You guys! We reached 4k reads. This is unbelievable and I'm so thankful to all of you who stuck here while I was being too lazy and unmotivated to update.

Anyway, it's currently 11:43pm of October 31st so Happy Halloween! These two chapters are a gift to you!

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Silent yet not. The feeling of peace as she sat at the bottom of the pool, breath controlled so she could last. Aerin's suspension from the swim team had been lifted and she had spent the last few days savouring it. Her head was much clearer but she still had plenty of questions.

She shut her eyes. Flashes of orange. Intense heat. The canine face of death. She immediately opened her eyes, gasping for breath and unintentionally intaking chlorinated water. She swam back up the surface, coughing and gasping for breath. Why? What was that thing? Why did it seem so real?

Aerin's eyes met the concerned face of her coach. She could see his mouth moving but his words were lost within the loud beating of her heart and the sounds of crackling fire and growling dogs.

She felt herself get lifted out of the water and a towel was dropped on her shoulders but she couldn't respond, stuck on the images. What if Safara wasn't there? I could have died. No. It was her fault. If she hadn't arrived, none of that would've happened. It wasn't real.

She kept convincing herself it wasn't. If it was then all she'd known would be gone just like that and she's experienced too much, gotten the wrong side of the coin to lose even the reality she held onto. It was too— *SLAP*

Aerin blinked, mind registering the pain. "What the heck!?"

Blue eyes met her dual-coloured ones and Aerin was filled with irritation and rage. She struggled against the grip of her teammates, only focused on one thing. It was her fault. She had to pay. She had to give her answers.

"Aerin! Aerin! Calm down!"

"Jesus, Cross what the heck has gotten into you? Someone take her to the infirmary," Coach Michaels demanded.

"I'll do it sir," Safara (What is she doing here?) spoke up.

"Thank you Ms. R'eena," the coach said before turning to one of his best athletes. "Go calm down and get yourself checked out Aerin. You're worrying us. I'll have Nikki bring you your stuff."

Aerin reigned in her anger, shoulders slumping. "Sorry Coach."

She received a pat on the shoulder from him and her teammates before she started following Safara out.

Instead of the infirmary, Aerin was pulled by Safara into an empty classroom. Aerin struggled against the other girl's grip. "This is harassment! Let me go!"

"Calm down Aerin. I'm here to help you."

"No you aren't. You drugged me you insane bitch!"

"I did not. What you saw was real. What I told you was real. There is a world beyond the mortal one."

"I can't believe this. I just— why me?" Aerin slid with her back against the wall to the floor, a puddle forming beneath her.

Safara knelt down to Aerin's level and placed her hands on her shoulders. "You're special Aerin. You're the key. The Prophesied One."

"Prophesied One? A prophecy? That's bullshit. My life's my own." Aerin did not believe in fate. If she believed in fate, she'd be what they'd told her her whole life. That she was a loser, unwanted, and will never amount to anything.

"Borne of the Earth, the Sea and the Skies,
Guided by Light she will bring hope and peace to the kingdoms,
She who is borne on the day that life comes to bloom
Will be the one that'll cause prosperity," Safara recited.

"That's a shit poem," was the first thing that came to Aerin's mind.

Safara shrugged, looking away from the swimmer who was still sitting on the wet floor. "It is as it is. Written in our history books."

Aerin rubbed her face with one hand. "You can't expect me to just take this all in. You're telling me there's a world beyond this one. Something only written in fantasy books. Excuse me if I'm having trouble processing."

"Give me the opportunity to show you. It's almost summer break. Come with me." Safara offered her hand, giving Aerin a kind smile. Blue eyes the colour of the clear oceans in island paradises, shining with hope and promise.

She was stupid enough to believe it if only so she could satisfy the rational part of her that wants to prove that Safara R'eena was delusional as they come.

——-

"And you're coming with her just like that?" Darya pointed out from where she sat, book on her lap, forgotten as she talked sense to her best friend.

"I don't really have a choice. I don't know what to believe anymore," Aerin replied, burying her face into the pillow. "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

"Frankly yes. Rare moment for always-wary Aerin." Aerin's best friend was silent for a moment, a small spot in the middle of her eyebrows crinkling in contemplation. Then she clapped her hands, a grin appearing on her tanned face. "I've always wanted a bit of adventure."

Aerin was stunned. Had she heard that correctly? She immediately sat up straight. "What!? No! What if she's some human trafficker or kidnapper? I don't want to have to involve you."

"Does she look like one of those to you?" Darya actually sat straight, looking at her best friend with worry.

Aerin sighed. "Well... No but–"

"There you have it. She doesn't look like a kidnapper so I'm coming with."

It was incredibly unusual but Darya could be extremely stubborn and assertive when she wanted to be. The only other time Aerin had experienced this was when the other girl refused to leave her side when she had a large workload. She helped her even though it was clear she was tired.

"Fine," Aerin finally said. Not that I really have a choice on what to say.

———
Author's Note

Just this chapter took ages and it's not even that long. I'm just itching to rush into the action so yeah, move along for the first glimpse of the world of the Natureborne. Thank you for all your support!

Word Count: 938