Accordance - (Significance - Book Two) Completed

The warm California sun beat down on the beach, a stark contrast to the swirling turmoil inside Maggie. She leaned back on the chaise, the soft hum of the ocean a deceptive lullaby. Just moments ago, she'd hung up with her dad, the conversation a strained tightrope walk between reassurance and veiled concern. Bish and Kyle's unexpected arrival had already thrown a wrench into her perfect beach getaway with Caleb, and now, the underlying currents of their world felt stronger than ever.

She closed her eyes, the mental chatter of her companions a dull thrum in the background. Caleb was in the kitchen, attempting supper, while Bish was showering upstairs, his thoughts still a jumbled mess of worry and misplaced protectiveness. Kyle, bless his oblivious heart, was lost in a video game in the den. Maggie tried to focus on the pleasant warmth, the rhythmic crash of waves, but her mind drifted, replaying the earlier scene on the sand, Bish's harsh judgment, Kyle's unspoken desires. It was supposed to be simple. Just her and Caleb. But nothing ever was.

Unbeknownst to her, a different kind of current was pulling her under. The familiar comfort of Caleb's t-shirt, still draped over her, felt heavy. As her breathing deepened, the world around her began to blur, replaced by an unsettling clarity that stole her consciousness before she could resist. The quiet hum of the house faded, replaced by the faint echo of a different reality.