NADIA

Lana spent half the time driving and the other half texting while Aidan went karaoke-style with the radio. Lying in the backseat of Lana’s car, I couldn't help but drift. I fell into some deep sleep and a disturbing sensation came over me. I was running out of air and whatever was happening kept me from waking up. The weirdness stopped once air rushed into my lungs along with wind some blowing against my face. My eyes opened to a view that ironically took my breath away.

Standing on a hilltop, I could see a cavernous valley, at least a thousand feet below, covered in Autumn colors. “Ugh. Now I'm having crazy dreams too? Whatever.” Shrugging and spreading my arms, I let the fresh breeze wash over me while grass tickled my feet. My hair was free-floating in the wind when a glowing white light manifested in front of me and took shape as Melinoe, my past self.

She looked solid even though rays of the sun shone through her. “Great. It looks like the only person I can blame for this is myself.” I did not love the fact that I was technically talking to myself. That sort of inner soul-searching was more Aidan’s thing.

“Your answers are here in your mind.” She took a pause for way too long and patiently waiting was not a strong suit of mine.

“Uh-huh. That’s nice. So, I have no idea how I got here, let alone what's here. It’s pretty and all, but I didn’t sign up for The Sound of Music.” Melinoe’s form faded in and out for a moment. “Girl, what’s going on with your signal?" I looked at her cautiously. "Look, I am tired and have earned myself a normal nap. Now, if you could just point me to the nearest exit, we can pick this up never.”

Melinoe's tone was sharp. “You have not even begun to understand. You must venture forth into the earth. Place your hand to the dirt.”

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath while glaring at her see-through ass. "Bitch, is you crazy? I just got my nails done.” My spectral past self just stared at me. “If I touch the ground, will you let me get back to my nap?"

Melinoe came closer to me and nodded before looking down at the spot in front of me.

"Okay." Letting out a heavy sigh, I bent down. "Let's get this over with." Placing my palm against the dirt, I even grabbed at the grass for good measure. "There. Are you happy now, you crazy hippie bi--" My mouth shut the moment I connected to the ground. My mind saw into the earth and dove through the layers, breaking into multiple points of view that scattered. When each one stopped, I no longer saw through the earth, but through the eyes of different people. Before I could make sense of what any of them were seeing, I felt the feeling again. The same feeling of power coursing through me that I had the moment my soul awakened and I remembered my past life.

As the feeling washed over me, Melinoe's voice coursed through my mind. "The other warriors are waiting for you."

I shot forward in the backseat of the car in time to see Aidan and Lana getting out. Ugh. I am too tired for this nonsense. It can wait till next week. We need a break.

***

AIDAN

I let Nadia out of the backseat as Lana stepped out of the car and adjusted her dress.

“Just once I would like to make it home before the sun,” I said walking up the porch steps. After fumbling with my crappy house key, I unlocked the front door. “Seriously, I need a key that doesn’t take a century to--.” My words were lost after the door swung open. We slowly and cautiously stepped into the wrecked house. The couches were turned over, the tables were broken and the walls were busted in with holes. Worst out of everything was what made the color drain from our faces. Lying in the center of the living room and surrounded by a pool of blood, was Nadia’s brother-in-law, Leo. Next to him was her nephew, Lyric.

“Lyric,” Nadia screamed and ran to pick him up. The baby was covered in blood and crying, but with my enhanced smell, I reassured Nadia that none of it was his. “Noelle! Noelle, where are you?” Nadia yelled, scouring the house.

I slowly walked towards Leo’s still body but could tell he was dead from the look of terror imprinted on his face. Standing by the door, Lana was breathing hard when Nadia came stampeding back into the living room. “Noelle's not here. Where the hell is she? Her last voicemail was only an hour ago.” Nadia's eyes were flooding with tears.

I put my hands up to try to calm her. “Nadia, it’s going to be okay. Go clean up Lyric, and take him to your mom's house. Lana." I turned to her stone still body. "You look around and see if whatever attacked left anything behind, but stay with Nadia. I'm going to go get Mr. Serious. He’ll know the fastest way to find Noelle, and what about...” I gestured to Leo, unable to put the scene in front of us into words. “Call me when Lyric is safe and I'll come to get y'all." Both of them nodded and moved away from me. If I teleport to Mr. Serious, I can cut the time down quite a bit.

My thoughts were halted by a thunderous knock at the front door. I swung it open, ready to tell whoever it was to go away. My mind was awash with confusion the moment I saw them. Standing in front of me, with an unconscious Dante over his shoulder and a sword of light in his hand, was my ginger-headed friend, Chris.