The Heir Of Rusthella

Dream Come True?

I've waited for so long... Just to get a chance to see the secret manor of Count Verdimon... and today, I just won a rare access ticket to it. I booked a flight to the country of Riviet where that manor was sitting for centuries. All my childhood, I've been hearing stories about it that made me wanna see that place so badly. There's something about it that pokes into my curiosity so much and makes me so desperate to see it. Not everyone is allowed to go and have a tour inside. I was one of the lucky few people who's gonna get their chance to do so... unofficially.

For some reason they limit entrance and audience to the manor and it only opens up for the select people once a year. Well actually, as I've said, I won my ticket from lottery. In the deeper depths of the internet. Like a black market. I don't know much about the deeper web. It was just a friend of mine who happened to know how much I wanted to go and she happened to stumble across that website. That online black market lottery has lots of rare stuff as prize pot. I must say, I've spent so much just to win that prize. I literally bought a hundred digital tickets worth $50 each. I've spent up all my savings just for it. Yup! That's how much I want to see this place. But it doesn't matter since I have a regular job. I know those tickets are given free to select individuals so nobody could just get them. Only 20 person every year and I have no idea how anyone get's to be chosen. I'm just wondering how someone would want to pass that chance up and put the ticket as a prize pot in a lottery. Maybe that person is gravely ill, or perhaps needed money more than this rare chance and once in a lifetime experience.

I was packing my stuff in the luggage for a week long vacation in Riviet when my phone buzzed. It was Gale, my closest friend and the one who recommended the website.

*Over the phone*

Gale: Hey Lucy!

Lucy: Hi Gale! What's up?

Gale: Nothing... *giggles* I mean hello?! I'm so excited for you! Like you've been dreaming this trip your whole life!

Lucy: I know right?! I am so excited! I can't wait for tomorrow!

Gale: I feel more excited for you! It feels like having a dream come true that was only possible because of me.

Lucy: Hey now hold on! You might've recommended that site to me but you're not the one who got broke.

Gale: Oh come on! I was just kidding!

Lucy: Well you're not wrong. If you didn't tell me, I might still be dreaming about it.

Gale: Well, do take pictures when you get there.

Lucy: Gale, you know that's prohibited.

Gale: Girl, we're different. We find ways, riiiiight?

Lucy: Oh yeeeah right. Okay I give up! I'll sneak some photos. Since I have you aside from my bank acount and my luck to thank for!

Gale: Well then I won't be keeping you from what you're doing. Just one more thing. Can you send me a picture of that ticket? I really don't know how it looks like.

Come to think of it, there wasn't any pictures of it over the internet even on the lottery website. I wondered why? Who wouldn't brag about it if they get ahold of it?

Lucy: Okay.

Gale: Bye lucy. Give me a call before you take off.

Lucy: I will. Bye.

I grabbed the package I received from the mail earlier this morning and took the ticket out. It was golden, thick and more like plastic than paper and has royal patterns in it with the letters "VM" written at the middle in camelot caps font. I opened the camera app on my phone and placed the ticket on my bed to take a picture. I got a clear shot of it then sent it to Gale's messenger. I continued packing and choosing stuff that I wanted to bring when my messenger suddenly ticked. I checked it and it was Gale complaining about the picture I sent. It was all black. I said I got a good clear shot of the ticket. I checked my phone and yes, it is a clear shot. I tried to send it to her again thinking that there must have been a problem with the internet connection. The second attempt came out very blurred. Gale thought I was making fun of her. I just told her that it might have something to do with the network. She suddenly joked that maybe the ticket has some kind of protection spell hence there's not one photo of it online. So I said "don't be ridiculous!" and tried one more time but suddenly, the picture was corrupted. I thought of what Gale said to me then got goosebumps. I shrugged it off my mind and told Gale that I'm going to try again some other time.

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It's late at night and I am watching a movie in my living room. I finished packing my stuff and since my flight is in the afternoon, I figured it was okay for me to stay up late since my excitement was keeping me awake. In the middle of the movie, I suddenly felt drowsy. I wanted to fight it but I couldn't so I drifted off.

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"Don't come here Lucy."

I heard a voice.

"Don't come to this place."

I feel like it's talking about Verdimon Manor.

Lucy: Why wouldn't I?

A shadowy figure approached me then I felt hands choking my neck as I struggled for air.

Shadow: I said, DON'T GO!!!

Her voice was frightening. I struggled to breakfree then found myself sitting on the couch in my living room with my hands on my neck like I was preventing someone from choking me. I coughed furiously and realized that I was dreaming. It scared me because the only thing that illuminates my living room is the light from my television and it was already the credits of the movie that was rolling. I quickly turned the lights on and said to myself "What the f**k was that dream about?", took a glass and poured some water to drink. I was sweating all over eventhough the AC was set to the coolest temperature. When I look at the clock, it was already 1:30am. I waited for about an hour before deciding to go back to sleep. I turned the TV off, left the lights on and headed for my bedroom to go to bed.

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Morning came and the sun shines high above the sky and the rays peek through my slightly opened window. I look at the clock and it was 9am, so I got out of bed and opened it widely for the sunlight to come through. I stretched out and completely forgot about the nightmare I just had. I made a quick meal and had brunch then prepared for my flight.

I arrived early at SIA (Surden International Airport) since I didn't wanna be late and was too excited to go. Before boarding I called Gale, then after that I went in.

As the plane was taking off, something strange happened to me. Everything went in a slow motion then all the colors surrounding me was gone like everything became black and white. Near the entrance of the aircraft, the shadow figure from my dream suddenly appeared and had glowing red eyes looking directly at me, reminding me of the nightmare I just had last night. My heart was racing in terror. With the blink of an eye, that thing was already in front of me! It reached for my neck and choked me!

Woman: I warned you but you never listened! You are not invited here!

I was losing my breath! When I was about to lose consciousness, a cabin crew was suddenly in front of me with one hand on my shoulder and asked if I was okay. She said I looked like I was having an asthma attack. I panicked and looked around but everything went back to normal. "What was that just now? Was I having a hallucination?"

I told the cabin crew that I'm fine.

Cabin Crew: Are you sure ma'am?

Lucy: Yes, don't worry. Maybe I was just dreaming.

I thought to myself, "What the f**k is going on?"

I still tried to stay positive and forget about the strange things that are happening because this is supposed to be my dream come true. I can't let things like this linger in my mind and ruin this trip for me.

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The plane landed into RIA safely. After I got my luggage and went to the exit, I bought a local sim with an internet package. I tried to make a video call to Gale but she wasn't answering... Tried one more time but suddenly the message thread says "You can't reply to this conversation". "Did she just block me?" I closed the app and opened it once more. Then just like that... Our message thread is gone. No chathead at all. I started to worry, and decided to call her brother Nate.

*Video call*

Nate: Hi Lucy! What's up?

Lucy: Nate, is Gale around? Why isn't she answering my call? I tried to call again but her chathead is gone. Did she just block me?

I can see Nate frowning at the camera and looking so confused.

Lucy: What's with the face?

Nate: Who's Gale?

Lucy: Haha Funny. Nate, I am not in the mood for jokes right now.

Nate: Huh? What is up with you, Lucy?

Lucy: Nate I just need to talk to Gale please? I need to know why she'd block me. What's the deal? I just talked to her over the phone before the plane took off.

Nate: Wait just a second Lucy! Who the freakin' f**k is Gale?

I was perplexed. What is going on?

Lucy: Who's Gale? She's your sister! Are you high?

Nate: Lucy, you're the one who's high *chuckles*. I don't have a sister named Gale and you can't possibly be talking about Brandon.

I was shocked... I couldn't speak. 

Nate: Hey! What happened? You look like you just saw a ghost.

Lucy: Nate, remind me again how we first met?

Nate: Hmmmm? Well... I remember we met during lunch at school, sophomore year. You were a freshman. When I saw you at the school canteen I thought you were cute so I introduced myself.

Something's really wrong. I clearly remember how Nate and I first met. It was through Gale when she introduced him to me and told me that he had a huge crush on me. I still wasn't convinced.

Lucy: Nate, this isn't funny.

Nate: Huh? What did I do?

Lucy: Stop it! Pass the phone to Gale, now!

Nate: Lucy, I don't know what's going on with you. How many times do I have to tell you that I don't have a sister?! Are you actually referring to Brandon? Is he gay? Is that like a stage name or something?

Lucy: No Nate! I am not talking about Brandon! I am talking about Gale!

Nate: *sigh* Lucy, I think you need to get some rest. Find the place where you're supposed to stay or have some refreshments on fast food restaurants around the airport.

What is going on? It's as if Gale's existence was completely removed. I still don't believe what was happening so I called Gale's mom.

*Over the phone*

Lucy: Hello Aunt Maris.

Aunt Maris: Hi Lucy.

Lucy: Can I ask you a question?

Aunt Maris: Sure, what is it?

Lucy: You have a daughter don't you?

Aunt Maris: What? A daughter?

Lucy: Yeah, a daughter named Gale? About the same age as me.

Aunt Maris: What's gotten into you Lucy? I only have my two sons, Nate and Brandon. Although I did wish I had a daughter.

Now I am even more confused. It looks as if Nate was being serious and telling the truth. "What is going on?"

Lucy: I'm sorry Aunt Maris. I must have been really tired from the flight.

Aunt Maris: Flight?

Lucy: Yes, I am in Riviet right now.

Aunt Maris: You went abroad? When?

Lucy: I just arrived few minutes ago.

Aunt Maris: Oh I see.

Lucy: Aunt Maris, I've got to go. I need to get something to eat and have some rest.

Aunt Maris: Okay sweetheart. Take care of yourself. 

I hung up and put my palm on my forehead feeling a headache from all this confusion. I still think that maybe Gale's family is pranking me. I just didn't expect Aunt Maris would play along.

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After having dinner I called a cab and was on my way to my reservation in a hotel near Wilden mountain, where Verdimon Manor is situated. While I was lost in thoughts inside the cab, it happened again... time moved slowly then the shadow figure appeared beside the driver, with those red glowing eyes darting at me. 

Shadow: *sinister laugh* Die b***h!

This time I didn't feel scared. I was exasperated so I yelled at it;

Lucy: What the f**k do you want?!

Then everything went back to normal but before it could all sync in, A huge truck from another direction was speeding it's way to us and in a moment it crashed into my side of the car, sending us spinning through the air and that was all I can remember before I passed out.