Chapter 13. Echo's of nightmares.
Gavin awoke with a scream. His heart was beating too fast, it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. He was soaked in sweat as panic clawed at his heart. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The monitors were going off in alarm at his increased vitals. The sound filled the room, but Gavin didn't care. He had to find the girls. He had to make sure they were okay. His breathing ragged, he began to yank and pull the wires and needles from his body. He couldn't stay here held down.
Mr. Johnson was at his side immediately and put his hands on Gavin, stopping him from further injuring himself. "Gavin, son, calm down. You're alright. You're safe," Mr. Johnson whispered softly and calmly as Gavin struggled in his arms. Gavin fought hard, as if he didn't hear his father's words of comfort.
"Damn it boy, calm down for a minute and stop struggling before you hurt yourself." Mr. Johnson's deep voice was filled with worry as he struggled to keep Gavin in the bed without pulling all the wires off him.
"Where's Erza? And Aria? Lyla? Where are they?!" he demanded as he struggled against his larger father. His mana expanded out from his body in fear and panic. Gavin's eyes glowed a vibrant red as he pushed against his father. He had to leave this bed. They weren't safe. They were in danger. His adrenaline was spiking to dangerous levels. The beeping grew louder and more urgent in response as he struggled to leave the bed and get his father off him.
"They are okay son, calm down. Hush. It's okay," his father continued to speak quietly and tried holding onto Gavin. He knew soldiers from war, the kind of PTSD they suffered, and Mr. Johnson was reminded of that right now as he looked at his barely eighteen-year-old son. The display of mana was shocking to Mr. Johnson. For someone with no control, or experience using mana, the amount on display was impressive to say the least. Just how strong would his son become?
Gavin couldn't breathe. His mouth and throat were dry as he struggled to inhale. It was like he couldn't rest until he physically laid eyes on the girls. Mr. Johnson called out to the hallway, "Erza get in here!" The door to his room opened and Erza ran in. To Gavin's surprise Tessa was right behind her.
I suggest you force yourself to calm down, Master Gavin. What you saw did not happen, your loved ones are safe and with you. Veronica's soft voice called out to Gavin. She could monitor his heart rate and blood pressure, and he was approaching dangerous levels.
"Gavin! What's going on, what's wrong?" Erza rushed over to his side and checked to see what was causing him to act this way. She looked at the machines that were still hooked up to him that he hadn't ripped off yet. She noticed his father struggling to keep him in place as he tried to fight to leave his bed. What stunned her more, was the display of bright red mana that swirled around him.
Her heart quickened at the sight of Gavin's eyes. Gone were the bright, piercing blue eyes that stole her breath every time they looked at her. Now it was the crimson red eyes of the wolf. The beast. The monster that protected her at the studio. I have to calm him down before it's too late!
"You're alive. Thank God you're alive," Gavin whimpered as he calmed down a degree. He held onto Erza with everything he had. He pressed his face into her chest as he tightened his arms around her. He wept then, not realizing just how frightened he had been that something irrational had happened to the woman he loved. He didn't care that others were in the room, he latched onto her, his arms wrapped possessively and desperately around her waist as he held her and sobbed in relief that she was alright.
Erza held him close to her chest. She played with his hair softly, her fingers gently gliding through his black curls, and just held him while she looked between father and son. "What happened, baby? What's got you so panicked," Erza said softly as the door to the room opened and Aria walked through into the room, followed by Lyla.
As Aria and Lyla stepped into the room, they noticed the swirling red mana. The primal power they felt coming from Gavin took them by surprise. Quick as it came, the mana vanished and the sensation of power with it.
They stopped mid-conversation as they noticed the chaotic scene that was going on. Their brows wrinkled in confusion and worry as they could tell something wasn't right. The warning from the machines soon quieted down as Gavin's pulse and blood pressure slowly started dropping.
"Lyla. Aria. Thank God you're both alright," Gavin said as he looked at both girls. He reached out his hands towards both girls as they walked over. He held onto both of their hands while Erza wrapped her arms around his waist on the bed. He knew they were alright. He physically could feel them, see them. It was just a dream, just a horrible nightmare.
"Baby, won't you tell me what happened?" Erza drew his attention to her and asked him again. Her brow was wrinkled as she looked at him, pleading with him to talk to her and open up.
"I had the worst nightmare I could imagine," Gavin whispered, his body trembled as he spoke.
"Go on baby," she urged him softly as everyone walked over to stand by the bed. She sat on his bed with him while she held him close.
Gavin quietly recalled the nightmare he just had, and shuddered as he said, "I couldn't protect you three, no matter what I tried to do." He wrapped his arms around himself as he laid back in the bed, eyes closed tightly as he played it back in his mind.
"Oh baby," Erza whispered, horrified by what he described. "It was just a dream love." She stroked his back tenderly as she pulled him close to her body.
Lyla spoke up. "Don't let a bad dream freak you out man. We are all okay, and trust me, we aren't the types to go down without a fight." Her eyes glowed softly as she tried calming him down.
He shook his head in protest. "It doesn't feel like a dream. It felt like something more powerful. Maybe a premonition," he said as he wiped tears from his face and looked at Aria, Lyla and Erza.
"I'm sure it was just a messed-up dream, Gavin," Aria said soothingly as she stepped over to the side of the bed and grabbed his hand. She squeezed it affectionately as Tessa and Mr. Johnson stood off to the side watching.
"We are all here dude. We are okay, we are safe. It's alright. Just breathe," Aria said, as she tried to bring his heartbeat down and calm him down. She brushed some stray hair out of his face and forced him to stop and look at her; really see her there with him.
Gavin shook his head in protest. "You don't understand. I know dreams. This wasn't a dream. Everything felt real. The smell of mold and mildew. The cold concrete against my feet. The hard metal in my hands. I wasn't strong enough to protect you." He paused and swallowed hard, tears still in his eyes as he glanced around the room. "But I will be. I will gain strength. I'll protect you. I promise it," Gavin said. He put so much will and determination into his words it sent a surge of energy through the room that was felt by everyone. It sent a tingle running down their spines as his eyes began to glow red at his proclamation.
Tessa let out a quiet squeak as she felt the surge of mana wash over her. When did he become like this? This isn't the same Gavin I grew up with. He never was able to use mana like this. "What the hell…. When did he..?" Tessa muttered as she gripped the edge of her shirt while she watched the scene unfold.
Something was off about Gavin.
"It'll be okay, Gavin. We will work together to figure things out. So long as we are together..." Erza said and began their saying.
"There is nothing we can't beat down," Gavin finished as he smiled up at his best friend. "I need to start working on learning my transformation strengths. And magic in general before I even go to the academy this fall," Gavin said as he leaned back in bed. He meant what he said. He needed to learn how to shift, and more importantly control the shift so he didn't black out every time and end up here again.
Erza smiled as she reached up and with the sleeve of her sweatshirt wiped tears from his face. This was her proud, strong dimwit of a boyfriend. Ever determined to do what he felt was right.
"We will try teaching you about shifting," Erza said as she looked between herself and the other two girls. She had no doubt between the three of them that they would be able to instruct Gavin about being a shifter.
Gavin nodded, his face grim with determination. "I know it won't be easy, but I'll do my best. I can't afford to end up back here every time I try shifting now, can I?" He grinned at her, trying to push his thoughts past the nightmare of a vision, premonition, or just bad dream that he had. I don't even know what to call that, was it just a dream? Or a hint at something to come?
Tessa walked over and gave Erza a glare that didn't go unnoticed by Gavin. "You gonna be alright?" Her voice was hesitant yet concerned. She had never seen him in a state like that, and it rattled something inside her.
Gavin gave her that cocky grin she loathed. "Yeah, I… I think so Tessa. What doesn't kill us, only requires years of therapy after all." His smile at her warmed her heart and made her let go of the anger she held towards Erza for the moment.
She let out a groan of frustration at his playful words. "Can't you ever take anything seriously?" she muttered but there was a slight smile on her face, seeing the boy she remembered again.
Now that the commotion had quieted down, they all chatted a little bit while Gavin yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Why am I still so exhausted?" Gavin asked as he felt aches all over his body.
"The first time shifting takes a toll on the body and depletes mana," Erza said. "Once you get used to it, it becomes like second nature, and you don't even realize the amount of mana being used for shifting." She told him, as she demonstrated with a partial shift with her-eyes changing shape to a cats eye. Soft ears and a tail also sprouted from her back. Quickly as the change came, she reverted.
"Now get some rest, and we can talk more in the morning," she told him as the others got up to leave them in peace.