Page 8 of Frosted Torment

“The path you walk holds hidden truths,” she murmured.

Curiosity piqued within me despite better judgment.

“Oh, I know how this works,” I replied.

Humor crept back, hoping to break some irrational spell woven through last-minute prophecies.

A knowing smile curled her parched lips, amused by my naivety. “In every bend and in every turn, there lies choice—that’s where your power resides.”

I began to protest and denounce the charlatan. But a surge of electricity coursed through me, and my head jerked back. Time froze as visions of my mother and me played out like a movie reel, starting from when I was a young child. Then, I saw myself on the lawn watching flames engulf our house, with my mother trapped inside.

CHAPTER 4

Shadows loomed as she choked and clawed at the bedroom door. Then, a quick pull sent me into a strange dimension. Voices overlapped in a cacophony, and I collapsed to my knees, covering my ears.

I slowed my breathing, and the air became still, producing a slight hum. My heart skipped as I heard my mother’s faint voice, though I couldn’t see her. I stood, scanning every direction.

Then I lurched forward, phasing through the ground and emerging on the other side. A scream tore from my throat at the excruciating pain. There she was, extending a hand to me, her ghostly touch caressing my cheek.

“Come,” my mom whispered.

I trailed after her graceful, floating form, mesmerized by her fluid movements. Then she halted, turning to face me, as breathtaking as I remembered. Luscious brown curls tumbled over her shoulders.

Then, her violet eyes pierced mine as three shadowsmaterialized in the distance. She pointed to the silhouettes of Ivy, Jossy, and Lex conversing with someone in a field; their presence was haunting.

“Secrets lie beneath the surface, waiting for you to find them,” she said.

“What does that mean, Mom?”

I reached for her hand, but she looked toward my friends and pointed.

“There are forces that shape your destiny, Noa. Forces as ancient as time itself. Embrace your power to choose, for it holds the key to unlocking hidden truths within you.”

“This is insane.” My voice trembled with fear. “What do my best friends have to do with any of this?” My breath quickened, and I felt hot, but I didn’t know how to escape the depth of this reading.

“The Baneful are coming for you, Noa. Listen to those closest to you and find the place that keeps the answers, not the secrets. There you will find my killers.”

“I won’t stop until they’re dead,” I promised.

My mother’s words hung in the air, each syllable seeping into the depths of my soul. A sudden wave of realization hit me as I stood alone in a world full of secrets and unknown powers. The Baneful. The name reverberated in my mind, a sinister echo that sent shivers down my spine.

“Who...who are the Baneful?” I stammered, my voice shaking with a potent mix of terror and resolve.

My mother’s features twisted into anxious purpose as she warned, “The Baneful are ancient evil beings, Noa,” she explained.

Her image began to fade.

“Wait!” I ran after her, making every effort to hold on to her.

She offered me one last clue. “They seek to harness the power within you—a power that can shape worlds or bring them to ruin.”

Without warning, I gasped for air. Then, I flew backward in the chair, knocking over one of the pillars holding up the velvet rope. I stood up too fast and fell into the line of people waiting for their turn.

Baneful? Hidden forces? What the fuck happened?

The entire day inched up the back of my throat, and I ran to the bathroom, choking back the contents of my stomach until I found an open stall. My chest ached from getting sick. This morning and now, so I curled myself into a ball and sobbed until nothing remained. I knew it was a bad idea to go out on my birthday.

“Hey,” a man’s voice echoed in the bathroom. “Time to go.”

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