She was there.

He knew it as soon as he let go of her hand. She was in the dream, standing at the edges of his consciousness. 

What happened? How'd you get hurt?

Merrill went quiet for a moment. How would he put this? Something was coming.......something very dark, and she would be caught up in it. The signs were obvious. They couldn’t have been more obvious if they had tried.

You will have to leave your home.

And suddenly, Merrill felt old......so very old. He was tired of all this. Of having this burden on him. Of being the one to see what no one else wanted to see......which meant that he had to do what no one else wanted to do. He was eighteen, and he didn’t want this life thrust on him, the life that meant he couldn’t have a normal childhood, lead a normal life.

And worst of all, as he looked to Callie, if his last vision were true, he was about to ruin someone else’s life.

His eyes went down, noting the numerous scars and cuts that laced his body.

”I fell....” he blurted out. ”From a tree.”

It was ludicrous. It sounded ludicrous. 

You are a terrible liar.

Sighing, he slumped back down in the bed, thoroughly drained, and not just from the flight. He looked to the girl again, and inwardly, he felt sorrow for what was about to happen.

I’m sorry girl, for what will soon be thrust upon you. I wish there was another way.....

But there wasn’t. His visions always came true.

There was one thing that troubled him more than anything. He wasn’t sure whether she was standing with him, or against him.

He hoped he wouldn’t have to kill her......