"Thalia!" Jenny called out while preparing breakfast.
"Coming, sis!" Thalia responded as she stepped out of their room, already carrying her packed bag. Today was the day of her school camping trip.
"Hurry up, or you might miss your school bus!" Jenny said. She was setting the table while their older brother was still at work. Her own class was much later, so she took charge of preparing everything for Thalia.
"It would be better if I missed the bus," Thalia muttered.
Jenny turned to look at her sister, trying to tell if she was joking—but Thalia rarely joked. She was always the serious type. Jenny just shook her head and gently tapped Thalia's head.
"Eat up. I'll go call our youngest brother."
As she walked toward their youngest sibling's room, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Thalia... she whispered in her mind, sensing something.
A vision overtook her.
She saw Thalia walking along a long concrete road, flanked by two women. But these weren't ordinary women—they weren't human. They were souls. One of them suddenly turned around. Her face was drenched in blood, yet twisted into a smile.
The vision vanished as quickly as it came. Jenny staggered and took a deep breath. Cold sweat ran down her back.
Why now? Why show me this right before Thalia leaves? she cursed silently.
She never told anyone about her visions—her glimpses into the future. She didn't want to use this ability. She only wanted to live a normal life. But it wasn't that simple.
Jenny was still afraid of her gift. She wasn't used to it. She didn't want it.
"Sis?" came a soft voice.
She turned to see Greg, their seven-year-old brother, watching her curiously. "What are you doing?" he asked innocently.
The thoughts swirling in her mind disappeared. She calmed herself and smiled.
"Oh, you're awake. Let's go eat, okay?"
Greg nodded, and they returned to the table where Thalia was waiting, already quietly eating. She had waited for them before finishing.
Jenny tried to push aside the dreadful image from her vision. Calm down, Jenny. Not everything you see comes true, she reminded herself.
"Sis, is something wrong?" Thalia asked, noticing her expression.
"Huh? No, nothing's wrong. Why?" she replied while helping Greg with his food.
"You just seem restless today. I'm worried about you."
Jenny's uneasiness had clearly shown through. "Don't worry. I'm just thinking about a few things," she lied.
Thalia nodded. "You're strong. I know you can handle it," she said with a smile.
Jenny returned the smile, but it was forced.
"I'll do the dishes. You go now, or you'll miss the bus," Jenny urged her, noticing Thalia was done eating and starting to clean up.
Thalia scratched her head and sighed. "Fine."
"Sis Ta, when will you be back?" Greg asked.
Thalia bent down and smiled. "I'll only be gone for three days. I won't be long."
"Be careful, sister," Greg said as he hugged her.
"Thank you, Greg."
"Go ahead," Jenny added. "I'll take care of Greg and bring him to school later."
"Alright then. I'm off." Thalia waved goodbye.
"Thalia," Jenny called after her.
Thalia looked back, waiting.
"Be careful," Jenny said again, the words heavy with hidden meaning. Her chest tightened.
Thalia nodded once more and stepped outside to wait for her ride. It was still early, and few vehicles passed by at that hour.
Soon, a car pulled up.
"Perfect timing! Come on!" Ruth, Thalia's classmate, called out from the driver's side. "Good morning, Jenny!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning," Jenny replied with a faint smile.
But then—another premonition struck her.
She saw Ruth running barefoot in the dark, crying and begging for help. Two masked men chased her. A gunshot rang out.
"Sis?" Thalia's voice pulled her back to reality.
Jenny wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Are you not feeling well?" Thalia asked, concerned.
She shook her head, then turned her eyes toward Ruth.
In her mind, she saw Ruth again—this time lying in her uniform, drenched in blood. Lifeless.
"Just get some rest, sis," Thalia said, clearly worried.
Jenny suddenly reached for Ruth's hand. "Ruth... never go out alone at night during camp. Ever," she warned, her head throbbing with pain.
Thalia and Ruth exchanged worried looks.
"Y-Yes, Jenny. Let's go, Thalia."
Thalia got into Ruth's car.
"Big Sis? Why does it seem like someone's following Sister Thalia?" Greg asked, clutching Jenny's shirt.
She turned to her little brother. "And I saw a dark man walking beside them," he added.
Jenny's hair stood on end.
She remembered what she'd seen—Thalia walking with a soul, and the ominous shadow hanging over Ruth. Her heart pounded.
Dear God, please no...
She looked at Greg, puzzled. Does my brother have a sixth sense too? It was often said that children were sensitive to the supernatural.
She tried to push the thoughts away, but her instincts told her something terrible was coming.
I'll remind Thalia later—don't leave Ruth alone, she vowed.
Greg clung tightly to her and hid behind her. "Sis, let's go inside."
Jenny followed silently. Across the street stood an abandoned house—one Greg had always feared. He used to say he saw a headless woman walking around it. She always brushed it off as childish imagination.
Jenny helped Greg get ready for school, needing to head out early herself. Their older brother arrived home, went straight to bed.
The vision of Thalia walking with a spirit haunted her. She massaged her aching temples, trying to make it all go away.
Jenny hated this gift. She never wanted it. All she ever wanted... was to live a normal life.