Olivia tossed the last of her belongings into a worn duffel bag, her fingers tightening on the straps as her mind swirled with a storm of conflicting emotions. The room was eerily silent, except for the occasional shuffle of her mother and brother as they hurriedly packed their things. The truth was, none of them knew where they were going, or what awaited them on the other side of this strange turn of events. Edmund had offered only cryptic explanations about protection and legacy, leaving Olivia more confused and disoriented than ever before.
She sat down on the edge of her bed, staring at the clutter of her small apartment—the remnants of a life that was about to be left behind. Her whole existence had been focused on survival. Day in and day out, it was work, bills, and fighting to keep her family afloat. Now, with a few carefully chosen words, Edmund had shattered that reality, telling her she was destined for something far beyond the ordinary.
*Powers?* Olivia thought, a disbelieving scoff escaping her lips. It seemed absurd. She was just… her. Nothing extraordinary. Her abilities had never felt like anything other than heightened instincts—good judgment under pressure, a knack for knowing how things would play out. But power? No, she didn't believe that. Not yet.
Dylan's voice broke her thoughts as he passed by her bedroom door, his expression tense and his movements hurried. "We ready to go yet?" he asked, his voice strained.
"Almost," Olivia muttered, standing up and zipping the bag shut. She could see the worry in her brother's eyes. Dylan was trying to stay calm, but Olivia knew he was scared. His life, his routine, all the stability she had fought to give him—everything was about to be uprooted. And Olivia, for once in her life, had no answers.
Her mother, sitting on the couch in the next room, was quiet. Too quiet. She had always been the fragile one, the one Olivia felt compelled to protect. But now, even she had fallen into silence, lost in her own thoughts.
Olivia paused in the doorway, watching her mother. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on her shoulders. Her entire life had been spent guarding the fragile balance of her family's safety. Now, the one thing she could always count on—her fierce independence—felt as fragile as everything else.
*What am I doing?* The question echoed in her mind over and over again.
For the first time in a long time, Olivia was genuinely terrified. She didn't know where they were going, what they would face, or what this so-called "legacy" meant for her. The thought of walking blindly into the unknown made her stomach churn with anxiety. But more than anything, she hated not being in control.
She glanced at her reflection in the small mirror by the door. Her face was set in its usual stern expression, but her eyes betrayed her. They flickered with uncertainty and fear. But underneath it all, there was a stubborn resolve, a spark of the Olivia who had fought her whole life to survive, who had never backed down from anything.
She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to straighten her posture. *No time to be scared,* she told herself, gripping the duffel bag harder. *Face forward.*
Without another word, Olivia slung the bag over her shoulder and walked into the living room where her mother and Dylan were waiting. Her mother glanced up, her eyes full of silent worry, but said nothing. They didn't need words—they all knew the weight of what was happening.
"We'll be fine," Olivia said, though she wasn't entirely sure she believed it. She looked at Dylan, who gave her a weak nod, and then at her mother, who seemed lost in her own world. "We have to be."
The moment they stepped out of the apartment, Edmund's men were waiting in the hallway, their dark suits blending into the shadows like silent sentinels. The weight of their presence made Olivia's skin crawl. Everything about this situation screamed danger, but she had no choice now. They were in too deep.
As they walked toward the black SUV parked outside, Olivia's mind raced with questions. Where were they going? What kind of world was Edmund pulling her into? What did he mean by "powers"? None of it made sense. Her whole life had been about grit and determination—she hadn't relied on anything other than herself. The idea that she had some kind of special ability was both terrifying and ridiculous.
But deep down, a small part of her whispered that maybe there was something more. The way she had always been able to read situations, anticipate outcomes, and handle pressure… it had never felt entirely normal. She had always brushed it off as instinct. Could it be something else?
*Stop it,* she told herself. Now wasn't the time to spiral into doubts. She had to stay focused, for Dylan and for her mother. She didn't have the luxury of fear.
The SUV door opened, and as Olivia climbed inside, her heart thudded heavily in her chest. She settled into the seat, staring out the window at the city she had known her whole life—her life of struggle and survival fading into the distance as they drove away. The city lights blurred, and for a moment, she felt like she was being pulled into another reality entirely.
Edmund sat across from them, his expression unreadable, and Olivia met his gaze for a brief moment before turning away. She couldn't let herself trust him. Not yet.
As the car sped down the darkened highway, Olivia's thoughts raced even faster. Her entire world had shifted, and she didn't know what awaited her on the other side. But one thing was certain—this was no longer the life she had known. She was walking into the unknown, and it terrified her.
But Olivia Hayes had never backed down before. And she wasn't about to start now.