PHASE 0: AUDITIONS

Applicant #38: Caught Between Two Stools

APPLICANT #38: CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO STOOLS

One upon a time, in a kingdom called Verfia, there lived a beautiful lady named Serafina. She has a skin as white as snow, a long hair as brown as coffee, and a pair of eyes as black as coal.

Because of Serafina's exceptional beauty, you won't notice that she's facing a problem. Her parents are already dead and she's living alone in a small house in Verfia. But, this is not what makes her sad.

"Will I accept Prince Stefan's offer to be his wife? Am I ready to be the princess of this magical kingdom?" Serafina said while walking alone in the woods.

She's being indecisive. Being indecisive is one of her habits.

Prince Stefan is the prince of Verfia. He's kind, brave, and wise. He's also handsome. But despite all the good qualities of Prince Stefan, Serafina doesn't love the prince. She knows that the only thing Prince Stefan loves about her is her beauty. Without her beauty, Prince Stefan won't notice her. But, she also knows that if she'll marry the prince, her life will become better.

She's in the woods right now because she's planning to meet an evil witch named Georgina. Georgina is good in deciding. Among all the evil witches in the kingdom of Verfia, Georgina is the kindest. She maybe an evil witch but she's kind in her own simple way.

While Serafina is on her way, she saw a house made of rocks.

"That must be the house of the evil witch," Serafina uttered while looking at the house.

Because of excitement, she ran immediately towards the house and knocked three times on the door.

"Good morning! Is anybody here?" Serafina said while waiting for the door to open.

After a few seconds, the door slowly opened.

"What can I do for you?" a tall lady wearing a long, black, tube dress said.

"Are you Georgina? The evil witch?" Serafina asked.

The lady flashed a smile and said, "You're right, dear. I am Georgina. Come. Let's go inside."

Serafina bowed first before she entered the evil witch's house. The house is nice. It looks weird outside but it is very spacious inside.

"Have a seat," Georgina said and sat on a couch. Serafina sat on a couch in front of Georgina.

"What's your name?" Georgina asked.

"My name is Serafina. I came here to seek for help," Serafina answered.

Georgina chuckled and said, "Well, nice to meet you, Serafina. But, help? You know that I'm an evil witch, right? There are a lot of good witches out there. How sure are you that I will help you?"

"I heard that you are good in deciding, Georgina. I need help. I am facing a big problem now. I have to choose between what my heart says and what my mind says. Please, Georgina. Help me," Serafina begged.

"Looks like you're really eager to receive my help, dear. I can't guarantee that I will help you. Would you mind telling me your situation first?" Georgina said and flashed a smile.

"Sure. Last week, I attended a party in the castle. All the citizens in the kingdom were invited because that day is the King's birthday. I was dancing with my guy friend when I caught the prince looking at me. Prince Stefan smiled at me. A few minutes after that, the prince asked me to dance with him. I was surprised of course. But after I danced with him, he dragged me outside the castle and said that he wants me to be his princess," Serafina said.

"I think I already know why the prince asked such thing. You are very beautiful indeed. With that skin as white as snow, that long hair as brown as coffee, and that pair of eyes as black as coal, a lot of guys will surely fall for you. However, I don't think the prince loves you. Your beauty is what he loves," Georgina said with a smile on her face.

"I know that, Georgina. What am I going to do?" Serafina asked with a worried face.

Georgina stood up and said, "I'd help you but there will be a payment. I'm an evil witch and only good witches help people for free."

A playful smile formed on Georgina's face. Serafina just nodded and followed Georgina outside. They went at the back of Georgina's house.

"What are we going to do here?" Serafina asked.

"Well, we are going to make the deal here, Serafina. I know what you have to do and I can help you but I want a payment," Georgina said.

"Payment?" Serafina muttered.

Georgina just smiled. Georgina is an evil witch that helps people. But, she only helps people who are willing to repay her.

"Yes, Serafina. Honestly, you made a wrong move for going here to seek for help. Listen. All the people who seek help from me had to choose between two options. I'll make you choose between those two options later," Georgina said and smiled.

"Two options?" Serafina said.

"No more questions, dear. The payment I want is for you to poison Queen Gayle, the Queen of Verfia. Now, choose. Pay or die? I will give you 10 seconds. Don't choose and I'll kill you," Georgina said playfully.

Serafina was startled. She doesn't know what to do. "W-Wait, Georgina. Are you serious?"

"Ten," Georgina said to start the count.

"Nine."

"Wait, Georgina! I don't understand!" Serafina yelled but Georgina didn't say anything.

"Eight."

"Seven."

"Six."

"Five."

"Stop, Georgina!"

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"What is the meaning of this?!"

"One."

In just a blink of an eye, Georgina showed his hidden knife and stabbed Serafina directly to her chest. Serafina felled on the ground with her eyes and mouth open.

"Serafina, your indecisiveness will kill you. Eagerness and Decisiveness are what you need to survive this cruel world."

Georgina just smiled and left Serafina at the back of her house.