Chapter 3: The Secret In The Shadows

Dear Diary,

I swear, if my life were a movie, it would be one of those super intense, mystical thrillers that make your heart race. And I'd definitely be the girl who accidentally stumbles upon some big secret about her past that nobody is supposed to know about. Only, I'm not in a movie, and I'm not ready for any of this.

But here we are.

Let me back up.

So, it's been a couple of days since I first got the golden envelope — and I'm not gonna lie, things have been getting a little… freaky. Every night I'm having dreams that feel more like memories than dreams, and during the day, I keep feeling like someone's watching me. Every time I pass a reflective surface, I'm pretty sure I can see someone in the corner of my eye. It's like I'm being followed... but not by anyone I can see. It's like something ancient is hanging over me.

Malik. He's definitely involved in all of this, but I have no idea how. And I definitely can't talk to anyone about it. I mean, can you imagine explaining to a teacher that you think you're the reincarnation of a queen from thousands of years ago? Yeah. Not happening.

But it gets weirder.

It was Thursday, and everything was pretty normal — well, as normal as it gets when you're starting to question your sanity. I had just finished my last class of the day (Science, ugh) and was heading to my locker, when I felt it. That tingling sensation. You know, the kind you get when you feel like someone's staring at you? But not just anyone — like someone who knows your secrets.

I turned around.

Malik was standing at the end of the hall, looking at me. But it wasn't just a look. No, it was a look that said he knew.

The kind of look that made your heart flip and your stomach drop all at once.

I quickly glanced around, wondering if anyone else could see this — or if I was the only one being weirdly drawn into this guy's gaze. But it was just me and him.

And in that moment, I could swear I heard a voice in my head — clear, but faint. Like a whisper.

"Don't run. Don't hide. It's time to learn the truth."

I froze. And I'm not talking about a "I'm feeling awkward, help me" freeze. This was the kind of freeze that made every single hair on my body stand up. I don't know what it was, but I felt like there was a connection there. Some thread pulling me toward him that I couldn't shake, no matter how much I wanted to.

He started walking toward me, and for a second, my heart skipped. He was way too calm for someone who seemed like he was hiding some huge secret. I couldn't decide whether I was terrified or intrigued. Probably both.

When he got close enough, he gave me a small, almost knowing smile.

"You're not ready," he said. His voice was low, almost soothing, but there was an edge to it that made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something dangerous.

"Not ready for what?" I asked, my voice shaky, probably sounding a lot more desperate than I wanted it to. "What's happening to me, Malik? What's going on?"

For a second, he didn't answer. He just looked at me like he was debating something in his head. His expression softened just a bit, but there was still an intensity to his gaze that made my heart beat faster.

"You don't remember, do you?" he asked softly, his tone almost like he was pitying me.

I shook my head. "Remember what?"

"Your true self," he whispered, "You've forgotten… but you're waking up now. You'll remember soon. The crown will call to you."

I stared at him, completely lost. "What are you talking about? Crown? What crown?"

He leaned in a little closer, and I felt my breath hitch. His eyes were intense, searching mine like he was looking for something. Like he was waiting for me to recognize something.

"You're the reincarnation of an ancient queen," he said simply. "And the magic inside you is waking up."

My brain tried to process what he said, but it didn't make sense. How could it?

"I— I'm just me, Zariah," I stuttered, not knowing what else to say. "I'm not a queen, Malik."

He didn't say anything for a moment. His eyes searched mine for a few long seconds before he nodded. "You will be," he said softly. "In time."

That afternoon, I felt like I was in a fog. I kept replaying what Malik had said over and over in my head. Queen? Magic? Was he messing with me? Was I dreaming again? I could hardly focus in class, and when the bell rang, I just packed up my things as quickly as I could.

But when I got to my locker, I noticed something strange.

A small, ancient-looking book was sitting on top of my books. It wasn't there when I left it this morning — I would've noticed it.

I opened it, and my breath caught in my throat. The book was old. Very old. The pages were frayed, and the cover was a deep shade of purple, almost like it was made from some kind of luxurious fabric. And right there, on the cover, was a symbol I recognized.

It was the same symbol from the golden scroll in my locker. The one I still didn't understand.

I opened the first page, and written in gold ink was a simple line:

"The crown belongs to you, but only if you dare to face the truth."

My heart raced again. What in the world was going on? How did Malik know about this book? How did anyone know?

Then, at the bottom of the page, there was something else written.

"Meet me at midnight. The truth awaits you."

I slammed the book shut, my breath ragged. I couldn't do this. I couldn't meet some guy in the middle of the night. What if he was some kind of weirdo? Or worse, what if he was leading me into a trap?

But at the same time, the thought of the truth… I couldn't shake it.

I had to know.

I had to find out.

Love,Zariah