Chapter 1
As I stood in the real estate office, watching my best friend, Rowena Reyes, snatch up the foreclosure I'd set my sights on, I finally knew for sure that she'd time-traveled too.
In my previous life, Rowena and I both had a bit of savings. She threw all hers into the stock market, while I decided to buy a place for myself.
Since I didn't have much cash, I ended up buying a foreclosure where someone had been murdered. But then, I found a safe hidden in the ceiling, packed with 3 million in cash and over a dozen gold bars.
Rowena, on the other hand, got trapped in the stock market and lost everything. She even ended up deep in debt.
Watching me move into a villa, drive a luxury car, and spend money like crazy, Rowena, burning with jealousy, tricked me onto the highway so a speeding truck could hit me.
After I died, my soul floated above, watching her and my boyfriend join forces to fool the cops, claiming I was drunk, ignored traffic rules, and ran onto the highway to get myself killed.
The next thing I knew, I was back at the real estate office, on the very day I was about to buy that notorious foreclosure.
*****
"I'll take this one!" Rowena's voice exploded in my ear, making me freeze on the spot.
The real estate agent glanced at me awkwardly, then turned to Rowena. "Sorry, Ms. Reyes, but she was the first to show interest in this property."
"So what? She hasn't paid yet. If I pay first, it's mine," Rowena replied, her tone dripping with confidence.
Seeing the way she looked so sure, so hungry for victory, I realized that she'd time-traveled.
"Skye, I want this place too. Why don't you check out some of the other units? There are lots of other places just like this around here," Rowena said, her voice sounding a bit probing.
As she spoke, her expression was testing. I could tell she was trying to see if I'd time-traveled as well.
I pulled myself together, frowned, and said, "Alright, if you really want it, it's yours. I'll just look for something else."
When Rowena heard me say that, she let out a sigh of relief and immediately started making arrangements with the agent.
"Ms. Reyes, I should let you know, there was a murder in this house before, which is why it's so cheap. Are you really sure you want it?" the agent said.
"Yeah, totally sure. The killer's already locked up, so what's there to be scared of? Besides, it's not like I'm actually gonna live here..." Rowena started, then suddenly clammed up.
I just smirked, knowing exactly what she was getting at.
In my previous life, I had a bit of savings and was tired of always renting, so I decided to buy a place and finally settle down.
But I didn't have much money, and there were hardly any options that fit my budget.
In the end, the agent showed me a murder house. A married couple lived there, and during a domestic dispute, the husband killed his wife.
The husband got arrested and sentenced to life in prison, but the place was labeled a murder house, and nobody wanted to touch it.
After hearing the story, I decided to buy it anyway. Honestly, nothing was scarier than being broke.
But later, I stumbled on a massive stash of cash and gold in that house, while Rowena hit rock bottom.
So this time, she was hell-bent on stealing the lucky break that should've been mine.
She shot me a mocking grin. "You'd be better off putting your money in the stock market. Who knows, maybe it'll skyrocket and you'll be able to afford a mansion."
I played dumb and shot back, "This place comes with a mortgage of several thousand dollars a month.
"Are you sure you can handle that? You don't have much savings, so paying it off might be tough. If you really can't, I can help you out."
Rowena only had enough for the down payment, but with me goading her and the thought of all that future wealth, she got fired up.
She said, "Who says I can't? I'm paying in full. Don't even think about trying to take this from me, it's mine!"
The agent was surprised by how eager she was for the house. Since she claimed she'd pay up front, that was music to his ears, he instantly forgot about me and started catering to her every need.
"Alright, Ms. Reyes, how would you like to handle the payment?" the agent asked.
She'd already made her move, so there was no way she could back out now, not with me watching. Rowena flashed a card. "I'll pay part of it now, and the rest in three days. That works, right?"
The agent took the card, grinning. "Absolutely, no problem. Let's go sign the contract."
With everything settled, there was no reason for me to hang around. I turned on my heel and left, heading back to my apartment.