Alex's POV
"Yes, Alex. You aren't here yet?" Margie replied.
"Ben has been lying."
"What are you saying?" She seemed puzzled.
"His father doesn't support his acting. He's powerless. And he even... even called you a chick."
"So? Alex do you really need this job? Why are you wasting my time over this conversation?"
"I'm not lying Margi-"
"Alex, please let me work."
With that, she hung up the phone on my face.
"Didn't I tell you? It just won't work this way. You need more to defeat me." He scoffed again.
"You know what? F*ck this, I'm out."
I barged out of the room, hitting my shoulders on the swinging door. I felt a sharp pain shoot down my bones, but there were more important things to oversee. I began to trudge towards my building, to think what comes next. It was nearby the theatre.
I walked out of the theatre, towards the run down building nearby. It looked like it hadn't seen fresh paint in ten years and its walls were cracking throughout. There was moss growing on its surface, that covered everything except the grilled balconies of each unit.
In this world, I was born as a poor man.
I climbed the dingy stairs and reached my unit, 306. Upon hearing the click of lock, I pushed the door and entered inside.
The inside wasn't any better either. The walls were old and chipped, windows with light covered by other buildings around, an old metal bed with mattress lay at my mercy, with a small table that also functioned as my dining table, the gas stove and mini fridge formed my kitchen and there was small almirah near the window that was my wardrobe.
Whatever it may be, I had a task and I had to call this my home for as long as I was required to. This was my home unless stated so.
I walked to my kitchen and picked up a pack of instant noodles from the counter, and heated the water to cook the noodles in the kettle I found at a thrift shop.
As I waited for the water to heat up, I began to tread deeper in my thoughts.
'Did I deserve this?'
'What do I even tell to my Fate Manager?'
'This has never happened before?'
... Were some questions popping around in my mind.
'Tringgg!'
Alas, this train was broken by the sound of the doorbell. I picked up the kettle.
As I was about to pour the water, the door bell rang.
I ignored it.
It rang again... And again.
"Ugh... Who could it be," I sighed, picking up the kettle.
I rushed to open the door with the kettle still in my hand.
Guess who? Yep.
"What do you want?" I asked in disinterest.
"Wow, this place is really cool," He said, looking around. " The walls are exotic, the food is grand, the smell is majestic and the illumination is just perfect!" He smiled sarcastically.
"Yes, it's perfect indeed." I replied. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, after you leave, Margie said I'll be occupying 306, so I was just looking around at the property."
I glanced at him, he had the dead eyes again.
"You have seen it right? Now you can leave."
"Oh look who is talking!" He giggled. "Can't hold a kettle properly and you wish to order me?"
"Ben, please leave I'm pleading you." I tried to push him out with one hand but he kept pushing back with his hand at my chest.
"I won't leave, what will you do?"
"Don't test me."
"Do it."
I was at my limits for the day and more in his case. Without giving a second thought, I splashed the entire kettle contents at his face. He let out a blood-curling scream, sending a satisfaction signal to my nerves.
He fell down and began to flinch and writhe in pain, unable to get up.
'Maybe it was too hot?'
I started having second thoughts. I opened the kettle lid and checked for any steam from the remaining water.
There was none.
'Maybe it was hot to touch?'
I put my finger inside the water hesitantly.
Cold.
It was ice cold.
I looked back at the power switch.
It was turned off.
I had never switched it on.
"Get up you f*cker!" I screamed at him and kicked him hard. "What is all this exaggeration for!"
"Wait." He paused. "Oh yeah, you're right. It doesn't hurt." He looked up at me. "Maybe if you had been a little more careful."
"But this surely will." I said as I kicked him hard again, this time out of my house bounds. He was speechless.
But I didn't care. I shut the door on his face.
'What even is his problem?'
I went back to heating my water, this time making sure I turn the switch on. I could even see the steam emerging. I picked up the kettle and walked to my dining table, ready to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles.
The doorbell rang again.
I walked to the door and opened it, only to see Ben standing in front of me again, thought bent on one side. His right side probably hurting.
"I was wondering if you'd open the door." He smirked. "I didn't know you were that desperate to see me."
I blinked hard.
"Ben," I said, swinging the kettle, "this time I made sure to boil the water, you'd not want it on your face."
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving alright," He gestured a stop with his hands.
After he left, I came out of the door a little to see if he was up to something again. I saw something kept near the edge of my door. It was a plastic bag, with piping hot food inside. There was chicken soup, some rice and my favourite chilli oil. In our world, we had gebinziro peppers which were prized for its unique taste and were famous for its oil. That oil used to be my favourite. Chilli oil would be the closest second option for it. I also found a note inside.
"Soup is said to be soothing for the soul. Get energised, our fight is still on."
"Ben brought this?" I was puzzled.
Getting soup was a good gift. I didn't really care about the source much, since it was the food that mattered. I drank it to my heart's content till I was full. It was indeed very soothing. The combination of hot, warm broth with soft flavors and the dingy environment I was sitting in, were strangely very comforting.
As I was filling up myself to forget what happened that day, I heard the bell again.
This time I ran to the door with the kettle lid opened, barged opened the door and swung it at the entrance at him but suddenly everything stopped in place.
The kettle? Mid air.
The water? Frozen in place.
'What even is happening?'
Right at that moment, I saw minute cracks forming around me, revealing something darker underneath. The cracks grew bigger and branched further gradually till my surroundings had seperated into shards. It looked like the world was a glass plate that had shattered into several pieces. At that point, the pieces began to glow a fuschia color at the edges. They began to levitate.
For others it may have been strange, but I knew exactly what I was dealing with.
"Franxis! I knew it!" I cried in happines.
Out of the shards, emerged a dark figure, shaping itself to a recognisable state of a human-like being. It was charcoal - grey throughout, with the exceptions of its body suit, that had linear neon fuschia details around the neck, the sleeves and the pants. Its long straight hair also glowed bright pink and its eyes formed like light-ruby beads. It had perfectly sculpted nose and thick black lips. It was my best friend from there, my dear Franxis.
"Alex! Long time no see!" They exclaimed, running towards me for a hug. I hugged them back.
"I missed you so much," I said, with tears forming in my eyes. "I really needed someone today," I deepened my grip.
"Alex, I know you're not in your right state right now," they said, pulling away from the hug and looking at me with the kindest eyes.
"Why do I feel a but coming?" I hardened my gaze.
"But you need to listen to this," their voice now becoming more authoritative. "Fate Manager is annoyed at you for this mess. You will have to fix it all," they paused. "You might need to let go of your self-respect for this mission," They sighed.
"I knew it... You're not her for me."
"Alex, I am here for you, always been," Their voice shivered. "Today I am here as an official at the Fate Reservoir," They pursed their lips. "Alex you will have to go back."
"No way I am going back to that idiot Ben, and Margie, she backstabbed me."
"I know that Alex," They held my shoulders. "These people are not real, so they shouldn't affect you."
"You're right... But I feel a resentment towards them, especially Ben."
"Everything unexplainable is fate, you remember that right?"
"Ah yes, the Fate Convention."
"Then let it flow. Let things take course per normal and let's see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, I'll be responsible and take you off this mission, alright?" They looked at me with glowing eyes, hinting a promise in our world. I could trust those, right?
"Alright, the last chance I am giving to this, all because of you."
"I knew it Alex, you wouldn't disappoint me..." Their voice trailed off as they disappeared gradually.
"Franxis!" I shouted, reaching my hand out to them, my eyes looking towards them and my heart calming down a little.
At that moment, I felt a soft touch graze my hands, as the time seemed to begin running gradually. My heartbeat became faster, yet I wanted more of it, I held onto the hand harder as I saw my surroundings piece back together again. The hand tugged mine, snapping everything back into place. It was the pull I needed to feel myself again.
I looked up to see who it was, our eyes met. The dead eyes again but not so dead this time, they had a glimmer of hope at bay, almost calling out to me.
"How was the soup?" The pursed lips spoke up.