Chapter 1
Jasmine’s eyes fluttered open, but the world around her was blurry and spinning. A sharp pain radiated from her head, making it difficult to focus. She could hear voices, faint and distant. But they were so far away, like they were coming from the end of a tunnel. Her body felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic gripped her chest as she struggled to move. She couldn’t—her arms were restrained. Something was holding her in place, too tightly.
Her breath quickened, and she tried to call out, but her voice was nothing more than a hoarse whisper. Where am I? she thought frantically. What happened? She could still taste the remnants of the food they had eaten earlier, a familiar comfort, but now it felt distant—like it belonged to someone else’s memory.
No, Jasmine. Focus. She shook her head, fighting against the overwhelming sense of dread Aaliyahping up on her. Her body didn’t want to cooperate. She fought to stay awake, to shake off the fog trying to consume her.
“Stay with us,” a voice urged, calm yet strange. It was unfamiliar, cold. The edges of her vision began to sharpen, and she saw a woman standing above her, her eyes scanning Jasmine intently. The woman had long, dark hair and wore a black robe over a white lab coat. Her expression was too calm, too composed.
Jasmine’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of what was happening. She tried to lift her arms but couldn’t move beyond the restraints on her wrists. Panic surged within her chest, but she pushed it back, forcing herself to breathe slowly. You’ve got this. Think. You’ve got to stay calm.
“Who are you?” Jasmine asked, her voice hoarse but desperate. The words felt strange, as if she was speaking from underwater. Her throat was dry, and her lips cracked.
The woman smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re in my lab. I saved you and your friends.”
Saved? Jasmine’s mind swirled. She remembered the others—their laughter, their chatter, their camaraderie. But where are they?
“Where are my friends?” Jasmine demanded, her heart racing. She needed to know where they were and what had happened to them. She strained to see beyond the woman, but the room was too dark, too unfamiliar.
The woman didn’t immediately answer. Jasmine could feel the woman’s gaze on her, cold and assessing. The sense of unease crawled up her spine. “They’re here, too,” the woman finally said. “You’ll see them soon.”
What is she doing to us?
Jasmine’s mind fought to stay focused. Think, Jasmine. You have to think. The restraints. The cold. The sterile feel of the room. It was too clinical, too much like a lab. They had been in Washington, D.C., at that little diner, celebrating Omarion’s birthday. The atmosphere had been warm and filled with laughter. Now, it felt like a lifetime ago.
Don’t panic. She closed her eyes briefly, steadying her breath, trying to force herself back to that moment. She remembered the last things that had felt real—the last moments before the world had tilted sideways.
The soft beep of machines in the lab brought Jasmine back to reality. She blinked, her heart hammering in her chest as she focused on the woman’s face once again. Her words echoed in Jasmine’s ears, but all she could think about was her friends.
Are they okay?
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears, but one thing was clear—she couldn’t give up. Joy wouldn’t let her. Even when everything felt wrong, when fear threatened to overwhelm her, she held onto the hope that, somehow, they would get out of this. She had to believe they would.
The woman’s voice cut through her thoughts again. “So, you don’t remember how you got here?”
FLASHBACK: The Bullet, Washington D.C. – Yesterday
The smell of warm food and coffee filled the air at The Bullet, a small diner in Washington D.C. Omarion’s birthday celebration was in full swing, and Jasmine was thrilled. This was what she’d been working for—a chance to bring the group together, away from the pressures of their daily lives.
Omarion, ever the good-natured giant, smiled warmly as he picked up a spoonful of strawberry shortcake. He was the biggest guy at the table, yet his laugh was soft and infectious. He was enjoying himself.
“Thanks, guys,” Omarion said, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t think anyone would remember.”
Nas, sitting between him and Shaggy, raised his glass and winked. “Of course, we remembered. We’re like family.”
Jasmine beamed at the sentiment. This is it. This is what it’s all about. She had worked hard to make this trip happen, and seeing her friends come together like this, laughing, eating—it was worth every minute of the planning. But even as they celebrated, Jasmine’s need to control everything showed. She glanced at the clock on the wall, mentally calculating the time they had left before they needed to head back for the evening sermon.
“You guys enjoying the trip so far?” Jasmine asked, her tone light but with an edge of concern. “We’ve been busy with seminars, but don’t forget to make time to relax. We need to pace ourselves.”
Aaliyah, who was quieter than the rest, responded in her usual aloof manner. “As long as you don’t put too much on our plates, Jasmine, I’ll be fine.” She was taking pictures of her cute outfit for her Instagram. Although Jasmine could appreciate fashion, Aaliyah was obsessed, but when it came to worship, Aaloyah could be counted on for singing and had been one of the longest tenure members of the group..
Jasmine smiled at Aaliyah but felt a pang of frustration. Aaliyah wasn’t like the others. She was often distant, more interested in her thoughts than in group dynamics. But Jasmine couldn’t help herself—she always felt the need to organize, to ensure everything went as planned. The flaw was deep-rooted; the urge to lead, to make sure everything was just right—to manage every tiny detail—was never far behind.
Shaggy leaned back in his chair, arms folded, his usual deadpan expression making it hard to tell whether he was amused or annoyed. “Don’t worry, Jasmine. No one’s attacking you. We all know you’re in charge.”
Jasmine laughed, grateful for the humor that softened the tension. “I’m not that bad,” she replied, her smile growing. But as she looked at the others, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that if she didn’t keep things on track, no one else would. The group might fall apart, and that terrified her.
Omarion, ever the peacekeeper, chuckled softly. “You’ve been the glue that keeps us together, Jasmine. You’re always looking out for us.”
Jasmine’s heart warmed at the compliment, but she couldn’t stop the thought that flitted through her mind: I’m doing this because I have to. It’s what I’m supposed to do. It’s who I am.
“I just saved you from this old man, but I’m afraid I have to make sure you all haven’t been infected by him. Relax. I just saved your life and you owe me.” Then Aaliyah’s eyes started to get heavy as she felt a tingle in her brain and neck. Then blackness came like a thief in the night.
Aaliyah shook her head after the memory stopped and that’s when Lilith came back in with her clipboard to run more tests. She stood in front of Aaliyah, who could feel her own heart pounding.
“I know you are all scared, but I have to take precautions. Pretty soon, you will all be let free. I had to quarantine you, which is why I’m the only one coming in and out. I know it doesn’t look like I, but I will let you know everything in another two hours. Until then, you should all relax. Then she left again and Aaliyah remembered where she had heard the name before. In her religion class, her professors were explaining some of the differences between religions and that’s when she heard the name. Lilith in Jewish myths was Adam’s first wife. In other myths, she was a demon.
