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how hard I tried, I couldn't drift off. Tossing and turning, I felt frustration

pts at mastering i-sensys, the technique to filter unwanted noise, had been a complete failure so far.

more erratic. It wasn't just the usual hum of the night-it was sharper, like an echo of something unnatural. My

of the bed. James entered, his expression stern and his posture r

ut," James said

asked,

kind are here," he replied

s it-the moment I'd been waiting for. Mom always refused to take me to her colony, always s

ed, but there was n

o," I said, my ex

s kind are here, but your kind isn't welcome among

" I asked

wolf. Unlike them, you're something they see as unnatura

u honestly expect me to believe that n

us, and I've been ordered by both your Lord and Lady to

hat?" I asked, my tone d

-sentence, his voice cracking as he let out

I demanded, anger

won't let you go," he said resolutely, thou

ncing his voice mid-sentence. His words choked into gas

ut that," I said, hold

isted in agony. "You...can't..." he sta

ion, slamming my fist against the wall. W

"Thank you...for listening to reason," h

f. I've never been less interested in ta

swelled and receded in waves, like a cruel game of tension and

t then? We're just supposed to sit and wa

d. If anything happens, we'll know,"

To 'cross the bridge' when we're already d

ng, his silence

rst. I'll cross my own bridge now and

deaf ears as I threw it open and leapt out, the cool night air rushing past

yelling something I couldn't hear. I waved at him, a smug grin

ess, their bodies lifeless and drenched in crimson. Among them were others, unf

lying-danger

ntrance. Inside, the tension was suffocating. The hallway was littere

. My parents' voices. I strained to hear them over the ch

hen what is it about?" Dad's voice w

e prophecy, but it plays a part," an

re hasn't been trouble between us in years," Mom sai

that before marrying into th

be the last," Mom retorted, her

d with a cruel laugh,

eir faces pale but determined. A sharp noise made me turn-a young woman bolted from a nearby room, only t

ing through me. But I forced myself to stay hidd

igures stepped out. A man and a boy, both wearing mat