Uzi walked through the swampy fog and muddy ground, unaware of her destination. The only guide was the light from the necklace, which grew increasingly red, indicating her approach to her goal. With every step, her heart pounded with anxiety and fear. "The book mentions a witch and a dog," she wondered. "If that's what the dog looks like, then..." Uzi began to imagine the worst possible form the witch could take: a tall woman with wrinkles, a long nose, white hair, wearing a black outfit and the iconic witch's hat. This was the stereotypical image most people had seen in movies and TV shows, but Uzi knew it was all nonsense. The witch could look far worse than she could possibly imagine.
Uzi spotted a house ahead. It was very old, with broken windows and a worn, old wooden floor. She bumped into it and thought, "Who lives there? And who in their right mind would build a house here?" Uzi hesitated to go there, but the pendant was glowing in the direction of the house. "That pendant will definitely lead me there," she thought. Surprisingly, she drew her weapon and continued, "It's now or never."
A voice came from behind her, saying, "Welcome, little one."
Uzi turned around in terror and pointed her weapon at the source of the voice. "Back off!" she said. The person was of average height, wearing old-fashioned clothes and a black cloak that covered their face. Their voice sounded like a woman's.
The woman said with a calm smile, "Lower your weapon, little one. I don't want to hurt you."
Uzi, still holding her weapon, asked, "Who...who are you?"
"Well, it's a bit rude to ask someone their name without introducing yourself first, isn't it?" the woman said.
Uzi was taken aback by the woman's tone. Although she didn't want to answer, something inside her told her she could trust the woman. "My name is Uzi... Uzi Doorman," she replied, lowering her weapon.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Doorman," the woman said. "My name is Julia Brown, and I own that house over there."
Uzi was surprised that the woman lived there and began repeating her name in her mind: "Julia... Julia Brown."
Uzi realized who was standing before her, and before she could say anything, Julia walked past her and said, "Why don't we continue our conversation inside, my dear? I may not have much, but I hope you'll accept my invitation. Besides, your hands look injured."
Uzi was taken aback by the invitation and said, "Wait, why are you..."
Julia interrupted, saying, "You're Nori's daughter, and you came here for the key I possess, didn't you?"
"Yes," Uzi hesitated, "but how...?"
"You have many questions, Miss Doorman," Julia said, walking towards her house. "I can answer them inside, if you accept my invitation."
Uzi didn't know what to do. "Should I go?" she thought to herself. "She said she knows my mother and has the key too, but what if it's all a trap?" Despite the comfort she felt towards the woman, she couldn't let her guard down. This woman was the same one described as a witch in the past. After a while, Uzi sighed. "Damn it... I don't seem to have any other choice," she said, and started walking towards the house.
Uzi and Julia reached the entrance of the house, and Julia opened the door for Uzi. "Please come in, Miss Doorman," she said.
"You first," said Uzi.
"You still don't trust me?" said Julia. "Well, I won't blame you." Julia went in first, and then Uzi followed.
Once they were inside, Uzi was surprised to find that the house looked completely different from the outside. It was tidy and clean, with a table in the center. A fire was burning on one side of the house, and on it sat what appeared to be an iron pot with something inside.
Julia removed the black robe she was wearing, revealing her face to Uzi. She was a beautiful woman with black skin and her hair tied back. "Please have a seat, Miss Doorman," she said, "so I can treat your hands."
"So what's the trick here?" said Uzi. "First you invite me here, and then you want to treat my hands after your dog friend over there tried to kill us."
"That monster... don't compare me to him," Julia said angrily. "He sold himself to the wrong side. I'm not like him. You can trust me."
"What about that tree?" Uzi asked. "I mean, the one with the skull on it, the one made of..."
"That was an old problem, or rather, an old one, and I never want to remember that day," Julia said.
Uzi sensed that the woman before her wasn't bad at all, so she sat down and offered Julia her hand to heal her. As she began to heal her, she asked, "Are you a living person or a ghost?"
"I think you already know the answer," Julia said.
"But how is that possible? I mean, it's scientifically impossible," Uzi said.
"Scientifically? You're talking as if humans have discovered everything. Let me tell you, my dear, there are things in this world that science can't explain," Julia said, laughing a little. "And I think I'm one of them."
Uzi asked, "How did that happen? I mean, how did you die and yet remain here?"
Julia replied, "I used to help the people of this area, but their hatred blinded them. They saw me as a monster and ignored me. Even the people I helped didn't defend me or stand by me. Years later, my soul left my body and stayed here."
Uzi asked, "But why didn't you leave?"
Julia answered, "Because I love this place. Even though humans ignored me, my plants were with me during that ordeal and never betrayed me. It might sound silly, but one finds that most of humanity comes from beings that aren't related to humans."
Uzi said angrily, "I understand exactly what you mean. They think you're a source of trouble, and no matter how much you try to prove otherwise, they won't change their minds."
"You remind me so much of Nori," Julia said, smiling.
"How do you know my mother?" Uzi asked, a sense of relief settling over her.
"Nori and the others used to come here often," Julia explained.
Uzi remembered the gaps in the book and asked, "The others? Who are they?"
"If the book doesn't tell you, I can't tell you either," Julia said after treating Uzi's hand.
"Why?" Uzi asked.
"Because that was Nori's last wish before she disappeared," Julia replied. "I mustn't reveal too much about the group members, and I don't even know the contents of the book or the other secrets of the group."
"But that doesn't explain anything..." Uzi began.
"All you need to know is that this book is very dangerous," Julia interrupted. "It contains secrets and knowledge about another world that are beyond human comprehension."
"Another world?"
"Yes," Julia said. "The unseen world, the hidden world that has been concealed from human eyes for years and years." She took a bottle containing a strange mixture from her pocket and continued, "Listen, I have two suggestions for you. First, I can take you home, and you can get rid of the book and drink this mixture to forget everything that happened here and return to your normal life." Then she took the key from her other pocket and added, "Or you can take the key, but—and I warn you—you will be responsible for whatever happens to you in the future." Julia held out both hands, the mixture in her left and the key in her right, and concluded, "So, what do you say?"
Uzi hesitated for a moment, but then made up her mind. "I came here for the key," she said. "After all the trouble N and I went through to get here, I think I'd be stupid not to take this stupid key." Uzi reached out and took the key. After a few seconds, she said in a terrified voice, "That's right! N is in trouble now. We have to help him."
"N? You mean the vampire who came here with you?" Julia asked.
"Yes, wait... but how did you know?" Uzi said.
"My dear," Julia said, "didn't I tell you my soul is tied to this place? I can see everything and everyone who enters the swamp."
Uzi said, "If you knew I was Nori's daughter, why didn't you say anything or reveal yourself from the beginning?"
Julia replied, "That would be dangerous. As you can see, that monster—or as he calls himself, Gorg—has been stalking me for years and years, searching for the key on his master's orders."
Uzi said, "But you don't seem weak. I mean, you're a ghost. Don't you have any power or authority in this world that could defeat that thing?"
Julia said, "It's not that I can't, but I don't want to become the enemy of that monster's master."
Uzi asked, "His master? Who is he?"
Julia sighed and said, "Let's just say he's a disaster for this world. He's the kind of person you should never face or be an enemy of." Julia headed for the door, saying, "You said you wanted the key, and here it is. I'll take you home..."
"No... I can't leave N here," Uzi said loudly. "He risked his life for nothing to help me get the key."
"Risked his life for nothing?! Are you sure about that?" Julia asked.
"Yes, I'm sure of it," Uzi replied. "He didn't ask for anything or even inquire about why he came here in the first place."
"Interesting," Julia said. "I mean, either he's hiding something from you, or he's just completely stupid to come here."
"Or maybe he's a kind-hearted fool who just wanted to help me," Uzi said, blushing. "And I didn't do anything to help him. Instead, I got in his way and, on top of that, I didn't thank him. I insulted him."
"There seems to be a lot going on between you two," Julia said. "I'd love to hear the story, but we don't have time. You should go while your friend distracts the monster."
Uzi said, "I told you I can't leave him."
Julai sighed and said, "Listen, this key opens the door to dangerous sciences and secrets, and you have the book. If someone discovers it, that information will fall into the wrong hands and lead to great disasters that could take the lives of many innocent people. So you have to choose: either save your friend or get the key and go home. Choose now."