007

After the weird guy left, Scarlett felt something quite different but she couldn't put her finger around what was different.

The dream was different this time. More real. More vivid. It suddenly changed, when she turned around, she saw her, Claire. Claire was alone - no faithful followers, no adoring crowd. Just Claire, looking small for once.

Scarlett felt powerful. Every bit of anger, every moment of humiliation fueled her as she approached Claire in the dream. Dream-Claire backed away, her usual confidence nowhere to be seen.

"Please," Dream-Claire whimpered. "I'm sorry!"

But Scarlett wasn't listening. Not anymore. Her hand shot out, grabbing Claire by the throat. She squeezed, watching those perfect features turn red, then purple. When she finally let go, Claire collapsed to the ground, gasping.

Scarlett didn't stop there. All the rage she'd bottled up came pouring out. She kicked and punched, each hit feeling more satisfying than the last. By the time she was done, Dream-Claire was a mess of bruises and blood.

"How does it feel?" Scarlett whispered, standing over her. "To be the one hurting?"

She woke up feeling... different. Lighter somehow, like she'd actually gotten revenge instead of just dreaming about it.

But nothing could have prepared her for what she saw at school the next day.

Claire wasn't at her usual spot by the lockers. Weird. She was always there, holding court with her little group of followers. Scarlett walked to class, feeling oddly disappointed.

Then she heard the whispers.

"Did you see Claire?"

"What happened to her neck?"

"She looks awful..."

Scarlett's heart stopped when Claire finally walked in.

There were bruises on her throat - dark purple marks that looked exactly like... no. It couldn't be. Claire's face was swollen too, and she winced with every step like her whole body hurt.

Their eyes met across the classroom. Claire flinched - actually flinched - and quickly looked away.

"Claire!" Ava rushed over. "Are you sure you should be here? You look-"

"I'm fine," Claire snapped, but her voice was rough, scratchy. She touched her throat and winced.

Brittany started to say something about Scarlett, but Claire cut her off sharply. "Just... leave her alone today."

The others stared at Claire like she'd grown a second head. Claire Bennett, telling them not to mess with Scarlett Hayes?

Throughout the day, Claire kept her distance. Every time Scarlett came near, Claire would find somewhere else to be. She tried to act normal, but Scarlett could see the fear in her eyes.

It was... satisfying. And terrifying.

When her phone buzzed with Liam's usual text after school, Scarlett's stomach churned with guilt.

Liam: Hey! Same spot?

Her fingers shook as she typed back:

Sorry, got something to do. Going home another way today.

She turned her phone off before he could reply and took the long way home, her mind racing. This couldn't be real. Dreams were just dreams. They couldn't...

"Scarlett?" Her mom's voice cut through her thoughts when she got home. "Honey, are you okay? You look pale."

"I'm fine," Scarlett mumbled, heading for the stairs. "Just tired."

"Are you sure? You've barely said two words lately. I'm worried-"

"I said I'm fine!" Scarlett snapped, immediately regretting it when she saw her mom's hurt expression. "I just... I need to be alone."

She grabbed a sandwich and retreated to her room, but she couldn't eat. The food tasted like ash in her mouth as she thought about those bruises on Claire's neck. Bruises that matched her hands in the dream perfectly.

Hours passed. Scarlett lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind spinning with questions she was afraid to answer. When night finally came, she didn't fight sleep. She needed answers.

The dream world formed around her instantly - she was getting better at controlling it. The familiar mist swirled at her feet as she waited.

"Well, isn't this interesting?"

Lucien's voice came from behind her. She spun around to find him leaning against a tree that hadn't been there a second ago, that irritating smirk on his face.

"What did you do?" Scarlett demanded.

He raised an eyebrow. "Me? I simply... gave you a little push. The rest was all you, darling."

"That's impossible. Dreams can't... they're not supposed to..."

"And yet," he pushed off the tree, moving closer, "here we are. Tell me, how did it feel? Seeing your handiwork in the real world?"

Scarlett stepped back. "I didn't... I wouldn't..."

"Oh, but you did." His smile grew wider. "And quite impressively, I might add. Most people take much longer to manifest their abilities in the waking world. But you?" He circled her slowly. "You're special."

"Special?" Scarlett's voice shook. "This isn't special, this is... this is wrong!"

Lucien laughed - a deep, rich sound that echoed through the dreamscape. "Wrong? Was it wrong when she tormented you? When she tried to steal your only friend?" He stopped in front of her. "Face it, Scarlett. You enjoyed it. I saw the look in your eyes when you realized what you'd done."

"That's not... I didn't mean to... how did you...?"

"Of course you did." He reached out and lifted her chin with one finger, forcing her to meet his eyes. "And that's what makes you perfect. All you needed was a little... awakening."

Scarlett jerked away from his touch. "What are you talking about?"

"Let's just say," he stepped back into the shadows, his form beginning to fade, "I helped unlock something that was already there. The rest? That's all you, dear Scarlett. All you."

His laughter lingered in the air long after he disappeared, leaving Scarlett alone with the terrifying realization that her dreams weren't just dreams anymore.

And maybe they never were.