[REWRITTEN] Wanted for Protagonizin' [a West of Loathing fanfiction]

Prologue

A blinding flash of light. She now found herself in a blank, white room, with nothing else but a silhouette standing in front of her, yards away. She ran to them, panting. Once she managed to arrive to the person, she looked at them from the back. Vivid red hair were tied into two parted buns, situaded at either side of their head. They were wearing a pink and white stripped dress and white stockings. The person then turned around. She was now facing a woman, with big brillant blue eyes, pale skin and a peony blossom attached to her hair. The person smiled at her then told her :

"Way to go, Cory. What took you so long ?" Cory blinked at her. "What, don't you remember me ? Your dear big sister... Dorothy..."

"Dory, that's right ! ... what are you doing here...?"

"Oh, silly. You definetly know what I'm doing here," Dorothy giggled. "I'm waiting for you, like everyday. I wait for you to come here to see me."

"Well... looks like I'm here now ! So… what now ?"

"Follow me, darling," she held Cory by the hand and guided her foward. As they walked, Cory looked everywhere, but really, she didn't see anything else but white.

"Uh… where are you leading me to ?"

"I think you will like this place," was all Dorothy said during the entiere walk to their destination : a cliff, bottomless. The pitch black void made it as if there were no ending to a fall from this place. Cory looked at her, bewildered.

"What now ? Aren't you excited to go there ?"

"I mean… I guess I am ?"

"Good to know. I'll be waiting for you down there. Now then, join me once you'll be done admiring this place."

Dorothy smiled at her a last time, before she jumped on her feet, dragging herself into a fall. Cory gasped, looking at her going further into the hole. She hesitated. She took few steps backwards. But she then felt a presance, blocking her in her stepping.

"You will not go there. I watch over you, everywhere you go. You will never, ever escape this place."

She then felt herself being pushed by whatever this was, and she fell into the pithole, screaming for dear life. She fell, endlessly, hearing voices whispering at her :

"Make up your mind, you will never, ever be free. All these foolish dreams are over. You have to wake up…"

Wake up… it was right. She had to wake up. She had to. She had to wake…!

Cory then woke up abruptly, drenching in cold sweats. She panted rapidly, checking her horizons. She was surrounded by four grey walls, a floor and ceiling the same color. She was sitting on a bed with blue sheets. Thanks to the light coming from her candle, placed on the floor, she saw a wooden door on the opposite wall… all this was just a dream… she sighed of relief. She heard the door knocking. She rose her head to it, seeing a woman entering the room, her hair hidden behind a frilly hairband, her black dress accompanied with a neatly white apron.

"Good morning, Miss Barcheor," she addressed her. "Breakfast will be almost ready. Do you need any help with your dress ?"

"I'll manage it," she sighed, standing up from bed. "By the way, remember you can call me Coraline. No need for formalities with me."

"O-Oh… but I am your maid, Miss."

"I'm aware. But I am now your maiden. So, starting now, you may call me by my first name. And that name only."

The maid was astonished to such answer, but she couldn't help it but nodding at her, then said :

"Very well… Coraline."