CHAPTER 2
Although she is forced to wear uniform to school, Rebecca always makes sure to look as good as possible every day. She has never been a big fan of makeup, probably because her parents couldn't afford much of it, but she always had the best skin care and hair products that they could afford at her disposal. She used to change her hairstyles a lot but has kept her curls for a while. She has been told countless times by her friends and even by the most popular kids in school, that she is naturally beautiful and that she doesn't need to rely on make up to look great. Standing five feet and ten inches tall, she has been told many times that she could easily pass as a supermodel.
She finishes dressing up and getting ready then goes to the kitchen to join her parents for breakfast. She notices that her parents are not in a very good mood and have not touch their breakfast. They appear afraid to see her joining them at the kitchen table. Her mother has made her a Denver omelet and coffee. She notices that her parents are just watching her eat with worried smiles on their faces.
"What's wrong guys?"
"Oh-nothing dear. Just finish your breakfast before you go."
Her mother hesitantly responds which is an immediate red flag for Rebecca. She knows her parents well.
"You guys are acting a bit strange. What's going on?"
"Nothing dear. We-we are just nervous for your finals."
"Dad, I told you that I studied a lot for them. You've seen my grades. I have an A+ in all my classes. I'm going to easily pass them. You guys never questioned my academic performance before. That's not it. You guys are hiding something right?"
"N-no we're not dear."
"Yes, that's it! I know you Dad. I know when you are lying to me. You guys have something planned for me right? A graduation gift or something?"
George and Teresa look at each other and nod in approval.
"Yes! Exactly! That's it! We have something planned for you on graduation night. It's going to be a surprise! You're gonna love it!"
"I knew it! You guys are bad at hiding stuff from me. But I guess you guys forgot that I'm going to Reno with Stephanie and Roger that night to celebrate."
"Oh, don't worry. Our plan won't interfere in your celebration party."
"Ok then,that's good!"
Rebecca resumes eating as her parents are relieved from the tension. They watch her finish her breakfast, clean her dishes, and take her car keys to go to school. She kisses both on the cheek and leaves the house.
"George, do you think it's time to tell her the truth?"
"Tess, I don't know. Does she need to know anyways? What could she benefit from knowing the truth?"
"That nightmare she had meant something. I think we need to get it out of our systems as well. She needs to know the truth before she leaves to college. I think it's the perfect time to tell her. She doesn't have anything to lose but has everything to gain. This might change her for the better."
"Are you sure Tess? What if that ruins her? What if she hates us after not telling her the truth earlier? She's about to enter the most important years of her life. Imagine learning that the two people you know as mom and dad, aren't your real mother and father just before going to college. I-I don't think it's the right time for that!"
"George, she will understand. We thought her everything we know about life. We raised her well, despite her obsession of wealth and popularity. I have no idea where her fascination of being rich and popular comes from but I know she loves us. We love her. She's going to leave us for four to six years anyways. You know that she doesn't want to be stuck here forever and has wanted to leave the house and become independent for quiet some time. She's not going to visit us often or at all in those four to six years. That's just who she is. We have to tell her before she goes."
Teresa puts her hands on top of her husband's hand and looks directly at his eyes.
"You're right honey. It's now or never. We will tell her before she leaves."
Meanwhile, Rebecca is on route to school, driving an old Honda Civic that her parents bought used for her 16th birthday. Although her car is old and busted, Rebecca has a soft spot for it and enjoys driving so much that it doesn't bother her. However, she knows that eventually she needs to sell it or trade it in for a car more of her style soon. She parks her car in the student's parking lot and heads towards the side gate where her best friend Stephanie is waiting for. Stephanie, a fellow senior and classmate of hers, is a short nerdy white girl with short brunette hair and blue eyes. They have known each other since 6th grade. Always with a smile on her face, Stephanie is a great friend and sidekick to her, always providing support when she needs it. Plus she's from one of the richest family in town, which is a huge bonus for Rebecca. They meet other at the gates and begin to walk towards history class.
"Good morning Rebecca. You're looking great as always."
"Thanks Stephanie. Did you study for the final?"
"Just a bit. How about you?"
"Stayed up until 2 am last night. Just to be safe."
"You're always hardcore when it comes to school Rebecca."
"Of course, I have to be so I can have a successful life in the future."
"Oh, please don't get started on that again. School isn't everything."
"Exactly Steph. That's why I have all my bases covered. If my good looks, talents, skills, or personality don't make me successful, a great education will."
"Yes, I know that, you been saying that for months. We already got accepted to the University of Washington, these finals don't really mean much anyways."
"While that is true, I like to be consistent. You know that."
"That I do. I just can't wait to go to Reno on Thursday with you and Roger."
"Me neither. I have saved a lot recently. Plus I'm expecting a couple hundred from my grandparents and aunts. Thank you graduation gifts!"
"That's great to hear. I was a bit worried that you had to rely on me for money for the entire trip."
"Don't flatter yourself Steph."
"Just sayin'. Oh look it's Jessica and her posse."
Stephanie points out Jessica, a tall skinny blonde white girl and the queen bee of the school, walking pass them in the hallway with her group of friends. Jessica gives Rebecca and Stephanie a brief smile as they pass by. Despite being the official queen bee, Jessica actually treats Rebecca with mutual respect and even admitted once that if Rebecca was from a rich family, she could have easily been in her place. Jessica even offered Rebecca a chance to be her right hand person. However, as much as the offer intrigued her, Rebecca ultimately rejected it knowing that she can be so much more than a simple minded follower and perhaps maybe even overthrow Jessica by herself. While that idea didn't come true, Rebecca knows that she can try again in college where it matters the most.
"Jessica's heading down to USC I heard."
"Oh really? Good for her."
"Yeah, not bad huh. Anyways, it's time for class to start. Let's this get final over with."
They enter their history class and take their seats. The school bell rings. Their history teacher named Mr. Kviring, an old man in his 60's, starts to pass out the final exams.
"Okay class. This final will count as 30% of your grade. Some of you need to pass this test to pass the class. Some of you need to pass this test to even graduate. Take as much time as you need. I hope you all studied enough for this. Good luck everybody. Once you are done, raise your hand and I'll pick up the exam for you. No phones. No talking to each other. No cheating. Once you are finished, you can put your head down or you can study for your other finals."
Rebecca blazes through her world history final, knowing the answer to almost all the questions, and finishes it before anybody else. She raises her hand so her teacher can pick up the exam and decides to put her head down as she has done the sufficient studying for her other final already.
That was easier than I thought. I recognized almost 100% of everything I saw in there. Easy final. Looks like Steph and the rest of the class are taking their time with it. Oh well, nothing better to do now other than put my head down and close my eyes...
As she's relaxing and waiting for others to finish the exam, she suddenly starts hearing voices and ambient sounds that are not coming from anybody in the class. She opens her eyes and realizes that she's back at the cliff with the two girls and the huge tornado approaching the same town. This time however, she is closer to the two girls and can hear them talking to each other, however just barely. She can't make out everything they say as their voices sound like they're coming from far away despite her being right next to them.
This dream again? Why am I back here again? Did I really went to sleep that fast? Who are these two girls and what are they talking about? Their voices keep breaking up...
"This is...the only way..."
"Fuck that! You're all that matters to me!"
"Think about how many times I died or almost died...my mother deserves better than dieing in a fucking diner...I know I been selfish but..."
"I can't make this choice!"
"No, you're the only one who can...I know you will make the right decision...It's time..."
"Not anymore!"
Rebecca sees the short chestnut brown haired girl rip apart a photo and the two of them start holding hands, watching the tornado hit the town. Once again, the same newspaper smacks in her face and she reads the same information.
Arcadia Bay Beacon. October 11, 2013. Just like last time. This is getting spooky, why am I getting these dreams? What's the point of them?
"MISS STYLES!"
Hearing her teacher shout her name snaps her out from her apparent dream. He and the rest of the class are staring at her.
"Miss Styles, looks like you were having a nightmare about Arcadia Bay, Oregon. You were disrupting the class with your sleep talking. Go wash up in the bathroom to stay awake if you like."
Rebecca slowly nods in approval and leaves her class to go the bathroom.
Arcadia Bay. Arcadia Bay. October 11, 2013. I can't get that out of my head. Why? I gotta found out what happened on that particular date! I have to tell Steph about all of this. She's going to like this. She likes creepy stuff.
She goes to the bathroom and washes her face. As she checks herself out, she notices a blue butterfly flying and landing on her shoulder.
A butterfly? In the bathroom? This whole day just keeps getting stranger and stranger. This actually might make a nice selfie.
She takes out her phone and takes a selfie with the butterfly on her shoulder but as soon as she is ready to upload it to social media, she notices that the butterfly is absent from the picture and has apparently disappeared from sight.
What the hell? It was just right here! Oh man, it is really starting to get freaky here.
After class is over, Rebecca begins to talk to Stephanie about her dreams and her encounter with the butterfly in the bathroom.
"Damn, that is really creepy and weird. How long have you experienced this?"
"It just started today. I can't stop thinking about it. What the hell is Arcadia Bay and what happened on October 11, 2013?"
"Arcadia Bay...I heard about it before. I can't put my finger on it though. You want to go to the library and do some research? We can both skip next class as we don't have a final for it and all we're going to do is watch a movie anyways."
"I know I heard about it before too. Okay, that's fine with me. Let's go to the library."
The two of them ditch their multicultural class and enters the school's library and uses one of their computers.
"Okay Rebecca, what was the date again?"
"October 11, 2013. Arcadia Bay, Oregon"
"Alright, let's see what good ol Google brings us."
She types that date and name and instantly brings up countless results.
Rebecca takes over the computer and starts to skim over some of the online articles. She reads some of the headlines.
Top 10 worst tornadoes in recorded history. Arcadia Bay destroyed by mysterious deadly tornado. Biggest mystery of all-what caused the tornado to hit Arcadia Bay on October 11, 2013? 25 years later, we look back at the deadliest tornado ever to hit the state of Oregon etc.
"Looks like your dream was a real event Rebecca. So that's where we heard it from. We probably watched a youtube video about it before and just forgot about the name of the town"
"Damn, just looking at these pictures and videos about it, it must have been terrifying to be there. Even in my dreams, I felt the force created by that tornado, I can only imagine what it was like to actually experience it first hand. But why am I dreaming about this? I have no connection to this event. None of my other family members live in Oregon anymore."
"Beats me. I wouldn't worry about it though. At least you now know what your dreams are about, maybe they will just go away. Random freaky dreams do happen you know."
"Yeah, you're right Steph. I just never experienced something so strange happening to me before."
"I believe every single of us interact with the paranormal at least once in our lifetimes. Maybe it's your time."
"Maybe. The weird thing is that when I told my dad about my dream, the word "Arcadia Bay" made him act so strange. I never seen him acting like that. I don't know Steph, maybe I'm over thinking everything just because of two little dreams."
"It could be your subconscious or a paranormal entity telling you something. I suggest you talking to your parents about this. Maybe you'll find out that you used to have a family member living in Arcadia Bay or god knows what else."
"Yeah, maybe. I'll ask them after school today. If that is the case, then I wonder what is my connection to it?"
"Let me know what you find out Rebecca. I'm very interested on what they tell you. "
"I sure will. Now, let's get ready for lunch then take our other final."
"Right on!"
CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 3
