Chapter 16: The real one

“She was there, I swear it.”

Jack’s voice cracked as he sat on the couch in his living room, his hands pressed tightly together. The house was quiet except for the ticking of the old clock on the wall. His mom had gone upstairs to rest, leaving the four of them in the dimly lit room.

Damien sat across from him, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, eyes sharp and serious. Lyra sat near the window, arms crossed, her blonde hair catching the faint glow of the lamp. Maya sat close to Jack, her body stiff, like she was ready to jump up at any second.

Jack rubbed his face, his eyes bloodshot. “I saw her. Serena was in my dream, and then… in the hospital. It wasn’t a trick. I know what I saw.”

Damien frowned, his chest heavy. “Jack… Serena is dead. We all saw it, how could you see her again?”

Jack slammed his fist against his knee, his voice rising. “I don’t know! But it felt real. Like she was right there with me.” His eyes darted between them, desperate for someone to believe him.

Lyra’s gaze stayed cold. “Dreams feel real too. That doesn’t mean they are.”

Jack shot her a glare. “Don’t you think I know the difference? This wasn’t just a dream, she touched me. She spoke to me.” His hands trembled as he spoke. “She said my name.”

The room fell silent. Even Damien didn’t know what to say. He leaned back, dragging a hand over his face, his chest tight with unease.

Maya broke the silence, her voice low but sharp. “If Jack really saw Serena… then maybe she’s not dead after all.”

Damien shook his head quickly, refusing to believe it. “We saw her die, Maya. She was right in front of us, there was no coming back from that.”

Maya’s dark eyes flickered toward him, her voice colder this time. “Then explain how Jack saw her. If she’s gone, who’s bringing her back into his dreams?”

Jack swallowed hard, his throat dry. “I thought… I thought maybe Serena was the real illusionist.”

Lyra sat up straighter, her eyes narrowing. “The illusionist?”

Jack nodded quickly, desperation in his voice. “Think about it, illusions, tricks. Making you believe something is there when it’s not, it fits. It makes sense. Maybe Serena was never who she said she was.”

Damien’s stomach turned. The thought of Serena being behind all of this made his hands curl into fists. He remembered her smile, the way she sat beside him like a normal girl. If that had all been fake....

But Maya’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“If she was the illusionist… then why did she die so easily?” Maya’s gaze shifted to Damien, and her tone dropped, heavy with meaning. “What if it’s not Serena they’re after? What if it’s you?”

Damien turned to her.

The air in the room thickened. Jack blinked in shock, Lyra’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Maya leaned forward, her eyes locked on Damien.

“You’re the Alpha, Damien, the real Alpha you're stronger than the rest. The illusionist wouldn’t waste time on anyone else.”

Damien looked confused. He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. “No. That doesn’t make sense. Why me? I didn’t ask for this.”

Lyra’s voice was cool, but her eyes were sharp. “Monsters don’t care what you asked for. They go after power. And you… you’re the biggest threat to them.”

Damien’s fists tightened against his knees. He hated the weight pressing on him. The Alpha curse already poisoned his life, now this? His breath came short, and he had to look away.

Jack’s voice trembled as he broke the silence again. “But I’m telling you...I saw her. It was Serena, not in some fake way. She was there, in that hospital room, standing by me.” His eyes watered, his voice shaking. “How do you explain that? If she’s not alive, then what is she?”

Maya shifted uncomfortably, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her jacket. “Jack… sometimes what you see isn’t what’s real. The illusionist could’ve used Serena’s face. Played with your mind to hurt you.”

Jack shook his head violently, his chest heaving. “No! It wasn’t just a trick. I felt her. I could smell her perfume. I could hear her laugh, it was Serena. Don’t tell me it wasn’t.”

His voice broke on the last word, and he buried his face in his hands. His shoulders shook, and his breath came uneven, like he was trying not to cry.

Damien’s heart ached seeing his best friend fall apart. He leaned forward, his voice softer now. “Jack, listen to me. Even if you saw her… even if it was Serena… that doesn’t mean it was real. Whatever it was, we’ll figure it out. I promise.”

Jack lifted his head slowly, eyes red, and nodded, though he didn’t look convinced.

The silence in the room stretched until Lyra finally spoke, her tone calm but cold. “Unless…”

All eyes turned to her.

She leaned forward, her arms resting on her knees, her blonde hair falling over her face as her eyes gleamed with suspicion.

“Unless Serena isn’t alive. Unless she isn’t dead either.”

Jack blinked, his lips parting. “What do you mean?”

Lyra’s gaze swept across them all, her tone sharp and steady. “Unless Serena is a puppet.”

The words dropped like a stone into the silence.

Maya’s eyes widened, Damien’s chest tightened, and Jack’s face went pale.

Jack shook his head weakly. “A puppet? That doesn’t make sense. Serena wasn’t like that…” His voice trailed off, fear creeping into his eyes.

Lyra added."I know a puppet when i see one and she dosen't look like one, she looks like something worse."

Damien leaned back, his heart pounding as the word echoed in his mind. Puppet, is someone controlling her? Is someone watching them even now?

Maya’s jaw clenched as she muttered, almost to herself, “If that’s true, then we’re dealing with something worse than an illusionist. Much worse.”