Chapter 2 | Vision

Raina

Elyria stands in an office. A man is sitting at the desk in front of her, his dark hair is tousled, his dark brown eyes intense as he stares at her.

She looks timid as she speaks to him. 

I can’t hear the conversation. 

That’s odd. 

Normally, I can always hear in my visions.

The man cracks a smile at her as he stands up and leads her out the door. As they leave the room, I can hear her soft voice, “Thank you, Alpha.”

He responds, “There’s no need to thank me, Ms. Trainer; this is just how we operate at the Eclipse Pack.”

I want to follow where they’re going. I want to find out more information. I need to know that she’s going to be okay.

But the vision is trying to pull me back out. 

Goddess, I want to stay. I want to remain on this spiritual plane and learn more. What if this is my only chance to see her future?

What if this is my only chance to find out if she’s happy?

The vision is retreating, and I blink away the haze, and I’m brought back to utter chaos.

A woman stands before me, staring at me in awe, but now that I’m out of my vision, she snaps back into her role. 

I look to Elyria, wide-eyed. I didn’t mean to do this. 

I know she feels responsible. But it’s my fault.

I should’ve told Crucible Academy about my ability a long time ago.

There’s no opportunity for me to speak, the group leader spares a glance at Elyria as she asks, “I assume you do not have an ability like your sister?”

She shakes her head no, her voice a soft murmur, “Not that I’m aware of.”

The group leader nods as she passes the clipboard to an assistant and instructs, “Take Ms. Elyria Trainer here to the next group, have her see Lucille first.”

Her eyes turn to meet me; they’re full of excitement, knowing that the rate they should charge for me has gone up astronomically. “Take Ms. Raina here to André. Make sure he sees her notes; he’ll know exactly what she needs.”

A guard pulls on Elyria, pushing her towards the assistant. I see the moment the panic settles into her as she turns back toward me, fighting back as she screams, “No, wait, Raina!”

She should know better. Fighting back only gets you hurt.

I want to run to her, I want to touch her and hug her one last time. But I can’t. That will result in harsher punishment for us both. I yell to her, “Go, Elyria! It’ll be fine!”

Her body sags as she gives up her fight, allowing them to take her.

I don’t know if things will be okay. I just… I have to believe in it. If I don’t, then what else is there for us?

The group leader looks at me curiously before reassuring me, “You made the right call, for both your sakes.”

“Thanks,” I murmur in response. Another assistant approaches us, and she passes off my clipboard as she says, “Take Raina to André. We need to get started so that she’ll be ready in time.”

As I’m led to the stylist, all I can think is that Elyria would be better off without me.

This is all my fault. 

If I hadn’t had that damn vision, then Elyria wouldn’t have tried to protect me.

I can’t control it, and I’ve learned that stress causes the visions to appear more often.

I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. I didn’t get to thank her.

I’m an awful sister.

I arrive at André, and he seems nice enough. He flutters around me, helping me fix myself up to his standards, which are obviously higher than I've experienced before. 

I get changed into a black dress with a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. I look good, but the heels they make me shove my feet into hurt like a bitch.

Run. 

I have to run. 

I have to get out of this before I’m separated from my sister for good.

I’ve snuck out before, it’s possible. Not easy, not with how many people surround me. André, he’s my ticket to freedom. I just need to get him on my side.

He’s one of the most stylish stylists here. Even though he’s forced to wear blue like the rest of the stylists, he found a way to make himself stand out.

It makes me feel like I’m in good hands. He’s going to want to prove himself to everyone, so he will make sure I look just as good.

Since being separated from my sister, I have behaved perfectly. I’ve allowed them to do everything they needed to, and I’ve made no complaint.

But I need André to pity me, I need him to want to help me.

I have to pull at his heartstrings.

While he’s distracted by the other girls, I force myself to tear up so that when he turns back to me, he instantly panics.

He rushes to my side, as he exclaims, “Oh no, honey, don’t cry. If you do, we’ll have to start all over, and we don’t have time for that! What’s the matter? How can I make it better?”

I wave my hands over my face, trying to fan the tears away as I tell him, “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about my sister. Is there somewhere I can go so I can hear where she’s going?”

His body tenses as he mulls over my request. Before he can deny me, I say in a broken tone, “I might never see my twin again. I just want to know if she ends up in a decent place or with a nice pack.”

His face falters, and inside, I’m squealing with happiness. He tells me, “Look, I’m only allowing this because you’re the last girl. But I want to make this crystal clear to you, kid: if you rush the stage, make a scene, or try to interfere in any way, you will be punished, and I will pretend like you did this on your own accord. Do you understand me?”

I nod, “Yes, sir, thank you so much, sir.”

He looks around before taking my hand and moving us through the maze of the room, where no one would notice me. I’m led to a dark corridor, and he says, “I will be back to lead you to your line when it’s your turn. You do not move. Understand?”

I nod my head eagerly, and he adds with a hiss, “Don’t move.”

With that, he closes the door, and I breathe out as I listen for the announcement.

It’s not my sister up there right now.

Good. But I already know where she’s going, I just needed to find a way to escape.

She’s going off to the Eclipse Pack. I saw it in my vision. She’ll meet the Alpha there, and he looked kind enough that I don’t think she’s in any immediate danger.

Me, on the other hand? Who fucking knows. Once they announce I’m a seer, there’s no telling where I’ll end up.

A small amount of guilt rises within me knowing that I’m betraying André’s trust, but I’m not losing this opportunity. 

I have to escape.