Fifteen Years Later
The piercing ring of the alarm clock shattered the morning quiet, dragging me from the last tendrils of sleep. I groaned and slapped the snooze button, hoping for just five more minutes of peace. But that hope was short-lived.
"Rowan! Get up, or you're going to be late!" my mother's voice called from the kitchen, slicing through my groggy thoughts like a knife.
Reluctantly, I rolled out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor with a dull thud. The chill sent a shiver up my spine, jolting me a bit more awake. Most people my age would be dressed by now, maybe even eating breakfast. Me? I hadn't even brushed my teeth.
Let me back up a bit I'm Rowan John. Just an average teenager, at least on the surface. The only child of my mother and myself, my mother raised me alone in a small, sleepy town just outside a bustling city. Sounds normal, right? Well, not entirely. There's a reason I say I'm the only child of myself too.
Yeah, you'll get that soon enough.
"Rowan!" My mom's voice snapped me back to reality. The unmistakable sound of her hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Before I could react, my door flew open.
"Why aren't you ready for school?" she asked, her eyes scanning my room like a drill sergeant inspecting a barracks.
"Mom! I told you to knock!" I fumbled for a towel to cover myself.
She rolled her eyes, her expression softening just a little. "Maybe if you didn't sleep in every morning, I wouldn't have to barge in. You're always late, Rowan. Always!" She sighed and left, the door clicking shut behind her.
Great. First day of the school year, and I was already off to a fantastic start. I scrambled to get dressed, yanking my shirt on and fumbling with my sneakers. As I passed by the mirror, my hair was a chaotic mess. With a sigh, I grabbed a brush and made a half-hearted attempt to tame it. Good enough.
Today was important no more screw-ups. This year, I was determined. I had a plan, and it involved her.
There's this girl at school, Luna. I've had a huge crush on her for what feels like forever, but every time I try to talk to her, I turn into a blabbering idiot. Either I look like I just rolled out of bed (like today) or I end up saying something incredibly dumb. But not this time. If I got a chance to talk to her, I was going to get it right.
For a second, I was tempted. Just a tiny bit of time manipulation. I could rewind, erase any awkward stumbles, and say the perfect line. But no, I promised myself: no shortcuts this year.
"Rowan, aren't you going to eat breakfast?" my mom called as I headed for the door.
"Gotta run, Mom!" I yelled back, grabbing my skateboard. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and bolted out, leaving her shaking her head. She deserved better than me being a constant whirlwind of chaos.
Skateboarding had become my escape a way to live the "normal" teenage life I promised myself I'd experience. After all, it's not every day you get a second chance at life.
****
Fifteen Years Earlier
Agony. That's all I remembered before darkness swallowed me whole. When I finally opened my eyes, cold, damp air clung to my skin. I was lying on what felt like stone, and the world around me was eerily silent.
Where was I?
My muscles ached as I struggled to sit up, my mind racing with fragmented memories flashes of blood, and a desperate attempt of Lucius to murder the next Diviner. But how was I still here?
As I gathered myself, a faint glow in the distance drew my attention. With no other option, I staggered toward it, each step feeling like it echoed in a vast emptiness.
I entered a room where the floor shimmered like glass, stretching out beneath me like I was walking on a sea of stars. The light shifted and danced, casting strange shadows that stirred something deep within me.
"You must have many questions," a voice said, resonating through the space like the chime of a distant bell. I turned and saw her a woman emerging from the light itself. Her presence was powerful, ancient, and her eyes held the weight of countless lifetimes.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.
"I am Elder Elowen," she replied, her tone soft yet commanding.
Recognition flickered in my mind. "You're... the Diviner."
She inclined her head. "Yes. But you are not where you think you are. Your body may have perished, but your spirit endures. You are caught between worlds."
Memories surged back the murder of my parents, my desperate flight, and my death. I fell to my knees, overcome by the weight of it all.
But Elowen stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Do not despair. You have been given another chance."
"Another... chance?" I echoed, my mind reeling.
"The balance must be maintained," she said, her gaze piercing into mine. "Your son is destined to be the next Diviner. But his path is not yet clear."
"My son?" I whispered, a vision flashing before my eyes a glimpse of a child I had never known.
"Yes," she said, her expression softening. "That is why you must return. Reincarnated as him."
Before I could fully comprehend her words, she touched my forehead, and everything went dark.
****
Present Day
And that's how I ended up here, as Rowan John, navigating the mess that is high school. It wasn't exactly the afterlife I'd imagined, but hey, it beats being dead.
Mom or rather, my former wife has been incredible. She gave up everything to protect me and ensure I had a good life. A normal life.
"Yo, Rowan!" a familiar voice called out. I looked up to see Aaron jogging toward me, a goofy grin plastered on his face.
Aaron was... well, Aaron. Same height as me, with his trademark green hair and a boundless supply of terrible jokes. We'd been inseparable since kindergarten.
"What's up, man?" I asked, shoving my backpack into my locker.
"Ready to crush this school year," he said, elbowing me. "And you?"
"I'm ready," I replied with more confidence than I felt. "I'm going to ask Luna out."
Aaron blinked, then smirked. "You sure about that? She's turned you down before."
"Yeah, but this time will be different," I insisted. "I've got a plan."
Before Aaron could respond, a familiar voice cut through the chatter of the hallway.
"Well, look who it is," sneered Alex, the school's resident troublemaker. He swaggered over, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Perfect," I muttered under my breath. First day of school, and I was already facing my first challenge. I squared my shoulders, ready for whatever Alex had up his sleeve.
This year, nothing was going to stop me. Not Alex, not my past, and definitely not my own fears.