The voices didn't stop.
They didn't slow down.
They didn't fade.
They multiplied.
Ava screamed.
She dropped to her knees, clutching her head as if she could physically pull the noise out.
"MAKE IT STOP!" she cried.
Inside her mind—
It was chaos.
Voices layered over voices.
Strangers.
Memories.
Thoughts that weren't hers.
"She's too weak…"
"The gift will break her…"
"She can't handle what's coming…"
"Take it from her…"
"STOP!" Ava shouted again, tears streaming down her face.
Hailey rushed to her side immediately.
"Ava, listen to me!" she said, holding her shoulders.
But Ava couldn't focus.
Because now—
She wasn't just hearing thoughts.
She was feeling them.
Fear.
Anger.
Pain.
All crashing into her at once.
"I can't—" Ava gasped. "It's too much—Mom, I can hear everyone—EVERYONE—"
Liam stepped forward, his expression no longer playful.
For the first time—
He looked scared.
"This isn't normal," he muttered.
Adrian's voice cut through sharply.
"Hailey, do something."
Hailey closed her eyes for a split second.
Thinking fast.
Remembering.
Then she grabbed Ava's face gently.
"Ava, look at me!"
Ava's eyes flickered.
Barely.
"You're not the voices," Hailey said firmly.
"You are the one who hears them."
Ava trembled.
"It doesn't feel like that…"
Hailey leaned closer.
"Then fight it."
Ava shook her head weakly.
"I don't know how…"
And that's when it happened.
The mirror behind them—
Cracked.
Everyone froze.
A voice echoed through the room again—
Clearer now.
Stronger.
"She is not ready…"
Liam's eyes snapped toward the mirror.
"Who are you?!" he demanded.
The reflection shifted.
The woman stepped forward—
Not out of the mirror—
But into their minds.
"The gift is awakening too fast…"
Ava screamed again—
This time louder—
Because now the voice wasn't just around her—
It was inside her.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" she cried.
And suddenly—
Everything went silent.
Too silent.
Ava froze.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes went distant.
"...Ava?" Hailey whispered.
No response.
Ava stood up slowly.
Too calmly.
Too still.
When she spoke—
It wasn't her voice.
"Silence… is better."
Hailey's heart dropped.
"No…"
Ava turned toward them.
Her eyes—
Empty.
"I fixed it," she said softly.
Liam stepped back.
"What did you do…?"
Ava tilted her head.
"I removed the noise."
Adrian's voice hardened.
"At what cost?"
Ava smiled faintly.
"At the cost of everyone else."
Silence.
Then—
Adrian reached for his phone.
Nothing.
No signal.
Hailey tried to speak—
But stopped.
Because suddenly—
She couldn't hear Adrian's thoughts anymore.
She looked at him.
Panicked.
"I can't hear you…"
Liam frowned.
"Same."
Ava looked at them peacefully.
"I told you…"
"…I fixed it."
TO BE CONTINUED....