By the looks of everybody, what we learned from today gave us more stress. Lorraine left us and she told us to feel free to ask her if we need anything. We thanked her and readied ourselves to bed. None of us talked much. For a while, we are scattered around the big room, taking our time thinking about the events.

“So, any thoughts?” Althea started. We all looked to her, as she usually knows what to say, or what to do. However, none of us answered. Althea looked around and sighed.

“I wish I knew this would happen. I saw this place already on one of my visions but never the Exorgs and never with us here. At first, I thought that the vision is just a normal dream, so I have to shrug it off but once I had my first step out of the vehicle a while ago, I knew.” Althea said.

“What do we do now?” Flint asked.

“Following our original plan or running away from the Circus and joining them is our only choice. It seems that we were caught into some huge…. chaos” Althea said.

“Chaos…” Sif muttered and said, “I am considering of joining them”. We all looked at Sif as she spoke her words.

“Sif? Are you serious?” Ed asked her. Sif shrugged.

“Knowing these things makes me wonder – am I really destined to perform on a circus for my entire life or to do something for a greater good?”. Sif answered, looking at us one-by-one. “After all, it’s a battle between us Neogens and not even humans can’t keep up with that”.

I felt a tension in the air.

“I, uh. We agree with Sif.” Blanche said. “Flint and I had been talking these days since we got separated and knowing what we can do, I think we can do more outside the circus. As much as I love everyone in the circus, I, no, I meant I and Flint can’t help it but to think about our purpose in life. As much as I love people seeing us in amazement whenever we do the Trapeze Fire and Ice shows, we somehow started to think that eradicating the bad people would do more good. Harming others is not the point-it’s about using our capabilities in a better, productive way.” Blanche explained. Flint held his sister’s hand as she spoke, nodding.

“So what are you going to say to Trent?” Lea inquired.

“He’ll understand” Sif answered. “After all, it’s up to us”

“We haven’t even got a clue about Aria’s past, and now we’re splitting?” Lea asked. Her tone was calm and composed.

Lea’s words gave me goosebumps. I almost forgot the fact that not knowing anything about my past or on how I came to their lives started this series of misfortune.

“I,” I said. “I am grateful for everyone and I apologize if I am not of any help”. They all looked at me and as if waiting for more from me.

Silence came in.

“What do you think, Aria? I have been noticing that your intuition helped us a lot since you came.” Sif asked. I felt flabbergasted as Sif asked me.

“Well, uh…” I started. Everyone looked at me as with sheer curiosity. “In my opinion, I think sticking with the original plan would do: Go back to the circus and start over there. It’s not that I am siding with anybody here, but I personally prefer that it would be fair for both parties to give the Circus a proper farewell if in by any chance, Sif, Blanche and Flint would like to leave and fight. I have, uh, I have a feeling that Trent and others would understand, which is good but…yeah, I think they deserve to know.” I said. I can hear my voice shaking.

“How about Julius?” Sif asked.

“I have this feeling that Julius will allow us to go home but he will definitely urge us to not to come back to the Circus anyway.” I answered.

“How so?” Sif said, shifting her body to my direction. She touched my knee as she faced me, somehow, trying to read me again if I am lying or so.

“I, uh, I don’t want to judge people, but I felt a surge of blood thirst in his presence” Aria answered.

“Now that you’ve said it, I have to admit that I felt that too. Other Psychics would probably feel that too. Althea? Lea?” Sif replied, removing her hand on my knee.

“Same” Althea confirmed.

“I was worried that you guys might feel bad if I say that earlier, but yes, I felt it too” Lea answered.

“Well, Aria’s telling the truth and I find no reason to lie to. So what now? -” Sif asked.

“And by the way” Gale interrupted. “There’s something about these people. I’m not sure if this is just my imagination or intuition but there’s something ‘odd’ with this people”

“If you’re talking about the girl who can repress our powers, I’ll have to say that we are still on her grasp. I feel nothing about my powers at all. I’ve been trying to produce some fire for a while now, but I still can’t” Flint responded.

“See? So what now” Gale asked.

“I have doubts.” Althea answered. “Yes, we are not aware of the things that are happening, and I understand that we are looking forward to our future but, we don’t even know these people. If you ask me, I think they are truthful and has a purpose, but we can’t just jump into something that we just came in. We don’t even know who the real enemies are” Althea said.

“Makes sense to me. You are absolutely right.” Lea agreed.

“I agree” Sif answered. Flint and Blanche looked at each other first then nodded in agreement.

“How about tomorrow?” Ed asked, he seemed serious for the first time in a while.

“For the mean time, we try to play along but we’ll have to tell them that we will, first, go back to the circus and stick to our plan. Lea, can you feel Blanche’s power?” Althea said.

“Yes. I can definitely feel it but I think I can disrupt it but it will be hard” Lea said, her lips started to restrain a smile.

“I can see where this is going” Sif answered.

“I they stop us, then we run” Althea confirmed.

“So, everybody with me?” Althea asked. Everyone nodded.

--

I woke up from a sound of a whisper. When I opened my eyes, I saw Althea, Gale, and Ed on the corner of the room speaking silently. I stood up but they continued talking. It took my interest so I came and sat with them.

“So now, what can we do?” Ed asked.

“Well, as to what Trent said, Ed, you can manipulate the probability of events. How so? I don’t know” Althea answered. “But if you ask me, it’s a Mystic’s thing to have a quirky ability. As much as I want to help, that’s all I know – you’re a mystic with an ability that has something to do with events. Have you tried doing something or experiencing something after that light in the waterfall incident?” Althea asked.

“Nothing, and I don’t think so.” Ed answered. His face was red. “I wish there’s some way I could help”

“Having you around is already a great help. You’re a good driver, you make us laugh and above all, having a friend like you around makes me feel safer” Althea replied, patting Ed’s shoulder. Ed looked at Althea and smiled a little. He seemed flattered, but his sadness is still obvious.

“Now for you, Gale” Althea removed her hand on Ed and gave Gale a weak pat on his cheek. “You are a shield – a special one” Then Althea slapped him on his shoulder.

“Oooow. How so?” Gale asked. His face looked confused.

“Trent once told me that your shield is not a physical attribute but more of an ethereal one.” Althea answered.

“Ethereal? How’s that?” Gale inquired.

“Something that has no form, something that is ghost-like, a special-type” Althea replied. “That’s all I know”

“Guys” I spoke but none of them seemed to hear me or even acknowledged my presence.

“Guys? Althea?” I spoke again but they had no response. I looked at my hands and saw that my palms, arms, all of me is transparent. Am I on a dream? A nightmare?

I looked at my bed and saw my body. Yes. I am out of my body. Am I dead? I closed my eyes and as soon as I opened it, I was on a different room.