ACT II ▬▬▬▬   nightmares. . .

HAILEY HELD HER HEAD IN HER HANDS, her face resting heavily against her knees as she took deep, breaths. The familiar weight of anxiety and nausea pressed down on her, but slowly, she felt some of the tension begin to release. Color started to return to her cheeks, a sign that the waves of discomfort were finally easing, and the soft glow of the moonlight filtered through her window, casting a eerie light over her small, cluttered room.

Hailey still hadn't mustered the strength to reach for her phone. This was a situation she had faced twice before, and with each episode, the intensity had escalated. The recurring nightmares were becoming more vivid with every passing night, spiraling into intricate detail that left her feeling drained and disoriented.

Yet, she had never experienced one while trapped in the haze of a dream — or a nightmare. This was different; it felt like a warped reality,   her episodes had never come whilst she was in one. Only twice had she gone through one alone, and god — it was excruciating.

Her ancestors had spoken. A battle was brewing, one that would take the lives of many. Their words echoed in her mind, igniting a sense of urgency that she couldn't shake off.

In her frantic state, she fumbled around her room, her hand searching blindly for her Blackberry, hoping it would provide a connection to the outside world. In her sluggish state, she knocked over several items on her cluttered windowsill; the glass of half-drunk water shattered on the floor, sending a spray of droplets across her feet and making her flinch.

As she regained her composure, Hailey groggily scrolled through her contacts, a sinking realization beginning to dawn on her. She felt a creeping dread as she searched for someone to call. Normally, Harry would have been the first number she dialed; he was a confidant, the one who would help her navigate through the chaos. But now, the reality hit her hard: Harry was dead. He was gone, absorbed into the lineage that had come before them.

The thought of disturbing anyone else was unbearable, but she recognized the need to reach out; this wasn't just a struggle for normalcy — this was something far beyond the ordinary. She needed help, and she needed it urgently.
  She didn't want to disturb anyone, but she had too — she was far from normal, but this.... this was unnatural.

           Calling... Billy Black.

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Sam gently helped Hailey sit on the porch as Billy, Sue and Emily surrounded her. "Paul's going to kill both of us if you don't let me call him" Sam sighed, sitting beside the girl and taking Emily under his arm.

Hailey shook her head. "No, we agreed; friends. Friends don't get to know everything." She decided, sipping on the natural herbal tea Sue   had brewed once Billy had called her.  
       
Sue, sat quietly wiping away the dried blood that cascaded from Haileys nose, and gently pressing a cold cloth to her soaring skin.

"Your just just friends, You're imprints!" Sam stayed sternly, his eyes betraying his tone — filled with worry.

             "Sam," Billy interrupted, holding his hand up before pushing himself closer to Hailey. "cho?ótsk, what did our ancestors tell you?" His voice was calm, soft and comforting. Billy had always been a prominent figure in her life, she trusted him.

   Hailey turned to Sue, "Harry was there." She heard Sue choke on her breath. Hailey shook her head, "he didn't speak, he just stood there, staring.... He looked, different, that the others." She passed, taking a rattled breath "— the ancestors said a battle was coming, something we haven't experienced in hundreds of years." Hailey sighed, shuddering as the cold wind bristled through the small group.

    Billy nodded, "what else?" He asked, urging her to continue.

She shook her head, "that was it. They stopped talking after that, just whispers and screaming but I couldn't understand them.." she looked at the ground, "usually, I try to stay longer, figure out what I can... but this time I couldn't get out."

Billy looked at Sue, the woman's eyes harboured fear. Billy simply nodded, his eyes betrayed him.

Hailey looked between all of the adult's surrounding her. "It's getting worse. The pain, the side effects— everything" her eyes were sunken, and dark circles rested beneath them. Her hair, which is normally smooth and straight was waved from sweat. She appeared physically and emotionally drained.

Sam stood up, gently grasping her bicep. "Let's get you back inside, Hails" he smiled tightly, pulling her up slowly and letting her lean her body against his as he aided her. The house seemed empty without Jessica, cold almost... the beds that were once filled with the most glorious flowers were now wilted and the air seemed still in the house.

Sam gently helped Hailey lay down, the girl winced as she did. Sam gently sat at the edge of her bed. "I don't know how to help" she said softly.

The mam smiled down at her. "You're doing a pretty good job on your own, kid" he assured her, patting her hand gently.

Sam stayed with her, as she slept. He swept up the glass and carefully watched over her. Sam vowed, he'd always stay with her.

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    Hailey felt like shit, but Leah didn't care. Paul Wesley's new movie fallen had finally landed in forks theatres and both girls had been talking about it for weeks. So, with a nearly broken door and quite loud yelling — Leah finally got Hailey out of the house.

The movie was good. "I pray neiphlims don't exist. I mean we already have vampires, wolves and whatever the fuck I am, we do not need anything else" Hailey ranted as they walked out of the theatre. She hadn't touched her popcorn or her drink, Leah had finished them off got her.

"So what's going on with you? Do you have like the flu or something?" The shifter asked as they walked the illuminated streets, couples filtered in and out of restaurants — family's laughed happily.

Hailey couldn't find it in herself to be offended. Her normally deep complexion was abnormally colourless , and her dark circles just seemed to worsen as the days went on.
"Something like that, Lee." The girl shrugged, pulling her jacket closer to her as she shivered. Leah had been told what Hailey was when she got the whole, "your a shifter" talk, but Hailey had seen the looks they passed that night. It shouldn't be shared, something bigger was going on — and Hailey seemed to be in the middle of it.

Leah rolled her eyes, "well can you see a doctor? I'm sick and tired of being the only sane one at the house." She complained, running a hand through her cropped hair.

Hailey shook her head, "were anything but sane, honey." Hailey said, winking as they walked.

Leah bumped her shoulder with Haileys, missing the wince she let out at the contact.
"Ain't that the truth."