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Author: Retroferd
last update Last Updated: 2025-02-08 18:58:48

Scarlett woke up with her head throbbing, feeling like someone had taken a hammer to her temples. Her entire body ached, muscles protesting as if she'd spent the night running instead of sleeping. The dream training with Lucien felt impossibly vivid, more memory than dream.

As she stretched, working out the strange exhaustion that seemed to have settled into her bones, the unexpected sound of humming drifted up from downstairs, accompanied by the smell of pancakes and coffee.

Humming? Her mom never hummed anymore. Not since...

Scarlett glanced around instinctively as she made her way down the stairs, checking for the usual signs of her father's presence - empty bottles, scattered papers, the lingering smell of cheap whiskey. Nothing. The knot in her chest loosened slightly.

Her mom stood at the stove, still humming as she flipped pancakes with practiced ease. There was something different about her this morning - a lightness in her movements that Scarlett hadn't seen in months, maybe
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  • Through The Dreamscape   038

    Scarlett woke with a start, her heart still racing from the memory of her dream. The ghost of Lucien's kiss lingered on her lips, making her face flush hot as she remembered every detail – the way his snow-white hair had felt between her fingers, how his cool touch had sent shivers down her spine, the intensity in his eyes when he'd pulled back to look at her. "Stop it," she muttered to herself, pressing her cool palms against her burning cheeks. "It was just a dream. Just a dream." But even as she said it, she knew it wasn't true. In the dream world, everything was more real, more intense. And that kiss... She shook her head vigorously. "And what was that about a surprise?" she wondered aloud, glancing around her room suspiciously. Everything looked normal – her books scattered across her desk, her phone charging on the nightstand, the morning sun streaming through her curtains. Stretching languidly, she tried to shake off the lingering effects of both sleep and that earth-shatter

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    Scarlett stared at Lucien, watching how his snow-white hair seemed to glow in the ethereal light of the dreamscape. Each strand shimmered like starlight, creating an otherworldly halo around his perfect features. The revelation about her ancestors still rang in her ears, making her head spin with possibilities – and dangers. "Could Morpheus..." she hesitated, fear making her voice shake slightly. "Could it try to manifest through me too?" Lucien shrugged, aiming for nonchalance, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his concern. "I don't know," he admitted, running a hand through his pale hair. The movement was so human, so at odds with his supernatural nature. "But I'm tired of watching history repeat itself with the Hayes line." His voice grew softer, heavy with centuries of memories. "I'm tired of watching people I... people I care about die." A blush crept across Scarlett's cheeks at his words, but Lucien seemed oblivious to the weight of what he'd just revealed. Instead

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  • Through The Dreamscape   031

    The tension crackled in the air as Lucien continued his predatory approach toward Liam. Each step seemed to make the very air grow heavier, more oppressive. Though Liam maintained his defiant stance, the trembling in his hands and the pale colour of his face betrayed his fear. "For God's sake, both of you just STOP!" Scarlett's voice exploded through the tension, making both men freeze. "This is ridiculous! Stop acting like children fighting over a toy in the playground!" Lucien's dangerous expression melted into that infuriatingly smooth smile of his. "My, my... quite the temper you've developed," he chuckled, though his eyes remained serious. "But we really should be going, Scarlett. We have matters to discuss." Before turning to leave, Scarlett gave Liam one final look. In that moment, days of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness seemed to pass between them. He nodded, understanding in his tear-stained face, and she turned to follow Lucien. As they walked down the quiet st

  • Through The Dreamscape   030

    "How... how are you doing?" Liam asked, his voice trembling as he wiped hastily at the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. In the afternoon light, they glistened like tiny crystals. "I'm... good," Scarlett replied awkwardly, painfully aware of the gulf between them – not just the physical space, but the emotional chasm that had opened since that terrible day with Claire. She noticed his gaze drift past her to where Lucien stood watching them, something complicated passing across his features. Fear? Concern? She couldn't quite read it. Liam took a shaky breath, seeming to gather his courage. His hands were trembling at his sides, and his East Haven uniform looked rumpled, as if he'd been running his hands through his hair all day. "I'm sorry," he finally burst out, the words seeming to tear themselves from his throat. "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you before." The words hit Scarlett like a physical blow. How long had she waited to hear those words? How many nights had she spe

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