It was a mild summer evening, and the oppressive air foretold an approaching thunderstorm. In a quaint café, two young women sat down for a cup of coffee after a challenging day at work. One of them, a brunette with freckles, gestured animatedly in the air as she shared her plans with a grin. Meanwhile, her blonde friend stirred her latte and occasionally took a sip of the excessively sweetened beverage. It served as a temporary escape, a way to momentarily mask the bitterness in her life.
After a few moments, the brunette retrieved her smartphone from her shoulder bag and proceeded to present her friend the screen of the small device. "Your aspirations for career and societal recognition diverge greatly from your approach to establishing relationships," she read aloud. Hanna, her expression displaying a hint of skepticism, arched an eyebrow and observed her still visibly excited friend.
Marie and Hanna had become acquainted during their university years. Despite pursuing different fields of study, a profound friendship blossomed, largely due to Marie's extroverted nature captivating Hanna. Marie had graduated in the field of psychology, while Hanna had focused on marketing. Two years had elapsed since their graduation.
While Hanna was employed at an agency, Marie spent her time avoiding work altogether. Marie had a knack for interpreting things to suit her own convenience. Any semblance of rationality was cast aside in this situation, or sardonically dismissed.
Now, her friend had taken up a new focus: birth horoscopes. It was a 30-page report, from which Marie selectively read passages to Hanna. Hanna made an effort to find something truly captivating within it, something that would engross her as it did Marie. However, she held no interest in such matters. The messages within this report, despite its length, were formulated in such ambiguous terms that Hanna was certain it was solely a matter of the reader's interpretation to lend any credence to such absurdities.
Marie was well aware that Hanna remained unconvinced by the passages of the birth horoscope. It was not the first time she had bombarded her friend with these subjects. Regularly, Marie made it her duty to accost Hanna with these topics over a cup of coffee after work. And it pushed Hanna to her limits. Her present job was demanding enough; she also longed for a moment of respite.
Hanna let out a sigh. "Marie, my dear, please do not take offense," she began, only to be abruptly interrupted by Marie. "Yes, I understand. It does not interest you," she replied, her voice carrying a certain undertone. Hanna ran her hand across her face, feeling fatigued. She furrowed her brow at her friend's reproachful tone, then took a deep sip of her creamy coffee.
"I apologize, Marie. It's just..."
"That you had a long and tiring day at work," Marie interjected once more.
Slightly exasperated by her friend's behavior, Hanna nodded. "Perhaps I can make it up to you?" she suggested, instantly regretting her words. She bit her lower lip as she observed her friend's eyes light up as if she had been eagerly awaiting that response.
"That is quite convenient," Marie said with a grin, clasping her hands together. Hanna sighed. She had fallen for Marie's scheme. "There is a medieval festival scheduled for Saturday, and I really wanted to attend again this year. You couldn't join me last year due to illness. However, it is crucial that you accompany me this year! Oh, there are numerous fascinating exhibitors."
Marie became engrossed in her own world as she described the exhibitors. She spoke of the fire show that took place at dusk, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the summer air, blending with the fragrances of incense from other exhibitors to create a delightfully heavenly scent. "And the best part: they even have fortune tellers.," Hanna's resistance ceased. She knew exactly what Marie was getting at.
"Oh no, absolutely not," Hanna protested, casting a displeased glance at Marie. "Come on," Marie whined, taking hold of Hanna's hands. "I attended last year, and the insights about my life and love life were truly enlightening," she dreamily recounted, gesturing with one hand before placing it on her chest.
"Indeed," Hanna responded wearily to her friend's small performance.
"Who knows, perhaps you will also receive valuable insights about your love life. Maybe you will finally learn when you will encounter your Prince Charming."
"Is that your sales pitch?" Hanna dryly retorted.
However, Marie did not delve further into the matter. "So, shall we meet on Saturday around 3 pm? I will pick you up, and then we can go there together, agreed?" Hanna nodded slightly. She just needed to get through this day as swiftly as possible. The thought of spending her precious weekend in such a manner made her whimper. After the medieval market, she would have to have a serious conversation with Marie. It simply couldn't go on like this.
Fortunately, Marie steered clear of any further spiritual topics during the remainder of their meeting and inquired about her friend's well-being.
On Saturday, Marie arrived punctually at the agreed-upon time to pick her up. Inwardly, Hanna harbored the hope that Marie would cancel their plans due to an urgent matter. However, Marie had been adamant about not missing this opportunity—to inundate her friend with spiritual experiences for an entire day.
It didn't take long for Marie to whisk her away to the first vendor shortly after their arrival. They purchased sage and crystals, the promised effects of which Hanna regarded with a critical eye. As Marie's bags filled up, Hanna took the opportunity to survey the adjacent stalls. Intricate wooden carvings captivated her, causing her to pause as she examined the bowls and handcrafted trinkets.
Children scurried past, their fingers sticky from cotton candy as they darted through the crowd, emitting enthusiastic exclamations. The stall vendors themselves energetically called out to attract customers. Up ahead, a stage had been erected, where men dressed as knights engaged in performances, accompanied by a flamboyantly adorned individual enthusiastically narrating the spectacle.
Indeed, Marie was correct—the aromas wafting from the various stalls mingled into a pleasant, sweet fragrance that evoked a sense of comfort. Hanna had to admit that she rather enjoyed her time at the medieval market so far.
"Hanna, Hanna!" she heard her friend call out, searching for her amidst the crowd. Hanna turned away from the stall and made her way toward Marie, who appeared visibly excited. When Marie spotted her, she placed her hands on her hips. "I thought you had vanished."
Hanna chuckled. "No, no. Everything's fine."
"Excellent!" Marie clapped her hands together. "I've found the fortune teller who provided me with such detailed insights last year. Come," she urged Hanna, pulling her through the bustling crowd. "We absolutely must partake in this experience now." Hanna bit her lip. The sooner she completed this, the sooner she could return home, right?
Hanna didn't offer any resistance as the brunette whisked her halfway across the festival grounds and led her into a tent. Inside, the ambiance was dim, with a few flickering candles casting an air of mystery. Hanna's lips curled slightly upward as she caught sight of the rather diminutive elderly woman seated behind a table adorned with velvet. How cliché.
"Hello!" Marie greeted the elderly lady, guiding Hanna closer to the table. Somewhat brusquely, she nudged Hanna onto the table. Hanna felt a twinge of embarrassment as she looked up at the old lady, who rested her knobby fingers gently folded atop the table. "I presume you'd like me to perform a card reading," the woman smiled warmly at Hanna. Despite the initial appearance of the lady, with her skeletal frame and an air of eeriness, there was an undeniable sense of serene warmth emanating from her that made Hanna feel secure. Suppressing any caustic remark directed at Marie for her forceful push into the tent, Hanna simply nodded in response to the lady's obvious question.
"Undoubtedly, your primary concern lies in obtaining insights about the status of your profession," the lady promptly addressed, wasting no further time, as she proceeded to interpret the cards and animatedly narrated Hanna's past, present, and delved into the future. "Your ability to empathize with people and demonstrate understanding toward various perspectives is coupled with diplomatic finesse and strategic acumen. You possess the capacity to foster harmony and negotiate fair compromises."
Once again, doubt crept in. Hanna found the words all too familiar, as if they were recited to countless individuals before her. If not doubts about love or oneself, what other possibilities were there apart from career and family? Hanna grew weary of it all.
"You appear unconvinced," the lady chuckled. Hanna blushed slightly, feeling exposed. "My friend is rather skeptical about such matters," Marie interjected. "However, I wholeheartedly agree! What you have shared perfectly aligns with my friend's character."
"Marie," Hanna whispered sharply. She made an attempt to rise from the rather uncomfortable wooden chair, but Marie firmly grasped her shoulders and pressed her back down. "Please remain seated, as we have not concluded yet."
Hanna audibly sighed. She was irritated and had no intention of enduring another minute of this charade. "But I am finished," she retorted.
Standing up, she walked past Marie, who audibly gasped for air, her hands raised in frustration. "Unbelievable! You don't have to take it all to heart, but at least listen until the end," Marie pleaded. Hanna turned around and spoke softly, "Marie, I don't believe in it. I never have, and I doubt I ever will." Marie looked at her with a quivering lower lip, her body trembling with frustration and anger.
"Miss," the old woman called out to Hanna, having witnessed the unfolding argument. "Perhaps I can still convince you with an alternative method?" Hanna regarded the frail old woman, who had stepped out from behind her table, raising an eyebrow. Then she glanced at Marie, who gazed at her intently with hopeful eyes and fluttering eyelashes. "And what would that be?" Hanna asked.
"Have you ever heard of past life regression?" Marie gasped beside her. "Oh Hanna, you absolutely must give it a try!" Hanna had no knowledge of what this past life regression entailed and asked the old lady for more information. "During a past life regression, you will experience memories from your previous life."
Hanna felt an urge to laugh. Another spiritual endeavor. Esoteric practices supposedly enabling the reliving of past lives. But what could possibly come out of it? She would simply enter a state of hypnosis and likely recount a jumble of dreams.
"Give it a try," the old lady encouraged, offering a warm smile. Marie also took hold of Hanna's hands, gripping them tightly. "Please," Marie implored once more. Hanna sighed. "How long does the entire process take?"
After a brief exchange in which the old lady elucidated the intentions behind the procedure and provided a rather general overview of her own life, Hanna found herself in a narrow bed in a secluded room. Marie waited behind a partition, remaining silent. As Hanna engaged in breathing exercises guided by the woman, she couldn't help but think of her comfortable bed eagerly awaiting her return home once this regression was concluded. The old lady had stated it would last 30 minutes, and surely, 10 minutes had already passed. Hanna longed to swiftly put this entire situation behind her.
"Relax. Think back to when you were a child. Look around you and take in everything in your surroundings: listen to the sounds around you, the familiar smells." the lady gently spoke, guiding Hanna into a trance state through the use of visualizations and suggestive language. Soon, Hanna's breathing became regular and shallow, and she lost touch with the present moment.
It struck Hanna with a force akin to a blow to the face, jolting her from her state. Her eyes flew open, yearning for a breath of air, only to be met with an inundation of water flooding into her lungs. The frigid liquid numbed her limbs and drenched her garments, adhering to her body like a second skin. In a state of panic, Hanna aimlessly thrashed her arms through the water. No coherent thoughts could take shape in her mind, as sheer survival instinct surged within her.
After a series of futile attempts to move, Hanna managed to claw her way to the surface, desperately gasping for oxygen. Uncontrollable coughs wracked her body, tears welling up in her eyes, and a searing pain shot through her chest with each convulsive expulsion of air. Her body trembled from the cold as she held her head above the water, greedily drawing in life-giving breaths. Curses filled her thoughts. Where was she?
As she aimlessly swam at the water's surface, teeth chattering in the dimly lit surroundings, a myriad of disparate and absurd thoughts infiltrated Hanna's mind. Could she still be entranced? No, this reality felt far too palpable. Such regression could not manifest in this manner. The lady had not prepared her for this. No, this was the harsh realityshe faced!
But where was she? Hanna strained her eyes, attempting to survey her surroundings to the best of her ability. It was a near pitch-black environment, with only a faint glimmer of light emanating from a remote distance. A chilling notion raced through her mind—had she been forcibly abducted? Were they attempting to drown her while she remained entranced? Where was Marie? Had similar harm befallen her as well?
The questions mounted within her mind, progressively unsettling her, causing her breathing to quicken. The specter of a panic attack loomed menacingly. Hanna fiercely bit down on her lower lip, the taste of iron permeating her mouth, yet it served as a temporary reprieve from her spiraling thoughts. She urgently needed to extricate herself from this dire predicament; the water would inevitably become her lethal prison in a short span of time.
Determined and teeth chattering, she mustered her last bit of strength and swam towards the light. It felt like an eternity until Hanna reached the shore. Exhausted, she collapsed there, gasping for air as she lay on her back with closed eyes. She wanted to laugh, but only a painful cough escaped her, causing her heart to contract with agony.
After what felt like an eternity, Hanna struggled to push herself up, her legs trembling, threatening to give way beneath her. She almost dropped down on all fours and crawled, but her pride wouldn't allow it, so she dragged herself away from the shore. And then she stopped.
Was that a house? Perplexed, she glanced back at the shore, then up at the ceiling. Realization nearly caused her to sink to the ground again. This wasn't the sky above her head. Where was she?
Before succumbing to further contemplation about her current location, she mustered the strength to proceed towards the windowless house. Her teeth chattered loudly, her arms wrapped tightly around her body as she slowly approached the house in a sluggish manner. The air was cold and damp, and Hanna was at risk of hypothermia. Cold water dripped from her fabric pants, leaving a trail behind her. Her shoes squeaked with each step, water sloshing between her toes.
As Hanna stepped into the house, it left her almost speechless. She found herself in a kind of living room adorned with antiques. Persian tapestries hung from the stone walls, and on the antiquated dressers, vases filled with dried flowers emitted an unpleasantly sweet scent throughout the room. Candelabras, adorned with almost completely burnt-down taper candles, were scattered throughout, casting a cozy warmth over the living room.
However, Hanna did not have the luxury of examining the room in detail; she urgently needed to rid herself of her soaked clothing. She made her way into an adjacent room and was nearly overcome with joy. It was a bedroom, also adorned with antiquities. The feminine decor filled the space with a pungent, sweet aroma emanating from withered red roses adorning a nightstand. Hanna cautiously opened a dresser and retrieved various garments.
She raised an eyebrow in astonishment as she examined the clothing more closely. In her hands were fabrics adorned with tulle and intricate embroidery, reminiscent of what she had only seen in museums and films. Although the attire appeared highly outdated, it was in remarkable condition; the white fabric had neither yellowed nor exhibited any signs of wear and tear. Whoever resided in this house had a penchant for the Victorian era.
Hanna opted for what appeared to be undergarments, a voluminous skirt with ample fabric, and a light-colored dress. With some effort, she slipped out of her drenched shoes and discarded her wet clothing. Using a thin blanket from the bed, she quickly dried herself off and changed into the garments retrieved from the dresser, shivering as the cold air prickled her skin.
No longer were her teeth chattering once she had draped the clothing over herself, but her hair, clinging to her face, continued to drip onto the floor, the water seeping into the dry fabric. Barefoot and with sluggish steps, she entered a small room adjoining the bedroom. It was a bathroom with a bathtub. Hanna sighed. She felt like the girl in the story who took advantage of the absent bear family's possessions.
She grabbed a cotton towel from a stool and tousled her wet, blonde hair with it. Skillfully, she wrapped her hair in the towel and left the bathroom. Her gaze fell upon the inviting bed in the bedroom, adorned with pillows and warm, thick blankets. Hanna was almost tempted to lie down and drift off to sleep. She was incredibly exhausted.
However, the thought of being discovered deterred her from the idea. She needed to leave this house as quickly as possible, preferably not through that river, or lake, or whatever it was. The notion of submerging herself in the water again sent shivers down her spine. It would surely be her demise.
With hesitant steps, she returned to the living room and picked up a candelabrum from a dresser. She walked through the next adjoining room, where a piano stood adorned with scattered sheet music. Taking in the surroundings with awe, she noticed books piled on the floor and paperwork carelessly strewn about.
There were two rooms adjacent to this one, one of which was a small kitchen with a pantry. Hanna paid no further attention to the kitchen and headed towards the second room. Unlike the other rooms, there were no candles burning here, and Hanna held the candelabrum in front of her as she entered the dark space.
She cautiously placed one foot in front of the other as she searched the room for a possible exit. Her gaze was fixed on the walls, searching for a door, when she stumbled over something and lost her balance. Looking down, she let out a scream.
Before her lay a corpse. It lay on its side, motionless. However, that was not the only thing that caused Hanna to scream in fear and shock. It was the face of the unknown man. It resembled a skull, lacking a nose, with a hole in its place, and its cheeks and eyes sunken.
Hanna was about to run out of the room when a sudden, agonized gasp made her freeze in her tracks. She turned to face the unknown person and saw that his body was twitching slightly. A shiver ran down her spine. So, they were not dead after all.
Transfixed, Hanna continued to scrutinize the prone figure on the floor, momentarily paralyzed by shock. As the grip of fear loosened its hold, she turned on her heels and hastily left the room. Running back to the shore, she combed the area for an alternative means of escape. Her breath grew erratic as her eyes scoured the vicinity for a vessel that could ferry her away from this accursed island. But her efforts proved futile; no such salvation revealed itself along the shoreline, leaving her stranded in despair.
She assumed a crouched position, her body succumbing to tears. The futility of her situation overwhelmed her. She would decay on this desolate island, entwined with this disfigured stranger who teetered on the brink of death. Hanna wept in the face of her dire circumstances, questioning how she had stumbled into this predicament. Oh, if only she had remained at home and abstained from attending that ill-fated event! Yet, who could have foreseen that the past life regression would unravel with such intensity?
Her gaze turned back to the house, where the unidentified man lay unconscious. She needed to act rationally now. After all, his kitchen was stocked with provisions that would sustain her for some time. And if the man had acquired the food from somewhere, there must be an exit—a way out that had thus far eluded her.
She gathered herself and returned to the house. She would have to ask him. Though he was unconscious and likely fighting for survival, he was her only hope in this utterly hopeless situation. She would offer him assistance, and in return, he would be indebted to her. Clenching her hands into fists, she strode she strode purposefully back into the room where she had found him.
Hanna tried not to stare at his face for too long. She knew it was highly impolite, but she had never encountered someone so disfigured in her life. His bony countenance appeared exceedingly intimidating, and his emaciated body resembled that of a starved individual. With gritted teeth, she summoned the last vestiges of her strength and dragged the stranger back into the bedroom where she had changed earlier.
She pulled back the silk-draped cover and placed the unknown man in the bed. Exhausted, she sank to the floor beside the bed, sweat forming on her forehead. Although the man didn't appear particularly strong, Hanna had never been much into sports, and she was thoroughly out of breath after those few meters. She inhaled deeply through her mouth several times before leaving the room to fetch water for the both of them from the kitchen.
With two glasses of water in her trembling, powerless hands, she made her way back to the bedroom. At the sight of the unconscious man in the bed, she felt a sense of envy, oh, what would she do to lie in that comfortable bed. She took a hearty sip from her glass of water, drowning that thought. What was she thinking? The poor guy was clearly in a worse condition than her.
A compassionate look fell upon him as she reached out to touch his forehead. She realized he had a fever. His skin was pale yellowish, and she couldn't determine if it was due to the fever or his natural complexion. Sighing, she went into the bathroom and dampened a cloth. Her gaze wandered along the bathtub. As soon as she had placed the cloth on his forehead and given him some water, she would definitely take a bath.
Yawning, she stood beside the bed, carefully folding the cloth and placing the cool towel on his forehead. A soft sigh escaped his lips as the cloth made contact with his forehead. "Come on," Hanna uttered, her voice muffled, sounding foreign to her own ears. She cleared her throat and repeated herself as she gently supported his head, administering small sips of water. The stranger hesitantly took them, his lips sealing shut after four sips, before sinking back into the cushion.
Hanna placed the glass on the nightstand and gazed down at the man, her eyelids heavy. She knelt beside the bed, propping herself against the edge. "Just a moment," she softly pleaded, resting her head upon the bed. Settling into a more comfortable position, she allowed her eyes to flutter closed. Just a few minutes, she reassured herself. Just a few minutes to doze off, and then she would partake in a blissful bath within that enticing bathtub.
A faint smile of anticipation graced her lips as she drifted off to sleep, consumed by that very thought.
Hello guys! I'm rather new to the whole Phanfiction scene and wanted to give it a go myself. What do you think so far after this first chapter? Are you guys in? Please let me know, it would highly encourage myself to continue writing this story. Please share your thoughts on this rather long chapter, it would mean the world to me! I hope to see you guys soon in a new chapter :)