*Clara s pov*
"Be with me. It's your responsibility now."
The voice that was cold and deep called out to me. I was no longer in my warm bed.
Suddenly, I was standing in a dark, cold forest. The only light came from a single, eerie crystal blue moon.
Fog was everywhere, so thick that it covered my legs and made me feel like I was floating. I didn't know where I was, but I knew I was dreaming.
A strange, tall, shadow like figure stood before me, down the foggy path.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I asked, trying to sound brave, though my voice shook.
"I am yours, and you are mine," the figure answered.
I shivered hard at that statement. It was just a dream, but the cold, the fog, the fear it all felt so real. The figure started walking slowly toward me.
"Don't come any closer!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Why shouldn't I? We will meet soon anyway," he replied. His voice was low and commanding.
"You're the one, right? Is this why I keep seeing strange things and hearing voices?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper of fear.
"You're very clever, Clara. I like that about you. But you must blame yourself for what is happening," he answered.
My mind raced. How does he know my name? "What do you mean by that? Explain yourself," I demanded, feeling a sudden surge of anger and boldness.
"What? You don't remember?" he teased. "Let me refresh your memory."
He pointed to my hands. To my shock, I realized I was holding the black crystal ball I had stolen from Aunt Shysie's house.
"What's wrong? You look confused, not happy. Aren't you glad that the first part of the prophecy is coming true?" he said, and I could tell he was smirking, even though I couldn't see his face clearly.
"What prophecy? And what does it have to do with me? This crystal doesn't even belong to me!" I panicked, throwing the crystal ball onto the ground.
But it didn't hit the dirt. It stopped in mid-air, held by an invisible force , it looked like his levitation powers.
"Hey now, don't go throwing away what you are rooted in now, Clara," he chuckled softly. "So, be careful. We will surely meet again soon." He finished speaking and slowly, piece by piece, he vanished into the fog.
"Clara... Clara... Clara, wake up!"
I heard Zael's urgent voice calling me. I finally opened my eyes, gasping softly.
Zael leaned over me, her face full of worry. "What's wrong? I had to wake you up. You looked like you were having a terrible nightmare. You're sweating everywhere, and you kept saying strange things in your sleep."
"It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it," I lied, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead. "What time is it?"
"It's 8:30 A.M."
"Shoot! I need to rush. We need to get ready now, or we'll be late to pick up our internship letters."
"Okay, let's hurry up. I have a lecture at noon," Zael replied, rushing to get ready.
An hour later, we were at a busy café on campus, the letters clutched in our hands.
"Okay, let's open our letters together!" Zael said, buzzing with excitement.
"I really don't think it's possible for us to get the same company, Zael," I told her honestly.
"Wow, you're such a fun killer! There are hundreds of companies in this city; it could be a coincidence! Just open yours," she insisted jokingly.
I shook my head and started tearing open the envelope.
"Yes! I got Shin Group! That's one of my top five companies to work for! I'm so happy! What did you get, Clara?" Zael asked, leaning across the table.
I read the name on my letter slowly. "Um, I don't know this one. It's called Sylus Enterprises."
Zael stared at me, her mouth dropping open. "What? Sylus Enterprises? Are you telling me you don't know who they are? You are so lucky, I'm jealous!"
"I mean, I've never heard of them. Who are they?" I asked, confused by her shock.
"How can you not know the number one company in the country and the number four company in the world market?"
"Wait, since when did a company from our country start hitting the top of the world market?" I asked, truly surprised.
"That's the point!" Zael explained, talking fast. "The owner, who is only known as Sylus Kang, came out of nowhere. He bought over four major business companies and expanded them super fast. No one knows his history or how he did it, but I hear he is extremely handsome. The sad thing is, there are no media pictures of him anywhere."
Sylus... The name sounded too familiar like the name from my game
"That sounds huge," I said, thinking aloud. "But how did I get placed there? It sounds like you need serious connections just to get an interview."
"That's exactly why I'm lost! Are you sure your dad didn't secretly recommend you? Wait, give me your letter. Let me see exactly what they wrote." Zael reached out for the paper.
"Nah, we aren't rich enough for those kinds of connections," I replied, handing it over.
Zael scanned the page, her eyes widening even further. "Oh my God, Clara! It says right here that you were carefully recommended by the Executive Office! Clara, how?!"
"What? That's impossible!" I snatched the letter back, reading the words myself. Recommended by the Executive Office. "Are you sure they haven't mistaken me for someone else?"
"Girl, if you don't stop talking nonsense! There is only one Clara John in this college! Congratulations, I'm genuinely so happy for you!" Zael said, pulling me into a hug.
"Thank you, Zael," I said, feeling both excited and terrified. "And it says here I start on Monday. Wait, Monday, as in three days from now? Why is it so soon?" I complained, suddenly feeling frustrated.
"Dang, that's fast! I feel bad; I don't start until next month. Anyway, good luck! I have to get to class before I'm late." Zael stood up to leave.
"Bye!"
I sat alone at the café table, the internship letter burning a hole in my hand. Sylus Enterprises. The name of the fictional character I obsessed over. The name of the man who appeared from nowhere to take over the world market.
I looked down at the letter one more time. A strange sense of dread, the same cold feeling from the dream, started to settle deep in my stomach.
*End of Chapter*