Special thanks to Mad Reader for putting up with me while I wrote this and all the help. And also SenaraXY and Zaarkie for beta-reading. And many thanks to YOU for reading.
Rachel knew this wasn't reality. The forest didn't look like this in real life.
"But it can't be a dream! Everything feels so real. Almost as if I was awake. Almost… oh god I know it is like that time… No! Don't think about that. You can't. You couldn't. It wasn't your fault… OK calm down, Rachel. Let's look around, I won't wake up anyway until I find out what this is about, I know that much."
Rachel looked around. She was in a forest. It resembled the forest around Arcadia, but somehow it was different. The trees looked as if they were… alive and watching her every move. And there were no animals, not even birds. Usually the birds were so loud in the forest, especially in spring. The weather was rather calm, some clouds were approaching but they were just barely on the horizon and all Rachel could feel were slight gusts of wind. No landmarks were present, not even the lighthouse which could be seen from anywhere around Arcadia. Rachel was about to give up exploring this empty, yet alive forest when she saw something. A doe. A beautiful doe, that seemed to be looking straight at her. As she came close to the majestic animal, it slowly turned its head away and looked like it was ready to go, but as if it was waiting for something.
"Well I guess I could follow you. Why not? It's not like I have anything else to do here."
The doe inspected Rachel, almost like it understood what the girl said. Then it started going slowly through the woods. As it went deeper and deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to open up before it and then close behind Rachel who was following close by. As soon as it seemed the forest couldn't get any denser they reached a large clearing. A tall figure was standing in the middle. He was wearing a large brown cloak which hid his features. As Rachel got close, he started speaking in a deep voice.
"Rachel. We call on you again because a storm is coming. It is your chance to redeem yourself. Rachel, we forgave you, but perhaps this is your chance to forgive yourself. A storm is coming. You can see it on the horizon."
As the figure was speaking the clouds seemed to close in on the forest and the winds got colder.
"It will shake the town. You must learn to use your power for only you can save Arcadia. But be careful Rachel. Not everyone is who they seem to be."
"But why me? I have already failed once, how could I save everything now? I am no superhero. I couldn't save anyone with my power."
"You're wrong Rachel. You had to choose and made your choice. You saved someone. But neither of us has a choice in this. I can only observe and warn but not intervene. It is you who must carry this out. Choose your friends carefully Rachel."
And as the figure spoke these words, a sound started playing, almost like…
"My alarm!"
"It seems that we are out of time, Rachel. Time to wake up."
