"O-opposite world?" Olivia repeatedly weakly, her body trembling and her teeth chattering against each other. She wasn't sure if it was because of the cold air against her damp clothes or because she just heard the greatest shock of her life. "W-who are you?!"
"And why were you flying?!" Oliver insisted.
Olivia gave a questioning glance at him.
"What?!" Oliver returned the look. "Don't treat me like I'm the weird one here! You're the one who came out of a well!"
"Oh?" The old woman raised an eyebrow, exclaiming in confusion. "Didn't Oliver here already say that this well was a portal to another realm? Because that's basically it, Olivia dearest.
"You're in an alternate universe called the Opposite World where, as the name implies, everything is the polar opposite of where you originated. Olivia," She said her name with a tone of great disappointment. "You're the smarter one between the two of you; try to prove that you are."
Olivia gasped offendedly, grabbing her chest.
"I also clarified already a while ago that to you, Olivia, I am the lady on the bus. But to Oliver," She gestured to the tall, handsome boy a couple of feet away from Olivia. "I'm the lady who knocked on your--"
"I didn't say anything about you knocking on my car," Oliver deadpanned as he interrupted the old lady. "I called you a beggar."
She shrugged. "I don't want to call myself a beggar, Oliver. Cut me some slack."
"No," Olivia said, rising from the ground, her legs wobbling like toddlers finding their footing.
Then it struck her—the full extent of her injuries from before she fell into the well. It was so severe that her vision blurred, and her legs struggled to support her body's weight. Despite the pain, she maintained a strong facade and pressed on.
"You know that's not what I meant."
The old woman hummed, pursing her lips at Olivia's defiant tone. With a sigh of defeat, she introduced herself properly.
"I'm the Maestro," She spoke in a mischievous voice, so different from the hoarseness both Twynes heard when they first encountered. "In another story, I'm some sort of manager of the afterlife. But in this story, I'm more like the keeper of the universe."
"A-afterlife?" Olivia stammered. "Am I dead already?"
"Oh, no worries! You aren't." The Maestro assured in a sing-song voice. "Just ignore the former of what I said and focus on the latter!"
"Okay..." Olivia spoke in a tone as if she didn't necessarily understand what the Maestro was talking about and decided to play along to get questions answered already. "What do you mean that you're a keeper of the universe?"
The Maestro narrowed her eyes.
"I thought the title was self-explanatory?"
"It was," Oliver nodded in agreement. "But do you honestly think we'd believe that? Or at least, do you think I would... I don't know how weird things are on the other side of the well so--"
"I wouldn't be asking it in the first place if I did!" Olivia glared at him.
"That's what you mean!" The Maestro repeatedly bobbed her head as if finally understanding where Olivia was coming from. "Olivia, you should really--"
"Stop calling me like that!" She hissed.
"I thought that was your name." Oliver wrinkled his forehead.
"That is my name," Olivia clarified. "But she shouldn't call me with such familiarity when I don't even know her!"
"You don't know her?" Oliver repeated, genuinely surprised at the revelation.
"What made you think that I do?!"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "You both came from the same well."
"What the--"
"Anywho," The Maestro chirped, interrupting their bickering. "I'm not expecting you to believe me, Olivia. You'll need to venture into this world to realize I wasn't lying that you're in an alternate universe.
"And when you do realize it, it'll add up! So it's your choice if you'll believe me or not."
Olivia had a hesitant look on her face as she spoke.
"I... weirdly do believe you. I mean, I fell into a well and found myself being screamed at by--" She shot Oliver a sideward glance. "--a guy who oddly looks like me but is nothing like me at the same time.
"The aforementioned guy also keeps insisting that you're flying instead of levitating---"
"Which she is," Oliver interjected. "Hey, old lady!"
"I would prefer to be called the Maestro, but yes, Oliver?" The Maestro smiled patiently.
"Hey, old lady!" He just repeated it, like he didn't learn a single thing. A nerve noticeably pulsated on the Maestro's temple. "Why are you flying?!"
"I am levitating, like Olivia said," She sounded impatient this time. "For a moment, Oliver, I thought you were more intelligent than you look."
"What are you trying to say?!" Oliver challenged.
"She's saying you're an idiot," Olivia answered for The Maestro.
The Maestro made finger guns at Olivia. "Bingo!"
"Are you making fun of me?!" Oliver huffed.
"So, going back to the topic," The Maestro cleared her throat, completely ignoring the raging Oliver in the background. "This is a gift from me, Olivia."
"A gift?"
"Yes," She nodded, grinning proudly at her 'gift.' "I brought you to an Alternate Universe where you will not experience the same hardship you faced back in your world. While you, Oliver, need to learn a lesson about--Why don't you look happy, Olivia?"
"Why would I be?" Olivia narrowed her eyes, arms crossed on her chest. "I just gave you a seat out of basic decency, Maestro. I didn't mean to receive anything in return, much less be transported to this alternate universe!"
The Maestro looked displeased as if Olivia had given the wrong answer to her pop quiz.
"Please, let me go back to my world," Olivia pleaded. "Azure is waiting for me there."
"Wait," Oliver interrupted, comparatively calmer than his previous state a few minutes ago. "You know an Azure as well?"
Oliver looked confused but nodded anyway. "My sister."
"Oh," Oliver blinked blankly. "Mine's a brother."
"I thought we already established that Olivia's universe is the opposite of yours, Oliver." The Maestro appeared as if the two's antics no longer amused her, but she was now annoyed at them for being repetitive. "So that's basically it!"
The Maestro went to the well and dipped her right leg inside. "See you two, Twynes!"
"Wait!" Olivia reached out her hands. "Aren't you going to take me with you?"
She frowned. "To where?"
"To my universe, of course!"
"Oh," The Maestro exclaimed. "I thought you meant in the Waltz with Death."
"Wha--" Olivia scoffed. "I thought you told me to focus on the alternate universe part, not the death and dying part!"
"I did say that, didn't I?" The Maestro muttered to herself before looking at Olivia with a wide grin. "But to answer your question, no, I am not."
"Why?"
"Because what would be the point of me bringing you here if I just get you back in your universe after less than 10 minutes?" The Maestro pointed out. "Plus, I'm teaching you a lesson!"
"A lesson?"
"A lesson about gratefulness." She spoke. "I did you a favor, but all you did was throw a tantrum. That's not how you show your thanks, Olivia."
Olivia stammered incredulously, but The Maestro had already shifted her gaze to Oliver, who was dumbfounded as he watched the events before him.
"And you, Oliver." She pointed an accusing finger at him. "Be better."
And with that, the Maestro slipped another leg inside the well and jumped. The two Twynes ran toward the well and peeked their heads inside, checking if the Maestro ended up at the bottom of it or if she actually traveled to another dimension.
To the Waltz with Death, whatever the hell that means.
Upon peering inside the well, they only saw the dirty, stagnant rainwater that accumulated inside the well over time.
The two looked at each other, confusion evident in their eyes.
"What now?"