The man sat in his seat, carefully putting the oval portraits of various people on a somewhat old piece of parchment-looking paper. He sprinkled some black powder around the portraits in a gentle fashion, making a vine pattern that decorated the 'picture'. Then the man struck a match and lit one end of the powder trail.
"I have so many people to choose from, but I don't know whom to choose. Each person has his or her own special qualities, but I need the one person who just at least a bit of everything. By lighting this trail of powder on fire, I would like to be told who this person is. Our fate lies in your flames."
He watched the powder light up and burn some of the portraits. The fire trailed everywhere that the powder left a trail until there was no more powder to burn. The fire died out shortly right before a picture of a girl with wavy orange hair and chocolate brown eyes.
"So she's the one. Alice Gehabich..."
Meanwhile, a boy with raven hair walked up behind the man and stared at the picture as well. "I told you so."
"Now it's time to see if she really is worth the efforts."
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
"Goodbye, Alice! See you tomorrow! Don't forget about the poster!"
"Don't worry, I won't. See you in class tomorrow! Be safe!"
Alice waved goodbye to one classmate as she walked home alone in the dark. Ever since taking Advanced Placement classes, Alice spent almost every day studying with friends until evening when she had to return home for dinner. As the year progressed, teachers began holding afternoon study sessions, most of which she tried to attend. As Alice walked away, she heard someone run up to her. "Alice, wait up!"
Alice turned around to see Shun running at her, and thus greeted him with unwelcoming tone. "Oh. What are you doing here?"
Shun stopped to rest as he held his hand out. "You left this on your desk. This is yours, right?" Lying on his palm was a charm-like item in a shape of a weird heptagon.
Alice looked and saw the item in Shun's hand. "Oh, that is mine. I knew I was forgetting something."
"Well, I'm glad I chased up to you for that. I can tell that it's quite valuable already just by looking at it," said Shun, trying to brighten up the mood.
"Thanks. If there's nothing else, then I have to go." Before she left, Alice added a quick warning, "You should go home, too."
"I know. My mom or somebody will pick me up soon. Do you walk home every night? That sounds really-"
"First of all, I don't have the money to buy a car yet. Neither are there buses or taxis driving around at this hour, and you probably know that my aunt is really unpredictable with her work schedule. Happy now?"
A car pulled up against the sidewalk, and knowing that he'd have to leave, Shun wanted to end his conversation nicely. "That's my ride. I have to go now, but I have a quick question."
"What?"
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
Alice was dumbfounded by the question and thought about it. "I wouldn't say that I totally believe in them, but they do intrigue me. Why?"
"Just asking. Take care. Oh, one last thing."
"Now what?"
Shun closed the door of the back seat and put the window down. "I won't be in class on Monday." He put the window back up as the car drove off.
Alice continued to walk home after the car left. I tried my best to stay away him, but he's always coming back. What is wrong with me? Once she arrived home, Alice saw a note on the table from her aunt saying that she left for an important business assignment in a rush. Alice sighed and went to make herself a snack while watching TV. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Who's there?" Alice saw no one outside but a parcel on her doormat. "That's strange. What's this?" She closed the door and put the parcel on her dining table. Alice carefully cut the ropes and tape off the box and opened it.
"It's...a typewriter?"
She also found a wind-up key in the box, which fit perfectly in a slot on the side of the typewriter. Alice refilled the ink ribbon and put in a new piece of paper and then turned the key. The typewriter automatically typed a message.
Dear Alice,
We'd like to invite you to our classes at the School of Spiritualism. You will not only have a chance to meet a famous medium but also to see ghosts!
Come to the building by E. Main Street and Abbot Avenue at 10 p.m.
Gabriel Jones
P. S. This might be helpful with Advanced Placement history course(s), too.
"A séance? I've always wanted to participate in one of those, and it's held tomorrow. I can't believe this!" Alice cheered and celebrated as she prepared the things she thought was necessary for a séance. "Even better since it might help me with an important assignment!"
~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~
As she was sitting inside a taxi on her way to the city hall building, Alice kept wondering if this was actually real. This is just too good to be true. What if this is just another fraud? Then I'll never be able to go to a real séance anytime in my life. Must I really just keep on studying instead of doing these extracurricular activities? Alice opened her eyes to see an empty lot outside.
"Here's your stop, miss. Be careful."
"This is the intersection already? Oh well. Thank you very much."
Alice paid the taxi driver and got off onto the sidewalk. She walked down the sidewalk to where city hall was. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind blew by and blinded her vision. The wind soon died down, and Alice saw a miracle before her eyes. A huge mansion was now standing on the empty lot of grass.
"What is this place?" Alice walked over the front lawn and saw a figure standing by the front door. "Who's there?"
The figure turned around, took a look at Alice, and ran away inside. Alice roughly saw him as a man in his late twenties or early thirties. She walked up the stair and pushed the door open. Inside was a magnificently decorated lobby, with doors on the first and second floor that led to other rooms. However, Alice saw no trace of where that man could've gone.
"Hello?" said Alice with a gradually louder voice. "Is anyone here? Mr. Jones, are you here?"
"So you're finally here." The strange man appeared by the top of the spiral stairs near the banister with his book in his hands again. "Welcome. Everyone else is waiting for you. It's almost 10 o'clock."
Not knowing what to do, Alice walked over to the bottom of the stairs to take a good look at him. His short black hair and brown eyes reminded her of some, but who?
"Are you Mr. Jones?" Alice took out the letter written by the typewriter. "I received this message saying-"
In an instant, the paper flew out of her hands by a gust of wind. Coincidentally, it flew into the man's hand, who stuffed it in his book. For a moment, Alice was shocked to see what had just happened. The man, however, closed his book and spoke.
"I hope that didn't surprise you, but either way, you'll be seeing things more surprising than this. I only took your letter to keep track of who's here and who's not. You'll probably be surprised that you're the only one who's arrived here."
"What are you talking about? Where am I? I thought you said everyone else was waiting for-"
"Yes, they are waiting for you. They're here, but they're not 'here'. They're...how do say it? In another 'dimension'?"
Alice backed away at the illogical thought and sense of his words. "This isn't what I expected at all! Who are you and why did you call me here?"
"Alice darling, there are some thing that you'll have to learn the hard way. But all I say is that all will become clear and understandable in the end."
"But who are you?!"
The man sighed and pushed his glassed up. "Alice, I am Suguru Kazami, and welcome to the House of One Thousand Doors."
House of One Thousand Doors? And his last name...isn't that the same as Shun's? Are they related or something? Some things were clearing up, but there was more to be explained. But before she could say anything, another gust of wind blew. Only, it gradually blew harder to as fast as a tornado.
"I'm sorry that we have to depart like this, Alice, but there's someone that needs to see you right away. We'll meet again next time."
"Wait! Where am I going?!" The wind blinded Alice's vision, and the last thing she saw was Suguru walking away with faint smirk on his face. How did I end up in this mess in the first place?