„You made your own bed. Now, you must lie in it forever, until you grow old."- Hillary Wolf
Whoever loves to be alone likes to shield themselves from the world. Those who dislike solitude and can't handle it always need someone by their side to fill their gaps for them, to distract them from the obscurity of it all.
In many instances, people choose one or the other because they simply favor it more, meaning it has nothing to do with filling an emptiness in one's soul or distractions from feelings of self-hatred.
Different personalities and abilities to think oftentimes play a role in which instances we choose, as well. Whereas, there are times when people effectively choose solitude or always being sorrounded by other people thinking they solely favor it more, when it actually has to do with their own beliefs, feelings and emotional scars deeply rooted into their subconcious.
The state of consciousness is a mystery not even scientists can explain concretely. Dreams, neurons and multiple aspects have been studied and not everything has been discovered completely.
The brain is the most complex organ, but also the most interesting. People love to delve deeper into other's thoughts and discover more about psychology.
Our mind is like a maze. We can get stuck inside of it, trying to search for a way out, but we don't see it. Eventually, after a long time of looking for an end to the maze, we give up, except we forget that there is always an escape from the maze.
Vivien adored to isolate herself from others. It brought a sense of peace knowing that nobody could tell her what to do, to criticize her, to make her cry and upset her because of awful words she had never adressed to anyone before like she'd been forced to listen to, to make her overthink if they were upset at her, if they secretly hated her or if they were talking badly behind her back, and so on.
Because that's what others usually did to her. Nobody cared enough to comfort her in the moment or reassure her, yet she would always help someone in need of reassurance.
But she was done waiting. She was done with trying to make herself shrink from the world, like she didn't belong, when nobody else did the same. She did not want to be like them: cruel, ignorant, aiming to bring others down to make themselves feel superior, on top. She just didn't want to have to feel how badly it hurt, anymore. That's all she wanted.
If people would continue being cruel to her, and they have been for years now, then she'd simply not have to care about anything anymore. That would be her only solution.
Perhaps, there were other ends to the maze she hadn't seen, yet. Maybe, there was a different solution to her mental tribulations, one she hadn't observed in the distance.
If she talked to someone else about how mean and ruthless people have been to her, she'd be told that it's a part of life. That it is reality and that everyone has to face horrendeous events happening in their life. But Vivien went through too much because of others, she has had enough of it. Why did this have to be our reality? Why couldn't we change it, just like shaping a fictional story writers create? Is reality that far off from fiction that some things just can't be changed, solely because it is our ugly reality, the one that we chose to create? Is it something that we will have to deal with forever?
Perhaps, beautiful fiction can be rewritten over and over, bend time like warm wax, resurrect the fallen hero. Our ugly reality, on the other hand, has consequences that stick like ink. We can't change the impact people have on others in our reality. What stays for now will stick around for longer, until a certain point in time. We, pretty much, can't do anything against destiny. We can only try to fight it, creating our own way through.
Vivien and Sylas walked back to Leonard's office, as promised two days ago. He told them he had something important to tell them.
The two went to that same wall in Elton University and opened the portal to his building. They stepped inside the dark tunnel and immediately knew where to go to find Leonard.
Vivien stepped in his office first, without knocking. She needed to know what was going on.
„You've come. I've been waiting for you."
„Now that we're here, what is it you wanted to tell us?", she asked.
„As you know, I am the commissioner of this place. People here come and go, they all need something from me. Regarding my attribution to this business, it is mandatory to give a little something in return for the help customers give to me."
„Go on.", Sylas said.
„I would have helped to break your curse, but I don't know how to do that. However, I have something you two can use."
Leonard looked through his drawers. He searched through the multiple contracts and pencils he owned. Finally, he found what he was looking for, placing five devices on his desk.
„Instead, I allow you to take this device which alters time. You can go back and forward into time with it, but only for five trips, no more than that. What you need to do to use it is to set the amount of years forwards or backwards in time you want to travel. Then, press onto the button on the right. That will make it instantly teleport you into the year you chose. It will feel weird when you use it for the first time, so don't be afraid. Keep in mind, I put my whole faith in you that you'll use it responsibly."
Vivien and Sylas leaned forward, listening to Leonard's instructions. Just as Leonard stretched out his hand to give them the small device, Sylas didn't waste any time. He took it and held it close, like a precious porcelaine object.
„I believe it will give you two more time to find out how to break the curse, more chances. All things considered, it will help you, just like you've helped me.", Leonard adressed.
Jude had referred to them that their curse was unbreakable. They were destined to have a terrible future. Yet, there was still hope etched into their soul. They would try everything they could.
After a few more moments, Frida strode in.
„Hello! Are you searching for something? Wait, is this the secret meeting you did not permit me to attend? Don't you worry, I'll be quick, I only need a single book from your office, Leonard. I must say, all those novels from the libraries in the main halls have gotten extra boring. I know me and you only started working recently and I haven't gotten to read everything you obtained, but diversity doesn't exist in this perimeter, when it should!"
Frida looked through the books in the small bookshelf Leonard had in his office. The way she searched for novels reminded Sylas of how interested Vivien was in looking for new books to read. He almost smiled at the memory he had of her.
Vivien thought it was the perfect opportunity to adress to Leonard the letters on her palm.
„Does this ring any bells to you?", she raised her palm, catching his attention. „I did not write it myself.", she added.
„Those seem to be the initials of... Frida Loren?"
„Me? Did someone say my name?", Frida turned around, holding three books in her arms which looked absolutely ancient. Her hat fell off from the sudden movement, the woman couldn't do anything else than stare as it fell.
„She said one book, but took three" were the words Sylas wanted to say out loud, but didn't. Leonard decided to ask Frida about the strange occurance.
„Frida, do you know why she has your initials on her palm?"
„Oh well, I don't have a single clue. Anyways, could you please pick up that hat for me, Vivien?"
Vivien crouched and picked up her round hat, then placed it back on her head.
„Thank you very much! I must get going, please don't let me stop you from whatever you were duscussing. Safe travels!"
Frida left in a hurry, leaving Sylas and Vivien to think about how quick her dismissal was. Sylas closed the door to the office once she left.
„Could be the initials of someone else. Frida is new here, she is a simple woman. I don't think she could have cursed you two."
„Yeah, but she told the Huldra we'd come attack her. She did that against your will." was something Vivien really wanted to share with Leonard, but had to hold back. Frida's dismissal made her think deeply if those were her initals, or not.
Eventually, Vivien and Sylas thanked Leonard for his help and walked out the office, closing the door behind them.
Once the two came out the office, Vivien immediately turned to Sylas.
„Guess what?", she asked him.
Vivien took out four more devices of the same nature from the pocket of her coat, alongside the one Leonard had handed Sylas. She held them in front of him while smirking. Now, Leonard was left with no time altering devices, so he couldn't go back in time to stop her from stealing.
„We don't have just five trips. We've got twenty-five."
„When did you...? How...? I mean, this is great! Haha."
She placed them back in the pocket of her coat, then walked forward, followed by Sylas.
„I say that this curse is not unbreakable. First, let's brew our potion. I brought the list of ingredients with me, to make use of. Next, in case our first option doesn't work, we try out these devices."
„I didn't think you'd learn this much from me, sweetheart."
„Doubting my abilities? That's awful."
...
Jude told them that breaking the curse was a race against time which they failed, but there were still slim chances that they could save their future. However, they needed to move fast for their attempts to break the curse to be effective. They weren't completely hopeless, yet.
The potion only worked if brewed in the evening and if the order in which the ingredients were put was right. Also, all the ingredients needed to be from the future realm, exactly the year 2029. The two made their way to the locations they would find their ingredients for the potion. First, they needed to get fur from a ginger cat to add to the potion.
The two looked around the streets to find a cat with colored fur that they so desperately needed. After walking for a few more minutes, Vivien observed a stray ginger cat licking its paws.
She walked towards it, keeping a relatively slow pace so as to not frighten the pet. Luckily for them, the animal was already accustomed to humans. She gave it a few pets and the cat purred. It slowly got used to Vivien. That was when she decided to pick it up and hold it close to her. Sylas only watched.
„Hi, cutie. You're so adorable."
„You should take it home.", Sylas said.
Vivien slowly picked a bit of fur from the cat. It was already shedding fur which was left all over her coat, but that didn't upset her.
When trying to put the cat down on the ground, Vivien accidentally used her powers which turned the cat into a small kitten. It meowed at her over and over again.
The girl apologized and touched the cat once again with her right hand, which made it turn back to the age it was at before.
Next, the two went to pick up red flowers: ten, exactly. Then, their final stop was at a grocery store, where they bought cherries, their last ingredient for the mixture.
The two waited until night to brew the potion. Vivien used the instructions and did everything according to the script written. Sylas stood by and told her the order to put the ingredients in. First, the cherries. Next, the petals of the red flowers. Lastly, the cat fur. She stirred it at high heat and watched as the potion turned into a peculiar, dark red color.
According to the instructions, the potion should have an immediate effect. Once they drank it, their powers should disappear, and in turn, their curse would be broken.
After finishing stirring the potion and brewing it, she gave Sylas a mug and poured it inside. Then, she poured some of the mixture for herself.
„Cheers!", Sylas said as he started drinking.
„Cheers.", she responded.
The two drank from the potion. It was still hot, but they endured it. Once it was over with, they looked at each other. With the look in his eyes, Sylas was asking if she was ready to find out if the potion had an effect.
Vivien raised her hand and struggled to make the magic work. A strand of purple light appeared from her palm.
She sighed, heavily. They only had one option left, she thought.
„Tomorrow, we try the other option?", she asked him.
„Mhm. We've got five devices. There's no way it won't work."
Vivien and Sylas hugged and said their goodbyes. Afterwards, the girl watched as he went to his home.
Once making sure he was out of sight, she turned to the kitchen and stubbornly tried mixing the ingredients she had left. She tried once again to make the potion and received the same dark red color. Vivien drank it and tried using her powers, but it still had absolutely no effect.
She turned around, angry that it still wasn't working. When turning around, the girl wasn't careful enough and accidentally spilled hot water on her left hand. She burnt herself pretty badly and had to find something to fix her wound up, quickly. Her brother, Luis, was in his room, but he didn't hear the commotion.
After another failed attempt, the girl went to bed with so much on her mind. She had a difficult time falling asleep.