Flickers of the screen

The Flicker

The day started like any other, our family chauffeur picked me up from school as always. Today, we got stuck in an unusual traffic. A nasty old woman knocked on my window with her dirty hands, I was disgusted at the sight of her. I had very little patience as it was and being stuck in the traffic pissed me off even more. I was planning to ignore her but she refused to leave, knocking and peeping desperately as if I had something that belonged to her--or as if she had seen me somewhere and wants to talk. Her unwavering stare made me uneasy.

“How much longer is this going to take, James?” I said to the chauffeur. I was going to be late to watch the finale of my favorite series. “Not much longer miss Van Do--” “Ma’am, I am ma’am to you” I interrupted. ” I-I thought you said we should call you that, ma’am” He replied with a stutter. ” Well not anymore” I said.

I turned around to look out the window and got startled, the old woman was still there. In annoyance I quickly lowered the glass. Before i could say a word she snapped, “Took you long enough, you brat!” Whoa! My eyes blinked in disbelief. ” Wow, you really are a piece of trash” I barked back. Just as I thought I mumbled under my breath.” I heard that you little piece of shit” She replied aggressively. How did she even?... No--wait.. Did I just feel intimidated? Well, there’s a first for everything. I thought to myself. ” You were meant to hear it” I said in defense. “So, do you always greet people like that or am I special?” I asked with a scoff. “There’s nothing special about you except that you may experience what others cannot, if circumstances are met” she said. I didn’t understand what she said but for some reason it felt like something was about to happen, but what will this old hag know.

“Is that what you wanted to say? Is that why you were peeping through the glass?” I asked. ” What I’m about to tell you will change your life if you use it, otherwise you will have to learn the hard way.” She said, her voice was firm this time. “Huh? hard way you say? you must be daydreaming, wench!” I said almost bursting into laughter. “Shut it! Would you just shut up and listen? we’re running out of time” Her eyes narrowed and her voice was stern. Awkwardly, I kept quiet.

“Now, roses have thorns but apart from that, it is a beautiful flower. Mend your ways child, not every path is straight, you might arrive at the wrong destination.” I blinked, unsure if I heard her right. But she didn’t give a damn and continued. Her cloudy eyes hinting something ancient. “Seek the truth behind your heart or you may unleash an ancient curse, one that hasn’t been laid on anyone in centuries.

Her focus shifted, her gaze turned cold and sad. The reason is not clear but if you listen closely you find what you heart already knows. Let go of this hatred, embrace the love before your eyes. This must have something to do with Elara’s fall through the veil...” She took a step back without completing her sentence, that’s when I noticed the traffic was clearing up, vehicles were moving. “We shall meet again Carla, the brac--” I couldn’t hear her as we drove past her.

I noticed an odd looking bracelet on my bag, I remember seeing the old woman holding it. Did she drop it? It looked antique. It had some faded markings which seemed to spell ‘when the stars align, connect with an object through lightning.’ It made no sense.

When I got home, her words kept echoing in my mind. I didn’t understand half of what she said but it felt like more than just mere talk. It felt like she knew something the world didn’t.

The series was beginning. I rushed to the parlor and grabbed some pop corn. Today is the day she finally rescued her mother, I said excitedly.

‘Whispers beyond the veil’ A fantasy series about a girl named Freya in the realm of the celestials. Her human mother was being held captive at the palace. During very rare occasions, the king would bring her out with chains bound to her neck and showcase her like an animal. She, Elara was the only human in the realm, when rare circumstances are met the veil between the worlds weakens and through that, she found herself stuck in a new world.

Freya’s father was a celestial king and Freya herself was only half human. She had celestial powers. She was determined to get her mother out no matter what. She was not after the throne that was taken from her, she just wanted her mother to be free.

King Auren, Freya’s dad, was killed by the former lord Aldric for marrying a mere human. Aldric believed humans to be weak and a threat to the realm.

When Aldric ascended the throne, Elara knew he’d come after her and her half-human daughter. She quickly handed Freya over to Fiona, her handmaiden. Ever since Freya had lived with Fiona and now she finally decides to face Aldric. And she gets killed in the process.

“No, fuck, damn it ! You can’t just kill her and end the series like that. What type of freak kills their main character in the last episode? Why are you letting that bastard get away? He fucking killed her father!” I yelled at the tv as if the director could hear me.” This is the worst series I’ve ever watched. If I were Freya, I would not have let that son of a bitch distract me with his Goddamned illusion powers and manipulative tongue.” I said and threw the remote on the couch.

“Keep it down Carla, I’m trying to get some sleep” My mum called out from her bedroom. She’s always saying that, I thought to myself. “Can’t you be a little more patient, I was about to turn it off anyway.” I yelled back. “Have a little manners, would you?...” My mum replied. The flicker in the screen caught my attention. It was just a flicker but something in me couldn’t shake off walking towards the tv . I slowly walked to the screen and touched it. ” Oh, shit!” I said and took a step back. Did the screen prick me or was it all in my head, I wondered. Curiosity got the better of me, I couldn’t resist the sudden urge to touch it again. This time, I felt dizzy.

I could hear thunder rumbling outside. The lights flickered as lighting stroke. I tried to touch it once more to be sure i wasn’t hallucinating. Something in the screen began to pull my hand in, like there was a hidden portal. I panicked. “Mum! Mum! there’s something wrong with the tv! ” She didn’t hear me, I screamed, panic crawled down my spine, my chest tightened. I called out to mum yet it was to no avail. My body felt heavy, I was getting dizzier, I tried to fight the pulling force but just drained all of my energy instead.

My body felt heavy, my head was spinning. My eyes fluttered open, I was about to begin complaining about how weak i felt when I noticed... that wasn’t my room. Its too bright with ancient designed curtains and bedsheets... everything here looks ancient.” Wh-where am I? M-mum? Dad?. Anyone, please...” I said, my voice cracking.

I looked around, never leaving the bed. The room looks familiar. I tried to remember whether I’ve been here before but my head ached when I tried to think. I shoved the blanket covering my legs to one side.Why do all these look familiar? and how did i end up here? I thought to myself. My eyes caught a glimpse of light from the corner of the room--a mirror.

Slowly, I walked towards it. As I walked to the mirror, I placed my hand on the wall to support my exhausted body, as my hand rested on the wall, my head spun even more, then I saw a girl with dark golden-brown curly hair singing and clinging to the wall. In a blink, the girl disappeared and I found myself bent down on the floor. My chest heaved. What just happened? Am I hallucinating? And why does it make me even weaker? I pushed myself up again, swaying a little. I wanted to touch it again to know whether it was all true or not, but even the thought felt too heavy. I turned towards the mirror but the sight staring back stole the air from my lungs.

That’s not me... It was the girl I saw when i touched the wall.

I moved closer, my trembling hand reached my face. My black hair, my pointed nose... they’re all gone. Who is this? What exactly happened? Why can’t I remember? Then, a wave of memories slammed into my mind, fragments of the past flashing too fast to follow. I was trying to make sense out of them-- until faint footsteps repeatedly reach my ears. Soft, distant but they grew louder, closer, each tap echoing as if someone was heading towards me. I felt out of breath, struggling to focus, the memories blurr, in an instant, I snapped out of it. Someone was coming. I darted back to the bed and pretended to be asleep.

The door handle twisted and the door flung open...

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