Ava awoke with a jolt, her eyes fluttering open to find herself in a room that wasn't her own. The sunlight filtered through a lace curtain, casting delicate patterns on the walls. She looked around, disoriented, before her gaze fell on Elara standing by her bedside.
"Good morning," Elara said softly, her voice carrying an air of concern. "You were exhausted yesterday. You collapsed from fatigue. I brought you here to rest."
Ava sighed, the remnants of the dream still swirling in her mind. Her body felt heavy, like it had been drained of all energy. The realization dawned on her that the intense emotional and physical toll of the dream had left her completely spent. "I didn't realize I was so drained," she admitted, rubbing her eyes.
Elara nodded sympathetically. "Rest is what you need right now. Take it easy."
Once Elara left, Ava lay still for a moment, trying to piece together the events of the previous day. Her thoughts drifted back to her encounter with Finn and the unsettling atmosphere of the village. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Why had Finn been out in the streets? He rarely ventured beyond the shadows of the village. It didn't make sense, and it left her feeling uneasy. Determined to find some clarity, she decided to seek out Jaxon. He was always open and honest, and perhaps he could shed some light on Finn's sudden appearance.
Ava found Jaxon near the vegetable garden, busily sorting through a pile of freshly harvested produce. She approached him, her curiosity piqued. "Jaxon, do you have a moment?"
Jaxon glanced up, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by an anxious edge. "Sure, Ava. What's on your mind?"
Ava hesitated, then asked, "I was wondering why Finn isn't seen much around the village. He's rarely out in the open, and I ran into him yesterday, which seemed unusual."
Jaxon's gaze shifted nervously. "Finn... he's not exactly comfortable being around people. There's a reason for that." He glanced around as if making sure no one was listening before continuing. "When Finn was younger, he struggled to control his powers. It was a chaotic time for everyone—no one really understood what was happening. He used his abilities to manipulate his parents, to get out of trouble, and, well, it caused a lot of problems."
Ava frowned, intrigued but also concerned. "What kind of problems?"
Jaxon took a deep breath. "His parents went through a lot of stress and eventually lost their grip on reality. The constant manipulation drove them to the brink of insanity. That's why Finn is so withdrawn now. He avoids using his powers because he's afraid of what they might do to him and others. He doesn't want to risk causing more harm."
Ava absorbed this new information, a sense of sympathy mingling with her growing anxiety. She had always sensed that Finn was troubled, but she hadn't known the full extent of his struggle.
Jaxon noticed her troubled expression and quickly shifted his focus. "I've got to get these sheets to Elara. She's been busy with a lot of things lately. Why don't you come with me? Maybe you can help."
Curious and with a sense of urgency, Ava agreed. They walked together toward Elara's house. As they entered the third room, Ava's heart sank at the sight of a wounded child lying on a bed. Her eyes widened as she recognized the girl from her dream—the same girl who had been thrown at the soldiers' feet.
Ava's throat tightened with guilt. She had been so overwhelmed by fear that she hadn't paid attention to the suffering around her. Now, seeing the girl's face, the dream seemed to solidify into reality. She realized that if this child was real, then her dream had not been merely a figment of her imagination. It was a warning, a premonition of something true and terrible.
