Chapter 49 Unclear Vision
“Lexie.”
My eyes flew open. I was lying on carpet grass, fog swirling heavily in the air. I couldn’t see clearly through it. I shot to my feet, breath sharp and uneven.
“Where am I?” I whispered to myself, turning slowly in a full circle, eyes straining against the fog. I could see absolutely nothing.
Then I heard it again, my name, carried like a ripple through the mist.
“Ivy Girl,” an eerie echo drifted toward me.
My body jerked around instantly. Panic surged through my chest, heart pounding like a drum against my ribs.
“Who’s there?” I demanded, voice tense, taking a step back.
My heel nudged something behind me. I stilled. Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder, the manuscript, inches beneath my foot.
I crouched quickly, snatching it up, eyes narrowing as I inspected it. It was soaked and speckled with dirt, drenched exactly like the first time I found it in the restricted area.
“What’s it doing here?” I muttered under my breath.
I lifted my face again, calling out, “Hello!” My voice hit into nothing, swallowed by the fog.
“Is anyone here?” I shouted again, arms slightly spreading in disbelief, but it felt like I was yelling at my own shadow.
Then—
A soft, trembling sob reached my ears.
Someone was crying. Someone was here.
“Are you okay?” I called, stepping cautiously toward the sound, shoulders tensing upward with alert concern.
“Where are you?” I pressed, but no reply came.
At last, the fog thinned enough for a silhouette to form. A girl, head buried in her knees, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her uniform was smeared with blood.
Slowly, I lowered myself onto both knees in front of her, setting the manuscript down gently beside me.
“Hey,” I said softly, one hand lifting slightly in reassurance, “Are you alright? We… we can get out of here if we work together.”
No response.
She kept crying. Head down. Shoulders shaking faintly.
“What’s gotten into her?” I thought, breath quivering quietly as unease crept in.
I reached slowly toward the manuscript again. My fingertips brushed the cover and—
Her head snapped upward at the sound of my movement.
I froze. Spine stiff. Breath caught.
When her face lifted fully into view, I jolted back violently.
It was Melissa.
Blood streaked her face, dripping from her hairline down to her chin.
“Lexie…” she choked, voice cracking. “Please help her…” she sobbed, palms pressing desperately toward me. “I don’t want to lose her.”
A shiver raked down my spine. I crawled backward, legs dragging against the grass, breath shaking uncontrollably.
“Please, Lexie. You’re the only one I can trust,” she said, stepping toward me, hand reaching outward.
I tried standing again, but my legs betrayed me, dropping me back to the ground.
Her voice spiked suddenly, turning feral:
“It’s all your fault, Lexie!”
I flinched hard. “W–what are you talking about?” I stammered, palms flattening against the ground behind me as I leaned back.
“You have to save her! You caused it!” she snarled, eyes darkening into a furious glare.
She lunged—
But before she could reach me, a flurry of black wings exploded around her.
Ravens.
Dozens.
They descended violently, pecking at her arms, neck, and face. She screamed, twisting wildly, hands flailing in the air, trying to shield herself.
The more she struggled, the more they came.
I watched, eyes locked wide open, body frozen in horror.
The ravens tore relentlessly, until her cries faded, leaving nothing but bone.
A heavy swallow dragged down my throat as dread rose like bile in my chest.
Then the birds flapped toward me. My eyes squeezed shut, arms crossing over my head instinctively, waiting for impact but they swept past me instead.
My eyes opened slowly again.
They were circling someone behind me.
A boy. Uniform. Still. Familiar posture.
From the back… it looked like Oliver.
“Oliver, watch out!” I screamed, body launching forward into a sprint.
He began turning toward me and—
My foot plunged into a sudden drop, a dark, empty hole hidden by fog.
I fell, arms snapping outward, a scream torn from my lungs as darkness swallowed me whole.
I gasped awake.
Chest rising sharply. Shoulders jerking upright.
Strong arms were around me.
Warm. Secure. Real.
I blinked up into emerald-green eyes.
“Oliver?” I whispered.
He smiled softly, relief washing over his face. “You’re awake,” he said, then pulled me into a firm embrace.
Only then did it hit me fully—
It had all been a dream. A nightmare.
I was lying in the infirmary. A drip fixed to my right hand.
He pulled back slowly, hand lifting to brush hair from my face, and asked gently, “How are you feeling now?”
“You really scared him,” Melissa said from my right.
My head snapped toward her voice, breath hitching again.
She was standing beside Emily, quiet, cheerful Emily, arms folded loosely, observing.
“But I’m glad you’re awake now,” Melissa added, hand briefly lifting in a small wave.
Oliver placed his palm on my forehead again. “You’re still burning up,” he murmured.
“How long was I asleep?” I asked, voice raspy.
“Asleep?” Oliver corrected quickly, leaning forward, “You were unconscious. Have you been sick without taking medication?”
“No,” I said, head shaking faintly from side to side, “I’ve never felt sick since I arrived at the Academy.”
“That’s enough,” Melissa cut in, stepping forward. She placed her hand gently over mine and said, “Lexie is recovering. She needs time to reset.”
Then she turned to Emily and said, “I’ll be right back.” Emily responded with a single small nod.
Oliver smiled, picking up his bag. “I’ll get food from the cafeteria. You must be hungry.” He gave a short two-finger salute, playful but quick, before leaving.
I watched him go. Then my eyes shifted to Emily.
The room fell into awkward silence between us.
My thoughts still tangled around my dream, and who Melissa meant.
Who does she want to save?
Was it Emily?
This is the second time I'm dreaming about this.
Then Emily spoke, breaking the tension:
“How are you feeling?”
I forced a stiff nod. “I–I’m good.”
A beat of quiet passed.
“Hope you’re prepared,” she said again.
My brows drew tightly together. “For what?”
She straightened slightly, hand lifting in explanation, and said:
“The upcoming Annual Competition. Our council is competing with the Brimstone council.”