Chapter 1

I time-travelled one day before Grandma passed away.

Her frail, bony hand gripped me tight, fear and desperation swirling in her cloudy eyes.

She warned, "Sophie, after I'm gone, you'll start seeing visions of what is to come. Remember, no matter what happens, you must never tell anyone, especially your mom. Or everyone in this village will perish."

With those final words, her hand went limp all at once.

I went cold all over, as if I'd been thrown back into that endless night, locked away in that tiny room in my previous life.

Back then, I didn't get what Grandma was really trying to warn me about.

I thought Grandma was only trying to turn me against Mom because they didn't get along.

My mom, Linda Sharp, swore up and down that she'd keep it to herself, so I told her I could see the future.

But she made up a pitiful excuse about being unable to bear the secret alone, then spilled it to the entire village, all while calling it letting the whole village help me keep it safe.

I paid a terrible price, trapped in this village forever, locked inside Grandma's old house, and forced to grant every wish of the entire village.

They came knocking with candy and gifts, begging me to predict tomorrow's stock prices, their sons' weddings, or even the winning lottery numbers.

And Mom became the queen bee of the village. Everyone sucked up to her, since she was the only one who could relay my predictions.

By the time I hit sixteen, my life was already over.

*****

"Sophie? Sophie! What are you daydreaming about? Your grandma's gone, and you haven't even cried." Mom's shrill voice snapped me out of my memories.

'Does this brat really not care at all? Well, she was always glued to that old witch. Now that the old witch is dead, she's probably thrilled,' Mom thought.

I looked up, meeting her shrewd and mean eyes, and saw the venomous suspicion lurking behind them.

At this moment, I realized that this time, I could not only see the future, but also read people's minds.

Thanks to her, I spent ten years locked away in that little room, with nothing but four walls for company. My abilities were forced to their limits.

I looked at her, squeezed out a few tears, and my voice choked with emotion. "Mom, I'm really hurting."

Linda Sharp immediately put on a caring face, pulled me into her arms, and gently patted my back.

'That's right. Cry your heart out. The more she falls apart, the less on guard she'll be about that old witch,' she thought.

"That's it, honey. I know how upset you are. Your grandma adored you more than anyone. I'm sure she shared a lot with you right before she passed, didn't she?" Linda coaxed.

As I expected, it was the same line she had spoken in my previous life.

I leaned into her embrace, my shoulders trembling. "Grandma said that after she's gone, I'd gain an ability to see the future."

Linda froze up all of a sudden. I could hear her heart thundering in my ears, loud and clear.

'Jackpot! That old witch really did leave something behind. I'm about to hit the motherlode,' Linda thought.

She barely managed to hide her excitement, and for once, her voice was softer than ever. "Sophie, don't be scared. This is huge for us. You're our lucky star."

She grabbed my shoulders, her gaze intense, and spoke each word like a vow. "Don't worry. I swear on my life, not even if I die will I ever tell anyone about this secret."

'I'll string her along first. Once I pry more information out of her, I'll say God revealed it to me in a dream. I promise they'll believe me. Then everyone in the village will be sucking up to me,' she thought.

I stared at her face, warped by excitement, and deep down, all I felt was a cold, biting sarcasm.

I nodded sweetly, giving her the most innocent, trusting look I could muster. "Mom, I trust you. Actually, I saw a vision."

Linda stopped breathing for a second, her voice desperate. "What kind of vision? Quick, tell me."

I lowered my voice, sounding all mysterious. "I saw that old hen from Lucy's house on the east side that's been missing for three days hiding in the small woods behind the mountain, under that crooked tree."

Linda was stunned and thought, 'What? A hen? I was hoping for jewelry or something.'

A hint of disappointment flashed across her face, but greed quickly took over. 'No, this is the perfect chance to test if she can really see the future. If it's true, good times will keep coming my way from now on.'

Linda shot to her feet, plastering a big fake smile on her face. "Alright, Sophie, sit tight. I'll be back in a flash. If you're right, I'll treat you to snacks, promise."

When I watched her dash out in a frenzy, the smile on my lips gradually turned icy. She'd better go look for it properly.

I turned and headed into Grandma's room, prying up the loose floorboard by her bed with practiced hands. From the hidden space, I pulled out an iron box wrapped in oilcloth.

Inside was 150 bucks Grandma had secretly stashed away for me.

In my previous life, Mom found the money and spent it on a gaming console for her son, my useless little brother.

This time, it was my escape fund. I slipped the cash inside my clothes and waited quietly.

Half an hour later, Linda came back grumbling, covered head to toe in grass and leaves. "Crooked tree? There wasn't a single feather. Sophie, did you get it wrong or what?"

I shrank back, looking scared, and said in a timid voice, "Maybe I was too upset, and my eyes were playing tricks on me."

Linda let out a disappointed tsk, her suspicion written all over her face. 'She is a good-for-nothing. Looks like she's only good when luck strikes,' she thought.

She waved her hand impatiently. "Alright, figures I can never rely on you. Go make dinner."

I lowered my head, hiding the sarcasm in my gaze. There was no rush. The show was getting started.