Scattered Souls

Chapter 6 - Fortune Teller

We relied heavily on Google to help us decipher the riddle. However, there were so many possibilities. The riddle itself was so vague.  It wasn't one of those ones someone copied and pasted off the net, where you simply typed a few key words and the answer popped up. This one was so complex.  A whole three hours later and all we had so far were multiple theories of what the riddle could possibly mean. Nothing substantial.

"I'm off to get more snacks." I announced.

"Big project?" mom asked as she saw me enter the kitchen for the third time in a short while.

"Yeah. We need brain food for the intensity of it." I teased as I headed back to my room, however in a way it was kind of true.  This was so much more complex than any academic project I've done.

"I still feel like we're nowhere near cracking this." Scott announced with an exasperated sigh. 

"I know exactly what you mean." Alexa groaned.

"At least we have a few theories now." I encouraged. "Thank you guys so much for helping with this." I added with a smile.

"We know who'll be helping with our Creative Writing essay." Alexa winked.

"Maybe you can also check if there's any books or any information about this music box in the archives at the campus library tomorrow." Scott suggested.

"Thanks, it's worth a try. "

After Alexa and Scott left,  I decided to go over some of my prescribed reading for my next Literacy Theory class.

"Didn't have the guts to tell them about me, did we?"came the sound of what I now recognized as Xypher's  voice.

Was I so deeply engrossed that I missed the tune of Strange Enchantment this time?  It was quite a prominent tune though, extremely hard to miss.

"I don't need the tune to make an appearance" Xypher cleared up with a wink.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" I wondered out loud.

"Oh, I'm no mind reader, darling. I was merely responding to the perplexed expression on your face."

"Then what are you? You can't leave me in suspense like this." I whined before I could help myself, clearly the lack of progress in our little research session earlier on was getting to me.

"Oh yes I can  actually. In fact leaving you in suspense will bring such sweet delight" he countered.

The 'what the hell' expression on my face must have prodded him. "I'm a fortune teller." he added.

"Then go ahead and predict my future."

I honestly didn't know why I was urging him on. His fortune teller act was a bit farfetched, however,  I wondered if there might be a slight bit of truth to it. I mean it wouldn't be any stranger than another tune playing on it's own accord or a hologram-like appearance from the teapot now, would it? A gut feeling I had told me that Xypher was my best means of getting the answers I needed.

"What's in it for me?" he surprised me by asking.

"Think of it as a belated birthday present." I smirked.

"Tomorrow, the handsome senior you've been pining after is going to declare his secret crush on Alexa."