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Chapter 3 - Awakening the Prophecy

That night, Henry fell deeply asleep, his mind swirling with the events of the day. As he slipped into unconsciousness, a vivid dream enveloped him. He found himself on a massive battlefield, surrounded by chaos and destruction. He could envision himself fighting a massive beast with dark fur and glowing eyes. Kyra stood beside him, her presence both comforting and exhilarating. She used her sharp claws to strike with precision and grace, her confidence radiating through the air.

"Watch out, Henry!" She yelled, pointing at a lurking creature behind him.

Henry spun just in time to avoid the beast's sharp claws. "We must fight together!" he yelled back, adrenaline coursing through his veins. They fought side by side, and their movements became instinctive, as if they had spent years training together.

Meanwhile, Kyra stands on a hillside bathed in moonlight, the silvery rays creating an ethereal glow around her. She was sixteen, the age at which her people first transformed into werewolves. The anticipation was palpable.

Kyra felt a sharp pain run through her body. She doubled over, clutching her sides, as her bones cracked and shifted. Feeling the excruciating pain of her transformation. 

Her skin tingled as hair sprouted, and her fingers grew into strong claws. Her teeth had sharpened into deadly fangs. The pain was excruciating, but she fought through it, knowing that this was her fate.

As her transformation was complete, she let out a primal howl that echoed throughout the hills. Her village erupted in celebration, chanting joyfully, "Woo! Woo!"

Back in Henry's room, he felt a surge of energy pass through him. A bolt of lightning struck him, lighting up everything in a blinding flash. The brightness of the light startled him awake, but not before a sharp pain pierced his chest, causing him to scream.

"AHHH!" he exclaimed, the sound reverberating through the silence of the night. 

People in various locations paused to look up, startled by the unexpected storm that appeared to erupt from one location. Kyra, who was standing on the hillside with her family, had her senses heightened. She felt a disturbance in the air, and her eyes widened with fear and excitement.

"What was that?" her father asked, his voice full of urgency.

"I do not know! "But it felt connected to someone I know," Kyra said, feeling a strange pull towards Henry.

In a dimly lit room, a witch was deep in incantation, her ancient tome open in front of her. Her eyes, which had been dark and focused, suddenly turned white, casting an eerie glow throughout the room. "At last, the prophecy has arrived," she said quietly, her voice a mix of excitement and foreboding.

The air around her crackled with energy as she reached out, sensing Henry's connection to the events unfolding in the supernatural realm. She knew the prophecy's time had come, and she would play an important role in its fulfilment.

In another part of the world, a man lay in a hospital bed, seemingly lifeless. His eyes fluttered open, and he gasped for air, as if he had awakened from a long, dark dream. 

"Where am I?" He croaked, his throat dry and his thoughts foggy.

A nurse rushed in, her expression ranging from shock to concern. "You are in the hospital, sir." "You have been in a coma for over a year!" 

As memories returned, the man—Gaus' brother—struggled to piece together the fragments of his past. He knew he needed to find out what had happened, and he felt a strong desire to reconnect with his brother. Just as he was about to leave, the nurse attempted to stop him. Out of rage, Lucas hit the nurse, sending her flying over the hospital bed. Lucas said to himself, determined, "I have been sleeping too long. "I need to find Gaus because my brother needs me." He takes a step towards the door, but one of the soldiers notices him first.

Soldier Said in a stern tone. "Hold right there."

Lucas attempts to dash forward, but the soldier raises his weapon and fires a sleeping dart directly into Lucas' neck. Lucas' vision blurs, and he staggers, feeling the world fade away.

Lucas muttered weakly."No… "I can't..." "I need to find him."

He collapses as the soldiers approach and lift him, dragging him into the hospital's secret basement.

As Henry awoke from his dream, he was filled with questions about his connection to Kyra and the unexpected surge of power that had jolted him awake. Henry felt a pull towards Kyra and decided he needed to speak with her. He quickly texted her, his heart racing at the prospect of sharing his dream and the strange connection he sensed.

Kyra responded almost immediately: "Can we meet after school?" "We need to talk."

Henry and Kyra meet up after school, both visibly anxious and intrigued by recent events.

Henry took a deep breath and looked around to ensure no one else could hear him. "Kyra, I need to talk to you about something strange." I have been having dreams about another life. About a place where we are not just ordinary people.

Kyra's eyes widened. "Another life?" Henry, I… I also felt something. It started when I first saw you, but it intensified after the lightning strike. "It felt like something was calling to me."

Henry appears relieved, but still uncertain. "Did you feel it too? It is all very confusing, but it feels very real. I had a dream last night. I remembered my past. Kyra, I am not just Henry. My real name is Gaus. "And I am the Supreme One, just as the prophecy predicted."

Kyra looks at Henry in awe, attempting to process his words.

Kyra (Whisper). Henry—I mean, Gaus—do you know what that means? There are legends and stories among my people about a Supreme One who will bring balance to both worlds. Could it really be you?

Henry clutched his head, feeling overwhelmed. "I do not know what any of this means. But every night, parts of it return to me. I had a brother, Lucas. When I was sent to the human world, something happened. I believe we were attacked. But it is still so hazy."

Kyra placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "We will figure this out together. Perhaps there is more to our connection than we realise.

Henry nods, comforted by her presence, and they both look off into the distance, sensing the weight of something much larger approaching them.

Lucas awakens in a cold, sterile cell, with his head throbbing. He looks through the bars and notices other creatures—some humanoid, others clearly supernatural—in neighbouring cells.

Lucas whispers to himself and struggles against the bonds on his wrists. "What is this location...?" Why do they keep us here?

He looks around the room, feeling the weight of despair from the other prisoners. But his thoughts are focused on one thing.

Lucas thinks of Gaus. "If only I could find my brother..." I promised to protect him. "I will not fail him again."

Suddenly, a voice comes from the cell across from him."So, you are the famous Lucas. "The one who fought Magnus and survived."

Lucas startled, squinting through the darkness. "Who are you, and how did you know my name?"

 "Names do not matter down here. But rumours? Rumours spread like wildfire. They say the Supreme One's brother survived... And now, like the rest of us, he is imprisoned in a hospital basement cell." The mysterious creature smirked.

Lucas gritted his teeth. "If you know anything about Gaus, please tell me where he is. "I need to find him!"

The Mysterious Creature chuckled darkly. "Oh, he is out there. Okay. But if you want to reunite with him, you will have to leave this place. And believe me, that is easier said than done.

Lucas clenches his fists, feeling a surge of old strength ignite within him. "I do not care what it takes. "I will find a way."

A dimly lit room, with the gentle flicker of candlelight casting long shadows on the walls. Lorenzo, a young man with haunted eyes, sits in his small and sparse room. His hands hold an old, worn book, but every few minutes, his gaze shifts to the window, drawn to the faint flicker of lightning in the distance. Lorenzo sighs, the words on the page fading from his mind as his mother's voice echoes through his thoughts.

"When you see lightning, know that the Supreme One has arrived. He alone possesses the ability to break the curse.

Lorenzo has witnessed the curse's effects and the danger it poses. The curse was cast by Amara, a powerful witch, as a punishment for all women in their bloodline, generations ago. Only the Supreme One's blood is said to be capable of lifting it.

Another flash illuminates the room, and Lorenz closes the book with an unexpected thud, muttering to himself. "The Supreme One... perhaps the prophecy is true. "Now I can save Mara."

He stands with his gaze fixed on the corridor leading to his sister's room. He takes a deep breath and walks over, the wooden floorboards creaking beneath his weight. The door is slightly ajar, and he notices Mara lying in bed, her face pale and drawn, but she maintains a gentle smile as she looks up at him.

Mara smiled weakly as she spoke to Lorenzo. "Lorenzo, are you back from your books already?"

"I can not seem to focus on anything else. You know... Mother used to say that lightning strikes are a sign. "A sign that the Supreme One is nearby." Lorenzo tries to smile while sitting beside her. 

"I remember. She would tell us stories about the Supreme One, who has the power to heal and save those cursed by darkness. Mara closed her eyes, a slight smile remaining on her lips.

Lorenzo's expression darkens as he looks at his sister, watching her face strain with each breath.

 (voice cracking) "I am not interested in old legends, Mara. I just want you to get well."

Mara reaches for his hand, her touch delicate but warm. "Lorenzo, it is okay. The curse... It is very powerful. There is only so much you can accomplish. I do not want you to waste your life looking for a cure that may not exist."

"No. I refuse to accept it. I saw lightning. And if it takes killing the Supreme One to get the cure, so be it. Lorenzo shakes his head with determination.

"You have always been the stubborn one. But, Lorenz, promise me one thing. Mara sighs and looks at him fondly.

 "Anything, Mara."

 "If you do not find the supreme one, I encourage you to live your life." Do not spend every moment chasing something just for me."

"I will find him and take his blood, dead or alive. I promise, Mara. "I will find him."

Lucas stands alone in his cell, gazing over the damp stone walls. The cold air rushes in, heavy with despair, but Lucas' mind is set. Somewhere out there, his brother requires him.

"I can not be stuck here. Gaus is out there somewhere. I need to get to him."Lucas was thinking to himself.

He hears the faint echo of footsteps down the hall. A pair of guards approaches, and an idea occurs to him. He stares intently at the guard in front, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he attempts to persuade him.

(whispering deeply) "Unlock this cell. "Let me go."

But nothing occurs. The guard's blank stare does not change, and Lucas experiences a strange, hollow weakness he has never known. "What is happening? Why can't I control him?" Lucas feels frustrated, muttering to himself.

A shadowed figure in the next cell chuckles softly. Lucas looks over and notices the creature: a gaunt, ancient being with grey skin and ember-like eyes.

(Grinning)"They do not tell you much, vampire? Compulsion does not work here. Not on them, nor on us. "Not in the underlayer."

frowning "The Underlayer... "What exactly is this place?"

"A prison for creatures like us, hidden deep beneath the surface, where our abilities are sapped and our instincts dulled. The walls themselves are silver. "You feel weak, don't you?"

Lucas clenches his fists as the creature's words ring true.

 "But there must be a way out. If we worked together—"

 "Escape? Many people tried vampires. None have succeeded. "But if you are so determined, maybe I will lend you a hand."

As the creature speaks, a few more prisoners shuffle closer to their cell bars, their eyes gleaming with faint hope for an escape attempt.

Henry sits on the couch, his hands fidgeting, preparing to tell the truth to the family who took him in a year ago. Mr. Richard sits in his armchair across from him, looking at Henry with curiosity. Joy, his foster mother, and Kent, his older foster brother, sit beside Mr. Richard, all of whom sense Henry's anxiety.

 "There is something," he says, clearing his throat. something I must share with everyone.

Mr. Richard leans forward and looks at Joy anxiously.

Henry, you know you can tell us anything," said Mr. Richard. We are here for you, and we are family.

Henry swallows forcefully as his thoughts race through all of his experiences. Even though he knows he can no longer conceal it, the memories of the otherworldly realm and his identity as Gaus, the supreme one from the prophecies, feel unreal. "My name—I am not really named Henry. It is Gaus. And I am not different from other people.

As his words take hold, there is a moment of silence. With a worried expression on her face, Joy reaches over and puts a soft hand on his shoulder. Henry, what are you saying? Or Gaus?

Taking a deep breath, Henry looks from one to the other.

 "I came from a different world—a supernatural one, full of werewolves, vampires, and other unbelievable creatures. I was sent here with my brother, Lucas, but we were split up. And until recently, I was unable to recall anything. But now, I can recall every detail.

Mr. Richard looks shocked, but he does not say anything, allowing Henry to go on.

 According to a prophecy, I am the "supreme one" who has the power to either bring people together or destroy entire worlds. At first, I did not want to believe it, but it is true. And now... I need to locate Lucas. He is most likely in danger somewhere out there.

Mr. Richard rubs his temples in shock as he reclines. Wide-eyed and mentally intrigued and perplexed, Kent scoots closer to his brother. "You are like a superhero, then?"

Henry smiles a little, dejectedly.

 Not precisely, Kent. However, I do possess abilities, which I am still learning to manage.

At last, Mr. Richard speaks, his voice worried. "Henry, this is a lot to take in." Are you...? Are you in danger?

"I am not sure. But I feel something coming and need to find my brother. I do not want to put you all in danger. You have been nothing but kind to me, and I do not want my past to harm you.

Joy gets closer, placing her hands on Henry's. "Henry, we will not let you go through this alone. You are a member of this family, regardless of who—or what—you are."

Mr. Richard sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "So, what is the plan?"

"I believe I should start by going to places where supernatural energy is strongest. There might be traces of where Lucas has been, or at least hints as to where he is being held."

Kent's eyes lit up. "Can I join you?"

Henry smiles at Kent's enthusiasm, but shakes his head. "I appreciate it, Kent, but it is too dangerous. I am not sure what I will find there.

Joy squeezes his hand, her eyes full of emotion. "Then promise us that you will be careful, Henry. You are still our son, no matter what."

Nodding, Henry said, "I promise."

Lucas and a small group of creatures have managed to pry open their cells' locks. They sneak down the corridor, avoiding patrols as they approach the large iron gate at the dungeon's exit.

Lucas approaches the gate, fingers gripping the metal bars. He strains, pulling with all his might, but the silver drains his strength. His arms tremble, and sweat drips down his face as the gate resists him.

 (gritting his teeth): "Come on, open!"

The other creatures move forward, their hands grasping the bars and pushing alongside him. Even together, they can barely move it. A deafening alarm rings out throughout the dungeon, just as Lucas begins to feel a glimmer of hope.

A battalion of soldiers floods into the hall and surrounds them. Lucas' heart sinks when he realises they are outnumbered.

One of the soldiers stepped forward, smirking, "Did you truly believe you could escape?"

Lucas tenses up, ready to fight, but when he swings at the first guard, his body responds slowly. His strength has vanished, drained by the silver-laced air, and his blows fall like mortals.

The soldiers seize him and pin his arms behind his back. Lucas struggles, his vision blurring as he is forced to his knees. He is dragged back to his cell, the gate slamming shut behind him.

Lucas sits against the wall, defeated, his body aching from the fight. He hears soft footsteps approaching, and a woman appears outside his cell, her golden hair flowing over her shoulders, her face strikingly beautiful but cold.

"Who are you?". Lucas said feeling weak and frustrated. 

"I am Vivian, the owner of SDA."

"What is SDA?". Lucas enquired with curiosity. 

"Well, it is called the Supernatural Defence Agency." She smiles, proud of her achievement. Actually, my father was the operation's commander, but he was killed along with my husband, Fred, by an unknown creature.

"So, how does this concern me?" Lucas asked, looking at her to find out the truth.

"You cannot compel me if that is what you are attempting to do. She said, You see, we need you. I have accessed your strength and discovered you are extremely powerful, so work for me, find the creature who killed my family, and you will be free. I can also help you with anything else.

"No, thanks. "I do not think so." Lucas said feeling confidence 

"You see, Lucas, I am a very persuasive woman. I know how to get what I want, especially when I am desperate." Vivian said, Looking please.

Lucas suspects she is concealing something, but he is unsure what it is.

"I have heard from other creatures that you are looking for your brother." Lucas felt a pain in his chest when he heard his brother's name.

"How can you help me?"

"Work for me, and I will help you find your brother. I will give you three days to consider my proposal, after which you can either become someone important or die." That is all she said before leaving the dungeon.

The room is dimly lit, resulting in long shadows across the walls. Mrs. Carter sits at her small, cluttered desk, her pen scratching across a single sheet of paper. The faint hum of the ceiling fan fills the silence, punctuated by the occasional drip of a leaking tap. Her face is drawn, her eyes heavy with sadness, as she writes her final words.

Mrs. Carter whispers to herself while writing: "My child... I am deeply sorry for everything. I tried to be strong. But I am so tired of this world."

Her hand trembles, smudging the ink slightly as she sets the pen down. She folds the note with care, as if each crease represents her last fragile connection to her children, family, and life.

She stands slowly and moves almost robotically. In the dim room, she reaches for a piece of rope she had hidden away in a drawer as a last, desperate plan devised in the depths of her despair.

Outside, the street is quiet. A stray dog sniffs around the garbage cans, while a few leaves flutter in the gentle evening breeze. The world around her house is peaceful, unaware of the impending tragedy within.

Mrs. Carter drags a chair into the centre of the room. She stands on it, firmly tying the rope to the fan above her, her hands shaking but unwavering. She takes one last, deep breath, a single tear rolling down her cheek, and suddenly pushes the chair away from her. She could not breathe and began to lose focus, eventually losing consciousness.

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