Julie found herself standing in an eerie darkness, a vast expanse that seemed to swallow every hint of familiarity.
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"Hello," she called out, her voice piercing the oppressive silence, but there was no reply. She yelled louder, desperation creeping into her tone, as her words echoed through the unknown void.
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Suddenly, a sharp rustling erupted in the shadows, as though something swift and mysterious darted just beyond her sight. Her heart raced, and she strained to discern the source of the unsettling noise.
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As seconds passed, the rustling intensified, merging into an unsettling rush of wind that grew nearer. Fear gnawed at Julie as her imagination raced, conjuring images of dreadful creatures, the FAEs she had heard tales of.
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"Please, just leave me alone," she pleaded, terror gripping her, her voice trembling.
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Then, a new sound emerged—a soft, liquid movement that resembled flowing water. Squinting through the enveloping darkness, Julie began to perceive shifting shapes amidst the obscurity.
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In utter shock, she gasped as the indistinguishable shadows morphed into grotesque, monstrous faces, each one staring down at her. Their pitch-black eyes and dark gray skin blended seamlessly with the surrounding abyss. They grinned wickedly, growling with an unsettling desire, their grotesque hands reaching out, oozing a viscous substance.
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"Stay away," Julie stammered, her fear palpable, as those abhorrent hands made contact with her face.
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A peculiar sensation coursed through her skin, akin to live worms wriggling beneath her flesh. Drool escaped her mouth, tears streamed from her eyes. She mustered every ounce of strength to repeat her plea, her voice a desperate mantra, "Stay away! STAY AWAY!!!"
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Julie quickly sat up in her bed, drenched in sweat, her heart still pounding in her chest. Her disheveled hair clung to her forehead as she caught her breath.
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"It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. She slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed and rose, feeling the lingering unease from her nightmare.
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Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her eyes drooped from exhaustion. Neglecting to tidy her bed, she shuffled into the bathroom, where she mechanically brushed her teeth. She dressed in her clothes without much thought, her mind still clouded by the remnants of her dream.
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Descending the stairs, Julie entered the dining room, where the familiar sight of her mother's back at the kitchen sink greeted her. Jennifer was busily washing her hands and preparing breakfast, as she did every morning.
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"Morning," Julie greeted her mother, taking a seat at the dining room table and gently massaging her temples to alleviate her headache.
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"Oh, Julie," Jennifer turned with a warm smile, wiping her hands dry with a towel. "Morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?" She took the chair next to her daughter.
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Julie hesitated for a moment, her thoughts returning to the nightmarish encounter in her dream. She decided not to burden her mother with the details; Jennifer was always a worrier.
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"I slept well," Julie replied with a forced smile, wanting to reassure her mother and keep the unsettling dream to herself.
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"That's good," Jennifer replied, giving her daughter an affectionate smile before returning to her breakfast preparations.
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Julie took a sip of her mother's comforting words, feeling a bit more at ease. She was about to sink into her chair when a sudden knock at the door startled her.
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"Damn, I have a bad feeling about this," Julie muttered under her breath as she reluctantly rose from the table. Her anxiety intensified as she approached the front door.
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"Who is it?" she called out, her voice trembling.
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"Don't make me break the door down," came the stern response from the other side.
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Julie sighed in frustration, recognizing the unmistakable voice. "Damn it, I knew it was her," she muttered to herself as she slowly turned the doorknob.
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Before her stood Cerilla, an imposing figure in her black sleeveless shirt and leather pants, her high heel boots adding to the mystique. Julie couldn't help but admire her friend's striking appearance, from her tan, flawless skin to her confident demeanor.
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"Cerilla," Julie greeted
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"Julie," Cerilla responded, raising an eyebrow, her patience evident. "Are you ready to go?" She inquired, a hint of urgency in her voice.
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Julie hastily slipped on her shoes by the door and called out to her mother, who was in the midst of preparing breakfast. "Mom, I'm going out for a moment, I'll be back soon!"
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Jennifer, now intrigued by the unexpected visitor, emerged from around the corner and stopped in front of the front door. Her gaze was fixed on Cerilla, who stood there with her arms crossed, emanating an air of mystery.
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"Oh, uh, Julie, who's this?" Jennifer asked, her curiosity piqued, still not taking her eyes off Cerilla, who made no effort to introduce herself.
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Julie hesitated for a moment, trying to come up with an explanation. "Uh, Mom, this is a friend from school," she finally managed to say, feeling a bit uneasy.
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Cerilla took a few steps further into the house, her attention now squarely on Jennifer. Julie held her breath, fearing that her mother might misinterpret the situation.
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However, to her surprise, Cerilla extended her hand in a gesture of friendship. "Cerilla," she introduced herself, her expression still somewhat inscrutable.
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Jennifer hesitated only briefly before smiling warmly and shaking Cerilla's hand. "A friend of Julie's will always be welcome here," she said kindly, her maternal instincts kicking in.
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Julie observed from a distance, amazed to see a slight smile break through Cerilla's typically emotionless demeanor. "Huh... I never knew she could make such a face," Julie thought to herself, intrigued by this unexpected development.
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"Hey, Mom, sorry, but I've got to go somewhere with Cerilla real quick," Julie explained, finishing putting on her shoes and making her way to the front door.
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Jennifer, still concerned and wanting to ensure her daughter had a proper breakfast, protested, "But breakfast..."
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Julie reassured her mother with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll pick something up on my way home. It's Saturday, you can relax today." She continued toward the door.
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Jennifer relented, understanding the urgency. "Okay, just be safe," she said, a motherly concern in her voice.
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Julie nodded. "Yeah, I will." She waved goodbye to her mother before stepping out and closing the front door.
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"You have a nice mom," Cerilla commented, her back turned to Julie as she focused on locking the door behind her.
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Julie scratched her head, a bit puzzled by the sudden praise. "Uh, yeah," she agreed with a grin. "She's pretty cool, isn't she?"
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Cerilla remained silent, her face still hidden. "Come on, let's get this over with," she urged, walking away from the front door.
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"Hey, wait for me!" Julie called after her, hurrying to catch up with Cerilla. As they ventured into whatever lay ahead, Julie couldn't shake the feeling that this day would be far from ordinary.
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They continued their journey in silence, the tension between Julie and Cerilla palpable. Julie followed closely behind, her curiosity gnawing at her.
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"So..." Julie finally ventured to speak, attempting to ease the unease. "How long have you known Tora?" Her eyes darted to Cerilla for a moment.
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Cerilla glanced back, her gaze distant. "I don't know, a few years maybe, six max," she replied cryptically.
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Julie couldn't help but feel that the connection ran deeper. "What's the story between you two?" She asked, her voice softening. "You seem to have a lot of anger towards one another..."
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Before Cerilla could respond, Julie bumped into her abruptly as Cerilla came to a sudden stop, sending a jolt of electricity surging through Julie's body. She gasped, looking up at Cerilla, who loomed over her with slightly glowing yellow eyes.
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"Stay out of my business," Cerilla warned, her muscles tensing as if she were ready to attack.
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Julie shivered, her fear mounting as they continued their journey. She knew she was treading on thin ice.
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After a few minutes of silence, Cerilla began to move again, and Julie cautiously followed behind, choosing not to say another word.
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As time passed, Julie's exhaustion grew, and the surroundings seemed to change. She couldn't help but comment on their bizarre surroundings. "Where the hell are we?" She frowned, observing the dilapidated buildings, littered streets, and the gloomy sky that now overshadowed them.
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Cerilla's response was curt. "Stop whining, we're almost there."
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"Almost where?" Julie asked with growing concern. This place seemed like an entirely different world, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was venturing into the underbelly of the city.
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"The place where all Half-bloods go, if they survive long enough," Cerilla remarked with a smirk as they stood before a rundown building that appeared on the verge of collapse.
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Julie's disbelief was palpable. "This place?" she questioned, her eyes wide in astonishment.
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Cerilla seemed to enjoy Julie's reaction. "How about you stop talking and take a closer look."
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Uncertain of what Cerilla meant, Julie turned her attention back to the building. She squinted her eyes, initially seeing nothing but the same decrepit structure. The cracked walls, the rusted door nearly falling from its hinges, everything appeared unchanged.
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"Concentrate," Cerilla urged, observing Julie's struggle.
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Julie did as she was told, focusing intensely. Her eyes began to burn slightly, and her surroundings seemed to shift, as if they were a mirage. She discerned a white fog enveloping the entire building. The crumbling walls transformed into a sturdy structure, broken windows were instantly repaired, and the dilapidated door was fixed. Two guards now stood before it, dressed in civilian clothes and wearing stern expressions.
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"What the?" Julie gasped, hardly believing her own eyes. "It looks like a brand new building," she said in amazement. "How?" She turned to Cerilla for an explanation.
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"You'll find out soon enough," Cerilla replied, her arms crossed. "For now, welcome to The Matriarch Estate." Julie's adventure had taken a surreal turn, and the mysteries of this place were about to unravel.
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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