Rae parked her car in the early hours of the morning into the parking structure of the school. For May, it was a cloudy and cold day. She wore a thick grey cloak with a red trim that she loved and only wore during the cold season.. but it seemed fitting today. She checked her phone before she got out of the car.. what a surprise.. she thought. No messages. She rolled her eyes and headed out of her car. She looked around, for the early morning, it did seem eerie having her car as the only one in the structure. Feeling the cold air around her bare neck, she flipped up her hood and began her walk out. The fog buried the entire school, and no sliver of sunlight entered the dense clouds. Rae continued to walk and headed into the coffee shop connected to the library. Luckily, other students occupied the space which made her feel much more comforted. She yawned and walked to the counter, "Can I get a peach tranquility tea with steamed lemonade?" She paid for her tea and waited at the end of the counter.

She gazed out of the window, starting to see the fog lift on the campus. Rae took a breath to herself "Finally…" she thought "That was weird..". Rae looked around the shop, noticing some tired looking students sitting in the shop, addicted to their computers.

"Tea for Rae?" the barista announced, placing the tea on the counter. Rae snapped out of her gaze and grabbed the warm tea, switching it between her hands. Rae was on her way out of the shop, immediately pushed harshly, making her trip on her own two feet. Her tea sprawled all over the floor, causing a flood of warm tea around her. The patrons and workers in the shop gasped. Rae looked up, seeing a dark figure in a black hoodie march past her. Rae shouted "Hey!"

The figure turned, it was a boy about her age. He had dark jet black hair, pulled out of his face. He had bright, but pale skin, and amber colored eyes. The boy stared at her, his amber eyes burning bright and fascinating her. Rae's own hazel eyes could not stray away from him, it was as if she was caught in a trance. His pale skin was only slightly shown, but she could have sworn he had a tattoo on his face, a scripture wrapping around his forehead and across his left cheek. It was cursive, written around in black ink. She couldn't not make it out. He blinked his eyes, a small grin appearing on his face. He ran out of the coffee shop.

Rae shouted again "Hey!"

The barista helped her up, grabbing Rae by her arm "Miss are you alright?"

Rae whispered to herself "What a jerk.."

"Miss?" the barista said again.

"I'm fine."

"We can get you a new tea… free of charge?"

Rae embarrassingly looked around, noticing the stain on her white long sleeve shirt and jeans. She saw the wide eyed looks of the concerned patrons and whispered to the barista "I'd just like my money back please."

The barista nodded "I can refund you."

"Thank you."

Rae hurried out of the shop, taking her money and forcing it into her coat.

Soon she was in class, typing away on her own station computer. She looked over at the other students, working on their creative writing assignments. The professors voice echoed through the lab "Alright everybody. Just a quick announcement.. the dean of the arts department chooses five students from each sub-department.. for this years commencement, the dean has chosen…" he checked his clipboard "Rae."

Rae gasped "What?"

"Your grades are superb, your GPA has been consistent... If that isn't enough qualification I don't know what is.. We'll set up a time to write your speech. Class is over, see you next week." The crowd of students bundled up their things and began to walk out. Rae pushed her way to the head of the class "Professor Grady, I don't think I can do this."

"What do you mean?" the teacher began to pull his things into his satchel.

"I mean… I don't know… I am not much of a speech writer.. or a speaker."

"According to your writing you are.. I've read many of your works and I sent your latest article to the dean.. he thought you were the best and only candidate."

"But I don't think I'm the best.." She stopped "Candidate I mean…" she shook her head "I haven't done or experienced anything remarkable since my time here." She laughed "I'm not really the one you look to for 'school spirit'." The professor looked down at her "Rae, I know you can do it. Just keep it personal.. in all of your writing, it has been written in someone else's point of view. You've written some wonderful people who actually have a voice. Even your um… what was it you sent the link to me from?"

"The fanfiction?"

"Yeah." He said, plainly. Rae chuckled "It kind of gets a bad reputation… you know?"

"I don't care if it does.. how's the writing going?"

Rae leaned on the desk "I'm at a loss.. I've written two entire 'books' about it and now I'm finally stuck.. it's like I don't even want to write anymore.. Like the characters are bored with me and I'm bored with them.. I hate to say it but I think I lost my passion."

"The only way out of this rut is to write something passionate and meaningful. Maybe go out and experience a little more, then when you come back to it the story will just flood out of you."

Rae stifled a laugh "I don't know.. I never get out of the house.. with the work I do here.. and studying and writing?" The professor shook his head "Then make time for yourself. Easier said than done." He took off his glasses and wiped them on his coat "Those characters you've written.. they have a voice. That character Nelle you've written.. another voice. But I want to hear yours.. please at least try." The professor looked down at her "I would like you to email me tonight, if you don't want to.. then I guess I can give the job to someone else."

Rae bit her lip nervously "Okay."

Finally being home, Rae sighed with relief beating the rain. It was later in the day, and sprinkles started to fall from the sky. She opened the door to her apartment "Hey everyone! I'm home!" she dripped with sarcasm. She plopped her car keys down on the small counter closest to the door. Rae plopped her bag down, seeing all the contents sprawl across the floor. She moaned "Great."

Bending down, she shoved her books back into her bag, lifting up the case for her laptop, a small package slipped out of her grasp and plopped on the floor. Raising a brow, she took the package. It was a small brown paper package, wrapped with twine. "What the.." She slipped open the twine and forced the package open.

It was wrapped in even more paper, which made her sigh in frustration. She pulled out a small velvet bag and pulled out a long golden chain, at the end was a gold heart. It was rounded and had heart and flower etchings on the front, in the back was smooth and round. However, in the middle, there was a part. She was mesmerized and immediately looked back at the packaging "This isn't mine.." she placed the heart down, and took her phone, dialing a number. The phone rang and a voice answered "Anne Maron's office, Anne speaking, how can I help you today?"

"Mom?"

"Rae? Hey! Finally I hear from you!-"

"Good to hear from you mom, listen-"

Anne interrupted "Did you go to the financial aid office today?"

Rae slapped her head "Crap. No I didn't. I'm sorry."

Anne sighed "Mm hmm.. I gave you one task to do and you didn't do it, do you care at all for your future?" Anne continued, Rae rolling her eyes "Raven you needed to go today-"

Rae spoke up "Mom, I'm sorry-"

"It's just meaningless words now.. I can't keep reminding you. Your future is not secure with this art thing, You have to support yourself, I can't keep spoon feeding you the answer to everything. When are you going to grow up?" Anne said, not thinking about her words. Rae shook her head "I forgot.." there was a long pause "Mom, did you send me a package today?"

"What?" Anne said "No."

"Okay. Bye mom."

"Bye Rae. Love you."

"Love you too." But Anne hung up. She gave up the search. She decided to gaze at the necklace, seeing the part in between the pendant, she pulled at it. Thinking she broke it, she gasped. The necklace forced itself free. The necklace snapped apart to reveal an actual flash drive embedded into the top half of the necklace. She gasped with delight "Where did this come from?! I wonder what's on it?"

The thunder outside began to clap loudly, shaking her out of her interest. Rae leaned on the wall, holding onto the necklace. Her computer buzzed awake and she excitedly grabbed the flash drive and forced it into the port on the right side of her laptop. She whispered "Here goes nothing." Suddenly, the computer buzzed off, fizzing and crackling. Rae groaned "Ugh! No! My computer!" she hit the side "Come on! Please! Don't die on me!"

She looked on the side of the computer, noticing the drive still forced in the side "Stupid me! I should have known! It has a virus."

She pulled at the drive, feeling a sudden electric shock in her hand. Rae retracted back "OW!" she held her hand.

The computer lit back on suddenly, a white screen covered her desktop. A black font began to scroll on it's own across the screen. Rae rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming. The font began to slowly type:

Let's begin Rae …. Chapter one.."

Rae scoffed "What? Stupid virus." She clicked the space bar numerous times to no avail. Rae reached for the flash drive, this time the lightning enveloping her, shocking through her entire being. Her hand and body could not move from the grip her hand had on the flash drive. She cried "NO!" but the computer continued it's buzzing noise, and now starting to smoke. She closed her eyes as her body began to take shape, smoking and causing a storm in her small apartment. The thunder clapped, and the lightning stroke the computer again.

Suddenly, silence.

Not a sound….

Rae was gone… the flash drive disappeared from the computer.. the smoke cleared.

Where was Rae?