Flight or fight?
That week was a nightmare for Albert, he knew he didn't want to take part on anything Marla was involved in, but he was too afraid of what would happen if he didn't collaborate. That same night he visited his grandmother, it took him longer than usual to get in contact with her, his mind kept skipping through a hundred of thoughts, seeing his worse fears materialized. When he could finally focus he found her living room empty. That was unusual, Lara was always waiting for him when he went to her. He searched around the ground floor, but she wasn't neither in the kitchen or in her studio. Then he went to the first floor. He heard some heavy breathing and moved towards it. It came from behind her grandmother's bedroom door. He passed through it and saw her lying in her bed, sweaty and feverish.
-Grandma, I'm here, are you okay? Talk to me!
She tried to focus her gaze but she was clearly in too bad of a state. Albert went down to the kitchen and took some ice and a couple of wet towels. He put some broth to boil to make her a soup. When it was done he brought everything upstairs. He then used a wet towel to clean the sweat from Lara's body and put the other one on her brow to help the fever go down. She seemed to improve a bit and was finally able to see him.
-Oh, dear. I'm glad you came.- she said feebly.
-What happened to you?- Albert asked anxiously.
-I'm not sure, but there's something that has changed. And not for good.
-I know what has changed, but before I tell you I want you to eat this soup.
He watched her eating the soup, trying to evaluate whether she would be able to endure what he was about to tell her. He knew that he had no other option, but it didn't make it less hard to face.
-So, what's this new power that has been unleashed?- she asked looking considerably better, although not completely recovered.
Albert told her the whole story on how Marla had changed, her new powers, and the way she completely submitted him as if he were only a rag doll. He also told her about the pact she wanted to make, and about the consequences. While talking he couldn't stop imagining all the people he loved, dead. He wouldn't let that happen. Lara could see the desperation on her grandson’s face, she had never seen him so vulnerable, they had to find a way to stay safe and not having to have anything to do with Marla and whoever she was working for.
-I think we will need to check the book for that. Go to my office, I have a copy there.
He went back downstairs and looked through his grandmother's books, it took him some time to find the right one, as it was buried between the thick volumes of an encyclopedia. This one looked much newer and Albert wondered who would want to print a book like that when only few people would be interested in it. He opened it and looked to the editorial's name. He was shocked, it was printed by Miller's editorial founded by David and Lara Miller. Now he understood why his grandmother had a first edition of the book, she needed to if she wanted to distribute any copies. How many would they have sold? Did they even sell them? How come he had never known that his grandparents had an editorial? He had so many questions and so little time. He closed the book and went back to his grandmother.
-Here you are.- he told her handing her the book.
She put on her reading glasses and she flicked through it until she found what she was looking for.
-I knew there was something around here.- she read in silence for a moment.- Apparently, there's a way to protect all the people you love, but you won't be able to dream again. You will need to focus on not dreaming, not even a normal dream, nothing, so your power can create some kind of armor around the people who is most important to you. If they receive any kind of attack you will feel it and it will leave you exhausted, but you'll be able to block it. You'll need to follow a really strict regime, both physical and mental, and we only have a week. Also, you'll have to do it on your own, it's too dangerous for you to come here, it leaves you exposed and it makes all of us more vulnerable.
-But I have so many questions that need answers...- he started.
-You'll find the answers yourself or wait until you've defeated her, and then you'll be able to come again. But now, focus on the book, I need you to read it until the last page, memorize it, and keep it somewhere safe.
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