Several hours passed. The three teens were tired and exasperated. Their feet ached from the endless walking. They had met quite a few people during this time. None of them could tell the trio where Assimilation Point was. Were they just wandering around in circles? None of them knew for sure. As they headed down a particularly grimy-looking block, Fernando spotted a place to sit-a building with a large staircase. He plodded over and sat down at the foot of it. The two girls joined him. Celia looked around, and sighed heavily.
"Damn... I'm so tired...and I'm hungry..."
"Me too." uttered Gina ruefully. "What about you, Fernando?"
No response. Fernando just sat there, staring impassively into the empty lot across the street. He was in no mood to talk to Gina, and she noticed that. It wasn't particularly to her liking.
"Suit yourself." she said coldly.
Gina turned back to Celia.
"Don't worry. We should find some kind of deli soon. That's what the old lady told us a few blocks back."
"I sure hope so. My stomach feels as hollow as a drum."
She sighed once more and looked up. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"W-What's that?!"
"Huh?"
Gina followed her gaze. Within the fog, a gigantic form began to appear. As the teens watched, a massive building materialized out of it. On the building was a sign that said BROMAN STUDIOS. Fernando stared at the building in disbelief. He rose to his feet.
"Oh shit..."
"A movie studio!!" gasped Gina. "I-I don't believe it!!"
"Let's go take a look!!" exclaimed Celia.
They rushed towards the building. Two enormous doors slid open before them. The trio entered. Dozens of people were rushing about, some carrying camera equipment and chairs; others moved around dollies, lights and props. An immense medieval set was being constructed. Gina observed a large crew of carpenters building a series of houses. She shook her head in disbelief.
"T-This is incredible-"
"Hey you!!"
The teens spun towards a large group of people. A man wearing faded jeans and a pink shirt stood before them. He eyed Gina intently, pointing a finger at her.
"Yes, you. Don't move."
The man and his entourage walked over, surrounding the three. He stopped in front of Gina, studying her from head to foot. She stared at him quizzically.
"W-What are you doing?!"
No answer. A minute passed. He turned to a tall, skinny fellow standing next to him.
"Sid, what do ya think?"
The thin man sighed in thought.
"Hmmm...She definitely seems to have the look we want. Maybe we should try her out."
"You think so?"
"Yeah."
He turned back to Gina and extended his hand.
"Hello. I'm Barry Accus. I'm a director and producer."
Gina's heart jumped. She immediately shook his hand.
"Oh! Uh-hi!! Nice to meet you!!"
"Listen, maybe you can help me out. I'm putting together a movie-a romantic comedy. I'm looking for someone to do the part of the jealous girlfriend. It’s a big role. I've auditioned quite a few girls, and none seems to fit the bill. Would you be interested in trying out for the part?"
Gina's jaw dropped.
"Me?! Y-You mean me?!"
"You don't see me looking at anyone else here, do you?"
She couldn't believe it!! Her greatest dream, now on the verge of becoming a reality!! This was a chance in a million!!
"H-How much are we talking about?!"
"You got any previous acting experience?"
"W-Well, see, I've studied acting on my own. I couldn't afford to go to school for it. I-I don't have any real experience-"
"Doesn't matter. As long as you have the desire to do it. You mind starting at $10,000?"
"What?!"
He turned to the tall man.
"We can figure that into the books, right?"
"Yeah! We should be able to handle that."
"10-$10,000?!?"
The director turned to Gina, puzzled.
"Anything wrong with that?"
"No!! No!! Nothing at all!!"
Fernando and Celia couldn't believe how fast things were happening. Celia grabbed Gina by the arms, and spun her around.
"Gina!! What about Assimilation Point?!"
"Celia, didn't you hear what the man said?! I'm being paid $10,000!! And that's for starters!! Do you have any idea how much I could make if this movie is a hit?! This could open the door to a new career!!"
"But you're not ready for that yet!! You've got to go to Assimilation Point first to get the knowledge you need to survive-"
"Fuck that!! You know how long I've been wandering around this damn fog?! I can't take it anymore!! An opportunity like this happens once in a lifetime!! I've got to take that chance!!"
"She's right, you know."
The three turned towards Barry. He had been listening intently to their conversation.
"Listen Gina, I can make you into an overnight sensation!! We've got a great script here, and top people working on this project. Whatever you need, I'll give to you, just as long as you're willing to commit yourself fully. But I've got to have your answer now. Time is money, and I can't afford to waste anymore of that! The people funding this movie are on my back, and I'm behind schedule as it is!!"
Gina stood silently for the briefest instant. Then she spoke.
"Okay, I'll do it."
"Gina!!" exclaimed Celia.
Gina spun around to face her. She placed her hands on Celia's shoulders.
"You're on your own, kid. Good luck."
"B-But-"
"Listen. I didn't say anything about hanging with you through thick and thin. You're a big girl, and you can take care of yourself."
"B-But Gina-"
Gina turned back to Barry.
"I'm in."
A big smile crossed the director's face.
"Welcome aboard Gina! I'll take you to the make-up truck, and we'll chat more there."
The director then turned toward a security guard standing nearby.
"Hey Jim!!"
The guard walked up to him.
"Yes, Mr. Accus?"
"Escort these two people out of the studio. Things are pretty hectic around here, and we don't need visitors."
"Right. C'mon folks. Let's go."
Celia stared at the security guard in amazement, then at Gina and the others. They walked off towards a large mobile home in the middle of the studio. Anger began to rush up from inside her.
"Gina!! What kind of a friend are you?!"
At hearing this, Fernando chuckled. Celia abruptly turned towards him, enraged.
"What's so damn funny?!"
"Man, you're naive. She doesn't care about you! Look at the way she just dumped you aside! You weren't a real friend! You were just someone to pass the time with!"
"Shut the fuck up!!"
"The truth hurts, huh? Grow up. This is real life."
He turned and left the studio. Celia suddenly felt very alone. A set of tears ran down her cheeks. She turned and ran out of the studio. Fernando stood by a street corner, observing the fog surrounding him. He turned around, spotting Celia. She was crying softly. He shook his head in disgust.
"Oh brother..."
He walked up to her.
"What the hell are you crying about? Gina got what she wished for! She wanted to be an actress, and now she's gonna become one!"
Celia's head shot up to face Fernando. Her eyes were seething with anger.
"You're so fucking stupid!! Don't you have any feelings?! Don't you know what it's like to be alone?! Goddammit, open your fucking eyes!! You're not the only one going through pain, you stupid asshole!!"
She spun around and ran a few feet away from Fernando. Celia began to cry again. Fernando bit his tongue. He turned and began to walk away. After a few moments Celia looked up and saw Fernando's form disappearing into the fog. Her eyes widened in horror.
"No!! Don't leave me!!"
She ran after Fernando and eventually caught up with him. He spun to face Celia. His eyes were daggers.
"The next time you call me that shit again, you'll regret it."
Celia swallowed hard, noting the furor in Fernando's face. The threat was real-he meant every word. She shrunk away from him. Fernando turned on his heel and stomped off. Celia followed, but kept a good distance back from Fernando.
The two had walked for more than a couple of days. They slept where they could-sometimes under trees, sometimes on park benches. At first, Celia had kept her distance. But eventually, she came up to Fernando's side. He said nothing and did not acknowledge her presence. The pair turned onto a large, desolate block. Garbage was strewn all over. The silence had lasted too long, and was too deafening. Celia had to talk to Fernando about something. Anything. She turned towards him.
"What's going through your mind?"
Fernando snorted.
"What's going through my mind?? This bullshit journey."
A pause.
"Were our folks just yanking us around, or what?"
"Why would they ever want to do that?!"
Fernando turned to Celia, eyeing her intently.
"You don't believe that just because they're our parents, they know what they're talking about, do you?!"
"God, Fernando!! Why would our parents send us on a wild goose chase?! I'm telling you, it doesn't make sense!! You're just overreacting!!"
"Am I? Just how many people have we spoken to?! It's the same shit, over and over again!! 'Naw, I don't know where it is! Naw, it moved again!' How much more of this bullshit do I have to put up with?!"
"Look, we can't go back!! Everybody our age has to go through this-like it or not!! And even if I wanted to go back, how can I find my way in this damn fog?! Face it!! You've got to keep moving!!"
Fernando stopped abruptly. He glared at Celia irately.
"You still don't get it, don't you?! It's called motivation!! You gotta be motivated to do something!! All I've heard is talk, man!! I need something I can SEE!! Something I can FEEL!!"
Celia kept quiet for a moment. He did have a valid point. It was very hard to be motivated into doing something positive-especially when examples of positive thinking weren't about. But there was the other alternative. An alternative Celia wanted no part of.
"Look, Fernando. You want motivation? I'll give you motivation. How about starving in the streets? How about not having a roof over your head? Do you want that as an alternative? Well that's exactly what you're gonna get if you just decide to rot in one place for the rest of your life!! Those things alone should be motivation enough for you to go out and find Assimilation Point!! Your folks wouldn't have told you to look for this place if there was a better alternative, would they?! Face it-what other alternatives have you got?!"
Fernando was silent. He stood corrected. Then he let out a loud sigh.
"Aw shit!!"
He walked over to a nearby building and tugged at his hair.
"It doesn't end!! It doesn't end!! I can't take much more of this!!"
Celia's eyes narrowed.
"I never thought I'd see a human being emerge from that shell."
Fernando turned abruptly towards her.
"What?!"
"Admit it. You're vulnerable. Just like the rest of us."
"I'm not admittin' nothin'!!"
"There's nothing wrong with being hurt or afraid! Let it out!"
Hot tears began to flow down Fernando's cheeks.
"No!! No!!"
Celia walked up to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her face was full of pity.
"Be human, for goodness sakes!! You don't have to hide your pain! I understand!"
"NO!!"
He yanked himself from her grasp, turning away from Celia. But it was too late. The tears kept coming, and they just would not stop. He couldn't hold back any longer. Fernando wept on. Celia walked around to face him. She spoke again.
"It's all right...Let it out...It's all right..."
Fernando slowly looked up at Celia. His eyes were bloodshot from excessive crying. Then he took a deep breath, and the mask of stolidity was back on again. The crying stopped as suddenly as it had started. Celia stared at him in disappointment.
"Why did you stop?!"
"I-I gotta keep strong. I can't be weak. I did enough. Just leave me alone..."
He turned and walked over to a street lamp a few feet away. Fernando placed his head against it. Celia sadly shook her head. Fernando was in a lot more pain than she had initially realized. As she gazed at him, Celia noticed the light cast on Fernando and the surrounding objects become brighter and brighter. She turned towards the source of the increasing light. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Fernando!! Look!!"
Fernando hesitantly turned around. Before the two stood a gigantic skyscraper. It punched through the thick clouds and fog around it, revealing a bright blue sky. A small group of people stood in front of the massive structure, having a conversation.
"C'mon, Fernando. Let's ask them."
Celia walked towards the skyscraper. Fernando followed. As they approached the group, it began to break up. All of the people went their separate ways, except for a tall, well-dressed Negro. He was busy studying the contents of a folder. The two teens walked up to him. Gina spoke first.
"Excuse me. Could you tell me where I can find Assimilation Point?"
The young man looked up, surprised.
"A-Are you serious?! You're really looking for it?!"
Celia instantly sensed he knew something.
"Yeah!! Do you know?!"
The young man frowned.
"Damn... no. I really wish I could help you."
Fernando rolled his eyes in disgust.
"See what I'm saying?! This place probably doesn't even exist!!"
At hearing this, the young man instantly straightened up.
"Wrong. It does exist. I happen to be a graduate."
At hearing this, both teens stared at him in shock.
"You are?!" exclaimed Celia.
"Yes. I'm a real estate tycoon. I own this skyscraper."
"No way!!" blurted Fernando in disbelief.
"Oh yeah, I do. Believe me, everything you've heard about Assimilation Point is true. I came from a poor family, and I had the extra disadvantage of being a minority. Once I found Assimilation Point though, it changed my life. I learned how to deal with people, how to get over the walls always placed in my path. I made something out of myself. And I owe it all to Assimilation Point. Now, I can take care of my family and myself."
"B-But how did you find it?!" exclaimed Fernando.
"It all comes down to being at the right place at the right time. The only people who find it are the ones that are patient and persistent. I was like you. I didn't believe I'd find it. But when I least expected it, Assimilation Point appeared before me. That's how I got in. But finding it is only part of the solution. Not everybody graduates from Assimilation Point. It's an extremely difficult school. Only the best graduate."
The young man walked up to the two teenagers. He took off his glasses and looked at them intently.
"Don't give up. Hang in there. If you're strong enough and persistent enough, you'll find Assimilation Point. Or it will find you. And a word of warning- Beware of the people you meet on your journey. Some of them might try to prevent you from getting there. Good luck."
He turned around and walked back to the huge skyscraper. Within moments, the young man entered it and disappeared. Celia turned to Fernando.
"You said you wanted motivation!! Dammit Fernando!! Doesn't that motivate you?! A black man!! Making something of himself!! Shit, if that doesn't motivate you, what will?!"
Fernando stood silently for a few moments, in deep thought. Finally, he spoke.
"Let's go. We gotta keep looking."
Celia smiled warmly. The pair walked off into the thick fog once again.
Part 4