Chapter Text
This is your last opportunity to accept our offer. I would like to point out that you will be making three times the amount you are making now. This is a rare opportunity. Decide wisely.
Ava stared at the old computer monitor, reading the message over and over again in her head. "I have a good job in the biology department here, and I love Colorado. My family is here. My friends are here. This is my home," she thought to herself, "but three times what I am making now. That is a lot of money... Not to mention they have amazing facilities in Boston. My research would get noticed. I would make substantial progress."
Decide wisely.
The screen mocked her now. She let out a sigh as she put her head in her hands. It would be a big move; Colorado to Boston. She had never been that far from her family, or her home before. Not to mention her parents were going to kill her for even thinking about moving that far away. She would also be jeopardizing her opportunity for a higher position with the biology center she worked at now.
“Ava?”
She jumped clear out of her skin and looked up. “Jesus, Kat. You scared the shit out of me!” Ava exclaimed with her hand on her heart, as if to slow it down. Kat let out a giggle as she patted Ava on the shoulder.
“Are you all right? I mean, before I made you shit yourself, you looked… is everything alright?” Kat’s laugh died down, as concern spread across her face.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine!” Kat studied her, obviously not believing what Ava said. “Seriously, I’m fine! Just a little stressed out.”
Kat let go of Ava’s shoulder and backed into her work station. “Okay, okay. Take your time. You and I both know you will end up telling me anyways,” she said with a wink. “Anyways, you going to Beta tomorrow night? A bunch of us are going. Should be fun. You do remember what fun is, right?”
It was meant to be a joke, but there was a lot of truth behind the question. Ava had been so caught up in her work she couldn’t even remember the last time she had gone out.
“Very funny,” Ava stuck her tongue out at the sassy brunet. “I think I may take a trip home. You know, clear my head.”
“Sure, sure. Because hanging out with friends and having a good time won’t do that,” Kat said sarcastically. Ava let out a sigh as she began to pack her things. “Oh hush. You know I’m just pushing your buttons. You do what you have to do,” Kat continued reassuringly.
She glanced at her friend with a grateful look. Kat had a way of always making her feel better about her decisions, and she never pressured her to go out like the others did. Ava wasn’t one to go clubbing, or hang out with crowds of people. Right now what she needed was time to think, and advice. Ava slung her bag over her shoulder and headed towards Kat’s station.
“Thank you Kathrine.” It was a simple statement, but it meant a great deal to Ava.
“Don’t call me that!” Kat yelled at Ava as she turned to leave the office.
“Make good choices while I’m gone!” she retorted.
Kat let out a cackle. “I will if you promise you won’t just sit in your room and play Dragon Age like you always do. Go out and do something!”
“Shut up.” Ava said as she pushed the door open and exited the building. She opened her phone and pulled up her mom in her contacts.
6:37 Mind if I stop by for a couple days? Need my wonderful parents to bestow thou wisdom upon me.
6:41 I shall bestow all of my almighty wisdom upon you... Yes, of course dear. Miss you
6:42 Miss you too mom <3. Be home in a couple hours.
The door opened and revealed a modern but homey interior. Mom had been redecorating again. The walls were now a light grey with dark alder wood floors, and there was a new black table in the hallway with a large mirror hanging above it. Ava took in a deep breath, her eyes slowly closed, and she took in the familiar scent of cider and pine. She could have sworn it was the best smelling place on Earth. She slowly opened her eyes and made her way down the hall. As she passed the mirror she looked at her reflection. Her deep red-brown hair was a curly mess. Her green eyes stared back, tired from work and lack of sleep. “Gummy bear green,” her younger sister Harper would always say. Her full lips were chapped from the dry mountain air. She moved some strands of hair around in an attempt to make herself a little more presentable, but she was a mess.
“Ava? Is that you I hear in the hall?” Her mother yelled from the kitchen.
Her eyes abruptly left her reflection and she turned her attention to the kitchen. Her mother rushed through the doorway and almost tackled Ava to the ground.
“I’ve missed you too Mom,” Ava said as she gasped for air. Behind them she heard the familiar pitter patter of her sister’s feet. Two tiny arms wrapped around Ava’s waist as her mom let go, she turned to pick the child up. “Hey Harp! Oh my, you’ve gotten so big,” she said in an exaggeratedly disbelieving voice.
Harper let out a childish giggle. “Grew an inch since you been gone A,” the child stated matter-of-factly. Harper had called Ava “A” since she couldn’t pronounce her “v’s” when she was younger.
Ava’s jaw dropped. “Is that right? And you started second grade? You’re becoming quite the young lady,” she smiled and let Harper down. Then she looked to her mom. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s in the study. How about we get you some food? You look like you haven’t eaten in weeks,” her mother’s voice was full of concern, but Ava just rolled her eyes.
Ava’s father was usually in his study or at the lab. Being a biochemist kept him constantly busy, not to mention he wanted to examine everything he could. The world was a never ending supply of experiments and discoveries to Ava’s father. Her mother, on the other hand, was an architect. She had vision, creativity, and a knack for creating the impossible. Ava and Harper loved watching their parents at work. It was like magic.
They walked into the kitchen, and began helping their mother set up the dining room. Just like old times. “Plates first, then silverware, then glasses,” Harper sang as a reminder. By the time they finished setting the table and putting the food out, Ava’s dad had made his way into the dining room. “Ava!” her father yelled in excitement. “It’s been too long!” He gave her a bear hug.
They all sat at the dinner table together, sharing stories, experiences, and jokes. It felt good to be home. After dinner Harper went to her room to do her homework and Ava finally had an opportunity to talk to her parents about the offer. “So, about that wisdom. I would very much like it if you could bestow it upon me now,” she smiled at them, jokingly, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. They settled onto the black leather couch as Ava leaned against the wall at the entry of the living room.
“What is it A?” Her father asked, concerned.
“Well… I got an offer to work at a Biology department in Boston,” she basically spit out the words to prevent her parents from backfiring before they heard what she had to say. “I’m really considering taking the offer. It’ll pay three times more than my current job, I’ll have amazing references, and this will put me way ahead in my field of study.” She felt as though she could hear her heart beat. Ava knew that her parents wanted her to stay in Colorado, and her father wanted her help with his research. She felt like this decision would break her family’s hearts.
“A, you’re seriously considering this,” her mother asked, confused. “What about all of the years you have put in here? What about your father’s research?”
“I know, I know. But…”
“You’re doing groundbreaking research here anyways, and you already have fantastic references. So, do you really want to choose money over us, your family? Your home?” Her mom was raising her voice now.
“Your mother has a point. What if you don’t like it there, or you end up being overshadowed,” her father was taking this better than her mother, but still not well.
Ava could feel her anger rising. This situation was overwhelming. Her head was spinning. She was also torn about the offer, but she had hoped that her parents would take it better than they were. “I can’t stay here forever. I am 26 and still hanging onto this place because I am comfortable here,” her voice became stern and harsh. “Well I think it is time I did something new. It’s time I took a risk!”
Ava didn't give them an opportunity to reply. She couldn’t take any more. Ava hated getting angry, especially with her parents, so she just turned to the front door, and rushed to escape.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Her mother yelled.
“To clear my head!” She yelled back.
The front door slammed behind her. Adrenaline took over as Ava’s legs sped toward the familiar forested mountain. The sun was getting lower in the sky; she knew she only had a few hours before she needed to return back to the house safely. After running for a solid 10 minutes, Ava began to observe her surroundings. She knew where she was. She was born and raised here.
"The tree should be around here somewhere," she thought to herself.
There was a climbing tree that Ava always went to if she wanted time to herself. It was perfect. No one knew where it was and she could see for miles if she climbed high enough. As she spotted it, she approached it with care. She tested the branches to make sure they could hold her weight, and began to climb. She was a little more than halfway up the tree when she decided to find a sturdy branch and rest. As feelings of guilt began to sink in, tears welled in her eyes. Ava loved her family, dearly, and she didn’t want to leave them. She knew it was time though. Tears streamed down her face as she contemplated her choice. She began to wipe them as something caught her eye. Something was reflecting rays of light toward her from the distance. Curious, she started to climb down the massive tree and headed in the direction of the strange object.
Ava grew closer and closer. She realized that this was not small at all. In fact, it was huge. Massive. From this distance it looked like a mirror. She walked about fifty more yards and stopped in her tracks.
“What the…”
Her heart was racing in her chest. A strange feeling overwhelmed her. “That’s… not possible.”
Her slow controlled steps drew her even closer to the object. She was now only a few feet away. Her whole body went numb. “How? It’s… It’s…” she stuttered under her breath. “It’s an Eluvian.”
Ava reached out to touch it, to see if it was real. Inch by inch, her hand came closer. Slowly, she skimmed the surface.
Everything went black.