The Illusionists

Chapter 4

I stand there, with a bluish orb right in front of me. It is floating in the air with nothing giving it any support. It gives out a bluish white glow that makes me feel warm all over. I reach out to touch it. It crackles with sparks as I get closer. Surprised, I quickly withdraw my hand in case I get an electric jolt. The orb becomes calm and peaceful again. I stare at it for a few more moments, when curiosity overcomes me. I reach out again, this time more wary. It comes alive with electricity once again. Hesitantly, I pull out my finger and stretch it towards the orb with my face scrunched up in concentration. When it's right over the orb, I reconsider for a moment. When all of a sudden, a strong magnetic force that originates from the orb pulls my finger towards it. As soon as my finger touches, I feel warmth spread all over my body.

"Stella? Stella? Is she okay?"

"I don't know. What is wrong with her?"

"She is having her dream."

"About what?"

"I am not sure yet. I was just reading about it. Even Mother Galya had blackouts. She told us that sometimes they were prophecies and other times just dreams. I don't know about Stella."

"So it is true, she really is our savior."

"As far as I know, yes"

I wake up from my 'dream'. I don't understand what I just saw. One thing I know for sure, This is the second blackout I have had. I wake up to two people whispering softly in the background. One is a man's voice and the other a lady's. I keep my eyes closed and pretend to remain in my slumber. I don't want to face the truth as yet. I want to delay it as much as possible. When all of a sudden, I hear a door bang open.

"Viola, keep it down, you might wake her." Whispers the lady who was just speaking. Viola has come to get me. Great.

"She's still not up? How long has she been out for?" Viola demands.

"About 3 hours" replies the lady.

"Anyways, I just came to call Caspian. Caspian, Phoebe needs you. Something wrong with the plate storehouse. Get there as fast as possible." Viola says.

"Right away, Viola. See you Astrid." The man replies. Caspian. The name rings a bell... He was the guy who picked me up once I fainted! Nice first meeting.

I hear a chair slowly scrape back and then silent footsteps as he slowly head to the door making as little noise as possible and then he closes it gently.

"Is she alright?" I hear Viola ask with her loud, obnoxious voice.

"I am not sure. She has been asleep for a pretty long time. She is supposed to wake up around now." replies the lady. I presume she is the nurse. She has a very soft voice. Everything she says sounds like she's singing.

I hear someone get close to my ear. I can feel her breath on my cheek. I suddenly get goosebumps thinking of Viola. "Stella, stop acting. You're going to get stiff from all the sleep. I know you're awake." Viola says. Great. She just knows everything, doesn't she. Slowly, I open my eyes. I adjust to the light and then open it more. This goes on till my eyes are fully opens.

I gaze around at my surroundings. The room is surprisingly not white all over, like a hospital office should be. It is in a soft cream color that I find strangely comforting. The floor and walls are shining. Instead of the usual bleach smell that I get in hospitals, I smell something rather soothing. Something like sandalwood.

There is a hanger on which a nurses inform has been hung. The typical white starched uniform with white shoes and stockings. The lights are noticeably moderate. Unlike the hospitals back home, where the lights shine so bright, you feel like a mental patient. There is also an electronic machine sitting on a cart with odd wires leading from it.

"Ahem Ahem... Stella, you really need to get your directions right."

Slowly, I turn around in reluctance to face Viola and Astrid. "wha..." The word trails out of my mouth before I can stop it.

This just keeps getting worse and worse. There she is, sitting as calm and serene as ever, Lisa Sommers... In the nurse uniform!! She is smiling at me. Smiling! I hate her and she hates me, everyone knows that! So why is she smiling?

"Hello Stella, my name is Astrid. From now on, I am to be your medical assistance." She says. Lisa Sommers is freaking Astrid. What the hell?

I sit still, hyperventilating. My eyes are as wide as saucers and mouth hanging open. I don't reply to her. I just stare at her. She looks so kind and nice with her perfect face. Almost not like Lisa. What is happening to me? This must be the after effects of my dream. I am hallucinating and officially crazy.

"Why is she staring at me in such a manner? Have I done you any wrong, Stella?" She asks me. Has she done me any wrong? Has she done me any WRONG? Of course she has! She has humiliated me in front of the whole school. Not once, not twice, but three times! I don't know what to say. This is like Evelyn and Viola. Next thing I know, all the people in my ordinary lives are reincarnated over here. I can't even imagine...

"why is she staring at me? Stella, if there is any problem, I can help you." says Lisa. Viola stares at me for a few seconds with a judging look on her face. "You probably look like someone Stella knows back home. I look like her best friend so I got the same reaction from her." She says.

Understanding spreads over Astrid's face as she sympathetically smiles at me. "Doesn't she know about Septa person?" She asks Viola quietly. What is a Sep... blah person? "Stella will be receiving all information later on. She will be assigned a mentor who will tell her everything she needs to know and more." Viola replies. "She will save us from the shadow right?" Astrid asks with an unsure tone in her voice. "We will see about that later."

They speak like I'm not here. "ahem..." I clear my throat. Both of them look at me. Astrid looks startled while Viola simply looks annoyed. "What is it?" she snaps.

"I'm right here, you know."

"So?"

"Can you at least act like it and not speak about me?"

"No. If you're so bothered, why don't you close your ears?"

Why is she so irritating? "Can't you be at least a little sensitive?"

"Uhh... no"

Frustrated with Viola, I turn towards Astrid and glare at her. "I apologize, Stella. I shouldn't have spoken about you in your presence."

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. This is a major switch of roles. Evelyn being an asshole and Lisa being a sweet heart. Shocking.

This is not right. But then, is anything? Bleh. Forget it. I just have to go along with this nonsense.

"So, what now?" I ask.

"Now we begin." Viola replies.

"Uh... I totally know what to begin with." I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Good, I will leave you to it, then." She replies. The beginning of a smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

I stare at her blankly. "Remind me, what is your first task" she asks. Urghh. She knows that I don't know what the hell i'm supposed to do. She is so mean. I just feel like... never mind.

I glare at her, defeated. She stares back at me with a triumphant smile plastered on her know-it-all face. Piss-off.

"Very well then, let's begin."

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And that's the 4th chapter for you!!

How was it?

Read, Vote, Comment. You never know, I might even dedicate a chapter to you... ;P

Anyways, enjoy the book and soooooooooooorrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy for the delay, i'm really busy with studies and all (actually, I just watch TV). So, i'll try to update more regularly.

Till then, DON'T STOP READING!!

<3 <3