Chapter 1
I was born with the gift of prophecy.
After SAT, my childhood sweetheart planned a mountain expedition.
I foresaw him falling from a cliff and begged him not to go.
Uneasy, he stayed.
We eventually married after university, and everything seemed perfect.
However, on our wedding night, he did not show up. Instead, twenty drugged vagrants broke into my room.
By dawn, I was dead, my body broken and bleeding.
Meanwhile, my husband said, "Prophet? Don't make me laugh. All that fortune-telling is nonsense.
"If you hadnt interfered, I would've gone to find Hallie that day. She wouldn't have been heartbroken, wouldn't have married an old man, and wouldn't have been tortured to death.
"You can see the future, huh? Did you see this coming then?"
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day he said he wanted to go on the mountain expedition.
His parents asked if he would be safe on the trip.
I smiled and said, "Prophecies? That's just a silly joke. I've read too many weird books. Don't take it seriously."
*****
Kyle Parker's parents looked taken aback when they heard me.
Kyle's mother, Andrea smiled. "Come on, Sara, don't joke with me. Everyone knows about your gift—your predictions are always spot on."
Kyle's father, Brody nodded. "That's right. Kyle suddenly got it into his head to go hiking in some random mountain, and we're really worried. But he's so stubborn about it, we had to come ask you. If you say it's safe, we can relax."
"Mom, Dad, don't ask her." Kyle's voice came.
I snapped my gaze over, and sure enough, it was Kyle standing there.
Before his parents could even open their mouths, Kyle spun on me, his voice full of rage. "Sara, enough with your creepy supernatural act. What bullshit prophecy? All that crap is witchcraft and sorcery!
"If you so much as say one more word about this to my folks, or try to meddle in my life with those stupid tricks, you'll regret it. Try me if you don't believe me."
By the time he finished, his eyes were downright menacing.
A chill ran through me—his eyes were exactly like they were the night I died in my past life, cold and merciless.
Right then, it hit me: he had returned to the past too.
In my previous life, he didn't show up this quickly.
Our families lived in the same villa complex, just two doors down from each other.
Back then, his parents only called him over after they'd heard what I had to say.
He listened to my prediction, took it seriously, and in the end decided not to go.
And that was why his true love Hallie Knox disappeared, leaving Kyle with nothing but a burning grudge in his heart.
Hallie was one of our classmates.
She always put on that classic innocent act—poor but oh-so-resilient—and had the guys lining up for her. But a handful of us girls saw right through it; we knew she was faker than a three-dollar bill, and we pretty much kept our distance from her.
Kyle never showed any interest in Hallie, which made me respect him. I thought maybe he really knew how to read people.
Who would've guessed—Kyle was just like all those other guys, hopelessly obsessed with Hallie. Hell, he was the worst of the bunch, totally head over heels for her.
But it wasn't until the very moment I died in my previous life that I finally knew what he thought then.
I raised an eyebrow, giving Kyle a frosty look. "Shut up. Did you hear me say this trip was dangerous? Why should I care whether you live or drop dead?"
Kyle was livid, so caught off guard by my attitude that he went speechless.
I ignored him and turned to Brody and Andrea, speaking seriously, "Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I'm telling you the truth. My gift is long gone—it just disappeared.
"If I could still see the future, I'd help without a second thought."
Kyle's parents exchanged a glance and nodded.
They thought I wouldn't have a reason to lie about this.
Kyle glared at me, suspicion all over his face. "Sara, don't think you can pull another stunt on me. If you're trying anything to keep me from going, you'll regret it."
"Enough!" My dad's furious yell cut me off before I could utter another word.
Dad fixed Kyle with a hard glare. "What, does Sara owe it to your family? You get mad if she warns you and if she doesn't. Go or stay—that is your family's business. Quit bothering Sara about it."
It was obvious Kyle's attitude had really pissed Dad off.
He couldn't contain his anger anymore and just started kicking them out.
Kyle's parents looked awkward.
Our families had gotten along just fine all these years.
Our parents always figured Kyle and I would end up together.
But Kyle was totally out of line acting like this.
"Sorry," Andrea and Brody said hurriedly, hustling Kyle away.