June 14th?, 2030
The shadowy figure stands as still as a statue. Vivienne instinctively begins to back away in fear. She has never felt such an overwhelming presence—a presence one can only describe as suffocating. As she retreats—thmp—something stops her from behind. Terrified, she turns around quickly, only for the thing she fears to appear before her. Pitch black, like the night itself, a shadowy figure stands there.
In a shaky voice, Vivienne asks, "Who… Who are you?" But the shadow man doesn't reply. It only stands and watches her.
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Once again, she backs off, creating distance between her and the shadow man. He takes a silent, eerie step forward with each one she takes back. Every step sends shivers down her spine. Her instincts scream at her to run, but curiosity urges her to observe.
Each step sounds like wind passing through an alleyway. Whhoooooo…
She starts to wonder, "What is this thing?" and her nerves begin to settle as curiosity takes hold.
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She continues backing away for a while, but then, out of pure curiosity, she takes a step forward toward the figure. Then and there, the figure steps back, mirroring her movement.
She asks again, "What are you?"
But unlike before, an answer comes—if one can call it that. A quiet, breath-like sound escapes its form.
Khhhhhhh…
She somehow understands. "What do you mean you're nothing?" she asks, raising her hand in a questioning gesture.
Likewise, the shadow raises its hand, mimicking her.
To her, it's as if she's looking into a mirror.
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Her curiosity spikes. Why are its movements her own? She begins to walk in a circle. The shadow man follows, mimicking her exactly.
This continues for a while. Her nerves are now calm. She's no longer afraid—only curious.
And like a being gaining consciousness, she reaches out to the shadow man, as if touching her own reflection. Their hands touch.
Fwwhhhhh...
The figure vanishes.
She looks down. Her hand begins to disintegrate into a grainy black substance—taking on the same appearance as the shadow man.
She blends into the dimly lit road under the night sky.
"Hu-HUH?!" she exclaims, panicking, not understanding what exactly is happening.
She carries no weight, feels no touch—it's as if she has become a literal shadow.
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Everything starts to go dark, as if she's steadily losing sight. Her remaining vision turns grainy and desaturated. Her life flashes before her eyes like a film reel.
"Am I… dying?" is her only thought.
One image repeats: a woman with long white hair and red eyes like her own. Tears run down the woman's cheek as she looks at something in the distance. She waves and walks away, her footsteps fading.
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June 14th, 12:00 A.M.
Vivienne slowly opens her eyes. As she looks around, she realizes she's back in the dark cavern. Confused as to how she got there, she quickly runs to the cavern's exit.
As she steps out, a ray of moonlight shines over her—just like before.
Fwoooo.
The wind blows against her. It feels like déjà vu.
"Was I dreaming?"
Still confused, she begins to run out of the forest to go home. She runs faster than before, not knowing how long she's been away—desperate to see Mrs. Carmichael.
As she takes her final step out of the forest and into the city, instinct kicks in. She ducks into the shadows.
Fffmph.
She becomes a shadow, just like when she touched the shadow man.
"H-huh?" she mutters, moving along the ground. She is now a shadow.
Curiously, she slides back and forth, testing what's happening. She tries to move her hand—and in that moment, a hand forms from the shadow in her image. It looks similar to that of the shadow man.
"This is pretty cool," she says to herself, entering the city's alleyways.
"Now I can go home without being seen!" she exclaims.
But then a question arises.
"Oh wait, how do I transform back…?"
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Vivienne begins to panic.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god! How am I supposed to go home like this?! I thought this was pretty cool… but now this is seriously not a good situation!"
She doesn't know what to do. She doesn't even have a clue.
So she does what Mrs. Carmichael taught her for stressful moments.
"Okay Vivienne, you need to relax…"
Shhh... haaa…
She takes a deep breath.
"Now assess the situation. I was in a dream—or something. Then I woke back up in the cavern, even though I thought I left. Then I had a moment of déjà vu. Then I turned into a shadow, and I don't know how to turn back!
If I can't transform back, I can't go home. And if I can't go home… I'll never see Mrs. Carmichael again."
At that moment, a thought strikes her—maybe even an answer.
She had formed a hand before. Maybe she can form her whole self.
"Come on! Come on! Come on!" she exclaims, as she begins to take form—slowly shaping herself into a shadow figure.
Bit by bit, her physical form returns.
It takes time, but she does it.
"I'm not doing that again until I have a better understanding of what I can do," she mutters.
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Vivienne decides to head home again through the alleyways, moving cautiously and hoping not to be seen.
After walking for a while—though a little lost—she knows she has to find a way home without drawing attention.
She begins to fly, takes a peek over the buildings, scans the area, then reorients herself.
An hour passes. She's just around the corner.
She turns, steps into the road, and walks toward her house.
"I'm finally going to be home. I can see Mrs. Carmichael again…"
Tears of joy stream down her cheek.
She now stands in front of her house. Looking down, Vivienne takes a few steps forward.
When she lifts her head—
—the door is wide open.