When she opened her eyes again, the only sounds were the chirping of birds outside and the distant clink of activity from the kitchen below.She dressed quickly, pulling on slacks and a comfortable t-shirt.As she ran a brush through her hair, Piper studied her reflection in the mirror.The face that looked back was undeniably hers—the same green eyes as Jenna's, though lacking their determined spark; the same chestnut hair, though longer and streaked with premature gray.She was thinner than her twin, her cheeks hollow from years of uncertain meals and chronic stress.
“Piper Graves,” she said firmly to her reflection, then turned away and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen, Mom stood at the stove, spatula in hand, flipping pancakes.She turned when Piper entered, a smile warming her face.
“Morning, sweetheart.Sleep well?”
Piper hesitated, remembering the voices,Be careful what you tell them.
“Yes,” she lied, forcing a smile.“Like a rock.”
She slid into a chair at the table.Her throat felt tight, making it difficult to swallow.Was any of this real?The warmth of the kitchen, the smell of coffee and syrup, the weight of utensils in her hand—it all seemed so solid, so tangible.
But dreams could be convincing too.
As Piper ate, listening to her mother's gentle morning chatter, questions still circled her mind:What if the voices were right this time?What if she was Emma Kirby, lost in a beautiful, dangerous dream?And what was the wolf they warned about—who had it already killed?
*
As Jenna Graves drove the familiar route to her childhood home, morning sunlight glinted off the hood of her sheriff's department cruiser.She checked her watch: 7:45 AM.Fifteen minutes until Dr.White would be expecting them at Trentville Memorial Hospital for Piper's regular visit.
Dr.Samantha White had one of Jenna’s first calls after she got her twin sister home.The psychiatrist’s reputation for handling unusual cases was well-known in Trentville, and her open-mindedness about phenomena that science struggled to explain made her the perfect choice.Because Jenna was sure that whatever had happened to her sister went beyond ordinary trauma.
It helped that Dr.White now knew about Jenna’s own abilities, and accepted them as a fact.She was one of only five people in the world who knew, although Jenna was all too aware that many others suspected it.
The Graves family home came into view—a two-story colonial with blue paint and white trim.Jenna pulled into the driveway behind her mother's sedan.She got out of her cruiser and climbed the porch steps, then rang the doorbell even though she still had a key.Some boundaries seemed important to maintain, especially now that her relationship with her mother was finally on the mend.
The door swung open, revealing Mom in a simple blouse and slacks, her gray-streaked hair pulled back in a loose ponytail.Her mother's face had filled out slightly in the months since she'd stopped drinking, although shadows still lingered under her eyes.
“Morning, Mom,” Jenna said, stepping into the foyer.“Is Piper ready?”
“She's upstairs,” Mom said, “But she’s already dressed and has had breakfast.”She tilted her head toward the ceiling, and called, called, “Piper!Jenna's here!”Then she drew Jenna out of the foyer and lowered her voice, “Jenna Marie, I'm worried about her.”
The use of her middle name—her mother's signal for serious conversation—put Jenna immediately on alert.“What happened?”
“Nothing very specific.It's just...”Mom wrapped her arms around herself.“She was so distant at breakfast.Barely spoke.Kept staring at her plate like she was trying to solve a puzzle hidden in the pancakes.”
Jenna's instincts sharpened.“Did she say anything unusual?”
“No, that's what concerns me.She said everything was fine, but I could tell it wasn't.”Mom led Jenna into the kitchen, away from the staircase.“I've watched you hide things from me your whole life, Jenna.I know what it looks like when someone's keeping secrets.”
Jenna knew that was true.She’d only recently told her mother that the dead communicated with her in her dreams, giving her advice that helped her solve crimes.
“Dr.White warned us this wouldn't be linear progress,” she said, trying to reassure herself as much as her mother.“Piper's been through trauma we can't even imagine.There are going to be setbacks.”
Mom nodded, but worry still creased her forehead.“She reminds me of how you were after she disappeared.Present in body but gone in spirit.Like she's searching for something none of us can see.”
Before Jenna could respond, footsteps on the stairs announced Piper's arrival.Both women fell silent, turning toward the kitchen doorway.
“Hey,” Jenna said, offering a smile.“Ready for your appointment?”
Piper’s gaze finally settled on her twin.“Ready as I'll ever be.”
There was a wariness in her voice that hadn't been there yesterday.Jenna exchanged a quick glance with her mother, confirming that Mom had noticed it too.
“We should get going,” Jenna said, checking her watch again.“Dr.White likes punctuality.”
Mom stepped forward to hug Piper, who accepted the embrace but didn't return it with the same enthusiasm she had shown in previous days.“Good luck, sweetheart.I'll have lunch ready when you get back.”