The night settled over the kingdom like a heavy cloak, its oppressive stillness broken only by the faint rustling of the leaves and the distant hum of the city's magic. Elara stood in the middle of an empty street, the lights of the kingdom now a faint shimmer in the distance.
She didn't know where to go. She didn't know who to ask. The city, which had once promised enchantment, now felt like an inescapable maze, its beauty a reminder of how far she was from everything she understood. The eyes, the whispers, the coldness—they had followed her all day, and now, as the shadows lengthened, she felt even more alone.
The world she had landed in felt like a dream turned nightmare, and she had no way to wake up.
She found a small alcove beneath a stone arch and sat down against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest. Her arms wrapped tightly around her, as though she could somehow shield herself from the cruel reality she had fallen into. The night air was cool, but it offered no comfort. Her body shivered, not from the cold, but from the fear that gnawed at her insides.
"Why can't I just go home?" she whispered, her voice barely a breath. Her thoughts spiraled, each one darker than the last. Where am I? Why am I here?
Her head ached, her chest tight with anxiety. She couldn't stop shaking. The weight of everything was suffocating her, each breath feeling harder to draw than the last. She felt so... small. Like nothing more than a speck in this vast, magical world that didn't care about her.
The silence of the street only made it worse, amplifying her sense of isolation. She closed her eyes, wishing for something—anything—to make sense of this nightmare. But the longer she sat there, the further away answers seemed to slip.
As the hours passed, the kingdom seemed to grow quieter, the magic of the city muted by the cold indifference that had taken root in her heart. The people had returned to their homes, leaving Elara alone in the empty streets. She couldn't stay here—not like this. The kingdom had no place for her.
With a final breath, Elara stood up, wiping her eyes. There was no sense in staying in the shadows, hiding from the unknown. She had to find a way out—something.
---
She walked slowly, unsure of where she was going, but determined not to stay in the same place. The streets, now deserted, seemed foreign and unfamiliar in the moonlight, the once-shimmering pathways now dull and cold. Every building she passed seemed to loom over her, its cold, crystalline walls reflecting her reflection in a thousand fractured pieces.
For the first time, she noticed how empty the city was. The people had vanished into their homes, leaving behind nothing but echoes in the streets. She sighed at the thought. Everyone knows where they belong. She felt so out of place, so lost, that the weight of it almost knocked the wind out of her.
She had no idea where the gate was. No idea how to get back out of the kingdom, let alone find a way home. The thought made her head spin. Still, she pressed forward, her footsteps faltering as her strength seemed to leave her with each passing moment.
But just as she was about to give up, her eyes caught a flicker of something unusual.
A small, weathered house stood tucked between two grander, more majestic buildings. Its walls were darker, its windows smaller, but it had a red curtain draped over the entrance—a strange contrast to the rest of the gleaming city. There was something almost... inviting about it.
Elara paused, the soft glow from the curtain catching her attention. She was desperate now, desperate for any kind of guidance, any kind of help. She wasn't sure why, but something about this place felt different—different in a way that maybe she could find answers.
With a deep breath, she walked toward the door and pushed it open, the soft jingle of a bell announcing her presence.
---
The inside of the house was like nothing she had ever seen. The dim light flickered from the candles, casting elongated shadows that seemed to twist and dance across the walls, as though they had lives of their own. The room was saturated with a sense of age—ancient books piled high, strange bottles of liquid that shimmered in the low light, and intricate symbols etched into the floor with chalk, their meaning unknown but undeniably powerful. The air was thick with the scent of herbs, incense, and something else—something she couldn't quite place but that made her skin crawl.
At the center of the room, behind a sheer curtain, sat a woman cloaked in flowing, dark robes. Her face was hidden beneath a veil, but even in her obscured form, she radiated a strange presence—a presence that was both unsettling and oddly comforting, like a shadow that invited you to sit in its darkness.
Elara hesitated, uncertain whether she should enter or run. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, but something deeper inside urged her forward. She stepped toward the woman, the weight of her fear pressing down on her chest. She lowered herself to sit across from the veiled figure, the air between them heavy with unspoken words.
The woman's eyes glinted through the veil—dark, piercing, as though she could see right into Elara's soul.
"Hello, my dear," the woman spoke, her voice a soft murmur, but there was an edge to it, as though it could cut through the thick silence around them. "I see fear in you... a sense of loss. Can't you find your way?"
Elara's chest tightened as a wave of relief washed over her. Someone had finally acknowledged her, finally understood her turmoil. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a sob escaped. The tears she had been holding back for what felt like an eternity now spilled freely.
"Please…" Her voice cracked, desperate. "Where am I? Where am I, and how do I get back?"
The woman's face remained unreadable, her expression as still and impassive as a statue. Without a word, she extended her long fingers, motioning for Elara to give her hand.
Elara stared at the woman's fingers, trembling, hesitation holding her in place. But something deep inside urged her to trust—something in the woman's presence called to her. Slowly, Elara extended her hand, the woman's fingers closing around it with a cool, firm grip. As soon as their skin touched, Elara felt a chill run through her, as if the room itself had become colder. The woman's nails began to trace something across her palm, slow and deliberate.
Elara flinched, the sensation of her nails scraping against her skin sending a shiver up her spine. Her breath hitched, but the woman didn't stop.
Then, without warning, the woman began to laugh.
At first, it was a soft chuckle, faint, almost mocking. But as it grew louder, it twisted into something darker, something maniacal—an eerie sound that filled the room and chilled Elara to the bone.
"Oh, dear…" the woman murmured between bursts of laughter, her voice warped with amusement. Her eyes gleamed as if she were savoring something—something sinister.
"What?" Elara's heart raced in confusion and fear. The woman's laugh only deepened her terror. "What are you laughing at?"
The woman's eyes darkened. The smile that had graced her lips slipped into something far more foreboding.
"You…" Her voice dropped low, almost a whisper, "You will bring death."
The words hung in the air, sharp and heavy, like a death sentence that had been passed in a distant court.
Elara's body went rigid. The blood drained from her face, leaving her feeling faint. The chill from the woman's touch spread throughout her body, but it wasn't just the cold. It was the realization—the terrible, inevitable realization—that whatever she had stumbled into was far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
With a swift, panicked movement, Elara stood, her breath shallow. "What is this? Why did I even come here?" She could hardly get the words out.
She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, the woman's voice stopped her.
"Don't you want answers?" the woman asked, her tone now soft and almost teasing, as though she had been waiting for Elara to ask the question.
Elara froze. The words—the ones that had been bubbling beneath her chest—came rushing to the surface. She wanted answers. Needed them more than anything.
Her heart pounded, but she knew deep down she had no choice. She needed to understand this madness. She needed to know why she was here, what she was meant to do, and what the woman's cryptic words meant.
Elara turned slowly, her resolve hardening. Her throat was tight, but she whispered, "Tell me. Please. I need to know."
The woman's eyes glinted once more, as if she had known all along what Elara's response would be.
And as Elara sat back down, the room seemed to close in around her. There was no turning back now. The answers she sought were within her grasp—if she could face them.