“5….4….3…2…1!”

The shouts of celebration rang through the room. It was the start of the new year. You went up to the rooftop of your apartment building to help get a fresh breath of air, taking a break from the party below, and shock your senses with the blast of winter air. You had a few drinks too many and your vision was swimming. As you looked out at the skyline, you got dangerously close to the edge, a rail was all that kept you from falling down to the street below.

You were musing about the year you had just left behind when you head the crunch of gravel behind you. Was that Garrett? You had told him to meet you up here. You both had been friends for a while, and things had started to head in a more romantic direction. You were going to tell him how you felt. You got ready to turn around when you felt a hand at the middle of your back.

“I’m sorry….”

The voice was hard to place with the buzz of alcohol and the sound of the partying below. You felt your body be pushed forward and you were falling….your eyes closed and everything went black. The darkness seemed to stretch on forever….then you opened your eyes.

“5….4….3…2…1!”

You were inside at the party again, no longer on the roof or falling to your death. However, you had a sense that what you had seen wasn’t a dream. Someone had pushed you and now you were getting a second chance at life. You just had to figure out who.

“Watch it.”

The voice was cold and dripped with disgust. You would recognize that cold voice anywhere. It had been directed at you enough times in the various lecture halls you had shared. The shaggy white hair and piercings up and down each ear, followed by the piercing red eyes that glared into your own, solidified it. It was your rival, Valentin. You guys had been at each other’s throats since that first lecture when you had corrected his answer. Was this rivalry enough for him to push you off a roof?

“You could get hurt.”

From anyone else it would be concern but from him? It seemed like a threat.