Chapter 2

The next few days were a blur of tension.

The DNA test was arranged, the results pending.

Olivia stayed with us, a constant, unsettling presence in the Ashton house.

She was sweet to Mom and Dad Ashton, always helpful, always saying the right things.

But to me, when they weren't looking, her eyes were cold.

She started her games subtly.

"Chloe has been so lucky to have you," she'd say to Mom Ashton, "I can only imagine what a wonderful life she's had."

The implication was clear: a life that should have been hers.

She'd sigh dramatically, "It must be so awkward for her, me being here. Maybe it would be easier if..."

She wouldn't finish the sentence, letting Mom Ashton fill in the blanks.

I remembered the dream, how Olivia turned them against me.

So, I played my part.

I acted distressed, confused, hurt by Olivia's sudden appearance.

"I just don't understand," I'd whisper to Mom Ashton, tears in my eyes.

Olivia watched me, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips when she thought no one saw. She thought I was breaking.

She thought I was vulnerable.

The night before the SATs, the dream replayed in my mind: Olivia sabotaging my test with a tainted snack.

I checked my phone alarms – three of them, set for 6:00, 6:05, and 6:10 AM. I was not going to oversleep.

The next morning, silence.

My room was dark. I jolted awake, grabbing my phone.

7:30 AM.

All my alarms were off. Switched off.

Panic clawed at me for a second, then I remembered. Olivia.

I rushed downstairs.

Olivia was in the kitchen, looking concerned. "Chloe! You overslept! I was so worried."

Mom Ashton was fussing, "Oh, honey, are you okay? Your alarms didn't go off?"

"I... I don't know what happened," I stammered, feigning panic.

Olivia stepped forward, holding a protein bar. "Here, I got you this. A special energy bar. You need it for the test."

It wasn't cake, like in the dream, but the intent felt the same. Tainted.

I looked at the bar. It looked normal.

"Thank you, Olivia," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "But I'm too nervous to eat. My stomach is in knots."

Mom Ashton quickly intervened. "Nonsense, Chloe, you need something. I packed you a healthy breakfast last night, just in case."

She handed me a container with fruit and yogurt. I took it gratefully.

Later, as I was leaving, I heard Mom Ashton talking to Olivia.

"Olivia, dear, that protein bar you had for Chloe... it looks a bit discolored, doesn't it? And it smells a little off. Maybe it went bad in your bag."

Olivia's smile faltered for a second. "Oh, really? I didn't notice."

I knew then, my dream was a warning I had to heed. Every single detail.