The Vision

It’s Only been a day since our trip to Nashville, and Jen isn't exactly better, but she isn't worse either. I have been sitting by her side reading to her and filling her in on the gossip columns online when our brothers walk in. Papa Rick sent word for her brother Marcus and my brother Teddy. Unsure of what we were about to face, he wanted all our warriors here for safety. 

“Any change Bex?” My brother Teddy asks, “Nothing yet, I am starting to get worried.” Teddy comes to the other side of her bed, lightly touches her face as his jaw tightens. I have known for years of my brother's love for Jen, but I never revealed it because he feels he isn't worthy. He is a Beta’s son, She an Alpha’s daughter.

 “She’ll wake up”, Marcus says as he claps a hand on my brother’s shoulder. He knows how he feels as well. “She is strong as an ox and just stubborn.” I watch my brother again as he caresses her face, then looks at Marcus, gives him a curt nod then walks away. “I wish he would just tell her how he feels and get it off his chest” Marcus sighs, “Yeah but he won't, he wants the world for her and I think he thinks he can't give it to her” I reply. “Bull shit, there isn’t anyone better for her than him.”

We sit in silence as we listen to Jen breathing. I start to get up to go to the kitchen when I hear Jen moan, Marcus jumps to his feet as quickly as I get to her side.”Jen, it's me kid, It's Marc, can you hear me?” “Marcus?” Her weak and pitiful voice comes out, I start crying as I run to the hall yelling for Papa Rick and Momma Rose. “She's awake! She’s awake! Hurry!!” I ran back to her room, eager to see her brown eyes. Marcus is trying to help her sit up and I grab a glass of water for her to drink as our parents rush into the room. As papa Rick and momma Rose both rush to her side, I move to the background letting them in to their girl, as I wipe tears away, I notice my brother in the door frame, his eyes glistening. I walk over to him as he walks out to the hallway, I stand with him as he lets the tears he was holding back fall. A few moments later, our father joins us to tell me Jen is asking for me. He looks to my brother, “Teddy, she will be okay” he says.

I give my brother a hug before I walk into the room to see my friend. I reach her bed and she's staring at me. We both start to cry as I hug her close, relieved that this part is over. Now the hard part comes, hearing the vision and trying to figure out what it means so we can be prepared to stop it. 

“You okay?” I ask. “I'm a little tired and sore, my muscles feel like I ran a 10 mile track” she chuckles. “Well at least you were here for recovery” Dr Case states. I didn't even hear her come in. “You know the process, we need you to be ready to talk as soon as you can. But you can't overdo it.” “Im ready”

The room gets quiet as everyone gets a chair to listen, even Marcus and Teddy. 

“I had felt this nagging uneasy feeling all night, and tried to ignore it. But the feeling wouldn't leave. There was something there, and it definitely wanted my attention. I went to sleep and things seemed fine when I got up the next morning, but it started to change after lunch. The vision came on fast and hard, unlike any other one I had before, they have always been gradual. This time though, I didn't have time to react, so I called for Bex, grabbed the table in front of me and waited for it. The feeling that came, the smells, the sounds, all of it was very intense like it was really happening right then and there in front of me.” She closes her eyes and seems to have a flashback as her body starts to shake at the memory. We remain quiet as she composes herself to continue. “ There was fire, and a lot of spikes and people, werewolves in all stages of shifting attached to them being burned alive. I smelt the fur and flesh burning, I could hear the anguish, and the heat was almost unbearable. The fire kept getting bigger and stronger, I could feel the skin on my arms and face heating up. Then I was jolted back to the present.” Tears have begun to fall from her eyes as the rest of us sit in horror and fear. 

“I could see and hear everything going on around me, but I just couldn't answer anything, I was afraid I would scream.” You could see the toll this had taken, the pain and fear on her face, in her eyes. “Was there any warning, anything said?” My father asks. “No Papa Josh, nothing, at least nothing comes to mind.” “I’m going to consult the books” my father states, he takes Teddy and Marcus with him. “If there was no warning, how do we know when it's coming, how to stop it?” I ask, “There is a chance the vision was interrupted before it was finished” Dr Case states, That sends a ripple thru me as I glance at Jen. She's already falling asleep in her momma's arms. 

“If that's the case, Jen needs someone with her at all times. She isn't allowed to be alone. We don't know when this next vision will come or if it will hit her hard. Make no mistake, once we know the full scope of this vision, we will form a plan.” Papa Rick states. “Hopefully we will get the answer from the books before she has to go through that again” I reply. The family nods in agreement. 

I spent the next day with Jen trying to help her get to feeling better enough to help with the research. I just want us to find the information needed so Jen doesn't have to go through that again. Friday rolls around and Jen decides that she is ready to get things going. Moma Rose and I are with her in her room as she gets up to get dressed when the vision hits her again, this time, she is thrown to her bed where she starts to convulse. 

Moma Rose screamed for Papa Rick as he and the others rushed into the room. Dr Case rushes in to help, “Don't hold her down, it won’t help her” Dr Case yells as Papa Rick and Marcus tried to restrain her. “She’s going to hurt herself!” Moma Rose yelled, “No she won't Luna, her body won't take her farther then we will allow, I need everyone to stand around the bed to make a barrier” I stare wide eyed at my best friend whose face is contorted in pain while her body shakes violently. I glance at my brother, the terror on his face matches my own.

—

I had enough of laying in this bed and getting ‘rest’. I was so ready to go and see what the vision meant, I wanted to find out why my loved ones are in danger. Did we offend a greater deity? I'm scared for everyone. I just want them all to be safe. “Mom, I wanna get up and move around today, I feel like I can handle it.” “ Okay sweet girl, I’ll grab you some clothes.” I reach for my covers and stretch, oh, this is going to feel good. As soon as I stand up, I'm thrown back onto my bed with a searing pain in my head and a grip on my body that's making me shake in fear. The vision comes in like a tsunami and I’m back in the clearing with the fire, the spikes and the screaming. Something is different this time though, there is a new part I didn't see before, up on the outdoor balcony of our pack house, there is a figure, it looks familiar, but strange at the same time. I will myself to look closer at the figure in hopes that I can see the face, but I can't. Then I hear it “Beware the coming of the cold one. They will be like a friend but look to them as a foe. They bring the end of the night children of Crystal Forrest. Heed my warning, and follow my word. You are my children's only hope.” I am enveloped in darkness and quiet. I start to come to, and see my family and Bex’s family surrounding my bed. I see my father and mother looking with concern etched on their faces, tears streaking down their cheeks. I reach for my momma’s hand and start to cry. “I need to get dressed and we need to meet in the war room. There is something coming much worse than anything we have ever experienced before.”