Page 36 of Hunters and Prey

Love conquers all, she’d said. I’d never really experienced true love, I didn't think. Sure, I loved Aaron, but he never showed he loved me back.

Unless I was completely blind and missed it.

It was a one-sided love, and I didn't think parental love counted either. Then there was the matter of five not being a lucky number. I knew that was kind of true.

Three, six, seven, nine, those were apparently lucky numbers. Some had a spiritual connection, like how it took three days for Jesus to rise up or how it took God six days to create the world, while he took rest on the seventh.

I forgot why nine was lucky, but it was in my dad's magic book. I'm sure it had some connection to three and six, but I couldn't waste my mental energy trying to figure out the answer.

Needless to say, when I opened my eyes, I wanted to tell whoever was sitting near me. I'd have to inform them of what the voice told me.

Continuing to repeat the words of the voice, time continued to pass. Minutes turned to hours, and at one point, I must have blacked out.

When I came to again, my eyes didn't feel as heavy as before. I didn't get my hopes up, but I wanted to try again. But I was unsure whether someone was in the room with me.

If it was a room at all.

I waited until the soothing wet cloth brushed along my forehead. Trying to open my eyes, I finally managed to open them slightly and a pair of red ones looked down at me.

Blinking a few times, I stared at him as though he was an illusion, unsure where he'd come from or who he even was.

"Alice?" His voice was deep and filled with concern, but I had no clue who he was. I'd never met him before, but at the same time, it was as though I'd known him for my entire existence.

My previous existence...

I realized I was going against my promise to myself, that I needed to tell the first person I saw what the voice told me.

"There is hope," I whispered. "Do...not repeat our mistakes. Five...is not...the lucky number. Let magic and heart guide...to victory. Evil can't get me. I'm...key. Witch...work together. Don't..." I was beginning to feel tired, my eyes growing heavier by the second.

"Don't what, Alice?" the man questioned, worry flickering in his red orbs. They had hints of gold in them, and I wished I wasn't so drained out or I'd stare at their beauty for a little longer.

"Don't...deny...love. Love..." I trailed off, my eyes coming to a close. "Conquers all."

The world went dark once more.

"Alice?"

I stirred at the call of my name, my body feeling achy while my head was pounding. The cold cloth was back, pressing against my forehead. I struggled to open my eyes, but let out a quiet moan, hoping whoever was calling me would know I was trying to wake up.

"I think she's awake."

"Her body is still recovering. Don't say anything crazy."

"I'm not sure we can avoid that when magic isn't something humans take as 'normal'."

"Why do I have a feeling you guys are just going to contribute to her headache?"

"How do you even know she has a headache?"

"Magic."

"See? She hasn't even woken up and you broke the rule."

"You never said it was a rule of thumb."

"What do you think 'don't say anything crazy' means?"

"Uh. I don't know. Pigs can fly?"

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