Chapter Three: A Stranger In My Own Skin

“I want a second chance.”

My voice came out firm, almost desperate. The red-haired man stood before me with his hands in his pockets, eyes cool and unreadable.

I grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let go. “Please. Just tell me what I need to do. I’ll do anything.”

All I could think about was going back. Back to my body. Back to my parents. Back to Jason, if only to punch him square in the face for what he did. I wanted to wake up, hug my mother, and pretend none of this nightmare ever happened.

But Red only arched a brow, that mocking smile tugging at his lips. “You can’t return to your body. Not now. You’ll have to use another one.”

His words froze me. “What do you mean, use another one?”

Before I could argue, the ground vanished beneath me. The world blurred into streaks of light and wind. I screamed as we shot through the sky, weightless and terrified.

“Relax,” Red said, as if this was a normal Sunday morning. “You don’t have much time left. Try not to panic.”

“Not panic?! We’re flying!” I shouted, clutching at air.

“Exactly. And you’re lucky I’m even helping you.”

We landed, well, crashed inside a dimly lit room. I stumbled forward, grabbing a chair for balance. The place was a disaster. Clothes everywhere, half-eaten food on the desk, and an empty bottle rolling across the floor.

“What is this place?” I muttered in disbelief.

Red leaned lazily against the wall. “Your new home.”

I followed his gaze to the bed, where a woman was sprawled across it, snoring. Her makeup was smudged, her lipstick half gone, and she was drooling on the pillow.

“You can’t be serious,” I said flatly. “You don’t mean—”

He gave me a sly smirk. “Exactly what you’re thinking.”

“Absolutely not! I’m not possessing anyone!”

Before I could back away, something invisible yanked me upward. My vision blurred as I hovered over the sleeping girl. Panic clawed up my throat. “Stop! I don’t want this!”

Red’s voice hardened. “Unless you want to disappear forever, you don’t have a choice. A soul can’t linger without an anchor.”

Light burst around me, blinding and hot. Then everything went black.

When I opened them again, I was staring at a white ceiling. My fingers twitched. I inhaled sharply. Air filled my lungs.

“You’re not planning to lie there all day, are you?”

I turned toward the voice. Red was leaning against the window frame, watching me with that maddening smirk.

I sat up slowly. My voice sounded softer, different. “This isn’t my body…”

I stumbled to the mirror. The reflection staring back wasn’t mine. The girl’s hair was a mess, her eyes puffy, her face pale. I grabbed a brush and frowned. “What kind of life does this girl live? She can’t even wash her hair properly.”

Red chuckled. “Consider it karma for making me your guide.”

Something shimmered at my neck. I looked down and saw a small silver pendant glowing faintly.

“What’s this?”

“A link,” he said. “Press the button if you ever need me. I’ll appear, though I’d rather not.”

I opened my mouth to ask more, but before I could, he added, “One last thing. You only exist in the daylight now. Once the sun sets, you vanish until dawn.”

“What does that even mean—”

He was gone before I finished, the air rippling where he’d stood.

I groaned and turned toward the closet. “Great. Ghost girl by night, body snatcher by day.”

The wardrobe creaked open, revealing baggy jeans, oversized hoodies, and faded T-shirts. I almost cried. “You’ve got to be kidding me. No dresses? No heels? Not even a clean top?”

By the time I finished searching, the entire room looked like a crime scene.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Whoever this girl is, she seriously needs a stylist.”

It was almost eight a.m. I needed to go out, but there was no way I’d be caught dead in these clothes.

Out of frustration, I pressed the pendant repeatedly until Red appeared again, floating in midair with a glare. “What now?”

“I can’t go out looking like this,” I snapped.

He stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “I’ve guided a lot of souls, but none this stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn. I just have standards.”

He sighed. “Fine. What do you want?”

“Money,” I said bluntly. “And better clothes. This girl’s wardrobe is a crime against fashion.”

Red gave a low whistle. “You really were an heiress, huh? Human greed runs deep.”

“Greed? Please. It’s called dignity.”

He flicked his fingers, and a box appeared on the bed. Inside were stylish clothes, familiar ones. My favorites.

My jaw dropped. “How did you—these are mine!”

He shrugged. “Let’s just say perks of being me.”

I grinned despite myself. “You have to teach me that trick.”

He smirked. “If I taught you how to do that, you’d spend eternity redecorating heaven.”

I rolled my eyes and started dressing. 

As I buttoned up a black leather jacket and slid into ripped jeans with ankle boots, I felt a little like myself again. Not completely, but close.

Red was halfway through fading out when he turned back to me. “One more thing. Don’t ever reveal your real name. No one must know you’re Elizabeth.”

“Too many rules,” I muttered.

“Too little time,” he replied, and vanished.

I grabbed a bag from the table and hurried outside, determined to find Jason and demand answers.

I didn’t notice the man running after me until he called a name I didn’t recognize, one that sent a strange chill down my spine just before he caught my arm.