Ericka had stepped out of the tent earlier. She hadn’t expected to be grouped with Thalia—someone she already knew from school.

And Ericka knew something else, too.
She had a feeling Thalia was hiding something. She just didn’t know what. But the strange things happening earlier—especially involving Ruth—were starting to make her uneasy.

Ericka exhaled shakily.

She admitted it to herself: she saw things others couldn’t. Things impossible to explain. Things that no one would ever believe. And even if her ability terrified her, she could no longer ignore it. The presence following Thalia—and especially Ruth—was too strong to dismiss.

Could all of this be connected to what happened in the past?

She sat outside, watching the forest quietly. The air felt heavy. Her heart felt heavier.

Then she felt it—
Eyes.
Watching her.

She slowly turned toward the source of the sharp, piercing gaze—

And it struck her.

Her ability activated without warning.
She saw women moving deep within the forest—lost, frightened, running from something unseen. She squinted, trying to focus—

And then she saw herself among them.

Ericka gasped and jerked back to reality.

Why am I involved in this?
Her stomach tightened.

She loathed this ability—this curse. She couldn’t control what visions appeared, and she couldn't change whatever future they showed. That helplessness gnawed at her.

She trembled as a wave of nausea rolled through her. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her head throbbed. She stumbled back inside the tent, needing to sit down. The sun was already sinking; the bonfire would start soon.

“What happened to you?” one of her tentmates asked.

Ericka didn’t answer. She sat on the monobloc chair, massaging her temples. Her mind was spinning.

Who will walk with me later?
She eyed each of them.

Her gaze landed on Ruth—and a cold jolt shot down her spine.
It felt like someone else was standing right beside her.
Someone who didn’t belong.

She glanced between Ruth and Thalia, her unease tightening around her like a hand.

Jasmin handed her a glass of water.
“Thank you,” Ericka whispered before drinking.

Another vision slammed into her.

Photographs—women who had gone missing.
Faces. Names.
And among them, she saw Jasmin.

Bodies followed—lifeless, broken.

Ericka’s chest tightened. Her vision wavered. She nearly fell.

“Call the teacher! Ericka, are you okay?” someone cried.

Thalia bolted out to get the teacher.

Jasmin guided Ericka back to her bed.

“Did you eat? You look so pale,” Kim asked softly.

Ericka still couldn’t speak. The teachers rushed in, murmuring in concern.

Another surge hit her.

This one was worse.

She saw a man. His face was blurred, but his hands—
His hands were drenched in blood.
He was digging violently into the ground.
The place felt familiar, but she couldn’t remember why.

“Ah!” Ericka cried, clutching her side.

She saw Ruth again.

But someone was standing beside Ruth—
Smiling.
And placing a finger to their lips.

Stay quiet.

Everything went dark.

When Ericka opened her eyes again, she was no longer in the tent.

Her spirit was drifting.
Again.

She hated this.
She hated seeing the dead, their memories, their rage.

Her life had changed the day she accidentally found the bodies of two siblings. That day, her curiosity had led her into a nightmare she never escaped.

Stop this! What do you want from me?!
Her voice echoed in the void.

A woman appeared—the older sister who had died.
She stared at Ericka with hollow, sorrowful eyes.

We were not silent.
We cannot see the light.

Why can’t you let go of your anger? Ericka whispered. Could you… if you were in my place?
Would you be at peace?

The woman’s expression didn’t change.

Are you the one showing me these visions? Ericka asked.

The woman smiled faintly—
and vanished.

Ericka snapped awake, breathless, clutching her bedding.

They won’t stop…
not until I stop resisting.

She looked at Ruth, who was sitting nearby. For a moment, she saw the woman again—the dead sister—standing over Ruth.

And just like that, the ghost disappeared.

Whatever your plan is… whatever you’re showing me…
I’ll use it to bring you peace.
Ericka clenched her fists.

“Are you feeling better now?” the teacher asked gently, approaching.

Ericka forced a nod. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Dinner’s almost ready. Rest first,” the teacher said before stepping out.

The others left the tent. Only Ruth stayed behind.

“Did I… do something wrong?” Ruth asked quietly.

Ericka didn't answer. She couldn't look at her—not when every glance opened the door to another vision.

Ruth sighed. “You stare at me like I did something. It’s intense.”

Ericka looked away.
I’m not staring at you, Ruth.
I’m staring at whatever is following you.

But she kept the words inside.

“Just rest,” Ruth said gently. “The bonfire’s starting. Join us when you feel okay.”

“Thank you.”

Ruth nodded and stepped out, leaving Ericka alone with the fading voices outside—and the heavy, suffocating weight of what she had seen.