aboard the ship?' I asked my son.
"No Father. I did not, but I did meet a lot of nice people," my son replies.
A couple of minutes later, the Captain emerges out of his cabin and clears his throat.
"Excuse me everyone," he yells, "we are about to set sail. Enjoy your stay, or make sure you enjoy the stay during the trip. And always remember, the show must go on!"
As soon as he finished, the ship started to move, quicker than normal. I started to wonder if it was the lack of ship rides. All of a sudden, I, and my son, started to hear a piano play. Playing a upbeat song. Yet still disturbing.

      Waiters and chefs started to come out from the cabins and from under the deck offering food and drinks. Each one of them looking gloomy, yet had a wide smile. They also all looked more gray and worn.
"Hello good sir, care for a splendid Mayland Tea? Alcohol free, sir. Of course, we also have Alcoholic beverages, such as the Mayland Wine, or Mayland Mead, made with the freshest Mayland Fruit," one of the Waiters offered to me, while carrying a tray full of fancy glasses filled with dark, yet also bright colored liquid. We politely declined.
"But we insist you take one! You must take one, in order to enjoy the wonderful cruise and journey to the wonderful City of Mayland! These drinks are made from fresh Mayland fruits and Herbs that will lift your spirits and make the journey fun! And remember, the show must go on!" the Waiter kept pressuring.

The City

           After ignoring all the waiters and chefs until nightfall. The City of Mayland finally comes into view.
"It's... Not a fake at all. It's a real city, built on the water!" I thought.
The city looked grand. Buildings built up to the heavens, lights that seem to beam a rainbow, the sound of parties going on, everyone entering the city smiling and cheerful. It was almost a dream come true.

           The ship lands at the city's port and we make our way to the front gate.
"Please present the invitation," the gate keeper asked us.
We presented the invitation and the gate keeper smiles widely as he stared at us.
"Please enjoy your stay here. Forever," the gate keeper laughs maniacally.
The doors then open widely leading to a room with just a brown table in the middle, with a chair of the same color, except with red cloth padding sitting at it, and bookshelves lining the room. No sight of any door in the room. My son and I walk into the room and see a depressed looking man sitting at the table. Healthy looking at least, writing on a piece of paper in front of me.

           "Come in here. Take a seat. I don't have all day!" yelled the man sitting at the desk.
We continued walking towards him. We didn't see any chair for us to sit in, but we still proceed towards him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Allow me to get you a chair or two. Seeing as you have a child with you," the man said as we approached him. The room started to spin slowly, however the middle with the man, desk, and us were still stationary. The room started to spin quickly, and quicker. Then all of a sudden, it stops. A chair shoots from the wall across the room in front of us.
"There we go. Now, take a seat. We have much to discuss," the man said to us calmly.
We sit in the chairs and prepare to listen to the man. However, all we heard was him scribble on the paper, we could not yet identify.

          "Welcome to the grand City of Mayland! Where your life will change for the best. And you will continue to grow the city! Now. Please sign here to start your 'vacation'," the man greeted us.
I tried to say something, but the man quickly shut me down.
"Now, please sign here. Here. Here. And here. Oh, and here," the man said as he piled papers up, "Now there's no time to delay! Sign them, now, now, now! We got other people waiting! This is a grand city!"
I quickly signed the papers, trying to read what the text says, but the man kept taking them away as soon as I finish signing.
"Father, we're going to have a grand time. Right, Father? I'm really nervous to see this grand-" son tried saying before quickly cut off by the man.
"The grand City of Mayland!" the man quickly finished son's sentence.

The Mirage

            The man at the desk laughed as I finally turned in the last paper signed. He kept laughing, and laughing, then suddenly stopped.
"Enjoy your stay. You will enjoy it as you are part of the show! The show must go on!" the man yelled, even though we were still in front of him.
"Father, I'm now scared!" Son screamed.
The man stopped for a moment, then reached his hand under the desk. The floor then flung open and my son and I dropped through the trapdoor! My son and I then landed on top of ripped open pillows and ruffled feathers. We stood up and looked around. Buildings were in ruins, rats were running around, crows flew towards locations in a group, fire in odd places. The sky even looked more gray then blue.
"Son, let's go. Maybe this is the bad part of cities... Most cities have bad parts," I said to my son. He looked at me and nodded.

           We walked up to a sign saying, "Right: City Square, Left: Dump Town, You're Here: Happy Zone, Forward: Happy Factory," and we chose to go towards the City Square. We walked for several minutes, avoiding rats running with a red substance in its mouth. Finally, at the City Square, we hear nothing but yelling and screaming.
"These disobedient fools believe this was a grand town? The government made sure you suckers would come here and work! Disobey the government, and you get to go to the Public Gallery!" a man screamed angrily as he tied up a young man and put a blindfold on the man and put a rope around his neck. Then screamed loudly to encourage the audience and then broke the floorboard under the man. The young man was just hanging there. No more crying or pleading. Nothing but the sound of cheering and screaming.
"This is the Public Gallery, for all who dare to oppose the government! And because of this man, rations will be decreased to five meals per week!" the man who hung the young man screamed.

            My son was shaking, in fear of doing something wrong that the government does not approve. I tried to calm him down. We then encountered a corpse on the street. Someone who looked like they starved to death. The crows were pecking at the corpse laying on the ground and the rats were running over it. Son covered his eyes and turned away, until we heard a crack. More of a smash actually, that sounded like glass. Three men, large and tough, appeared and smirked at us.
"Keep staying there, and I will have you for lunch instead of this. You've been warned, new blood," the leader said to my son and I. We quickly got out of there and watched as they dragged the body away. A guy already gnawing on the arm.