The corridors of Westminster High buzzed with the loud footsteps of students eager to go home. Among them, a small framed girl with a round face, large dark eyes, and her black hair tied back neatly, quietly made her way out of the school building alone.
Her name was Rain.
Dragging her feet with a sluggish expression, Rain headed toward the nearest train station.
She leaned against the platform railing, lazily waiting for the next train to arrive.
Twenty minutes passed. At last, the rumble and screech of an approaching train echoed through the station.
Rain boarded, choosing the seat furthest in the corner. She rested her head against the cold window, slipped on her headphones, played music from her smartphone, closed her eyes and slowly drifted into a dream.
Faintly, the soft voices of a man and a woman echoed in her ears, accompanied by a heartwarming scene a little girl camping with her parents under a starlit sky, laughter and warmth surrounding them.
It was a memory from Rain's childhood, a time when her parents were still alive, before tragedy struck and left her alone in the world.
As the train rattled along, Rain was suddenly jolted awake by the buzz of her phone.
Fencing Practice Group:
"Evening practice is canceled until next week due to an accident involving our head coach. A new coach will be assigned soon."
Aunt Anna:
"Hi, Rain sweetheart! What time will you be home? I'm preparing a warm dinner for you. Just finishing up shopping now. Stay safe, okay?"
Rain replied:
"Practice got canceled, so I'm coming home early. Take your time shopping! I'm not too hungry yet."
Five minutes later, Rain arrived at her station. She exited and started her walk home.
Along the way, she noticed a crowd gathered around a fortune teller.
Actually, Rain would have ignored something like this she wasn't one to believe in fortune telling.
But the man's striking resemblance to Rubeus Hagrid, a beloved character from Harry Potter, caught her attention. Smiling to herself, Rain decided to indulge her curiosity.
Fortune Teller: "Hello there, beautiful girl! How are you today? What's your name?"
Rain: "Rain. It's been a rough day, honestly. I got some bad news about someone I know. Can you really tell fortunes?"
Fortune Teller: "Of course! Let's begin. Pick a few cards, and we'll see what fate has in store."
Rain nodded. The fortune teller shuffled the cards, laying them face down.
Fortune Teller: "Choose three cards carefully and with a clear mind. What you pick may shape your destiny," he warned, his tone unusually serious.
Rain carefully selected three cards and handed them over.
The moment the fortune teller flipped them over, his face froze in shock.
Rain watched, uneasy, as the crowd around them fell silent.
Rain: "Um... sir? Is something wrong with my cards?"
The fortune teller said nothing. He continued staring at the cards, his expression stiff.
Rain: "Sir?"
Finally, he spoke barely above a whisper asking the onlookers to leave. Soon, only Rain and the fortune teller remained.
Fortune Teller: "Have you ever had nightmares?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Rain: "Well... normal nightmares, sure. Isn't that pretty common?"
Fortune Teller: "Not ordinary nightmares. I'm talking about dreams that transport you into another dimension... a place no one else can see except for those who are close to death."
Rain blinked, confused.
She had never experienced anything like that. Her nightmares were usually silly falling into water, getting chased by a banana monster.
Nothing serious.
Rain: "No, sir. I've never dreamed of anything like that," she answered honestly.
Fortune Teller: "Tonight, everything might change. That dimension... it may come looking for you. But you are not destined to die.
You have a mission, Rain. A great mission. What will you do when the time comes?"
Rain was taken aback.
Rain: "This sounds like a virtual game or something," she said, half-joking.
Fortune Teller: "Maybe. But remember, this isn't just a game. Your life will be on the line."
Feeling increasingly uneasy, Rain stood up to leave.
Rain: "Thank you, sir. This has been... interesting. But I really should go now. My aunt is waiting."
As she turned to leave, the fortune teller called out once more.
Fortune Teller: "Don't worry. Someone strong and kind will stand by your side.
Just... whatever you do, never attempt the impossible."
Rain paused for a second, then quickly continued on her way.
*******
By the time Rain arrived home, Aunt Anna had already finished cooking.
Aunt Anna: "Oh, welcome home, Rain! I rushed back to prepare dinner for you.
Go freshen up, then come down and eat!"
Rain went upstairs to shower, then sat down at the dinner table.
Aunt Anna: "How was school today? Anything exciting happen?"
Rain: "Not really. Same as usual."
Aunt Anna: "Hmm... what about fencing practice? Why was it canceled?"
Rain: "Coach had an accident. Practice is on hold until next week."
Aunt Anna: "Oh dear... I hope he's okay."
Rain: "I'm not sure. I hope so too."
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind rattled the windows and made the curtains whip around.
Aunt Anna shivered slightly.
Aunt Anna: "Better finish your dinner and head to bed early. Looks like there's a big storm coming tonight."
Rain: "Okay, Aunt Anna."
After dinner, Rain went back to her room.
As she brushed her teeth, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, thinking again about the fortune teller's ominous words.
She tried to brush it off but a seed of curiosity had been planted.
Finishing up, Rain crawled into bed.
The ticking of the wall clock grew louder and louder, faster and faster, until it seemed to overpower her senses and she fell asleep.
***********
Suddenly, Rain found herself standing in a place she had never seen before dark, cold, and eerie.
A heavy sense of dread hung in the air.
"Where am I?" she thought, looking around nervously.
She began walking, hoping to find someone, anyone.
After a while, she saw a figure in the distance someone familiar.
As she got closer, her heart froze.
It was Coach Andrew.
Startled, Rain stopped in her tracks.
Why was he here?
Rain: "Mr. Andrew? What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be in the hospital after your accident?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Mr. Andrew didn't respond.
Tears streamed down his face, his eyes burned with a deep, unspeakable anger and sorrow.
Rain felt a chill run down her spine.
She had never seen him like this.
Suddenly, Mr. Andrew spoke his voice hollow and broken.
Mr. Andrew: "You... you're not dead... yet?"
********
To be continued...