Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter

Ariah Byone walked down the street, her wedge heels clicking on the pavement as she made her way to Gwen Blake's house. They had met in school a few weeks ago, bonding over their shared love of music and spirituality. Ariah had been looking forward to hanging out with Gwen all week, and she was excited to spend the afternoon at her house. As she approached the door, Ariah adjusted her gold hoop earrings and smoothed out her halter top. She had dressed in her usual eclectic style, with a flowy skirt and a pair of layered necklaces. Her long, curly honey brown hair with magenta highlights bounced with each step, and her hazel eyes sparkled with excitement. Gwen answered the door, her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey, Sol! Come on in," she said, using Ariah's nickname. Ariah smiled as she stepped inside, her eyes scanning the cozy living room. The walls were adorned with colorful artwork, and the air was filled with the scent of freshly baked cookies. Finney was sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed on a book in his hands. He looked up as Ariah entered, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Ariah felt a flutter in her chest as she took in Finney's messy brown hair and bright blue eyes. She had a secret crush on him, but she had been trying to ignore it. She knew he had a crush on Donna, the popular girl in school, and she didn't want to ruin their friendship. Gwen led Ariah into the kitchen, where they spent the next hour chatting and laughing. Ariah was surprised by how easy it was to talk to Gwen, and she found herself opening up about her love of spirituality and her family's history of hoodoo. As they sipped tea and munched on cookies, Finney wandered into the kitchen, his eyes lingering on Ariah for a moment before he looked away. Ariah felt a pang of disappointment, but she tried to brush it off. The conversation turned to school, and Ariah found herself laughing along with Gwen and Finney. She was surprised by how much she enjoyed Finney's company, and she found herself feeling more and more at ease. As the afternoon wore on, Ariah realized that she had forgotten to worry about Finney's crush on Donna. She was having too much fun just being around him, and she found herself feeling a spark of attraction that she couldn't ignore. As she prepared to leave, Gwen walked her to the door, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Thanks for coming over, Sol," she said. "We should hang out again soon." Ariah smiled, feeling a sense of belonging that she hadn't experienced in a long time. She knew that she had found a true friend in Gwen, and she was grateful for the chance encounter that had brought them together. As she walked home, Ariah couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she never could have imagined. She had a sense of foreboding, like a storm was brewing on the horizon. But she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. That night, Ariah had a vivid dream, one that left her feeling shaken and disturbed. She saw Finney, trapped in a dark and confined space, his eyes pleading for help. And she saw herself, standing beside him, her heart pounding with fear. Ariah woke up with a start, her heart racing with anxiety. She knew that she had to do something to help Finney, but she had no idea what. All she knew was that she had to act fast, before it was too late.