OPPORTUNITY

In the middle of a glorious day, the clouds appeared from nowhere. It started to pour rain from above and drenched each leaf in the wood. The town had never seen such a storm before. The harsh winds blew as they were taking revenge against nature for exploiting them.

The thunderbolts fell in the deep woods, starting a fire in the drenched forest. The lightning keeps roaring in the dark sky.

All the residents locked themselves in their houses as they predicted that demons were arriving. Some of the houses destroyed or lightning killed many people. Every living being is terrified of nature's aggression. Many humans kept praying for the demons to calm down and show mercy on them but the weather didn't seem to get any better.

A loud and awful thunderbolt growled within the clouds, breaking the sky… as the one powerful lightning stuck to the ground, a heavenly body fell from the sky. 

The body burned as it fell and crashed on the land of mortals. A sudden wave of enormous power breaks through the town, destroying most of the house. 

Brought devastation to the human world, the sky appeared to be clearing and the sun shone as the last bit of hope of the mortals. The residents started to crawl out from their houses. They couldn't believe what they saw. Everything destroyed their town where they lived peacefully. The strange fire in the deep forest. The place where they get their livings from.

The horror spread like the fire and soon the whole town was consumed by the demon's fire… in the daylight, hardly any survivors left and ran to the neighboring city to seek shelter.

Since that day, the whole town has been named the demon's town.

Seven years later…

"Alexis!!! You see that you haven't finished your work and you are heading out of the house…" a feminine voice yelled to the girl who was busy stuffing books and other items in her backpack.

"You know that I have to leave early for the class… I can't be late. Please, handle this today, I promise I will make up for this mistake, next time maybe…" she grinned and pouted at the woman, who seemed to be in her late fifties. 

The woman put her hands on her hips and kept muttering till the young girl headed out. The girl appeared to be in a rush since she had an early morning class. She kept checking the time after reaching a bus station. Hoping that she would get one in time. Although she appeared lucky when a bus arrived, it was already full, leaving her no option but to get in anyway. All the way, she stood and kept her posture good so she wouldn't appear anxious. 

Soon her stop arrived and she didn't flinch to get out even before the bus stopped. The passengers yelled at her for being too careless and she shrugged them off and ran inside the campus.

There were students roaming on the campus and the corridor where she struggles to get into her class. As soon as she entered and gasped for air, her eyes fell on the students sitting, waiting for their teacher to arrive.

"I am really sorry… I got a little late… things were pretty messed up…" she chuckled lightly and apologized to the students for being late.

She started the lecture and taught a few important topics. After an hour, she dismissed the class and let the other students prepare for the lecture. Her day went quickly and it was afternoon. 

The girl was done with the last lecture of the day and dismissed the students from the class. As she was about to sign in relief, the principal, Mr. Barton entered the class.

"Miss Martin… how are you doing?" He asked the girl.

"I am doing great, Mr. Barton. Hope you are good as well." She greeted him.

"I am more than good… and it's good to see a teacher like you, working so hard to teach students. Anyway, I should come to the point…" he cleared his throat and looked seriously at Alexis.

"Alright… sir, what is the matter?" Alexis appeared curious and anxious at the same time.

"I know that you work really hard to support your family of two but I know that the money you earn isn't enough. I can't pay you more than that in this school and I am afraid that you won't get any better job than this place in the city." He said.

"I understand that Mr. Barton, and I am very thankful for your kind gesture… but I don't get it…" she was clueless…

Mr. Barton sighed heavily and replied to Alexis, "I have received a notice from one of the noblest families of the city. They want a private tutor for their son. And they are offering a good amount to pay." 

"Oh well, that's great…" Alexis jumped in excitement.

"Easy… calm down your horses… although, I have volunteered your name in the list. Still, I am afraid…" Mr. Barton sighed.

"Sir, can you elaborate the whole matter to me?" Alexis insisted.

"Actually, it involves nobles and they have conducted a short interview for the volunteers. I have listed your name in the interview. I know you possess great teaching potential and I do want you to get this job, in case anything happens, I know you can tackle it." He responded to her.

"I understood… When is the interview?" She asked.

"In the evening, at five o'clock." Mr. Barton replied.

"What? And where is it?" Alexis panicked that she got less than expected time to prepare herself.

"I tried calling you in the morning but your number was unavailable. I had to finish my work and then I approached you here. I know the time is less, but you gotta make it…" Me. Barton put his hands on Alexis' shoulders.

"Fine!!! But what am I supposed to wear?" She sighed and asked.

"Anything formal… mind to add black in your attire." Mr. Barton replied and went off.

Alexis stood in the middle of the corridors… completely shocked after hearing the news. She made a promise to her aunt to help but the interview was more important. She rushed back to her house as fast as she could and hopped into her room.

"Alexis!!! Did you forget your manners?" Her aunt, Solace, complained.

"I am sorry, Aunt Sol but I will explain everything to you…" Alexis was a bit in a hurry and rushed to clear her wardrobe.

She found a decent white shirt and matched them with a pair of black trousers. Luckily, she got a pair of black boots which she received as a gift during Christmas from school. She never wore them until the right time. This was the right time.

There was no time for makeup, so she washed her face and applied a moisturizer. A tinted lip balm was enough to enhance her olive skin over the face. She tied her hair in a ponytail and grabbed all of her legal and qualification documents in the bag.

Then, she descended the stairs only to be stopped by Aunt Sol.

"Mind explaining this?" She narrowed her eyes on her.

"I have an interview…" she said.

"This time? You weren't informed in the morning…" Aunt complained.

"I found out about it this afternoon and rushed to get my things," Alexis explained to her aunt.

"Is this necessary? To attend the interview?" Her aunt asked in a serious voice.

"Aunt Sol… you know the conditions we are living in and it won't get better if I don't work. Please… I have to go…" Alexis rolled her eyes.

"Well, I know how much you support us but the thing is… I am not feeling good about this. What if something happens to you?" Her aunt was concerned about her.

Alexis exhaled deeply and responded, "it will be fine… the worse can happen is… Rejection…" She smiled at her aunt and left the house. 

Although, She appeared confident but there was an anxiety that crawled upto her mind. Everything happened suddenly and she got no time to think precisely about it.