Ep. 27 Don't Trust

Blood everywhere. The metallic scent filled my nostrils as screams pierced the air—some of terror, others of anguish, and worst of all, the ones filled with maniacal laughter. Bodies lay scattered around me like broken dolls, their faces frozen in expressions of horror I knew would haunt me forever.

I tried to run, but my legs wouldn't move. Helplessness crashed over me in waves as I watched shadows dance across blood-stained walls. From somewhere in the darkness, a voice called out—Mom? Dad? Their silhouettes appeared at the end of the corridor, hands reaching toward me.

"Hel—" The word died in my throat as a massive figure emerged behind them, its presence radiating an evil so profound it made my soul scream. In the dim light, I caught a glimpse of a crown made of twisted black metal, and below it, eyes that burned with ancient malice.

"Theron..." The name slipped from my lips unbidden, and those terrible eyes fixed upon me.

"KAI!"

I jolted awake with a gasp, my body drenched in cold sweat. Rowan stood over me, his face pinched with worry. The morning sun streaming through our window felt like a blessing, chasing away the lingering shadows of my nightmare.

"W-what is it?" I managed to stammer, trying to shake the confusion from my mind. My heart still hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape.

"You were freaking out in your sleep again," Rowan said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Thrashing around and muttering. You kept saying 'Theron' over and over." He studied my face with growing concern. "Who's Theron?"

The name sent another jolt of primal fear through my body. I'd never met anyone called Theron—at least, not since waking up in this body—but something about that name triggered a response so visceral it felt carved into my very bones. For a moment, I experienced what I can only describe as the pure essence of terror.

"You okay?" Rowan reached out, his hand gentle on my shoulder. "You went really pale there for a second."

I forced myself back to the present, pushing down the lingering dread. "Y-yeah, I'm fine," I assured him, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't know any Theron. Must have just been speaking nonsense in my sleep."

Rowan didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue. "Well, breakfast is ready if you're up for it. Maya made porridge, and it actually turned out edible this time." He attempted a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

I nodded, grateful for the change of subject. "I'll be out in a minute."

After he left, I sat in bed for a moment, my thoughts spinning like leaves in a whirlwind. Who was Theron, and why did that name evoke such terror in this body? What did these dreams mean? What had happened to this body's original owner before I somehow ended up in it? The questions multiplied with each passing second, but answers remained frustratingly out of reach.

The questions followed me to breakfast, hovering at the edges of my mind as I mechanically spooned porridge into my mouth. Maya and Rowan chatted about something—training techniques maybe?—but their words washed over me without really registering.

A week had passed since our victory over the Mutt. After finding us stumbling back to the cabin, exhausted but alive, Ms. Vera had given us the lecture of a lifetime. The words "reckless," "foolhardy," and "could have gotten yourselves killed" featured prominently. But underneath her anger, I'd seen pride in her eyes. She'd given us a few days to rest and recover, but that reprieve ended today.

As I finished my breakfast, I could feel the morning's nightmare trying to slip away like water through cupped hands. But one detail remained crystal clear: those burning eyes and the crown of black metal. Something told me this wasn't just a normal nightmare—it was a memory. But whose? Mine? Or the original owner of this body?

I had a feeling I'd be finding out sooner rather than later.

"Ready for training?" Maya's voice cut through my brooding. She stood by the door, practice clothes already on, her face set with determination. Despite everything we'd been through—or perhaps because of it—she seemed more focused than ever.

"Yeah," I replied, standing up and forcing a smile. "Let's see what Ms. Vera has in store for us today."

Whatever mysteries lay in my past—this body's past—they would have to wait. Right now, I had a family to protect and strength to gain. One step at a time, one day at a time.

But as we headed out to the training field, I couldn't shake the feeling that the name Theron would come back to haunt me again.