When she felt her soul slipping out of her body, Kate shut her eyes tightly, and her hands went limp. When she opened them again, she was no longer in her room—she was in an entirely different place, cloaked in white.
A rush of fresh woodland air swept over her, fluttering leaves that cast shadows across her face, while the chirping of birds sounded like music. The scent of damp earth and fresh leaves filled the air. The experience was so surreal that Kate found it hard to process. She stared up at the towering trees, their tops seemingly reaching for the sky, their leaves fluttering and spurning, as if caught up in the moment's joy.
Kate shut her eyes and opened them again. She could see.
Her mouth hung open as she blinked, slowly turning to take in the scene before her.
Is this what it feels like? Is this what it means to see through your eyes? she wondered. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of sight. For a moment, everything felt like a dream—one she never imagined she would wake up to. When she opened her eyes again, her mind struggled to keep up with the barrage of new images—every leaf, every shadow, every movement was strange and beautiful.
When a bird swooped across her face, Kate paused, her eyes tracing its flight upward, her brow furrowing.
A squirrel screeched, its sharp cry cutting through the air and Kate’s sensitive ears caught the sound. Her sharp blue eyes found it.
She watched the squirrel gnawing on a nut, clinging to it as if it were its lifeline. A smile crept across Kate’s face, softening her expression. She had heard many stories about animals but had no idea what type of creature this was.
Taking a step toward the squirrel, Kate furrowed her brows. Taking another step, she frowned.
She looked down at her body and touched herself. She could feel her body. But why did she feel so light?
It was as if she had become a balloon, the rush of air capable of carrying her away. She felt so weightless that it seemed like she wasn’t walking—she was floating.
As she took another step forward, the squirrel heard her footsteps and scurried away. Kate’s eyes followed its path, and her stomach churned when a figure appeared before her.
Alicia...
Though Kate hadn’t met her, an unshakable intuition told her that this was the one.
She saw her dressed in a black cloak, heading in the opposite direction.
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“Alicia!” Kate screamed, running toward her.
The figure halted and turned toward her. Alicia squinted at her.
“Alicia!” Kate exclaimed again. She saw Alicia step back as she approached as if her closeness would bring harm.
“I’m Kate,” Kate quickly introduced herself. “I’m here to help you. I’m here to save your soul.”
“Really?” Alicia’s eyes lit up, and she took a step toward Kate. “You’ll really help me?”
Kate nodded, smiling warmly as she stepped closer. “I will help you return home. Your family must be waiting for you. You must miss them.”
As if Kate’s last words had stirred her nerves, Alicia responded, “I want revenge,” staring hard into Kate’s eyes. “I want to go back home and have my revenge. Even if it’s just for a day, I must have my revenge.”
Kate’s heart pricked as she heard Alicia’s words and saw the cold determination in her eyes.
“Revenge?” Kate muttered to herself. “But you can’t return home with this mindset, Alicia. You can only return if you have a pure heart. I understand you might feel betrayed, but letting go is the best option for you to live again.”
Alicia smirked, her lips quivering slightly.
“Letting go?” she repeated, grimacing as if the words left a bitter taste.
Thinking of her family—her sisters, her parents, her friends—Alicia felt the world spinning around her, closing in and suffocating her.
She wished she could let go and leave everything behind, but that would feel like accepting defeat. No... Alicia shook her head, stepping back.
Alicia's eyes blazed with fire. The pain of her past echoed in every word, each syllable a plea for vengeance. She had been broken, and now only the promise of revenge could fill the empty void.
They must taste the bitterness they made me swallow. They made my life miserable, and they must suffer too. My soul will never rest in peace if I let go. Never!
“Listen to me, Alicia...” Kate took another step forward, but Alicia backed away as if facing a new enemy.
“I would rather die than live peacefully with them again!” Alicia yelled, her nerves frayed.
“You’re taking the wrong path, Alicia...” Kate cried, stretching her hands toward her as Alicia retreated further. “Please, listen to me.”
Kate felt her stomach churn as the fear of losing Alicia washed over her. This was the time to take hold of her and never let go. She had come to save her, and she had to. This was her mission. But the determination in Alicia shook Kate with fear and doubt. Will she be able to stop her? Will she be able to return Alicia home and prevent the danger looming over them?
Kate’s throat tightened as she thought of Jeff, Jason, and Alicia's sisters. Will she watch Alicia leave and take the wrong path? Her heart raced, every beat filled with the fear of failure. What if she couldn’t stop Alicia? What if Alicia’s pain consumed her entirely, dragging them all into a dark future?
“Wrong path?” Alicia scoffed. “I don’t need your help. I’m already miserable, so taking the wrong path means nothing to me anymore. I don’t care as long as I get my revenge. One thing you should know: I don’t want to live anymore, but I want to drag my family and friends to hell with me.” With those final words, Alicia turned and ran in the opposite direction.
“No!” Kate screamed. “No, Alicia!”
As Kate attempted to run after her in desperation, a cold, unyielding grip closed around her wrist, and a voice whispered in her ear. “Don’t, Kate.” The words struck her like ice, freezing her in place.