Becoming Charlotte

~ Ava ~

“I saw her mum; it’s indeed Emilia. " I explained, searching my mum's eyes for her next reaction.

"Emilia seems to be getting away from my wrath." My mum said and gritted her teeth in anger.

“We aren’t just going to let the fool get away like that. We need to do something.” She declared.

"Aside from that, Mum, we need to act fast and dig up more about Charlotte.”

"Guess what, Ava?” My mum squealed excitedly.

"We found the half-burnt photo.” She said and went to pick a file from the table.

"Open it," she urged.

I looked at her face, then collected the file. I opened it and pulled out a few stacks of brown papers, then an old photo.

I dropped the file and papers and stared at the photo.

I gasped in shock.

“Mum." I widened my eyes.

“She looked exactly like me when I was young. " I pointed at the picture; it was a little boy and a girl who held each other's hands, looking at the moonlight.

I ran to the mirror that hung on the wall in my room. I stared at myself and back at the picture.

Same brunette hair, same looks and even same eyes.

“Dopple gangas are real, Mum. "I went to sit next to her.

My mum let out a triumphant smirk. “You didn’t know how happy I was when I found out about this, Ava.” She came to hug me tightly.

“And lastly, Ava, your father shouldn’t know about this.” She said and handed a paper over to me.

“What is this, Mum?"

"Just hope..."

We were interrupted by the sudden knock on the door. The door opened before we could respond, revealing my dad.

"Dad", I called and handed the paper back to my mum.

“Come here, Ava," he said and extended his hands for an embrace.

"What's the occasion, Dad?" I laughed and embraced him.

"Adrain wants you to meet him at his private penthouse.” He announced.

"Really?"

"Yeah, and you are going with the photo and all we have found out so far," my dad explained.

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts. I even had more plans for things to do aside from what Mum and Dad wanted.

Dad dipped his hands into his pocket and pulled out a folded paper.

“Here, the letter he dropped based on where you instructed him to form your last letter is attached to the file."

I collected the paper and unfolded it. I read the first few lines and nodded.

Tomorrow noon at his private penthouse.

The last part made me laugh.

“Don’t dress tacky again."

Yeah, for some weird reasons, the Charlotte girl dresses in a tacky way.

This plan was actually getting harder than I thought.

Dressing tacky wasn’t my thing, by the way. I was just doing all of it because of this.

And as for Emilia, I was coming for her. I will have to use her this time so my plans can yield.

“Got it, Dad, it's tomorrow at noon. " I handed him back the letter.

"Alright then.” Dad patted my back before leaving, and then my mum followed him.

After making sure they'd left, I bolted the door, ensuring it was locked.

I pulled out my phone and dialled a number.

“Ava." A female voice called from the other end of the call.

“I really need your help, Nyx.” I paused to hear what her reply would be.

"Okay, go on.”

"It's just a simple task this time around. You are going to help me keep someone hostage for three days.

“Three days? That’s a whole lot, Ava." She hissed.

"It isn’t a lot, Nyx; it's just three days. And it's no one of importance by the way.”

“So, who is this?"

“We will discuss it in a text. This isn’t the right space for the discussion at the moment; just wanted to give you a hint on what is coming in."

"Okay, text me when you are ready.” She said and hung up.

I smiled in satisfaction, knowing that my plans were falling into place.

I needed to find something to wear to Adrain’s penthouse. Nothing of my taste rhymes with that of Charlotte's.

Our dress sense was totally out of it, but I had to wear them to come out successful in what we were into.

The knock on my door disrupted my search.

I opened the door to find one of the servants standing.

"Ma'am, your father wants you downstairs." She said and turned to leave.

“Come back.” I ordered, remembering she was Emilia's closest servant then and she might be useful any day, though.

"Tell Dad I will get myself down in a jiffy.” I said, flashing her a fake smile.

She nodded at my sudden niceness and left.

I walked back to the dresser to continue the search for a cloth when I heard the beeping sound of my phone.

I decided to ignore it, but the sound came again, again and again.

I hissed and went to check who it was.

“Just come alone.” The text read.

I checked for the texter ID, but it was restricted.

Who is this, and why would the person text thrice and restrict his or her ID

I sighed in frustration and sat on my bed. I needed to call Nyx to confirm if it was her. But I never mentioned to her I was coming.