Chapter Two: A Glimpse of the Past
Eli shivered as a sudden gust of wind rushed through the crowded street, an unnatural chill creeping down his spine. He pulled his jacket tighter, his fingers tingling as if something—or someone—had brushed against him.
"Eli? You okay?"
He blinked, snapping out of his daze as his friend, Noah, nudged him. "Yeah, just got a weird feeling for a second."
Noah snorted. "Maybe your soulmate just walked by."
Eli laughed, shaking off the odd sensation. "Right. Because fate is totally real."
But as he glanced over his shoulder, searching the shadows, the feeling lingered. A whisper of something ancient. Something unfinished.
Far above, unseen by mortal eyes, Rael watched. Waiting for the moment to make Eli remember.
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Eli didn't believe in fate, but lately, he felt like the universe was trying to prove him wrong. It started with the dreams.
Every night, he found himself in a place he didn't recognize but somehow knew—a grand palace with towering columns and a sky that burned gold. The scent of jasmine filled the air, and in the distance, he heard a voice. Deep, familiar, filled with longing.
He could never see the man's face.
But he felt the grief in his voice, the weight of something lost. And always, without fail, he woke up with his heart racing, a name lingering on his tongue. A name he didn't know.
Tonight was no different.
Eli shot up in bed, gasping. The echo of his dream still clung to his mind, the warmth of a phantom touch on his skin. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, exhaling.
"Get a grip, Eli," he muttered. "It's just a dream."
But was it?
He reached for his phone, the glow of the screen cutting through the darkness. 3:12 AM. He groaned and flopped back onto his pillows. Tomorrow was going to suck.
Somewhere across the city, Rael stood on a balcony, his own eyes locked on the stars.
He is starting to remember.
A slow, knowing smile crossed his lips.
It was only a matter of time.