DEMON BE NICE

Chapter 3: Whispers of Fate

Latona's POV

The walk back to the restaurant felt surreal, like I was floating in a dream. Dazed and speechless, I replayed the events under the Red Water Bridge—the mysterious figure, the truck, and that impossible moment when everything stopped. Had I actually been teleported? By the time I reached the restaurant and pushed open the door, my mind was a whirlpool of questions.

My boss, Becky, shot me a look the moment I stepped inside. Her eyes narrowed with concern. "Latona, you look like you've seen a ghost. What happened out there?"

I struggled to find the right words, each sentence slipping through my fingers like sand. "There was... this truck... and a guy... I-I don't know. Time just froze or something. I can't explain it."

Becky's brow furrowed. "Slow down, girl. You're not making any sense. A frozen truck? Latona, are you sure you didn't hit your head or something?"

"No, it was real! I swear," I insisted, hands moving in frantic gestures, trying to paint the chaos that had just unfolded.

She sighed, clearly struggling to believe me. "Alright, alright. So, where's the customer? Did you even make the delivery?"

I hesitated, swallowing hard before answering. "I... I couldn't find him. After the accident, it's like he just vanished."

Becky's eyes widened, and she leaned back, crossing her arms. "Vanished? So, you're saying your customer disappeared into thin air? Latona, this is all too much. Are you absolutely sure you're okay?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of the strangeness settling on my shoulders. "I'm fine, I think. But everything felt like some kind of movie. Sci-fi or something."

Becky rubbed her temples, as if warding off a headache. "Look, we'll talk about this in the morning. Just get some rest. Maybe it'll make more sense after some sleep."

---

Later that night, alone in my tiny apartment at the back of the restaurant, I stripped off my shirt, leaving only my underwear as exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I tossed my bag onto the bed and slumped down, the room shrouded in a calm silence that seemed at odds with the storm of thoughts swirling inside me.

I couldn’t shake the image of the silhouette under the bridge, the figure who seemed to manipulate time itself. In my pocket, I felt the cool, smooth metal of the black ring he had given me. Slowly, I took it out, holding it close to the dim glow of my bedside lamp. The faint light revealed an intricate inscription, the symbols twisting in a language I couldn’t decipher. They seemed almost... alive, pulsating in a soft, eerie light that danced over the ring’s dark surface.

"Black," I whispered to myself, turning the ring between my fingers. I wondered if this strange artifact was connected to everything I had witnessed.

In a moment of impulse, curiosity got the better of me, and I slipped the ring onto my finger. Just as I did, my phone buzzed loudly, snapping me back to reality. I dropped the ring, almost startled, and reached for my phone. The screen lit up with a notification that made my heart skip a beat.

**"Congratulations! You've been accepted to Oakland University."**

The words glowed on my screen like a promise fulfilled, and I could hardly believe what I was seeing. After months of waiting and the nerve-wracking scholarship exams, I’d finally made it. I leapt up, adrenaline coursing through my veins, and began bouncing around my small room in sheer elation.

This was my dream—a chance to finally break free, to explore beyond the constraints of my current life. Without wasting a second, I sent a message to my best friend, Maya: **"Maya! Guess what? I got accepted into Oakland University! I’m coming over tomorrow, and we’ll figure out the next steps together!"**

For a moment, the mysteries of the ring and the stranger faded into the background as the exhilaration of my new path took over. As I finally fell onto my bed, the black ring lay beside me, its shadowy glow a silent reminder of the events still waiting to unfold.

---

The next morning, sunlight filtered into my apartment, flooding the room with a warm, hopeful glow. Today was the day. My heart raced as I prepared to set out for Oakland University, a mixture of excitement and nervousness pulsing through me.

Downstairs, the familiar scent of coffee and the sounds of clinking dishes greeted me. I hurried into the restaurant, and there, at our regular table, was Maya, her attention momentarily fixed on the TV news. She barely looked up when I walked in.

"Late as always, Latona," she teased, her lips curving into a smirk.

I gave Becky a quick wave and a bright smile as I approached Maya. "Hey, Maya! You won’t believe this—I woke up with so much energy today. I got accepted into Oakland University!"

Maya’s face lit up, playing along as though it were a surprise. "No way! Latona, that’s amazing!"

Becky shook her head with a chuckle. "Well, aren’t you just full of surprises. Congrats, kiddo. You earned it."

"Thanks, Becky!" I replied, barely containing my excitement. "But hey, can we talk about the news later? You’ll fill me in when I’m back, right?"

Becky gave me a nod, her expression softening. "Go on, you two. Enjoy your day. We’ll catch up when you’re back."

With a quick farewell, Maya and I headed out to her car. The engine revved, and soon we were on the road to Oakland University. As we drove, I rolled down the window, letting the breeze wash over me. The excitement of my future made the world feel alive.

As we slowed at a red light, Maya suddenly braked hard, causing a bottle to tumble off the dashboard. I leaned down to grab it, but as I straightened, I noticed a sleek black sedan pulling up beside us. The driver—a man with an almost unnervingly perfect face—lowered his sunglasses, locking eyes with me. His stare was intense, sending a shiver down my spine.

For a moment, I was transfixed by his gaze, a strange feeling of familiarity settling over me. But as soon as the light turned green, he rolled up his window and drove off, disappearing down the road.

I glanced at Maya, my brow furrowed. "Did you see that guy? The way he stared at me?"

Maya burst into laughter. "Oh, come on! Maybe he thought you were some big celebrity. I mean, you do have that look, Latona."

I laughed along, but the encounter had left me unsettled. As we continued driving, I found my fingers grazing the black ring, its smooth surface somehow comforting.

---

Finally, we reached Oakland University. The campus buzzed with energy, students milling about, laughter and conversation filling the air. Maya took the lead, guiding me through the enrollment process with practiced ease. By the end of it, I was officially a student.

Outside the administration building, we basked in the sunlight. Maya grinned, clearly proud of me. But our quiet moment was interrupted by a voice.

"Hey there," said a guy approaching us with a charming smile. "Are you two new here?"

Maya turned, her social instincts kicking in immediately. "I'm a second-year, but my friend Latona here is a newbie."

The guy, who introduced himself as Damien, extended a hand, which I accepted hesitantly. "Welcome to Oakland, Latona," he said smoothly.

Maya, with a mischievous grin, added, "So, Damien, are you as much of a legend as I hear?"

He chuckled, enjoying the attention. "Oh, I don’t know about legend, but I like making friends. Maybe I could give you a tour, show you the campus legends."

Maya winked at me. "Sounds good. Take Latona’s number, would you?"

I shot her a look of protest, but Damien quickly saved it in his phone. After he walked away, I rolled my eyes at Maya. "You’re impossible."

She just laughed, nudging me toward the car to fetch her things. But as we walked, I spotted the same black sedan from earlier. And stepping out was the mysterious man, surrounded by school officials who seemed to treat him with great importance.

"Maya, look! It’s him! The guy from the light!"

She squinted. "The one staring at you? Must be someone important. Let’s follow."

We moved toward the crowd, my heart racing as we entered the hall. There was something mysterious in the air, and for the first time, I felt Oakland University had secrets I couldn’t wait to unravel.