A/N: No, I really didn't want to write this chapter in this way… but, hey, it's a stepping stone for the next chapter. Sorry it's so short… more to come later.

Chapter Three

Tropical Dread

The ice cream truck rattled its way past Audrey, the ancient speakers on its roof blaring out a horribly monophonic rendition of Turkey in the Straw, drawing kids from their houses like ants to feast on its cargo of Popsicles and ice cream sandwiches.

Ah, summer.

Unfortunately, Audrey's mind was on another subject completely, as demonstrated by the fact that she had to hastily sidestep to avoid two trees, an ancient Pinto, and the neighbor's cat.

She had spent the better part of a whole month contemplating the fact that a partnership was pending between her longtime crush and herself, and was working on deciding whether this was a good thing or not. For one thing, she lost track of whatever she was doing when he looked at her, and, judging by what her parents had told her about the art of wizardry, this was not a good thing when one was working on a matrix.

The results tended to be fatal.

But on the other hand, she thought cheerfully, I get to spend time with him…

Somehow, that didn't make her feel much better. Perhaps it was the fact that she preferred life to spending a few hours with her crush.

Is there really anything I can do about it, though? If we're partnered, it's all for the best.

At least, I hope it is. I mean, Mom found her soul mate… maybe I'll be as lucky as her.

She sighed, then jammed her hands into her jean pockets and trudged down Myra Avenue, nervously glancing up as each car passed, looking for a certain Mercedes.

The dreams, instead of going away, had gotten worse and more recurring until it was nearly every night that she woke up in a cold sweat, wondering if she was going insane. She was beginning to dread going to sleep now, knowing that, just beyond the borders of consciousness, a black Mercedes and a two-lane highway lay in wait for her.

What the heck is going on.…? she wondered. Am I just suffering from something I ate…? Hallucinations. That's what it is. Gotta cut back on what I eat…

Fed up with walking the mile and a half between her house and Ryan's, she hauled up her transport spell matrix for home and laid it down on the concrete before her.

She barked a syllable in the Speech as she stepped forward onto it, and vanished with a bang.

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This was so definitely not home.

And since when was there a two-lane blacktop dead-ending onto a hill overlooking Seal Beach?

This was not good.

Audrey jumped violently as a loud bang echoed across the road, and a very confused looking Ryan stood next to her, blinking in the light of the scenic Pacific sunset.

He turned to Audrey. "Where the hell am I?" he demanded.

Audrey suddenly felt a gnawing ball of terror suddenly begin to grow in her stomach as she realized just where they were.

No… it's all a hallucination. I just have to wait for it to come… just wait… just…

"Get off the road."

Ryan…

"Get off the road!"

He grabbed her arm and tried pulling her off the highway, but she smacked him across the face and dashed back to where she originally stood.

Headlights appeared at the base of the hill.

"Oh, hell no…" Ryan moaned disbelievingly.

He sprinted out onto the highway and tried desperately to pull Audrey off the road. She refused to budge.

Ryan heard the roar of the engine too late.

Its motor snarling with triumph, the black Mercedes breasted the top of the hill.

Audrey's eyes suddenly widened, and she began to back up.

It was too late.

She was just turning to run when the Mercedes slammed into her hip. Audrey felt a few things snap as she sailed backwards through the air, landing on her back and breaking something else.

Pain.

Excruciating pain swept through her body, and she moaned as she heard another sickening crunch next to her. Probably Ryan.

Oh… sh, I hope he's alive…

Unconsciousness was quick to grab her and haul her down into its merciful depths.

She blacked out.