A Meeting

Annie walked up the spiral staircase into the light, her eyes struggling to focus for a moment after getting used to the relative darkness. When her vision had cleared, she could see the same attractive views she remembered the tower offering; the old school, its elegant facade embodying old money, set in scenic grounds.

There was something else that embodied money here too, something even more attractive than the school’s architecture. Leaning against the wall languidly, rested Victoria, a teasing smirk lighting up her face as she saw Annie.

“Heyyy~ Looks like you couldn’t stay away, huh?”

Annie wrinkled her brow, pausing as she took in Victoria. She seemed… different. Annie had been thinking it all along, trying to put the pieces together in her head about why she felt so unsettled around Victoria now. The teasing tone had a different kind of edge to it now. Gone was the callous, shallow taunts of the indifferent and sadistic rich girl bully Annie knew.

No, now there was something more… intimate, about the way Victoria was addressing her. There was still an edge of danger, of course, although it wasn’t quite as spitefully devoid of emotion as before. There was a kind of intimacy in the way this Victoria teased her, something about the warmth in her tones, or the slightly hungry way she was looking Annie up and down. It was almost affectionate, in a warped way.

Annie tried to compose herself, avoid letting her thoughts fully consume her. If she couldn’t put the pieces of this puzzle together yet, she had to at least act like she was aware of the bigger picture. Trying to survive in this school as one of only a few students not from stupendous wealth had taught her that.

“It’s not everyday the school’s queen bee asks for a one on one with lowly old me.”

She replied, walking closer to Victoria. She took a position beside her, close. It wasn’t a level of proximity she would normally be entirely comfortable with, considering who she was taking position next too. However, in the back of her mind was still ticking away little plans and machinations, wondering about if it would be possible to get Victoria’s phone off her. Annie didn’t know how long the device Katarina had given her might take to gain access to Victoria’s phone, but she was getting ****.

“Oh Annie, don’t put yourself down like that.”

Annie raised her eyebrow. If she was taken aback by the first statement, she was metaphorically floored by the next one.

“You’re a really special girl, you know? A hard working scholarship student, who made it here by her own grit, perseverance, and effort. Although your bank account is a speck of dust compared to these other students, really you’re worth a lot more than them.”

This… this really wasn’t like Victoria. Not even close. It wasn’t even just the words, it was the quiet sincerity with which she delivered them. Gone were the bratty, often cruel tones of the blonde Annie knew, replaced with a kind of quiet intelligence, delivered with comforting sweetness.

“W-what do you mean?”

Victoria’s pretty blue eyes seemed to sparkle as they stared intently into Annie’s brown ones. She slid along the wall closer to her, triggering a memory in Annie. In their first week of the year, Victoria had almost recoiled in horror when she’d discovered Annie’s background. Her disgust had been palpable, visceral, manifesting quite clearly and with a highly physical expression.

Now this same girl was getting closer to her, treating her with kindness. It was so totally alien.

“I mean what I say Annie. You’re special. And you deserve a reward.”

“No… I mean… what are you talking about?”

Anger flared in Annie. She couldn’t tell whether it was her soul trying to surge in some single direction that made sense after all the emotional whiplash of the scene so far, but she had to express herself. Victoria must be manipulating her somehow, it was never this easy. Why would the girl who never faced a consequence in her life now suddenly develop a conscious?

“Victoria, you bullied me. Like, it was effortless. You’ve laughed at me in the corridors, spread rumors about me, treated me like I was lesser than you. Worse than lesser, like I was dirt! And the worst thing about it was you weren’t even doing anything special. To you, it was a normal day. Like being shitty to me was the most natural thing in the world, like saying the sky is blue.

Ever since I’ve gotten here, I’ve been a laughing stock, and a big part of that is because of you! Because ‘The Queen’ herself decided she didn’t want a peasant like me stinking up a place reserved only for those who are oh so precious and moneyed.

And now you wake me up, just the two of us, and bring me out here and treat me all sweetly, like we’re close or something? It doesn’t make any sense!”

Throughout her monologue, Annie’s voice had risen, emotion coloring her words. The part of her that still retained its caution was grateful the tower was so isolated, so even getting close to shouting she wouldn’t be heard. Because just as much as Victoria was acting out of character, so was Annie. She was usually so controlled, careful. Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Maybe at the start of the year, she would have gone along with whatever scheme Victoria was no doubt pushing here. But after becoming just another tool to be dumped when she’d outlived her usefulness at the hands of Katarina, Annie was beginning to realize just how done she was with being a pawn in these rich girl games.

Victoria listened to her quietly. It wasn’t the outburst of petulant malice Annie was expecting, the normal reaction of a spoilt rich girl with no empathy being denied a toy. Rather there seemed to be a genuine care and interest in her gaze, and in the way she quietly soaked up the words.

“You’re right.”

Annie stopped in her tracks, hearing that. It was significantly more concerning than anything else she could have said.

“W-what do you mean?”

“I said you’re right. I have been horrible to you.”

Victoria put her hand on her chest, gazing into Annie’s eyes.

“I’ve laughed at you, made cruel taunts, spread rumors. Really, done everything I could to make you into a joke. And all of it was effortless, it didn’t take any kind of special consideration. I would have done the same to any scholarship student. That’s just the kind of person I am.”

Annie’s fist was balled up, shaking a little at her side. So Victoria finally was admitting she was a total bitch. Elation over hearing those words competed with anger over Victoria’s seeming self awareness, although Annie never expected what Victoria said next.

“Well, or at least, that’s the kind of person the original Victoria was.”

A pause hung in the air, as Annie’s brow furrowed.

“What…?”

Mischief seemed to sparkle in the blonde’s eyes, like she knew a the punchline to a joke she was dying to tell. It was a creepy feeling in Annie’s heart, being so out of the loop, although from the look on Victoria’s face it seemed the truth would be revealed one way or another.

“The original Victoria was everything you said, Annie. And yes, she did all of those things to you. Truthfully, I felt much the same way as you do about her. Mhmm, well, you and I do have a special bond I suppose. I can emphasize with you in a very unique way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been remembering things, haven’t you? Things that don’t make sense.”

“How did you…”

“My house. You know what it looks like, don’t you?”

“N-no. How would I know something like that. You surely live in a gated community, far out of reach of normal people.”

“Maybe in a super modern mansion, all white surfaces and glass, beautiful views in three directions, sea, city and countryside? South facing, up a mountain, yet close to the sea?”

Annie stopped in her tracks, eyes widening. Walking up the driveway in her maid uniform, her body so much more developed, was that exact house. Somehow in the memory she had the contextual information, she knew which way was north, knew that everything Victoria said was true.

How… how had she known?

“The original me would have told you you deserved to be a maid. She would say it was only right for you to serve me. She would tell you, than ‘Someone as poor as you shouldn’t even be on this mountain, yet alone this house.’ And you know, she actually did tell you that.”

Hearing those words stirred some kind of memory in Annie. It was faint, and strange. She could see Victoria on the floor of an expensive, large bedroom, pleading and shouting and threatening. Annie was above her but the power was totally in her hands for once. Victoria was shouting horrible things at her, but there was an immense feeling of catharsis, getting **** on the bitchy blonde feeling so sweet.

Victoria wasn’t all there, in the memory. She seemed… floppy somehow. Like she was a balloon, partially deflated. Annie felt a sadistic pleasure whittling her down to size, being the one to tease the rich girl for a change. She reached up to her face, and pulled. There was a crazy sensation, like the skin at the back of her neck was parting as the air rushed in after. It should hurt, but instead just felt carnal and strange.

Then, she was holding her face. No… not her face, rather the face of another woman, a black bob haircut around a more mature visage. A beautiful young woman who’s skin was more tanned than Annie’s, maybe in her mid-twenties.

I’d been… wearing someone’s face? But… it hadn’t felt like I was wearing anything at all.

Victoria was stunned, angry, indignant, as in her memory Annie stripped out of this woman’s body. A beautiful Filipina maid that she as just… wearing. It was so bizarre, and in a peculiar way, extremely hot. Then, she shoved her foot in Victoria’s mouth. The blonde’s lips stretched to accommodate her, as she teased her sweaty feet into her mouth and taunted her.

The memory seemed to speed up in Annie’s head as it came, a first person view of wearing Victoria, putting her on like she was a skintight bodysuit, yet stealing her form the more of her was worn. It was so twisted, so unnatural, so incredibly erotic. Even as her brain was overwhelmed by what she was seemingly remembering, Annie could feel herself getting wet.

It wasn’t just that memory that came back. She remembered further, wearing Victoria, wearing the maid again, having sex with Victoria’s father. For a man so accustomed to being in charge, she utterly dominated him. It felt incredible.

“W-what are these… memories?”

Victoria giggled, watching with satisfaction. Annie knew something about her expression, the stunned way her jaw had gone slack as her eyes widened, was giving everything away. What she was seeing was just too stunning not to be shocked over though.

“Exciting, aren’t they? They’re real you know. All of them.”

Victoria’s giggles intensified all pleased with herself, and seeming to share those words in a way that was equal parts mischievous and teasing as they were exciting, like some particularly enjoyable gossip in a sleepover between girls.

“How… how are they real? How can they be?”

Victoria’s grin spread as Annie’s head almost began spinning. Her heartbeat was racing as the dots were connected in her head, but she was so shell shocked it still seemed unbelievable. Victoria continued, getting closer to her, her pretty face filling Annie’s vision.

“Ever since you came to this school, you’ve been mistreated. You said it yourself, being bullied, being looked down on, always being seen as a lesser. You work a hundred times harder than the other students here, yet you’ll always be considered smaller, stupider, and with a less prosperous future. It’s really not fair, is it?”

Annie looked up, meeting Victoria’s eyes.

“You said… you said the original Victoria looked down on me. The original. You’re not her, are you?”

Victoria’s smile got wider, as she laughed again. Her voice had a sadistic edge Annie was used to hearing, yet this time, she wasn’t the butt of the joke. Rather, it felt like for the first time, now she was in on it.

“And, those memories. Wearing her… Was I worn too?”

“I told you I had a special bond with you.”

“So you… you’ve been me. And now… you’re Victoria.”

“Exactly…”

The imposter inside Victoria reached to her cheek and pulled. At first, it seemed to stretch normally, and she winced slightly, a natural reaction to the pain. Then her cheek stretched, that beautiful face losing it’s normal definition. She couldn’t see everything underneath, but she swore she could make out rougher skin, and maybe a bigger jawline. Inside the picture perfect body of Victoria, was another person, wearing her like a suit.

“It’s incredible… how… how is this possible?”

“It’s magic, or a science I have yet to understand. It can change a person’s body completely into another’s, changing their size, how fit they are, their-”

“Gender…!”

Annie was even more shocked now. From what she could make out of the face underneath, it made sense, but with Victoria’s mouth pulled so far open the voice that emerged was clearly a guy’s. The idea that a man had been able to so totally steal the body, the voice and the mannerisms of a beautiful eighteen year old girl was as stupefying as it was spectacular.

Annie didn’t know what to say. This was undoubtedly disturbing in a lot of ways, not to mention whoever this was wearing her bitch classmate admitting to wearing her too. Yet at the same time, having the ability to take over another’s life, to become them, to steal their looks, their status, their position… Annie would be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t intrigued.

“What should I call you?”

She looked at the imposter, wanting to see just how this would play out. After all, if he was revealing all this to her, there must be a reason. She hadn’t forgotten about the reward that was mentioned earlier, either. Fingers tipped with sparkly pink nail polish released their captured cheek, as the picture perfect face of Victoria reformed in its usual flawless way. The voice that spoke next was undeniably hers too, not even the slightest shred of any male voice to be found.

“Victoria. I may not be the original, but now I’m the only one that you need to worry about. And trust me, the new Victoria is going to be a much **** girl than the previous one. And a good friend to you, too, Annie. I used to be just like you, after all. I come from a normal background, with no airs or graces or anything like that. I know how jealous a person can feel seeing those born with everything living life like a dream while you're consigned to be nothing. And how rotten they can be too, the way they treat us! But, well, I gained the power to take what I want. And I am better than the original Victoria. You became part of my plan, but now I'm going to do everything I can to help you and reward you.”

Annie added together the angles, how she could play this out. Hearing all this was dizzying, although she couldn't deny she could relate to the things this guy had been saying. Having the power to take what you want, rather than just struggle all the time against unbelievable odds. How would that feel? The imposter had been honest with her, so she decided to be honest back.

“Well then, Victoria. I guess… I guess if you want to be a friend to me, I should probably tell you that I’m being blackmailed right now by Katarina. It’s not just about me either. She wants me to hack your phone and use it to embarrass you. All part of a power play. She wants to be the undisputed Queen of this school, and needs you out of the way for that to happen.”

“Oh, what’s she using to **** you?”

“Well… you’ve been me, so surely you know.”

“Mr. Laithwaite. Hmm, well, Katarina certainly is cunning. But don’t worry Annie. I think I can help you.”

Victoria reached out, taking Annie’s hands in her own. They were warm, soft and gentle. It was a level of affectionate intimacy that still unnerved Annie, so unused to the idea of a Victoria who would be anything more than cruel. The smile this strange new one gave her though, was full of kindness, and more than a little mischief too.

“I think I have a way to save you from your troubles, and give you an amazing reward at the same time~”