In the depths of Devin's subconscious a nightmarish realm unfolded before him, a dark, unimaginable void filled with ever-moving shadows that seemed to lack any source of origin. The darkness consumed everything, and eerie motions danced around him, casting an unsettling atmosphere of uncertainty. Within this shadowy abyss, there was an eerie silence, only disturbed by the rapid thumping of his heart, echoing loudly in the void.
As Devin ventured through the murky shadows, each step felt arduous, almost like some unseen force was holding him back. The shadows seemed to possess a life of their own, swirling around him like sinister apparitions, threatening to ensnare him within their enigmatic depths. Fear wrapped itself tightly around his heart, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over him, making it difficult to find a way out.
Amidst the chaotic movements of the shadows a figure materialized, a woman with an otherworldly aura. Her face remained obscured, yet an inexplicable familiarity resonated within Devin's heart. She approached him with unnatural swiftness, her eyes locking onto his, burning with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. Though he couldn't recognize her, an undeniable connection seemed to exist between them.
The woman spoke with a hushed whisper, "Devin, find Eja she will explain everything" Her words echoed through the darkness, gripping his mind with a sense of urgency.
"Who... who is she?" He stuttered, struggling to complete a sentence under the intense fear he is faced with.
The figure grasps his shoulders "She will answer everything once you find her", They pause for a moment looking behind them "My time is running out, she works in the Ripley Enamour. She's about your age, Find her at ALL costs"
"What is this" Before he could finish his question the woman fell back into the void, dissipated into the shadows, leaving him disoriented and confused.
As Devin struggled to navigate through his thoughts the ever-shifting shadows begin closing in on him, fragmented visions and memories flickered before him, further blurring the line between reality and nightmare. He struggled to distinguish between the waking world and the twisted realm of his subconscious.
Amidst the despair a glimmer of light emerged in the distance, a faint beacon of hope. Driven by a surge of determination, Devin pressed forward, drawn towards the light, yearning for an escape from the suffocating darkness.
As he neared the light the shadows appeared to recoil, offering a fleeting moment of relief. Yet, the woman's cryptic warning lingered in his mind, haunting him with an unsettling truth. Suddenly, Devin jolted awake, gasping for air.
Still baffled with the encounter he just had he remembers the Ripley Enamor is the only producers of enamoured tools in Kolla. He's heard rumours that Radburn owns a enamored tool that allows him to change his features at will.
The few times he and Afton have walked past it they could only see towering walls of stone bricks and the large metal gate that leads into it. The one time he saw the large gates open was for a carriage baring a banner he didn't recognise. He wonders how he's going to get inside, find this Eja person and why he has to. He overheard that the workers live within the walls and leave very rarely.
After collecting his thoughts he decides to wake up Afton and tell her about his encounter. He stretches and slowly gets out of his bed, makes his way to Afton's bed and gently shakes her shoulders "Afton" he whispers "I had a really strange dream you need to hear about".
Afton slowly stirred awake, blinked a few times. "what's wrong Devin? are you okay" she asked, noticing the concern in his eyes.
"I dreamt of this dark place, filled with swirling shadows" Devin began, taking a breath. "And then there was this woman, I didn't recognize her, her face wasn't all there but she seemed to know me. She told me to find someone named Eja. It felt so real, Afton".
Afton listens attentively, her eyes fixed on his "Dreams can be strange, we cant explain them. Sometimes they play tricks on us".
"I know, but something was off about it, it didn't feel like a dream, it felt different," Devin insisted, his voice still tinged with unease. "I can't help but wonder if there is some truth to it. I don't know anyone called Eja".
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Afton took a moment to consider his words before offering a comforting smile. "Devin, we need to be careful. We're in a tough spot and we are overwhelmed. But we can't let fear control us".
Devin nodded, understanding her point. The sense of urgency he felt in the dream was hard to ignore. "I know, but I can't ignore this feeling. What if we find this Eja person? Maybe they could help us, the person in my dream said they work in the Enamor".
Afton placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "If it puts your mind at ease we can keep an eye out for any Eja's. But we have to stay focused on surviving and getting through each day".
Devin appreciated what Afton was doing but he knew that the dream was more than it seemed to her. The mystery woman he saw knew who he was and somehow got into his dreams. He put on a brave face, smiled to Afton and said "I understand it was just a dream, I wont think about it anymore, could I sleep in your bed for the rest of the night?"
Afton smiled and said "of course" the two huddled close and fell back to sleep for the remaining few hours of the night.
Devin and Afton slowly stirred awake. They found themselves surrounded by a group of children, all slightly older than them, huddled together in hushed conversation. The children glanced at Devin and Afton, whispering among themselves before finally noticing the two newcomers were awake.
One of the older children, a boy with dark, unruly hair approached them with a curious grin. "Well, look who's finally awake" he said, eyeing Devin and Afton with a mix of amusement and interest. "I'm Jamie. These are the rest of the gang" he added, gesturing widely to the other kids.
Devin introduced himself with Afton following after, trying to match Jamie's friendly tone. The rest of the children nodded in acknowledgment, and a few exchanged knowing glances. It was clear they were curious about the new arrivals, this must not happen very often.
"Hey, we heard from Cate Radburn brought you both in last night" a girl with freckles piped up. "What'd he want with you?"
"We came to Radburn, were sick of how things were so we wanted a change" Afton says confidently.
Jamie raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. Before he could question them further one of the large metal doors in the room swung open, revealing Radburn standing in the doorway. He surveyed the gathered children with a stern and authoritative gaze.
"Alright, listen up," Radburn's voice carried a commanding presence across the room. "I need to speak with these two. The rest of you know what you have to do, no dillydallying"
The children quickly dispersed to their beds, making them and pretending to be busy for the time being, leaving Devin and Afton standing before Radburn, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. Radburn motioned for them to follow him, and they did so obediently, walking through a dimly lit tunnel until they reached his private quarters, He pointed to a table and chairs in the corner saying "sit there, ill be with you in a moment, I hope you both slept well we have a busy day today". Radburn walks over to a messy cluttered table with a large mirror and begins doing his makeup.
Devin and Afton exchange glances, unsure of how to respond but they both managed to nod. Radburn's face softens slightly and he continued, "You're both young, and I know this new place must be overwhelming for you, But here you have a chance to survive and thrive. There are rules you need to follow, and you must prove yourselves to be trustworthy."
Afton speaks up saying "Well do whatever it takes to stay here, we wont let you down"
Radburn nods approvingly, "Good, I believe you have potential here, but you need to be smart and resourceful. The streets of Kolla are not forgiving, and neither am I. But if you show loyalty I'll make sure you have a permanent place here."
Devin and Afton exchange glances once more, both understanding the weight of Radburn's words. They knew they were in a dangerous city, and they have to make the best of the opportunity before them.
Radburn turns back after finishing his makeup and sits with the two children, "I'll speed up the introduction since you seem to have met some of the other strays already, Rule one of this place is Obey my orders without question, if you don't follow this rule you will live to regret it"
The two children discretely hold hands under the table after hearing the first rule.
"Rule two, NO fighting here" Radburn raises his voice for the second rule, almost like it has been an issue in the past.
"Rule three, No coming into my room without my permission under any circumstances. There are a few more, less important rules which the others will tell you about" He turns and walks back over to the messy table, opening it and taking out a large roll of paper. He then brings it to the two children, rolling it out to show a map of a building. "So, you both know what we do here, here is todays job, we are going to take you two and Jamie to a fighting ring and try to get away with a very valuable piece of jewellery"
Radburn explains the rest of the details of his plan to them both. Telling them that the man always stands in the same spot to watch the fights and the watch they are looking for is kept in his right jacket pocket.