I didn't say anything as I followed Madelyn back to her super huge mansion.
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I didn't even feel blessed that the girl I liked more than anything looked at me with concerned eyes.
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I pretty much felt numb as Madelyn's grandfather scolded me, on how reckless I had been, and how I should've left it to the professionals. It was all meaningless words to me.
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I was shown to my room after our long discussion. I wasted no time getting into bed, just wanting this day to end.
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But there was just one problem: I couldn't get to sleep, no matter how much I tossed and turned, nothing would change.
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"Dammit!" I yelled, sitting up from my bed, looking around the gigantic room. I mean, really, who in the world has this much money? It should be criminal. I mean, wherever I looked, I saw amazing paintings depicting scenes of beautiful landscapes, or of individuals of a time long ago.
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I saw furniture like dressers and drawers all holding vases, and lamps made of shining glass that shined brightly in the moonlight.
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"Yeah, totally unfair."
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It was then that I heard knocking at the door.
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"Um... who is it?" I asked as I got out of bed and walked towards the door, not opening it, but leaning on its wooden surface, waiting for a response.
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"It's Madelyn," I heard a just audible feminine voice. "I just wanted to see if you're alright?" she asked. "I heard yelling."
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I slowly opened the door to see Madelyn standing right in front, wearing a white shirt that just barely covered up her curves and black shorts that left her legs completely exposed. Thank you, God, for the view.
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"Yeah, I'm okay," I said, trying not to be a total perv.
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"That's good," Madelyn said with a smile. "I know that things haven't been easy for you, but I'm happy to see that you are doing better."
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"Thanks," I said with a smile, that wasn't all that forced.
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"Look Ethan, things are probably going to be hard for you for a while, but I want you to know that you can always come and talk to me," Madelyn said, her hands behind her back.
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I smiled and nodded my head, not daring to say a word, as tears began to appear from my eyes uncontrollably.
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Madelyn saw this, and as her smile grew a little wider, she stepped forward and hugged me.
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"It's going to be okay," she said in my ear. "Things will be different, but I promise, it's going to be okay."
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I didn't really know if I could believe those words, but deep down as my consciousness began to fade, I truly hoped they were true.
***
"I'm sorry."
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"I'm so sorry."
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A voice echoed from the shadow that surrounded me.
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It was then that my whole surrounding began to shift, and I found myself standing on a cliff, a cliff that overlooked a whole valley filled with golden sand fixed with green trees that overlooked a beautiful lake.
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"An oasis," I said, completely mystified at what stood before me. It was then that I noticed him standing in front of me, which was strange that I didn't notice him before.
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I looked ahead at the man who was wearing pure white garments with golden jewelry all around his body. His hair was pure white, and his skin was brown, and on top of his head was a golden crown that shined with a silver and gold light mixed together.
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The man was turned so I couldn't see his face, but for some reason, I felt like I knew him.
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"W-who are you?" I asked as I stepped forward, only for my advance to come to a stop as the grey sky up above opened up revealing a blinding light that caused me to cover my eyes.
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"W-what's happening!" I yelled as the whole area was covered in that space.
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I looked in between my fingers to see an all-too-familiar sight. Falling from the sky were black and white feathers, thousands falling like rain.
The strange man slowly turned to face me, his face still obscured. "I'm so sorry," he repeated as his body began to disappear into darkness.
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I wanted to scream out, I wanted to run towards the man and demand an answer as to who he was, and what, if there even was one, was his connection to me. But I found myself unable to move as the darkness began to cover all.
***
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I awoke in a cold sweat, which wasn't all that strange when it came to my sleeping habits. I rarely have a good dream.
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But I guess there was one strange occurrence: instead of a ceiling, I was met with the face of a beautiful woman with short black hair.
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"Ah!" I yelled as I sat up to stare at the woman who stood right in front of the side of my bed. The woman wore a maid's uniform and was pretty curvy if I do say so myself.
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"Um, who are you?" I asked, my eyes half closed.
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"Good morning, sir. My name is Mia, Mia Bennet," the maid said, bowing her head and smiling kindly. "I am a maid in service of the House of Bathin. It is a pleasure, sir."
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I couldn't help but blush as I looked at the girl named Mia. "Uh, yeah, the pleasure's all mine. My name is..."
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"Ethan Brumfield," Mia said, cutting me off. "Yes, we were all made aware of your identity quite a while ago," she said.
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"Oh..." I said, a little surprised, at the same time wondering who these others she was talking about were. Maybe the other maids and staff in the house.
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"Please," she said, gesturing over towards a wooden chair that had clothes decorated over its head. "Take your time and get dressed. I have been sent to escort you into the dining room," she said.
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"Uh, okay," I said, not really looking forward to what awaited me in the dining room. Then again, I was going to receive some food, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
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"Well let's get started."
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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