A Not-So-Chance Encounter

We all hear of people’s lives changing in a blink of an eye. We all have that deep-down desire, that one day, we have an experience that would do just that, in the best way imaginable. That is how my story begins. My name is Ava Lane. My not-so-chance encounter has transformed my life. As a 20-year-old CU college student, I certainly felt I would be the last person on earth for something like this to happen to. I’ve been told repeatedly, “Things don’t happen by chance”.

I’ve been a nanny for the Smith family for 3 years. Ryan was the youngest and in kindergarten, Lindsey was in 3rd grade and James was in 5th. Dan, the dad, is an Atmospheric Scientist that works at NCAR. Karen, the mom, is a Mechanical Engineer at NIST. Both of them are Ivy League graduates and loved their careers. Which meant long hours for them and required me to live with them.

Their ridiculously huge home is nestled in Superior, Colorado. An upscale suburb of Boulder, at the base of the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It’s a small town where everyone one knows everyone and nothing exciting happens. Except for the occasional scandalous affair that had the moms talking for weeks. The picture-perfect town is dawned with perfectly manicured lawns, full of bored Stepford wives and cooperate execs.

It all began on a normal unassuming February afternoon. It was a nice cool 41 degrees, slight over cast with a soft breeze fresh off the Flatirons. Perfect for the kids to play at the playground. I’ve been bringing the kids here every Friday since I started. James and Lindsey had friends meeting them to play tag while Ryan and I played at the playground. He always had fun.

I took a seat on the park bench to make sure I could clearly see the kids playing. I briefly took a moment to enjoy the cool breeze on my face.

“Nice day isn’t it?” said a stunningly beautiful woman sitting next to me. Her voice was astoundingly lovely, her skin was flawless and fair. Her hair was long white blonde and her eyes were the deepest hue of blue I’ve ever seen. I could tell she was tall, she was taller than me, just sitting. She was immaculately dressed in designer clothes that paired perfectly with her Burberry Scarf and trench coat. I felt a tinge of confusion as I had not noticed that she was there. No one was at the park a minute ago. Yet, here she is.

“Yes. It is very nice out” I replied while looking around to see if she had any children at the playground too. Ryan was the only one there.

“Do you have any kids here?’ I asked. Making normal playground small talk.

“No dear. I am waiting for a friend of mine” she replied as she clutched a black Moleskine notebook in her leather Gucci gloved hands.

Living among the upper middle class, you tend to notice labels quickly. As everyone HAD to keep up with the Joneses.

“Oh. I see.” I suddenly felt awkward that I quickly ran out of my usual playground small talk.

“I’m Lana.” She smiled extending her gloved hand, while keeping the other tightly gripped on her book.

“Ava. Ava Lane” Half smiling and shaking her hand. I felt a tinge of envy noticing how wonderfully soft her leather glove was.

“Lovely to meet you dear. Tell me Ava, do you believe good people exist? Pure of heart people?’ She said in the softest velvety tone, while staring off into the distance. She spoke like she was from a different era, she had such wisdom and electricity that radiated off her.

“I believe so. I know that the world is full of nasty, evil people. Such evil, it’s hard to comprehend. I truly think that genuinely good-hearted people still exist. Everyone has that choice to do good or not. It’s a choice, At least that is what I tell myself.” I replied. Feeling a bit confused from the “out of the blue” question.

She smiled the biggest and smile, “That is such a beautiful answer darling and very true. We all have our free will. Everything is a choice. We shall see soon enough”

I nodded to acknowledge her reply, while watching Ryan swing.

“Be careful” I shouted to him, as he was swinging a bit too high for my comfort level.

I briefly looked as she was writing something in her book. Then it happened, “Argh!!” screamed Ryan. He had fallen off the swing. I quickly ran to him. I scooped him up and took him to the bench. I had a mini first aid kit in my handbag. While cleaning his scrapped hands, I noticed Lana was gone. The little black book however, was left there. I kept looking around while tending to Ryan’s wounds and wiping his tears.

“You okay now bud?”

“Yes. Thank you Avie. Bye!”

He ran off just as quickly as he had hurt himself.

I looked at the book that sat next to me. It had a gold LL monogram with a large 77 inside a star. I picked it up and stared at it. I noticed that there was something bulky inside. I opened it to find a white bank envelope. My raging curiosity was running away with me. I opened envelope saw a huge stack of 100-dollar bills!!!

‘Holy SHIT!” I quickly closed the book and set it down next to me. Just in case she briefly left and came back to see me going through her book. My heart was pounding. I continued to look around me, still no one in sight. Just the kids playing.

I glanced at my watch and noticed the time. 4:57pm.

“Geez! Where has the time gone?! I have to get the kids home”

What about the book? Lana was nowhere to be seen. What am I supposed to do? I can’t just leave it here. Should I take it? What am I going to do with it? Maybe it has her contact information inside. I grabbed the book again and opened it. On the inside of the cover read

Kindly return if you are pure of heart to:

Lana Lawson

749 15th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

“Pure of heart?” What is that supposed to mean?

I stared at the address and quickly grabbed my phone to google it. It seemed VERY familiar. I put the book in my handbag until I could figure out what to do with it.

I gathered the kids and got them in my car. I toned out their mumbles and grumbles as the address, the book, the money and its owner, consumed my thoughts. Within a few minutes, my phone rang. It was Karen.

“Hi Karen!”

“Ava, will you be home soon? Dan and I have plans to take the kids to dinner and a movie. Would you like to come?”

“I am on my way home now, but I have plans” I replied as I starred at the book

I dropped off the kids and went back to my car. I grabbed my phone and once again Googled the address. There was something weird about it. I opened the book again. Upon closer inspection, I noticed there were only names written on the pages with an X next to each one. Tons of pages with names and X’s. On the last page however, was what gave me chills.

Ava Lane

“What? What the hell is this? No X though.”

I took out the bank envelope and counted the money.

“Holy SHIT!” twenty thousand dollars?!! Who carries around that amount of cash? I was holding in my hands $20,000 in CASH! I Felt a wave of excitement rush over me. What if I just kept the money and got rid of the book? No one would know. I could finish College with no more worries.

Then it came. My conscience. My ever-constant conscience to do the right thing. The money was not mine and I have Lana’s address. I have to return the book AND money. It’s the right thing to do. I suddenly let out a sigh of relief that my friends were not with me. They would have taken the money and not thought twice about it. I am not like them though.

I was on my way to Lana’s house and noticed it was very close to my favorite park. Chautauqua Park, but there was something oddly familiar about that address.

As I drove up to the large brick home, I quickly remembered WHY the address seemed so familiar. It is the JonBenet Ramsey house!!!

“Holy Shit!” my heart was racing

“Just give the book and money back and leave. Period” I whispered to myself.

I got out of my car and sighed. As all the thoughts of everything I could have done with the money left as quickly as they came.

I walked up to the thick wooden door and rang the doorbell. I noticed that most of the lights were on in the house.

I heard heels clank on the floor approaching the door. It unlocked, and the door slowly opened. There stood Lana.

“Ava darling! I am so please to see you once more!” she exclaimed smiling.

“Ummm! You left your book Lana.” I said nervously as I handed her the book. I almost didn’t want to let go.

“Thank you love. Please, won’t you come in?’

I felt so at ease around her. It was almost like I was under a magical spell. I entered without hesitation. The inside was immaculately designed with white, gold and silver. It matched perfectly with the white marble floor.

I turned to my right and there were 5 other women sitting in the living room. All extremely beautiful, flawless skin and long hair. Every single one dawned beautiful designer clothing that fit their bodies perfectly.

“Ava, please have a seat love” she kindly invited. Extending her hand to an empty chair.

“Ava dear. Do you know why you are here?”

“You left your book at the park. I am just here to return it.”

“Do you know what my book contained?”

I looked down at my hands in my lap, embarrassed to admit that I snooped in her book.

“It contained an envelope of money and had names in it.”

“Yes. Very good my darling!” She seemed happy I did that. Elated even.

“Ava. From the moment I met you. I knew you have a good heart. A pure heart. I knew you would make the right choice.”

“What is this? Some type of test?

“Precisely darling!”

“For what exactly?” My head started to spin.

She sat in the chair next to me.

“We are part of The 7th Order of the 7th Morningstar. Only pure souls can be among us. You wouldn’t have been able to cross that threshold if you weren’t.” She stated as she gestured toward the door.

“You are the first one, in a VERY long time to make it to us. Many just see the immediate reward and we never see them again” she sighed

“The X’s?’

“Yes dear. That being said, we would like you to join us darling.”

“I’m confused. Join?”

“Precisely darling. We maintain balance on earth, with love, kindness and when necessary, swift justice. Should you choose us, you will never want for anything worldly ever again. Endless wealth, luxury and even beauty, Ava. You can personally make a good difference in this world. Your wildest dreams will come true tonight. The world is your oyster my dear.”

Then she hesitated and lowered her voice “I must caution you dear. It IS a life time commitment. However, time is of the essence and I must insist on an answer”

I turned to her, smiled and looked into her deep blue eyes

“Yes. I am”

She smiled “Our final sister is home ladies”