[center][h2][b][color=#FA8072]Serena Reyes-Cooper[/color][/b][/h2][/center] [hr]
[color=#FA8072]"♫ Even through the night...
You light the way for me...
Chained and bound, burdened in life...
And you set my poor soul free... ♫"[/color]

The Cliffside Chapel was filled with the sounds of the youth practicing for a mass to be held later tonight. Among them was Serena, daughter of the famous Erikson and Felicity Cooper. Her younger brother Michael was also a part of the choir, his positivity and excitement for singing spreading through the group like the rays of the sun through parting clouds.

Singing was Serena's way of relaxing whenever she felt anxious or nervous about something, and she's been frequently anxious lately too ever since the disappearance of Grace's Grotto. It's... perplexing to say the least. A place like that wouldn't just disappear so quickly especially in a quaint town like Redstone. She also didn't understand how she seemed to be the only one affected by its mysterious disappearance.

That's what she thought at least. While going to the chappel, she saw a flyer that said something about a meeting to discuss Grace's Grotto. She's not going to lie, part of her felt relieved she wasn't the only one who's thinking about this deeply. On the other hand, another part of her felt very weirded out to find out she wasn't the only one thinking about this deeply either.

[color=#FA8072]"♫ Wrap me in your loving light...
Give me the strength to fight...
I can do all things for You...
I will live my life for You... ♫"[/color]

Serena then clapped her hands. [color=#FA8072]"Aaaand that's a wrap! You guys are amazing! Alright, time to get some rest. Make sure to drink water before singing later, okay?"[/color] She said to the youth choir who all enthusiastically replied in agreement and in unison at her. As she gave a warm smile and high-fives at them, she also couldn't help but marvel at this chapel. She sung at tons of different chapels before, but this one just made all the kids sound like angels each time they sung. The locals did say it was because of the 'Redstone Resonance', but they never really fully explained what that was exactly.

While the choir members were talking to each other and relaxing before the mass, Serena approached her mother Fel who was talking to the parents of the choir group. "Serena, honey! Lovely work as always! You just seem to know how to make someone sing like a bird! God really took His time with you, my love."

[color=#FA8072]"Oh, um, the kids are already talented. I just nudged them in the right direction, is all."[/color] Serena sheepishly smiled and replied.

"Ah ah... What did I tell you, [i]iha[/i]? Learn to fully accept your gift. The Lord gave it to you, it is disrespectful to downplay your talent. I keep telling you that, right?" Fel said, gently nudging Serena's shoulder and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

[color=#FA8072]"Right, s-sorry..."[/color] Serena replied, looking at her sides nervously before continuing. [color=#FA8072]"Um, Ma? Can I... Can I be excused for tonight's ceremony? Just for tonight. I have a... Er... Well, I got invited by my friends to go... W-Watch a movie. Yes, watch a movie."[/color]

Fel's eyebrows raised, clearly surprised. "Really? I must say, I'm very much surprised. This is your first time asking to not attend a mass. Usually you're the first one out the door whenever we have a ceremony to attend."

[color=#FA8072]"Yes, I know, I know. It's just that..."[/color] Serena could hear her heart pounding just trying to make up an excuse. [color=#FA8072]"I really like- love! I love hanging out with them. And I've... I felt lonely nowadays? So I thought hey, maybe I should get out more? And socialize and stuff...?"[/color]

Fel slowly nodded, looking at how the number of people have been gradually increasing as the start of the mass drew near. "I'll talk to your daddy. Go and have fun, just don't do drugs yeah?" She kissed her daughter's forehead as Serena gave her a warm smile. [color=#FA8072]"Thanks Ma. I love you!"[/color] She gave her mom a quick hug before going out the chapel.

As she made her way to the library where the meeting was supposed to be held, Serena reminisced about her experience at Grace's Grotto and the events afterwards. She remembered the cafe was just about to close when she visited it. As far as she knew, Serena was probably the Grotto's last customer before it disappeared the next day. She was heading home after spending some time at her music student's home where she was invited to have dinner before leaving as a token of gratitude.

Serena thought she wouldn't be let in, but Grace warmly welcomed her and offered her a seat. "Hello, little bird. Perfect timing, I just finished brewing this lovely drink I think you might like." Serena was then offered a cup of ginger honey tea and in the first sip, she could literally feel a comforting warmth envelop her soul. She felt like she was being embraced by her loved ones, and every sip after that was just as fulfilling as the last.

She felt sad and confused when she found out the Grotto was nowhere to be found afterwards, but she felt more confusion about her newfound power. She had a papercut when flipping through her music sheets. For some reason, she was compelled to focus on her faith as a sense of calmness washed through her. To her surprise, the cut healed itself in seconds. She didn't think too much about it at first until she saw a bird chirping on the ground, its wings seemingly broken. The same thing happened to her and she was able to heal the animal but she felt a bit of vertigo afterwards.

She never talked to anyone about it, not even her parents. When her brother got sick, Serena decided to try it out once more. She embraced him while he slept while thinking of her love for him and faith in the Lord. Her brother was fully healed after a few minutes of focusing, but it left her exhausted as a result.

This strange thing only happened to her after her visit at Grace's Grotto. She couldn't believe it but her ability to heal was real no matter how much she denied it. Serena knew it was a ridiculous notion , blasphemous even, but was it possible that Grace was God all along, visiting Earth in physical form? Was this some kind of test for her? Is she His messiah on this world? And were the people she was about to meet at the library also God's messengers? If so, what could be their mission?

Serena greeted the librarian and made her way to the study room. She was nervous to find there was already a few people there already. She thought of backing out and going back to the chapel, but her desire to find out about the mystery of Grace's and her powers were stronger than her social anxiety this time. She knocked the door and opened it, closing it behind her. [color=#FA8072]"H-Hi. Um, sorry to interrupt but there were these flyers that said to come here to talk about Grace's Grotto and... Am I in the right place or is it the other room...?"[/color]