Fictic-ddd2 Facebook ad: “Tessa Hart thought her dreams of black sand…”

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Tessa Hart thought her dreams of black sand and silent oceans were only nightmares. Then a mysterious boy arrives at school, the water begins answering her fear, and an ancient power beneath the river calls her by a name she does not remember. Something dark is poisoning the world’s waters, and the guardians who once protected them are gone. Tessa was never chosen by accident—she was always meant to return.Chapter 1 The Transfer Students. Dreams were strange things. Most mornings, Tessa Hart couldn't remember hers beyond scattered fragments—a familiar face without a name, voices that faded the moment she reached for them, places that seemed important until daylight stole every detail away. She'd grown so used to forgetting that she rarely bothered trying to remember anymore. This dream was different. It clung to her like damp clothes after a storm. She stood alone on a stretch of black sand that seemed to go on forever. The sea before her was unnaturally calm, so still that it resembled polished glass instead of water. There were no stars above her, only a silver moon hanging impossibly low in the sky, large enough to swallow the horizon. The air smelled of rain. Of salt. And of… something ancient. Someone was standing in the water. Too far away to recognize. But close enough to make her heart pound. The stranger didn't move. Neither did the waves. Time itself seemed to have frozen around them. Then a voice drifted across the ocean. “You're late.” It wasn't accusing. If anything, it sounded... relieved. As though someone had spent years waiting for her to arrive. Tessa frowned. “Who are you?” Her own voice vanished into the silence. The figure slowly lifted a hand. The ocean answered. Water rose without warning, climbing higher and higher until walls of sapphire surrounded her from every direction. Beneath the surface, something vast shifted. It wasn't a whale. Not anything she knew. A single golden eye opened beneath the waves. It was larger than a car. It looked directly at her. Run. The word exploded inside her head. Run! Tessa jerked upright so quickly that her blanket slid onto the floor. Her chest rose and fell in uneven breaths while the familiar walls of her bedroom slowly came into focus. Gray ceiling. Peeling paint. And the tiny stars on the ceiling she'd insisted on sticking when she was ten. Nothing unusual. Nothing impossible. She swallowed hard before glancing at the digital clock beside her bed. 4:17 a.m. Again. Every time. For nearly a month, she'd been waking at exactly the same minute after dreaming about the ocean. Coincidence. It had to be. She pushed a hand through her messy chestnut hair and let out a long sigh. “Congratulations,” she muttered to herself. “You've officially developed recurring nightmares.” Humor usually helped. Today it didn't. She could still feel those golden eyes watching her. By the time seven o'clock arrived, the dream had faded just enough for reality to reclaim her attention. But reality wasn't much kinder. The kitchen was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of rain against the windows. Her father was already halfway through reading the morning paper while balancing a mug of coffee in one hand. “Morning, sleepyhead.” “Mmm.” He smiled over the edge of his mug. “That's not a word.” “It is before eight.” He laughed softly. Living with her father had always been... easy. Simple. Her mother had died when Tessa was five. She barely remembered anything except warm laughter and the smell of lavender perfume. Her father never pushed those memories away, but neither of them spoke about them often. Some silences became habits over the years. “You nervous?” he asked. “It's the first day back, Dad. I'm contractually obligated to be miserable.” “Fair point.” He slid a plate of toast toward her. She stared at it for a moment. Her appetite had disappeared somewhere between the nightmare and waking up. “I'm not hungry.” “You've said that every morning this week.” “I'll grab something later.” He looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew better. Nothing would come out of it. “Don't skip lunch.” “I'll try.” It wasn't exactly a promise. ***** Newton Ridge High looked exactly the way she'd remembered. Too loud. Too crowded. Too full of people who had somehow returned from summer vacation even more interested in everyone else's business. Students poured through the front entrance while conversations bounced across the courtyard. Someone was already blasting music from a portable speaker. Someone else nearly ran into the principal while chasing a football. Normal. Almost comforting. Until Tessa reached her locker. “...You've got to be kidding me.” Her key wouldn't go in. She tried again. Nothing. Then she noticed tiny pink glitter clinging to the edges of the lock. Glue. Someone had glued it shut. She closed her eyes. Count to three. Don't scream. One… Two… Three… Nope. Still wanted to scream. A burst of laughter echoed behind her. She didn't need to turn around. Veronica Brooks. If popularity had a face, it would probably borrow Veronica's. Blonde hair that never seemed out of place. Perfect makeup despite it being barely eight in the morning. Designer shoes that somehow stayed spotless even on rainy days. She was surrounded by the same group she always was. Lena. Brooke. Cassidy. Girls who laughed a little too loudly whenever Veronica made a joke. “Aw,” Veronica called sweetly. “Looks like someone's having a rough morning.” Tessa forced herself to smile. “I'd ask if you knew anything about this, but subtlety has never really been your thing.” Several nearby students snorted. Veronica's smile stiffened for the briefest second. “Still blaming other people for your problems?” “No,” Tessa replied lightly. “Just the ones who actually cause them.” For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Veronica shrugged. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” If only she knew. Tessa watched the girls disappear down the hallway before releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Sometimes she wondered why Veronica hated her so much. She'd stopped asking years ago. Some people simply decided they didn't like someone and never looked back. She was just lucky enough to become the chosen target. “Your locker again?” The familiar voice instantly eased some of the tension sitting on her shoulders. Nora Bennett leaned against the neighboring locker with her usual relaxed smile. Unlike Veronica, Nora had never cared about popularity. She preferred books over gossip, hoodies over fashion trends, and honest conversations over pretending to like people. She was also the closest thing Tessa had to family outside home. “I think they're getting more creative,” Nora said after examining the glitter. “I miss when they just called me weird.” “Give it another week.” She patted her shoulders. Despite exhausted, Tessa laughed. “I shouldn't laugh.” “No.” “I definitely shouldn't.” “Nope.” “...They're still idiots though.” “The biggest.” The laughter faded almost as quickly as it had appeared. Nora studied her friend's face. “You okay?” Tessa hesitated. She almost mentioned the dream. Instead she shrugged. “Didn't sleep much.” “The ocean nightmare again?” Tessa blinked. “You remembered?” “You've mentioned it four times this month.” “I have?” “You always forget.” That made her stomach twist. Had she really? Maybe the dreams were bothering her more than she'd admitted. Before she could answer, the warning bell echoed through the hallway. “Come on,” Nora nudged her shoulder. “History waits for no one.” Mrs. Monroe was already writing the day's lesson across the whiteboard by the time they entered. History had never been Tessa's favorite subject, but she liked Mrs. Monroe. The woman had a dry sense of humor and expected students to think instead of memorizing. Unfortunately, she also noticed everything. “Miss Hart.” Tessa froze. “Late.” “My locker—” “I know.” Mrs. Monroe adjusted her glasses. “It seems to suffer unusually bad luck.” “You could call it that.” A faint smile tugged at the teacher's lips before she gestured toward the empty desks. “Take your seat.” The class settled. Books opened. Pens clicked. Everything felt wonderfully ordinary. Then someone knocked on the classroom door. Mrs. Monroe glanced up. “Perfect timing.” She stepped aside as two unfamiliar students entered. The room immediately fell quiet. The first boy was tall, with dark hair that brushed his forehead and calm gray eyes that seemed strangely older than the rest of him. He carried himself with effortless confidence, though there wasn't an ounce of arrogance in his posture. The second stood half a step behind him. Slightly shorter, curly brown hair escaping beneath a knitted beanie, freckles scattered across his nose, and an easy smile that immediately made him seem approachable. Mrs. Monroe cleared her throat. “Class, these are our new transfer students.” The freckled boy smiled first. “I'm Finn Carter.” The darker-haired boy gave a simple nod. “Rowan Ash.” Whispers spread through the room. New students always attracted attention. Especially attractive ones. Tessa barely looked at them. Transfers came every year. They'd make friends. They'd graduate. Life would move on. Except… A strange feeling prickled across the back of her neck. She looked up. Rowan was already looking at her. Not casually. Not with curiosity. He looked at her as if he knew her. As though he'd finally found something he'd been searching for. The feeling lasted only a second before he looked away. Weird. Really weird. Mrs. Monroe scanned the classroom. “Mr. Ash, you'll take the empty seat beside Tessa.” The whispers became louder. Tessa nearly groaned. Of course. Because apparently the universe wasn't finished embarrassing her today. Rowan crossed the room with quiet, measured steps before stopping beside her desk. “May I?” She gestured toward the chair. “It's not like I own it.” A corner of his mouth lifted. The smile was brief enough that she almost imagined it. “Thank you.” He sat. For several minutes neither of them spoke. Then, without looking at her, Rowan quietly asked, “Do you always argue with bullies?” Tessa blinked. “...Only on weekdays.” For the first time, genuine amusement flickered across his face. It vanished almost immediately. But she caught it. And somehow… For reasons she couldn't explain… It felt as though meeting him wasn't an accident. Chapter 2 Shadows Beneath Ordinary Days The final bell echoed through Newton Ridge High, dissolving the last remnants of another ordinary school day. Lockers slammed shut one after another as students poured into the hallways, eager to reclaim their freedom after hours spent trapped behind desks. Tessa lingered longer than most. She stood in front of her locker, finally freed from the glue that had imprisoned it earlier that morning thanks to the janitor's patient efforts. As she slid her history textbook inside, her thoughts drifted—not toward homework or dinner—but toward the unsettling encounter in class. Rowan Ash. Even now, she could still feel the weight of his gaze. It hadn't been the kind of look boys usually gave girls. There had been no arrogance, no awkward admiration, no attempt to impress her. If anything… It had looked like recognition. It felt like he knew her. The thought sent an involuntary shiver crawling down her spine. “You're overthinking again.” Nora Bennett appeared beside her carrying three books balanced precariously in her arms. Tessa's oldest friend possessed an uncanny ability to recognize the exact moment Tessa disappeared into her own thoughts. “I know that face.” “What face?” “The one that says your brain has started inventing conspiracy theories.” Tessa sighed. “I'm serious.” “So am I.” She hesitated before lowering her voice. “Did you notice the new guy?” “Rowan?” “The quiet one...” “I noticed every girl in class noticing him.” “That's not what I meant.” Nora shifted her books into one arm. “What happened?” “He kept looking at me.” Nora blinked once. “...Maybe because you're sitting beside him?” “No.” Tessa searched for words that refused to cooperate. “It wasn't normal.” “You're describing eye contact.” “It felt like he already knew me.” Nora studied her friend's unusually serious expression before her teasing smile slowly faded. “You really believe that?” “I don't know what I believe.” For the first time all day, saying the words aloud made the feeling seem less ridiculous. Nora bumped her shoulder gently. “Maybe he's just terrible at making first impressions.” “Maybe.” Yet even as she agreed, something inside her whispered otherwise. “Or maybe you're overthinking it after looking at his handsome face…” Tessa rolled her eyes hearing her. Nora could hardly be serious. Meanwhile, several classrooms away, Rowan closed his notebook without writing a single word throughout the lesson. Finn leaned lazily against the window, pretending to admire the football field outside. Only when the room emptied completely did he speak. “Well?” Rowan remained silent. Finn folded his arms. “You're making that face again.” “What face?” “The one that means something's wrong.” Rowan looked toward the hallway where Tessa had disappeared moments earlier. "It should have been stronger.” “What?” “The aura.” Finn frowned. “You couldn't sense it?” “I sensed…” Rowan searched for the right word. “...absence.” The answer unsettled both of them. Every child of the Old Gods carried traces of divine power, whether awakened or dormant. Yet around Tessa… Nothing. It was like staring at an ocean hidden beneath perfectly still ice. Impossible. Unless... “No,” Rowan murmured. Finn immediately noticed the change. “What?” “Someone sealed it.” The smile disappeared from Finn's face. “You mean deliberately?” Rowan gave a slow nod. “A power like hers doesn't simply vanish.” Neither of them spoke again. Because both understood what that could mean. Someone had hidden Tessa Hart from the world. And if they had gone to such lengths… Someone else was probably still searching. ***** Tessa was halfway home before realizing she wasn't alone. The sensation arrived first. That familiar prickling at the back of her neck. Not fear, but awareness. As though invisible eyes followed each step she took. She glanced over her shoulder. The sidewalk stretched empty beneath gray autumn skies. A mother pushed a stroller. Two teenagers argued over headphones. An elderly man walked his golden retriever. Nothing unusual. She kept walking. Thirty seconds later the feeling returned. Stronger. She stopped. Across the street, rainwater collected inside a storm drain. For the briefest instant… The puddle rippled. Not because of the rain. Because something beneath the water had moved. Tessa staggered startled. When she looked again, the surface was perfectly still. “You're officially losing it,” she muttered. She hurried home without looking back. Hidden inside the reflection of the flooded gutter, two pale golden eyes slowly opened beneath the water before disappearing again. That evening, while helping her father prepare dinner, normal life gradually returned. “So,” he asked while chopping vegetables, “how was the first day?” “I survived.” “High praise.” “My locker didn't.” He laughed. “What happened this time?” “Glue.” “Ouch.” “Apparently glitter glue.” He winced dramatically. “Now that's personal.” Tessa couldn't help smiling. It amazed her sometimes how easily her father could make difficult days seem smaller. He noticed the smile immediately. “There it is.” “What?” “My kid.” She rolled her eyes. “You sound like I'm eighty.” “Some mornings you act like it.” Dinner passed comfortably. They talked about school schedules, grocery shopping, and whether the old washing machine had finally reached retirement. Nothing extraordinary. Exactly the way Tessa liked it. Yet later that night… The dreams returned. She wasn't standing on the beach this time. She was underwater. Light filtered through endless blue above her while ancient stone pillars rose from the ocean floor like the ruins of a forgotten kingdom. Fish swam through broken archways. Massive statues watched from the darkness. One held a three-pronged spear. Another had no face. Footsteps echoed behind her. Impossible. There was no ground. No air. Yet someone walked toward her. A woman clothed in flowing sea-green robes stopped several feet away. Her face remained hidden beneath a shimmering veil. “You've slept long enough.” Tessa tried to answer. No sound emerged. The woman reached forward. Her fingertips brushed Tessa's forehead. Instantly— The ocean exploded into motion. Thousands of voices cried out together. A palace collapsed beneath towering waves. A bronze trident crashed against black stone. Someone screamed her name. Not Tessa. Another name. One she almost understood. “T—” The dream shattered. She awoke gasping. 4:17 a.m. Again. Outside her bedroom window… Rain hammered against the glass. Thunder rolled across the sleeping city. Miles away, hidden beneath abandoned subway tunnels forgotten by modern maps, torchlight flickered against damp stone walls. Ancient symbols glowed across a circular chamber carved long before the city existed. Three hooded figures stood around a basin filled with black water. Its surface suddenly rippled. One figure lifted his head. “She again saw that.” Another nodded. “The seal weakens.” Silence settled over the chamber. Finally, the eldest among them spoke. “Then there isn't much time.” “What about the guardians?” “They've already found her.” A long pause followed. The old man's expression hardened. “Send the hunters.” The basin erupted into violent waves. Far beneath the water… Something enormous slowly opened a single golden eye. As dawn slowly approached Newton Ridge once more, Tessa slept restlessly, unaware that the ordinary life she'd spent seventeen years protecting was already beginning to crack. Somewhere in the city… Ancient forces had awakened. And every one of them was moving toward her. Wanting something from her. Chapter 3 The Night Everything Changed By the time Saturday evening settled over Newton Ridge, the rain had disappeared, leaving the streets washed clean beneath a sky streaked with amber and violet. The storm from dawn seemed almost imaginary now, replaced by warm summer air carrying distant music from somewhere across the neighborhood. Tessa stood in front of the bedroom mirror, fastening the silver clasp of a simple bracelet her father had given her on her sixteenth birthday. She rarely dressed up, and the unfamiliar effort made her feel strangely self-conscious. A cream-colored blouse tucked neatly into dark denim shorts was about as adventurous as she ever allowed herself to be, while her long chestnut hair, usually tied back without thought, now fell in loose waves over her shoulders after nearly twenty frustrating minutes with a curling iron. She stared at her reflection longer than necessary. You look exactly the same. Yet something felt... different. Perhaps it was only the lack of sleep. Ever since those impossible dreams began, her reflection carried an exhaustion she couldn't explain. A knock interrupted her thoughts. “Ready?” her father called through the door. “Almost.” When she stepped downstairs, Ethan Hart looked up from the living room with an approving smile. He had exchanged his work clothes for a faded sweater and jeans, a mug of coffee balanced comfortably in one hand. “I was beginning to think I'd have to send a search party.” Tessa rolled her eyes. “It's just a birthday party.” “Exactly. Which means you'll probably spend twenty minutes deciding whether your shoes match.” “They do.” “I'll pretend I know what that means.” She laughed despite herself. Moments like these always reminded her how lucky she was. Their home wasn't large, and money was often tight, but warmth had never been something they lacked. Ethan's expression softened. “You've been quieter than usual today.” “I'm fine.” “You sure?” She hesitated. Should she mention the dreams? The strange woman beneath the ocean? The feeling of being watched? No. They sounded ridiculous even inside her own head. “I'm just tired.” He accepted the answer without pressing further. “Don't stay out too late.” “I won't.” “And text me if you need a ride.” “I know.” He smiled. “Have fun, Tess.” She hugged him before leaving, surprised by the sudden urge to do so. Outside, evening had settled completely. Almost immediately, her phone buzzed. Nora: We're outside. Tessa stepped onto the porch. Parked beside the curb sat an aging blue SUV whose paint had seen far better days. Leaning lazily against it was Finn Mercer, hands buried inside his jacket pockets despite the warm weather. Beside him stood Rowan Ash, silent as always, while Nora waved enthusiastically from the passenger seat. Her eyes instinctively went over him before it turned to Nora. The whole week, Tessa has caught him looking at her multiple times. It made her uncomfortable… And somehow she ended up accepting Kaitlyn’s birthday party in hopes that she could figure out if she was overthinking or Rowan really recognised her. “You finally decided to grace us with your presence,” Nora teased as Tessa climbed inside. “I was five minutes late.” “Seven.” “You counted?” “I was bored.” The conversation drifted naturally after that, mostly led by Nora's endless storytelling. Finn contributed the occasional sarcastic remark, while Rowan remained quiet in the back seat beside Tessa. Too quiet. She could feel his attention again. Not obvious. Not uncomfortable. Simply... present. Finally she turned slightly. “Is something wrong?” Rowan looked genuinely surprised she'd spoken first. “No.” “You've been staring.” “I've been thinking.” “About?” His answer came after a brief pause. “You seem familiar.” The words made her stomach tighten. “We've never met.” “I know.” Silence settled between them once more. Nora glanced back dramatically. “If you two keep talking like mysterious detectives, I'm throwing both of you out of the car.” Finn chuckled. “I support that idea.” The tension dissolved into laughter. Yet Rowan's expression never truly relaxed. He looked out the window instead. Watching. Searching. As though expecting something neither Tessa nor the others could see. The Harper Estate dominated nearly an entire hill overlooking Newton Ridge. Golden lights illuminated the enormous mansion while music echoed across perfectly landscaped gardens crowded with teenagers. Luxury cars lined both sides of the street, and servers wandered through the lawn carrying trays of sparkling drinks beneath strings of decorative lights. Tessa slowed near the entrance. “This is... excessive.” Nora grinned. “Rich people celebrate differently.” Inside, conversations blended with loud music as students filled every room of the sprawling house. Some danced, others gathered around the outdoor pool, while groups wandered between the garden and the enormous ballroom. For someone who preferred libraries to parties, the atmosphere felt overwhelming. “You okay?” Nora asked. Tessa nodded. “I just need a minute.” “I'll go find drinks.” Before Tessa could answer, Nora disappeared into the crowd alongside Finn. Leaving her alone with Rowan. Neither spoke. The silence wasn't awkward exactly. Just unfamiliar. After several moments, Rowan finally said quietly, “You don't like crowds.” It wasn't a question. “No.” “I didn't think you would.” She frowned. “How do you keep knowing things about me?” His eyes met hers. “I don't.” The answer sounded honest. Yet somehow incomplete. Before she could press further, a burst of laughter erupted nearby as Kaitlyn Harper descended the grand staircase, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The birthday girl wore a glittering silver dress that shimmered beneath the chandeliers as she greeted guests with practiced confidence. Cameras flashed while her friends surrounded her, making her seem more like a celebrity than a high-school student. Nora leaned close to Tessa. “I suddenly feel underdressed.” “You've said that three times already.” “Because it's true.” Tessa smiled faintly. Normal. Everything finally felt normal again. Until Rowan's expression changed. His gaze shifted toward the enormous windows overlooking the gardens. Completely still. “What is it?” Finn asked quietly, appearing beside him. “I felt it.” Finn's smile vanished. “So did I.” Tessa looked between them. “Felt what?” Neither answered. Instead, Rowan stepped toward the nearest window. Outside… The decorative fountain standing at the center of the garden rippled. No wind. No one touched it. Yet the water continued moving in widening circles. Tessa stared. A strange pressure settled inside her chest. Like something beneath the earth had taken its first breath. Then— The lights flickered. Once. Twice. Darkness swallowed the mansion. A chorus of startled voices echoed through every room before emergency lights blinked to life, bathing everything in dim crimson. Someone laughed nervously. “It's probably a power outage.” Another student agreed. Yet Rowan hadn't moved. His eyes remained fixed beyond the glass. “No…” he whispered. “It's here.” Before anyone could ask what he meant— A scream tore through the night. Pure terror dripped from his voice. The music stopped instantly. Another scream followed. Then another. Panic spread across the mansion like wildfire as students rushed toward the doors, only to collide with others running inside from the gardens. “RUN!” “What was that thing?” Tessa felt someone seize her wrist. Rowan. “We have to move.” “What happened?” “No time.” His calm voice had disappeared entirely. They pushed through the terrified crowd toward the rear entrance. Outside… The gardens had become chaos. Tables lay overturned. Guests stumbled over one another trying to escape. Near the fountain, something enormous moved through the darkness. At first Tessa thought it was a bull. Then it stood. Far too tall. Its massive body resembled a beast covered in black muscle, yet above its shoulders rested the unmistakable head of a man crowned with twisted horns. Bronze chains wrapped around its arms, dragging sparks across the stone path as it advanced. Every footstep shook the ground. Students scattered in every direction. Some screamed. Others stood frozen, unable to understand what they were seeing. Tessa couldn't breathe. This can't be real. The creature reached forward with one gigantic hand. Its fingers closed around Kaitlyn Harper as effortlessly as lifting a doll. Kaitlyn's terrified scream echoed across the estate. “Tessa!” Nora's voice came from somewhere behind her. “Tessa, run!” But her legs refused to move. The monster slowly turned. Its pale eyes settled directly on her. Recognition flashed inside those ancient eyes. The beast smiled. Then, in a deep voice that seemed older than the earth itself, it spoke words that froze the blood in her veins. “So… We finally found you.” The world seemed to stop. Around her, students fled in blind panic. Someone collided with her shoulder. Glass shattered nearby. Rowan stepped in front of her, his expression harder than she had ever seen. Finn pulled something wrapped in black cloth from beneath his jacket. Neither looked surprised. Neither looked confused. They looked… Prepared. As if this nightmare was exactly what they had been expecting. Tessa's heartbeat thundered inside her ears. Who are they? ...And why is that thing looking for me? The monster released a roar that split the night apart as the fountain exploded into a towering column of water, and from somewhere beneath the earth came the unmistakable sound of something else awakening. The real nightmare had only just begun. And Tessa didn't know what was coming.

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