Beneath the Surface of Reality

Lady's mind reeled as she walked alongside Max, the cool evening air doing little to clear the fog that had settled over her. "I'm telling you, Max, I was just there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was sitting at that table, and then... and then I don't know what happened." Max's expression was a mix of concern and confusion. "I saw you, Lady. I saw Blackwood lead you inside. What are you talking about?" Lady's eyes widened as memories began to resurface. She remembered being led into the dining room, the looks of curiosity and suspicion from the other guests. And then... she remembered the pain. The searing pain of a knife slicing through her throat. She recalled the feeling of her life slipping away, the darkness closing in. But that was impossible. She was alive, standing here with Max, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. "Max, I think I died," she said, her voice trembling. "I think I was killed. My throat was slit, I remember it clearly." Max's face went pale. "What are you talking about, Lady? You're standing right here. You're alive." Lady's gaze locked onto Max's, her eyes searching for answers. "If I'm alive, then who was that... that thing on the plate? Who was that woman being served as dinner?" Max's expression turned grim. "I don't know, Lady. But I think we need to get out of here, now. This is getting weirder by the minute." As they quickened their pace, Lady couldn't shake off the feeling that they were only scratching the surface of something much deeper, something that threatened to upend everything she thought she knew about reality. The implications were staggering, and Lady couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Blackwood was hiding. They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath their feet. Finally, Max spoke up. "We need to find out what's going on, Lady. We can't just leave it like this." Lady nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "I agree. But first, we need to get out of here. We need to find a safe place to think, to figure out what's going on." As they turned a corner, Lady caught a glimpse of Blackwood's estate in the distance. The windows were lit up, the lights casting an eerie glow over the surrounding landscape. She felt a shiver run down her spine, a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake off. "Let's get out of here," she said, her voice firm. "Let's find a way to uncover the truth, no matter what it takes." With a newfound determination, Lady and Max set off into the night, ready to face whatever lay ahead.