Abandoned Resort -, theater and hot springs

The dream took place at my old house in Cedar Park. Cat, Catherine, and I were there waiting for my parents to arrive for some reason. The house itself was empty, but we were spending time there together. Catherine and I were involved in a romantic relationship again, though it was secret because we are both women. There was also tension surrounding the relationship because we had dated in real life in the past. Even though we were adults in the dream, many of the emotions between us felt like they came from when we were in high school—uncertain, insecure, and immature. Part of me wanted to reconnect with her, but another part knew we had already been through this once before. Cat was present as well, although our relationship felt strained, much like it is in real life. We don't really have a relationship anymore, but in the dream she remained part of the group. The backyard was completely different from my real childhood home. Instead of a neighborhood, there was a large wooded area stretching behind the house. Hidden among the trees were old houses and buildings that looked ancient and abandoned. As we explored, we came to a beautiful river or large pond. Across the crystal-clear water sat another abandoned building, and Catherine and I decided we wanted to investigate it. I pulled out my folding kayak, the same type I own in real life. It unfolded from a flat, briefcase-like shape into a full kayak using a series of folds and snaps. Cat stayed behind while Catherine and I crossed the water. When we arrived, we discovered what appeared to be an abandoned resort. There was an old theater, a hotel, and something that resembled a Japanese bathhouse or onsen. At first, everything looked deserted and forgotten. However, the longer we stayed, the more alive the place became. We began finding little gifts hidden throughout the property. There were beautifully arranged Japanese meal sets, tiny desserts, and small treasures left behind as though someone had been expecting us. We started eating the food and exploring deeper into the buildings. Gradually, the entire place transformed. What had initially looked abandoned began to resemble something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film, especially Spirited Away. The bathhouse became luxurious and inviting, workers began appearing, and the atmosphere felt magical. At some point, Catherine and I started working there. The place felt wonderful, and we became increasingly attached to it. We enjoyed the hot springs, the theater, and the growing sense that we had discovered a hidden world. Cat eventually returned and tried to convince us to leave. She insisted that the resort was actually abandoned and scheduled to be demolished soon. From her perspective, it was still nothing more than a haunted ruin. Catherine and I, however, saw something entirely different. To us, it looked beautiful, alive, and full of possibility. Over time, we realized something wasn't right. The more we consumed the food and participated in the resort's activities, the stronger our attachment became. We were also required to sell products for the hotel, and somehow that obligation tied us even more closely to the place. A manager kept encouraging us to stay, and despite our growing suspicions, part of us genuinely wanted to remain there. Eventually, we discovered that we were being manipulated. The magic of the resort was disguising what it truly was. Beneath the illusion, it was still an abandoned set of ruins. The more attached we became, the harder it was to leave. The most frightening realization was that if the resort was demolished while we remained connected to it, we would somehow be destroyed along with it. From that point forward, the dream became about escape. We hid throughout the theater and other buildings while one of the workers searched for us. Somehow, Catherine and I could transform ourselves into inanimate objects, allowing us to blend into the scenery whenever he came looking. The worker seemed to be trying to sell products, but there was also a sense that he was trying to sell us as well, as though we had become part of the resort's inventory. As we searched for a way out, the river remained visible. Beyond it, I could still see my house in the distance. It wasn't far away at all. It felt like I was still standing in my own backyard, yet somehow that familiar world had become unreachable. The water was one of the most vivid parts of the dream. It was crystal clear, cold, and beautiful. I remember swimming through it and feeling completely at peace. Eventually, Catherine and I attempted to escape. I used my kayak again while she stayed behind temporarily to distract the worker and give me time to get away. I never found out whether she made it out herself. The dream implied that she probably would, but I woke up before I could know for sure. What stayed with me most was the feeling at the end. Even after realizing the resort was manipulating us, I still didn't want to leave. I loved the bathhouse, the theater, the hot springs, and the sense of wonder the place provided. I knew it wasn't good for me and that it was built on an illusion, yet part of me still wanted to stay. The dream ended with me in the water, trying to make my way back toward home while looking over my shoulder at a magical world that I knew I had to leave behind.