Selina dozed off in the backseat, lulled by the sway of the car and the warm afternoon sun. The peaceful nap shattered as images and sounds flooded her dreams:
The screech of tires. The sickening crunch of metal. The chemical smell of gasoline. The sudden extreme heat of a fire erupting and consuming everything. The acrid smell of burning rubber and flesh. Liam's scream. Kurt's blood. Everything is spinning, spinning...
"STOP! STOP NOW!" Selina jolted upright, her panicked scream piercing the quiet car. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she lunged forward, grabbing Liam's shoulder.
Liam instantly slammed the brakes, trusting her urgency without hesitation. The Jeep's tires squealed and smoked as they skidded to a halt just before an oil tanker in the oncoming lane lost control, flipped over and slid with an ear-splitting metallic grinding sound until it stopped a car length in front of them.
As soon as the smell of gasoline hit Selina's nose, she screamed even louder than before, "REVERSE NOW! DON'T LOOK BACK!".
Once again, Liam followed his sister's instructions without pausing to think. He floored the gas pedal immediately after putting the car in reverse. Within moments, the deafening sound of an explosion was heard, the Jeep shook violently as gale-force winds enveloped the car in sudden heat. Liam heard Selina's cracking voice declare they were safe and stopped.
Complete silence filled the car. Selina's ragged breathing was the only sound as they all stared agape at the flaming wreckage of the tanker. Their eyes were wide open in disbelief and shock.
"Holy shit," Kurt whispered, his knuckles white as he gripped the seatbelt lying across his chest. "We would have..." He was unable to finish the sentence.
"… been mangled and burning with that truck," Liam completed, his voice shaky. He turned to look at his sister. "You saw it, didn't you? In your dream?"
Selina nodded, still trembling. "It was so real. More than just a feeling or emotions. It was like I was living it. The crash, the fire, the sounds, the smells..." She closed her eyes, trying to block out the vivid images that still lingered. "We would all have..." She couldn't bring herself to say the word 'died.'
"But we didn't," Liam said firmly, reaching back to squeeze her hand.
"Because of you." His indigo eyes met hers, and he smiled reassuringly. "I'll never doubt your instincts, or your dreams, and you shouldn't either."
"Hell ya! Sexy and psychic! This just made everything ten times better." Kurt exclaimed, easing the atmosphere.
Selina rolled her eyes at Kurt and chuckled softly. "You sure have a way with words, Kurt. Liam, I think that's enough driving and adventure for one day. I say we head for the nearest motel."
"Agreed!" Kurt and Liam responded at the same time while reaching for their phones. Realizing that only one person was needed to find the nearest motel, Liam turned the Jeep around and started back the way they came. "Preferably, one close to a gas station, unless you want to walk tomorrow."
After selecting their destination, Kurt turned on some music, and they spent the next hour enjoying some carefree car karaoke. After checking in, the group ordered some food and took turns enjoying a hot shower, washing the day's near-death experience away.
"Alright gang, gather around. I have maps to help decide our route tomorrow. And no, we can't just use a GPS app, they don't include old unused roads or hidden pack roads. Maybe our sexy psychic here can show us which way to go." Kurt smirked at Selina.
"Oh my Goddess, that better not be my new name." Selina laughed softly as she moved towards the maps spread haphazardly over one of the beds. "Hmmmmm I'm not really getting a vibe of any sort…", Selina paused as she glanced towards the northern section of the local and shivered. "Except, definitely not north. That's a bad vibe. Nothing else. Pick whichever route will get us to Lunar Lake Pack the quickest."
Kurt quickly checked over the maps and laid out his preferred route. Selina glanced over it and nodded her approval once she confirmed her instinct didn't have objections. "With that settled, I think it's time to sleep." Selina suggested.
Kurt quickly ran over to the bed Selina was heading towards. "Shotgun next to the Sexy Psychic." He cheerfully shouted.
"Um," Selina said as she turned to face Kurt. "There are 2 beds, one for the boys and one for the girl. You and Liam can enjoy each other's company tonight."
Kurt's face became serious as he responded, "I don't mean in kinky fun way. I just want to make sure I'm close enough to keep you safe. It makes me feel…ah what's the word, maybe insecure, if you are alone. What if something happens?"
Selina stared at Kurt in disbelief, wondering what exactly he was worried about. After all, they were all in the same room. She instantly became awashed in anxious concern for her safety. Selina was momentarily bewildered until she realized that this was how Kurt was feeling. Somehow, she was picking up on his emotions or part of them.
"I'll be fine Kurt. We are all in here together. There's nothing to worry about, says this Sexy Psychic." Selina said, pointing towards herself with both thumbs.
Kurt's expression and concern remained unchanged.
"Fine. Keep your hands to yourself and this line of pillows between us," Selina relented. She could feel the concern recede as relief exploded in Kurt.
For the first night in weeks, her sleep was peaceful and dream free. She woke up feeling somewhat excited, but something felt off. Not quite right. Selina pushed the feeling down as they packed up the Jeep. Their banter was playful and fun. Once again, Liam was in the driver's seat. Selina was next to him while Kurt was in the backseat, ready to navigate with the map on his lap.
Kurt and Liam were still laughing as Liam began to pull out of the motel parking lot.
"Not that way," Selina interrupted their laughter, her voice quiet as an unexpected pull tugged her in the other direction. The laughter faded, and the atmosphere shifted, a weight pressing down on her chest. "I... I suddenly feel like we need to take a different route."
Kurt frowned, glancing at the map spread out on his lap. "But we decided last night…and you had no vibe, as you put it. And it's not North…"
"I do now. Trust me," she insisted, her voice firm yet quiet. She glanced out the window, as Liam changed direction. She caught the shadows of the trees whipping by in a blur against the deep orange dawn. It was beautiful. "There's something—or someone—we need to find. I can't explain it. It's like a magnet pulling me. The thought of not going fills me with dread."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Someone? It's got to be my mate! Lead the way Sexy!" His attempt at humor fell flat against the gravity of Selina's gaze, which was focused intently on the road ahead.
"Now it's just Sexy? I will never answer that," she replied, her voice softening. "The pull is towards hope. I just know... I can feel it." The certainty in her chest grew stronger, an electric hum that resonated with her Lunarian blood. There was a connection, a thread woven through time that pulled her towards this new path.
"You need to turn soon. I don't think it's on the map," Selena said.
"Alright. Let me know when," Liam said, his brow furrowing with concern as he could not see any roads up ahead. "Which way?"
She pointed toward a narrow path veering off to the right, overgrown with wildflowers and lined with ancient trees that seemed to stretch their gnarled branches toward the sky. "There. Its like its whispering to me."
"Whispers, huh?" Kurt chuckled again, but there was a hint of respect in his tone now. "Lead the way, Miss Psychic."
Selina took a deep breath, while Liam turned the steering wheel. The tires crunched over gravel, and the world around them shifted from the familiar asphalt and power lines to a secluded sanctuary, where sunlight filtered softly through the leaves, casting dappled patterns across the road.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, the air thickened, and Selina could feel the vibrations beneath her skin—the roots of her heritage awakening. Each mile felt like a step closer to something significant, something that had been waiting for them. The sky grew darker and the wind began to shake the branches harshly.
"Selina," Liam broke the silence, his voice low and cautious, "are you sure about this? We don't know what's out here."
"Exactly," she replied, her heart racing with anticipation. "There's something here we need which is why we have to go. We'll be okay. I know that just as I know that this is the way to something vital to our success." Her thoughts drifted yet again to her mother's constant reminders to trust her instincts. The threads of fate were weaving tighter around them, and she felt destined to follow where they led.
"Exciting, don't you think Liam?" Kurt asked, trying to lighten the mood again. "But if this ends up being a horror movie, I'm blaming Selina."
"Thanks for your support," Selina shot back, a small smile tugging up the corners of her mouth. Deep down, she felt the truth of her instincts—a guiding force pulling her ever forward, toward whatever lay ahead.