‘Astral’ World: Christophe: A Strange Man with a Strange Offer

[k_a_webb]

Written for a random number prompt.

Christophe sat alone in the coffee shop, sipping the drink he’d bought with the last cash in his pocket. Losing his job would mean he’d lose his flat and then he’d have no choice but to move back in with his parents. That was something he’d never been able to imagine doing, because moving back in with them would mean admitting he’d failed at being independent, and he’d never planned on failing. His flat meant everything to him. It was his own space, he had his own furniture, he could cook his own meals whenever he wanted, and that would all be lost when he moved back in with his parents.

“There is another choice,” a male voice said, as someone sat in the seat opposite him.

“Who are you?” Christophe asked, staring at the stranger, knowing that suspicion filled his eyes.

“I’m the man who can teach you how to use the power you have within you, if you come with me to another world.”

“Right…”

“I know how it sounds.” The man smiled, almost bitterly. “My reaction was much the same as yours when I first met the magician who taught me what I was capable of.”

“Why are you here? Why now?”

“You didn’t need me before.”

“I don’t need you now.”

“So you’d rather go back to live with your parents because you can’t afford to rent your flat with no job.”

“It sounds much better than pretending I can travel to another world.”

“Christophe…”

“How do you know my name?”

“I’ve been watching you.”

“Do you know how creepy you sound?”

“Yes, I do, but I want to tell you the truth. I’ve been watching you since I first felt your power and since then I’ve been waiting for a chance to talk to you about what I can give you if you come with me.”

Shaking his head, Christophe stared into his drink, knowing that he shouldn’t feel the wild hope fluttering in his chest at the possibility of having a chance to do something that wasn’t returning home. “How do I know that you’re telling me the truth?”

“There’s no way you can.” The man shrugged. “You either take a chance and come with me, or you go back to the flat you’re going to lose soon enough to pack because you don’t have the courage to do something different.”

“I…” Christophe shook his head. “It sounds impossible.”

“It does, but I promise you it isn’t impossible. There is another world… there are a lot of other worlds, but I can’t travel to any of the others the way some of the other magicians can. Making doors isn’t one of my strengths.”

“What are your strengths?”

“That would be telling, Christophe.” He smiled. “If you come with me you’ll soon find out my strengths and what you can do with your own abilities.”

Christophe sipped the drink, even though he wasn’t tasting it, as he thought about what the unnamed man opposite him was saying. Leaving everything behind on the chance that the story was true seemed to be the stupidest thing he could do, but his only other option was to pack up his flat ready to head back to his parent’s house.

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.