Adalynn

I was tossing and turning, in and out of sleep. My body ached in ways I didn't think possible. In any way I turned it only got worse. I rolled over, stretching into what felt like nothing like my body weighed nothing. Opening my eyes, I was floating in a dark abyss. No lights. No sign of my room. No bed. No curtains. Nothing.

Adalynn.

A quiet voice was sent ringing through my ears, echoing into the endless nothing. Scanning the vacant space, quickly, anxiety began to set in. Was I dying?

Adalynn.

The voice sounded again. A chill ran up my arms as if I were submerged in an ice bath.

Adalynn.

The voice echoed again, sending deep waves of panic into my chest. Flopping like a dying fish, I had finally flipped around to find Julie. My fear subsided as she paced over to me as if it were no difficulty at all.

Julie.

My voice rang loud and clear and echoed for several seconds. I didnt even speak, the comprehension of all this happening seemed impossible.

I know you don't understand what this is, Her lips didn't move, but you're dreaming right now.

Her voice soothed the fear that had rapidly burrowed into my chest like every word she said came out like silk, smooth mil pouring into a glass. My feet came down to a flat surface that couldn't be seen with my own eyes. Was she in my head?

I needed to get a message to you, as soon as possible. And this was the best way I could think to do so. She paused, scanning over me. You cannot go to the camp. That man you saw today, he isn't who he said he was. He isn't good.

She paused, as to contemplate what she was going to say next.

I wish I could explain but I don't have much time. I need you to go here instead.

In front of me, I watched the ground open up beneath my feet. I fell back to catch myself, my body landing with a echoing thump on the invisable ground. Crawling to the now gaping scene of my town from sky view. I slowly climbed to my feet as we dropped down, dragging the streets til we came upon my old elementary school. The parking lines were faded, the school looked decades old, and the fencing around the lot was falling at almost every corner.

Why. I asked, almost shocked that I was able to speak at all. Julie gave me a soft smiled, until she began talking.

There are people, bad people, who want to hurt people like you and me. We are very strong. I know you've noticed it for years, and when you told someone, they wouldn't believe you. Well now that you've noticed, you are in danger. Because you are the rarest of our kind. Again, I wish I could explain more but I have no more time. Please be safe. I'll reach out again soon.

She gave me a sincere smile as she started to fade away. I plunged forward, trying to reach her grasp but I only fell to my knees once again, basically glued in place. I watched her disappear and I was yet again alone in this vacant abyss. My body began to feel heavy, almost impossible to keep myself off the floor. I fought the efforts of my body giving way to gravity til my arms couldn't take it any longer.

I opened my eyes, my skin was cold to the touch. I was covered in a cold sweat, my hair matted to my face, my entire body hurt. But I was back in my room, my blankets at my feet.

Again, scanning the dark room, I realized it was late Monday evening. It wasn't even worth it to get out of bed. Wiping my eyes, chill bumps spread up my arms. My skin quickly became prickly. A dark silhouette materialized to my right.

I sucked in a breath.

Blue's face peaked through the dark mist before his body came into view. He smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back.

"Blue, I'm so glad to see you." I plunged forward and wrapped my arms around him.

He nodded.

"I really need to talk to you-" He held his hand up to shush me. He held the silence for a moment longer, staring worriedly at me. Thinking thoroughly as if he were about to make a life decision.

"Adalynn." His voice rang through clear as day, stricking a deep chord in me, as if I knew that voice. My eyes widened as he looked down at his hands. "I'm here to protect you, and I cannot always do that. For example, what you walked into today was one of the most dangerous situations of your existence."

I just stared. Did he watch me? Was he my guardian angel? His eyes caught mine. He pressed his cool hand to my cheek. I knew him, I knew who he was, but his face I just couldn't explain.

"H-how are you…" My tongue was in knots.

"Adalynn, you are so very powerful. If you haven't realized it yet, you are very different from many people in this town." He looked away, blowing out a heavy sigh. "I wish I had more time to explain but I won't be able to stay long." His voice was deep but comforting. He made me feel safe.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chain, a tiny jar embedded onto one of the chainlinks. He bent forward, clasping the two sides of the necklace together around my neck. As soon as it touched my skin, I felt a cool atmosphere surround me, hugging my skin.

"Your mother had a spell jar very similar to this one. And now, I give this to you. Wear it at all times. It's here to protect you, provide energy, and increase your abilities."

"Y-you knew my mother…?" I couldn't blink. I was terrified if I closed my eyes, he would disappear. And I never knew when I would see him again. He pressed his hand to my face again.

"You have my eyes." A single tear rolled down his cheek. "Trust your gut, it's really the only true thing."

His touch began to dissolve.

"Wait, please. I need answers. Please don't go." I grabbed his wrist, and a wave of energy shot up my arm and carved into my chest, almost sucking all the air from my lungs. My eyes widened in pain, sucking in the small tufts of air.

"Adalynn, what are you doing?" Concern laced his voice. It felt as if someone was digging a shovel into my lungs. "Adalynn let go!"

"No." I gulped down the pain. "I need answers."

"You're going to use a lot of energy to keep me here any longer!"

"I don't care. Tell me." I gritted my teeth.

I sat there, sucking back the pain. Fighting the absence of air in my lungs. I was going to understand. I was tired of the lack of explanations.

"Your mother and father that you grew up to know...are not your mother and father." My eyes grew wide again. "There are things you are not ready to understand, and you will know when you are ready. My name is Johnny Mayers. I had a daughter seventeen years ago. But in order to save her I had to give my life." I had heard the name Mayers before. But in the state I was in I couldn't place where I had heard the name before.

"Adalynn, you have to let me go. You don't understand what you're doing to yourself. Please, I will come back soon."

My body couldn't fight any longer, my grip became loose and my body began to go limp. Watching Johnny disappear from view, I collapsed onto the bed. My head pounded, like someone peeled back my scalp and slapped my brain with a wooden ore. My chest burned as if I had swallowed a flaming brick. I couldn't move. It was too much work. Soon, my body couldn't even handle the pain and I blacked out.