ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

|21|

• ＷＩＬＬＯＷ •

The next morning, I woke with a renewed sense of purpose. The memories of the previous day were vivid, filling me with a sense of awe and excitement.

We spent all Sunday training. By the end of the weekend, I was beyond exhausted, feeling numb in parts of my body I never knew existed.

I wasn't the most athletic person, but I did run sometimes and was in decent shape. Still, it was nowhere near what I needed to keep up with them. I felt like a dead weight, especially as the training intensified.

Yet, no one said anything or showed any sign of frustration, except Aria, which was to be expected. They didn't tell me I was too slow or complain when I couldn't follow their instructions correctly. They made me feel at ease and trained with me at my pace.

At school, they were their usual selves, but there was an unspoken understanding between us. We were connected in a way that went beyond words now.

I met Alicia at our usual spot behind the bleachers. Her expression was unusually serious, and I knew something was up.

"What's going on?" I asked, concerned.

She glanced around to make sure no one was listening before leaning in. "There's a new test the town wants to implement for all children and teenagers," she said quietly.

Her dad was close to the mayor and knew all about the town's deepest secrets. Or so I thought. He couldn't know about people with abilities, could he?

"A test?" I frowned. "What kind of test?"

"That's the thing," Alicia continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "They're being vague about it. It's supposedly some kind of health screening, but it's mandatory for everyone. And it's not just the town; I overheard my parents talking last night. They mentioned something about the government being involved, and it sounded serious."

A chill ran down my spine. It could be related to finding people like us. "What would be the purpose? First the curfew, and now this?"

Alicia nodded. "Yeah, they're up to something. They're trying to disguise it as something harmless, but I don't buy it."

The word hung in the air between us, heavy with implications. My heart raced as I connected the dots. The government, the town, the tests—they were all looking for people with powers. People like us. People like me.

I had to tell the others.

After school, I went to their place. We had agreed that every evening I would spend a few hours at their house to train. That evening, we gathered in the basement. The air was thick with tension as I relayed what Alicia had told me. Everyone listened intently, their expressions growing grimmer with each word.

"This can't be a coincidence," Raiden said, pacing the room. "First my mom's call, then we get followed, and now this? They must know something."

Adrian crossed his arms, a determined look on his face. "We need to train harder. Especially you, Willow. You need to be ready for anything."

I nodded, feeling the weight of their words. I was still new to this world, and the thought of facing whatever was coming terrified me. But I knew they were right. We had to be prepared.

The days that followed were grueling. We spent hours in the basement, practicing combat techniques and honing our skills. They all tried to help me discover my ability, but nothing seemed to work. It was frustrating, but I didn't let it deter me.

Luke became my main training partner. He was quiet and reserved, but there was a kindness in his eyes that put me at ease.

"Come on, Willow, you can do this," he encouraged as we sparred. His words of support were a stark contrast to his usual quiet demeanor.