Chapter 1

"Hey."

After rolling my eyes at the boys calling out to me, I silently prayed for patience to a God I wasn't even sure was there.

If it weren't five against one, I definitely would've had the courage to stand up to them. But I wasn't stupid enough to face off against five hulking thugs. I barely weighed fifty kilos. I clenched my teeth and quickened my pace as I passed them.

"Hey, look here."

They started following me. My nose had always been sensitive, so despite them being five steps behind me, I could already smell the alcohol on their breath. I had long noticed that my hearing was sharper than a normal person's and that my eyes could see well even in the dark. For a while, I had patiently waited for the day I would turn into a werewolf or a vampire, but that day never came. So, I just continued living my life with these abilities I seemed to have been born with.

"I'm talking to you."

Their steps quickened, and they were getting closer. My patience had its limits.

"What do you want?" I said, turning around abruptly. They were startled by my sudden movement. I was about six hundred meters from home. Just two streets down. If I could get to the alley, I could lose them easily. As I tried to map out an escape route, I also wondered how I could stall these idiots. No matter how fast I was, my three steps were equal to one of theirs.

"She's a feisty one," one of them laughed. I wanted to kill them. But those damn cameras, the only thing they were good for, captured the street too clearly. A few people peeked out of their windows but quickly retreated, pulling their curtains shut, signaling that they wanted no part in this. This was exactly why I hated people. They were utterly useless.

The only sounds in the empty street, apart from a television playing from an open window, were ours. From the balcony of a building's seventh floor, I could make out someone watching us. Yes, I could see that far.

Instead of helping, he was simply observing, even enjoying the scene. I had seen the smirk on his lips. I cursed into the emptiness. No one heard it except perhaps the darkness of the night that had settled over us.

I mentally cursed my overworking boss, my workplace at the veterinary clinic, and everything else I could think of while trying to figure out a way out. Then, I had a brilliant idea.

"OH MY GOD, A UFO!" I shouted, pointing behind them.

They looked! For God's sake, they actually looked! I barely held back my laughter as I took off running toward the street. My house was just two blocks away, but I turned into the first one instead. I could still hear their footsteps behind me. While running, I scanned the apartment entrances. When I found an open one, I darted inside and hid in the building's interior.

I caught my breath and listened to the sound of them running through the streets. They stopped, lingered for a bit, then moved on. When I was sure they were gone, I quietly stepped out of the building. I ran in the opposite direction they had gone, taking a longer route home. A journey that should have taken me three minutes ended up taking fifteen.

I hope the entire human race dies.

When I finally entered my shabby home, I threw my bag into a corner and collapsed onto the couch. My eyes wandered over the peeling paint on the walls of my modest one-bedroom apartment. The lingering scent of leftover lasagna from the previous night didn't bother me; it had settled into the quiet corners of the space. The rhythmic dripping of the faucet provided a backdrop as my eyelids grew heavy.

I fell asleep just like that, on the couch.

I woke up to the blaring sound of my alarm. It was time to go to work. Groaning, I rubbed my stiff neck and dragged myself to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes along the way. Just as I was at the peak of my shower, shampoo lathered thick in my hair, the water cut off.

My unpaid water bill came to mind as the shampoo burned my eyes. What a fantastic morning, truly. Every morning of mine was just amazing, honestly.

Blindly, I stumbled into the kitchen and pulled out the bottles of water from the fridge. I only had two liters left. I hoped it would be enough because I had no other water. I hated the heat, so I never left my water outside. It had to be cold. Damn my stubbornness.

Without hesitation, I poured the ice-cold water over my head. The shock was momentary but sharp. My hair still had some suds, so I emptied the second bottle more slowly. As my teeth chattered loudly in my own ears, I grabbed the cleanest-looking towel and wrapped myself up. I was freezing.

March was supposed to announce the arrival of spring, but it did nothing to help my situation. I sighed, staring at the raindrops splattering against my window. I was going to get soaked.

I put on a thin sweater that, while not freshly washed, was cleaner than my other options. I paired it with jeans and threw on a raincoat, hoping it would offer some protection. Grabbing my bag from the corner, I decided against drying my hair—it would just get wet again. What a stroke of genius. After putting on my boots, I left my apartment an hour before work started.

As I walked past my peers heading to college, I ignored them and kept moving. I barely found a spot in the overcrowded metro, squeezing in among the masses. Did it really have to be this packed? I wished someone would set off a bomb and put us all out of our misery.

If it were up to me, I would never step outside. My hatred had reached its peak. But I had a mountain of debt to pay off, and after four years, I had barely managed to pay half of it.

My bastard stepfather had barely lasted two years after my mother's death before gambling away everything we had. By the time he left, my stepsister was only two, and all the responsibility had fallen on me. Juggling school and playing the role of a mother was not something a fourteen-year-old should have to do. By the time we were drowning in gambling debt, I had hoped my stepfather would handle it without dragging us into it. After all, we were just kids. But that bastard not only used me and my sister as collateral—he also went and killed himself. Just great.

And of course, they came to me for the debt. A fifteen-year-old child. They wanted to take my little sister away and sell him. I promised to pay, but how the hell was I supposed to? We had nothing left. Our distant relatives didn't even look at us, and we both ended up in an orphanage.

In my naive little mind, I thought I could pay it off in installments. I'd work and pay it off, no big deal. How much could it be, anyway? Then I heard the amount—one hundred fifty thousand dollars. It felt like boiling water had been poured over me.

The man my stepfather owed, whom everyone called "The Boss," eventually let me make a deal with him. He liked courage, and at the time, that was all I had. I had to protect my sister.

We decided to play Russian roulette. As despicable as the Boss was, he was a man of his word. If I died, he would erase the debt and leave my sister alone. If I survived, he would let me pay the debt in installments as a reward for my courage.

At that moment, I realized how easy of an option death was. In fact, I wished for it. But luck was on my side—the gun didn't fire until the last bullet. When it was the other guy's turn, he hesitated to pull the trigger. The Boss, unimpressed, pulled out his own gun and shot the man. I watched someone die right in front of me, and I felt nothing. Just emptiness.

I changed jobs constantly, always chasing higher pay. I vehemently refused the Boss's attempts to recruit me into his operations. I managed to hold out until I was seventeen, but I soon realized that part-time jobs weren't enough, so I dropped out of high school.

I wasn't directly working for the Boss, but I did work in a job he had arranged for me. Each month, I kept just enough to survive, while the rest of my earnings went straight to him. I hadn't seen my sister in four years. She was seven now and had just started school.

Every time a family tried to adopt her, I caused problems. She deserved a life filled with love and abundance, not one like mine. When I finally found a family I could approve of, I let her go. And I severed all ties. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were among the few truly kind-hearted people left in the world. I was certain they would take good care of Dani. I was no longer her sister. She would grow up and forget me.

Up until a year ago, I had secretly checked on her adoptive family. From a distance, I saw how well they treated her. There were no problems. So, I stopped checking.

The sudden jolt of the metro snapping to a halt pulled me from my thoughts. The only thing tying me to this miserable life was the fact that my sister was still alive. If I died, the Boss would demand the debt from her and the family that adopted her. Rather than let that happen, I chose to endure my own personal hell alone.

As the years passed, I learned more about people—the selfish ones who put their own interests above everything else. Every time I fell, I had to pick myself up. Not a single person ever helped me.

When I arrived at work, I removed my raincoat and hung it up. Until four in the afternoon, this place was an ordinary veterinary clinic. But after that, it became a hospital for the Boss and his wounded men. My so-called employer, whose qualifications as a doctor—or even a veterinarian—I highly doubted, greeted me with a sleazy grin. I despised him, but this wasn't the time to pick a fight. I made good money here.

Without even glancing at his face, I turned and walked toward the back. As I was feeding the animals, I noticed one I hadn't seen before. It must have arrived yesterday while I was running errands for my boss.

I stroked the white dog's fur as I set down its food. Animals didn't betray. Animals deserved love. Even a so-called "ungrateful" cat had more warmth in its heart than most humans. I wished someone would take me away, throw me into the forest. I swore I wouldn't make a sound.

After finishing my tasks, I lingered for a while. When I stepped into the front area again, I tried to ignore the vet's predatory gaze. But there was no escaping him. I had to sit at the reception desk.

In the afternoon, the door opened, and my heart clenched. The last time I had seen my sister was a year ago, and now, there she was, skipping happily into the clinic with her adoptive parents. When our eyes met, we exchanged silent glances. They had once offered to take me in as well, but I had refused. I couldn't drag them into my mess.

Later, they had tried to arrange visits so I could see Daniella. They invited me for dinner, called me often. I had refused every time. Dani needed to forget me.

As I watched Dani eagerly approach the reception desk, a lump formed in my throat. The emotion I had locked away for the past four years resurfaced—longing. She had grown taller, her pink raincoat and light blonde hair making her look absolutely perfect.

"Hello," she said as she approached. I forced a smile, struggling to remember how to do it.

"Hello."

"We left our dog here yesterday. Is he better? Can we take him home?"

"Could you wait just a moment?" I said before heading to the vet's office.

I knocked before entering. Normally, I wouldn't bother with such courtesies, but God only knew what he was up to in there. I couldn't handle another of his disgusting antics.

"A family brought in a dog yesterday. They're here to pick it up. Should I release it?"

"Yeah. It just had a bit of fatigue."

"Alright," I said and left the office.

I turned back to the family and mustered another smile. "I'll go get your dog. Please wait a moment."

"I want to come too!" Dani piped up. Her adoptive mother gently tried to hold her back, but she slipped free and grabbed my hand.

"Sis, let's go together," she pleaded, looking up at me with hopeful eyes. My throat tightened as her tiny fingers wrapped around mine.

"We—" the woman began to protest.

"It's fine," I said and led Dani toward the back. She gazed at the cages, excitedly talking about each animal. I couldn't listen. Her voice filled my ears like birdsong—clear, beautiful. I wiped my eyes discreetly. I had been the one who chose to separate us. I had wanted her to forget me.

When she let go of my hand, I felt empty again. She ran ahead to the white dog's cage.

"I'm here, Lucky," she said, waving at the dog. The moment he heard her voice, he stood up and barked excitedly. I knelt to unlock the cage, and suddenly, Dani was at my level.

She moved closer and closed her eyes, as if trying to take in my scent.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried she felt sick.

"Nothing," she murmured, closing her eyes again. "I don't know why, but your scent is so familiar, sis. I can't remember, but I think I love it. It makes me feel like flowers are blooming inside me." She smiled, and I fought back the tears threatening to spill.

She took the leash and led Lucky out. The dog was still young, so she had no trouble holding onto him. When I stood up, she suddenly asked for my name.

"Ra-Rachel," I stammered nervously. There was no way she would remember.

For a brief moment, Dani's smile faded. Then she forced it back, though it wasn't as bright as before.

"I'm Daniella," she said, gripping my hand firmly this time.

She didn't ask anything else. The joy she had when she walked in was gone. As we approached the front door, she finally spoke.

"Why did you leave me?"

I froze. Dani had been only three when we were separated. She should have forgotten me long ago.

"Do you know that some nights, I wake up crying, calling out 'Rachel'?" she sniffled. "I never told Mom and Dad—I didn't want them to worry. But I couldn't even remember your face." She shrugged. "So, why did you leave me?"

I knelt down and turned her toward me. Carefully, I wiped away her tears with my thumbs.

"I'm sorry, Dani," I whispered.

"Why didn't you come to see me?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, Dani."

"Don't you love me?" she asked. A single tear slipped down my cheek.

"You have to forget me, Dani. Please forget me and live happily with your family, okay?"

"But you are my family," she said, as fresh tears replaced the ones I had just wiped away.

"No, Daniella. The people outside are your family. They will take much better care of you than I ever could. Please, Dani, please forget me. Forget the name Rachel. I can't protect you. I'm too weak. But I promise, once I'm strong enough, I'll come back, okay? Even if you don't remember me, I'll come back for you."

She nodded silently, sniffing as she wiped her own tears away. She was just a child, but she was wise beyond her years. She understood me.

"Can I hug you just once?" she asked, then quickly added, "Please."

"Of course," I said, wrapping my arms around her. I was afraid of hurting her. But Dani clung to me tightly, squeezing her arms around my neck.

"I'll wait for you, Rara," she whispered against my shoulder. When she was little, she couldn't pronounce my name properly, so she had always called me Rara. She still remembered.

I didn't want her to wait. But if I told her not to, it would sound like I had no intention of keeping my promise. So, I stayed silent. As we pulled apart, I looked into her eyes. I hoped she would understand everything I couldn't say, that everything I did was to protect her.

As we stepped outside, Mr. and Mrs. Adams glanced between us. They knew something had happened but chose not to comment.

"Bye-bye, Rachel," Dani said, waving at me.

"Goodbye, Dani," I replied, forcing a smile onto my face.

I watched her walk away.

"Rachel!" A voice snapped me out of my daze, making me flinch. I turned to face the man calling my name, immediately slipping back into my emotionless mask.

"Yes?"

"I've been calling you for half an hour!" he said angrily.

"And?" I replied indifferently. He was used to my attitude by now, so he didn't say anything else. After all, it was the Boss who had put me in this job.

"I have to leave for an hour. Don't go anywhere."

"Fine."

Once he left, I slumped into the chair behind the reception desk. After a while, two men walked in. Something about them felt off. They definitely weren't here for veterinary services. I was familiar with the Boss's men, and these guys weren't them. Dressed in long black robes, they looked entirely out of place. One of them checked a pocket watch, then looked at me before closing it and slipping it into his coat.

"Are you Rachel Hayes?" one of them asked.

"Huh? Yeah, that's me," I replied with a careless shrug.

"Please come with us," the man said.

What?

"You are the chosen one. Please come with us and save our homeland."

"How was I chosen? Who chose me? What was chosen? Based on what?"

"You are the leader of the heroes who will save our land. You appeared in the prophecy."

"Really?" I deadpanned.

The man gave me a blank stare.

"So, what powers do I have?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. He continued to stare at me in disbelief.

"You can control all the elements and—"

"Oh, so I'm the Avatar now? You're looking for the wrong person. Go break some icebergs or something. Wait, can I turn into a dragon, too?"

"Miss Hayes, if you would just allow us—"

"Nope, I won't. You've been talking without permission all this time, and now you're suddenly asking for it?"

I could practically read the thought running through his mind. "We're doomed."

"Anyway," I said, flipping them off, "take this prophecy of yours and shove it. I don't care. Go find another hero." With that, I stood up, ready to kick them out.