Olivia's head was ringing from the roar, and as she pressed her hands to her ears, she felt something wet. When she pulled her hands away, blood stained her fingertips. She touched her ears again, staring at the blood, the realization sinking in—this was hers. But beyond the physical pain, there was something else, something deeper. A strange, chilling sensation crept through her, as if the roar had struck not just her body, but her soul.
It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. A force, invisible but heavy, seemed to weigh on her very essence, draining her strength from the inside. Her limbs trembled uncontrollably, and it became harder to focus, as if the roar carried more than just sound. It carried power—an attack that struck her on a level she couldn't fully comprehend. Her spirit felt bruised, battered, and with every passing moment, she felt herself slipping, her energy sapped away by the strange impact on her soul.
Across the room, Mia felt the same overwhelming sensation, a pressure pushing down on her spirit. Her head ached, her vision blurred as if her own soul was under attack. She staggered, clutching her head as the feeling tried to pull her under. But unlike Olivia, something shielded her. The cross in her hand pulsed, sending out waves of warmth and energy that pushed back against the oppressive force. A comforting sensation coursed through her body, pushing the soul-crushing attack away.
Mia could still feel the roar's impact, but it was muted, distant, as if she were behind a barrier. The glowing red jewel in the center of the cross absorbed the attack, channeling that energy away from her. Bruises and scratches on her arms faded, and the weight on her soul lightened, the cross acting like a shield between her and the supernatural force.
As Mia marveled at the protection the cross offered, she heard Olivia coughing. She turned to see her friend trembling, sitting against the wall, looking at her hands stained with blood. Panic seized Mia's heart.
"Liv, are you alright?" she asked, rushing over to her friend.
Olivia didn't respond, her gaze distant. Mia's panic deepened. "Liv, please, say something! What's wrong?"
Olivia, her head heavy, could barely make out Mia's voice. It sounded muffled, distant, as if her ears were underwater. She understood that Mia was trying to talk to her, but the words didn't connect. "My… e..a…r," she tried to say, her voice weak and faltering, but the effort was too much. Her body felt like it was shutting down, not just from the physical pain but from the lingering soul-crushing weight of the roar.
Mia, unable to make sense of Olivia's broken words, only heard the faint syllables. "ER? You need to go to the hospital? How are we going to get out of here?" Mia's panic increased, seeing her friend grow weaker with each passing second.
As Olivia slumped against Mia's chest, her breathing ragged, Mia's eyes were drawn to Olivia's blood-stained ears. The realization hit her—Olivia couldn't hear. That's why she wasn't responding. "Oh no…" Mia whispered, fear and helplessness gripping her. But Olivia wasn't just deaf, she was fading, growing weaker, her body losing its fight.
Olivia's sight started to blur, her world darkening. She felt Mia's tears fall onto her cheeks, and despite her failing strength, Olivia managed a weak smile. Mia had always been there for her, even now. She reached up, trembling, and gently cupped Mia's tear-streaked face, trying to comfort her. "It's… o-oka…y… M..i..a….S..ur..vive."
Those were Olivia's last words before her hand fell limply from Mia's cheek, her body going completely still.
Mia's heart shattered. She held her friend's limp body, crying. "No… no, no, no, stay with me, Liv." Mia's tears fell freely as she watched Olivia's eyes flutter. "You can't die on me. We promised each other, remember? We're going to adopt all those kids at the orphanage. You're supposed to walk me down the aisle at my wedding. Please, don't leave me. You're all I have left. Please… don't…"
Her words were desperate, full of grief. Olivia was the last family she had left.
In the midst of her sorrow, the cross in Mia's hand began trembling, the faint pulse of energy from before now growing stronger. Mia, lost in her grief, didn't notice at first. The red jewel at its center shone brighter, demanding attention, sending a wave of urgency through Mia.
The cross's pulse became more insistent, and despite her grief, When Mia finally became aware of it, she blinked through her tears, staring at the cross. It was vibrating, almost as if it were alive. The cross seemed to tell her that it could help Olivia, but time was running out.
Mia was confused, but she tried to concentrate. "What do I do?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
As soon as she asked, a strange sensation washed over her. She could feel the cross communicating with her, not in words, but in emotions, intentions.
The cross's tremble at her hand, and Mia suddenly understood. "You want me to send your energy to Olivia?" she asked aloud, hoping she was interpreting its intention correctly. The cross pulsed again, as if confirming.
She didn't know how she understood the cross's intentions, but she trusted it.
Mia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She held the cross near Olivia's still body and closed her eyes, concentrating. She could feel the warm, gentle energy from the cross flowing through her, and she tried to guide it into Olivia, imagining the warmth enveloping her friend.
At first, it was faint—barely noticeable—but as Mia concentrated harder, the warmth grew stronger. The cross's energy flowed into Olivia, wrapping her in a comforting glow.
As the energy flowed, Mia felt it becoming easier, as if she and the cross were in sync. Olivia's body began to glow faintly, her pallor slowly fading, her breathing becoming less labored. Mia could feel the cross's energy depleting, the red jewel dimming as it transferred its power into Olivia.
When the jewel finally dimmed, Mia stopped. She opened her eyes and saw that Olivia's face was rosy again, her breathing steady. Mia let out a shaky breath of relief, wiping away her tears. She looked down at the cross, now silent, its energy nearly spent, but she knew it had saved her friend.
The cross, its power now dormant, lay still in her hand. Mia clutched it tightly, staring at Olivia's sleeping form. "Thank you," she whispered, though whether it was to the cross, or to whatever force had allowed her to save Olivia, she didn't know.
Mia clutched Olivia close, grateful for the mysterious power that had intervened. The cross would need to be understood, but for now, Olivia was alive—and that was all that mattered.