caught/rewinded

Unmistakably, I was still myself.

I blinked groggily as I came to, taking in my surroundings through bleary eyes. A soft, white curtain surrounded the bed I lay on, vague silhouettes moving just beyond it. I tried to sit up, but a dull ache rippled through my arms, reminding me of the draining magic that had surged through them.

Am I in a patient's room? I wondered, squinting as I tried to make sense of the faint shapes behind the curtain. Or maybe I was just seeing ghosts.

A low groan escaped me as I shifted. My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and my arms still throbbed from the strain of casting magic I wasn't ready for—magic that hadn't entirely been my own.

"Sera? You're awake?"

I recognized Camille's voice instantly, warm and tinged with relief. Before I could respond, the curtains were pulled aside, and I saw not just Camille, but a whole group of familiar faces peering down at me.

"Camille...? Tessa? Lillian? Claire? Even Diana? You're all here?" I mumbled, my gaze flicking from one to the other, barely able to process the crowd.

Camille, her platinum-white hair cascading over her shoulders, offered a soft smile that didn't quite conceal the worry in her ice-blue eyes. Tessa, arms crossed, managed a half-smirk—though there was clear concern etched into her features. Lillian hovered close, her green eyes full of relief, and Claire let out a dramatic exhale, as though she'd been holding her breath for hours. Diana, ever composed, stood slightly behind them, her sharp gaze assessing me for any sign of distress.

"What… happened?" I croaked, trying to push myself upright. My head spun, and I felt multiple hands gently guiding me to sit back against the pillows.

Camille was the first to speak. "You collapsed in the middle of your fight with Lillian," she explained gently. "After… well, after something strange happened with your magic."

Tessa's crimson eyes flicked to the side. "Strange is an understatement," she muttered, though she kept her voice low.

Lillian stepped forward, her pastel-pink hair swaying with the movement. "You seemed to lose yourself for a moment," she said softly. "I could sense your magic fluctuations were… chaotic." She paused, her gaze flicking to the bandages on my arms. "I'm sorry if I pushed you too far."

My throat tightened at her words. The memory of being overtaken by the original Sera flickered in my mind, a jarring montage of half-lived memories and an all-consuming wrath that I'd barely managed to contain. "No… it's not your fault," I managed, forcing a faint smile.

Claire, ever the dramatic one, plopped down on the edge of the bed. "You gave us all a scare," she said, her violet eyes glimmering with concern. "Next time you decide to go all villainous mage on us, a little warning would be appreciated."

I attempted a laugh, but it came out more like a wheeze. "I'll keep that in mind," I muttered, rolling my eyes despite the sting of tears threatening at their corners.

Diana finally spoke up, stepping around the others. "How are you feeling now?" she asked, her voice devoid of its usual aloofness, replaced instead by genuine worry.

I took a moment to assess my aching body and the pounding in my head. "Better," I said, though my voice shook slightly. "Just… a bit overwhelmed."

A heavy silence followed, each of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, Camille cleared her throat, flashing me a reassuring smile. "Look, Sera, whatever happened out there—no one's blaming you. We're just glad you're okay."

Lillian nodded in agreement, stepping closer. "Exactly. You should rest," she said, resting a gentle hand against my shoulder. "The fight was called off after you lost consciousness. There's talk about a rematch once you recover… but only if you're up for it."

A rematch. The idea sent a ripple of both excitement and dread through me. I swallowed hard, unsure if I could face that possibility again—especially if the original Sera was lurking in my subconscious, waiting for another chance.

"For now, get some sleep," Claire chimed in, her usual dramatic flair dampened by genuine concern. "It's not every day we see you all battered up."

I gave a weak smile, nodding slowly as my eyelids drooped. The weight of the day's events pressed down on me, and I realized just how exhausted I truly was. Each face in the small circle around me bore a different expression—relief, curiosity, worry—but they all shared one thing: genuine care.

"Thank you," I whispered, my gaze flicking from Tessa's confident smirk to Lillian's gentle smile, Diana's keen stare, Claire's earnest worry, and Camille's soft eyes. My heart clenched with gratitude—and a nagging fear about what lay ahead.

As I let the tension drain from my body, I resolved that I wouldn't run from this. I owed it to them—and to myself—to figure out what was happening with the original Sera, to keep those haunting memories and dangerous magic in check.

My thoughts wandered back to the original novel. In that story, Sera had fought against Tessa, not Lillian, and had left Tessa badly injured. All of it done with a wide grin etched onto her face. Was that why she returned? I wondered. To realign the plot to its original course? But it wasn't Tessa I ended up fighting. It was Lillian.

A surge of unease knotted in my stomach. If the older Sera's objective was to force events back onto the old timeline, what else would she try? And why appear now, after everything had already changed so drastically?

I sighed, staring up at the infirmary's ceiling. My arms still ached from the reckless magic she'd unleashed, but it was nothing compared to the swirl of questions in my head.

"Yeah," I mumbled under my breath, breaking the silence, "I don't think I'll be able to sleep."

A gentle shuffling of feet drew my attention to one side of the bed. Lillian's face emerged from behind the curtain, her green eyes filled with concern. "You should be resting," she said softly. "Your body's still recovering."

"I know," I replied, inhaling a shaky breath. "But my mind won't shut off."

She offered a small, understanding smile and took a seat in the nearby chair. "It's normal to feel unsettled after… what happened." Her voice was reassuring, but the weight of her gaze made my chest tighten. "If there's anything on your mind, talking might help."

I swallowed hard, debating how much to say. What would she even think if I told her about the original Sera's consciousness trying to hijack my body? That I was a vessel for some twisted remnant of the novel's villainous storyline?

Still, the memory of her face—streaked with concern when I collapsed—lingered in my thoughts. She genuinely wanted to help. And so, I tried to force a small smile, hoping to bury at least some of my turmoil. "Thanks, but… I'll be okay."

Lillian's features softened. "Alright. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me." She rose, pausing at the curtain. Her eyes flicked to my bandaged arm. "Get some rest, Sera, we'll get going." she added gently, then slipped away, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

A weary exhale escaped me as I stared up at the stark white ceiling. Rest, she had said, as though it were simple. But how could I possibly rest when the original Sera still lurked within me, determined to realign a broken plot no matter the cost?

The soft sounds of retreating footsteps faded in the background, and the hush that followed felt both soothing and stifling.

No, I told myself firmly, clenching my fists against the blanket. I'm not going to let that happen. This world had changed. The people I'd grown attached to weren't just characters anymore. They were my friends, rivals, teachers… real people who deserved better than to be pawns in an outdated narrative.

"Lost in thought?" came a smooth voice to my side.

I startled, glancing over with a jolt of surprise. "Tessa?" I said, realizing she was still there. "I thought you'd left with the others."

She chuckled quietly, leaning against the doorframe. "You really think I'd leave you alone in this state?"

I managed a faint smirk despite my worry. "You're not exactly known for your kindness, Tessa."

"Maybe not," she admitted with a shrug, pushing off from the door to approach my bedside. The faint lamplight cast shadows over her features, making her crimson eyes appear softer than usual. "But I'm not heartless, either."

I let out a slow breath, my grip on the blankets relaxing just a fraction. "Thanks," I mumbled, uncertain what else to say. There was something oddly comforting about her presence—even if she usually enjoyed teasing me to no end.

For a moment, neither of us spoke, the hush of the infirmary wrapping around us like a heavy cloak. Finally, Tessa broke the silence, crossing her arms over her chest. "So," she began, her crimson eyes locking onto mine, "are you going to tell me what's eating at you, or do I have to guess?"

I opened my mouth, but the words refused to come out. How do I even begin to explain? That an older version of Sera Vandren—the original Sera—was trying to hijack my body, forcibly dragging me through a twisted plot? That I was terrified of losing myself entirely?

Before I could muster up a coherent response, Tessa's next words struck like a bolt of lightning. "Let me guess," she said casually, her tone laced with an undercurrent of tension. "The old you is coming back?"

"Huh?"