Sofia's Curse

Sofia meets Victoria

Ian frowns as he pulls to a curb in front a high iron fence that resembles a fortress.

"What's wrong?" Victoria squints.

The crease in his forehead deepens. "You never answered my questions," he gazes at her. "How did you end up there...and why are you dressed like this?"

Victoria freezes. He's unnerving. Why does he have to pry? She wishes he just let it go and let her walk out of here. It's too much. "I...I can't tell you. It's-" she tries to make something up, but he cuts in.

"It's your dad, again, isn't it?" he shakes his head and Victoria notices he's angry. "Why are you always so mysterious, Soph?" He grabs her wrist and caresses it. "Did he make you do this?"

Her lips part. She doesn't know what to say. Is that girl Sophie being abused by her father? The thought is unsettling and she shakes his hand off. "No! Why would you say that?"

Ian takes a sharp breath. "I don't know...just thinking of a reasonable explanation..." he stares at her, and there is no humor in his voice, "I swear...this is all so weird, Sophia."

Sophia? So that's her real name. Very beautiful. Sounds foreign. Although, Sophia isn't a foreigner. She just moved a lot. If she is to trust Ian.

She doesn't know what to reply and wants to leave the car, but isn't sure they've arrived to the right place. She gazes at the high fence again and an unpleasant feeling enfolds her. Why does she feel like this? Her insides gnarl. This place has a bad vibration. She really hopes this is not the place where Sophia lives. With a possibly abusive father. Poor girl.

"Sophie!" Ian brings her back to now and here. "Are you even listening to me?"

She licks her lips. "I'm sorry..." she mutters. "What were you saying?"

"Nothing important..." He shakes his head in disapproval. "Do you want me to escort you in?"

"Um...I'd rather you didn't..." she looks shyly away. "I...need to do some stuff, I'm busy..."

He lifts an eyebrow, but doesn't protest. He seems uneager to leave the car. "Okay, call me later?"

She nods. "Sure, Ian." She grabs the door handle to leave, but then turns back to him just before she opens the door. "Thank you," she whispers.

#

Christopher stands in front of the high fence, arms crossed, lips pouting in deep thought. "I've no idea. We obviously can't ring the bell...And the fence is definitely too high to jump over it."

"Wait...why can't we ring the bell? It's not like we're enemies or anything... The worst that can happen is they don't let us in."

Christopher narrows his eyes. "No," he says determinedly. "We can't ring the bell. I have a weird feeling about this, Vic. The girl...the girl will not be happy to see us."

"Sophia," Victoria says. After all that's happened today, she feels like she knows her too well to refer to her as a girl. On the other hand, she agrees with Chris in one thing. Sophia will definitely not be happy to see her. She kissed her boyfriend, for crying out loud. Multiple times! I hope she never finds out, she thinks. She still hasn't told Chris. Even though she knows she should. But she doesn't want to.

Why? Is it because she feels embarrassed that it happened? Or because she feels guilty she liked it?

Suddenly, they hear a cracking sound and the large iron gate opens. They are both abruptly awakened from their thoughts and they shoot looks at each other, wordless.

Chris scans the gate and sees a small camera up on the fence. It is directed straight towards them. He should've known.

Victoria's breathing is shallow and harsh. This doesn't look good. She can't tell what Christopher is thinking, so she grabs his hand. "We can't go in. This has a bad vibe, Chris. I feel it."

He narrows his eyes at her, brooding, but says nothing. Finally, he frees himself from her grasp and slowly reaches for the door. "We're obviously welcome to enter, Vic."

She swallows hard. Chris was always impulsive. Too curious to be careful. She can't let him walk in. "No," she commands. "This is way too weird, Chris!" she whispers admonishingly.

He rolls his eyes. "I came here, didn't I? I want answers. I'm sure as hell not going to leave now," he says harshly and slides through the gate c***k.

Victoria presses her lips in annoyance, but follows him inside.

They find themselves staring at a huge three-story white villa organized by a system of arches and pilasters, its facade surmounted by a pediment. There are three huge round windows in the center vertically arranged.

A chill runs down Victoria's spine. This house looks haunted. Who would want to live in here?

She shivers as she follows Christopher to the entrance door. He is so determined and poised, still on a mission he is eager to accomplish. Sometimes she admires his bravery, but other times, she thinks it is more of foolishness, than courage.

Chris glances back at Victoria before he touches the gilded round knob. She gives him an almost unnoticeable nod of encouragement. He grabs it and twists. It's locked.

Why would someone let them in through the gate and then lock the entrance door?

"What the hell?" Chris curses under his breath and pushes the door again. Nothing.

"Why so aggressive?" he hears Victoria's voice, but he knows it's not his sister who talked, since he clearly sees her standing next to him, silent. His throat stiffens as he turns around to face Sophia.

She is stunning. His sister is just as beautiful, but every feature on Sophia is accentuated with good make-up, clothes, jewelry, and an expensive haircut. She is wearing tight leather black pants, mid-heel black booties, and a tight black turtleneck shirt. Her hair is perfectly straightened, falling glamorously down her chest.

Victoria's jaw drops. Chris told her he'd met a girl who looks exactly like her, but she still isn't prepared for this. It feels like looking in the mirror, only the mirror has its own will of movement and she's at the Oscars. It's unnerving to look at her.

Sophia, on the other hand, doesn't seem distressed at all. She stands tall and proud, looking at them from high above, a queen looking at her peasants. There is something in her stare that makes their blood freeze. She knows them. She isn't surprised to see them. She expected this. It is so clear to them now. But how? Why?

"Hello," Chris finally says, but Victoria is still unable to speak.

Sophia smiles almost unnoticeably. "Hello, again." She hesitates to approach him, but not because she's afraid. She's hesitating because she doesn't want to come near them, she dislikes them. But the curiosity is killing her. She wants to know their names.

Finally, she takes a few steps forward and reaches out her hand, never leaving his eyes. "Sophia O'Connor. Pleased to meet you."

Victoria notices how tense Chris is, and gasps hearing her voice once again. She is now closer. She clearly sees her dark shiny hair, emerald eyes, and dark thick eyebrows. It sends a shiver down her spine.

"Christopher Jenkins," he says and Victoria gasps wanting to shut him up. He shouldn't be telling her his name. This girl looks unsettling, upsetting...mean.

She turns to stare at Victoria now. "And you must be..."

"Vanessa," Victoria says. "Vanessa Jenkins."

She takes herself by surprise. Why did she do that? Maybe she just wanted to check if Sophia really knew who they were. She is surprised to notice Sophia nods. She doesn't know their names after all. She doesn't know who they are. Maybe she isn't mean after all. Maybe she is just as surprised to see them. But why doesn't she look a tad bit surprised? Is she hiding her shock? Did she see them on camera and buzzed them in somehow, after realizing there was a spitted image of her standing in front of her house and she wanted to know why? I want to know why, she thinks. This can't be possible. This shouldn't be happening. Does this girl know me or not?

Just as Victoria is dwelling on her recent revelations, Sophia speaks and removes all doubt.

"Dad!" she yells simply. "They're here."