The Decision

Alice felt a sudden pressure in her chest, her breath hitching as Madame Armie's words echoed in her mind.

"You must make a decision, Alice. This decision will change your life forever." 

She stared at the medium, searching for any hint of a joke, but the woman's expression was deadly serious.

"What do you mean? I don't understand... What decision?"

Madame Armie took a deep breath, as if steeling herself.

"I need to know if you're ready to fight to keep your gift or if you'd rather seal it away and live a normal life. If you choose to keep it, you'll be entering a never-ending battle against dark forces. But if you seal it, you'll forget everything supernatural you've experienced. So, what will it be?"

Alice was completely caught off guard.

"This is so sudden... I don't know. Why would I have to seal it?"

"As long as you can use your powers, malevolent spirits will never stop hunting you. And if they possess you, it could put the entire city in danger. But if you close your energy pores, they'll leave you alone."

So, if Alice understood correctly, she was some kind of chosen one who'd awakened her spiritual gifts, and now she'd be hunted by evil spirits for the rest of her life—unless she learned to defend herself or gave up her powers entirely.

"I see... Awakening isn't something to take lightly. Can I have some time to think about it?"

She was still struggling to accept the situation. She needed time to weigh her options.

"Of course. Take all the time you need. But think carefully, Alice. Your future depends on this."

Alice's mind raced as she tried to process everything. On one hand, she could use her gift to help others. But the image of the Rabbit Man flashed in her mind. If he—or something worse—possessed her, she'd never forgive herself for the harm they could cause. And she had no idea how to fight back.

On the other hand, giving up such a rare gift felt like a waste. But maybe it was the safer choice? Or maybe not?

"I... I need to walk. I need to clear my head," Alice stammered, standing up.

"Take your time," Madame Armie said gently.

Alice left the cozy silk cushions and found Martin in the main room, absorbed in a book. She tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

"Oh, hey, Alice! You should check this out. It's a grimoire on how to make dreamcatchers. It's fascinating!"

Martin, who usually hated reading, seemed to have found a new passion. Alice couldn't help but smile.

"Maybe we can try making one someday," she suggested.

"Yeah, that could be fun," he agreed, marking his page and putting the book back on the shelf.

"So, what did you get out of the session?"

"Let's talk outside."

As they walked through the neighborhood, Alice explained everything Madame Armie had told her, careful not to reveal too much. She remembered the medium's request to keep the details private.

"Now I have to decide whether to adapt to this new life or give it up. I'm... really lost," Alice admitted.

Martin thought for a moment, then said calmly, "In situations like this, I usually follow my gut."

Follow my gut.

Alice repeated the words in her mind. She pushed aside her fears and doubts, trying to listen to what her instincts were telling her.

Protect this world.

It was clear now. She couldn't run away. She had to trust herself. The answer was obvious: she had to keep her powers!

"Thanks to you, I know what to do now. You're the best, Martin!"

"Hey, I didn't do anything," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

With renewed determination, Alice marched back to Madame Armie's house. Inside, Martin returned to his grimoire while Alice settled back onto the silk cushions.

"I've made my decision. I want to keep my gift to protect the people I care about!"

A relieved smile spread across Madame Armie's face.

"That's wonderful news. My intuition was right—you have a good heart, Alice."

Alice felt her cheeks flush. It wasn't every day she received such a compliment.

"Remember what you just told me this, because the training ahead will be intense."

Alice nodded, curious about what this "training" would entail.

"Just out of curiosity... what does the training involve?"

"Don't worry, you'll get all the details soon. I'll connect you with an experienced energetician named Azamy. She's very kind, and she's currently training another apprentice around your age."

Madame Armie wrote down an email address on a piece of paper with a fountain pen that matched the room's occult aesthetic.

"Send her a message when you get home, and don't forget to mention I sent you."

She then pulled a pendant from a chest.

"I'm also giving you this protective charm. As long as you wear it, entities won't be able to attack you. It'll last a few days, giving you time to master your powers."

Alice put on the charm and carefully tucked the paper into her bag, thanking Madame Armie.

"It's nothing. Good luck, Alice. The road ahead won't be easy."

As soon as the pendant touched her neck, Alice felt a surge of determination. She felt like she could to face this unknowned world.

"Now that the important stuff is settled, there's one last thing... If you know anyone who needs a reading, bring them here!"

Madame Armie's tone lightened as she listed her services, even sharing a few funny anecdotes. Alice couldn't help but laugh.

After about fifteen minutes, they wrapped up the conversation. Madame Armie walked everyone to the door.

"You're always welcome here. Come back anytime!"

By the time they reached the bus stop, the sky had darkened.

"That wasn't such a bad idea after all," Alice said.

"Told you. You even got a free gift," Martin said, eyeing the pendant around her neck.

"Madame Armie must really like you."

The bus arrived, cutting their conversation short. Alice boarded, finding a rare empty seat.

Her mind buzzed with everything that had happened in the past eight hours. The ride home felt like a blur.

Back at her house, she settled into her room to start her homework. The math problems weren't too hard, but they required focus. After finishing, she spent the rest of the evening reading and listening to music.

She'd just finished her mystery novel, stunned by the twist ending. The murderer had faked their death before actually killing themselves! The author's ingenuity left Alice in awe.

As she put the book back on her shelf, she remembered the grimoire Martin had been reading at Madame Armie's. That reminded her of the piece of paper with Azamy's email.

It was time to make contact.

Alice pulled out the paper and opened her phone's messaging app. She stared at the blank screen, unsure how to start.

Don't overthink it, Alice. Just breathe and go for it.

She followed her own advice, typing a simple message explaining that Madame Armie had given her Azamy's email to learn more about spiritual powers.

She hit send.

Three minutes later, she got a reply.

Azamy's response was casual and full of slang. She invited Alice to download a video conferencing app and join her using her ID.

Alice followed the instructions. When she joined the meeting, her camera turned on, revealing Azamy on the other end.

The woman on the screen had brown skin, sunglasses, and a confident smile. Her bold, flamboyant style was impossible to ignore.

She wore a black leather jacket over a fitted white shirt, her bleached hair styled in twists held back by silver clips. Behind her, sunlight streamed through a park—it was still daytime where she was.

Alice felt a little intimidated. She wasn't sure what to say.