All Chapters of The Second Life of Kara B.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

She was born to Noemi and Joseph Rey, a young couple who lived close to Noemi's mother, Roselle. Roselle was a retired high school teacher whose husband died some twenty years ago in a car accident. Kara was beloved to her maternal grandmother, who insisted on naming her after her best friend, who had also passed away.She was a miracle baby. She and her mother nearly died when she was born, and so her parents decided not to have another child. Her parents were careful not to expose her to anything that could potentially harm her. They kept her indoors, away from other children, and even home-schooled her for a few years. She enrolled in a traditional school in fifth grade, but she found no difficulty making friends. She had a bright smile, and an honest personality. Her awkwardness seemed overshadowed by her outside appearance, which had the fifth grade boys and upper years sprawling at her feet.This overabundance of affection made her vain. She began to disobey her

It seemed to Kara that everything always had to happen at night, in the middle of it, in fact, and she barely got any sleep. Tonight, she and Mary were sneaking out to find the other person in the neighborhood who could reincarnate, a power that Kara discovered herself to have. The yellow lamplights on the deserted streets flickered every now and then, giving off an eerie vibe. Kara decided to diffuse some of her fear by asking Mary questions, which annoyed the latter."So if I can reincarnate all along, how come I only know about it now?" she asked, occasionally looking around the dark streets."It's different for everyone," Mary explained, walking boldly under the lamplights, "Sometimes you discover your powers only at a certain point in your cycle, but they've always been with you.""I wonder who I was before I was Kara Beltran, then...""Hopefully not as annoying as who you are now," Mary quipped.The light above them flickered shut, and there

Kara was fascinated by the things in Claudine's room--all around there were some strange experiments and contraptions of sorts hanging by the walls or from the ceiling. There were also blueprints scattered on the floor, and one giant blueprint spread across a drawing board with little pins stuck to it. Kara spotted a dresser with a mirror covered in scribbles and notes. Instead of the usual vanity items, the dresser had markers and tissue on it. Claudine's bed could barely be spotted in the mess, but it was there in the middle of it all, the only well-kept thing in the entire place.The ten-year-old girl cleared her throat to call back her guests' attention."Have a seat," Claudine said, and then, as if remembering her manners, "Please."Kara looked around but there wasn't really anywhere to sit. She was surprised when the floorboards began to move from underneath them, and three stools emerged for them to sit on."It saves time," Claudine explained, "Now