Pictures

Malik

Luna sent me pictures of Audra daily—always the same, her motionless body lying on that sterile white bed. She kept me updated on her vitals, but nothing ever changed. Until tonight. My phone buzzed at midnight, jolting me from the light sleep I had drifted into. Luna never texted this late. My stomach twisted as I unlocked my phone. A single picture appeared on my screen. Audra's bed—empty. A second later, a video came through, the caption chilling in its simplicity.

She woke up.

I tapped on the video with shaky fingers, my breath catching as it played. The screen erupted in blue light. Water gushed from Audra, saturating the room, winding around her body like living tendrils. Her wounds vanished beneath the shimmering waves, healing in mere seconds. Then, without hesitation, she turned and walked straight through the tunnel door. And that was it. I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears as Luna's next message appeared. Malik, I want you to have a head start. She followed it with a map, marking out possible routes Audra might take. One route stood out to me immediately—a highway leading south, back toward home. I didn't need to guess. I could feel it. She was coming back. I pulled up directions, calculating the distance. Even by car, it would take days to track her down, but I needed to be precise. I had to find her at the exact moment she passed through, or I'd miss my chance. A thought struck me—I could shift. My wolf would be able to track her scent more easily, even if it took longer than driving. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed my phone and called Ajax. It rang a few times before his groggy voice answered, irritation laced in his tone. "This better be good." "Audra escaped," I said quickly. "Luna's giving us an eight-hour head start. I think I found the route she's taking. Do you want to come with me to get her back?" There was a beat of silence, then his voice sharpened, instantly awake. "Dude, yes! You didn't even need to ask." I exhaled in relief. "Good. I'm gathering a few warriors. We leave now." Because no matter what it took, I was bringing her home.

Sylvin

The lab was too quiet. The moment I stepped inside, unease slithered up my spine. Something was wrong. By now, the steady hum of machines should have filled the space, tracking Audra's vitals. Instead, all I heard was silence. I quickened my pace, heading straight to her room. The bed was empty. The machines were off. For a second, my mind couldn't process it. She was just here. I had seen her yesterday—unmoving, unresponsive. And now? Gone. Panic surged through me as I fumbled for my phone, dialing Luna's number. She answered after a few rings, her voice thick with sleep. "Yeah?" "Have you been down to the lab today?" I asked, my voice tight. There was a pause. "No. Why? Is something wrong?" "She's gone." I say my voice shaky. A rustling sound came through the speaker, followed by a curse. "What? I'll be right there." Ten minutes later, Luna arrived, looking disheveled—half-dressed, her hair a tangled mess. She hadn't known. That much was clear. She pushed past me into Audra's room, her sharp eyes scanning the equipment. Her brows furrowed as she touched one of the monitors. "The system's fried." Her fingers trailed over the dead screen. "It's like it was submerged in water… but it's dry." She hurried to her computer, pulling up the security footage. We both leaned in as she fast-forwarded through the night. Then, suddenly, the screen exploded in a brilliant flash of blue. Luna slowed the footage, replaying it frame by frame. Audra lay still, her body weak—until power burst from her like a tidal wave. Water spiraled around her, flooding the room, shutting down every piece of equipment instantly. She sat up, her wounds vanishing before our eyes, her body enveloped in a shimmering, crystalline cocoon of liquid. My breath hitched. "That's… different." Luna nodded, rewinding and replaying the moment again. "It is. The first time we saw her power, it was a deep, rich blue. But look at this." She gestured to the screen. "This time, it's lighter—almost glowing. It's rare enough for someone to have one of the four main elemental abilities: fire, water, air, or earth. But to wield it this well so soon?" She shook her head in disbelief. "That's unheard of. And healing properties? Even rarer." I frowned. "So what does that mean?" Instead of answering, she pulled up images of other water-wielders we had recorded over the years. Their energy, though powerful, looked muted in comparison—pale, almost translucent blues. Nothing like Audra's. Luna smirked. "Glad you asked. The deeper the color, the stronger the wielder. Think of it like a reservoir. Most people's elemental energy is like a half-full cup of water. Limited. Controlled. But Audra?" She exhaled, shaking her head. "She's overflowing. Just like Acheron." That made me pause. "Wait. Are you saying she's on his level?" "Potentially." Her voice turned serious. "And if Acheron tries to merge his power with hers the way he's done with others…" She trailed off, her expression darkening. I stiffened. "What happens?" Luna met my gaze, her smirk gone. "It might kill him." A beat of silence passed before she shrugged. "The odds are low. But I wouldn't rule it out completely." I ran a hand down my face, already dreading what I had to do next. I turned toward the door, sighing heavily. "I have to tell Acheron." And I had a feeling it wouldn't go well.