Alícia's Point of View
Estela and Alícia walk toward the bathroom.
Estela – I wanted to ask you what that was, but I think you're just as confused as I am.
Alícia – hahahaha
Estela – Look, Maya definitely wasn't trying to hit on you, okay? She has that defense mechanism of hers.
She's a good person, she's been through a lot.
Alícia – Really?
Estela – She never told me, but I'm nosy, and I know she came from Tessala.
Alícia – ohhhhh, so…
Estela – yeah… I just ask that you have a little patience, okay?
Shall we go back?
Alícia – I really want to, but I really do need to go back to researching some things about my family.
Estela – okay, I'll stop by your room later.
Alícia – all right, I'll be waiting for you.
Estela smiles.
Estela – I'll go see what's going on with the others.
Maya's Point of View
Maya – wow guys, the conversation is amazing, but I need to get back to work.
Jheysi looks into Maya's eyes and manages to notice a strange feeling, something she might have already been feeling before.
{This story is dedicated to my first love, because you shine so much, much more than all the stars in the universe together… and you are capable of ending all the darkness, and that's how I found you!!
Shine over there on the other side too so I can find you. Don't worry, I'll bring the snacks and the two seasons of SAO you couldn't watch with me.}
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May 23rd
I could say that this was the day I was born. Normally, I could tell you everything I went through, but this is not a story about me, so I'll be brief.
The night I arrived at this place, well… I don't know. I was so small that I simply don't remember. The story I know is this one.
Meredith Wells Shelter – 3:12 a.m.
It was a hot summer night, like any other. The sky was clear, completely filled with stars, and the Southern Cross constellation was shining brighter than ever.
Well, I'll be quicker.
My parents abandoned me at the shelter's door. They didn't even knock. I cried all night until Sister Margareth found me. She said she was terrified when she saw me, but curiously, I stopped crying when I saw her.
Who knows why, considering she's a nun and I'm a witch… well, that doesn't matter right now either.
I grew up in the shelter and basically stayed alone there. I worked a lot, and in the free time—which was extremely rare—I went to the library to read a little.
While I looked through the window and saw happy children with their families going back and forth, deep down I wanted that.
Well, I should say that I wasn't alone that entire time. Nooo… I tried to make friends, but it was always so complicated to deal with people.
I made a friend named Joel. He was nice, we always talked during work. He was a great friend. We got into so much trouble.
The time when, during the night, Joel and I came up with a foolproof plan to break into the kitchen to steal chocolate. Obviously, it went wrong.
Sister Margareth caught us and gave us a serious scolding, but afterward she gave us cookies and a glass of milk.
Another time at work, we needed to bake a cake, but everyone complained that the oven was terrible, that it burned on the outside and didn't bake on the inside.
I had the brilliant idea of improving the oven. I read all the books about electricity, plumbing, and gas. In my head, I could execute the job perfectly, but of course, it went wrong once again. I almost set the shelter on fire.
In the end, Joel left. I was extremely happy for him. He was going to change his life. He was going to have a family… a place just for him.
He promised he would send letters. He sent five or six, but one day they stopped, and I never heard from him again.
I tried to make friends again… and again… and again. But every time someone got close, they always ended up leaving.
When I turned twelve, Sister Margareth took me to an orphanage, the Ellie Pritchard Orphanage.
Oh, I think I forgot something very, very, very important…
My name is Jheysi Blanchet Pascal. A complicated little name. Don't get too attached to it… you'll forget it. People usually do.
When I arrived at the orphanage, they sent me to school, but of course I had already learned much more than most students. They said I was advanced. Everything I learned came from reading books in my free time.
My academic performance is relatively good. Okay, it's very good, but I'm technically curious.
Well, I was bullied at school for being the best in my class. Of course, people are cruel. I spent my school years fighting a bit… but academically it wasn't difficult. Let's leave it at that.
The thing is, I recently received an offer to study at an institution, the best in the country, and honestly, I really want to go. That's where one of my heroes studied: Hiroyuki Hanada, the greatest engineer of all time. This is a golden opportunity, so I will gladly accept it.
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PRESENT DAY
Jheysi – pssss!! Maya?!?!
Maya looks at Jheysi.
Jheysi nods, pointing toward another room.
Maya nods back, and the two quietly sneak into the other room. Maya gently closes the door so no one notices.
Mandy (whispering) – Gregor, it's just the two of us here. Why do they think we didn't notice them leaving?
Gregor (whispering) – I don't know, just follow the script.
Mandy – okay, fight club is waiting for me. Are you going to train today?
Gregor – naaahhh! I need to study. The coach wants me to focus a bit more on school.
Mandy – your dad isn't going to leave you alone anytime soon, huh?
Gregor – my dad and the coach went drinking the other day, and he said so much stuff to my dad that when he got home, he grounded me and took away my BoxStation Series 5.
Mandy – hahahahaha, I told you that you needed to focus so you wouldn't fall behind. Ask Khawlah or Violet to help you.
Gregor – I asked Khawlah, but she said she'll be too busy these days.
Mandy – and Violet?
Gregor – last option. She scares me a lot.
Mandy – hahahahaha, honestly, she is scary.
What about Albert?
Gregor – do you think Greenwood could teach me?
Mandy – well, my boyfriend is amazing and very intelligent. He could teach math even to a door. I'm sure he can do it hahahahah.
Gregor – wooow!!!! Mr. Perfection!!!
Mandy just smiles.
Gregor – okay, I'll talk to him… I'm heading out, alright?
Mandy – go ahead, training tomorrow, I want to see you there!
---
Maya's Point of View
Jheysi – so, what happened?
Maya – I'm fine.
Jheysi – Maya!! Of course you're not fine, I know you!!
What happened??
Maya – well… it's…
Jheysi sits on a chair in the corner and stares attentively at Maya.
Maya – okay!! You know Alícia?
Jheysi – yeah, I do. What about her? Did you like her? Uhhhh…
Maya – no! Her face.
Jheysi – huh?? Is it pretty?
Maya – no!! Pay attention, I've seen her face before…
But not her actual face, it was someone else…
Jheysi – go back a bit, I'm already lost. Let me see if I understood. You've seen her face before, but not on her? How does that work?
Maya – yes. It was an older version of her, at Valéria's house, with Fionna.
Four knocks can be heard on the door.
Maya – it's occupied!!!
Violet – Maya? Where is everyone?
Jheysi (whispering) – wait… what if you saw the future?
Violet – I'm coming in.
Maya – don't come in!! I'm naked, changing!
Violet – stop being ridiculous, girl!!
Violet opens the door and finds Jheysi and Maya.
Violet – ohhhh, what are you two doing here? And why was Maya naked?
Jheysi – surprise!! We're dating!! And we were doing lewd things.
Violet – Jheysi, you don't fool me. And lewd things?! Seriously? You're straight, I've tested that myself.
Maya – yeeeaah… okay then!! I'm leaving.
Violet – no, no, no. I need both of you. Something is happening in this institution, and I need you two. You're the only ones I can trust. This involves Alícia, her mother, Estela, and Mandy.
Maya looks surprised.
At that exact moment, Estela appears at the door.
Estela – where is everyone?
Violet – thank you, writer, for making this girl show up right now. Come in and close the door.
Everyone enters the room and looks at Violet.
Violet – look, Maya, I know you're the youngest one here, and I don't even know if I can ask for your help since we barely know each other.
Jheysi looks at Maya and nods.
Maya – okay, I'll help you, but I have information about the new girl that I can't delay telling you.
Violet – of course, please!!
Maya – I know Alícia's mother.
[TO BE CONTINUED…]