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At the Edge of Dreams - Episode 3

At the Edge of Dreams - Episode 3

Kate's fantasy dreamworld becomes darker

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Simone Francis
Nov 09, 2024
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Simone Francis on Substack
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At the Edge of Dreams - Episode 3
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At the Edge of Dreams tells the story of Kate, a confident businesswoman, queen of her empire. Hiding out in a remote cottage in Yorkshire she finds herself losing her grip on reality. Is what she is experiencing a dream state or an alternative reality where her fantasies come to life?

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Kate awoke with a start, it was dark and her first thought was that she had slept the evening away in the glade. The ground felt uncomfortably hard and above her the tree canopy looked as if had solidified into the ceiling of a large vaulted chamber. She must be dreaming again.

Groggy with sleep she tried to sit up but seemed to have difficulty moving her arms. She wriggled into a sitting position and felt a cold stone floor pressing roughly against her buttocks. She was naked except for silver manacles which encircled her wrists. The manacles were linked together by a short length chain that passed through a ring secured to something around her neck. The chain rattled as she brought her hand up to feel a thick leather collar.

Trying to work out where she was or where she was dreaming she was, she looked around. There seemed to be no single light source in the cavern just a strange glow that appeared to emanate from the walls. It shifted continuously to create pools of light and shadow that ebbed and flowed around the chamber as if reflected off gently moving water.

She gasped. Hidden in the darkness in front of her was the shadowy male figure from her dream. She peered into the gloom trying to make out his face but the shifting light seemed always to leave it in shadow.

I am Lucien, welcome.

Kate cocked her head like a puppy, unsure whether she had actually heard his voice or whether it had come from inside her head. Confused she started to struggle to get up.

“On your knees.”

That voice she had definitely heard.

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