Memoir of The Ancient One

1

Jessica

Another morning waking up startled and drenched in sweat from a nightmare I could never remember.  I've been having these dreams since I was 14, and I can NEVER remember but I don't know why. I just know the feeling is always real, I could feel it... Whatever it was.

I'm always grateful for life but getting up is one of the hardest parts of my day. I have noticed a while ago that I was different from others but I don't know how or why. I've gotten picked on about how I look and my social status for as long as I can remember. When my father moved us out of the states to London things got worse for me. I guess I'm a problem magnet.

"Jess, it's time to get up hon, I know you don't like going to school but you have to until we come up with and alternative." My dad said coming in my room. I always follow my fathers instructions, he's been here for me through it all. He makes a way out of no way and I'll forever be in debt. If I'm ever able he's the one I'm going to help. I have no recollection of my family, to my knowledge I don't have any. No one ever tries to see me so might as well say I don't have any.

Walking to school I observe the scenery, it's so beautiful here but the people are horrible beings, well the ones I have encountered since being here. I always leave alittle early on weekdays so I can read at the public library until school starts, it's right next door. It just keeps me occupied I don't like sitting around when I don't have to.

Something feels off about the library today it's very, quiet... I know a library is supposed to be that way but it's a dead silence.
"Hey Mrs. Prude, how are you today?" I spoke to the librarian, she was one of the nicest people I've met since coming to London.

"How are you darling? I've missed you this weekend, usually it's an all night flight with you on the weekends is everything ok with you honey?" She asked with concern. Maybe I should tell her about the dream I can't remember... She might think I'm crazy. The pause I took gave her clarification.
"Talk to me sweetie, I can tell something's bothering you."
"Well Mrs. Prude that's kinda the thing... I don't know what's wrong. I wake up every morning drenched in sweat, out of breath like I've been running, but I can never remember the dream, I've been having it since 14 but I never remember it." I said. She stared at me for a while, seems like she was analyzing but analyzing what?
"Have you ever heard the name Isabelle?" She asked engaged in what I was going to say.
"No doesn't ring a bell. But then again I'm just from a small town in Alabama, who is Isabelle?"
"I'm not sure what your beliefs are in Alabama but listen to what I tell you it'll be hard to believe but just hear me out."  She said. I don't really listen to "Ancient stories" but I feel the need to listen.
"All ears." Is all I could say.
"Isabelle Rowland is the name, she's about 100 years old, she was a human that has seen all of the supernatural, she was so fascinated that she ran away from home to search, in search of supernatural beings, not to tame them but to give them a homely sense, not all supernatural were good but she believed that one day the supernatural could live among humans without them being terrified of the sight. She had come across many witches, ghouls, werewolves, etc, for some reason they all grew liking to her, she gave them hope. She experimented with a witch, but everyone in town was horrified, they grew discouraged, she built them their own community, a safe haven where all supernaturals could go and feel safe, one day she attracted a vampire, his name was marcel, he had just turned, so of course he was hungry for human blood, but she found a substitute for blood, she wanted to keep him and train him to control himself. They had gotten so close, too close. They fell in love, she was so in love that she wanted to live with him forever, for eternity... He was always against turning her but their love for each other was undying and he took the chance. He had never tasted human blood and he lost control and took too much blood, he apologized and apologized. Her last words were "We will meet again my love, I promise." And she died shortly after. He couldn't live with himself so he disappeared and was never spotted again. But I tell you this story beca-" my alarm for school went off.
"Oh no, I have to get back to reality, I was really enjoying your story, but I'll come back I promise." I quickly ran out the library because I had 5 mins to get to homeroom. I wish I could stash myself in the library with Mrs. Prude she was so nice compared to everyone else in this town.
"Let's get this day over." I thought walking to one of many hellholes.

•••••

Since she told me the story I've been thinking about why she told me, what does that have to do with me and my dreams? I was snapped out of my thoughts with the dismissal bell. I'm very relieved because no one noticed me to pick on me today.

Walking towards my locker I accidentally bump into Chad, the most popular kid in school, also the biggest asshole to me since I started going here.
"Watch it weirdo! Hey everybody, can you believe this stick figure ran into me?" Everyone laughed causing me to run out of the doors. I hate this place and the people in it.

Knowing I would be home alone because my dad worked for days at a time I went straight back to the library but I wasn't greeted with Mrs. Prude instead as soon as I stepped through the doors I entered another world it seemed like. What's going on? I tried going back out the doors but they disappeared. I'm panicking now. Where am I? Although I wasn't saying anything it's like my thoughts spoke out loud.

I started walking, my feet were just taking me somewhere, I had no control. I was brought to this creepy house, I tried stopping myself from walking but I keep walking up the stairs to this creepy house. Make it stop please make it stop. The door opened and the atmosphere was different. The woods scared me but I felt protected in this creepy house? This doesn't make any sense. I have control over myself but the door shut locked.

I'm walking through the house, snooping really and also trying to find a way out of here. I came up into the living room and a bunch of questions floated in my mind and out in the open as I seen something that drew my attention.
Is this me? I've never taken any photos in this attire, it looks just like me.
"Isabelle? Is that you my love?" I seen a dark figure and I went back into panic mode.
"Who are you leave me alone, leave me alone leave me al-"
"Jess honey! Jess, snap out of it, I'm here I'm here." Mrs. Prude yelled shaking me out of a trance I guess.
"Mrs. Prude? How are you? Where am I?" I looked around and I was at the back of the library.
"Honey you've been here the whole time, are you ok?"
"I guess it was one of those dreams again, I remember some though this time. I was taken to a place, a big creepy house in the woods but the woods felt more unsafe than the house, and I remember seeing a picture of me but it wasn't me I don't know I'm confused."
"That's what I wanted to tell you about come with me darling.
I followed Mrs. Prude to the archive room, it was a bunch of old books and artifacts it was amazing. She then pull out a book and flipped to a certain page.
"Hey that's the picture I saw of me?" I said in a questionable tone.
"Jess that's Isabelle, the woman from the story."
"But she looks just like me, this is all so confusing, so you think I'm linked to the story somehow?"
"Do you believe in being born again? In a different-life but the same person from your past life?"
"This can't be that it's impossible, I can't rap my head around this. "
"I tell you what go home and sleep on it, you'll know if it gets more vivid, more real, you'll know. Goodnight honey. "
I started walking home, this cant be real? Can it? I don't know but I have to find answers so if it's real I'll go back to archive to see what I can find out. What to do.

It has been a long day.