This time, I'm sitting on the top of a mountain of green, overlooking a beautiful city. The lights almost look like they are dancing across the ground in delight, but for some reason I feel depressingly heavy. Suddenly, something touches my hand, and I look down to see droplets of water rolling across my knuckles. At first, I strain my neck to look up to see if there is a rainstorm beginning, but the sky is cloudless. In that moment, as I glance back down at my hands, I realize that the droplets are my own tears. I'm crying again. As I look at my hands in confusion, I notice small purple bruises forming around my wrists. What happened? Abruptly, A voice behind me startles my thoughts.

"You okay, there?"

I jump and spin around, meeting a familiar pair of bright blue eyes.

"I'm fine, leave me alone," I grunt, swiping hastily at the teardrops on my skin.

He watches me wipe my tears and leans down to help, but freezes mid-action. I look up in confusion to see his gaze on my hands. His eyes are wide in sudden fear. Then, he gently takes my hands into his to examine them. "What happened," he breathes, voicing my thoughts.

I quickly pull them away and hide them in my lap, pulling my sleeves down to cover my wrists. For some reason, the bruises make me feel self conscious. "Who are you, anyways," I ask, turning the attention away from me.

"The name's Zach," He smirks and runs his hand through his hair with a cocky attitude, "And you?"

My mind suddenly jolts awake, throwing my body forward into the bed. Zach? I knew Zach during... during the beforelife? How is that-"

"You okay there?"

The sudden voice startles me, and I snap to attention. "Zach?" I rub my eyes. Am I still dreaming? I shut my eyes shake my head a couple of times until I'm sure I'm awake. "Zach?" I repeat, "why are you in my room?"

"I was told to come make sure you were alive. I called your name a couple of times but you didn't hear me." He runs his fingers through his hair and tilts his head, a smirk brightening up his face.

Oh, I realize, he must've appeared in my dream because I heard him subconsciously. Stuff like that happens, right? "Well," I say out loud, "I'm alive. Now go away and let me sleep." I nuzzle into my pillow and he snorts.

"No can do, Sevvy."

I peek over my blankets at him, "Where'd you get that one? And why's everyone suddenly giving me weird nicknames?"

"I came up with it myself," he grins, "get it? 'Cuz it sounds like Savvy? And you're just so knowledgeable."

"And you're an idiot."

He sticks his tongue out at me, "Whatever. Anyways, we're figuring out what to do, and if you want to have any say in it, you've gotta be there for it. Be down in five." Without waiting for a response, he leaves my room and prances into the hallway. I roll my eyes but my face softens into a small smile.

I take a second to stretch then make my way downstairs, using my fingers to untangle the knots in my hair. I'm sure I look like some sort of hobo with my wrinkly t-shirt and baggy sweatpants, but oh well. Anyone else will only see the illusion of what they want to see, anyways.

When I walk in, everyone's sitting at the kitchen table, already engrossed in a conversation.

"-not going with you to get that brat," Kianna sneers.

"You don't have to. Stay here and watch the couch for all I care. Either way, we need her. And we can't get her without a plan," Adrian grunts back.

"Could we do something along the lines of how you tricked me?" Zach smirks, "because that was just so great."

"I'm glad you think so. That was my idea," Damien intervenes. They glare at each other for a moment before Damien continues, "but it won't work with Livia anyways. she's not as much as a player."

Adrian cuts back in, "No, we can't use Seven again. Its predictable and Livia's smart. If we play tricks, we gotta be three steps ahead of her at all times."

"What if we don't play tricks?" I speak up, startling Adrian, Rev and Kianna, who probably hadn't realized I was even awake yet.

Adrian ponders my words for a moment, "What do you mean?"

"Well, you guys pointed out that she was self-centered. So she would help if there was something in it for her, right?"

"Hm, maybe. As long as it's something irresistible to her."

"Then we find something irresistible-"

"-and offer it to her for answers," Zach joins in, catching onto my idea.

I look around the table. Everyone's considering the idea. "It's worth a try," Rev nods.

"Now we just need to figure out something she wouldn't be able to refuse," I fold my arms in thought.

"Leave that to me," Zach smiles and pops his knuckles like he's a character straight out of a cheesy action movie.

--------------------------------------

"This is what she likes?" I stare at the display in front of me. There are rows upon rows of Capri-suns.

Zach stands back, arms crossed in satisfaction, staring at the juice in awe. "Yup. They've been her addiction as long as I've known her. They remind her of her years as a kid, or something." He shrugs and starts piling them up in a shopping cart.

"Well, that was anticlimactic, but everyone's unique I guess."

Me and Zach came to Walmart to search for this so-called 'irresistible' object, while everyone else stayed home to figure out the exact details of the plan. All the sins except Kianna are going to help, but only Rev, Damien and Zach are going to approach her. I wanted to as well, but everyone was pretty avid about making sure she doesn't see me. Something about the way we parted last time, or something like that. So, instead, me and Adrian are going to be on standby just in case something goes wrong.

When me and Zach return home with a dozen bags of Capri-suns, the house is bustling with movement. Everyone's getting ready to leave. The house has been so lively recently, I think, excited for the adventure ahead of me. Kianna pops up out of nowhere, "We're going to Los Angeles!"

"We? So you're in on it now?"

"Um, duh. I'm not passing up on a vacation to California!" She gives a whoop and starts pulling me up to my room.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Your room. We need to get you packed. You've gotta be looking amazing in LA."

I sigh. This is going to be a long trip.