Annora stared down at her thin blanket. Her mouth drooped, her eyes were soft and sad. She looked healthy but unwashed. She looked well but tired.
“You’re going to be fine,” Tonia stated.
“Thanks, Ton, but you know as well as I do what’s going to happen,” Annora said. “I think this is going to be it.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do, though. And so do you. You’ve seen it.”
“That might not mean anything. It’s psychology stuff, isn’t it? Your brain might just be remembering things and acting out. Or something. I don’t know.”
“Ton, it’s okay.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not following,” Maggie interjected. “What’s happening here?”
“I’m one of his chosen ones.”
“You were, but they healed you, remember? At the Agency.”
Annora shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t think it worked.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I get these dreams,” Annora said slowly.
“Pff,” Maggie dismissed. “Dreams can mean so much. You experienced a trauma, and in that event, it’s very likely that you’ll re-live those moments in dreams. You probably just have PTSD.”
“She has seizures too,” Tonia added.
“That could also just be a symptom of injury. In trauma patients—”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“They’re not like normal seizures, Mags,” Tonia added. “They’re like… I don’t know. Something else.”
“You didn’t tell her anything?” Annora said. “She ought to be prepared.”
“Maybe we should go outside first, and I’ll explain in private.”
“No, please stay. Don’t worry about me—I can hear it.”
Tonia sighed. “It’s like… his power, and his voice, and his evilness are all inside her. And then it comes out in these bursts, and she’s not Annora anymore, she’s this thing that wants to destroy everything and everyone in the room. She becomes possessed.”
Maggie’s face dropped. “That’s why you wanted to come here, isn’t it? It’s not just to keep Annora company. You know something’s going to happen.”
“I’m sorry,” Tonia muttered. “I understand if you want to leave.”
“Yes, I would love to leave!” Maggie spurted. “I would love to just go home to my family and feel safe in my house. Even better, I would love for none of this to be happening. But what am I going to do, just take the moped and leave you here? Ride back through that disaster by myself? I don’t have a choice now, do I?”
“I’m really sorry, Maggie,” Annora blubbed.
“Annora, please don’t cry. It’s not your fault,” Maggie put her arm around Annora’s shoulder.
“I feel bad, though, because you don’t want to be here, but now you’re stuck.”
“It’s my fault,” said Tonia. “Maggie, I am sorry. I just wanted to do the right thing. The thought of not being here for her just broke my heart. I had to come. I shouldn’t have got you involved. But honestly, I was scared to come by myself.”
“What difference did you think I could make?!” Maggie shrugged.
“I don’t know—you’re Maggie! You’re good at everything. You always know what to do, and you’re good at staying calm. Shit, girl, you brought snacks. Who wouldn’t want you around?”
“What’s done is done, I suppose,” Maggie said sadly. “I forgive you.”
“Ton, did you hear from my parents?”
“They called me a while before I went to Maggie’s, but I haven’t heard anything since. I guess they’re on their way.”
“Wait, you’re in touch with Annora’s parents?”
“Yeah,” Tonia said. “We kind of had an agreement, that if anything happened, we’d come here. When they saw the news, they called me. That was a while ago, though.”
“I hope they’re all right,” Annora’s voice was muffled through her arms as they held tight around her knees.
“I’m sure they’re fine, Annora, it’s just a bit mad outside. There are people everywhere.”
“Why?” Annora replied. “What are they trying to do?”
Maggie and Tonia looked at each other and shrugged.
“I’m not sure,” Maggie admitted. “I guess they’re trying to do whatever people do in a crisis.”
“Yeah,” Tonia added. “I think they’re just trying to stay together.”