Storms crashed down from the heavens, splitting her earring into fragments, and her vision flashed white as her body was enveloped in an icy embrace. Her fingers clawed desperately for a hold to prevent her from falling deeper into the abyss of the unknown. The faint, rhythmic pulse of her locket whispered into her heart, struggling to keep her consciousness from slipping away.
Clarity struck her like a thunderbolt; the time had come. A new world awaited her—a new realm to explore and memories to forge.Suddenly, the storm ceased, and the rumbling din faded from her ears. She held her breath, her chest tight, until her lungs screamed for air. As her body convulsed, like a discarded ragdoll, she plummeted with terrifying speed, crashing into the hard ground below.
A soft whimper escaped her lips as she slowly straightened herself, gathering herself on unsteady feet. Her breath hitched, and she squinted. White. Her surroundings were like a blank canvas, devoid of colour. She looked up, but there was no blue sky, no sunlight, only an endless ceiling of blankness. She spun around, searching for anything with substance, anything familiar.
A few feet away stood a small round table, no more than six inches high, crafted from glass and walnut wood. At its center lay an envelope sealed with red wax, marked with the symbol of a bird resting atop a dragon's head.Carefully, she opened the envelope without disturbing the seal and read the letter inside:
"My niece, I've waited for you, and finally... you have returned home. You may question my presence now, but we will meet eventually. It is time for you to take your place within this family, Melena."
Your Uncle, Emrys.
Melena? Family? Her eyes trembled as she finished the letter. She had a family in this world she had just entered. She had been given a forgotten name, Melena Emrys. Her fingers brushed the locket around her neck, its glimmering light affirming that this was her destined place. Like the house, her memories of Melena Emrys were a blank canvas, and the man who called himself her uncle was a stranger to her existence. Yet, it was not a lie. She gripped the locket in her palm, feeling its heartbeat echoing her own.
A gust of wind swirled around her, distorting her vision. Broken pieces coalesced into clear objects. The room, once empty and lifeless, breathed with vibrant colors and textures. Ornate brown carpentry adorned the walls, and a plush red carpet spread beneath her feet like a crimson sea.Ceiling-high bookshelves, paired maple tables and chairs, bronze statues, and niches emerged from nothing, as if they had always been there. Above her, glittering glass coalesced into a lilac crystal chandelier, transforming the space into a home. Long rectangular panels formed in the walls, revealing brown copper doors. Only one door was painted a vivid red.
Her legs moved of their own accord towards the red door. She grasped the doorknob and peeked through, her eyes meeting a long pathway lined with lush trees. At the end of the path stood a scarecrow, its arms wrapped around a sign: Lampkin Street.