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POV Claire
My grandfather sat down across from me.
He was looking at my wrist.
Not at me.
My wrist.
As if that was the real problem.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"No…"
He nodded, but his expression said otherwise.
"Claire… don't go too far today."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Silence.
He finally looked up at me.
And I had never seen that expression on his face before.
No anger.
No fear.
Preparation.
Like someone bracing for an impact they know is inevitable.
"Because things are going to be… intense today."
That only made me more uneasy.
He slowly pulled a small box from the inside pocket of his jacket and slid it toward me across the table.
The sound of cardboard against wood felt like thunder.
I frowned.
"What is this?"
He didn't answer.
So I picked up the case.
I opened it.
And my blood ran cold.
I jumped to my feet, the chair scraping harshly against the floor, and dropped the box onto the counter as if it had burned me.
"No."
My voice was sharp. Instinctive.
"I know it's unsettling," he said calmly. "But you're going to put it back on."
"No!" I repeated, louder.
He stood up as well.
"Claire, sweetheart…"
"No! I refuse to wear that muzzle again!"
I stepped back. Again. Like distance alone could help me breathe.
The necklace gleamed in its open case.
Cold silver.
A feather-shaped pendant.
Ironic.
"I know this is hard for you… but it's the only way we have to break the bond between you and your friend."
I froze.
"Break it? Why would we want to break it?"
"Because that bond is just as dangerous for you as it is for her."
"And what exactly does it represent for you to ask me to wear that damn necklace again?!"
My voice trembled with anger.
"I know that necklace caused you a lot of pain," he said, stepping closer carefully. "But it's the only thing that can protect you from what's coming."
I shook my head.
"That thing took a part of me away! And you want me to wear it again for a reason you refuse to explain?"
"I'm sorry, but—"
"No! I won't wear it without a valid reason!"
He placed his hands on my shoulders.
"It's to protect our family, Claire."
Those words hit harder than anything else.
"You and Mom are the only people I consider my family."
His voice softened.
"Then do it for us."
I lowered my eyes.
"Grandpa…"
"Trust me."
I looked back up.
He was staring straight into my eyes.
Not authoritative.
Not harsh.
Just… desperate.
My gaze fell back to the necklace.
I swallowed.
Then I gave in.
I took it.
The metal touched my skin.
And the burn was immediate.
Not physical.
Memorial.
Childhood memories hit me all at once. Closed rooms. Migraines. The forced silence inside me.
"Thank you, sweetheart…" he whispered.
I touched the pendant with my fingertips.
"So… what do we do? It suppressed my powers. It also acts as a trigger."
"Not exactly. Your powers were already active."
I looked up at him.
"What?"
"They were suppressed, not gone. That explains the bond you created… and what happened in the living room yesterday. The necklace will resume its role."
I exhaled softly.
"As a catalyst."
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"You're still just as smart."
But his eyes… were sad.
"The necklace just needs time to adjust… until we can break the bond."
"So… we wait," I said, sitting back down, uneasy.
He kissed my forehead.
Then he left.
I stayed there alone.
My fingers curled around the silver feather.
A feather.
A symbol of freedom.
For me, it was a prison.
A tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly.
Another replaced it.
I fanned my eyes, trying to regain control.
My phone lit up on the table.
The screen displayed my wallpaper.
The four of us.
Me.
Avery.
Calvin.
Jackson.
Smiling. Carefree. Together.
My throat tightened.
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