Marks of the Chosen

ALEX

I stared up at the sign that read Mrs. bakers fortune cookie, and I looked over to my side to see a really excited Erica who couldn't wait to crack open a cookie for her fortune. As her emotion differed from mine, I couldn't wait to get out and go home. How ironic. I wasn't even in yet.

"Come on, Alex. Let's go in."

I sighed as we both walked in and found an empty table at a far end of the shop, we took a seat and the waiter came over to take our order. Erica ordered for two plates of fortune cookie and two sundaes. I only stared at her with a look that said, let's get out of here.

"Come on Alex. Don't look so bored. People would think I dragged you in here." she sighed and I blinked before saying

"You literally did."

"Oh come on Alex don't be silly" she rolled her eyes with a smile and I felt my brows fold up a little before I let out another sigh.

"Just get your fortune and let's get out of here." I groaned and she asked

"Aren't you getting yours?"

"Nope" I said immediately without having to give it a second thought.

The waiter finally brought over two plates of cookies and two sundaes. I pushed my plate of cookie aside and went straight for a scoop of sundae, it tasted so good and I wondered again why the place wasn't named Mrs. bakers marvelous sundae scoop.

"Why don't you want to crack yours open?" Erica asked me as she had began to crack open every cookie she had while she gave a little pout at every disappointment.

"Erica, anyone but you should be asking me that. Over the past six summers I've been getting the same terrible fortune that looks like a death sentence and you still want me to go ahead and rub in more death sentences on my face? no thank you."

Every first day of summer Erica and I would always be over at the cookie shop for our fortune but I haven't been getting any luck at it. Can you blame me for not liking the fortune cookie?

"Trust me Alex, this fortune cookies are excellent and they always come to pass."

I gave her a not - helping sort of look and she paused her lips before saying

"what I mean is. I believe this summer is gonna be different for both of us and that begins with you getting a change in your fortune. Remember my last summers fortune?" She asked

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I went over to a party and four different cool guys asked me out but I only chose one of them." she smiled brightly and I wondered. How many was she supposed to go for in the first place?

"You mean Brian, right?"

"Yeah!" She said as her eyes lit up with excitement but then it died down immediately "but he's old news now. Now I'm in for Jamie."

I wasn't surprised. Erica's boyfriends change almost at the same rate as the human heart beats. I think she realized she had totally lost me at this point because she added "what I mean to say is that all you need to do is believe in it...I guess."

I sighed. I believed her being asked out wasn't the work of the cookie but because it was only natural. Shiny long blond hair in a neat French braid style same as mine, lovely honey brown eyes, a beautiful smile that beat up a lot of other girls capacity, a stylish dress code sense and lovely set of shoes, with good grades. She was a masterpiece, so who exactly wouldn't be interested in her. All that aside, she was a wonderful diver who had made it to the national diving competition.

Yep, she's been my best friend since grade school.

Unlike me on the other hand. I've never really paid any attention to how I dress or how I look. I just go with the flow of life. Nothing about me is so interesting. We were just so different.

"Ah! Found it." She gasped as she showed me a small rolled up paper.

"Well, go on, open it." I said, finding myself actually curious for her fortune. She gently opened hers as she let out a soft breath and my eyes drooped at her reaction. "Come on Erica, you're not checking your result for the term you know."

"Don't rush me!". She whispered and I couldn't help but to smile.

She read out "head above the water..." her eyes shone and her mouth gaped as she finished "...its golden."

"Could it be?" I said as it became my turn to gape and suddenly we both squealed softly as we pumped our feet on the ground. As much as I didn't believe in the fortune cookie, I was so glad Erica got such a great fortune and she deserved it cause she worked so hard for it. I wished deep down from my heart it would happen.

"Wow, I feel so happy and assured right now that my summer is going to be great!" She pumped her fist and then raised a brow at me

"What?" I asked and she gave me an obvious look

"Its your turn."

I smiled "I told you Erica, its not happening."

"Ugh, come on Alex, please. Alright, just go through three of the cookies and if you don't find a fortune, I would lay off, okay?"

I took a spoon of sundae and looked at Erica as she had on her pleading face. I was so confident I couldn't find it in the first three cookies and I know she's probably thinking of pressuring me on after the first three failures but I wasn't going to fall for it.

"Alright, only three cookies" I said to get her off my neck. I sighed as I confidently took a cookie and broke it into two to see not-"

I froze.

She froze.

We stared at each other and she blinked as I followed the same pattern.

"Wow." I finally muttered.

"A big wow, I was going to pressure you after the first three but who knew this would happen" Erica said looking just as shocked as I was to see the white paper in the first cookie "now this is interesting. Go on, open it"

A lot of things were wrong at that moment. First, no one, I mean no one has ever gotten their fortune on their first try. How I know is because I believe the workers are not dumb enough to keep the fortune cookie up right? business doesn't work that way.

Second, I had never found my fortune on my first plate. Usually, after I break through a whole plate of cookies I would be forced to order another plate before I find my fortune. My least amount of cookie plate is two but there I was holding onto my fortune from the first cookie on the first plate.

Third, they serve all their plates on a blue sky like plate but mine is a red checkered plate... I watch my environment pretty well. This had to be a fraud, despite that, a light lit up in me as I found myself believing the fortune was different as I rolled it open. The writing came into view and I was silent for a while, then I smiled.

"What? what's wrong? Is it different?" Erica asked anxiously as she leaned forward.

I looked up at her with a smile and said "yep, it totally changed."

"See, I told you it was definitely going to change" she snapped her fingers excitedly as she took it to get a look at it. She read through it and went silent, then she raised her head and met my eyes. I wasn't smiling any longer.

"You said it changed" she said in a confused tone

"Yeah it did, didn't you notice? It got bolder". I pointed out for her before saying "thanks Erica."

"I'm sorry Alex, I thought it would change."

YOU WILL DIE A PAINFUL AND LONELY DEATH.

I was tired of seeing those set of words. This marks my seventh encounter, what a blessing, I thought.

Just when I thought those were the only wrong things going on. Usually the fortune cookies are always not written to go straight to the point, but that was clearly straight the point. Seven times in a roll, the coincidence was just too unnatural.

Is it too much for a seventeen year old girl to just want a normal life?

"This is all just stupid." I said and took a spoon of my sundae, and I dropped my spoon in frustration and leaned back against the chair. Way to go fortune, now my sundae tastes horrible. We were silent for a while before Erica said.

"Ou! ou! I know what would make you happy" she jumped with a creepy grin on her face.

I faked a smile and said "you sound pretty cheerful for someone who just made me receive my seventh death sentence."

"Come on Alex. Just... look who's coming in".

"I looked back towards the entrance and my eyes went wide open. I looked back immediately at Erica and shot at her. "Let's leave, now."

Unfortunately for me, Erica's dumb side had kicked in.

"I don't want to get in the way so have fun." she said and winked at me then I realized she was gesturing over to Max, Tyler's friend.

"Hey Max."

"Hold on, Erica what are you doing?" I softly gritted through my teeth. She completely ignored me and before I knew it, my crush was standing right next to me with two of his best friends.

Tyler green, a wonderfully talented basketball player at my school. He had a cool and friendly aura and he seemed to get along so well with anyone. Despite that I've never gotten into a conversation with him. His looks? Totally to die for. Yeah, he's handsome. Blond hair, blue eyes as deep and breathtaking as the sea, his piercings holding a black dotted earring, great body state that speaks for basketball. My god, he was heavenly, and this was why Katherine was always so clingy with him.

Just to be clear she's not his girlfriend.

Just the leader of the cheers squad who's a pain in the butt. Max and Joe were also part of the basketball team. What bothered me at that moment was how Erica became buddy buddy with Max and when.

"Hi Erica, fancy seeing you here?"

"Right back at you."

"Guys, this is Erica. She's in my science department. She really saved my butt in the last test" Max said as he smiled to the others.

"And I was wondering why I didn't hear any news of a lab going berserk" Joe said and Max nudged him.

"Anyway this are my friends. Tyler and Joe" Max introduced and I watched from my seated angle as I silently wished this was nothing more than friends greeting each other and parting ways after that. I had no idea what Erica was thinking.

I know I said Erica gets good grades and obviously pointed out that she's a smart ass, but at times she can be far worse off than a pea brain. I could make out the word 'this is my bestee Alex', and I knew there was obviously no way out now. I looked up at them as Erica reintroduced them to me with Tyler coming in last. Our eyes met and he smiled but I quickly diverted my attention over to max. I smiled at them and said

"Hi"

I silently wished it had come to an end. Eye contact with his blue eyes was enough to make my heart skip a beat... but a smile that cute was heart melting.

Enough talking Erica. End the conversation and lets get out of here, I groaned internally

"You two getting your fortune?" Max asked

"Can't miss it" Erica replied with a smile

"I know right. The cookie is so great and the fortune works like magic," Max said and Erica jumped back as her excitement kicked in again

"I know right!"

Yay, you found someone who likes the cookie like you do, good for you Erica, now break up your conversation and let them get a sit away from here! I practically screamed in my mind.

"Alright then. We should get a seat and order our cookie." I heard max say and I silently blessed him.

"Hey, we're about to head out, Why don't you sit here"

Curse you Erica

"But first I have to get the cookies packed. They're..."

"Part of the magic." Max and Erica said in unison then they laughed it off.

"Alright then. If you don't mind then."

With that. I watched Erica walk off to the counter. Max why didn't you object? No no no no no, Erica you can't do this to me. I looked at her but then she gave me that annoying wink that made me want to strangle her at that point.

To make matters worse, Tyler sat right next to me.

Talk about lucky but unlucky.

You're probably wondering why I was so freaked out about it. Yeah its crazy when your crush sits next to you but what's crazy is the fact that I was going to do something really stupid before I leave. And I was sure of that.

Every time I'm anywhere around Tyler I tend to do something stupid that gets him into trouble. I mean it. I wonder how he doesn't even recognize me as a must - stay - away - from - that - unfortunate - accident - bringing - girl.

This is bad, I thought to myself as I stared at my sundae. I had to leave immediately before something stupid happens again.

"Wow I just love the air in here." Max said and Joe raised his brow

"The last time I checked we're all breathing the same air."

"That's where you're wrong Joe. This air is magical".

This guy thinks like Erica, I thought as I saw Joe Shook his head.

"You guys just don't get it." Max defended and Joe scoffs

"That's expected, only someone with a squashed up brain like you can get it."

I actually second that.

"That's not true."

"It is."

"Do you think so too Alex?"

"Huh?" I was taken aback cause I wasn't expecting to be included in the conversation.

"What do you think about it?" Max asked and my mouth fell open

I didn't know if I should tell him I hated it or lie that it was awesome. I didn't think I had the spirit to give it a fake complement and I didn't want to ruin his love for it. While staring at him, I took another spoon of sundae and then gave a shrug.

It was all I could think of.

"Whatever."

Erica sure was taking her lovely time. I couldn't stay there any longer, I was beginning to feel restless and thanks to that I had ended up with an empty glass of sundae. Tyler's cologne was killing my heart, I thought I wouldn't last because it was too much heaven in a day. Tyler's favorite is strawberry. How I know that is a secret... I'm not a stalker. sometimes I just try to find out this and that about him, that's all.

No really. I'm not a stalker. I just know his birthday, his practice time, his school study table, his favorite color and things, his type of cologne and hobbies. His likes and dislikes.

That's all.

Tyler's phone rang out.

"I'll be back. Its my mom" he said and with that he stood up and made his way out. I couldn't help but to stare. When he was out of sight, I let out a low relieved but disappointed sigh, the sweet smell was gone.

"So you and Erica are best friends," Max said and I looked at him "That's nice. but you two don't seem to have anything in common." Max said.

Thanks for stating the obvious.

"You know" he continued "Tyler and I have been best buds since we were kids but we also don't have much in common." he said with a smile, then I realized I had been offended for nothing.

"When Tyler was little and I found out he liked strawberries, I would tease him about it and he would start crying. He was such a cry baby. He cried for almost anything."

I wondered where all this was coming from all of a sudden, I always avoided making conversation with other people, but he was talking about Tyler... I mean hello, I'm all ears.

"There was a time we went to the pool and I pretended to drown. He jumped in without thinking and ended up drowning himself."

"Why?" I found myself ask.

Its Tyler we're talking about, of course I'm curious!

"He couldn't swim." Max said with a serious face then he burst into laughter.

"Oh. T- that's pretty heroic" I said and found myself trying not to grin about it. Okay, that is pretty funny, but I couldn't help but to like him even more.

I wanted to hear more about Tyler when he was a kid but at the same time I wondered if Max should be saying the stuffs he was saying. From Joe's expression he was thinking the same but Max went on.

"Tyler is so easy to prank. There was this one time when he was eight, I had told him that if he would put a dollar every week in his top drawer for a year, at the end of the year he would get his biggest wish"

"That's an obvious lie." I said and Joe chipped in.

"Yeah. Who would fall for that?"

"Tyler did. I told you he was so easy to trick. Every week I would take the money he left in there." Max continued to talk but then as I was loosing the strength of forcing myself not to laugh. However, immediately I realized who was now standing behind Max, the urge flew away

Max didn't seem to have realized, I tried using my eyes or my expression. it was useless. He was in a world of his own. I looked at Joe and gave him the behind-you look. He looked back and his mouth fell open.

Max was still In a world of his own as he kept on talking.

"Max," Joe nudged him and said through his gritted teeth "I think you should stop talking now."

"What? Oh don't worry, Tyler doesn't know till now that I was the one who took all his money."

How dense is this guy? I thought.

"No really I think you should stop talking now" Joe said and gave him the eyes too but Max was too much of a lost case.

Joe sighed and gave up.

"You should have seen his face after he didn't get what he wanted, he looked so angry." Max said as he laughed.

"You mean this kind of face?" Joe pointed behind him.

Max turned to Tyler "yeah that kind of face. Man, it brings back a lot if memo... oh." He froze

Took you long enough.

"Aren't you so chatty today?" Tyler said and honestly, I had never seen him annoyed before. He looked so cute.

"Did you hear that?" Max said and gave an uneasy smile.

Tyler sighed and came back to sit next to me again. I saw Max give Joe a dude-why-didn't-you-tell-me look and Joe gave him the I-tried-to-stop-you look.

Wait, Tyler is back beside me!. I had totally forgotten about my nerves while Max was talking but now that Tyler was back...wait, what am I freaking out about. I haven't done anything stupid so far, everything was just fine. For a second I thought I saw movement from the corner of my eyes but when I turned to look at Tyler, he was looking away. Maybe I made a mistake.

Just then I saw Erica heading back with two bags of cookies.

Thank you lord!

"Sorry I took so long".

"That's okay, let's go." I jumped up with the thought of just getting out of there as fast as I could. I turned to leave and just then I heard a loud gasp followed by a crash.

Huh?

I turned back and saw Tyler covered in sundae from his head and I gasped out as I realized I had hit the waiter passing by. Erica stared back at me in shock and I could read it in her eyes. I totally messed up- again.

Now I knew I had a problem.

******

I got home feeling frustrated at myself. Paying for the damage was no problem, but I could never forgive myself for what I had done to Tyler. I couldn't stop apologizing, I felt really terrible for what I did. He got himself cleaned up in the restroom but he had to leave without getting the fortune he came for. He didn't seem to mind but I knew I had messed up.

Erica tried to cheer me up by telling me it wasn't my fault but I knew it was.

I went into my room and sprawled on the bed. The house was silent. Well that's obvious cause I live alone, well not exactly alone. My parents had died in a car crash when I was six, so my aunts have been the one taking care of me. I used to stay with aunt Beatrice but when I had told her the high school I wanted to attend and she realized it was really far from where she lived, she let me stay with aunt Millie whose house is closer to the school. Although she was against letting me stay with aunt Millie.

Why, you ask?

Cause my aunt Millie is more of a party-and-work and less of a stay-in-the-house person. Always here or there for a party or the other, or one work or the other. But that doesn't stop her from giving me my allowance and getting me enough food stuff and ingredients to cook for myself. She is actually more responsible than she sounds. But living here was on the deal with aunt Beatrice that I come over to her place to spend holidays, and I would be leaving first thing in the morning to her place the next day.

My phone rang. I took it out to see who was calling and speak of the devil.

"Hi aunt Beatrice,"

"Alex dear!. Aren't you ex-cited to see me tomorrow? I'm so anxious I can't wait. I'm going shopping right now so I can cook you your favorite tomorrow, what do you think?. Or maybe I should I make the one I'm best good at? Or maybe the new type I came up with? Or perhaps I should make it all? There's this new dish I learnt from one of my friends, it's really delicious and its got a lot of nutrient that is just perfect for the body, its called..."

She's gotten a little bit too chatty. I thought but I smiled as I listened to her over the phone.

I sighed "Aunt Beatrice you don't have to think that much over it. I'm fine with whatever you cook. Just don't get too excited and make too much to eat, things didn't go well the last time." I pointed out seriously.

It really didn't.

"You're right. I'll just go with your favorite then," she said and laughed "Have you had lunch yet?"

"I had cookies?"

"That's no good Alex. Are you sure you're eating well. Don't tell me Millie's not there with you again?" She signed "I knew it was a terrible idea to let you stay with her"

"Like I said I'm doing just fine with her."

"I'll be the judge of that when I see you tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I need you to come over to my workplace."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"No. Did you forget? I told you I moved didn't I?"

I totally forgot. She had told me two months ago but I guess I wasn't really paying attention.

"Since you haven't been there, its hard to describe and I have to be at work as early as possible. If its too much stress for you I could send someone over to pick you up at the bus stop and drop you off at the house?" She suggested.

"No its okay. I'll come over."

"okay then."

"Yeah, of course" I said. I've never been to her workplace but I do remember getting a sight of it a couple of times while going over to her old place.

"Make sure you eat your dinner and get a good night sleep okay?"

"Yes aunt Beatrice" I said with a smile "Bye."

"I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Now I'm going to give Millie a call."

"You really don't have to." I muttered and hung up the call immediately before she had the chance to begin another page. "Guess I have to start packing up."

I sat up and looked out the window. I'll have to apologize to Tyler after summer... if I don't chicken out that is I thought.

******

I was done packing up my things for the trip. When I checked the time, it was already late. I prepared dinner for myself which was quick considering I was the only one. Aunt Millie had told me. Alex sweetie, I won't be home tonight. My dear friend invited me to a party and I couldn't possible say no. That would make her sad. So for that not to happen I have to go with her. Make sure you have dinner, I left a little change for you on the table in case you want to get something. So go to sleep without me tonight okay and call me if you need me to get something else for you okay. Love you.

See? she's pretty responsible.

After that I took a nice night bath. Having to be without the contacts felt so nice.

Yes. I wear contacts. Not 'cause I have an issue with my eyes or anything like that but, without knowing the reason my parents made it a habit for me to wear contacts. I wasn't allowed to take it off until I was about to sleep and when I woke up the next morning, it's back on. Whenever I asked why? I was simply told it was a family tradition. That was totally the worst excuse they could come up with, but with that said it had become a routine for me and had grown on me. Aunt Beatrice had taken up the duty in their absence, and only Erica knew about this besides my two Aunt's.

I still wear the contacts but I take them off at night when I want to take my bath and put them on before I leave to school.

I changed into my pajamas and went to brush my teeth.

So, I took my brush, put on the usual quantity of paste and then I started to brush my teeth as I stared at the mirror. Just like any other day. I turned on the tap, but then I paused. As I stared at the flowing water, I came to realize.

I couldn't hear it.

I had stopped brushing. Then I turned off the water and looked around not sure for what exactly. Everywhere was silent- too silent. I looked back at the tap and then slowly raised my hand to turn it back on. When I did, the water gushed out and suddenly I could hear it again. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath until I let out a sigh.

To be honest I was scared to turn the tap on because if I did and I didn't hear the sound of the water again, I knew I would freak out.

I'm not so good with scary things.

I went back to brushing and switched off the tap. When I was done, I kept my brush back and turned to leave. Just as I opened the door out I heard the sound of water. I turned back to see the tap on.

I paused.

"Didn't I turn that off?" I muttered to myself as I went back and turned it off making sure the water had completely stopped before I turned to leave then I heard it again. I looked back to see the water flowing out.

Okay this is getting too serious for a prank on someone who's alone in a house, I thought.

I turned it off again and gave it a suspicious look without turning back, I waited for a while but it didn't come back on. I turned to leave when I heard the tap run again. Now I was frustrated. I turned again and my heart jumped out as I screamed at the sight I wasn't expecting.

There was something swirling down the drain but it wasn't water.

Blood?!

I stepped back a little as I tried to make sense of what was happening. It took the little ounce of courage I had in me to turn off the tap. The blood had stopped and when I blinked. The blood stain was gone.

"What the-?"

I could now hear the sound of breeze, it sounded so near and clear like it was coming from...the mirror. I looked up and realized there was something weird about the mirror.

It was...Foggy?. I thought I was mistaken so I looked a little closer. I could see my reflection but then slowly I could make out a fog moving slowly in circles. My eyes widened.

A foggy face?

I watched as the whole mirror got covered in fog and then I saw and heard it. It was a faint old croaked voice from the mirror. The face spoke.

"Alex."

"Ahhhh!" I screamed and ran out of the house.

I got down at the bus stop as I recalled her work place being ten minutes away from there after taking a left. I sighed and straightened my backpack behind me then I dragged my box and began the walk.

Yesterday was still freaking me out.

Erica didn't live so far away, her house was just three streets away from mine. She was quite surprised when I had shown up in front of her door in my pajamas. And yep, I had slept over at Erica's.

I hate to admit but I get scared easily. When I had told Erica what had happened, I immediately regretted telling such a story to a freak of horror films. She was so excited and had suggested we go back to see what exactly was going on but I would rather build up and confess my love for Mrs. bakers cookie than to go back to that freaky house.

When we had gone back to my house in the morning, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The tap was working Perfectly and the mirror was clear. No face.

I sighed and shook it out of my head. I didn't want to think of it. I'm sure after I spend this wonderful summer with aunt Beatrice, I'll totally forget about it; so I told myself to feel better.

I finally stood in front of the retirement home where Aunt Beatrice works and I have to say, it was a lot bigger than I had expected. My phone rang out and I took it out to see it was aunt Beatrice, for the 10th time.

"Are you here yet?" She immediately asked before I could speak.

"I'm right in front right now"

"Don't move okay?, I'll be there in five seconds. Starting now." with that she hung up.

I sighed and was about to take a step.

"Alex!" someone yelled out my name and ran full force towards me in her white coat. She jumped and gave me a big hug. "Alex!" she squealed

"Ugh!. Aunt Beatrice you're squeezing me too tight" I forced out. I could barely breath.

"Oh sorry" she said and released me immediately but she still held on to my hands with a big smile. "you really came"

"Of course I came, where else was I supposed to go?" I asked, returning the smile as she laughed a little.

"That's true," she then observed me from head to toe, while I was still wondering why she spun me to have my back to her, and then spun me back to face her. She had on a face of satisfaction. "I guess it wasn't all just talk, you seem like you've been eating well."

"So that's what that was all about. I told you I'm fine, you send me just enough allowance". I said. I eat just well, I believe my nutrients are also very important. I'm not too slender, not too fat. At times Erica would go on about how great my body shape is and tell me how jealous she is, though I don't seem to see any difference than a normal me.

"That's also why you're looking even more beautiful than the last time I saw you" aunt Beatrice said.

"Wow, I'm flattered" I said sarcastically and she gave me another smile before taking my box out of my hand "Give me five minutes and let me patch things up a little before we leave"

"Sure, no problem. I'll guess I'll just- take a look around."

"That's fine." She said as she led me inside.

The inside smelt wonderful and looked beautiful too, and I could see why. Different flowers were arranged at the edges of the wall right in front of the glass wall, positioned just where they would get a nice sunbath. Different people were everywhere, mainly old ones, but then I realized it wasn't just old people. I could make out really young people and like my aunt read my mind, she said.

"It's visiting time". She led me over to her office.

Of course getting there wasn't so smooth. A lot of 'is that your niece?', 'its nice to finally see you', 'I've heard a lot about you', 'you look even more beautiful in person' of course I just shook that off as just a normal comment and a bluff. I wasn't half surprised I was already popular in a place I've never been to. My aunt's a big talker as usual.

I sighed and took a seat in her office while she wheeled my box over to a corner.

"If you need me, I'll be right in the last room of this corridor. Okay?"

"Alright." I replied

"Tell me immediately if you're ready to leave, or if you feel uncomfortable okay?"

"Alright." I said trying to pass the message 'I get it already'. She gave me a soft smile and then left.

I got up and went out of the room to see her walk down the right corridor then make a turn. I looked to my left, a different area than the one we took.

I'll start from here, I thought and walked down the left corridor. It was actually a more interesting place than I'd thought. I came across a room and looked through the window, it was quite the silent place, but old men and women were seated then a young woman in a uniform stood right in front of all of them and she kept waving her hand and making signs with her fingers.

Ah! sign language.

At the next room I saw a room where they were busy exercising. I would call it a yoga class but then not to be rude, I thought in a yoga class one needs to be...you know, able to move the body.

The next room I found was pretty loud, I wondered what was going on, and when I looked in through the window. I could make out a few teenagers and old people gathered and it seemed like they were having fun. I watched silently.

"Hey Jake. Why don't you take the next dance," one of the young girls said then the one called Jake spoke.

"Alright then."

He was quite handsome. He walked up to one of the women and then took a slight bow with his hand stretched out.

"Milady, would you do me the honor of dancing the afternoon away with me?"

"Pea brain." his friends laughed and one of them playfully hit him. The old lady giggled and took his hand, then a music was played. It was really catchy. They both started dancing and I couldn't help but smile. They danced well but I was smiling cause it looked fun. At one time, the lady gave Jake a princess spin around and then it went the other way too, the others cheered them on. I was actually having fun watching them until my phone rang.

It was Erica. I moved further down the corridor and picked the call.

"Hey Erica,"

"Hey, you there yet?"

"Yeah, I got here some minutes ago." I said

We talked as I could feel my legs moving, I didn't know where I was going but I didn't seem to mind. I kept walking as we kept talking. Long talks wasn't actually my thing but, unfortunately for me... its Erica's thing. But I don't mind lending a ear for a long time for her. She was telling me how her younger sister had eaten the rest of her fortune cookie and how she had destroyed the magic.

I laughed at this as I kept going, Erica could get so worked up for things that weren't so big a deal. She's got two little sisters and I knew just how they were so lucky to have her.

When I finally hung up with a 'bye', 'bye' I looked around and then stood on a spot as the realization dawned on me.

"I'm totally lost." I said to myself and looked to my left and right, wondering how I had ended up there.

The corridor was awfully quiet, there was no one around and I couldn't hear any noise. I looked down to the left again and realized there was actually a door up ahead.

The wise thing I could've done was to turn back and retrace my steps, that's what I would've done on any normal day. But then I found myself walking down to it and I turned the knob without thinking, also with the thought that it was probably locked, but it clicked opened. I pushed it open slightly and peeped inside the room.

No one was in, but there was a bed that looked ruffled like someone had just been on it. I went in further and was astonished at what I saw on the wall of the tiny room.

Paintings!.

Really beautiful paintings!.

I became drawn to it and I couldn't help but walk in without considering whose privacy I was disrupting. On each canvas, I could make out the painting of a beautiful meadow, it looked so real and felt like I could just walk right into it. Then there was another painting of a woman. She had the most beautiful caramel colored hair I've ever seen along with her slightly matching eyes. The background had been covered In a lot of beautiful Lilys.

"This is a masterpiece." I muttered in astonishment. Then the next thing I could think of was to take out my cellphone.

Erica totally needs to see this, I thought and started taking pictures of the paintings. There were a lot of drawings everywhere and I couldn't stop clicking.

I haven't been a fan of art but what I saw made me fall hard in love with art. I had taken a photo of every single art on the wall, then I noticed a painting. The canvas looked like it had just been painted some few minutes ago cause I could still see traces of wet paint.

It was different from the others I had seen. It looked more like a flower or a design or something. It was weird but- it pulled me in.

Suddenly, I became... so drawn to it.

I found my hand reaching out slowly as I felt like I was being sucked in.

And then,

I touched it,

It was this moment it all came to me like the stormy sea.

So fast and strong I felt my head was going to explode. I could barely make out what I was seeing in my head. Pictures of places and things I have never seen, one after the other, but I winced out as I couldn't take it any more, it felt like my blood was flowing backwards.

I forcefully redrew my hand from the painting and I found myself breathing really hard, it was like my heart was about to burst.

"What the -" I ran out of breath to talk.

I was scared stiff but I had to leave that room immediately. I was still breathing hard, I turned to leave and flinched with a scream at the sight of the old man on a wheelchair right in front of me.