There was no way I heard that right! It was his first time playing The Game. How could he make it out first? Besides that, how the heck did he make first when he doesn't fight? He had to face his worst fear! Unless it was something like heights or water, they had to be pulling my leg.

My face went grim. "Hilarious."

"Oh, just shut up and accept it, 635202! He won, okay?" Mara asked.

Zolona glared at Mara. "Well, someone's not happy."

"He broke my fifteen win streak!" Mara stomped her high-heeled foot to the ground.

I couldn't blame her. My blood burned and boiled through my competitive veins, waiting to give me a chance to attack like a rose with thorns, a chance to escape out of the room and find any means possible to atone the wrong.

"I didn't have any challenges with fighting." Echo smiled.

"What about the final challenge where you face your worst fear?" I asked.

Mara pointed to me. "See, Zolona? That's what I said!"

"I didn't have to fight at all," he answered.

"Isn't it obvious? He's not afraid of anything!" Zolona suggested.

Mara blew a raspberry in Zolona's direction. "Ridiculous! Everyone's afraid of something!"

Echo nodded. "Mara's right. I got to the final door, but nothing was there. I just left."

"Then what are you afraid of?" I asked.

Echo ducked his head. "You'd think it's silly."

"Just tell us," Mara said.

Zolona interrupted, "We'll wait until morning. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Where's he going to sleep? The floor?" I asked.

Zolona gave me a glare. "6078's room is empty, isn't it?"

"Did something happen to her?" Echo asked.

Yeah, we got rid of her...

Zolona cut in before I got the chance to say it, "What happened to her isn't your concern."

"I'll take him there." Mara volunteered.

Mara pulled Echo by his arm.

He turned and smiled at me. "Goodnight, Raven."

"Whatever," I said, my thoughts lingered elsewhere.

"... Goodnight, Aunt Zolona," Echo said.

Zolona nodded as Mara took him out of the dining room.

There was a moment of silence before Zolona spoke again, my face looking to the embers of the fire.

Zolona sighed. "635202, you look spooked."

"I am," I admitted.

"Can I ask why?" Zolona asked.

"I... In a challenge there was this emerald-eyed boy. We both looked about fifteen..."

"What were you doing?"

My face blushed. I couldn't see it, but the warmth in my cheeks didn't lie. "Well..."

"You cared for this boy, a stranger."

"Yes," I lowered my gaze, ashamed of my actions. I was in trouble, and hell knew what Zolona would do.

"That's why I told you to lock up your emotions. It's not good to get too attached to someone," Zolona worried.

"There's something else you should know," I began.

Zolona raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"My worst fear always comes to me as a woman in a black coat. Today, she said I was caught in a game I didn't understand. She said I shot just as well from where we fought two years ago. I don't remember fighting her two years ago. I don't understand," I said.

Zolona took a while before she answered, tapping her foot below her. "Perhaps she was trying to throw you off guard."

"There's something else too." I took a deep breath in.

"Go on."

"In the second room, I met a woman wearing a huge black crown with dark red jewels. She carried a sword stained in blood with a black hilt too."

"A sword with a black hilt?" Rage filled Zolona's eyes, completely the opposite of her calm composure.

She knew something I didn't— like she was scared. I didn't know why. Anything that made Zolona afraid was enough for me to know to stay the hell away from it. I'd probably end up as a corpse if I tried any stupid crap to figure out who the woman was on my own. Still, Zolona's quivering lip had me concerned.

I stood puzzled. "Something wrong, Zolona?"

Zolona shook off any negative thoughts for the time being and smiled. "No, no of course not. Just let me know if you see that woman again."

"Why? Is she a threat?" I asked.

"Of sorts."

"Why are you so concerned?" I asked.

"I want to confirm who she is and find out what she's doing in your head! That bloody monster can't have you!" Zolona clenched her teeth.

I raised an eyebrow and gave her a look. "I can handle myself. You know that, right?"

Zolona's expression softened. "I'm so sorry, 635202. I consider you like a daughter. I know this woman and I don't want her here. I don't want her anywhere in The Game or in your mind either. She wouldn't have access if there weren't a gate nearby."

"I could help you, Mistress. Who is she?" I asked.

"Someone dangerous. She's a monster with the voice of an angel. She looked like one too until I scarred her face, but such a small scar is trivial to her and the evil she holds," Zolona warned.

"Can't I handle her though? I'm sure with Mara and me at your side..."

Zolona clenched her teeth. "No! I won't lose you again! She's done enough to me already."

"Zolona..." I swallowed a lump in my throat, "Is she the reason why I can't remember?"

"One of many: The Oracles of Wrathful Vengeance, ancient magic and curses, and yes, her. There are things about how this world's connected to the real one I can't tell you. You'd get emotionally involved. That's why you can't let your guard down. Now, don't bother me again," Zolona ordered.

"Why won't you tell me more?" I asked.

Zolona turned away from me, looking downwards. "I can't. It would put you in terrible danger. I won't let her do any more harm to you."

"I understand." I bowed my head with admiration. "You want to protect me, right?"

Zolona grinned. "Of course, 635202."

"Alright," I starting walking out of the room.

"Wait, I have another question for you."

I turned around to face her. "What is it?"

"What do you think of Echo?" Zolona asked.

"I hate this whole deal. That answer your question?" I responded.

"It's just... he and Ember are different. I was expecting them to be a lot alike, but they're not. It's interesting. It's a shame you feel that way. We're giving a tour tomorrow," Zolona said.

I shook my head. "No thanks."

"Alright, let me know if you change your mind. It'll be tough to convince him to be like us without you," Zolona smiled.

"You want to change him?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If he's going to be the part of the prophecy I think he is, he's going to have to change," Zolona informed me. "He isn't exactly the bravest of sorts... I held my hopes up when he didn't have a final challenge, but... alas."

"Can I come with you after all?"

"Yes, but we better get our rest, or no one's going anywhere."

"Of course, Mistress," I opened the door to leave the dining room.

"Oh and 635202..." Zolona paused, "Raven's a nice nickname for you."

I slammed the door behind me.

That smartass decided to tell Zolona that stupid name? Crap, now I'll never get anyone to forget it!'

I couldn't stand the name Raven. Zolona's taking to the name was unbearable. My name was 635202, not Raven. It was contagious, and just like Silver Eyes, the name hurt me. It didn't stab at my heart, but I could feel something move every single time it was said.

Zolona told me to feel no happiness, joy, love, or friendship, but that name, Raven, always caused me to flinch. It seemed like my entire being was feeling something warm and the name made my lip curl upwards. I couldn't get attached to anyone or anything, especially not a name. Names, to me, were meant to insult people, but the name Raven didn't do that. How could I love a name that goes against tradition? I had grown to love numbers. Letters to me were just that: letters.

I headed into my chambers where I got ready for bed, putting my hair up in a ponytail with a black ribbon. I got underneath the covers and tossed and turned.

Today has been... different. Too different. I buried underneath my covers.

I hoped these new changes wouldn't come and stab me in the back. I only asked for a little change. Fate always had its jokes. I guess I got what I was asking for. I didn't ask for this much.

When I finally got to sleep, images flashed through my head. Blood on the floor of a bedroom, a shrill cry piercing like the broken glass shards by the window. A sword held within a woman's hands, blood spilling from the blade and onto a bed of grass. Under the moonlight, she gunned a sinister and creepy tune. The images had no time to be real, but this time, I recognized some of the images. The sword was the same one the woman carried from the first challenge. Near the bedroom window was the black cloaked figure. She was always there, but I never noticed before. It all seemed so strange, yet so real.

A voice spoke to me, like three combined into one: "You can't escape your fate..."

What the heck were they talking about?

"You can't ignore what you've lost forever..." the three spoke.

Was I seeing memories? I'd have to ask Zolona.

"You can't run, Enchantress..."

I woke up in a cold sweat. My breathing thickened; my mind filled with doubt. What the hell were they telling me? I wasn't an oracle. I had magic reach to others' memories... maybe even more magical abilities I didn't know about.

If I told the dream to Zolona... No, I couldn't do that.

These were my dreams. I needed to prove to Zolona I could handle myself and get out of whatever crap life threw at me. I'd have to find out what they meant by myself. With a new day ahead, I knew I would have to make time for everything if I wanted to get a lot done.

Looks like another thing for my to-do list.