The Beast Inside

Ch. 14: Facing the Past

I gasped, jolting awake with tears streaming down my face. The nightmare had been too real, the memories too vivid. The sheets were damp with sweat, and my heart raced in my chest. I wiped my tears away, my breath shaky as I tried to ground myself in the reality of the present. It was over. I was no longer under Evox's control, and I was surrounded by friends who cared about me. But the pain of those memories still lingered, a ghost that refused to be exorcized.

The next day....
I awoke the next morning with a sense of exhaustion that clung to my bones. Dark circles underlined my eyes, a testament to the restless night I had endured. I dragged myself out of bed and went through the motions of getting ready, determined not to let my weariness show. I knew that my friends would worry if they saw how tired I was.

At the gym, I met up with Devon, Zoey, Ravi, Nate, and Steel. They greeted me with smiles, but their expressions quickly turned concerned as they took in my tired appearance. "Kali, are you okay?" Devon asked, his voice laced with worry.

I forced a smile, doing my best to appear unaffected. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a rough night." My words were casual, a dismissive attempt to brush off their concern.

Zoey's brow furrowed, her gaze searching mine. "Are you sure? You look really tired."

Ravi's concern mirrored the others, his voice gentle, "You don't have to hide it, Kali. We're here for you."

Nate nodded, his tone reassuring, "Yeah, if something's bothering you, you can talk to us."

Steel chimed in with his characteristic eagerness, "I am here to provide emotional support!"

Their genuine care warmed my heart, but the fatigue and emotional turmoil weighed heavily on me. I sighed, my shoulders sagging. "I appreciate it, guys. But really, I'm okay. Let's just hang out and have a good time."

We spent some time at the gym, joking and laughing as we always did. It was a much-needed distraction from the lingering darkness that threatened to consume me. After a while, it was time to head to Grid Battleforce for our duties.

As soon as we arrived, I went straight towards the training room. I needed something to push away the memories, to remind myself that I was in control now. I spent hours training, pushing my body to its limits, focusing all my energy on physical exertion. It was a way to escape, to numb the pain that still gnawed at my heart.

Devon's concerned voice broke through my concentration as he entered the training room. "Hey, Kali. Are you sure you're alright?"

I stopped, my chest heaving as I wiped sweat from my forehead. "I'm fine, Dev. Just needed to blow off some steam."

He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering as he studied me. "Kali, I know you. And I know when something's bothering you. You can talk to me."

I felt a surge of frustration, my exhaustion and emotional turmoil bubbling to the surface. "I said I'm fine, Devon! Can't you just drop it?"

He sighed, his concern mixed with hurt as he took a step back. "Alright, I'll leave you alone."

As he walked away, I felt a pang of guilt. Devon was my best friend, and he was only trying to help. But I wasn't ready to talk about the nightmares, about the memories that haunted me.

Devon's POV
I left the training room conflicted. I knew Kali better than anyone, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she was struggling more than she let on. I needed advice, guidance from someone who understood what she was going through. I found myself seeking out the veteran Ranger, explaining the situation and my concerns. "I'm really worried about her, Dr. Oliver. She's been having nightmares, and she's clearly not herself. I tried talking to her, but she snapped at me."