Chapter Text
Sabrina (17 years old)
The vision came to her once again as Sabrina sat in her mother's 1996 Bronco, the only thing she kept as a reminder from the days Brin's father was alive.
Chaos.
Screams. "He was right!"
A sky on fire.
A feeling the world was ending.
And yet she was-
"Oh my, that's so nice of you two to say!", her mother's loud laughter pulled her back to the present, it carried all the way from where she was standing, her voice entering the car through the rolled down front window.
They had stopped at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, Montana and she was taking her sweet time getting supplies. After one glance in her mother's direction the reason for the delay became clear to Sabrina. To an outsider the sight would seem absolutely ordinary, like she was just having a friendly conversation.
In reality Sabrina knew that tone and demeanor well, they were Candice Donovan's signature move when she was about to charm someone into saying yes to her next ploy.
Her targets this time were two men, one of them probably a little younger than her. Both seemed dressed to impress, a stark contrast to the other locals stopping at the gas station.
They certainly look like they'd have enough money to catch mom's interest and get her, get us into a lot of trouble as a result. Sabrina had no doubts at that thought.
"So much for your promises, mom.", she muttered then shifted her attention to her little sister, Savannah who was fast asleep in a baby seat next to her. One look at her content little face reminded Sabrina why she was still there, putting up with her mother's neverending schemes.
It was all for her baby sister, from the minute she was born Savannah became the single most important person in her life… she had to stay. She had seen the scene outside unfold before and each time led to Candice and Sabrina having to move, to start "fresh". Only aside from the town nothing ever truly changed. But this time Sabrina had more to worry about than just herself.
After what felt like forever her mother finally climbed back into the Bronco, the lengthy conversation with the men certainly had put her in a good mood. Something that Sabrina was about to ruin, an useless attempt at making her remember their priorities. Too much was on the line to keep quiet.
"You know, I was just talking to J-",
"You couldn't even wait until we've actually arrived this time?" Sabrina interrupted whatever Candice was about to say, not bothering to hide the disappointment in her voice. Though by now she should have know better than to expect her mother to keep a promise.
Candice's angry gaze zeroed in on her daughter in the rear view mirror, forcing Sabrina to look away and accidentally making eye contact with one of the men her mother was just talking to. Still staring in their car's direction, he said something to the older guy. With how he was dressed, the dark hair, bright eyes, Sabrina could see why her mother would find herself charmed by a man like him, still something about the whole encounter seemed… off. Sabrina got the same uneasy feeling she'd be plagued by each time a particularly unsettling vision happened.
After not getting anything else out of Sabrina, Candice softened her tone, trying to convince her daughter it really wasn't "what it seems like". A constant excuse from her mouth, appearing in every argument anytime she'd try to minimize the situation.
"What? I wasn't doing anything! They saw our plates, the boxes in the back, how we're not from around here and were just curious where we're headed."
"Totally a good thing to disclose to complete strangers at a gas station, mom."
And to think after spending so many years making enemies out of rich people, she'd be more careful…
"All I did was have a completely innocent conversation with some nice people. Was I supposed to run away from them? It's called manners, Sabrina.", it was a poor attempt at an excuse, especially coming from her mother.
"We both know this is how it starts each time, but things have to change. If not for me, at least do it for Savannah, she deserves a permanent place to call home, a childhood not built on grifts-"
"Sabrina Blythe Donovan, don't say such lies in front of your sister!"
Sabrina was about to respond that Savannah's not even one year-old and sleeping and "those lies" barely even covered their mother's actions, instead she forced herself to say, "Fine. Sorry, can we just go already?"
She knew full well the short stop for snacks would turn into yet another leading-to-nowhere argument otherwise.
Satisfied with her daughter's reply and back on the road once again, Candice continued her story about the encounter at the gas station.
"So, Jo-, Heavens, I already forgot his name, but- he was telling me about the community he's building, he spoke with such passion of his work and how happy the people are all living together or whatever."
"Community? Living together? With how they approached you… Doesn't it all look suspicious to you?"
"Nonsense! We had a wonderful talk. He seemed like such a good man, same for his brother. So polite. Asked if we're moving to town. They looked quite disappointed we aren't."
"They sound like a cult. Tell me you didn't join. That would be a new low."
"Of course not, we're just passing through. I know the plan and I'm sticking to it, honey. And don't call it a cult, you didn't even talk to them."
"Whatever you say. Just… be careful. You know what dad always used to say about people…"
"Don't trust strangers too much because they probably have a motive to approach you? Scott sure knew how to talk to an 11 year old, that man." Sabrina couldn't help but notice the pain was still in Candice's voice whenever she'd mention his name, even so many years later.
"It was his job to notice things. You have to admit he was usually right too… and he never ignored my worries."
"Did you see something again? I can always tell with you, you know? But I- I thought it was getting better."
"Not visions, mom. A gut feeling. Those men seemed like bad news."
"Alright, cult or not, I'm not joining anything, so stop worrying and let your sister sleep. You know how long it took to calm her down the last time."
"At least put on some music, you know how much I hate when it's dead quiet... Please?"
Candice complied by turning on the radio and Sabrina was happy to end the conversation especially with her father's presense looming over them. She mindlessly fumbled with a notebook that lay in her lap, it had become a habit to have one nearby at all times. It was one out of many that had been a constant companion to her ever since Scott Donovan died. They were a way to keep a record of the visions, a reminder it was all real. With each year her collection of notebooks grew bigger and bigger, turning into her own archive of the future.
Staring through the window at the endless fields and mountain views, she ignored the urge to tell her mother she thought she'd seen the county signs before, that everything seemed strangely familiar. After all, their destination was elsewhere and Candice didn't like her talking about her visions. Especially when they offered her nothing to gain.
With the scenery outside and silence around her, Sabrina's thoughts drifted back to the vision from before, to how it always ended.
Running with what felt like no direction.
A tattooed hand holding hers, almost dragging her along. Following a path only he could see.
A voice telling her "We're almost there, Sabrina. We're almost at the bunker, Butterfly."