Eliza's POV;
I stare curiously at my computer's screen as the cool night's breeze blows into my partly lit room through my window. I inhale in pleasure as it cools off my skin. I do want to be beautiful. I want to make an impact. I want to prove everybody wrong, and storm the world.
I want to make fame at a rate that will shock my family. However, is this pop-up legit? Will it answer all my questions and grant my wishes?
What's the harm in trying though? It's not like I have anything to lose. I put on my glasses, and take my seat.
I click on the link, and all I find is a phone number displayed on a red background. I raise a brow and keep scrolling till I get to the bottom of the page. But that's it. Just... A phone number.
I scroll through again, just to be sure I didn't miss anything. But I find nothing but this number. Is this some sort of prank?
I walk back to my bed and grab my phone, and after not more than a few seconds of hesitation, I find myself dialing the number.
I sit before my system and anxiously wait for a voice, but I get nothing. For some reason, I get more curious with every second that passes.
I begin to lose hope as my calls keep going unanswered, but at the third call, a beep is heard, and a slow, elderly, rough, male voice slips into my ears.
"Hello? "
"H- Hello? Is... Is this... "I begin but stop as I have no idea what they are or who I am calling.
"Do you want your dreams to come true? Whatever they are, I have the answers to your prayers. "The man says as if noticing my plight, and I sit up.
"Yes... Yes. I... I called for that. I... Want my prayers to be answered. How will you do that? "I question, and silence follows.
"There are many ways I can help your prayers get answers. We just have to agree on one.
Besides, dear, what is your desire? "The man's slow voice replies, and I smile and shut my eyes.
"My desire... It's to be beautiful. Mindlessly flawless... To stun all those who've looked down on me. "I reply, and the man on the other end of the call draws a deep breath.
"That smells delightful... "He says, and my heart skips a beat.
"Pardon? "I question in confusion.
"I said, that sounds delightful. "He replies, and I fall silent. I'm pretty sure that's not what I heard, but maybe because the man is old. Maybe he can't keep track of the things he's saying.
My eyes catch a glimpse of my wall clock, and I find that it's 01: 16 am. So late at night, and someone so elderly was able to pick a strangers phone call.
"When you're ready, ma'am. You can come to the address, and we'd get down to business. " The man says, and I raise a brow. I almost forgot I was still on the phone.
"What address?..." I begin but freeze upon looking at my systems screen. The address is boldly written on the screen. And it's just a few streets away.
That's strange. I can swear it wasn't there earlier...
"Have a nice night, dear. Sure would love to do business with you. "The man says, and with that, he ends the call.
I place my phone down and stare strangely at the address that I somehow managed to miss earlier.
Did I miss it, or did it just pop up? Maybe I'm a bit tipsy from sleep. Nothing makes any sense right now. Not even the strange phone call I just shared with an absolute stranger. I'd think better in the morning.
I take a photo of the address with my phone, turn off my system's wifi connection, shut down my system, and head back to my bed for sleep.
Everything will make sense in the morning.
*****
"Eliza, wake up! "Athena's voice frightens me out of my sleep while violently shaking me, and my eyes fly open.
"I'm up! I'm up! "I call in surrender as I sluggishly sit up, and rub my eyes.
"Wow... What in God's name are you wearing? "She questions and I roll my eyes before looking at her.
" Slim suit. Aunty Gloria made it. "I reply, and she raises a brow.
"Hold up. Aunt Gloria made you a slim suit!? Like... A suit to make you slim!? Why? "She questions and I yawn in boredom.
"Well, I gained quite some fat from the pizzas I've been eating, and my folks think it's bad for business. "I reply honestly.
"You have got to be kidding me! It's just fat Eliza, and you didn't even add that much! "She replies, and I stare up at the wall clock.
It's 07:00 am already.
"Well, my family doesn't seem to think so... "I reply.
"But that doesn't matter though. I would soon have them eating their words back up. "I add as I stand off my bed and walk over to the mirror.
"That sounds shady. What are you up to, Eliza? "Athen says and questions as I assess myself in the mirror, but I remain silent.
"Tell me, Eliza, what's on your mind? "She questions more adamantly as she pulls me to face her.
"It's nothing, Athena. I found a site. A person actually. He claims to be able to grant my wishes. "I reply as I turn back to the mirror, and without looking at Athena, I know her cute face is scrunched in confusion.
"I... Don't understand. "She states, and I roll my eyes.
"Remember the pop-up from last week? "I question, and she arches a brow to tell me that she's clueless about what I'm saying.
"The one that came up while we were trying to d******d the movie. Well, it came up again, and I tapped it.
I got a number and spoke to a man. He said he could help me. "I narrate, and Athena stares at me like I've grown an extra ear.
"Eliza, are you... Is something wrong with you? Do you have a fever or something? "She questions, and I laugh.
" I'm fine, Athena... "I begin, but she cuts me off.
"No, you're not, Eliza. For God's sake, what are you even saying? Is this some sort of joke?
Eliza, you don't just meet people online who grant your wishes. Genie didn't come from a laptop, Eliza!
This could be anyone. A scam, a trafficker, a kidnapper, some crazy person... Don't you watch movies!? "She yells, and I roll my eyes although I get her point.
"Relax, Athena. It's not a big deal. I... "I begin, but she cuts me off.
"No, Eliza. You, nothing! This isn't you talking. It's desperation! You're not going to see some stranger you met online, all-cause your family is overbearing! "She scolds, and I shut my eyes.
"You're beautiful, Eliza. Very. And you don't need any punk scamming you before you learn that.
Promise me you won't go... "She begs, and I give her a look.
It's easy for her to say. She's not the ugly duckling of a perfect family. She's not the one whose family prefers her older brother to, she's not the one whose family constantly body shames and reminds of her flaws.
It may be stupid, and desperate... But I want to give this a try. After all, how bad can things go?
"Promise me, Eliza! "Athena scolds, and I come back to the room.
"Fine. I promise. "I lie as I take her hand and deep down I know this is the weakest promise I have ever made.
I don't intend to keep it.
Eliza's POV; I'm in my bedroom with Athena. She's surfing through the internet, and I'm going through my emails to be sure I haven't missed anything concerning work. Athena mostly always spends her weekends with me. Which explains why she was here when I woke up earlier today. We are a pair that's been inseparable for a very long time. "Sweet, Jesus! "Athena suddenly yells, and I jump off my bed and land on the floor in fear, with a loud thud. "Athena! "I yell while rubbing my rump when I realize she screamed like that all because of something she saw online. "Oh my God, babe. I'm so sorry. "She says as she comes to the side of my high bed and offers me a hand which I reluctantly take. "What happened? "I question when I finally take back my position on the bed. "You will not believe it, Eliza. "She replies, and I give her a look. "Ok, ok. Anthony's birthday is next week. "She replies, and I give her a look. Anthony has been her crush for quite some time now. She's been stuck b
. Eliza's POV; It's finally the day of the party, and Athena and I get down from my Mercedes in front of the club, booming with music. I walk into the building, with eyes trailing Athena and me, and I smirk inwardly at all the attention. I chose a cute, pink dress, and Athena on the other hand chose to go all black. Which makes her look like an extremely cute, sexy, goth girl. I look around the room in search of Damien. To be honest, he's the reason behind my whole outfit I dressed for his reaction. If I by any chance found out that he won't be at this party, heaven knows I won't come. Even though Athena would have destroyed my life with pleas. I finally spot him and his teammates in a circle in a corner, and I do not miss the flawless jaw drop expression that takes up his face when he sees me. Although he quickly recovers from it... I blush heavily at the fact that I was able to draw such a reaction from him. Now I have seen him and he has seen me, but the issue is having the b
. Eliza's POV; I stare at Amber with wide eyes as her words reach my ears. Kiss me! This little devil knows full well that Athena has a crush on Anthony. There's no way in hell she doesn't know that. And asking him to kiss me in front of Athena and Damien is just some stupid move of hers to throw Athena and me off the edge. “What? “I question in alarm, and she raises a brow at me. “What? Everyone has been doing their dares. Why can't you do yours? “She questions, and my jaw drops. “I don't want to kiss her. How much am I paying?” Anthony speaks, and I'm grateful for the fact that he doesn't want to kiss me. “You're not paying anything, Anthony. You have to kiss her. “Amber says, and I look over at Athena in alarm. “How is that fair? Everyone else got to pay when they didn't want to do their dare. Why can't he pay? “Athena speaks, and Amber faces her. “ Because I'm the one giving the dare, so I'm the one making the rules concerning it. Kiss her, Anthony. “She replies. The last
Eliza's POV; I can not believe Damien chose to kiss Amber over me! He chose that rotten bag of attitude over me! At first, I was glad, Anthony didn't want to kiss me, but now that I think back on it, I feel… Insulted. If I were some hot chick, won't he jump at the offer of kissing me? Two boys turned me down in public. One of which has been my crush since forever. “Ma'am, we're in Allen Avenue. Which house are we heading to? “My driver questions. Pulling me back to earth, and I unlock my phone and stare at the address. “Number six. “I reply, and he nods. Not long after, he pulls up before a simple, green house. I stare sternly at it and swallow. This… Doesn't seem like a good idea. Heading to a stranger's house to get 'answers to my prayers. ' Either way, I'm still willing to take this risk. No guts, no glory. This just might be the breakthrough I need. Something tells me that the answer to my prayers does lie behind that door. Whoever is in there, can't hurt me. My driver is o
In my car, I keep thinking about the things I saw and what that man told me. Many things are wired about that place, but I still want what I want. What's the worst that could happen? He'd give me drugs to start using? Or… What? I have no idea what to expect, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to stop trying! I want to be perfect! I need to be! I want to put that Amber brat in her place, I want my parents to value me, I want aunt Gloria to eat her words about me back, I want Damien to love me as I love him, and more… I want to be a worldwide icon. I want to be perfect in every way. To make history. I must be acknowledged. I'm done living like this! I love my job. I'm a model, and I love what I do. But with a family like mine, especially with aunty Gloria around, you end up feeling like crap, and then you're not so sure if you even enjoy what you do anymore. Each time I'm walking the runway, her horrid words keep coming back to me, and I have to shield my pains with fake smiles and
Eliza's POV; Athena and I are in my room, working on our Spanish assignment together. “Eliza, I need a drink. This Spanish is draining the life out of me. “Athena exclaims dramatically, and I laugh at her exaggeration. Between the both of us, Athena speaks Spanish best. She speaks it like it's her mother tongue, while I speak it like a stammering child. “Oh, come on. I need a drink. How about that astonishing red grape drink you always get us? “She begs, and I roll my eyes. I have served her the same drink a hundred times, yet she has never bothered to take note of its name. Even though she loves it like it's the only drink in the world. “Fine. I'd go get it. But soon enough, you're going to have to pay a fine for not knowing the name of your best drink. “I reply, and she giggles. “Whatever. “She replies, as I exit the room, and I shake my head at her. I head to the kitchen, get a massive jug of red grape juice from the fridge, two cups, and set them on a tray alongside a box
Eliza's POV; Athena tried relentlessly to make me feel better, but it was of no use. I'm done with all the lies, all the hypocrisy, and fake love. I'm fed up with everyone and with everything. I had to lie to her and fake a smile that I was okay, but deep down I knew that a massive bomb of desperation had exploded inside me. She left a few hours ago, and now I'm on my way to Allen Avenue, number six. I'm going to see that old man, and he must help me. I gulp down my fear as I ring the silver doorbell before me. The last time I was here, it was in the afternoon. Now that I'm here in the cold evening, it makes the hair on my skin rise. I prefer not to spend another day of my life as the person I am right now. At least not without assurance that soon enough something I'm doing would yield me a tangible result. The door slowly creaks open, and I swallow before walking in. Once again, the door shuts after me, and I close my eyes. I look around the empty room before me and find that t
Eliza's POV; I walk into the room and an ominous feeling consumes me as a sudden rush of wind hits me. The hairs on my skin rise, and I feel goosebumps cloth my body as I look around the dark room. One can hardly see the things in the room, except the candles on the walls, and the strange, gigantic symbol on the floor outlined by candles. “Go and sit in the middle of the circle. “The old man's rough voice says to me, and I look up at him. “There? “I question. As I am honestly creeped out by this place. The man simply looks at me, and I look away. “S… Sorry. “I apologize before making my way towards the massive symbol on the floor. “Take off your shoes. “He orders. Stopping me in my tracks, and I roll my eyes before obeying him. Magic! Yeah, right! Believing in magic is just like believing in dinosaurs and unicorns. But, I'd do this. Just to prove that I tried, and I didn't let any opportunity slip past me. I make my way to the symbol and sit in its middle. “Take a meditatio