Ericka had stepped out of the tent earlier. She didn't expect to be grouped with Thalia—someone she knew from school.
And Ericka knew something else, too. She had a strong feeling Thalia was hiding something. She just wasn't sure what it was yet. What surprised her most was the strange revelation earlier—especially the one involving their groupmate, Ruth.
Ericka could only shake her head.
She admitted to herself: she could see things others couldn't. Things that were hard to explain, things no one would believe. But even if it frightened her, she could no longer ignore it. The presence following Thalia—and especially Ruth—was too strong.
Was all of this somehow connected to what happened before?
She sat down outside and quietly observed her surroundings, troubled and hesitant. Then, she felt something. Eyes. Watching her.
She turned toward the source of the sharp, focused gaze.
And then it hit her.
Her ability activated. She could see women wandering deep in the forest at night—lost, disoriented, possibly running away from something. She tried to focus, to see more clearly, and then—
She saw herself among them.
Ericka gasped and jolted, yanked back to reality.
Why am I involved in this? she asked herself, unsettled.
She hated this ability—this curse. She couldn't control what she saw, nor could she change the future it revealed. That helplessness tormented her.
She was still shaking as a wave of nausea passed through her. Her body trembled from the aftereffects of her vision. Sweat drenched her skin. Her head ached with pressure. She returned to the tent to lie down. The sun was already setting, and they needed to prepare for the evening bonfire.
"What happened to you?" one of her tentmates asked.
Ericka just shook her head. Her companions looked at her in confusion and concern. She sat down on a monobloc chair, massaging her temples.
Who will walk with me later? she wondered, looking at each of them.
Her eyes landed on Ruth, and a cold chill ran down her spine. It felt as if someone else—someone who didn't belong—was standing right beside her. She looked between Ruth and Thalia, unable to shake the unease.
Jasmin handed her a glass of water.
"Thank you," Ericka said, immediately drinking it.
Then came another vision.
She saw photographs—missing women. And among the names, she saw Jasmin.
Then came bodies—lifeless, broken.
Ericka wanted to scream. Her vision blurred. She lost her balance.
"Call the teacher! Ericka, are you okay?" someone cried.
Thalia rushed to get the teacher, who had been nearby.
Jasmin helped Ericka to her bed.
"Did you eat breakfast? You look so pale," Kim asked worriedly.
Ericka didn't answer. Her senses were overloaded, but she could hear the teachers reacting—growing concerned over the commotion.
Suddenly, another surge hit her. Another vision.
She saw a man. His face was unclear, but his hands were bloodied. He was digging furiously into the dirt. The location felt familiar, but she couldn't place it. The image was so vivid, so real.
"Ah!" Ericka cried out in pain, clutching her side. She saw Ruth again—but this time, someone was standing beside her. That someone smiled, then pressed a finger to their lips as if to say, "Stay quiet."
Everything went dark.
When Ericka awoke, she wasn't in the tent anymore.
Her spirit was traveling again.
She hated this. She hated seeing the things no one else could. Her life had changed the day she accidentally stumbled upon the corpses of two siblings. That day, she had followed her curiosity straight into a nightmare.
Stop this! What do you want from me?! she shouted into the void, her voice echoing in the eerie space around her.
Then the woman appeared—the older sister who had died. She didn't speak, only stared at Ericka with hollow, sorrowful eyes.
We were not silent. We cannot see the light.
Why can't you let go of your anger? Could you?
If you were in my place, would you be at peace? the woman asked.
Ericka went still.
Yes, she could speak with the dead. She never got used to it.
Are you the one giving me these visions? she asked.
The woman smiled—but didn't answer. She faded into nothingness.
Ericka jolted awake, breathless, gripping her bedding.
She clenched her fists.
They won't stop until I stop resisting. She looked over at Ruth, who was sitting nearby. For a moment, she saw the woman again—the ghost from her dream—standing over Ruth. Then she vanished.
Whatever you're planning, whatever I'm seeing… I'll use it to bring you peace. She clenched her fists harder.
"Are you feeling better now?" the teacher asked, walking over.
Ericka nodded faintly. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Dinner's almost ready. Rest for now," the teacher said, gently patting her shoulder.
As the others left the tent, Ruth lingered for a moment.
"Did I do something wrong?" Ruth asked softly.
Ericka didn't reply. She avoided looking at her, afraid of what she might see.
Ruth sighed. "You keep staring at me like that. It's intense."
Ericka sighed too. I'm not angry at you, Ruth… I'm angry at the thing following you. She kept the thought to herself.
"Just rest," Ruth said gently. "The bonfire's already started. Come out when you feel better."
"Thank you."
Ruth nodded and walked out. Ericka was left alone with the fading echoes of happy voices and a growing weight on her shoulders. She rubbed the back of her neck, her mind still spinning.