Chapter 3: First Mystery

Austin and Maxine entered the portal while still holding the stone. They are both floating in the eternal blue room, realm, cosmos, or whatever it is. They were both perplexed inside the room they had entered, but they knew no one else was there or which corner of the wall didn't exist. They refused to let go of the rock and began to pull.

"What happened? Where are we?!" Austin asked in frustration.

"Somewhere you shouldn't be. How come you woke up right away? Didn't you knock yourself out to sleep?" Maxine asked in return.

"I'm the one who does the asking. You're supposed to answer me! Are you under a spell or something?!" Austin exclaimed while pulling the stone against him.

"I decided to enter this place, so stop trying to take the stone from me!" Maxine yelled towards him. The guy still keeps his grip on the said stone.

Soon another portal appeared in the opposite of their direction. The portal immediately absorbed the rock, so then they were also carried in its flow. On their journey, the light they see intensifies. As they continued to fly with the stone, they began to feel tired, exhausted, as if they wanted to put them to sleep. They also feel in their hands the desire to release the stone. But at the same time, there is the fear that they may never return to the real world. As they closed their eyes, Maxine could see Austin staring at her. She felt tenderness in her heart and hoped they would be in good shape after that. Maxine believes that the young man should no longer be involved in the chaos they have entered. Even before she closed her eyes from the brightness, she heard the scream of the man in front of him.

"We'll be alright!" he said until her vision became blurry to fainted black.

In Maxine's mind, a small memory lingers before her farewell party. A flashback where Maxine and her companion, Alscheya, climbed the stairs at the same time. This is the favorite coffee shop of the two. The child's mother personally designed that coffee shop. They approached their favorite spot in that area and also sat in their seat. The child leans comfortably in the chair as it swings its feet because she can't reach the floor as it is high. They didn't call the waiter anymore because they already knew them. Maxine just smiled at the cashier and immediately made their order.

"Ate, why are you so kind to me?" Alscheya asked in her neutral smile. Maxine looked intently and leaned closer to her while the table slightly stopped her.

"Coz' you deserve all the best. What's the matter? Is there anything you want to talk about?" she replied. The kid looked down without changing her expression.

"I knew what happened that day.." the kid whispered. Loud enough to let Maxine hear what she said. However, she was stunned by her statement. She only knew one thing that it could be; it might be about her mother.

"What do you mean?" Maxine asked nervously.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Ate. I appreciate all your efforts, but her suffering was never your fault. So if allowing me to live is your response to the trauma you've received from my mother, I will take it. You're placing yourself into much bigger trouble," Alscheya said in her neutral tone while maintaining her poker face.

"What's this drama? Tonight, you'll be sleeping early, okay? We don't sip our coffee, yet you got so excited about your fantasies!" Maxine replied, trying to shook off the conversation. Alscheya also leaned towards her.

"We both know that I am not a kid anymore. Stop looking down on me as if I don't have my rights to live, to speak, to think on my own!" she yelled back.

"You don't dare to scream back at me, young lady!" said Maxine.

"I was there! I've been dreaming the same dream every night before my birthday. She's been sending me a message in my head to stay away from you. Your little wish is the reason why I lost her. Your selfish self is the reason why I never had the chance to meet her!" Alscheya claimed after being in tears. Maxine felt goosebumps through her spine, knowing that she was speaking the facts that her family had hidden from her ever since her birth.

"Pangga, you have us. The reason why she died is that there is no cure for her illness. No one wants what happened." Maxine replied, hoping that she would calm down.

"Stop lying!" Alscheya slammed the table. There was a moment of silence that filled the room. Maxine was worried about the possible direction of their conversation. Alscheya's state of mind was still calm, but she was sure she wanted to know the truth.

"You caused the accident. There is no way that magic does exist, but my illness itself can prove it to you. Before my mother died, she wanted to give back the hardship she suffered from you through me." she claimed. Maxine widened her eyes the moment Alscheya grabbed her hand to tap it against her temple.

"Why don't you come to visit my world...?" Alscheya said as her eyes started to glow in seemingly blue streaks of light.

Maxine seemed to be entering her mind. She regained consciousness while sitting on an old hospital bed in the middle of a bright white room. The rooms' stuff is scattered all over the floor. Only a hospital bed was the only big thing in that area until Maxine heard a crack from her side. There was a door formed which showed the shadow of a man whose only glaring eye could see. The woman did not immediately panic and seek refuge or protection.

"Alscheyaa! Where are you?!" Maxine screamed, but it felt so weak even to speak.

Under the brilliant light, the shadow approached her gradually. The former shadow is a woman until it reveals Alscheya's mother. She was dressed in a hospital gown, her once curled hair was already unraveling, and exhaustion and despair was seen beneath her eyes. Despite this, she preferred to portray a wry smile tinged with sarcasm.

"How I miss you, little Maxine. Aren't you such a wonderful lady, hmm?" the lady said while approaching her.

"Huh, so she got that sarcasm from you, wasn't she?" Maxine teased the lady still walking towards her. Maxine distanced herself from the lady that is in front of her. This time, she felt that there is a possibility that it will start a fight.

"Of course, there will be a fight. I've been waiting for a long time" the lady said with a smirk on her face.

Maxine was taken aback when she realized the lady could hear what she was thinking. Even her foot was unable to move in order for her to flee. As her deceased aunt ran towards her, her entire body stiffened. She only stared at the woman, terrified. When she heard a car honking from down the road. She didn't bother turning around because she remembered she was inside Alscheya's head. Whatever occurs in there, she will hear and feel, even her mind. She lifted her hands even before the woman harmed her. It served as a protection to the woman who wanted to strangle her because it also had a glare in its eyes. Max used her strength to push the lady away. The woman's energy is very strong in a way that no matter how much she rocks it, it just keeps pushing her harder. She scanned the room to find a weapon. Also looked to the other side of the hospital bed and noticed a pen. Right now, that's the sharpest thing she can use. She threw the woman towards her left side to gain momentum. She immediately went to the top of the bed to jump over it. The woman also regained her strength which caused her to chase Maxine again. When Maxine got the pen in her hand, she immediately pointed the sharp part in front of her. The woman had just mocked her, so she took a knife from her pocket. It was placed around her neck while still staring into her eyes. It slashed her throat without hesitation. Maxine was unsurprised when no blood or marks were found on the woman's body. Maxine clearly understands that this is all a delusion. She didn't have to put any effort into fighting. As a result, Maxine gripped the pen tightly and began writing in her hand. The woman quickly saw this and yelled in a frightening tone in an attempt to stop her.

Auntie disappears in front of me.

The words in her hand shone as if they were bewitched. The woman in front of him vanished in the blink of an eye. Maxine rolled her eyes to see where her opponent was headed. She also strolled around the room, speculating that it might still be there, hiding.

"I knew this day would come," someone said from behind Maxine. She turn around at the source of the voice until she saw Alscheya sitting on the hospital bed. Her neutral voice, calm face, and feet swinging is still the same.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Maxine asked calmly.

"This is the life you have chosen. I am just a guide, Max" Alscheya replied. She leaped out of bed, and the sound of her feet thumping echoed across the room.

"The moment you chose my life over the innocent mother that I could have, is not about saving me from what's about to happen. I was created in her womb for a reason. The vision you've seen on the day of the accident is the reason why I would be strengthened to fulfill a prophecy. By saving me, the responsibility was passed upon you" she added as she raised her hand as if asking for it to hold. Maxine felt trembles through her spine as she know that she might have made a terrible mistake.

"My dwarfism is not a gift, we both knew that. All these visions you can see in your dreams are the start of our connection. Whatever you did with my past is the reason why I have to pretend ill, to train you in any circumstances. You are not the protector anymore... because it is me all along" she said with a relieving smile.

All the memories of them being so close to each other was flashed all over the place. That white plain room was not painted with tears, joy, furious, and embarrassing moments of them together. Maxine looked around the place to watch every detail that was presented to her. She felt a teardrop rolled down her cheek.

"Tell me, did I make your life miserable?" Maxine lowered her head as she asked. She felt terrible for something she didn't intend to happen.

"You already know the answer. There was this university called Mysterical High that will enlighten you better than I did. It all started the moment you had the svetlo, the stone that will guide you when I'm gone" Alscheya responded naturally. The room was filled with silence as Maxine tries to understand the situation.

"It's kind of getting heavy, let's go home!" Alscheya waved her hand that was left in the mid-air waiting for her to shake it.

In Maxine's mind, there is no other way that she can help her. Everything made sense to her as she always find the kid amusing. She knew that the moment that she'll be shaking Alscheya's hand is the moment she accepts her mission. She was aware that she had a choice, but she would rather repay the favor to that person. She began to be terrified of the gift she possessed. Her mind's power did not truly belong to her, but it was a blessing she had borrowed accidentally. She stared into the eyes of the child in front of her. She swore to herself that this life would still be sacrificed for her until the very end. She had already extended her hand to shake hands with it. Once their palms have touched, everything in her sight slowly faints into a pitch dark view.

When Maxine opened her eyes, she felt tired. Due to the sheer weight of her emotions, she seemed to want to close her eyes again. She struggled to close her eyes as he fought the exhaustion. She became aware that she was in a small room like a cabin. She stood up to have a better look at the situation. It was a room with exactly one bed and gilded bookcases on the wall. Only minor details in each area of the room describe the space. In front of her, a handle seemed to exist which happen to be the access of the door. She twists the knob to turn it open. It stepped out of its hiding hole and took another look around. It's set up like an apartment, complete with a living area, kitchen, and study room. She had already turned to her location and noticed two cabin doors that appeared to be similar to her room. She walked around the room in a circle till she came to a halt in the restroom. When she walked in, she was dressed strangely. Maxine's face is puzzled as she analyzes the clothing, which she recognizes as identical to what Jazz was wearing earlier. As she felt a presence approaching her position, she began to investigate the surroundings. She grabbed the toothbrush off the basin and pointed it at the doorman. A person shows up at the door as Maxine trembles which made her push the brush forward. As it shifted its head to the right, the person casually avoided the toothbrush. It approached the woman with a calm yet intimidating demeanor. It turns out that this is a woman who is taller than Maxine. Her hair is ponytailed, her brows and lips are thick, and the brown color on her skin is noticeable.

"I'm Rogia, nice to meet you too," she said after she bite the apple she's holding as she's still looking straight into Maxine's eyes. The tension between them has lit a fire.