Chapter 14 - Trouble Brewing

The next few days passed in what I would generously describe as "tense tranquility."

Elren pushed me through more drills, but there was a new edge to our sessions—a quiet urgency neither of us voiced. The government agents hadn't returned yet, but we both knew they would. Probably with more invasive questions. Probably with bigger containment units. Probably with worse coffee.

"Your focus is slipping," Elren said, knocking my blade aside for the fifth time that morning.

"My focus is on surviving the upcoming second round of 'let's interrogate the anomaly.'"

"Focus here."

"Oh, you mean the part where you keep knocking me down? Yeah, super easy to focus on."

"You're slower today."

"I'm processing trauma, thank you very much."

"Your sarcasm will not protect you."

"It's emotional armor."

"I can still break through it."

"Don't you dare."

His lips twitched. Just slightly.

...

We paused for a break, sipping coffee from our respective cups. Gloria was pulling double shifts these days.

"Do you think Draven will send someone else?"

"Possibly."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it remains true."

"You're the worst fortune teller."

"Correct."

"When they come back, they'll probably try to separate us again."

"They will fail."

Okay, I wasn't prepared for how reassuring that sounded.

"You really won't let them take me?"

"No."

"Because I'm useful?"

"Because you're mine to protect."

Oh.

Okay.

We're just dropping that kind of declaration in the middle of training now? Cool, cool, I can process that. Later. Definitely later.

Before I could fully spiral, Elren added, "Gloria would miss you."

"Of course. Gloria is the most loyal one here."

"Her programming is stable."

"Unlike me?"

"You're manageable."

Wow. High praise coming from him. I'll take it.

-----

Later that evening, a message pinged on Elren's communicator. His eyes narrowed slightly as he read it.

"What? Who was that?"

"Someone who's not Draven."

"Should I be concerned?"

"A little."

"Okay, now I'm a lot concerned."

"We're being summoned."

"By who?"

"A higher clearance officer."

"Oh, that sounds like terrible news."

"It is."

-----

The next morning, we arrived at an administrative tower—sleek, towering, and way too shiny to be welcoming. The agent who met us introduced himself as Commander Vance.

"You're the anomaly?" Vance asked, eyeing me like I was a particularly interesting piece of lab equipment.

"Yep, all the chaos and charm in one convenient package."

"Your attitude is... excessive."

"You're not the first person to say that."

Elren stepped slightly in front of me. Protective. Unapologetic.

"Proceed with caution."

Vance smirked but didn't push. "We're not here to detain you."

"Oh, fantastic."

"Yet."

"Less fantastic."

...

They led us to a secure briefing room where a projection displayed a complex resonance chart. Graves had been manifesting more frequently in the past week. Stronger ones. Ones that were ignoring containment and chasing anomalies directly.

"Something is amplifying their behavior," Vance said. "And you, Ava Lin, are the common variable."

"Oh, I love being accused of triggering monster surges. Super fun for me."

"Explain why your resonance spiked during your last field trial."

"I have no idea. Maybe I'm allergic to being monitored."

"Your sarcasm is unhelpful."

"Your face is unhelpful."

Elren coughed once. Probably to hide a laugh. Victory.

"We have reason to believe you're not just an anomaly."

"What does that mean?"

"You may be a Grave catalyst."

"Cool, cool, could you explain that in civilian terms before I spontaneously combust?"

"Your presence may be accelerating Grave formation."

"Oh, so I'm a monster magnet? Great."

"If confirmed, you will be classified as a Tier-One hazard."

"Wow. I didn't think I'd level up this fast."

"You would be subject to containment or termination."

Oh. Cool. Love that for me.

"That won't happen," Elren said calmly, but there was something sharp under the calm.

"You won't have a choice."

"Test her. Prove it."

...

Vance's team arranged another field trial. Elren and I stood at the edge of the containment zone, the atmosphere thick with expectation.

"You okay?" Elren asked quietly.

"Terrified. But also kind of excited."

"Why?"

"Because maybe today I'll finally get real answers."

He studied me for a long beat. "Stay close."

"Always."

We approached the resonance point. This time, three Graves materialized almost instantly—stronger, more aggressive, their forms flickering between shadow and semi-solid mass.

Okay. Okay, Ava, time to focus. You've survived worse. Probably. Maybe. I mean, you're still breathing, so that counts.

The Graves turned toward me, their motions unnervingly synchronized.

"They're responding directly to her," one of the analysts called out.

"Control your resonance," Vance ordered.

"I'm not doing anything!"

But I felt something. A pull. A connection. Like an invisible thread was tethering me to them.

One of the Graves surged forward, but Elren intercepted it with brutal precision, his blade slicing through its unstable form.

"Focus, Ava!"

"I'M FOCUSED!"

Another Grave lunged. I sidestepped, pure instinct, but as I locked eyes with it, I heard it again—that faint, indecipherable whisper.

What are you saying? Why do you know me?

A surge of something roared in my chest, and the Grave staggered as if hit by an invisible force.

The entire field went silent.

"What was that?" Vance demanded.

"I don't know!"

The last Grave shrieked and fled—not toward the perimeter, but directly into the containment unit, as if... submitting.

"Pull her out. Now."

Elren grabbed me and yanked us both out of the field.

...

"Her resonance just spiked to unprecedented levels."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she might not be the catalyst."

"Then what am I?"

"You might be the anchor."

Anchor?

"What does that even mean?"

Vance looked at me like I was the most dangerous puzzle he'd ever encountered.

"It means the Graves aren't chasing you. They're following you."

"Because... they're connected to me?"

"Or because you can control them."

Elren's hand tightened on my shoulder. "That won't happen."

"You can't stop the system if they decide to weaponize her."

"Try me."

"We'll be in contact."

-----

Back at the apartment, I finally allowed myself to collapse on the couch.

"So. I might be a Grave whisperer now."

"Possibly."

"And I might be a government target."

"Definitely."

"And you're still here."

"Obviously."

"You're the best terrible life coach I've ever had."

"Correct."

"Hey, Elren?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for staying."

"Always."

Progress. Unmistakable progress.