Chapter 2 A NEW BEGINNING

Denise got out of the car and looked about at the strange place. The little town of Arazona was encircled by undulating hills and dense trees.

The sun was shining brightly overhead, and the air was clear and fresh. Even if her new surroundings were beautiful, Denise was still depressed. Her previous life, her school, and her friends were all gone, along with all she knew and loved. Looking around, Denise saw a boy eyeing her from the other side of the street. With jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, he was tall and slender. As their eyes locked, Denise's heart began to race.

The boy said, "Hey," as he approached her. "Greetings from Arazona. My name is Lucas. A little more relaxed, Denise grinned. "Thanks," she said. "I'm Denise." Lucas nodded while maintaining eye contact with her. "I know," he replied.

"I've noticed you in the city. I take it you're the new girl? A little self-conscious, Denise nodded. "Yeah, that's me." Lucas grinned, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He remarked, "Well, I'm glad you're here," "Arazona is a bit...boring at times. However, I believe you might just make things more interesting. Denise chuckled as she began to feel attracted to Lucas. When she said, "I'll try my best," Denise felt increasingly comfortable as they conversed.

Lucas claimed to know everything about Arazona and was clever and engaging. However, as the discussion continued, Denise couldn't get rid of the suspicion that Lucas was concealing something. Every time she asked him a question, his eyes would flicker with a tense intensity, and he appeared to be avoiding some subjects. Denise was attracted to Lucas in spite of her misgivings. Something about him made her feel at home, though she was unable to explain why.

Lucas escorted Denise to her new home as the sun started to drop. She grinned up at him and said, "Thanks for showing me around," Lucas returned the smile, amusement glimmering in his eyes. "No problem," he replied. "I'll show you around some more tomorrow, if you want." With a flutter in her chest, Denise nodded. When she said, "I'd like that," Denise shouted out to Lucas as he turned to go.

"Hey, Lucas?" His eyes were inquisitive as he turned back. "Yeah?" "What's going on in Arazona?" Denise's question was hardly audible above a whisper. "I get the feeling that something's off." Lucas's face shifted, and a serious energy clouded his gaze. When he said, "I'll tell you tomorrow," "But for now, just be careful, okay?" A chill went down Denise's spine as she nodded. What had been happening in Arazona?

Furthermore, why was Lucas acting so covertly? Denise couldn't get rid of the impression that she was going to have a crazy time as she watched Lucas leave. She had no idea that her life would soon undergo unimaginable changes. Denise saw something odd as she turned to get inside.

The following note was written in red ink on a sheet of paper that was attached to the front door: "Denise, welcome to Arazona. We have been anticipating your arrival. As Denise gazed at the letter, her heart skipped a beat. Who was anticipating her arrival? What were they looking for? Denise stared at the letter, her thoughts racing. Who was the author? What does "we've been waiting for you" mean, by the way? The realization that she was being observed sent a chill down her spine. She glanced around, but nobody was there. Denise inhaled deeply and made an effort to relax. The words made her shiver, but she convinced herself it was probably just a joke.

Denise entered the house with a nagging suspicion that something was wrong. She had no idea what was ahead and felt as though she was being drawn into a mystery. Denise was nervous when she got up the following morning. Thoughts of the enigmatic message continued to race through her head, even after she had hardly slept. Denise's mother realized something was off as she was getting ready for school. She said, "Hey, sweetie, what's wrong?" Uncertain of how much to divulge, Denise paused. "I just got a weird message on the door yesterday," she explained.

"It said 'welcome to Arazona, we've been waiting for you'." Her mother's demeanor shifted to one of anxiety. "I don't know who could have written that," she replied. However, I ask that you use caution. Come directly to me if you see anything odd. Relieved, Denise nodded her head. She was relieved that her mother was paying attention to the message. Denise wondered what the future held as she made her way to school. It seemed to her that life in Arazona would be much more difficult than she had expected. Lucas was waiting for her near the lockers when Denise got to school. "Hey," he said with a smile. "How's it going?" Uncertain of how much to divulge, Denise paused. However, she felt more at ease because of Lucas's sincere and compassionate demeanor. "I got a weird message on my door yesterday," she stated.

"It said 'welcome to Arazona, we've been waiting for you'." Lucas's face shifted to one of seriousness. "I know who might have written that," he replied. "But I have something to tell you. Something that will sound insane. Denise became interested. She inquired, "What is it?" Lucas paused, scanning his surroundings anxiously. He remarked, "Arazona is not what it seems," "This community is experiencing an odd situation. Something that has been kept secret for many years. As Denise heard what Lucas had to say, her eyes grew wide.

What was he discussing? And what did "something strange" signify to him? Denise became aware that her life in Arazona was going to become much more complicated as she listened to Lucas's explanation. She had no idea what was going to happen, and she was being drawn into a mystery. One thing was certain, though: Denise was committed to finding the truth. No matter how odd or difficult the future held, she was prepared to face it. And Denise experienced both exhilaration and apprehension as she moved through the corridors of her new school.

A voyage that would forever alter her life was about to begin. Denise felt as though she was being drawn into a world of lies and secrets as she heard Lucas's explanation. What she was hearing was unbelievable. "So, you're telling me that Arazona is some kind of... supernatural hub?" Denise inquired, attempting to comprehend the idea. Lucas gave a nod. "That's correct. And I believe there's a reason you're here. I believe you have some sort of connection to all of this. Denise's thoughts were racing. She was unsure of whom to trust and what to believe.

She was going to ask Lucas another question when the school day ended with the ringing of the bell. Denise saw an odd sign carved into the wall as they left the school building. It appeared to be an old rune of some sort. "What's that?" Denise pointed to the symbol and questioned Lucas. Lucas's face became serious. His words, "That's a warning sign," "It signals the arrival of something. Something significant.

A chill went through Denise's body. What was going to happen? What connection did it have to her? Denise observed someone across the street observing her as they left the school. She wore a white dress that seemed to shimmer in the last of the light and had long, wavy hair. "Who's that?" Uncomfortably, Denise questioned Lucas. Lucas looked after her. He murmured, "I don't know," However, I believe we ought to leave this place. "Now." The woman began to approach them as they turned to go. Her smile appeared to widen with each stride, and her gaze remained riveted on Denise. A wave of fear passed over Denise. This woman was who? What was it she desired? Denise glimpsed something that chilled her blood as the woman walked toward them.

The woman had coal-black eyes. Additionally, they appeared to be suckling out all of the light. "Run," Lucas said softly as he took Denise's arm. However, it was too late. Denise's face was touched by the woman's hand. Then everything turned dark. Denise was lying in a dark room when she woke up. She didn't know how she got there or where she was. She noticed a man standing in the shadows as she got up and looked about. Lucas was the one. His eyes, however, were as dark as coal.

He was also grinning at her. He greeted them as "Welcome to Arazona," "You're going to love it here." The sound of Denise's own heart thumping in her ears drowned out her cry. Denise experienced an odd feeling as her entire environment darkened. She seemed to be being torn apart and then reassembled. She was lying in a bright, white room when she woke up. A figure stood over her, and she was surrounded by odd machinery and apparatus. Lucas was there, but his eyes had returned to normal. He appeared relieved and was grinning at her. He remarked, "Denise, thank God you're awake," "I was worried sick about you." Denise felt a feeling of vertigo come over her as she attempted to sit up. After catching her, Lucas assisted her in getting back on the bed.

"What happened?" Denise inquired, attempting to recall. "Where am I?" Lucas remarked, "You're in a special hospital," "You've spent a few days here. You were taken here following the incident. Denise's thoughts were racing. What happened? What was happening? Then she recalled. The woman whose eyes were black. The wall's insignia. the sensation of being torn apart.

When Denise learned the reality, her eyes grew wide. She questioned, "I'm not in Arazona, am I?" Lucas's face shifted. He looked apprehensive and looked around the room as though he was worried about being heard. The words "No, Denise," he said. "Arazona is not where you are. You're not even on this planet. Denise's mind went blank. What was Lucas discussing? What was he trying to say?