Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Restless Thoughts

Chapter Six: Restless Thoughts

Nessa stepped out of the coffee shop, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as she adjusted her jacket. The streetlights were beginning to flicker on, casting a warm glow over Westview's cobblestone streets. As she walked, her thoughts lingered on the woman she had passed just moments before the one sitting near the window with a distracted, almost stubborn expression.

There was something about her. Her lavender scent, faint yet distinct, lingered in the air long after Nessa had walked by. Her dark brown hair framed her face as she stared into her coffee, completely absorbed in her own thoughts. She hadn't even noticed Nessa, but Nessa had seen the woman's head tilt slightly, almost as if she had been on the verge of speaking or smiling.

She seemed sharp, self-assured, and maybe a little self-centered. The kind of person who carried an air of authority without needing to say a word. Someone used to being in control Nessa thought, shaking her head. Why was she even thinking about her? It wasn't like they'd exchanged words or even a glance. Still, the woman stuck in her mind, like a melody she couldn't quite place.

She sighed, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets as she continued down the street. The town was quieting down for the evening, most shops already closed for the night. She spotted a small motel at the end of the road, its flickering neon sign promising vacancies.

The cash in her pocket wasn't much, but it would have to do. Nessa's steps quickened as the evening chill deepened. She wanted to settle in before it got too late before her restless energy and her still-growing powers could become a problem again.

As she reached the motel, she cast one last glance down the street, as if expecting the lavender-scented woman to reappear. But the road behind her was empty, just shadows and the faint hum of the streetlights. Shaking her head, she pushed open the door to the motel's office, ready to end her long day.

The night was supposed to be quiet, but Westview was anything but peaceful.

Nessa tossed and turned in her bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as her dreams spiraled into nightmares. Images of her adoptive mother's face flashed before her kind and warm at first, then terrified. The memory of that moment the surge of uncontrolled power ripping through her body, consumed her. Her screams echoed in her mind, blending with her mother's final, loving words.

You're loved. It's okay.

But it wasn't okay. The guilt clawed at her, consuming her even in sleep. Nessa's body trembled as her powers surged uncontrollably. The motel room grew colder, the air crackling with energy. Her fists clenched the sheets as her body jolted awake, a guttural scream tearing from her throat.

The sound wasn't just deafening it was destructive. Outside the motel, the concrete street cracked violently, a jagged fissure splitting the earth and racing outward. The crack tore through the street, branching from one building to another, like the earth itself was shattering under the weight of her grief.

Nessa sat up in bed, gasping for air, her skin clammy with sweat. Her hands shook as she tried to steady herself, but the echoes of her scream still reverberated in her ears. She felt the power coursing through her veins, wild and unrelenting, and she clenched her fists tightly, trying to suppress it.

Outside, the town erupted in confusion. Residents poured out of their homes, their faces pale with worry as they gathered to inspect the massive crack that now ran through their streets.

Agatha was among them, her hair disheveled, her robe pulled tight around her as she emerged from her house. Her sharp eyes immediately locked onto the damage, and a chill ran down her spine. The energy in the air was unmistakable chaotic, untamed, and dangerous. She pressed her lips together, a rare flicker of fear crossing her face as she scanned the crowd.

"This isn't natural," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of the townsfolk. She could feel the energy radiating, thick and oppressive, wrapping itself around the town like an unseen force. It felt alive, raw, and destructive.

Her heart raced as she turned on her heel, retreating back inside her house. This wasn't something she could ignore. Whoever or whatever was behind this, she needed answers. And there was only one person she knew who could help her.

Summoning Rio was the last thing Agatha wanted to do, but the energy tonight was unlike anything she'd felt before. She clenched her jaw, swallowing her pride as she waved her hands, her fingers weaving an intricate spell. The air shimmered with a faint lavender hue before snapping with a crackle of energy.

Rio appeared moments later, arms crossed and an unamused look on her face. "Agatha," she said coolly. "What could possibly warrant such an... abrupt summons?" Rio stares at the woman before her in a bath robe, showing off Agatha's figure nicely.

Agatha didn't waste time with her usual sarcasm. "Don't play coy with me, Rio," she snapped, pacing the room. "You've felt it too, haven't you? The energy in the air it's suffocating. Chaotic. And now the town is literally splitting apart." She gestured wildly toward the window, her frustration boiling over. "You're connected to death, to chaos. Tell me you feel it."

Rio's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. She nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing. "I've felt it," she admitted, her voice low. "For a while now. It's not natural, not something that should even exist."

Agatha exhaled sharply, crossing her arms as she tried to steady herself. "Then we don't have a choice," she said, her voice firm. "We have to work together to figure out what or who is behind this. Because if we don't..." She trailed off, glancing back out the window at the crack in the street and the frightened faces of the townsfolk.

Rio raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smirk despite the tension. "Never thought I'd see the day when Agatha Harkness would ask me for help."

"Don't get used to it," Agatha shot back, her tone sharp but lacking venom. "This isn't about us. It's about stopping whatever's coming before it's too late."