Taa daa! Chapter 26 is hot off the press. I'm a total loser for taking so long to post this but I'm really happy it is done! This one is pretty long, so I hope you enjoy!
If you like my story, have advice, or want to ask me something please don't be shy! You can comment, private message me, or email me at hmrnd3@aim.com. There are few things I love more than seeing long comments from faithful fans or new comments from first time readers. They seriously make my day and motivate me to keep the story going.

SIM STATE UNIVERSITY

Ophelia Nigmos stood outside her dorm room with her arms folded across her chest. She stared at her own picture on the door. I can’t believe I’m at Sim State University. I can’t believe I actually did it. Ophelia recalled how she'd been on the run, trying to make her way to Pleasantview for what felt like ages. The last eighteen months had been scary, but worth it.


She smiled, proud of herself. Ever since her parents died when she was young, Ophelia lived a crazy life. She dated an alien boy while living with her homicidal Aunt. It was a miracle she made it out of Strangetown alive. As if the people weren’t enough of a danger, nobody was allowed to leave Strangetown. The government didn’t want to take the risk of others finding out about the alien sanctuary.


Ophelia closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she remembered her high school sweet heart, Johnny Smith. She’d left him broken hearted when she snuck out of Strangetown illegally, and ended up at Sim State University in Pleasantview. Sim State was her dream school. Although she loved Johnny, she loved the thought of having a normal life even more. No aliens, no desert, no serial killers, no military bases. She wanted a career and kids, a white picket fence and green grass. She was tired of being a freak; she knew Pleasantview could make all of her dreams come true.


After unpacking, Ophelia snuggled in her small dorm bed and slept soundly through the night for the first time in years. The next morning she decided to explore Pinenut Plaza. Giddy with excitement, she barged through the doorway into the main hall, bumping into a brown haired boy in a red sweater. Their colliding bodies made a *thump* noise as the pair fell backwards, barely catching themselves. “Oh no, I’m so sorry!” Ophelia began to apologize profusely before noticing the young man’s face, which was filled with amusement and forgiveness.
He smoothed his sweater and smiled. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
Ophelia covered her mouth and laughed. “I'm such a klutz! I didn’t see you there!”


“That’s alright. I’ve never seen you around here. Did you transfer, or something?”Ophelia looked around the room a little nervously. “Well, not exactly. I’m a freshman here. My name is uh, Ophelia.” It’s probably safe to use my real name, right? I’m just being paranoid.
Gideon smiled cheesily. “Ophelia? That’s a beautiful name. I’m Gideon. It’s too bad you’re a freshman. I’m a senior, already graduated actually. So is my niece Eden and my friend Carter. We’re just about to head back home.”
Ophelia thought it strange Gideon’s niece was his same age, but of course she of all people had no right to judge someone’s family. “Well, that’s disappointing. It was nice meeting you Gideon. I better get going.” Ophelia gave a little wave and started to walk away.


“Hey, wait a second!” Gideon grabbed Ophelia’s hand, gently stopping her from leaving. “Sorry, I’m not trying to be too forward here but, I’m really glad to have met you, and I’d really like to see you again. You should come by my home sometime so we can get to know each other better.”
Ophelia smiled, agreeing shyly. The two exchanged phone numbers before parting ways, both with butterflies in their tummy.


Gideon moved back to Pleasantview and found himself having daily phone conversations with Ophelia. The pair talked and laughed, growing closer and closer until Ophelia finally agreed to venture off campus and visit her new friend. One Saturday morning, she found herself in front of a very expensive looking home on her way to Gideon’s. “This can’t be right…”


Ophelia inched closer to the great brick house. There’s no way a single guy fresh out of college could afford a house like this. Ophelia’s eyes widened as she saw a butler walk out of a nearby flower garden. She looked the house up and down while standing nervously at the front gate. He must have given me the wrong address. Ophelia’s nerves were calmed when she detected Gideon walking out the front door. He squinted through the sun, smiling and waving at her.


Gideon practically flew down the porch steps. He undid the latch and stepped through the gate to greet Ophelia. He smiled a toothy grin at her. “It’s so great to see you in person again. As much as I love our phone conversations, I have to say I’ve been missing those green eyes.”


Ophelia’s heart fluttered and she quickly changed the subject. “It’s good to see you too but, I wasn’t expecting this.” Ophelia gestured towards the mansion and well groomed lawn. “I had no idea you were so wealthy.”
Gideon laughed. “Yeah well, surprise. I don’t like to talk about it, per se. But since you’re already here, I might as well show you around.” Gideon winked at Ophelia and opened the gate for her, making her heart skip yet another beat.


Gideon and Ophelia stepped into the entrance room, both grinning. It was elegant and modern, beautifully decorated. The way the light shone through the windows gave the home a regal, yet comfortable feel. “Wow”, Ophelia breathed, clearly dazzled. “Did you decorate this place by yourself?” This seems like an awfully big house for one person, she thought to herself.
Gideon smiled and nodded. “I did. This home has been in my family for decades. It’s very old, but that’s not why it needed some remodeling and redecorating…”


Ophelia continued smiling. “Well then, why the change? You did a wonderful job, by the way.”
Gideon’s smile faded before turning away from Ophelia. “Well, my older brother and his wife lived here before me. They were the rightful owners of the home since our father…he passed away before I was born. But there was a tremendous fire. The home was destroyed and my family…they didn’t survive.”
Ophelia gasped. She had never seen the cheerful Gideon so grim. “I’m so sorry, Gideon. I don’t know what to say.”
Gideon shook his head. “It’s alright. Don’t pity me. I barely knew him. He was much older than me and…well, we had different mothers to say the least.” Gideon gulped uncomfortably and Ophelia could tell it was the end of the discussion. “C’mon, I’ll show you the living room.”


Gideon led Ophelia into the living room. “Here we are,” he said quietly, trying to shake off his now blue mood.
Ophelia smiled reassuringly. “It’s lovely in here too.” She walked around, exploring every lavish painting, nook, and cranny. Gideon watched her quietly. He loved the way she squinted her eyes when looking closely at something, the way she tossed her braids off her shoulders, the way her hips swayed when she walked.


Before he could talk himself out of it, Gideon impulsively walked towards Ophelia and grabbed her hand. She spun around to face him, her lips parted ever so slightly in suprise. “Listen, Ophelia. I know we haven’t known each other very long and that I’m quite a bit older than you, but I like you…a lot.” He moved in closer. “I’d like to take you out on a real date sometime, not just me showing you around my house. Would that be alright?”


Ophelia looked longingly into Gideon’s gentle brown eyes and without saying a word, kissed him softly on the lips. She ran her fingers through his hair as he tipped her chin towards his. This is it, Ophelia thought. I’m never going back to Strangetown again.


Felix Pleasant strutted across his bedroom towards his fiancé, Eden Dreamer. She was adjusting her hair and makeup in their mirror, making sure her look for the night was perfect. Felix eyed Eden up and down, fixated on how sensual the tight fitting red dress made her body look. Perhaps she was over dressed for the occasion, the occasion being a business dinner with Felix’s boss. Felix’s boss also happened to be his sister’s husband. “You look fabulous, Eden.”


Eden smiled her million dollar smile, the smile that had won her over many men in college. Now she was graduated and engaged. Everyone expected her to act like a lady. Once upon a time Eden had been a cynical and sarcastic girl with a responsible head on her shoulders. Beauty and adoration changed her. She knew she could control men to get what she wanted, and she couldn’t stop. “Thank you, Felix darling. Are you almost ready to go?”


Felix nodded. “Yes but, are you? You’re certainly spending a lot of time in front of that mirror to prepare for such a simple outing. Don’t you think you’re overdoing it, just a tad? It's just Angela and Dustin.”
Eden snapped her neck towards Felix, surprised he had questioned her. “Yes dear but, you never know who we might bump into. Besides, it’s a business dinner. We have to dress to impress.”


Eden turned back towards the mirror and Felix walked away. Since Eden had graduated and moved in with Felix, he always got the feeling she was trying to be somebody she wasn’t. He didn’t like how hard she tried to impress other men. He began to think maybe he had misjudged her personality as thoughts of Destiny began to resurface in his mind.


Felix and Eden sat patiently in Londoste while waiting for their dinner party. Felix tried making awkward small talk while Eden looked around the room, distracted by anyone who would pay her some attention. She tossed her bouncy black curls around and laughed more loudly than necessary. Finally from behind her she heard, “Eden? Is that you?” Dustin Broke stood speechless, eyeing his best friend’s little sister up and down.


Dustin flashed Eden a devilish grin as she turned around to face him, soaking up the attention. “My, my, my. I think the last time I saw you was at your parents’ anniversary party. Weren't you still in high school then? You’ve certainly grown up.” He helped himself to a seat, ignoring Angela and Felix.


Angela stood behind her husband solemnly, clearing her throat in an obvious manner. Embarrassed, Dustin scratched the back of his neck. “Er...Eden and Felix, you obviously know Angela, my wife.”
Angela helped herself to a seat; she was not amused. “Eden was always closer to Lilith.”
Eden nodded towards her sister in law’s enemy. “Yes well, it’s good to see you again, Angela.”


Felix could feel the tension growing. “That’s a lovely dress, Angela. You look wonderful.”
Angela managed a small smile. “Thank you, Felix. It’s the first thing I’ve worn that’s not black since Lucy’s death.” Angela shot Eden a cold look. “Did you know Lucy, Eden?”
Eden shrugged uncomfortably. “Well, yes I did. She’s, was my fiancé's cousin. And you know how close her brother Tristan and I once were.”
Angela pursed her lips, remembering how Eden had broken Tristan’s heart once or twice. “Quite.”


Felix looked over towards Dustin. The night was growing worse by the second. “So Dustin, shall we discuss this business proposal?”
Eden laughed loudly, brushing of Felix’s suggestion. “Oh Felix, you workaholic. They just got here. Let’s talk about something pleasant for a while.”
Felix winced. “Well uhm, alright.”


Eden and Dustin spent the rest of the night facing each other and tipping back wine. They were wrapped up in themselves, blatantly flirting and carrying on right in front their spouses and the entire population of Londoste. They were so engrossed in their private conversation that neither noticed when Felix and Angela got up to leave.




Eden and Felix didn’t speak during the car ride home. Felix pulled into the driveway and let the car run. He did not move and he did not look at his fiancé. Eden grew impatient. “Will you turn off the car? I’d like to get out and go up to bed.” Felix ignored her and Eden made a disgusted noise as she flung the door open and stepped out.


Felix chased after her, enraged. “What the hell was that back there?”
Eden crossed her arms and sneered at Felix. “What are you talking about?”
Felix narrowed his eyebrows even further. “You know exactly what I’m talking about! I couldn’t pull you and Dustin apart. It was humiliating for not only me but my sister. How dare you?! That was supposed to be a business dinner! Not a blind date!”


Eden flung her hand in the air dismissively. “Oh Felix, try not to be so dramatic. I was just being friendly, personable. You’re supposed to be talkative and vivacious at those kinds of things.”
Felix shook his head. “That was not friendly. That was borderline cheating.”


“Oh, so I’m a cheater because I know how to have a good time? You just sat there like a stick in the mud. That’s exactly what you are. You’re so boring, Felix. I can hardly stand it anymore.”
Felix paused, then decided to go for the kill. “Destiny didn’t think I was boring.”
Enraged, Eden raised her hand as if she was going to strike Felix. She stopped in mid air and simply whispered eerily. “How dare you bring her into this.”


Felix was now screaming at the top of his lungs. “We are engaged, dammit! Don’t you ever hit me! If you ruin this, if you cross me Eden Dreamer, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
Eden walked towards the house casually without looking back. “You don’t scare me. You’re never going to do better than me.”

BROKE

Dustin Broke was busy in his office when a knock on the door disrupted him. Before he could say “come in” the door opened and in strutted a surprise visitor. Dustin crossed his arms and smiled brightly. “Eden? I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
She smiled coyly and sauntered towards his desk. “Hello, Dustin. Having a nice day?”
He nodded, still smiling. “Well yeah, I suppose so. Why uh, why are you here?”


Eden walked behind the desk and pushed her body very close to Dustin’s. “I’m here on business.”
Dustin breathed a sigh of relief, although it was hard to keep his eyes off Eden’s exposed breasts. “Well, what can I help you with?”
Eden smiled devilishly and turned around to tinker with the pictures and pencils on Dustin’s desk. She was quiet, not answering his question which only made Dustin sweat.


Eden turned back around to face Dustin. “Tell me, Dustin. How many lovers have you had?”
Dustin’s eyes widened and he pulled on his neck tie nervously. “Well Eden, that’s a very personal question.”
Eden laughed. “If I'm not mistaken, and I don't believe I am, Angela was your first girlfriend. You married her. So that would mean the answer you’re looking for is one lover. Unless, of course, you’ve cheated on your wife. You’re not a cheater, are you Dustin?”


Dustin gulped. “No. I’ve never cheated on her.”
Eden smiled, pleased with herself. “Do you want me, Dustin? I’m not a little girl anymore. I saw how you looked at me at dinner the other night.”
Dustin could feel his heart pounding in his chest. “Eden, you’re a beautiful girl…”
“C’mon Dustin. Angela hasn’t been the same since her cousin died. You said so yourself.”


Eden leaned into Dustin's neck; he could feel her breath on his skin which made his hair stand on end. “I want to give you exactly what you want, Dustin. Something I know you’re not going to get from Angela anymore.”




Dustin walked into his home late that night. After seeing a half eaten birthday cake on the counter he instantly realized he’d missed Rose’s party. He sighed and hung his head, ashamed yet still giddy from his rendezvous. He scratched the back of his neck nervously and walked into the study where Rose sat. “Hey little girl, what are you doing?”
Rose didn’t turn around. “Applying for scholarships.”
Dustin laughed. “Already? You’ve only been a teenager for what, a couple of hours?”


Rose sighed while shutting of the computer and stood up to face her father. “Daddy, how come you weren’t at my birthday party?”
Dustin squirmed under the judgment of his eldest daughter’s sad, brown eyes. “I’m so sorry I missed your big day sweetie. I just got tied up at the office and lost track of time.”
Rose’s lip began to quiver. “It’s alright, I guess. I just can’t believe you forgot about me.”


Dustin smiled, a twinkle in his eye as he unveiled a white box wrapped in a crisp red bow. “How could I ever forget about my little girl?”
Rose gasped. “For me?”
Dustin chuckled. “Of course it’s for you! Happy birthday, Rosie. Go on, take it!”


Rose took the present and wrapped her arms around her father, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks Daddy, I love you!”
Dustin smiled, satisfied with himself. “I love you too, princess. Now run along up to bed. You can finish your scholarships tomorrow.”
Rose scampered upstairs. “Yes, Daddy!”


Feeling like a hero, Dustin exited the study with plans to sneak into bed and curl up next to his wife. Before he got to the stairs, Angela stopped him dead in his tracks. “Welcome home, Dustin.”
He jumped and spun around to see a very unhappy Angela poised on the couch in her fluffy pink robe. “Oh hi sweetie, I see you waited up. I was just wishing Rose a happy birthday and apologizing for…”
Angela held her hand up before Dustin could finish. “Don’t speak.”


Angela stood up and stared at her husband angrily, her face distorted with disgust and rage. “Listen up and listen good, Dustin Broke. Your daughter may be naïve enough to believe that you forgot her birthday because you were ‘tied up at the office’, and she may be loving enough to forgive you over a gift but I sir, am not.”
Dustin gulped. “Sweetie I…”
Angela’s fists flew behind her. “Don’t you call me that! I know exactly what you’ve been up to in that office of yours and I have a pretty damn good idea who with. So don’t you dare call me ‘sweetie’. This ends now, Dustin. If I find out you ever so much as looked at another woman, especially you know who, you will never see me or your children again. Do I make myself clear?”


Dustin didn’t know what to say. He stared at Angela, wide eyed. He nodded and hung his head. “Good,” Angela sneered. “And don’t follow me up to bed.”


Cassandra Dreamer stood on her front porch with her eyes shut tight, letting the rain wash over her face. Despite the cold air and stinging drops, she didn’t move. She liked feeling the coolness and the pain. It made her feel alive; it reminded her of a time when she was happier.


Cassandra snapped out of her trance, remembering what she had come outside to do, which was save the newspaper from getting too soaked. She bent down, her old back cracking while she scooped up the soggy paper. She’d been so forgetful lately, so out of tune with the world around her. Anyone who’s experienced as much loss as myself would feel the same way, surely. Just when she started to accept Darren’s death, Alex and Lucy were taken from the world so early in life. It had changed Cassandra, perhaps permanently she felt.


Cassandra barely made it up the stairs before kneeling on her bed and bursting into tears. Her heart ached all the time now; she wept on her bed for so long that the sky grew dark. I want to go. I’m ready to leave. I want to be with my family. Realizing there was nothing she could do, Cassandra wiped her eyes and stood up to put on her nightgown.


After slipping it on, Cassandra felt the hair on the back of her neck stand as a cool chill swept across her. “This can’t be happening…” She braced herself for what was about to appear before her, too afraid to turn around.


The Grim Reaper handed Cassandra a tiki drink as she began to rapidly fade away. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I was wondering when you would come for me.” Cassandra almost thought she heard the Reaper laugh at her eagerness as she faded away into the night.

TO BE CONTINUED