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Chapter Two

Agust of wind fromthe north swept through an open window, making Layla shiver. The chill seeped into her bones, but it wasn’t just the cold that unsettled her. She knew what this wind meant—a vision was coming.

“I need to sit down,” she whispered, grabbing Jake’s strong arm for support. The fireman’s grip instantly steadied her as they made their way to the couch.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked, concern etched on his handsome face. Layla appreciated his protectiveness, but she needed to focus on the foretelling. She squeezed her eyes shut and let the whispers speak to her.

“Fire,” she breathed, seeing orange flames lick at the edges of her mind. “I hear screams...there’s a woman in danger. And betrayal...it’s hard to explain, but I can feel it.”

“Where is it happening?” Jake questioned urgently, his firefighting instincts kicking in.

“I don’t know yet.” Layla struggled to ground herself in the present as the vision threatened to overwhelm her. It was times like these when she was glad Fiona was around, with her ability to communicate with ghosts. Or Bella, who could harness the power of the moonlight to guide them.

“Focus, Layla. Trust your instincts,” Fiona encouraged, her voice gentle yet firm. She always knew how to draw out her strength.

“Wait,” she said, her eyes snapping open. “It’s close – a few blocks away. An apartment building. We don’t have much time.”

“Let’s go,” Jake said, putting in the call to 911 for them. “Have them bring extra gear for me. I’ll meet them there.”

The five of them—Layla, Jake, Max, Fiona, and Bella—ran out of the haunted mansion and toward Max’s truck. His vehicle was big enough to fit them all.

As they got into the truck, Layla shook her head. “I don’t know why I’d be shown a vision away from the mansion. It doesn’t make sense.”

As they hurried through the darkened streets, Layla couldn’t help but wonder what role betrayal played in the vision. Her thoughts raced, but she knew one thing for certain: they would face whatever danger awaited them together.

The howl of the north wind shook the truck as it raced across town to the site of the fire she’d seen. She breathed a sigh of relief as Max parked in front of the house, and they all ran inside.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked, concern etched on his face.

“I hear screams...a woman in danger. And betrayal...it’s hard to explain, but I can feel it.”

Fiona tilted her head to one side. “I can hear the screams. They’re not just in your mind.”

“We need to go!” Jake said, looking up as he heard the siren on the fire engine. He ran to the truck and suited up along with his buddies. “We heard screams from inside the building!”

The apartment building loomed in front of them, flames licking at the sky like hungry demons. The acrid smell of smoke filled Jake’s nostrils as he took a deep breath and steeled himself for what lay ahead.