Rising Ashes: Original

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"Clancy!" Aimee yelled, bursting into the tent, her heart racing.

Clancy jumped to his feet, his eyes scanning her with concern. "What?" He rushed to her side, his hands hovering near her as if afraid she'd collapse. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Aimee's breath came in short gasps as she tried to steady herself, the weight of the vision pressing heavily on her. "I—I saw them. Nico, the Bishops... they were talking about me." Her voice trembled, her body still shaking from the experience.

Clancy’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? Talking about you how?”

“They knew about my powers, Clancy,” Aimee said, her voice barely a whisper, but laced with urgency. “They’ve known for a long time. And they didn’t come for you... they came for me. They wanted me to sacrifice myself, to be a ‘glorious gone.’ But you, you being there—it ruined their plan.”

Clancy’s face hardened, his fists clenching at his sides. "They wanted you dead?" His voice was sharp, the anger barely contained. “How could they—”

“There’s more,” Aimee interrupted, her pulse quickening again. "Nico was furious at Nills for not bringing me back. He was yelling about how I’m some kind of exception... like you. He said my bond with you messed everything up."

Clancy’s eyes widened in realization, his jaw tightening. "They’re scared of what you can do." He stepped closer to Aimee, lowering his voice. “That means we have the upper hand.”

“But how, Clancy? They know too much about me,” Aimee said, fear creeping into her tone. “I don’t even fully understand my powers yet, and they’re already trying to use me.”

""I'm not gonna let them take you back, Aimee," Clancy reassured, his voice firm but gentle as he squeezed her shoulder.

Aimee looked up at him, her eyes still wide with fear and uncertainty. "But what if they come for me? What if they force me to go back?"

Clancy shook his head, his gaze unwavering. "I won't let that happen. Not while I'm still breathing."

Aimee swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "You don't understand, Clancy. They want me for something bigger. They want to use me—Nico said they need me for their plan, and if I go back..." She hesitated, the weight of it all pressing down on her. "I don't know if I’ll survive."

Clancy stepped closer, his determination shining through. "Then we make sure you don’t go back. We fight back, harder than ever. You're not just some pawn in their game, Aimee. You have the power to stop them, and I’ll be with you every step of the way."

Aimee’s eyes softened, and for the first time since the vision, she allowed herself to feel a sliver of hope. "You really think we can beat them?"

Clancy smiled, though there was a fierceness behind it. "I know we can."

Just as Aimee allowed herself a brief moment to breathe, the tent flap rustled, and Torch burst in, panting and wide-eyed. His face was pale, urgency etched in every feature.

"Clancy! Aimee!" Torch gasped, barely able to catch his breath. "The Bishops... they’re coming back. We spotted them near the Palladin Strait. They’re headed straight for us."

Clancy’s body tensed immediately, his eyes narrowing as he processed the news. "How many?" he asked, already moving to gather his things, his movements swift and deliberate.

Torch swallowed hard, his voice shaky. "Eight. All of them. And Nico... We need to move, now, before they close in."

Aimee’s stomach twisted into knots. Her vision—Nico, the Bishops, their plan—it was all happening, and they were coming for her. "They’re not just coming for us," she whispered, her voice shaky. "They’re coming for me."