Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.

"I wish to withdraw from The Wishing Game," I speak before I lose the courage.

"Are you sure you wish to give up?" The wraith appears before me, startling me and making me lose my balance.

"Y-yes," I stammer.

"Your decision has been noted. You are officially withdrawn from The Wishing Game. As you were part of a team, the entire team has been disqualified," she tells me in a mechanical voice. "Good day and good luck," she says before she disappears.

Shit! Thea! She wanted this, didn't she?

Damn! Did I just ruin everything for her, too?

Right at that moment, a strong pulsation erupts from the center of the mark, heat surrounding the entire area. I fall to my ass as I moan in distress. I cover the symbol with my hand, rubbing it as my breathing grows labored.

Tears fall down my cheeks as my mind explodes into a thousand little pieces until I can barely make sense of anything—of who I am or what my purpose is.

A screeching sound reverberates in the air. Belatedly, I realize that's me.

I taste the saltiness of my tears as an elusive memory knocks at the door of my subconsciousness. The feeling is there, almost as if I was supposed to know something, but I cannot put it into words.

The door to my room bursts open and Thea barges in, a worried expression on her face.

"Luce, are you all right?" she asks, her eyes widening as she spots me on the floor, naked and tear-streaked.

"I-I don't know," I reply honestly. "I think I fucked up, Thea," I add in a whisper.

"If you mean the Game, don't worry about it. I should have quit before, too." She sighs.

"You...know?"

"The wraith just paid me a visit. But I've been thinking about withdrawing for a while now. If I get caught, things will be much worse."

"You... You're not mad at me?"

She shakes her head, slowly moving toward me. She offers me her hand and I take it, letting her pull me up. My heart is still beating loudly in my chest, my anxiety a low hum in my ears that becomes more and more distant.

"Is that why you were crying? Oh, Luce. You're too sweet." She smiles as she pats my head. But as her eyes dip lower to my chest, she observes the obvious too. "What..." she mumbles, blinking repeatedly.

"I don't know what happened. Yesterday, the marks were there. Today...it's only this." I point to the star above my breast. "But I'm not sure what it means."

"You need to talk to my mother. She might be able to help you."

My lips tremble as I gaze at her. Ze had said I shouldn't show my marks to anyone who might recognize ancient Tartareian. But what if this isn't ancient Tartareian? What if it's something completely different?