Where am I?

  The darkness was impenetrable. Lynette couldn’t even see her own hands. She wandered aimlessly.

  “Hey, Lynette!” — a sharp, calm voice rang from above. “How long are you going to lie there like that?”

  The darkness vanished. Before her stretched a clear, endless sky and the emerald greenery of a meadow.

  “Beatrice?..” Lynette whispered, recognizing her old friend’s voice.

  What happened to my voice?!

  Nervously, Lynette shifted.

  A strange sensation washed over her. The voice was high-pitched, thin, almost childlike. Her body had changed too. Skin felt softer, movements lighter — as if time itself had reversed.

  “Come on! Get up!” Beatrice shouted, grabbing Lynette’s hand and pulling her to her feet.

  Beatrice, a childhood friend and the daughter of a marquis. They hadn’t spoken for nearly six years.

  How could this be?

  “You seem lost in thought. Did you dream of something?”

  “Dream…?” Lynette pinched herself.

  The pain, the smells, the dampness — it all feels real. Could everything I experienced have been just a dream?

  “Are you alright? You’re scaring me,” Beatrice asked.

  “Yes… just a strange dream…”

  They walked together in a random direction. Beatrice hummed a cheerful, bouncy tune. Both wore pretty summer dresses, and the breeze brushed through their hair, giving some relief from the heat.

  “What did you dream about?” Beatrice asked, taking Lynette’s hand.

  “Too long to explain…” she sighed.

  “Hm… in a few words?”

  Lynette stopped, contemplating her entire life.

  “I guess… a nightmare.”

  “Ahaha!” Beatrice laughed. “So even you have fears?”

  “Well, yeah… what of it?”

  “Nothing, I just thought you were fearless.”

  “Who do you think I am?” Lynette mused.

  “Stella!”

  “Stella… you mean a ‘star’?”

  “Exactly. Bright, cutting through the darkness.”

  “Is that how you see me…” Lynette smiled bitterly.

  Something tightened in her chest.

  “Where are we going?” Beatrice asked, her eyes shining with curiosity, reflecting an unwavering nature.

  “I… don’t even know.”

  “Then I’ll lead the way!” Beatrice cried joyfully and ran ahead.

  “Stop,” Lynette said coldly.

  Her friend halted, surprised.

  “Something wrong? I—”

  “What kind of show are you putting on?” Lynette cut her off.

  “Why are you saying that? I don’t understand… what did I do?”

  “Enough. How dare you use that form?”

  Beatrice’s face slowly shifted. Instead of the familiar friend, in front of Lynette stood a girl in white — pale, smooth skin, perfect to the touch.

  The day, shrouded in thick fog, began to clear. Memories returned, details surfacing one by one.

  Lynette’s body returned to its true form. Dropping to her knees, retching rose in her throat.

  “I… I remember everything now,” she whispered, raising her gaze to the still figure.

  Bitch…

  “What happened to her?” Lynette asked, standing.

  The ghost’s face twisted into a faint smile, and the surroundings changed.

  Dim light barely revealed metal chains on the floor, the stench of rot filling the air. The walls were lined with paintings, and Lynette’s eyes stopped on one — a face contorted in pain.

  It’s… Sophie?!

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  The ghost snapped his fingers, and the world around them shuddered, returning to its previous form.

  “I’ve satisfied your curiosity; now it’s your turn,” the spirit said.

  Every time Lynette blinked, the girl vanished and reappeared elsewhere. Predicting her movement was impossible.

  If this is a dream… I have to wake up right now!

  “Hey…” — the ghost appeared right before her. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “Fuck!” Lynette’s body flinched back in fear.

  “Will you cooperate?”

  She wants to talk?

  “I-I’m ready, ask,” Lynette stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

  “Excellent… How did you figure me out?” the strange being said, a smirk playing on her lips, eyes burning with curiosity.

  “Lately I’ve felt… strange, less prone to emotions, leaning toward reason. Also, one person told me not to trust everything…”

  “Mm-hmm, noted. But that’s not the answer… I played Beatrice perfectly, just as she would behave. Words alone aren’t enough.”

  Is she reading my memory? Lying could be dangerous…

  “Beatrice is smart, but science doesn’t interest her. You played the part perfectly — exactly as I wanted.”

  “Hee-hee-hee…”

  The girl, vanishing with every blink, laughed, covering her mouth with her hands.

  “So I became the friend you wanted to see. How selfish of you! Hee-hee…”

  “Can you stop?” Lynette asked.

  The laughter froze along with the pale figure’s movement.

  “Is that necessary?” she asked, icy calm, stepping forward.

  Lynette’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Humans are cruel creatures. They easily hurt those around them… All these mercenary beasts… they will all pay.”

  The tension thickened.

  “Why are you telling me this so calmly?”

  “You’ll forget this conversation along with my mark,” the ghost said calmly, her expression unchanged.

  Lynette tried to appear composed, though a slight tremor betrayed her fear.

  “If you don’t change your path, then—”

  “Then what?” — the spirit interrupted. “Continue.”

  A barely perceptible anger flickered in her eyes.

  “I’m just an assistant… There’s someone who can handle you.”

  “You mean the boy who left the estate?” The girl in white curled her mouth. “I admit, he’s unusual.”

  “You see, you still have a chance to turn away from this path.”

  “No!… He won’t be able to handle me. He lacks the strength…”

  Silence stretched for a few seconds. Neither moved their gaze.

  If I’m in my own dream…!

  The ghost lunged at Lynette, reaching out, but abruptly stopped — hitting something invisible.

  “I’m so tired of this… Every bitch thinks they can control this place,” the white-clad girl muttered nervously.

  Creating a transparent barrier around herself, Lynette was safe.

  It worked! Now to get out…

  “Fool,” a gentle voice spoke from behind. “Each of you weakens the barrier at this very moment!”

  The spirit behind her grinned endlessly. It reached for Lynette, but before it could touch her, its hand ignited. Flames shifted color instantly, spreading across the body.

  “Bitch... What the fuck?!”

  The girl, exuding death, writhed in agony. Her screams echoed across the meadow. The ground shook. Lynette plummeted into darkness.

  Nearby, the spirit twisted in pain, tearing itself apart. The fire left a vivid trail, flickering with all colors. Lynette squinted, unable to look away from the dazzling light.

  “It hurts! It hurts! Argh… IT HURTS!!!”

  How much longer will I fall?

  She stared into the abyss.

  It’s like walking on a tightrope: lose your balance—and you fall, waking up instantly.

  In a matter of seconds, her face neared the invisible black floor.

  “Ah… oh…”

  Sweating, Lynette jerked back to reality.

  “Goddamn it!” — a familiar voice cried. “It hurts!!!”

  In her room stood a creature engulfed in flames. The fire didn’t spread beyond the otherworldly being.

  “I’ll kill… I’ll kill…! I’LL KILL!!!”

  The window cracked from the piercing scream.

  Above the ghost appeared a canvas, rapidly filling with paint, transforming into a painting of the sea under a night sky. Water poured from it, extinguishing the flames.

  Drops reached Lynette’s lips.

  Salty.

  Along with the seawater, a few fish tumbled in. Soon the water’s motion stopped, the painting vanished, leaving the floor flooded.

  Lynette’s stomach turned. The figure before her was almost unrecognizable. Charred, broken… the heat of the flames still radiated from her.

  She swayed unsteadily, each movement awkward and jerking. Here and there, flesh was missing Her hair hung in scorched strands, and her empty sockets seemed to pierce right through Lynette.

  “What… did you… do?” her voice distorted, words labored.

  The ghost was breathing heavily.

  “It doesn’t matter… You can’t escape. I’ll make you… feel this pain…”

  A large canvas appeared behind her. She stepped into it and vanished along with it.

  Clutching a blanket, Lynette suppressed any reaction.

  “Damn… damn… damn…” she mumbled, over and over — until the trembling finally subsided.

  What did I just go through?!

  The air reeked of scorched meat, mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

  As soon as she stepped onto the flooded floor, a chill ran through her.

  “C-cold…”

  Grabbing a thick cloth, Lynette began to clean.

  Just what I needed…

  She wrung it out into a bucket, carried it to the garden, and poured the water over the thick weeds.

  I can’t afford to cause any trouble. Just a few more trips, and it’ll be done.

  Once she finished with the floor, she set about gathering the fish.

  Ugh, slimy and smelly… I need to open a window.

  Lynette carried them to the icehouse near the estate.

  If anyone asked, she’d say they were a gift or a misplaced delivery — anything to keep the servants from entering her room and smelling the lingering scent of scorched flesh.

  “Finally… I’m so tired…” Lynette muttered, wiping her forehead.

  At least the ghost got hurt. Though… she looked properly furious.

  Her back ached, arms barely lifted. The unpleasant smell lingered, though she had grown accustomed to it.

  At first sunlight, Lynette tried to lie down but couldn’t sleep.

  What will happen next?..

  Remembering something important, she jumped up and pulled the talisman from her pocket.

  The talisman, white with black symbols, had changed: the upper part blackened, symbols now white.

  So that’s why the ghost caught fire!

  Lynette gently handled the magical paper.

  A fifth of the paper had blackened... four charges left.

  The talisman Dorian gave her had done its job and remained usable.

  “Good morning,” Roselyn’s voice came from the door.

  “Good morning,” Lynette replied, trying to shield the bucket with her body.

  “Are you alright?” the elder housekeeper asked, surprised.

  She trailed off, wrinkling her nose as she sniffed the air. Her gaze swept over the damp hem of Lynette’s dress and the unusually humid room.

  “Yes, fine. Last night was… eventful.”

  “It’s your appearance…”

  “My appearance?” Lynette went to her room and looked in the mirror: pale face, scratched skin, dirty and tangled hair.

  I need to make myself presentable…

  “I’ll come down later. You can go,” she called.

  After washing herself and brushing her hair, she went downstairs.

  The day passed quietly, filled with conversations and listening to the staff’s stories.

  By evening, she returned to her room.

  I didn’t encounter anything supernatural. Lucky me?

  “I still have enough time… I can manage this.”

  ***

  Morning came.

  The talisman had darkened, just like the last time…

  Lynette had slept well and felt full of energy.

  I vaguely remember that dream… she must have attacked again.

  Together with Roselyn, they went down to the hall to wait for the master of the estate.

  I need to speak with him.