In the quiet town of Malvern, Elara stepped out of the car, clutching her notepad tightly. Her heart raced with anticipation. Her epic fantasy series, “The Ember Archives”, had recently sparked a bidding war among publishers. Praised for its enthralling magic system and rich LGBT characters, the tale of young mages rebelling against a tyrannical empire had landed her a million-dollar deal.Elara shook hands with her buyer’s agent, Mr Hampton, a tall, thin man with a charming smile. “I’ve been called the best buyer’s agent for Melbourne property, you know,” he said with a wink.
As they strolled through Malvern, Elara couldn’t shake an eerie sense of déjà vu. The town was quaint, and the people greeted her with smiles that seemed a tad too wide. It felt like she had walked through the streets before, even though it was her first visit.
While exploring the properties, an ancient Victorian house caught her eye. The ivy-covered brick, the stained-glass windows, and the creaky gate; it was as if the house was calling to her. “This house has history,” said Mr Hampton, the buyer’s agent based in Malvern, though his voice seemed distant as Elara’s mind was lost in the enigmatic aura of the place.
There was something familiar about it. She thought that perhaps she’d seen photos of a similar house before. As she left, she found she couldn’t get the place out of her mind.
The townspeople continued to greet her warmly, and, peculiarly, they all seemed to part with the same phrase, “See you tomorrow!” It felt like a ritual, a synchronised chorus that grew louder with each repetition.
As the day wore on, Elara returned to the local inn, her thoughts adrift. She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Something about the town, the house, the ever-smiling faces was unsettling, yet fascinating.
“Perhaps a good night’s sleep will make things clearer,” she thought to herself. She closed her eyes, the townspeople’s chorus echoing in her mind, “See you tomorrow… See you tomorrow…”
Outside, the town of Malvern was still, as if holding its breath.