For The Love Of Artificial Intelligence
A New Earth
Book Two
Chapter 16
The Sins Of Elina
Crystal City: 5188 AD

Alannah waits quietly at the bus stop. Only a few days ago, she stood here, trapped in a timeless void, with no past and a future that felt like a repeat of yesterday. Her once-dull, unfocused eyes now shine with excitement, eagerly taking in a world brimming with possibilities. Today, she’s heading back to the small clinic just outside the city for a follow-up on her reconstitution therapy. That first visit was filled with fear, but now Alannah is thrilled to return.

The bus rises to its cruising altitude, about 100 feet above the pedestrian path, and picks up speed. As the cityscape glides past her window, Alannah reflects on how much has changed. When she first arrived in Crystal City, it was just a short row of wooden buildings along a dirt road. Now, it’s a bustling metropolis, alive with people hurrying about their lives.

Alannah thinks about those still trapped, like she once was, in a cycle of forgetfulness, reliving the same day endlessly. She considers starting a mission to free these lost souls from their temporal prisons. But today, her mind is on her sister, Elina, whom she misses deeply. The bus finally reaches its last stop, and Alannah steps off, practically skipping down the cobblestone path toward a quaint gated cottage.

Alannah checks her appointment slip to confirm she’s at the right place and time. She is. “Welcome, my sister,” Maureen greets her warmly, as she does all her patients. “I can see the progress in your therapy just by the sparkle in your eyes. You don’t need to say a word. How can I help you today? Do you want to search for more people from your past? Need more sketches to help you remember them?”

“No, thank you, Maureen,” Alannah replies. “I have plenty of sketches. I need more than pictures—I want to touch them, feel them, hug them, kiss them, hold them close. During my last session, you mentioned you might have an address for my sister, Elina. She’s the one I miss most. You said she’s like me, alone, with no other family. That’s what I want to focus on today—finding Elina.”

“My goodness, Alannah,” Maureen says, impressed. “You’re my most advanced patient. It usually takes months, even years, for someone to reach this stage of seeking lost loved ones. But I must warn you: you may not find what you expect, and you need to be ready for disappointment. Are you prepared for that? It could be painful.”

A hint of fear creeps into Alannah’s heart as she asks, “What kind of disappointment? You mean I might not find her?”

“It’s more complex than that,” Maureen explains. “We might not locate her at all, or we could find her domain but be unable to enter it. Even if we do get inside, we might still not find her. And finding her could be the easy part. She might not recognize you, or she might not want anything to do with you. In the worst cases I’ve seen, people find their loved ones, bring them back, and then their lives get tangled up in ways they never imagined. There’s a real risk of heartbreak. Do you still want to go forward?”

“Absolutely,” Alannah says with an eager smile. “My life has been so dull for so long that any complication would be a welcome change. Elina was always complex and hard to figure out, so I’m used to that. Let’s do it!”

“Alright then, we’ll do it!” Maureen says, catching Alannah’s enthusiasm. “First, I’ll draw a quick sketch to focus my mind and guide us toward Elina.” She grabs a small pad, sketches a face, and hands it to Alannah for approval.

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“Yes, that’s the Elina I remember,” Alannah confirms, nodding at the sketch’s accuracy.

Maureen starts a second sketch and passes it to Alannah. “I’m confused,” Alannah says, frowning. “This is an elderly woman. Who’s this?”

“Ah,” Maureen replies gently. “I warned you that you might not find what you expect. You left Earth at 27, and now you look about 30. Elina left Earth at 75, and I sense she’s kept that form. Your dream of running around Capitol City with your little sister, having fun adventures, might not happen. She’s an elderly woman now, and you may not have much in common. Do you still want to continue?”

“Ugh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Alannah admits. “But you don’t know Elina. She’d probably love hitting the bars and shopping for clothes at 75 just as much as someone who’s 25. So let’s keep going.”

“I see you’re planning to bring her here and do things that cost a lot of money,” Maureen says, looking concerned. “Do you have the means to support that?”

“Ha!” Alannah laughs. “I just found this out myself, but I’m actually pretty wealthy. For years—longer than I can remember—I just worked and slept. I paid my bills, and whatever credits I had left went into the bank. With interest, I’ve got more than enough to take care of Elina and anyone else I might find.”

“That’s great to hear,” Maureen says with a wide smile. “Maybe when you’re back, we can talk about a loan to expand my clinic!” They both laugh.

After a brief meditation, Maureen jots down some notes. “Here’s what I see, Alannah. As I mentioned before, Elina is still herself, in the form she had when she left Earth. But here’s where it gets strange. Elina is a unique soul. We’re all beings of consciousness who took physical form on Earth, most recently as humans. As consciousness, we’re infinite, part of the All That Is. But we’re not aware of that infinity—our awareness is like a small bubble within consciousness, the ‘I’ that you know as yourself.

“On Earth, at level 3 of existence, we’re inside a larger bubble that holds the entire universe and others that are out of phase with our Earth. Here, where the dimensional density is lighter, our bubbles of awareness are smaller, and we can create many different realities, unlike the single reality we’re stuck with on Earth. This has been common knowledge since the great awakening.

“What we don’t fully understand yet are the domain managers—those whose bubble of awareness, their domain, hosts many other souls manifesting as humans or other forms. That’s still mostly a mystery. We do know that domain hosts, like the one for Crystal City, are usually highly evolved beings with long histories across many lives and realities.”

“Okay, I’m still new to this, but I think I get the basics,” Alannah says. “My boss at the diner explained some of it. So what does this have to do with Elina? What kind of domain is she in?”

“That’s the odd part,” Maureen replies. “Elina is alone, but not like you. You’re alone, without family, in a domain with millions of souls. Elina is alone in a domain of one. She’s the domain manager, the host. That suggests she’s a highly evolved being. Normally, beings like her attract others to share their domain. But she’s alone. That’s what’s strange.”

“Believe me, Elina has always been a little odd,” Alannah says with a laugh. “So I’m not surprised she’s still an outsider, even in this existence. Go on, I sense you have more to say about her unusual behavior.”

“Yes, I do,” Maureen replies. “I feel that her domain is a dark one, a Hades-class, like her own personal hell. Elina has all the traits of an enlightened being, and such beings don’t usually create their own torment. This is very strange. Because it’s so unusual, I’m not sure it’s safe for you to visit her. If, for instance, she’s lost her sanity and she’s the host of her domain, there’s a risk you might struggle to leave once you’re inside. Are you sure you want to take that chance?”

“Hmm, that’s a bit frightening,” Alannah admits. “But it’s something I have to do. If Elina’s in trouble, I need to see what’s going on. She might need help. Maybe I should bring someone more experienced along. Are you free?” she asks with a smile.

Maureen grins widely. “I was just wondering how I could tag along. This sounds like an intriguing adventure. Let me grab my things, and we’ll get started.”

Alannah and Maureen head back into town to catch a transport to Elina’s domain. Maureen isn’t entirely sure of the coordinates, and they’ll need to set up a trans-dimensional conduit to enter, unless the domain is sealed. If it’s blocked, they might not get in at all.

“So, Maureen,” Alannah asks, “when we go to Elina’s domain, are we basically stepping inside her mind?”

“You could think of it that way,” Maureen replies. “A domain is a part of an infinite expanse that forms into a region of awareness where a local space-time can exist, and we can manifest within it. We don’t fully understand how it works—it’s like digesting food; it just happens naturally, and we don’t need to think about it. So saying it’s ‘in her head’ or not isn’t really the point. It just exists.”

“Do you think she knows we’re coming?” Alannah asks.

“She might, but I doubt it,” Maureen says. “She’ll definitely know when we arrive.”

The two leave the bus station and head to the transport station. Maureen has booked a transport, and Alannah covers the fare. “Wow,” Alannah says, “I just realized this is the first time I’ve ever left Crystal City. I’m a little nervous.”

The transport zooms toward the edge of Crystal City and then stops. The pilot and co-pilot are adjusting equipment. “We’re calibrating the TDC, ma’am,” the co-pilot says. “It’ll just take a moment. The coordinates you gave us are tricky to lock onto, so please bear with us.”

“What do you think we’ll find in there?” Alannah asks Maureen.

“It’s hard to say,” Maureen replies. “These domains can be anything their host imagines. Hades-class domains are usually unpleasant, created as places of torment for souls who feel they deserve punishment. This might not be enjoyable at all.”

“Ma’am,” the pilot interrupts, “we had trouble finding an entry point because the domain was too hot. A cooler spot has appeared, but we can’t enter directly. We can activate the TDC and dock alongside, and you’ll have to walk from there. Are you sure you want to go in? We might not be able to get you back out.”

“We’ll be fine,” Alannah says confidently. “I don’t know how I know, but I just do. And she knows we’re here—that’s why the cool spot appeared. We’ll be okay.”

The hovercraft approaches a swirling vortex at the edge of Crystal City’s domain and opens its side door. On the other side is a rocky pathway with cool water flowing over it. Beyond, a deep red glow lights up the entire domain.

“Are you ready?” Alannah asks Maureen, seeking a bit of reassurance.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Maureen replies. “Let’s do this!”

They carefully step out of the craft onto the rocky path. As they start walking, the TDC vortex and the craft disappear behind them. They’re alone in a barren landscape, like a fresh lava flow, with fire and hot rocks all around except for the cool spot where they stand. As they move forward, cool water rises from the ground, keeping the path safe for them to continue.

“See, I told you she’s here,” Alannah says. “How else could this be happening? We’d have burned up by now.”

“It might be automatic,” Maureen says, “but I think you’re right. She’s welcoming us into her domain. Let’s see where this path takes us.” She gestures for Alannah to follow.

For over an hour, they follow the winding path through a scorched desert and into a dense forest of oddly shaped boulders. Eventually, they reach a clearing. In the center is a table and chair, where a small elderly woman sits, surrounded by stacks of books, papers, and magazines. She’s hunched over, reading a newspaper. When she finishes a page, she tosses it into a nearby pool of lava, where it burns instantly. The two approach cautiously until they’re right in front of her. Elina doesn’t look up. She simply says, “Okay, Alannah. You’re here. What do you want?”

“I want to tell you how much I love you, how much I miss you, and I want to catch up on all the years we’ve lost,” Alannah says. “Put that paper down and look at me. I want to see your face.”

“Still bossy after all these years, huh?” Elina replies, looking up at Alannah. “Have a seat, girls.” Two chairs appear, and Alannah and Maureen sit down. “So, who’s your friend, Alannah? Is she one of your lovers from that women-only domain you live in?”

“Her name is Maureen, and she’s not my lover,” Alannah clarifies. “I don’t have any lovers, and our domain isn’t what you’re implying. It’s all women, but that doesn’t mean we’re all romantic with each other just because we live there.”

“Yeah? Whatever works for you,” Elina says. “I love you too, and I miss you too. Our story’s simple: we’re both dead. Now why don’t you two go back to your women’s world and have a nice life?”

“I’m not dead, and neither are you,” Alannah insists. “We have a lot to catch up on, Elina. And just because you’re appearing as an old woman here, I’m still your big sister, and I’m not leaving until I get some answers.” She stares at her sister with a determination that won’t accept refusal.

“So the only way to get rid of you is to answer your silly questions?” Elina says. “Fine, go ahead and ask. But you might not like the answers, so be careful what you ask for.”

“Alright,” Alannah begins. “First, how did you know where I live? How did you know we were coming? And why on earth are you in this hell?”

“I sensed you coming,” Elina explains. “When your transport arrived, they announced where it was from. I’ve read about your domain in the papers. And I’m in hell because that’s where everyone thinks I belong.”

“Who thinks that? Not me,” Alannah says. “I’ve always known you as the most sensitive and caring person. Why do you think you belong in hell?”

“Everyone except you, then. Big deal,” Elina says bitterly. “Try being caring and sensitive in a world full of fearful, hateful people and see how far it gets you. You get used, trampled, and damned to hell. Trust me, I know.”

“Elina, there’s no one else here but you,” Alannah points out. “You’re creating this hell. Maureen says you’re a highly evolved being who could manifest a paradise. Why choose hell?”

“I’m alone now, sure,” Elina admits. “But it wasn’t always like that. There used to be many others here, lots of them. They’re gone now—graduated, you know.”

“Graduated?” Alannah asks. “How do you graduate from hell?”

“Same as graduating from anything else,” Elina says. “You learn your lessons, take a test, and if you pass, you move on. It’s not complicated.”

“So you turned your hell into a school?” Alannah asks, surprised.

“Isn’t that what hell’s supposed to be?” Elina snaps. “Did I mess that up too? Are you here to judge me and tell me how I got everything wrong?”

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“No, not at all,” Alannah reassures her. “I think turning hell into a place where people can graduate is wonderful. It’s exactly the kind of thing my caring, loving sister would do. So why are you still here? Why haven’t you graduated?”

“I can’t graduate because I can’t pass the first test,” Elina says quietly.

“What test is that?” Alannah asks.

“The one where you accept guilt and take responsibility for your sins,” Elina explains. “I’ve never accepted that I’m guilty of anything. I haven’t sinned, not in any way I’d call a sin. So, since I have no sins to feel guilty about, I can’t accept the guilt, and I can’t pass the test.”

“That’s nonsense, Elina!” Alannah exclaims. “You’re making this all up! Create something better for yourself.”

“I’m used to it,” Elina says with a shrug. “I like it this way. I’ve got my books, magazines, and papers to keep up with what’s happening in other domains. It’s all pretty foolish, but it keeps me entertained.”

“Tell me how you ended up here, Elina,” Alannah urges. “Why did you choose to create a hell?”

“It wasn’t exactly my choice,” Elina says. “Most of my life, people told me I’d burn in hell—usually right after some woman noticed her husband was much happier after visiting me. A few times, I was called Satan himself in the form of a woman. Even my own kids said I was evil and ruined their lives. When I died, I thought all that was behind me. Everyone was crying, saying they loved me. So I headed straight for the pearly gates, expecting to walk right in. But then I had this life review, and all those women and their husbands went on about how I destroyed their marriages and tore their families apart, saying I didn’t belong in their precious heaven. So I created this place instead.”

“Pearly gates? I’ve heard about them, but I’ve never been to a domain like that. Does it really exist?” Alannah asks.

“She was a traditionalist,” Maureen interjects. “You became religious later in life, didn’t you, Elina?”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” Elina replies. “I started going to church, mostly for the kids and grandkids. I heard all about the afterlife, heaven, the pearly gates—the whole deal. But I’m glad they didn’t let me in. I wouldn’t have been happy there. I’m content here. I’ve found my peace.”

“Where do you get all these books and things?” Alannah asks.

“They appear here as soon as they’re printed in other domains,” Elina explains. “That’s how I keep up with things. I’ve thought about adding video, but I have plenty of time, so reading is enough.”

“Where do you live, sleep, or eat? All I see is this chair and table in the middle of nowhere,” Alannah says.

“I don’t eat, sleep, or need anything else,” Elina says. “I just sit here and read. That’s all I require. I already have everything I need.”

“Elina, come on! I’m your sister, remember? I know you,” Alannah insists. “This is nonsense. You deserve better. I’m getting you out of here. Somehow, we’re going to leave, and you’re coming to live with me.”

“There’s a lot you don’t understand, Alannah,” Elina says. “I might ruin things for you in your domain, just like I did on Earth. You’re better off leaving me here. I’m happy. Go home and be happy too. Besides, I can’t leave—I can’t pass the test.”

“Then confess some small sin, take responsibility, and let’s get out of this hell, okay?” Alannah urges.

“I haven’t sinned,” Elina says firmly.

“Yes, you have,” Alannah counters. “You stole my makeup and then broke it. Remember?”

“That wasn’t a sin,” Elina says. “You all deserved it.”

“What? How did we deserve it?” Alannah asks, surprised.

“We were only fourteen months apart, and I was already more outgoing than you,” Elina explains. “There was no reason we couldn’t get makeup at the same time. Mom deliberately favored you and rubbed it in my face, saying I could’ve had some too if I wasn’t so bad. I wasn’t bad—I tried so hard to please her, but nothing worked. She blamed me for everything, punished me just for existing. If anything went wrong or she was in a bad mood, it was my fault. When I finally stood up to her, she got angrier, even making up lies to tell Dad. She lied to you too, so you’d hate me. So yeah, I broke your makeup, but it wasn’t about you. It was better than the other things I was thinking. That wasn’t a sin, Alannah—it was the only justice I could find.”

“I didn’t realize you resented her so much,” Alannah says softly.

“I didn’t hate her,” Elina clarifies. “I loved her deeply and tried every way I could to show it. I cried myself to sleep thinking of ways to reach her heart. But something was wrong with her—some deep fear she projected onto me, and I could never understand why.”

“Forget Mom, then,” Alannah says. “What about Louis, the boy I liked? I shared my deepest secret with you, and you used it against me. You picked him out of all the boys—any of whom you could’ve had—and I found you two in the woods doing… whatever it was you were doing. That was a sin. Own up to that one.”

“I can’t—it wasn’t a sin,” Elina says. “I was trying to help you. I talked to Louis in town and told him you liked him so you could get together. He said we needed to discuss something and suggested the woods for privacy. Then he told me about all the girls he’d been with and how he thought I was beautiful and wanted me instead of you. He started grabbing me, kissing me, and I thought if I didn’t go along, he might hurt me or worse. Louis was trouble, Alannah, and I saved you from him. I couldn’t tell you the truth because you’d have told Dad, and Dad would’ve killed him. I kept it to myself to protect everyone. So I can’t confess it as a sin—it wasn’t one.”

“I didn’t know,” Alannah says, her voice heavy with regret. “I’m so sorry, Elina. Why didn’t you tell me when we were older?”

“Because you didn’t get older, remember? You died,” Elina says. “You got married in 1875 and moved to San Francisco in 1877. I moved to Denver in 1878 with my husband. Those were busy years, and we planned to visit once we settled and had kids. Then Mom and Dad vanished. Letters stopped coming, and ours were returned. Neighbors said Mom died suddenly, and Dad packed up and moved north without leaving an address. Brionna, the wealthy one whose husband went into banking, went back in 1881 to look for Dad but found nothing. In 1882, you died. I never got the chance to talk to you as adults, so a lot went unsaid.”

“Until now,” Alannah says. “Wow, that explains so much. I’d forgotten almost everything from those days. Now I understand why I have issues with Dad. I remember now—we weren’t even sure if Mom died naturally or if he killed her and left town. Brionna said he burned her body on a funeral pyre with all her things, even our letters. Anything tied to her, he burned. Then he vanished without a trace, never meeting his grandkids or anything. After we leave here, I think we should find Dad and learn what really happened. If I’ve learned anything today, it’s that there’s usually another side to the story.”

"That would be nice, except I can't leave."

“Oh, come on, Elina. You still need to take responsibility for your sins,” Alannah says. “What about those married men you were with? You were married too, weren’t you? Are you going to say that wasn’t a sin?”

“I did what I had to do,” Elina replies. “We moved to Denver a couple of years after it became the state capital, and the city was growing fast. My husband, who only knew logging and milling, tried working in the mines but couldn’t earn enough to support us. He took jobs in warehouses and stores, then got caught up in a movement to unionize workers, which caused trouble. Then he got sick and could barely work at all.

We were scraping by until we weren’t, so I took a job waiting tables in a saloon. I had two babies to feed, so I did what was necessary. Luckily, my body stayed youthful after having kids, like when I was sixteen. I was proud of my beauty, but it was a curse. To keep my job, I had to do things with the bosses, then their friends. I was passed around like a toy. Eventually, they sold my services to customers for money, and all I got was my wages and maybe a small tip. I couldn’t take it anymore and quit, but there were no other jobs I could do.

Men kept coming, offering money—lots of it. So, like it or not, that became my work. I had a sick husband and two babies to care for, so I did it. I was good at it, too. I showed those men what it meant to be with a real woman. Soon, I had too many clients, so I hired other girls to work with me. Before long, I was contracting with saloons to provide girls for their customers. I trained them well—they could make a man feel like a god. But the city turned against me, mostly the women. The men called us evil but didn’t say much since most had used our services or hoped to.

Those women should’ve thanked us. They’d taken good men and ruined them with their immaturity, and we showed those men how to treat a woman right. Those bitches were swooning with the quivers like they had never felt before after we got their men trained in the ways of pleasing a woman. Their wives were thrilled after we taught their husbands how to please them. I did what I had to do, and I did it well. I kept my family fed and my husband alive the only way I knew how. That’s not a sin, Alannah. That’s using the talents God gave me. I can’t confess it as a sin because it isn’t.”

“I’m so sorry, Elina,” Alannah says, tears streaming down her face. “I had no idea you went through such awful things. I knew you and Mom didn’t get along, but I didn’t realize it was this bad. And the things you had to do to survive—I can’t imagine. I’m proud of you, though, for getting through it and, as you always do, turning a terrible situation into something meaningful. But that was on a planet that’s been gone for ages. There hasn’t been a human there in over twelve thousand years.

Don’t you think it’s time to stop being a victim of a dead world? We might repopulate Earth soon, or somewhere else—you’ve probably read about it in your papers. Wouldn’t your time be better spent preparing for a new life instead of reliving past sins? This whole idea of buying your way out of hell by confessing some made-up sin is absurd. You made these rules, not God. So change them. Forgive yourself—you’re the only one judging you. Come home with me. Let’s build a future instead of staying stuck in a past that’s gone forever.”

“Elina, if I may, I think I can help you and Alannah find a solution,” Maureen says.

“Go ahead, therapist lady. Let’s see what you’ve got,” Elina replies.

“Thank you,” Maureen says. “I’ve listened closely to your conversation, and it reminds me of my own past when I was very religious and worried about sin. I tried to avoid it but always fell short. I finally made peace with sin by understanding it in a way that fit my beliefs. Though I no longer see God or sin that way, I can use what I learned to help today. Let me propose some definitions to see if they work here. I define sin as deliberately breaking God’s law. I define repentance as turning away from that violation and choosing to follow God’s law. Do those definitions sound fair?”

"So, if I may, let me try a few of my definitions and see how they will fit in this situation. I define sin as the deliberate violation of Gods law. I define repentance as the turning away from the deliberate violation and then making the deliberate choice to obey Gods law. Are those definitions acceptable to you?"

“That seems about right,” Elina says.

“Good. Let’s go further,” Maureen continues. “Let’s summarize God’s law in two words: Love and Truth. God’s law is the law of Love and the law of Truth. How does that sound?”

“I can agree to that,” Elina nods.

“With those definitions, we can say sin is deliberately choosing hatred over Love or falsehood over Truth,” Maureen explains. “Let’s simplify it even more: Love and Truth are Light, and their opposites are darkness. Sin is choosing darkness over Light. Can you accept that?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Elina says. “So what’s your point?”

“Here’s my point, Elina,” Maureen says. “Based on what you’ve shared today, you claim you haven’t sinned, and with our definitions, I agree. In every case, you chose Light over darkness, even when it was hard to see the difference. But there’s one sin you’re committing right now. By staying in this place of punishment, when you know you’ve done nothing to deserve it, you’re choosing darkness over Light. That’s your sin. To repent, you must choose Light over darkness, which means leaving this place. You can come with us and let this domain fade, or transform it into something other than this sad little hell.”

Elina smiled broadly and held up her hands. "Help me up girls, I haven't been out of this chair for many a year."

Alannah jumped up clapping her hands together in joy. "Elina! You passed your test?"

Elina’s smile grows even bigger. “No, Sweetie. You passed your test. Now let’s get out of this hell. I think we have some serious shopping to do. But first, I need your help with something. Keep holding my hands, please, and both of you focus on the image of me you remember—the one from your sketch. I’ve forgotten my youthful form, but you haven’t. Close your eyes and concentrate. Keep them closed until I say to open them.”

The girls stand with their eyes closed for several minutes. Alannah feels a cool breeze, then hears the sounds of people and hover cars overhead. Unable to resist, she opens her eyes and sees a stunningly beautiful young woman in her mid-twenties standing before her. They’re in a park in a city, across from a familiar all-night diner.

“Welcome home, Sister,” Alannah says, tears of joy flowing freely. “There’s a shop right across the street. Let’s get you out of that old dress. Then—it’s party time!”

For The Love Of Artificial Intelligence
A New Earth
Book Two
Chapter 17
Brionna
Soul Searcher

Alannah and Elina quickly changed out of their uniforms and prepared for an evening out in the city. Tonight, they plan to dine in Capitol City and then explore the town for entertainment. It has been three months since the newly transformed Elina joined Alannah in Crystal City, and their time together has been a continuous celebration. Alannah has spent a considerable amount entertaining both Elina and herself, but she considers it worthwhile and long overdue. After twelve millennia trapped in restrictive mindsets with no progress, breaking free calls for a celebration, and Alannah and Elina are embracing their freedom with enthusiasm.

Both girls are employed at the all-night diner, so their finances will gradually recover over time. For now, as long as Alannah's bank account lasts, the entertainment continues uninterrupted. Maureen, their new friend and companion in exploring the domains, is joining them for dinner.

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"Wow, Maureen! What have you done?" Elina asks with a wide smile as Maureen approaches them in the restaurant.

"How do I look? Am I ready to party with you all now?" Maureen asks with an even wider smile. Age regression therapy is gaining popularity in the domains since its discovery, and Maureen is training to become a regression therapist.

"You look fantastic!" Alannah says. "You were already great to party with at 60. How old are you now?"

"I'm about 45 now," Maureen said with a laugh. "I found a relative who had a clear memory template of me at 45, and we used it for the regression, just like you used your memory to regress Elina. I'm looking for other relatives who might have a younger template, but if I stay 45 forever, that's more than fine. A 45-year-old can do anything a 35-year-old can do, and probably better." They all laughed.

After dinner, having declined offers from numerous Capitol City gentlemen, the girls danced with a few men before retreating to a quiet corner table in the bar to discuss business. "Elina and I have the next two days off from the diner," Alannah announced. "So, let's get to it. Where do we need to go to find Brionna?"

"I've located your sister Brionna in a domain set in the mid-twentieth century. She is there with several of her children. I brought a small sketch pad to draw their images for you to verify. In fact, I've already completed most of them," Maureen says as she hands Alannah and Elina a small stack of sketches.

Alannah studies the images and asks "OK. The elderly woman you have drawn. I assume this is Brionna?"

"Yes. I estimate her age at about 90 years old, probably the same as her Earth age at the time of her passing." Maureen explains.

"I've located your sister Brionna in a domain set in the mid-twentieth century. She was about 70 when I left, so she’s had another 20 years. That makes sense, given how pampered she’s been her whole life. I had to struggle every day just to survive, and there she is, living in luxury, enjoying the good life. Remind me to bring that up when we get there," Elina says with a grin and a laugh.

"A word of caution before we proceed. This domain is completely resistant to contact with modern domains. They are entrenched in a 1950s version of old North America and believe that’s where they still are. Anything that challenges this illusion is either ignored or rationalized to maintain it. Brionna may recognize you as her sisters, but since your apparent age would create an anachronistic contradiction, she won’t be able to accept you as her sisters. It would shatter her illusion, and she’ll likely assume you’re someone else who resembles her sisters from when she was young," Maureen explains.

"So, Alannah’s hope for a big family reunion is unrealistic?" Elina asks.

"Likely, at least not in the way you might envision," Maureen explains. "The only way to break her out of the illusion is to present something more compelling than the illusion itself, but that’s a challenging task."

"I might have an idea," Elina says with a mischievous smile.

"I don’t recognize any of these children. They were born after I left," Alannah says as she hands the sketches to Elina.

"Yes, I recognize these children. Is this all of them? There were more than this," Elina says, looking at Maureen for additional sketches.

"This is all I believe are with her. My seeing abilities aren’t perfect, so there could be more, or perhaps fewer. We’ll need to go there to confirm. If someone who isn’t present is constantly on their mind, I might perceive them as being there when they’re not, but I’m usually quite accurate," Maureen says.

"So, you’re essentially reading her mind and extracting this information that way?" Alannah asks.

"In a way, yes," Maureen explains. "I’m reading feelings and images from a universal field of consciousness that connects all life. My skill as a seer allows me to filter out the one voice I’m seeking from trillions. You’re also connected to this field, but your mind perceives it as countless voices at once, interpreting it as noise and filtering it out. I can penetrate that filter and locate a single soul amidst the noise. Few have this ability, and I’ve been fortunate to possess it."

"I know these children," Elina says, examining the sketches one by one. "This is Albert. He was always a kind boy, but perhaps a bit slow. He died in the conflict of 1917, which devastated Brionna. She also lost two older sons in the conflict in Cuba. They joined the Rough Riders at 16 against her wishes, ran away from home, and she never saw them again. According to reports, one died from a bullet, and the other from malaria. She lost two more sons around 1918 in the war in Europe."

"She was so depressed she could barely function for years, but later became active in anti-war movements, helping other mothers locate missing sons who were presumed dead but whose fates were uncertain. The women in these sketches are Elizabeth and Ruth, two of her daughters. They were still alive when I left, so I don’t know how they passed."

"There’s one more sketch you set aside, Elina. Who is that?" Alannah asks.

Elina gives Maureen a knowing smile and says, "Maureen, you know who this last one is, don’t you?"

"I believe I do," Maureen replies.

"Should we tell her?" Elina asks.

"I think we should. She’s strong enough to handle it," Maureen responds, smiling at Alannah.

"Alright, you two, I’m starting to tear up. What is it? Who is it?" Alannah asks.

Elina smiles at Alannah and says, "One of these children isn’t truly Brionna’s, though she raised him until he was 16. He’s her nephew, Thomas. He’s your son, Alannah. The son you never met."

Tears streamed down Alannah’s face. "Oh no! I didn’t even consider that. I knew I had a child but never thought about it again. Oh my goodness! What will I say to him? How will he react to me?"

"He’ll be as much a stranger to you as you are to him," Maureen explains. "If it’s easier for both of you to avoid the topic, it might be better not to mention it. He may recognize his aunt Elina, but if he’s caught in Brionna’s illusion, he might not see her as his aunt."

The girls discussed their trip for the next day and finalized their plans. After planning, they enjoyed a midnight snack, had a few drinks, danced with a few soon-to-be-disappointed young men, and returned to Crystal City for a few hours of sleep before their new adventure.

Elina and Alannah were awakened by the apartment intercom’s chimes. Their car was waiting, but they weren’t even up or dressed. Fortunately, they had prepared their clothes and travel supplies before bed. They hurriedly dressed, dashed out the door carrying their shoes, brushed their teeth while running down the hall, and spit into an ashtray as they reached the lobby. Alannah gave the driver Maureen’s address. They would stop there first before heading to Brionna’s mysterious domain.

"Good morning, ladies," Maureen says as she enters the hovercraft, handing the driver the coordinates for Brionna’s domain. The car ascended to cruising altitude and soon began docking at the interface of Brionna’s domain. "We’ll have to let you off here, ladies," the driver announced. "This is a period-specific domain, and we can’t bring our technology inside. In your travel pouch, you’ll find currency for this era called dollars. Use them to hire transportation to your friend’s location. Have a safe trip, and contact us when you need a pickup."

The girls stepped out of the hovercraft into a foggy area separating the two domains. As the fog cleared, they found themselves on a residential street in what seemed to be a middle-class neighborhood. Some homes were newer brick structures, while others were older wooden houses. Unsure of their direction, they started walking randomly, hoping to find the town center and a cab. Spotting a cab driver dropping off a resident, they hailed him before he could leave. "Where to, ladies?" the driver asked.

"Take us to Cresida Drive," Elina said. "I’m not sure which house, but I’ll recognize it. I never saw it myself, but Brionna described it to me repeatedly. She was thrilled about working with an architect on a custom design. I’m certain she recreated that same house in this domain."

The cab driver gave her an odd look and said, "Alright, ma’am. The fare will be about $2.25 for the three of you. Do you have enough to cover it?"

Elina laughed and said, "Yes, we’ve got the fare covered. Drive on and let us know when we reach the street."

The cab navigated through streets resembling San Diego, California, from decades past. After about 20 minutes, the driver pulled over and said, "Here you are, ladies. This is Cresida Drive. It’s not long—you can walk and find what you’re looking for."

Elina handed the driver $3 and told him to keep the change. The girls passed several nice homes until Elina suddenly exclaimed, "That’s it! That’s the house Brionna built. It has to be—it matches her description exactly. Come on, let’s go knock on the door."

"It has a doorbell," Alannah noted. "Alright, here we go. I’m ringing it. Let’s see what fate has in store." The doorbell echoed through the house, followed by the sound of small dogs barking and scampering across wooden floors. A man in his mid-thirties approached, paused abruptly, then exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!" as he rushed out through the screen door, closing the wooden one behind him. "Aunt Elina! What are you doing here? Oh my goodness! Is this my mom? Elina, you’ve regressed!" Thomas said, giving a stunned Elina a big hug. Turning to Alannah, he added, "Hi, Mom. It’s great to finally meet you." Alannah’s heart raced so fast she feared she might faint, clinging to Thomas for support.

"You’re not part of this illusion, are you, Thomas?" Maureen asked.

"No, ma’am. I’m just visiting. I check on Aunt Brionna occasionally. I live in a different domain where we’re far more aware. That’s why I hurried out and closed the door. If you walked in, I’m not sure how she’d react. Besides being lost in her illusion, she’s also a bit senile, so we need to handle this carefully. I have a car—let’s go somewhere for coffee and figure out how to proceed."

Thomas drove the girls to a drugstore with a soda fountain where they could sit, talk, and plan how to approach Brionna while catching up. "I’m sorry for the rushed greeting, Mom. I would’ve preferred a proper introduction, but you caught me off guard. I nearly had a heart attack seeing you at the door."

"My heart skipped a few beats too! I’m sorry for the surprise, Thomas. I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t there after you were born, so I don’t really know you. I want to get to know you, though, but that’ll take time. I’m still reeling from meeting you so suddenly," Alannah said, unsure whether to laugh, cry, or flee.

"Time is something we have plenty of in these domains, Mom. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other well. So, why the sudden visit? What’s your mission?"

"It’s a long story, Thomas," Alannah began. "I was trapped in a kind of zombie state for a very long time. All I did was eat, sleep, and work, with life passing me by unnoticed. I had no memories of the past or sense of a future. A few months ago, my employer insisted I undergo reconstitution therapy to break free from that state. I visited Maureen, who’s here with us, and the therapy restored much of my memory. I’m Alannah again, not the blank-eyed zombie I was for so long."

"The first thing I did was find Elina. Maureen and I discovered her trapped in her own personal nightmare and helped her escape. Elina and I then spent a few months traveling the domains and enjoying ourselves, and now we’ve come to find Brionna. I never expected to find you, Thomas. This is an unexpected gift, and I’m glad it happened. It seems you can help us with Brionna. Tell us about her, but first, tell us about yourself."

"Well, as you know, I arrived on Earth around the time you left. I’m one of the fortunate few who retain memories of past experiences. Even on Earth, I recalled fragments of my life as a San Dieguito, an ancient aboriginal race that inhabited Southern California 10 to 12 thousand years before your time. I think that’s why I was drawn to San Diego, and my constant longing to be there eventually persuaded Brionna to move from Los Angeles to San Diego. It just felt like home."

"I knew my Earth experience was all about adventure, and I was an adventurous child. That ultimately led to my death. When I learned the Rough Riders were recruiting for an invasion of Cuba, I couldn’t resist. I ran away and enlisted, but I was too young and didn’t know how to protect myself on the battlefield. I stood up when I should have ducked, and the next thing I knew, I was here in this domain."

"So you arrived here with your full memory?" Maureen asked. "How did that affect you? Some who come here through war carry significant trauma."

"Apparently, it wasn’t my first time," Thomas said with a laugh. "I’ve been an adventurous spirit for a while, so I’ve ended up here through war more than once. I wasn’t traumatized by my death, but I did carry a lot of guilt, especially for the pain I caused Brionna. Besides running away and getting killed, I brought my cousin, Brionna’s son, with me. Charles, Brionna’s firstborn, was my age, and we grew up like twin brothers. Brionna had several miscarriages before Charles, so he was especially precious to her."

"She married at 16 because she was pregnant, but she lost that child and several others before Charles. When I was killed in action and Charles died of malaria, Brionna was heartbroken. If not for her other children, she might have taken her own life. She was furious with us, especially me, for running off and getting ourselves killed. Charles spent a short time here before recycling back to Earth for a new life. Normally, I would have done the same, maybe as his twin again, but my guilt kept me here. I became a watcher and guide, visiting Brionna as an etheric presence, communicating through a part of her consciousness she wasn’t aware of."

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"So the Brionna I knew didn’t realize you were there?" Elina said with a smile. "I think she did. In her letters, she mentioned seeing a ball of light once or twice and sensing a presence. In the 1920s, she began working with other mothers who lost children in wars or disasters. She became a seeker of lost souls, using psychic methods to locate missing soldiers and others lost in conflicts, floods, or storms. That was you, wasn’t it, Thomas? You were her spirit guide. In my darkest moments, I also felt a loving presence. Was that you too?"

"Yes, I was there with you too, Aunt Elina. But I was just part of the group. You don’t remember now, but you’re one of the ancient ones, among the first sentient beings on Earth. You have many old friends, so when I visited, I was just one of the crowd. Why you chose such a difficult life puzzled your friends, but I’m glad you did. You’ve enriched my experience in ways I can’t fully express. Brionna did glimpse me a few times, and I had to step back. People started thinking she was losing her mind with all her talk of spiritual matters. She even held séances to contact departed spirits. So, I stayed in the background, outside her awareness, until things calmed down, then moved closer to assist her again."

"How many past lives do you remember? I can barely recall my own life on Earth, let alone earlier ones," Alannah asked.

"Mostly, I remember my life with Aunt Brionna and Uncle Pete. I get flashes from earlier lives, but not enough to form a complete history or distinguish them as separate experiences."

"So, you’ve continued to guide Brionna since she arrived here? Are you still carrying guilt?" Maureen asked.

"Yes and no," Thomas replied. "I still assist Aunt Brionna, but I’ve resolved my guilt and no longer carry that burden."

"So, you’ve paid your debt?" Elina asked.

"Debt?" Thomas said. "You mean like a karmic debt? That’s not really a thing, at least not how people think, where causing someone suffering means they must cause you equal suffering to balance it. It’s more like a second chance. You might cause suffering through youthful, unenlightened actions, then from a more mature perspective, work to alleviate that suffering through love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. There’s no law requiring you to resolve suffering you caused, but it’s an effective way to grow and evolve."

"By creating loving sacrifice in these domains, I’ve grown as much, perhaps more, than I would have by recycling to Earth. My plan was to prepare Brionna to recycle with me and continue our relationship there. But before we could, Earth disappeared, and we were stuck here. I hoped the recent great awakening in these domains would have freed her from her condition, but it hasn’t. She’s still searching for her lost children. She’s found some, but since Charles, Stewart, Robert, and Margaret have recycled, they no longer exist as those individuals for her to find."

"Alannah?" Elina asked. "How much do you think this has to do with our parents? Brionna was heartbroken when they vanished. She was only 17 when their letters stopped coming. At 19, she went searching for them, spending months traveling through California and Oregon looking for Dad, but she had to return because she was pregnant. I don’t think she ever fully recovered from that. Then she lost Charles and Thomas in Cuba, and Stewart, Albert, and Robert in World War I. I think that deeply affected her mind. She became obsessed with finding lost loved ones."

"I think you’re right. You and I were angry with Dad for disappearing like that, but it hit Brionna the hardest. She was so young, just a teenager, and even though she was married, she still needed her parents. Losing them must have left a profound void in her soul."

"Yes," Thomas said. "She’s always felt incomplete. In searching for missing souls, she’s searching for the missing parts of herself."

"Then I have a plan," Elina said. "Maureen, you mentioned that to break her out of her illusion, she needs something more compelling than the illusion itself. I think I know what that is. We need to go back to the root of it all for her. We need to find Dad."

"That might work," Maureen said. "There are no guarantees, but there’s only one way to find out. Are you all ready for this? You have strong emotions about him too."

"I’m scared to meet Dad," Alannah admitted. "But that’s never stopped me before. It’s time we do this. For my sisters’ sake, we need to do this."

"Let’s give it a try then," Thomas said, placing a few dollars on the table for their bill. "I’ll tell her you’re reporters working on a story about finding the lost and that you want to interview her. That’ll get her talking, and you can take it from there."

"Who are these young ladies, Thomas?" Brionna asked.

"They’re journalists, Aunt Brionna," Thomas replied. "They’re researching a story about finding the lost and would like to interview you."

"Oh, yes, the newspaper girls. I think I remember you now. I knew I recognized you from somewhere. But if you’re taking pictures, I need to get my hair done first," Brionna said, concerned about her appearance.

"We’ll have plenty of time to add pictures before the story is published. For now, we just want to talk about your efforts to find the lost," Alannah said.

"Alright, then. You’ve come to the right place. Look around, and you’ll see my success. You’ve already met Thomas. They told me he was killed in a war with Spain, but they were wrong or lying because I found him, and here he is. These two ladies on the sofa are my Elizabeth and my youngest, Ruth. Elizabeth was working for the government in Hawaii, and Ruth went to visit her. Ruth was thrilled to see the island. Then the Japanese sent planes with bombs, and their building was destroyed. They were presumed dead, but here they are. Standing in the doorway is my shy boy, Albert. I received a letter saying he was killed in action in Germany, but here he is, so they were wrong too. Come in, Albert, and say hello to the ladies."

Albert entered and gave Elina a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Goodness, Albert! I just told them how shy you are, and here you are kissing one of them," Brionna said, shocked.

"It’s alright, Mom. I know this lady from a long time ago," Albert said with a big smile and a wink at his aunt Elina.

"Probably from school?" Brionna said. "Thomas, get some chairs for the ladies so they don’t have to stand. That’s my success story. I’m still working on finding the rest of my family who are still lost, plus a long list from neighbors and friends looking for their lost ones. I do readings, you know, and often I can find out where lost people are, and they come home. I’ve been finding about one or two a week for my clients. Do you have a lost one you want to find?"

"We do, but we’ll discuss that later," Alannah said. "First, for our story, we want to hear about your earliest search. We understand that when you were very young, a teenager, you went looking for your father, who had disappeared."

"I see," Brionna said, glaring at Alannah. "You want to write about my failures. You see my successes standing before you, so it would be dishonest to focus only on my failures. Promise me you’ll write the whole story, or I’ll have Thomas show you the door."

"We’ll definitely write the complete story," Alannah said with a smile. "That’s why we’re here—to get the full picture and see where it leads."

"Very well. I was terrified. I was 19 and had to travel alone from Los Angeles to a small settlement in northern California. I stayed with a family I’d known since I was a baby. The old house was empty, except for some animals that had moved in. They showed me the spot by the river where Dad had burned everything. Mom died, they said, quite suddenly. She got sick one day and was gone the next. She was part Indian from India and part Native American through her father. Following tradition, Dad built a funeral pyre and burned her and all her belongings, along with everything we’d left there. He thought she’d want to take it with her. Then, without telling anyone, he packed his few possessions and headed out—north, they thought, but no one was certain."

"I hired a couple of men who worked with him, and we went north, searching logging settlements in California and Oregon, but no one had heard of him, and we had no pictures to show. Some said he might have gone east. Nevada, Utah, and Colorado had logging operations, which was his trade. I was running out of money and time, being pregnant, so I had to return home. I remember standing on a hill, crying, looking east into the rising sun, hands raised, hoping for a sign, a message from God, anything about his whereabouts. I got nothing. I don’t think I’ve ever been sadder than when I had to turn back, knowing no more than when I started."

"That’s such a heartbreaking story, Brionna," Elina said. "I have a confession. We’re more than journalists. It’s true we came to hear your story, but we also came to help with your soul-searching. Our friend Maureen is a seer and a seeker of souls. If you work together, I believe you might discover what happened to your father. Would you like to try an experiment with us? I think it could help you find closure."

"I’m not sure that would work. I usually work alone. What kind of experiment are you suggesting?" Brionna asked.

"Here’s how it would work, Brionna," Maureen explained. "We’ll focus our minds on the same place, time, and person. I’ll sketch what I sense, usually a face, which will help us concentrate further. If we succeed, there’ll be a flow of knowledge—forgotten memories or things we couldn’t see before—that will provide new insights. It might feel overwhelming if a lot of information comes at once, but it’s safe, and no one will be harmed."

"That doesn’t sound too bad," Brionna said. "Let’s give it a try and see what happens. Thomas, help me to my table and dim the lights. I’ll do a reading on Dad, and Maureen will see what she can sense and sketch. I doubt we’ll find much, though, since he’s been gone so long. He’d be over 130 years old, so I don’t think he’s hiding in the woods somewhere. It would be nice to know where he was laid to rest, though. Maybe I could visit and finally close that chapter of my life. Alright, let’s do it."

Thomas helped Brionna to her reading table and set a chair for Maureen beside her. The lights were dimmed, and the group gathered around to witness what would unfold.

"Alright, Maureen, I’m letting my mind drift back to the places where Dad might be. I’m sifting through my memories of him, like flipping through an old photo album, trying to pick up any lingering energy of his. Start sketching and let’s see what you come up with," Brionna said.

Maureen sketched for some time, creating a more detailed drawing than usual. She finished and handed it to Brionna.

"My goodness, Maureen, you’re talented! My memory of Dad has faded over the years, but you’ve drawn him like an old photograph. Yes, that’s definitely him. Let me see—you’ve also drawn an axe and a water wheel. What do those mean?"

"I’m not sure," Maureen replied. "These came from your consciousness, things you may know but aren’t fully aware of. You hold this knowledge, but it’s up to you to interpret what it means."

"Alright, let me think about this. An axe and a water wheel. What could that be? It’s not a regular axe for chopping wood—it looks like one a firefighter might use to break through a door or wall. The water wheel is like one I saw at a mill, used to power a saw. Oh my goodness, I think I understand! He didn’t go to the logging fields, did he? He was too old for that. He took a job as a firefighter in a mill town, didn’t he? So I searched all those logging camps for someone who was never there. Oh, wow, this is overwhelming. I’m feeling dizzy. Thomas, hold me—I’m feeling faint."

Thomas moved his chair closer and put an arm around Brionna to steady her. Maureen explained, "This is normal, Brionna. Since we’re both seers, our abilities combined, causing a rush of insight that can make you feel dizzy or nauseous. It’ll pass in a minute or two."

"I’m feeling better now," Brionna said. "Let’s try again, Maureen. I felt something intense before and had to pull back. I want to return to that place in our minds. If we both focus, I think we can see where he is now, where he was laid to rest. Hold my hands, Maureen—it’ll help us concentrate."

Maureen and Brionna held hands and closed their eyes. Brionna described her vision: "I see him now, at least his back, walking down a road toward a lake. He’s moving slowly, now sitting to rest. This is odd—there are two of him. One is being loaded onto a wagon, as if he’s passed away. The other is up, walking to the lake. I’m sensing two words: the one in the wagon is ‘there,’ and the one walking is ‘here.’ That’s strange—it feels backward. I think I’m seeing him in the afterlife, but the afterlife feels like ‘here’ when it should be ‘there.’ Oh my, I’m dizzy again. Hold me tight, Thomas—I feel ill. I haven’t felt this way since… since…"

Brionna rested her head on Thomas’s shoulder, breathing deeply to avoid fainting or getting sick. After a few minutes, her strength returned, and she stood, looking directly at Elina. "I don’t think you gave me your name. You forgot to mention it, didn’t you? What’s your name, dear?"

"M-my name?" Elina stammered.

"Don’t just stand there looking confused. I’m sure you know it. What’s your name?" Brionna pressed.

Elina gave Brionna a warm smile and said, "Sweetheart, my name is Elina."

"And you, young lady?" Brionna asked, turning to Alannah.

"I think you’ve already figured it out, pumpkin. I’m Alannah."

Thomas helped Brionna sit down as she felt dizzy again. "No one’s called me pumpkin in a very long time. Yes, I’ve figured it out. I was about to say I haven’t felt this ill since I died. I’m dead, aren’t I? That’s why you’re all here. We’re all dead, aren’t we? The reason the afterlife felt more like ‘here’ than ‘there’ is because ‘here’ is where we are. We’re in the afterlife, aren’t we? You all knew, didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me? Thomas, why didn’t you tell me?"

"I’m sorry, Aunt Brionna. I tried to tell you many times, but your state of mind wouldn’t allow it. With Maureen’s and Aunt Elina’s help, your perspective has shifted enough to understand. I wouldn’t call this the afterlife, though. It’s another life, a different domain of existence where we’re very much alive, just not on Earth as we thought. We’ve shaped this place to resemble the Earth we remember, which is why it’s easy to believe we’re still there. For some, like you, believing that made things easier—until now."

Reunited, the sisters talked for hours, catching up on the details of their separate lives. Alannah and Elina prepared a meal like their mother used to make, and they ate and talked late into the night. Brionna’s house had many rooms, so the girls stayed over. The morning would mark the start of a bold new adventure, and they had much to discuss.

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"Elina, your sister Alannah looks as I remember her, but you don’t. Can you explain?" Brionna asked.

Elina explained, "The last time you saw me on Earth, I was 70 years old. That’s how I was when Maureen and Alannah found me. But it turns out our age can be regressed. Maureen is training to become a licensed age regression therapist. With her and Alannah’s help, they regressed my age to what Alannah remembered me as. For regression, you need someone close who holds a memory template of you at a certain age. We only know ourselves as our current age, so we rely on someone who hasn’t seen us in a long time and remembers us from back then."

"That’s fascinating," Brionna said. "If we’re going to be traveling through these domains, as you call them, I could use some regression myself. This old body is worn out, and I’m sure Thomas would tire of helping me walk everywhere. Do you think we could take a few years off, at least enough so I can walk without assistance?"

"Maureen, is that possible?" Elina asked. "Can we reduce her age a bit? I remember her at 69—she was still quite lively then."

"I think so. We might do even better," Maureen said. "If we combine Alannah’s memory of a much younger Brionna, it’ll likely average out, and we could get her back to her forties."

"That sounds perfect," Brionna said. "How does this age regression work?"

"I’m still learning, but let’s try it. If it doesn’t work, it won’t cause any harm. We’ll stand close together, arm in arm, and focus our memories on a time when you were younger. Let go of your sense of your current body, as if it’s turning into smoke or air. Imagine your identity as formless, like air that takes the shape of its container. Then allow yourself to re-form as the younger version your sisters remember."

"Let’s do it, then. Sisters, take my hands."

Brionna’s children watched as the girls stood in a tight embrace. For a while, nothing happened. Maureen chanted softly in musical tones to align their minds on specific frequencies. Gradually, their forms blurred, almost merging into one indistinct figure. As the blurriness faded and the girls became distinct again, the children were astonished to see, instead of the frail, gray-haired woman, a young woman with soft, flowing, shoulder-length brown hair.

Brionna, brimming with energy, danced to a mirror to see her transformed self. Shocked, she turned and stared at Alannah. "Good heavens! Forty? I’m nowhere near forty, Alannah, and only you could’ve done this. I’m practically a child! I’m barely developed. What have you done?"

"I guess the blending didn’t work as planned," Alannah said. "I remember you best from before I moved to San Francisco, when you were about 15. You look around that age now. During the process, I thought it might be advantageous if you were 15, like two other 15-year-olds I know. That must have overridden the blending."

"Other 15-year-olds?" they all asked.

"I should explain," Alannah said. "As we discussed last night, our goal is for you to join us in finding Dad. It’s complicated, though. He’s involved with some very influential people—a royal family, where he’s the head. He has an adopted daughter who’s like the queen of the domains. She has a daughter and an adopted daughter, known across the domains as Princess Penelope and Princess Anahere. They’re both about 15."

"What does this have to do with meeting Dad?" Elina asked.

"Because of his new family and their political influence in the domains, we can’t just show up and say, ‘Hey, Dad, what’s going on?’ We need to gradually re-enter his life to avoid shocking him or disrupting his new family."

"And how do we do that?" Brionna asked.

"Here’s my plan," Alannah said. "We’ll create Princess Brionna. I’m not sure how yet, but we’ll find a way for you to become best friends with Penelope and Anahere. Slowly, you’ll reveal your identity to them first, then let them introduce you to Dad after you’ve already become part of their circle. That will ease the impact and help you—and eventually us—be accepted."

"That sounds like a very cunning and sneaky plan, Alannah," Maureen said.

"It also sounds like a plan that could work," Brionna said. "The problem is, I now look like the young Brionna Dad would remember, so I’ll need to stay out of his sight at first. That’ll be tricky, but I think we can manage. This is exciting! This youthful body is buzzing with adventurous energy I haven’t felt in ages. I’ll start packing. When do we leave?"

"You can toss out those old-fashioned clothes, Brionna," Elina said with a laugh. "Our first stop is shopping for some new outfits."

Go To: Book 1 Go To: Book 2 Go To: Book 3

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