1. THE WATER, THE BLOW, AND THE AWAKENING
"Mireya!"
The harsh voice echoed in my ears, but convinced it was just a remnant of my vivid dreams, I hugged my pillow tighter. I heard the door click open, making me squeeze my eyes shut even harder.
"Mireya! Are you still asleep? Get up and make breakfast right now!"
"Mom!" I groaned, desperately resisting the urge to open my eyes. "Why do I have to make breakfast? You do it."
Splash!
An icy cold shock hit my face. My eyes flew open in sheer terror as I gasped, bolting upright in bed. Water droplets slid down my skin, soaking my clothes. Rage boiled in my chest, and I opened my mouth, ready to scream at the top of my lungs.
But as my eyes landed on the complete stranger standing in front of me, the scream died in my throat. I froze. Who on earth was this woman?
"Do you really think you can defy me just because your father is home?" The strange woman leaned closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous, hushed hiss. "You don't want me to lock you in that cellar again, do you, Mireya? Don't forget that once your father leaves, you and I will be left alone in this house. Don't you dare say a word to him. All it takes is one nightwear, a little entertainment, and he’ll forget everything. And then, it will just be you and me again."
"Who..." I muttered, my heart hammering against my ribs in pure panic. "Who are you? And who is Mireya? My name is Elena!"
She stared at me as if I had completely lost my mind. Her gaze flicked to the books piled on the desk in the corner, and she shook her head, letting out an annoyed sigh. "You can read your brain to mush for all I care, but you will get up and do what I said. Now!"
"Stop screaming at me!" I snapped back.
The moment the words left my mouth, her eyes widened in absolute shock. It was as if the concept of me raising my voice to her was something utterly impossible, a crime she hadn't anticipated.
"What are you doing in my house?" I pushed forward, glare hardening. "How dare you yell at me! I will ruin you!"
"Mom," a voice chimed from the doorway. A young girl was leaning against the frame. Her long blonde hair shimmered in the morning light, but her eyes were dripping with arrogant amusement. "I think she’s getting a little too brave just because her daddy is back."
"What did you just say, you sour-faced brat?" I spat back, glaring at her.
The blonde girl’s posture stiffened immediately, her jaw dropping in disbelief.
"You..." the woman muttered, still reeling from the shock of my sudden rebellion.
But before I could say another word, I experienced the biggest shock of my life.
SLAP!
A stinging, brutal slap landed across my face. The force of it whipped my head to the side. My anger ignited like wildfire, burning through my veins. Before I could react, the woman gripped my jaw tightly in her palm, squeezing my cheeks together as she hissed directly into my face.
"Do you remember what happened the last time I locked you out during the full moon, Mireya? If I leave you out there again during the next full moon, do you think you’ll get as lucky as the first time?"
In that agonizing second, reality crashed down on me. The impossible, absurd thing I thought was a dream... was real.
Mireya.
I was in the body of Mireya. The bullied, nerdy outcast from the w*******l I had been reading last night. The girl whose family was barely mentioned in the book, known only for being the school's punching bag. And I was in her world now. A world ruled by wolves and vampires.
And out of everyone, I had become the one person who stood absolutely no chance of survival.
I needed to get out of here. Immediately. Because if I couldn't find a way back... I knew I wouldn't survive this world.
