Chapter 3

Sera POV

I found myself running through a burning forest, something chasing me. Smoke filled my lungs. My white dress was torn. Trees fell around me like they were nothing. I couldn't see it but I could feel the intense glare from something that was chasing me, something that couldn't be described in words.

Then suddenly I was in marble hallways with torches on the walls. My feet slapped against stone floors. Every direction I turned led to dead ends. The thing hunting me was getting closer.

I hid against a wall, trying not to breathe too loud.

Then a shadow came walking towards me, what had been chasing me finally caught up and in an instant, everything went dark.

I woke up gasping.

My sheets were soaked with sweat. The clock read 3:47 a.m. I touched my arms, my face, no burns, no cuts. Just a dream.

But it felt so real.

I sat up in bed, heart still pounding. The apartment was quiet except for the usual sounds—the neighbor's TV through the thin walls, a car alarm going off somewhere down the street. Normal sounds. Safe sounds.

"Get it together," I whispered to myself.

I tried closing my eyes again, but every time I did, I saw flames. Felt that presence behind me. The certainty that something was hunting me.

By 4:30, I gave up. I shuffled to the kitchen and made the strongest coffee I could manage with my ancient coffee maker. The bitter taste helped ground me, reminded me I was awake now. Safe.

I sat by my small window, watching the sky slowly lighten. My body ached like I'd actually been running all night. When my phone buzzed at eight, I jumped.

"Good morning, birthday girl!" Bri's voice was way too cheerful for this early. "Please tell me you're not moping in that sad apartment."

"I'm not moping."

"You sound like you're moping. And tired. Did you sleep at all?"

"Some."

"Liar. What's wrong?"

I rubbed my eyes. "Just weird dreams. I'm fine."

"Stress dreams," Bri said immediately. "Totally normal before big life changes. I had them all through senior year of high school. Anyway, brunch is at eleven. My parents can't wait to see you."

"Do I really have to come?"

"Are you seriously asking me that? It's your twenty-first birthday and you want to spend it alone with your nightmares?"

When she put it like that... "Fine. But I'm not staying long."

"We'll see about that. Dress nice, it's Rosewood."

The Rosewood. Of course. I looked down at my pajamas, then at my tiny closet full of thrift store clothes.

"Bri, I don't really have anything—"

"Wear that blue dress from yesterday. The one we bought. It's perfect."

"I haven't even taken the tags off"

"So take them off. That's what scissors are for. I'll see you at eleven."

She hung up before I could argue.

The Rosewood Café was the kind of place where water probably cost more than my usual lunch. Everything was marble and crystal, with servers who moved like they were performing ballet. I felt underdressed even in the new blue dress.

Bri's parents were already there when I arrived, sitting at a corner table with the best view of the city. They both stood when they saw me, Mr. Hale in his perfectly tailored suit, Mrs. Hale looking like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," Mrs. Hale said, kissing my cheek and pulling me into a hug that smelled like expensive perfume.

"Twenty-one," Mr. Hale added, shaking his head with a smile. "I remember when Bri first brought you home freshman year. You were so quiet, we weren't sure you'd said more than five words all evening."

"She's still quiet," Bri said, appearing at my elbow with a mimosa already in hand. "Here. It's medicinal."

"It's10:30 in the morning," I protested.

"It's your birthday," all three of them said in unison.

I took a sip. The bubbles tickled my nose, and the alcohol helped ease some of the tension from my sleepless night.

"So," Mrs. Hale said once we'd all settled, "tell us about this internship. Hoblox is quite impressive for someone still in school."

"It's a good opportunity," I said. "I'm nervous but excited. The application process was intense."

"I bet," Mr. Hale said. "What will you be doing exactly?"

"Marketing analysis, mostly. Some social media strategy. They said if I do well, there might be a chance for something permanent after graduation."

"That's wonderful," Mrs. Hale beamed. "You must be so proud, Bri."

"Obviously. I've been telling everyone my best friend is going to be some big shot marketing executive." Bri grinned. "Though I'm a little worried about the logistics."

I frowned. "What logistics?"

"Well," she said, exchanging a look with her parents, "where are you planning to live while you're working?"

My stomach tightened. "My apartment. It's fine."

"It's a dump," Bri said flatly. "And the commute is going to kill her. She'll spend two hours a day on buses, minimum."

"Bri—"

"What? It's true. You'll be leaving at six AM and getting home after eight PM. You'll be exhausted before you even start."

Mr. and Mrs. Hale exchanged another look, the kind of silent communication that came from thirty years of marriage.

"Well," Mrs. Hale began carefully, "we do have a small condo downtown that's currently empty. Very close to the Hoblox building, actually."

My stomach dropped. "Oh no no no, I couldn't—"

"Why not?" Mr. Hale asked, genuinely curious.

"Because it's too much. I can't afford downtown rent. I can barely afford what I'm paying now."

"Who said anything about rent?" Mrs. Hale interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "We just need someone trustworthy to keep an eye on the place. Make sure the pipes don't freeze, pick up mail, that sort of thing. Utilities only."

"See?" Bri beamed like she'd just solved world hunger. "Perfect solution."

"I don't want to take advantage of your kindness…"

"Sera," Mr. Hale leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "You'd be helping us out. We've been trying to figure out what to do with that place for months. Having someone we trust living there would be a relief."

"But…"

"Sera," Bri grabbed my hand across the table. "You're my best friend. My family loves you. We want to help. Why is that so hard for you to accept?"

I stared down at my barely touched eggs benedict, my throat tight. "I just... I don't want to owe anyone anything."

"You don't owe us anything," Mrs. Hale said softly. "This is what people do for each other. What family does."

Family. The word hit me harder than it should have.

"I don't know what to say."

"Say yes," all three of them said at once, making me laugh despite myself.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Yes. Thank you."

Mrs. Hale clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! We can get you the keys today if you'd like."

"Today?"

"No time like the present," Mr. Hale said. "Besides, you'll want to get settled before you start work on Monday."

Bri was practically bouncing in her seat. "This is so exciting! We can go shopping for apartment stuff! And groceries! Oh, we should get you some plants…"

"I don't need…"

"Yes, you do," she cut me off. "New place, new job, new you. It's like the universe is telling you to start fresh."

I took another sip of my mimosa, trying to process everything. Three days ago, my biggest worry was making rent. Now I was about to move into a downtown condo and start my dream internship.

"This doesn't feel real," I admitted.

"It's real," Bri squeezed my hand. "And you deserve all of it.

An hour later, I had a set of keys in my purse, actual keys to an actual downtown condo and Bri was dragging me toward her car.

"I can't believe you tried to say no," she said, starting the engine. "My parents adore you. Dad's already planning to set you up with his business contacts."

"That's not the point—"

"What is the point? That you're too proud to accept help from people who love you?"

I stared out the window at the city rushing by. "Maybe."

"Well, get over it. You're stuck with us now. We're not going anywhere."

We drove in comfortable silence for a while, heading toward the downtown district. Then Bri glanced over at me.

"You really do look tired," she said. "Those dreams must have been pretty bad."

"They felt real. Like I was actually there."

"There where?"

"Running through this burning forest. Something was chasing me. Then I was in these marble hallways, like a maze. I couldn't find a way out."

"Stress dreams," Bri said immediately. "I had them constantly before college applications were due. One time I dreamed I showed up to my SATs naked and all the questions were in Chinese."

I managed a small laugh. "That's terrible."

"The point is, it's normal. Your brain is processing all the changes. New apartment, new job, turning twenty-one—it's a lot."

"Yeah, probably."

But even as I agreed with her, I could still feel the heat of those flames on my skin. Still hear the footsteps echoing in marble halls. And underneath it all, that voice from yesterday: The prophecy has awakened. Your time begins tomorrow.

Today was tomorrow.

"Hey," Bri said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Everything's going to be fine. Better than fine. This is your year, Sera. I can feel it."

I squeezed back, trying to believe her. "I hope so."

"I know so."

As we pulled up to a red light, I caught my reflection in the side mirror. For just a second, I could have sworn I saw those pale eyes from yesterday staring back at me.

But when I looked again,

it was just me. Tired, overwhelmed, but still me.

"You okay?" Bri asked.

"Yeah," I lied. "I'm fine."

The light turned green, and we drove toward whatever was waiting for me in my new life.