The dimly lit tent of the fortune teller was something that intrigued her. It was lit up outside with a single candle, that made her feel safe in this festival of fools.

She entered, and squinted at the dim lights on the inside. Outside was bright from the midday sun, but the inside made it feel like evening already.

“Hello, Veronica,” a voice called from the distance.

Veronica stopped dead in her tracks. How did this woman know her name?

“Come in,” the voice commanded, and so Veronica entered, without knowing in doing so she was sealing her doom.

“How do you know my name?” Veronica asked, awkwardly sitting on one of the stools.

Veronica heard a sharp intake of a breath as her eyes adjusted. She saw that the voice she had heard was from a woman sitting across from her. She was a small slight woman, wrapped in brightly coloured fabrics and jewels. She was hidden in the shadows of the tent, and looked ominous against the candlelight flickering in the background.

“I’ve been watching you your entire life,” the fortune teller said. “I have been your guardian of sorts. But today, we will decide your date together.”

She glanced into her magic ball sitting between them. Veronica was sceptical of the situation, but still felt uneasy at the thought of the woman correctly guessing her fate.

“I see you, in the future,” she said, gazing closely at it. Veronica tried to gaze too, but could see nothing but the inverted reflection of the fortune teller. “You’re miserable.”

“Miserable?” Veronica sighed, dejectedly.

“You’re not happy in your future marriage,” she said, solemnly. “You marry a man for love who could never love you back, no matter how hard he tried.”

Veronica looked down at the table. Weren’t psychics supposed to offer you the happiness of the future to make you pay more?

“Don’t worry,” the fortune teller said, looking up at her sullen expression. “We can change that, if you like?”

“How?” Veronica asked.

The psychic smirked. “By letting you stay here with me. If you’re not at the right place to meet this man, then you can’t be unhappy in love. And don’t worry. I’ll take really good care of you.”

Veronica hesitated. How could she stay with a woman she had just met? How could she trust her?

“Of course, if you’d rather the life you’re destined to have out there,” the fortune teller said, her eyes flickering like a temptress, “I’m sure you could maybe find some happiness out there for while.”

Veronica stared in horror into the void of the tent, darkness slowly forming around her. She noticed her scepticism had worn off, and now she was slowly realising that this woman may know more about her.

“Why should I trust you?” Veronica found herself asking.

The psychic smirked again. “I know your parents are Paul and Bella. I know you’re 24 years old, and trying to get into a stable relationship.”

Veronica looked spellbound. This woman did know a lot about her. What’s to say she didn’t know a lot about her future too?

“I’ll stay with you,” Veronica said.

The psychic smiled. She produced from under the table a knife. Veronica tried to run but realised she had been stuck to the chair when she had sat down.

Suddenly, the knife plunged into her chest. The face above her was one that she recognised.

The psychic pulled the knife from her chest and looked at Veronica’s wide eyes. She had a new victim at long last.