I stood in front of Ryan's bed, for several minutes, processing what just happened. Tears lingered on my cheeks as I looked at the boy in front of me. As if he could ever love me back. I knew something wasn't right with Helena, but she looked tired when I told her, I never meant to make her feel as if she couldn't like him. I had seen the way he looks at her, the way he could never look at me. I took Helena's place on the bed, staring at Ryan. When would he wake up? The doctor said she had never seen anything like this before, and to at least give him a week before he wakes up. Everyday I swear gives me 10 new grey hairs.

My mind drifted off to a certain little girl. I knew she was important, that feeling of longingness to hold her in my arms and protect her from the world. Until Helena described her I didn't know who she was. My Caitlyn Ayden, Ayden, Mya put my name in hers, our little girl. My angel. A dangerous substance relit inside of me. And I struggled. I struggled to put out that flame I once called hope. Because there was no hope in escaping this prison. The only light in the darkness was him. The boy on the bed. I took his hand, opening it. I drew patterns on his palm for the next few minutes. Until I heard it. It was music to my ears.

Beep beep beep. I scrambled up, the heart monitor accelerating. "Ryan?!" I gasped, shaking him. "Mr Reynolds, GET YOU HANDS OFF HIM RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" the doctor shrieked at me as she entered the room. The chatter brought Helena back over, her face nervous and anxious as she watched the doctor and now nurse tend to our friend. The next few minutes were filled with a deafening silence. "A-aiden?" Ryan's deep quiet voice stumbled out. "I'm here" I replied quickly, desperately running to his side, enveloping his hands in mine. "I'm right here". I cried. Tears poured quickly down my hands as my gut twisted and twisted, till all that existed in me was raw burning pain.

I cried for me, for him, for Mya who I left, for my daughter I will never know, for everyone who was unfortunate enough to end up with this gift. Or maybe it was a curse. Nobody knew anymore. 'Hey, hey, Ade, come here" Ryan whispered as he pulled me down next to him. I lay still. I knew I should say something to him. I didn't want to worry him anymore then I have. The nurse looked at us, sighing as she spoke, "Mr Madden, we removed the piece of glass we had found lodged into your back, it looks at least a few days old. How come we only found out about it just now?". Ryan swallowed visibly, his Adam's apple moving up and down slowly. "I... um... I forgot?" he said sheepishly. The doctor stared him dead in the eye. I felt him shiver "I... don't exactly remember what happened, but all I know is that Helena was in the same room as me and I had stumbled back into the mirror, shattering it and causing it to end up... in me I guess. Ashley and Nathan got most of it out but waited for professional help to get the rest out.".

The doctor looked tired and disappointed, resting an arm on her stomach, as if protectively. "Well Ryan, we have to do a blood test and if that comes up well you're good to go.". He nodded. I shut my eyes, blood. I hated it. As if feeling my paranoia Ryan slid his arm around my waist, pulling my face into his chest. It was going well until I felt him flinch, the needle had gone in. He squeezed me tightly as they got vile after vile of his rich crimson blood. He relaxed after a few minutes, me along with him. I missed this comfort lately. Ryan gently patted my head, "What's wrong Ade?" he asked quietly, but the worry in his voice was undeniable. I turned and stared up at the blue grey ceiling, for once, something that didn't look odd. When I didn't answer he decided to speak again, "I had another dream". I looked up at him, his gorgeous green eyes staring back at me. I felt compelled.

"What was it about?" I asked, concerned. "There was a boy, standing in," he took a sharp intake of breath, "What seemed to be a battlefield, after the war. There was blood and bodies everywhere. He shook, he was crying, the sounds... It was tormenting. His screams were like stabs to the heart. The purple and blue haired girl was there again. She... I don't know what she did, she put her hands over his eyes and he just collapsed, though he wasn't dead. I could hear his heart beating steadily all around me. Everything just seemed to be in slow motion, I just had to watch. Over and over again.".

Ryan lay beside me motionless. I noticed the quiet. Beside the bed stood a shocked Helena, a terrified nurse and doctor and... an appalled Jeremiah and Ashley. They all heard him. I think Ryan also just figured it out as well as he looked at them confused. Ashley spoke first, her voice dazed, "Ryan, you're, you're one of them!". Her eyes widened in excitement and surprise. "Holy mother of colour bearing parents of colour witnessing children, you're a colour seer with THE true sight!". My heart started to pound, uncertain with where this conversation was going. True sight? Why does that ring a bell? I looked at Ryan, seeing if he had the answer but the only emotions on his face were scared and confusion. He mumbled something. "What?" I asked, but he only shook his head. Then he began to sing.

"When eyes are open wide;

We see life's true sight;

Ones who can open them wide;

Would be the fate of us."

My jaw fell onto the floor. I- he- what? I looked at him "Did you know?". He looks just as clueless as me, shaking his head quickly "Not at all, I swear to the gods, no way. I would have told you!". I take in a breath, I look around the room. The nurse was nowhere in sight anymore, the doctor and Helena were having a staring competition and Ash and Jer were deep in conversation. My stomach churned. Something wasn't right. "D-do you feel that?" I asked cautiously to my best friend. "That feeling of un-normalness? That feeling that something isn't quite right? That feeling, that instinct that is telling you to run?" I nod. "I feel it too." he whispered. We had to leave. It was too silent.

Where were the stomping of the guards? The low whispers and murmurs that constantly come by the door. Dead silent. Everyone in the room seemed to notice it as well. That's when the first of the screams started.

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Sorry about this chapter being short. The next few are short as well but I'm working on it now! Thanks for reading. All feedback welcome.

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1/10/2022