She's Back

Prologue

JC'S POV-

I never saw this place before—not in any memory that sparked recognition in my mind. Yet for some reason, it settled over me like a heavy fog, carrying an undefinable feeling that pricked at my nerves. It was a half-remembered dream and I hated it—like reaching for something just out of reach.

“Sis…” A girl with hair like spun gold fell into the arms of the woman beside her, her frame shaking with quiet tension. I leaned forward, forcing my eyes to focus, straining to make out her features—but they remained stubbornly vague, as if my mind refused to let me see what was right in front of me.

Why did I keep having this kind of dream if the vision itself refused to show me everything crystal clear? Frustrating as hell.

“Don’t worry,” the other woman said, her voice low and steady, “God won’t leave us.” She pulled the girl back just enough to look into her face, sorrow was written all over her face, then drew her close again in a protective embrace. “Let’s pray. Together, we’ll find our way through this.”

The golden-haired girl buried her face in the woman’s chest, her shoulders convulsing with silent sobs. When she spoke, her lips trembled so badly that I could barely make out the words. “Not now,” she whispered, and the urgency in her voice hit me like a punch, “He’s waiting for my return.”

Their heads bowed in unison, surrendering their hearts and fears to the only thing they believed could shield them from the worst that might be coming. I didn’t know what scared them so bad, but its weight crushed down on me too.

My vision began to shake, the edges of the scene blurring and warping like water in a disturbed pond. A faint voice was lingering in my ears, distant at first but growing steadily louder—though no matter how hard I concentrated, I couldn’t comprehend a single word it spoke.

“Jc… Jc…”

The voice cut through the fog, sharp and clear now, and the world around me dissolved entirely. When my sight cleared, I was staring at another woman—though her features were still clouded by a thin veil of mist, something deep within me stirred at the sight of her. I knew her. I was certain of it, even if I couldn’t name her or remember how we’d met.

D*mn! I was still getting a hang of the moment and now it was gone. That was a good way to ruin my concentration that I grinded like crazy for the past months.

“It’s about time,” she said, her voice low and smooth as velvet, yet carrying an undercurrent of urgency that sent jolts of confusion through my already jumbled thoughts. Even as the words left her mouth, a strange sense of recognition washed over me.

One moment, my eyes had been fixed on the two women praying, their faces etched with worry over some unseen threat. The next, she was standing right in front of me, her presence both comforting and unsettling.

I stood frozen, still hooked up in the tangle of thoughts that swirled through my head—questions without answers, memories without context, feelings without source. Without thinking, my hand moved to the pair of headphones that were looped around my neck, slamming it on my ears. The soft padding of the ear cups against my ears brought me back to myself— reminding me that I’d been napping in my dressing room for the past few minutes.

Should’ve known better—every time I slept too deep, these… moments… hit me hard. Having a symbolist dream that a mere human like me couldn't spell out.

The woman took a step back, then turned and began to walk away, movements were deliberate, graceful as though she knew exactly where she’s going even if I didn’t. The clicking of her heels against the stone floor echoed through the quiet room, each sound growing fainter as she disappeared within my vision. Without even deciding to do so, I found myself following her, each step feeling light and disconnected, as though I were floating mid-air above the ground.

Staring on my sneakers was the only way I could settle my scrambled thoughts and untangle those questions screaming in my head, trying to figure out some explanations from incomprehensible visions that were bugging in my head.

What's strange was the emotions were tangible, as though I was sharing their pain— fear sharp enough to cut, sadness heavy and cold, and the desperate push to fight. They were preparing for something worse that they knew would happen, yet they were against it and there’s nothing they could do to stop it.

I breathed out. D*mn it! I ripped the headphones off, ran my hand through my hair so hard it stung. I needed to get it together. The show would be ruined if I let these thoughts wander around my head. I couldn't afford to mess up.

Chapter 1

I was walking on the path walk when I suddenly saw Sir Villaflor come out of the classroom. He is our first subject instructor in the morning and he is probably done teaching our section.

I noticed that we were on the same path that Sir was walking. I often avoid him but in this situation, I know he can see me too so I didn't deviate from the road. I just walked straight until we met.

"Good morning, Sir." I greeted when we are close.

"If you always come in at this time, Ms. Castino, you will be really irregular next semester." Sir replied

"I'll be early next time." I smiled.

Sir just nodded and continued walking. I also went straight to the classroom.

When I entered the door, I found sir Jeff talking in front. Our instructor in the major. But I was wondering why he was early. His class with us is at the afternoon.

"Castino." He loudly mentioned my last name whic