Chapter 16: The Hospital Room

The next day at school, Ida sat at her desk, trying to follow the formulas the teacher was writing on the board. However, her mind was constantly filled with other thoughts. The contradictions and uncertainties she had been experiencing regarding her powers lately were unsettling her. She didn't feel at peace; everything seemed to be spiraling out of control. What Batuhan had said kept replaying in her mind. She knew her powers came with a price, but she still didn't understand what that price was.

During class, she started to feel lightheaded. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to read the words on the board. The energy inside her was rising and falling strangely, as though it were pulling her apart from within. For a moment, her breath caught, and she tried to hold onto her desk, but she didn't have the strength. Her head felt heavy, and she sensed she was losing control of her body.

Then, suddenly, darkness.

Ida collapsed in the classroom. The teacher and students panicked, rushing to help her. A chaotic atmosphere filled the room as everyone tried to understand what was happening. Ida's face was pale and lifeless. Her pulse was weak, as though her body was draining from the inside. An ambulance was called immediately, and she was rushed to the hospital.

In the hospital room, Ida's condition remained uncertain. Her pale face, closed eyes, and shallow breathing were signs of how destructive her power was. The room was dimly lit, with only the rhythmic beeping of machines filling the silence. A faint mist seemed to hover over her body, as if the power within her was draining her life force.

Visiting hours had ended, and Ida's mother and Atilla had left the room. They left her alone in the silence.

However, that silence didn't last long.

The door creaked open, and Batuhan quietly entered. He walked slowly and cautiously, as if approaching a monster that could wake at any moment. The dark expression on his face revealed just how dangerous and calculating he was. He glanced around the room quickly, ensuring no one was there before coming to Ida's bedside.

Looking down at her motionless form, Batuhan smiled slyly. "Do you believe me now?" he whispered with a mocking tone.

Without waiting for a response, he continued, his voice low but carrying a deep echo. "I told you, didn't I? Your power has a price. Everything has a price, Ida. You're starting to learn that now." His eyes were fixed on Ida's shallow breaths. "This power will slowly drain you from the inside out. It's nice that you're trying not to harm others, but this time, you're consuming your own life force. You can't live without using it, without controlling it. If you're not ready to pay the price... your end will be much worse."

Batuhan leaned closer to Ida's face. There was a glint of victory in his eyes, as though he had won. "But I can help you. Join me, Ida. There's a way to control this power, and I know how to do it. I can share this power with you. You can rise above these weaknesses."

He paused, waiting for any response from Ida. But she remained unconscious, weak and defenseless. Batuhan stepped back and, with a sinister smile, added, "But the choice is yours. Just remember, time is running out. With every passing day, you're weakening."

He gave her one last look before quietly leaving the room. The dark game of power continued, and Ida's fate remained uncertain.

As Batuhan left the hospital room, the door closed silently behind him, leaving only the faint sound of machines ticking away in the quiet. The silence was like a heavy blanket over Ida. Her body felt like a stone, every movement seemed to take years. Her eyelids, weighed down by an invisible force, closed slowly. But Batuhan's words still echoed in her mind.

Power... Price... Time is running out...

Ida slowly opened her eyes. The dim light from the ceiling momentarily blinded her, but it wasn't the physical pain that felt unbearable. It was the emotional weight, the burden of doubt and fear that was more overwhelming. Batuhan's every word had pierced her heart like a knife. He had said her power would consume her. Was it true? With every passing moment, she felt like she was losing a little more of herself.

She tried to speak, but the words got caught in her throat. No sound came from her mouth. She was powerless. Her body had betrayed her, as if it had abandoned her completely. But the silence inside her couldn't block the echo of Batuhan's dark words.

"Do you believe me now?"

Ida struggled with this question repeating in her mind. Was Batuhan right? Would this power really consume her? Her eyes began to sting. All the energy in her body seemed to have been sucked into a whirlpool, lost within itself. She couldn't remember ever feeling so weak.

Then, two tears fell from her eyes. They silently streamed down her cheeks and soaked into her pillow. These tears carried not only the pain and helplessness but also the fear brought on by uncertainty. If Batuhan's words were true, could this be her end? Was this power really killing her?

Ida lowered her head onto the pillow, her eyes still open, staring at the ceiling. Everything felt blurry, everything felt meaningless. Facing her weakness felt like a turning point in her life. Until now, she had believed she could handle everything, but now she realized that this power was beyond her control. It was as if her fate was slipping through her fingers.

With these thoughts racing through her mind, a quiet whisper escaped her lips. A soft murmur only she could hear, like an inner prayer: "What will I do?"

But no answer came.

As her eyes closed once again, she was carried away by a wave of helplessness. The dark choices Batuhan had presented to her clashed with the sense of security Atilla had given her. No matter which path she chose, both seemed to come with a price. But now, being aware of those prices only made her burden heavier.

Taking one last deep breath, she fell back into unconsciousness, her tears mingling with a sense of unease.