Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

The Anomaly

Chapter Three: The Anomaly

The roads blurred together, one unfamiliar town after another, their names quickly forgotten as Nessa pressed forward on her relentless search. Months had passed since she left the only home she had ever known, and with each passing day, her hope dwindled. Her powers were growing stronger, more volatile. Sometimes she could feel them pulsing just beneath her skin, like a storm she couldn't control.

She tried to keep a low profile, but accidents followed her a shattered storefront window in one town, a sudden bolt of lightning on a clear day in another. Whispers spread quickly about the strange girl with the wild eyes, and before long, Nessa had no choice but to move on.

Now she approached another town, her boots kicking up dust on the quiet road. A weathered sign stood at the edge of the pavement: Welcome to Westview, New Jersey. She stopped for a moment, staring at it. Something about this place felt... different. The air was heavier here, almost electric, and she shivered despite the warmth of the afternoon sun.

As Nessa passed the sign, Rio awoke from a restless nap with a jolt, her heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, she thought it was just another bad dream. But then she felt it a shift in the energy of Westview, like a wrong note in a familiar melody.

Rio sat up, her hand pressed to her chest. "What is that?" she muttered to herself, her voice tight with unease. It wasn't just the sensation of something new entering her beloved town. It was a feeling of imbalance, of something that shouldn't exist.

She closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses, and the answer came to her in a wave of dread. This energy... no. It can't be. Her connection to death whispered to her, confirming the impossible truth: the child of death and magic, an anomaly that defied the natural order, had crossed into Westview but how could it be...a mystery she thought to herself.

Without hesitation, Rio teleported to the town's edge. She appeared just beyond the sign, her sharp eyes scanning the road ahead. There she was a young girl with dark hair and a hesitant gait, her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets.

Nessa stopped abruptly, startled by the sudden appearance of the woman in front of her. Rio stood tall, her posture guarded her dark eyes narrowing as she looked the girl over.

"Who are you?" Rio demanded, her voice firm but cautious. "And what are you doing here?"

Nessa froze, her fingers brushing the edge of the locket hidden beneath her shirt. She could feel the woman's suspicion like a weight pressing down on her. "I—I don't mean any harm," she said quickly, her voice trembling. "I'm just... looking for someone."

Rio's expression didn't soften. She took a step closer, her presence almost suffocating. "You're lying. I can feel it. What are you?"

"I don't know!" Nessa blurted out, her frustration spilling over. "I don't know what I am, okay? I've been searching for months, trying to find answers." She took a shaky breath, her hand tightening around the locket beneath her jacket. "I'm looking for a woman with a necklace like mine. That's all I know. Please, I don't want trouble."

Rio tilted her head, her gaze flickering briefly to the faint glow of magic she could sense from the locket. Her instincts screamed at her to be cautious, but there was something in the girl's voice an aching sadness, a desperation she couldn't ignore.

Rio's gaze lingered on the faint shimmer of the locket peeking out from beneath the girl's jacket, her chest tightening. She recognized it instantly the intricate runes etched into the silver, the unmistakable design. It was just like Agatha's, the one she hadn't seen in years but could never forget. A flood of questions swirled in her mind, but she kept her expression neutral. Whatever connection this girl had to Agatha, Rio wasn't ready to reveal her suspicions not yet. Instead, she stayed silent, her unease growing as she wondered just how deep this mystery ran.

Rio stepped closer, her voice softer but still wary. "You're playing with fire, girl. Whatever you're looking for... it might not be what you hope it is."

Nessa swallowed hard, meeting Rio's eyes. "I don't have a choice. I need to know the truth."

For a long moment, Rio said nothing, her mind racing. She didn't trust this strange girl...this anomaly...but the weight of the energy she felt around her was undeniable. Whatever was happening, it was bigger than both of them, and Rio knew she couldn't turn away now.

"Fine," she said at last, her voice steady. "You can stay; for now. But don't think I won't be watching you."

Nessa nodded, relief and unease washing over her in equal measure. She didn't know who this woman was or why she seemed so connected to the strange energy that followed her everywhere. But she knew one thing for certain: she was getting closer to the answers she'd been searching for.