I didn't want to go home. Not yet. I would feel alone at home and I wasn't ready for that. Why did I have this God forsaken gift? No one should know the future; no one. It's pointless really. Why couldn't I fly or be invisible you know? At least I'd have some use.

Joshua referred to it as superpower but this felt the opposite of super. It's a burden, one I didn't ask for, one I don't want to bear anymore. But what am I supposed to do? I wish someone had the answer because Lord knows I don't.

It was time for a break. I took out my phone to text Shauni as I waited for the bus to arrive. It was getting dark out, but I wanted to leave to see her tonight.

Valerie: Hey, I wanna come out to see you tonight. Shit's hit the fan here and I need my best friend.

I waited for her to respond. Then my phone buzzed, but it was Joshua checking up on me. I quickly updated him on the situation. Even through text, I could still feel his concern for me. He offered for us to hang out tonight but I intended to get home, stuff some things in a bag and get out.

The bus finally arrived and all the passengers lined up to board. There was a small crowd, but not enough to fit all the seats. I was one of the first people on board. I grabbed a window seat. I enjoyed staring at the passing buildings on the drive home.

The passengers got on steadily, there were still a few empty rows left, which is why I was so confused when this young man sat beside me. I didn't understand why people did that, he could have literally gotten a row for himself, but he chose to sit next to me.

I glanced over at him. His face was familiar, but I couldn't quite figure out where I'd seen him before.

"Hey" he said as he placed his bag on the floor between his legs.

"Hi" I said as dryly as I could. I wanted him to know I wasn't interested in conversation. Not answering would have been a better option, but I didn't want to be completely rude. Because I'm having a bad day, doesn't mean I should pass it on to someone else.

" My name is Jay". It didn't work. The bus finally drove off. Shauni finally responded that I could come by tonight, so I busied myself with responding to her.

"What's yours?" What was this guy's deal?

" I'm not willing to disclose that at this moment"

"It's ok, I already know you're name, Valerie". My heart rate doubled in a split second.

"How do you know my name?" we said in unison.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you"

"Yea right, let me off this bus" I pressed the buzzer that meant the bus was going to stop at the next bus stop.

"Before you get off, I know you're name because you told me, you would have told me, in a vision"

The bus halted and the doors opened for me to get off.

"I'm a seer, just like you. I was the one on your street that ran that guy off and if you get off the bus now, you might not get the answers you're looking for".

Then it hit me, I know where I'd seen his face before. I had seen him on the bus that night that I got held up. He was the one that called out to me, both in my dream and in reality.

"It was you?" I was confused to say the least.

"Anyone getting off?" The bus driver called out when no one responded, she closed the door and muttered something under her breath.

"Yes, it was me" My mind was spinning.

"You're a nabin?"

"A what?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Nabin, that's the term I found for people that, you know"

"Oh no, we call ourselves seers"

"Seer?"

"Yea someone who has visions of the future." His response was so nonchalant, as if this was a normal conversation.

"Wait wait wait, back track a little bit, how did you know my name?"

"Well in my vision, I introduced myself and you eventually said at some point my name is Valerie"

"I just said my name is Valerie?" I was shocked that I'd give him that information, vision or not.

"Yea, just like that. Visions don't go as you think they will, I'm still sorting that out"

"But why? Why are you, why are we talking? And you said we, who is this we?"

"There are more of us out there, a whole group of seers."

"I saw you before, with that night when you got held up, and then this conversation that we're having"

"So you were only there because you saw me? Did I get shot?"

"Well, no, there's so much to say, and I don't have all the answers." He looked out the window.

"You should come meet the group of us, we're meeting tonight, the Oracle. You should come by you'll get the answers you want".

He pressed the buzzer and got off without even a goodbye.

"Wait..."

He got off as the bus stopped and jogged down the street. The Oracle, I knew of it but I didn't know where exactly it was. He called them seers, and they weren't dreams, they're visions. There was so much I wanted to know. My mind twirled with more questions and this was my only shot at getting answers.

~~~~

I paced my living room floor, considering what I should do. When Jay left, I was determined to get answers, but as I continued the ride home, I quickly re-thought everything. Like, what if he's lying or even worse what if he's telling the truth? That means he could know a whole lot of things. And now there are a bunch of people out there who are just having visions of the future?

I can tell you first hand, the future isn't so bright, what do they see? And do I really want to know? Today I begged for answers, and now I have the chance to get them. Do I want to know? Or is ignorance bliss? I resolved to take Mr. Hooke's advice and talk to a psychologist, or one that's in training.

Joshua came over equipped with sandwiches and muffins from the store. I could kiss him. Oh wait, no my mind will not go there.

I thanked him and updated him on everything that had happened on the bus ride home. I gave him an earful of information and he soaked it all up.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I really don't know" I rubbed my eyes, I felt a headache coming on.

"On one hand, I could find out something, get some answers"

"And on the other hand, you could get some answers" he understood my fears.

"What do you think?"

"It doesn't really matter what I think, what really matters is how you truly feel"

"That's the thing, I don't know".

"Ok here" he took out a coin.

"Heads we go to this Oracle place, tails we stay in and forget this even happened"

"Nonsense, coins almost always land on head"

"Well we'll see what the universe wants" Tsk, the universe, I don't think I wanna know that the universe has in store for me.

He flicked the coin I watched as it flipped through the air.

"Tails" I sighed heavily.

"I guess we're going to the Oracle"

"What? Tails we stay in right?"

"Yea, but in the split second the coin was in the air, you knew what you were hoping for and your reaction was one of disappointment. So we're going."

"But-"

"No, the universe has spoken, and if we've learned anything, the universe always gets its way".

I did as I was told and put on something that was a little more night outing appropriate. I chose black jeans pants, a yellow tank top that showed a little more cleavage that I'm used to and a black jacket. I chose some boots, dampened my hair so my curls were more coiled and I was ready.

In the living room, Joshua was changed out of his white t-shirt that he usually wore under his apron and was now wearing a black shirt with a tan blazer.

"Woah, where'd you get clothes from?"

"Well I was supposed to go a party Maggie is throwing so I brought something to change into after work but..."

"Oh shoot I'm so sorry. You had plans and I just expect you to be there for me and..."

"Valerie, it's fine. I want to be here" He placed his hands on my shoulders, and I felt a shiver run down my arms.

"if you think about it, this could be our firs date"

"Woah, not in the least, this is a gather info type of deal". He took a few steps back.

"Yea I know, but there's nothing wrong with having a little fun while we're there. Remember fun?"

I shook my head.

"Come on".

The Oracle, it took some driving around to find it. It was very discrete, hidden behind a restaurant called Star Grill. We actually had to go through the restaurant's parking to get to another building with a tiny neon sign that should have spelled 'Oracle' but the C wasn't working.

Inside the music was loud but not over bearing. It wasn't packed to the max but it was also a Monday night. Not the most popular night for clubbing.

We made our way to the bar and surveyed the place. The patrons wore clothes that reflected the neon lights well. Some hand glow sticks around the neck, head and hands. All walks of life seemed to be gathered here.

I saw people in suits, people in skimpy clothes, old young and in between. What was this place?

"What are you two having tonight?"

"Um, just a beer will do." Joshua ordered for the both of us.

"We don't sell beer. Here's the menu"

"Ok, green drink, pink drink, yellow drink, blue drink, purple? What's in this?" There were no ingredients, just images of the colour drink in a glass.

"An experience man"

"We're good thanks he said before handing him back the menu"

"Good move"

" So this Jay guy, what does he look like?"

"I don't know, kind of your height, fair skinned, dark hair"

"What time is this seer vision people meeting?"

"I don't know"

"Do you see him anywhere?"

"No, this was a waste of time" I was getting slightly annoyed.

"Doesn't have to be, wanna dance?"

"No, I don't think..."

"Come on, it won't hurt I promise" He pulled me onto the dance floor and James Arthur's sun comes up began to play. I did love that song.

We started to rock together. He was a surprisingly good dancer. This wasn't so bad. I was starting to get into it when I felt someone grab my wrist. It couldn't have been Joshua as he was in front of me but the grab came from behind.

I whipped my head around and say Jay.

"You decided to come"

His eyes glowed yellow like he had in some reflective contacts.

"Uh, yea, I figured why not"

"Cool come with me"

Joshua started to follow us as we made our way to the back of the club. When we got to the door, he opened it to reveal a VIP area that wasn't visible from the outside. But there was a glass that allowed you to see all that was happening on the floor.

"Sorry man, seers only"

"No way she's not going anywhere with you"

I'd never seen him get so protective before.

"It's ok, I'll be fine. Wait for me here ok" He nodded reluctantly. I felt like I had to do this, alone.

"So what am I doing here?" I was curious; everyone was seated in their own sections, having their own conversations, with a different coloured drink.

"Well you wanted answers so this is the best place to get them". He guided me towards a seat and woman approached us.

"Hey, I'm Felicia". Wow these people were really out-going. I was never like that, so it always shocked me when people quickly offered their names to a stranger.

"Hey Fel, this is Valerie, a new seer" she gave me a once over and I did the same to her. She wore a neon green dress, with a short purple bob. I could decipher if it was a wig or not.

"Oh did you dream this one up too?"

"As a matter of fact, I did a few times"

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Don't mind her, she's just an ex and not very friendly with new recruits"

"I'm sorry recruits?"

Jay went on to tell me about the fact that seers are a tiny group of people that get together once a week just to dream or have visions of the future and to record what will happen. They only insert themselves in the situation, if they know they play a crucial role in how things play out.

But I don't understand that they see things happen, especially bad things and they do nothing to stop it?

"Why is this happening to me?"

"As far as we know, it's more of an advancement with the part of the brain that deals with dreams, like it's more developed than the regular brain"

"Did you recently turn 21?"

"Yes I did"

Apparently this aspect of the brain becomes more active when you become twenty one. Leading up to that age, you feel like you're having déjà vu constantly which was what happened in my case. There are different types of seers, ones that see fortunes, ones that see minor things happening and ones that are more prone to seeing death or destruction.

I am the latter apparently. But they still didn't know why. They come together also to discover new things about their ability. Jay has the specialty of only seeing people that are seers. I asked him, why they call them visions instead of dreams. Apparently, not everyone sees the future in their dreams.

The more intense or clearer visions happen in their dreams, because that is when the mind is most relaxed.

"Can you control them?"

"Yes we can." I was shocked to find this out.

"Can you control what you see?"

"Well it depends..."

"Depends on what?"

"What you want to drink" Now I was confused. He called over a waiter who had a tray full of an assortment of coloured drinks. He took a pink, green and purple drink.

On regular people, the drink gives them a feeling of euphoria.

"Like drugs?"

"To some it's a drug, for us, it just helps us to relax. It can be injected, which is more intense but we can start off by drinking it"

"What's with all the colours?"

"Well the intensity is different with each colour."

"Green is the least intense, you get a buzz on, if you're new to it or a light weight, you'd take that, the pink is somewhere in between but the purple is where it is, if you really want to see clearly, as if you're living it"

"But I've already felt like that, at first I could barely tell dream from reality"

"Wow your mind must be really strong"

Felicia got onto a table, and announced that it was time. In my mind I asked time for what, but everyone raised their glass up. They were going to drink this liquid. Jay handed me a glass but I refused. I wasn't willing to indulge in something that I had no idea what was in it nor how it would affect me.

"To the future everyone! Down the hatch!"

Around me, everyone swallowed the glass of liquid in one go, some immediately collapsed, others staggered a bit. Others took another glass when they didn't feel the immediate effect. Jay nodded to someone behind me.

Before I could react,someone grabbed me from behind and I felt something pierce my neck. My limbsimmediately relaxed and my vision blurred. I went numb and fell into someone'sarms. I felt weightless, almost as if I was floating through time. I sawvarious things flash before me, my parents in a car, Shauni arguing with hermother and Headley telling Mr. Hooke something then everything went white.