They say déjà vu is a glitch in the brain.But when I looked at him, it felt like fate was rebooting itself.
The classroom goes still when he walks in.
Black hoodie. White sneakers. A vibe like he's been through something no one else can name. He doesn't scan the room. He doesn't smile. He just… lands. In the back row.
Two seats behind me.
My skin goes cold.
The teacher drones on about seating charts, but I'm not listening. My pulse is too loud. I don't know him, I'm sure of it. But something in me—the part that usually stays quiet—starts screaming.
Run.
At lunch, he's still watching me. Doesn't eat. Doesn't talk. Doesn't blink. Just stares like I'm a crime scene.
I grab my tray, ditch the cafeteria, and head for the vending machines in the lower hallway. The quiet helps.
Until it doesn't.
"You remember me."
I spin around so fast I nearly fall. He's leaning against the lockers like he's part of the building. His voice is smooth, low, and way too calm for someone who just said something like that.
"What?"
"You remember me," he repeats. "You don't know how yet. But you will."
"You're insane," I say flatly, stepping back. "Or stalking me. Either way, get lost."
He smirks. "Typical. Every life, you're always stubborn at first."
Every life?
I freeze. "What did you say?"
He tilts his head, like he's studying me. "Rhea Sommers. Seventeen. Reborn for the twenty-seventh time. And this is your last run. No more resets. No more chances. If you die this time…"He snaps his fingers."…you vanish."
My mouth opens. No words come out.
He walks past me like he didn't just light my brain on fire.
"Wait!" I blurt, spinning to follow. "How do you know all that? Who are you?!"
He pauses, just long enough to say:
"My name's Jace. And I'm not the only one who's found you."
Then he's gone.
That night, I stare at the mark on my wrist. It's glowing again. Brighter than ever.
And this time, when I look in the mirror—
I don't see my reflection.
I see a shadow behind me. Tall. Watching.And it whispers one word:
"Soon."