Drowning in the swamp of memories

Veiled Intentions

I could feel them behind me before they even spoke, the subtle tug of my bloodbending making me aware of their presence. I didn’t bother turning around—I just smirked to myself, intrigued by whoever dared approach me so openly. As they drew closer, I caught sight of the two men: one with a rugged, farm-boy look and sun-worn skin, the other pale, with an unsettling, ghostly expression.

The one with the farmhand appearance stepped forward, his gaze cold but amused. "Well, there you are," he said, stopping just a few feet away. "The infamous girl of the ADA, only five months in, and you’ve already got everyone from the Guild to the government trembling in fear over your... abilities.”

I raised an eyebrow, barely hiding my smirk. “Guess I’ve picked up some fans, haven’t I?” I tilted my head, my voice laced with sarcasm.

The man’s lip curled into a smirk as well. “John Steinbeck,” he said, introducing himself with a bow. “And that’s my partner, Lovecraft. We’re agents from the Guild, here specifically for you.” Without further hesitation, he reached out, summoning vines and twisted plants from the ground, the roots clawing their way toward me.

“Ah, so this is your ability?” I mused. “Not bad… for a farmer.”

The plants lashed out, coiling and winding toward me like snakes. I sighed, unimpressed. With a flick of my wrist, I turned the moisture within the plants into ice, freezing them solid. In one fluid motion, I shattered the frozen vines, sending icy shards flying back toward Steinbeck. He stumbled back, raising an arm to shield himself from the attack.

But then Lovecraft moved, his eyes dull and sleepy as his arm morphed into something monstrous. It extended, transforming into a dark, slimy, tentacled appendage that twisted and writhed in unnatural angles. He lunged at me with surprising speed, his massive arm bearing down like the weight of the sea.

I dodged to the side, keeping my movements swift and fluid, but his tentacle followed, slamming down mere inches from where I’d been standing. The impact shook the ground beneath me, leaving a crater. I glanced up, meeting his bored gaze as he sighed, muttering, “Can we get this over with? I’d rather be asleep.”

“Nice to know I’m giving you such a thrill,” I retorted, rolling my eyes as I ducked another swing. Lovecraft’s tentacle twisted back around, and I managed to deflect it with a wall of ice. But just as I prepared to counter, Steinbeck moved in from the side, brandishing a syringe in his hand.

He lunged forward with surprising speed, and I barely had time to react before I felt the sharp prick of the needle piercing my arm. A cold, numbing sensation spread through me, weakening my limbs as I tried to push him off. My vision blurred, my strength draining fast.

Steinbeck grinned, satisfied, as I stumbled, my body growing heavier with each second. “See, that’s what happens when you underestimate the Guild.”

Lovecraft yawned as Steinbeck lifted me onto his back, carrying me with little effort. I tried to fight, but the drug was taking over, making my limbs sluggish, my vision swim. Lovecraft walked beside us, his eyes half-lidded as he muttered, “Can we hurry this up? I really want to sleep.”

Despite the drug seeping through my system, I managed a smirk, letting myself slip into the darkness. “Heh… everything is under control,” I whispered, my voice faint but laced with quiet confidence.

Little did they know—my plan had already begun.