Chapter one: The dream that haunts us

Avyanna

“I was tied and seated in the middle of a dark room, panting and sweating profusely. My heart was pounding rigorously and I felt dizzy. I was bound by ropes that had spikes, it punctured my wrists, neck, and my stomach. I could barely breathe and I couldn't sync with my wolf. She was whimpering and howling in pain. There were shadows in the corner of the room whispering and uttering all forms of profanity at me, calling me despicable names. The more I pleaded, the more the ropes tightened. I bared my fangs and screamed for help. 

Then from the corner of my eye, I saw a ray of light, it looked heavenly. My father came out of it and behind him were all the packs in the United States of Alparo, together as one. He led them through the light. As my father approached me, I felt this new surge of energy in me. I charred the ropes that bound me and healed myself of my wounds that were formerly bleeding and my clothes that were torn transformed into a white glowing dress. My father held Alpha stone's hand, and together they handed over a scepter to me. I stretched out my scarred hands to get the scepter, as I got the scepter, in a blink of an eye, Silver blades struck their hearts gushing their blood on me, splattering my white dress with blood. The united pack scattered and turned into one enormous black shadow, it hurled me back to the chair and bound me with silver barbed wires. The shadow grabbed a sharp Axe and was about to decapitate me, I screamed till I lost my voice ....”.

“That was horrible, yanna”. Elecktra hugged me for the tenth time this morning. She seemed worried and genuinely disturbed for me, I was happy she cared. I have been having these dreams called nightmares since I saw my father die in the garden. That incident has been the cause of my hatred for flowers because my father loved them. My therapist has told me that the trauma caused by my father's death manifested as these dreams and hallucinations, but I do not believe that. Maybe that is the reason I am not improving and the reason my meds don't work as they should.

“Hey! Get out of your head!. Have you heard anything I have been saying, yanna". Elektra snapped her fingers at my face and creased her thick brows at me.

“I'm sorry, okay?, it's just these dreams, nightmares.. They are draining me and complicating my therapy and my life as a whole”. I whined. The road to our school was feeling farther than normal today. As we walked through the Apple park, I felt renewed. I controlled the tree and it bent and dropped a fresh apple in my hands, one of the perks of controlling nature. 

Elecktra put her hands on my shoulder after much effort, I was way taller than she is. 

“Why don't we just dodge school today and go to our spot. Then, I will text Al to meet us there”. Elecktra said out of the blue. She was the spontaneous one.

She held my hand and hailed a taxi. We alighted at a bus stop and headed for the Green forest.

After walking for a few minutes in the forest, we reached a small beautiful cottage. It was owned by Alcinder's Mother. 

It was peaceful and beautiful. The plants were already warming up to me, I missed them too. 

Alcinder or Al was already lying under the huge tree enjoying its morning breeze.

We wanted to sneak up on him, tiptoeing like toddlers. 

“Aren't you girls supposed to be in school”. Al asked without opening his eyes.

“ aren't you supposed to be learning how to be a bigger jerk?”. Elecktra asked sarcastically, stretching her long, toned legs opposite him.  Alcinder sat up rolling his eyes at Elektra and then looking at me with his ocean eyes. I have the most beautiful friends.

“Avyanna! You looked like you haven't slept a wink!. Come here and give your big brother some love". Al called out to me with soothing tenderness. 

“you could just call her, yanna”. Elecktra rolled her eyes at him.

“there wouldn't be a difference between me and you, would they?, Miss Elektra”. Al responded sassily.

I sat on the mat and placed my head on Alcinder's thighs, and my legs on Elecktra's thighs. It was so comforting to me that my weight or height never mattered to them. I found a family in my friends when it seemed my blood turned against me. We enjoyed our company_our haven of peace, even if it was for a little while.

I didn't realize that I had drifted into a nap.

“I was lying on a cold, hard bed. It was cold, just too cold. I kept turning and tossing, only to wake up in a murky room. 

It was so dark that I felt blind, voices whispered in an eerie tone. I felt goosebumps on the back of my neck, I was scared and alone. 

Just when I felt I couldn't bear the whispers that tormented me, I heard my father's voice:

“Avvy berry! Daddy's here for you, come!”. 

The room suddenly became lit. I saw my dad rushing toward me stretching his arms for an embrace. I got up trying to hug him, but the room seemed to extend longer and longer. I struggled, jumped, and hugged him. Then, He busted into pieces splattering blood everywhere. I screamed and screamed. 

I tried to run but I ran into someone, a face I have never seen before. She looked divine. She glowed like the morning sun, and a peaceful aura surrounded her. She smiled at me and gave me a comforting hug, then she handed me a gemstone and a scepter. 

The whispers became more audible:

“The pain is only for a while, great things are coming”.

Trembling, crying, and sweating at the same time, I heard my name echoing from a distance. Alcinder was clasping me in a tight embrace.

“Avyanna! Avyanna! Please wake up. please. I can't bear to see you like this”. Elektra kept muttering and cuddling herself.

I couldn't understand where I was, I felt like a dumb piece of trash. My eyes and head were hurting, weakening every muscle in me. 

I stared into space, hating the universe, the moon goddess, and every fiber in my body. Elektra couldn't look at me, knowing how well I hated the look of pity. Alcinder clasped me to his chest whispering that all will and must be well.