**The Unlikely Observer**

Ariah Byone sat in science class, her gaze drifting across the room to where Finney Blake sat, his eyes fixed on the teacher as she droned on about cellular respiration. Ariah's heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight of Finney's messy brown hair and quiet demeanor. She had had a crush on him for what felt like forever, but she had never mustered the courage to talk to him. Finney seemed to be a magnet for bullying, and Ariah admired his quiet strength in the face of it. As she watched him, Ariah's mind wandered to her own life. She lived with her mom, Celeste, the town's medicine woman, who practiced hoodoo. Some of the townspeople were wary of Celeste and her practices, and Ariah often felt like an outcast. She had a gift of clairvoyance, just like Finney's sister Gwen, but she kept it hidden from her classmates. Ariah's mom had warned her about the dangers of revealing her abilities, and Ariah had learned to be careful. Ariah's thoughts were interrupted by the teacher's question about the Krebs cycle. She scribbled down some notes, trying to focus on the lesson, but her eyes kept drifting back to Finney. She wondered what his life was like outside of school, if he was happy, and if he ever thought about her. As the class drew to a close, Ariah gathered her things and followed Finney out of the room. She hung back, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but she couldn't help sneaking glances at him as he walked down the hallway. Finney seemed oblivious to her gaze, lost in his own thoughts as he navigated the crowded corridors. Ariah sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. She knew she would never be able to get close to him, not with his crush on Donna and all. Little did she know, their lives were about to become intertwined in ways she never could have imagined. Finney's life was about to take a drastic turn, one that would put him in grave danger, and Ariah would find herself drawn into the midst of it. As Ariah walked home from school, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She had a sense of unease, a feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what was coming, but she was determined to be ready. Ariah's mom was waiting for her when she got home, a look of concern etched on her face. "Ariah, I've been having some bad feelings lately," she said, her voice low and serious. "I think something is happening in this town, something dark and evil. You need to be careful, baby." Ariah nodded, feeling a chill run down her spine. She knew that her mom was trying to warn her, but she didn't know what to expect. All she knew was that she had to be prepared for whatever was coming her way. As the sun began to set, Ariah settled into her room, her mind racing with thoughts of Finney and the strange feelings that had been building inside her. She didn't know what the future held, but she was determined to face it head-on, no matter what came her way. Little did she know, her life was about to change forever.