Chapter 1: Miss Elaine
"Miss are you sure of what you want to do? Perhaps you can save it for when you need it the most."
The lady in question nodded her head stubbornly and was determined to push through with her plans.
"Remember this is your last life. Your choices have consequences, which might not affect you but may affect someone else."
At the reminder, she still didn't make an effort to move and sat there looking at the older woman. She wasn't to blame for what happened to others, so far she had lived for others. Wasn't it time to live for herself?
Besides it was just a probability that they'd be consequences and if she did it once, then what could possibly stop her from doing it again?
Nothing.
Nothing, other than if he reciprocated her feelings, she couldn't count on that happening in this life. This is why she wanted to see whether it'll change in the next life or maybe they'll be destined not to ever meet. That would also work for her and she'll live her life happily without regrets.
While still in her thoughts, she slowly started losing consciousness. Eventually, she drifted into a deep slumber akin to death. It was indeed like death. Her life flashed by before her eyes, each scene like that of a movie.
At some point, she wished she could pause to capture his face. Before it was erased and etch it deep into her memories. If only she could.
As soon as the playback ended, she felt a piercing pain shoot up from her head.The pain to many would be intolerable but she wasn't like them. This was the second time of the same day she had undergone the ritual.
In this universe, each individual was granted three lives by the creator. A privilege for many who wished to live different lives or change the course of their fate.
One would assume she was a masochist for going through such pain willingly. Although that wasn't the case. She felt cornered when her first attempt proved futile and she had to go back again for the ritual.
After an hour or so of torture, she woke up with a start. Her momentarily frail body was covered in sweat from the intense heat. This held her back from breaking into a celebratory dance. A peal of laughter that she was holding back for a long time, came out her throat. As a result, leaving her throat parched and her voice hoarse.
Nevertheless, once she recovered her body strength, she swore to do all that in a heartbeat.
The old lady approached her side with a small cup, containing the drink meant to restore her vitality. She took it in one gulp as if it was a shot.
As she felt her body come back to life, she shot up from the bed, settled her payment, before taking her things to leave. This was it for her, she couldn't afford to waste anytime.
However, her happiness was short-lived when she heard a 'ping' sound from her phone, signalling an incoming text.
She didn't need to check who it was to know the sender, but she still went ahead to.
"I'll be home late."
"No! This can't be!" She let out a loud shriek. Her face contorted as if there was still residual pain from before.
She was familiar with this scene all too well.
It was like she never left and was still the same person who walked in hours ago. She turned to face the woman with a pleading look on her face, which the old woman caught and deciphered immediately.
"I'm afraid you have used up all your remaining lives.There's nothing I can do for you now," the woman calmly told her.
It's not like she didn't know it, she was just holding onto the non-existent hope that maybe she could get another chance.
Since there was nothing left to do, Elaine left the woman's house dejected, as she unwillingly chose to reside to fate.
Outside the simple little house, sitting at the doorstep was a young man, almost her age. In this situation, one couldn't tell as she had developed a mature look, which made her seem older.
He held his head between his hands in deep thought and hadn't even acknowledged Elaine's presence.
Her mind was quick to conclude that he was just like her. Unlucky enough to get the short end of the stick in life. Perhaps he still had a chance to change his fate. Upon observing him further, she brush that thought away.
In this case, misery loves company. So she sat next to him and only then did he look up to see her.
He silently took the time to access her appearance from head to toe. Judging her from her looks, she was someone who screamed success from afar, beginning with her clothes, to her shoes and even her posture. This kind of setting didn't suit someone of her caliber at all.
"Miss..."
"Elaine"
"Miss Elaine...
"Just Elaine is fine."
"I'm afraid you're in the wrong place," the young man retorted quickly and angrily, irked by her constant interruptions.
"I'll have to say the same about you."
The lad sat up in interest when he heard that. Although his body displayed no reactions, his eyes, if only Elaine had focussed on, revealed a lot more of his emotions.
His name echoed all through many cities in the country, since he was an expert in his profession. His face however, was a mystery, a choice he made and preferred to stay that way.
Due to that fact, he wondered how she managed to recognize him. For one thing, with her looks she could pass as one of his colleagues or exes, that he must've forgotten about. As usual. Still the name Elaine, didn't ring a bell.
"There was Josephine, Roselyn, Marilyn, Francine..."
His thoughts were however interrupted again by her loud shrieks of laughter. He had no idea what made her laugh and he was about to call her out as cuckoo when she spoke up.
"I'll be glad to hear more about Josephine, Roselyn and Marilyn over some drinks. Care to join me?" She asked with wide grin plastered on her face.
He'd be a fool to say no to such an offer. Notably, from how she spoke, there was definitely no way that she knew his identity.
No doubt, it was the confirmation that he'd be safe with her and he won't be a sheep leading himself to a slaughter house. Something his cousin mocked him for all the time.
Simply because he always fell prey to women, who scammed him for his money. Not that he was gullible, just not a good judge of character.
Still embarrassed for conveying his earlier thoughts out loud to a stranger, he didn't dare open his mouth and nodded in agreement to her request. This ensued another uncontrollable laughter from Elaine.
If he didn't know better, he'd say she and his cousin were cut out from the same cloth as they both found pleasure in his embarrassment. It is possible, she could've been sent here to mock him.
As a rule, he wasn't going to let his guard down completely.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Pennymanaughty
Pennymanaughty First book, hope you like it.
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