If Inara was disturbed by my revelation, her face gave away nothing.

"Will you send me away?" I asked when Inara still had not spoken.

"No, Selene. I will not send you away. You belong here, at Whitethorn."

I wasn't sure about that, but I also had nowhere else to go.

"Did your mother ever tell you about her life as a child? Her upbringing?"

I thought it was a strange question for her to ask. "No. She refused to tell me anything."

It was strange. Most children knew stories of their parents, how they grew up, what their world was like. But my mother was different. I knew nothing about her family or my father's family.

"Your mother has always been a very careful woman," Inara said. "She contacted me a few months ago. She needed a safe place for you to go as soon as possible."

A few months ago. Oliver's death wasn't a catalyst. Just a coincidence. Whitethorn had always been my fate. But why had she been so cruel at the police station?

When I said nothing, Inara continued. "Your mother asked me to take you in, and I agreed. I've known your mother for a very long time. And I agreed to do an old friend a favor."

I was confused. None of this made any sense.

"Why did my mother want me sent here?"

"I'm afraid I can't answer that question. Your mother didn't give me specifics about why it was necessary to bring you here."

My head hurt. None of this made any sense.

"I can see this has all left you confused. I wish I had more answers for you, Selene. There is a Parent's Day event coming up. Maybe you can invite your mother and ask her more questions about her intentions."

I nodded, though I barely took in the words she was saying to me. Too many questions buzzed around in my mind, stinging like wasps.

Inara said her goodbyes and disappeared, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Ms. Rose came a little later and brought me more food, but I wasn't very hungry. I took the bag from her with a small smile of thanks. She didn't try to push me into talking, which I was grateful for.

I crawled into bed next to Loki, who gave a soft meow in response.

"Loki, I don't know what to think anymore," I told him as I stroked his soft fur. "Everything is so confusing."

He blinked sleepily at me, and I sighed. Curling myself around him, I closed my eyes, hoping for a dreamless sleep.

I stood in a small clearing, a large bonfire burning in the distance. Warm summer air brushed against my skin, the smoke from the bonfire clogging the sky.

Screams of terrified people sounded as they ran, leaving beer cans and red solo cups scattered along the ground. Smoke clogged the area, leaving me only able to see a few feet in front of me.

My mother appeared in front of me, her green eyes wide with fear. Her face was paler than usual, and her eyes darted around, as if searching for something. Shadows of people passed by in a blur.

"Mom?" I asked her. "What's wrong? What's happening?"

"You need to run. He's coming." Her voice was shaky, and she held out her hands to me, as if she wanted me to come to her.

I wanted to go to her, but fear kept me rooted in place. What was happening?

"Who's coming? What are you talking about?"

But she didn't answer right away. She searched the area, her eyes still wide. I could almost feel the fear that radiated off her like a wave.

"Mom, what is happening?"

She turned toward me and grabbed me by the shoulders. "You need to run, Selene. I should have kept you safe, should have sent you away sooner. I did my best, but I failed. Run. Save yourself. You must save yourself."

Then she pushed me away from her, toward the line of trees that surrounded the clearing. We were alone now, everyone else had disappeared.

"Run!" she screamed again. Then she said something else, a language that I couldn't wrap my head around. Behind my mother's shoulder, a shadowy figure emerged from the smoke.

A large knife glinted in an upraised hand, the blade sparking in the fire's light.

Fear trembled down my spine, and I knew I needed to run, but found myself unable to. "Mom?"

"Run!"

The knife slashed towards my mother, and I screamed so hard I tasted blood on the back of my throat. Smoke made me choke on the air and fear kept me rooted to my spot in the grass.

"Run," my mother choked out.

I turned to run, but I never made it that far before the knife slashed hard into my back, sending fiery pain slamming up my spine.

"Selene!"

My throat was on fire. It was dry, parched, as if I hadn't had anything to drink in days.

I jolted up in bed, a strangled gasp leaving my throat. Ms. Rose stood next to my bed, alarm written on her face.

"Are you okay?" Ms. Rose asked.

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering in my chest. Along my spine, pain tingled, like a ghost of the knife plunging into my back. But it had only been a dream, hadn't it?

"I had a nightmare," I told Ms. Rose. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

Ms. Rose didn't look completely convinced. "You were screaming so loudly, I thought someone was hurting you. I came in, but there was no one in here. And I couldn't get through to you either. It was like you couldn't hear me."

"I've never had a reaction to a nightmare like that before. It felt so real, almost like a memory."

Ms. Rose had a frown on her face.

"I'm okay now. I'm sorry for scaring you."

The dorm mother still didn't seem convinced that I was okay, but she stepped away from my bedside. "I was coming to set some stuff for Loki outside your door, but I'll just bring them in. You can set them up wherever you'd like."

"Thank you," I told her. "I really appreciate it."

"Do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything."

I gave a nod, not trusting my voice.

Ms. Rose left and I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Ever since the bonfire, I'd had nothing but strange dreams. It was like that night did something to my psyche. Warping it, somehow.

What was happening to me?