The Master Psychic

chapter 12 - the reveal

The glass doors of the high school swung open, and Sage stepped into the familiar rush of morning noise—lockers slamming, voices echoing down the hall, the shuffle of sneakers against tile. Normally, it all blended into the kind of white noise she barely noticed. But today, Jared’s words echoed louder than anything else.

The visions weren’t meant to scare you. They were meant to inform you.

“Sage!”

Before she could lose herself in the thought again, a blur of curly hair and bright energy nearly bowled her over. Christina wrapped her arms around Sage with the kind of hug that nearly lifted her off the ground.

“You survived another morning,” Christina said dramatically, pulling back with a grin. “That deserves a medal. Or at least a coffee.”

Sage let out a shaky laugh, adjusting her backpack. “You’re way too much energy for before first period.”

“That’s because you’re not enough,” Chris shot back, looping an arm through Sage’s and tugging her toward their usual hallway corner. “C’mon, grumpy, tell me something fun before Mr. Davies bores us all to death in history.”

Sage hesitated, biting her lip. She wanted to tell Chris everything—about the visions, about Jared, about what she’d overheard between him and Mason. But the words lodged in her throat. Chris had been her best friend for six years, her safe place, the one who always had her back. And yet… this secret felt too dangerous to share. Not yet.

“Fun?” Sage repeated, forcing a small smile. “Uh… only one more week until we’re done with this place forever?”

Chris gasped, clasping her hands together dramatically. “Music to my ears. Thank you. That’s the kind of motivation I need.”

Sage chuckled, the tension in her chest easing slightly. With Chris beside her, it was almost possible to pretend everything was normal—almost.

But even as they walked toward first period, the silver eyes from her dreams and Jared’s cryptic words refused to leave her mind.

First period passed in a blur of dates and dull lectures. Sage sat at her desk, eyes on the whiteboard but mind miles away. Mr. Davies’s voice droned on about treaties and revolutions, but all she could hear was Jared’s low voice in the car.

The visions weren’t meant to scare you. They were meant to inform you.

A pen tapped against her desk, snapping her back. Chris leaned across the aisle, whispering, “You look like you’re either solving the meaning of life or plotting murder. Which is it?”

Sage blinked, cheeks heating. “Neither. Just tired.”

Chris smirked knowingly. “Liar. You’ve had that faraway look all morning.”

Sage forced a laugh, trying to shake it off. “Maybe I’m just counting down the days until I never have to listen to this again.” She waved vaguely at the board.

Chris grinned, satisfied with the answer, though her sharp eyes lingered on Sage a second longer.

By second period, the halls were buzzing again. Chris stuck close at Sage’s side, telling some over-the-top story about how she accidentally spilled coffee on the girl she’d been flirting with at the café yesterday. Sage laughed in all the right places, but her smiles felt faint, her thoughts pulled back to the silver eyes and Mason’s secrets.

In chemistry, she stared at the way liquid swirled in a beaker, catching the fluorescent light. Chris nudged her, whispering, “Seriously, Sage. You’re a million miles away today. Wanna talk about it?”

Sage shook her head quickly, too quickly. “No, it’s nothing. Promise.”

Chris frowned, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push. Instead, she slipped Sage a doodle she’d been sketching in the corner of her notes—a ridiculous little stick figure comic of Mr. Davies riding a dinosaur into battle.

Despite everything, Sage let out a soft laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

Chris smirked. “But I made you laugh. Mission accomplished.”

The rest of the day passed in the same rhythm—classes dragging, Sage distracted, Chris filling the silence with her endless energy. But every so often, Chris’s gaze lingered on her, worry flickering in her eyes, like she could sense the weight Sage wasn’t ready to share.

By the time the final bell rang, Sage felt drained. Her best friend’s chatter had been the only thing holding her up through the long hours, but the moment they stepped into the crowded hallway, Jared’s words returned with sharp clarity.

She knew she couldn’t ignore them forever.

The sun hung low in the sky, painting the parking lot in soft gold. Students streamed out of the building, laughing, shouting, calling across rows of cars. Sage’s eyes scanned past them until they landed on the familiar black SUV parked near the curb. Mason leaned casually against the driver’s side door, arms folded, watching for her.

Relief warmed her chest. No matter what chaos swirled in her life, Mason was always steady.

She waved a quick goodbye to Christina, who blew her an exaggerated kiss before darting off toward her own ride, and walked toward Mason. The moment she slid into the passenger seat, the weight she’d been holding back all day pressed down on her.

Mason climbed in beside her, starting the engine. “Rough day?” he asked, giving her a sideways glance.

Sage hesitated, twisting her fingers in her lap. Her heart pounded, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them. “Jared said something to me this morning.”

Mason’s eyes flicked from the road to her, instantly sharp. “What did he say?”

“He told me… the visions weren’t meant to scare me.” Her throat tightened as she replayed it. “He said they were supposed to inform me. I asked of what, but he said to ask you.”

The car went quiet, the hum of the engine and the faint chatter of students fading behind them as Mason pulled out of the lot. His jaw tightened, his hands gripping the wheel a little too firmly.

Sage watched him carefully. “Mason… what does he mean? Inform me of what?”

For a long moment, Mason didn’t answer. His eyes stayed locked on the road ahead, but she could see the storm building in them. Finally, he let out a low breath.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that yet.”

Her stomach dropped. “So it’s true?” she whispered.

Mason’s silence was enough of an answer.

The drive back felt heavier than usual, the silence thick with unspoken questions. Sage stared out the window, trees blurring by, her chest tight. Mason hadn’t said another word since her confession about Jared’s message.

When the SUV finally crunched up the gravel driveway, Mason shifted into park but didn’t turn off the engine. He sat there for a moment, his hand resting on the wheel, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Then he turned toward her, his expression softer than she expected.

“Sage,” he began, his voice low, careful. “There’s something you need to understand about Jared.”

Her breath caught, nerves crawling through her. “What is it?”

Mason searched her face for a moment, as though weighing how much to tell her, before finally speaking. “Jared has a… connection. To you. It’s called a soul tie.”

Sage blinked, confusion and disbelief flashing across her features. “A soul tie? What does that even mean?”

“It means,” Mason said gently, “that your visions weren’t random. They weren’t just warnings. They were pulling you toward him, showing you the bond between you two.”

Her stomach twisted, the weight of his words pressing down hard. “So… you’re saying I’m tied to him? That I have to be with him?”

Mason shook his head firmly. “No. That’s not how this works. The bond is real, yes—but it doesn’t control you. It doesn’t make the choice for you. You still have free will. What you do with that connection… that’s entirely up to you.”

Sage sat back against the seat, trying to process it all. The silver eyes. The dreams. The strange feeling in her chest whenever Jared was near.

Her voice came out small. “So it’s my decision?”

Mason nodded, his tone soft but steady. “Always. You’re my sister, Sage. I’ll protect you no matter what you choose.”