Chapter #2choice 4 by: Freya   It’s a brisk, wet, afternoon in January, Andrea is having a fundraiser at school. It is a black tie dinner and after dinner there will be a tour of the Art Gallery downtown. The only bad part is trying to sell tickets on such a dreary day. She decides to try her luck at the coffee shop where she works at part-time. When she enters the coffee shop, much to her surprise there are a lot of people who decided to come out in spite of the weather. As she makes her speech, she is drawn to the table in the back. There sits a woman who is dressed in a business style pinstriped corset, a long black flowing skirt that is tight in all the right places, very easy on the make-up, has two-toned hair, and a single signature necklace on. After Andrea finished her speech she walked up to the table in the back to make a formal introduction. When she makes it to the table, the young woman introduces herself, my name is Isibelle Zhtomir, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. I was intrigued by your fundraiser. I myself quite enjoy the chance of wearing my more formal dresses. I’ll buy a ticket as long as you will do me the honors of allowing me to go as your plus one. Andrea was awe struck and began to stutter, she had never had a proposal like that come from a stranger, yet she seemed so familiar. It took several seconds but she was able to give Isibelle her ticket to the dinner. They set up a date so Isibelle could take her out shopping for a dress that would go well with what she was envisioning on wearing to the dinner party.
That meeting was the beginning of a great start to a long friendship. With Isibelle coming into the coffee shop every Tuesdays and Thursdays it was the perfect cover for her real reason. What she really wanted was Andrea. She has become infatuated by Andrea, it was her wit, her charm, and her determination that made her the focal point. They chatted about trivial things, basically it was her way of learning more about Andrea without raising any red flags. When Andrea was alone she was dreaming of freedom from her home life. It was those long chats with Isibelle that made her feel free and she could let her guard down. Yet alone she felt trapped by her mother, who refused to let her grow into a young lady. She will run away if that is what it takes to have her freedom. Her mother stops at nothing to let her know that she owes everything to her mother. Andrea has no other plans, she will get her freedom, no matter how it is offered to her. Andrea wants to prove to everyone that she is old enough to make it on her own. She befriends Isibelle, Isibelle seems to understand her pain of wanting to shake off her past and start anew. Isibelle can sense Andrea’s pain and wants nothing more than to help her see there is hope at the end of the tunnel. She wants Andrea to feel there is so much more to life than working part time and coming from a broken home. She wants Andrea to know that nothing is out of reach, you just have to reach out and take it. They both are in dire need of each other for different reasons. They just don’t know the full extent they are willing to go before they find a positive outcome for both of them. Isibelle must find her replacement and soon or else her body will parish, her powers and wisdom will pass to the nearest life form. There is nothing she can do to stop her body from turning to ash. Her successor is young but just maybe she is strong enough to survive the next 2099 years. She must find another to accept her gift/curse before she dies. This is why the coffee moments with Andrea are crucial. The more she learns about Andrea the clearer her choice becomes. Andrea is only 18 year old, she comes from a broken home and her only joys comes from being a cheer leader captain and her job at the local coffee shop.
Andrea hears her mother’s voice ringing through her head that she will never amount to anything, that all that is waiting for her is a baby and a husband much like her father. This is her lowest point she is dripping with insecurity. She cannot seem to shake her mother’s voice. Isibelle cannot shake the feeling that time is not on her side, she will fail to pass on her gift before the hour glass runs out of sand. She knows her successor, yet it is all about timing. How and when to pass on the gift is running through her head. This takes a great deal of planning and a very soft hand. Soft hands and lots of planning must be done to insure a smooth passing. With every great plan comes great risk and failure. If Andrea fails she will become her mother and work two jobs, one at work and the other as a servant to her husband, who is like that of her father. If Isibelle fails her body will parish and fate will be out of her hands and her gift will be passed on at random.
Isibelle has offered to do coffee at her place on more than one occasion. Andrea’s home life was becoming more than she could bare, so she gave Isibelle a call to see if tonight was a good night to stop by for coffee. Isibelle was more than eager to say yes. Once Andrea showed up, she made two cups of coffee and walked them into the nook. That way they could have a more personal chat about what was on Andreas mind. Both inadvertently tipped their hands, Andrea first, she told Isibelle about her home life was less than desirable. Isibelle told her, she could make all her pain go away by that of a simple bite. She told Andrea of her powers, but that time was not on her side. Andrea realized what she told Isibelle and quickly made her exit. She was lost within her own thoughts that she only half heard what Isibelle said. Isibelle felt that she had ran Andrea off and was not seeing just how vulnerable Andrea really was.
Almost a week has passed before they would meet again. Isibelle came into the coffee shop for her usual coffee and chatter. Andrea walked up and said, a penny for your thoughts. Isibelle was miles away and unaware that she was twisting her hair into a large knot. It was then that they tried to apologize for their last encounter. Andrea proceed to sit down so they could have a quick chat. She asked Isibelle if they could have a longer chat after work tonight about her gift. Isibelle was delighted to know that she in fact did the opposite of what she thought she had done. They set up a time to meet after work at Isibelle’s place. She told Andrea that she had an errand to do and gave her the key so she could let herself in. After work Andrea went to Isibelle’s place and let herself in with the key. Once inside, she found the study, she was amazed by the volume of books that Isibelle had. Some of the books dated back to the 1800’s. She heard a noise that came from the backyard, it was Isibelle, and she went upstairs to change her clothes. She meet Andrea in the kitchen. It was here that both have come to an understanding and Isibelle revealed her true self. This was a huge step with a great deal of vulnerability, she was trusting that she made the right choice. It was a moment of clarity, one that Andrea took in great stride. She soaked up all that Isibelle had to say. She is so eager to learn more. Isibelle has told her everything, they talked until almost dawn. Andrea gets a message from her mother demanding that she gets home at once. So she told Isibelle that she wants to know more but it is in her best interest that she gets home.
If Andrea fails she will become her mother and work two jobs, one at work and the other as a servant to her husband, who is like that of her father. If Isibelle fails her body will parish and fate will be out of her hands and her gift will be passed on at random. | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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