SPECTRA

Familiar by thy side

Alexis Hart, a bright-eyed sixteen-year-old with a wild mane of chestnut hair, stood on the edge of her backyard, transfixed by the anomaly pulsating in the sky. The swirling colors of the Hex shimmered, casting an otherworldly glow that seemed to dance above Westview, both mesmerizing and eerie. The air felt charged, almost electric, as if the very atmosphere held its breath.

She leaned against the wooden fence that separated her yard from the neighboring Eastview, her heart racing with a mix of excitement and dread. "Can you believe it?" she murmured to herself, captivated by the display above. She had heard whispers about the strange occurrences in Westview, the rumors of magic and chaos, but standing here, watching the vivid colors pulse and throb like a heartbeat, felt surreal.

"Alexis! Get inside, now!" her mother called from the porch, her voice edged with concern. She held a phone in her hand, the screen lighting up with alerts about the mandatory stay-in-place warning sent out by the government.

"I'm fine, Mom! Just look at it!" Alexis shouted back, unable to tear her gaze from the pulsating colors. A sense of wonder washed over her, eclipsing the worry etched across her mother's face. How could something so beautiful also be so terrifying?

Her mother stepped out onto the porch, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "It's not safe! We don't know what that thing is doing. Please, just come inside!"

Reluctantly, Alexis turned to face her mother, but her curiosity still tugged at her. As she took a step back toward the house, she felt a sharp jab in her foot. Startled, she looked down and realized she had stepped on a bee, its tiny body crushed beneath her bare heel.

"Alexis!" her mother shouted, panic creeping into her voice. "What happened?"

"I think I just stepped on a bee!" Alexis replied, trying to shake off the sudden pain that shot through her foot. She had been stung before and had always thought her reactions were mild. But this time, she felt a strange heat spreading from the site of the sting, coupled with a rising wave of panic.

"Come inside, please!" her mother insisted, her eyes wide with worry.

As Alexis hobbled toward the house, the sting transformed from a sharp pain into a burning sensation that crept up her leg. "I'm fine, Mom. Really," she said, though her heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She knew she had a mild allergy, but never anything severe. It couldn't be that bad, could it?

"Alexis, you don't look good!" her mother exclaimed, concern lacing her voice. "What do you need? Your EpiPen?"

Alexis shook her head, but as she walked closer to the porch, the burning intensified, turning into an alarming throb that resonated through her entire body. "I think I just need to sit down for a second," she mumbled, trying to dismiss the growing sense of dread.

"Sit inside! Please!" her mother urged, panic tightening her voice.

With every step, the world around her began to blur. She could hear her mother's frantic voice calling for her to come closer, but it felt like it was fading away, like the sound of waves crashing against distant shores. Just as she reached the porch, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she stumbled, her vision going fuzzy.

"Mom... I can't..."

"Hold on, sweetheart!" her mother cried, rushing to her side, grabbing her arm to steady her. "I'm calling 911!"

But just as her mother turned to rush inside, Alexis felt her body betray her. A sudden tightness gripped her throat, and she gasped for air, the familiar sensation of panic clawing at her insides. "Mom..." The name barely escaped her lips, a feeble plea as the darkness encroached on the edges of her vision.