Resonant Echoes

Chapter 12: Nyla's Warning

Later that evening, Chandra sat in her room, staring out the window as the last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees. Her conversation with Malek had left her feeling unsettled. Was he connected to the Echoes, or was she just being paranoid?

She pulled out her phone and texted RJ, filling him in on what had happened at school. He replied almost immediately.

RJ: You think he's working with Torin?

Chandra: I don't know. But there's something off about him.

RJ: We need to keep an eye on him.

Chandra sighed, her eyes flicking to the resonator, which she had hidden away in her closet. Ever since Torin's appearance, she had been reluctant to use it again, but the pull of its power was always there, just beneath the surface.

Her phone buzzed again.

RJ: Have you told Nyla?

Chandra hesitated, her stomach tightening. She hadn't. And she wasn't sure if she should. Nyla had been more helpful lately, but there was still a part of Chandra that didn't fully trust her aunt. Torin's warning about Nyla hiding things still echoed in her mind.

Chandra: Not yet.

RJ: You should. She needs to know what's going on.

Chandra sighed, knowing RJ was right. Nyla had warned them about the dangers of the Echoes, and if Malek was somehow connected, they couldn't afford to ignore it.

She got up and headed downstairs, finding Nyla in the living room, flipping through one of her old research journals.

"Nyla?" Chandra said, her voice hesitant.

Nyla looked up, her expression softening. "What's on your mind, Chandra?"

Chandra sat down across from her, the weight of the day pressing down on her. "There's a new student at school—Malek. He's... different."

Nyla raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

Chandra chewed her lip, unsure of how much to say. "I don't know. He reminds me of Torin. Not exactly, but... there's something about him that doesn't feel right."

Nyla's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Have you spoken to him?"

"A little," Chandra admitted. "He seems... curious about me. But I don't know if he's connected to the Echoes or if I'm just overthinking things."

Nyla leaned forward, her gaze serious. "Trust your instincts, Chandra. If you feel that something is off, it probably is. The Echoes have a way of drawing people in—people who want to use their power for their own purposes."

Chandra swallowed hard, her chest tightening. "You think he's after the resonator?"

"It's possible," Nyla said, her voice low. "But we need more information before we jump to conclusions. For now, keep your distance from him. Don't let him get too close."

Chandra nodded, though the uneasy feeling in her stomach didn't go away. "And what about Torin?"

Nyla's expression hardened. "Torin is dangerous. He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants. You need to be on your guard, Chandra. Don't let him manipulate you."

Chandra felt a chill run down her spine. She had already sensed the danger in Torin, but hearing Nyla say it out loud made it all the more real.

"I won't," Chandra promised.

Nyla smiled faintly, though her eyes were still clouded with worry. "Good. We'll figure this out together