UNSURE (A JOURNEY OF THE UNKNOWN)

Ever since her first venture into the wild a year ago, hunting had become a hobby for Lauren. It was one of the few things that kept her sane. After that harrowing experience, she had sworn to herself that she would never compromise her survival. Determined to be strong enough to take care of herself, she resolved not to rely on luck—something that had never favored her in life.

A year ago, while still in the wild, Lauren had awoken to a loud hiss. With her eyes barely open, she found herself face-to-face with a saw-scaled viper; she seemed to be in its territory. Lying still, she played dead, hoping the snake would pass by. But fate had other plans. A large bird landed on a sizable branch directly overhead, its weight causing the branch to snap. The sudden sound startled the bird, which let out a deafening screech before taking flight.

The commotion was disastrous for Lauren. Not only did the broken branch fall and bruise her, but the noise caused her heart to race with sheer panic. In that moment, the resolve she had built crumbled, and she felt the snake's fangs sink into her leg. Pain shot through her body like fire, and she screamed as paralysis washed over her. As she lay there, the venom coursing through her veins, she gazed in horror at her swollen leg and whispered, "Mami, looks like I'll be joining you soon," before darkness overtook her.

When Lauren awoke, confusion enveloped her. She found herself in a room that felt oddly familiar, yet she couldn't quite place it. The last memory she had was of the woods—now, she was in Moa's house, nestled in her own bed. Struggling to sit up despite the aches in her body, a pungent smell wafted past her, prompting her to take stock of her situation.

"What's that smell?" she thought, wrinkling her nose as she realized it was her own odor. Mortified, she jumped out of bed and rushed to the washroom. After cleaning herself up and donning fresh clothes, she sat on the edge of her bed, trying to piece together the events leading to her current predicament.

But then it struck her: her legs. They no longer hurt. Forgetting her earlier panic, she opened the bandage tied around her leg, only to find nothing—no wound, not even a scar remained from the venomous snake bite.

A wave of fear washed over her. "Not again," she thought, dread creeping into her heart. The past few days had been the strangest of her life. She had always known she was different, but this? It was more than just different; it was abnormal. First, there was the raizard, then the peculiar glow in her eyes, and now this miraculous healing. How could a deep wound from one of the most venomous snakes not only heal but leave no trace? Questions swirled in her mind, an overwhelming cacophony that drowned out everything else.

"Lauren, Lauren, Lauren!" a voice called, cutting through her thoughts. It was Moa, and the urgency in her tone snapped Lauren back to reality. Moa approached, her face etched with concern. As she neared, the memories of everything she had gone through recently mostly because of Moa filled Lauren with a sudden rush of bitterness.

With anger rising from her gut like bile, Lauren felt an uncontrollable urge to lash out. It was a fury unlike anything she had ever experienced. She could feel the heat radiating from her core, consuming her. She raised her hand, trembling with rage, and struck.

The moment her hand connected with the air, the ground rumbled beneath her. The house shook violently as if an earthquake had struck. Items flew from their places, shattering as they hit the floor. Moa stood wide-eyed, paralyzed in shock. The fear she felt was unfamiliar, a sensation that hadn't graced her in two decades.

As Lauren lost herself in her emotions, she was unaware of the chaos around her. The very fabric of her surroundings trembled under the weight of her anger. Moa, still reeling from the overwhelming display of power, suddenly stumbled as a wooden chair crashed to the ground nearby, the pointed end of a nail tearing into her skin. Blood gushed from the wound, bringing her back to reality and sparking a new sense of urgency.

"Lauren, stop!" Moa shouted, her voice breaking through the haze of Lauren's fury. But Lauren couldn't hear her; she was engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions, unable to comprehend the danger she posed.

Moa's mind raced as she realized that Lauren was a threat to herself and those around her. With quick thinking, she grabbed a pillow that had fallen amidst the destruction and threw it at Lauren, hoping to snap her out of it. But the pillow didn't hit its target; it bounced harmlessly off an unseen barrier that surrounded Lauren, protecting her from any harm.

Moa's heart raced, desperation clawing at her. "I have to do something," she thought, her mind racing. A risky idea formed in her head. Drawing from her own wound, she took a deep breath and flung some droplets of her blood toward Lauren. The crimson droplets passed through the barrier, landing on Lauren's arm.

The effect was immediate. A searing pain shot through Lauren, snapping her back to reality. Panic replaced her anger, and she began to weep, her sobs echoing through the chaos. "Make it stop! Please, make it stop!" she cried, but it seemed no one was listening.

Just when despair threatened to swallow her whole, Lauren remembered the locket—her mother's gift. Clutching it tightly to her chest, she pressed it hard against her heart, desperate for solace. In that moment of distress, she felt a hum, a gentle vibration emanating from the locket. The glow it emitted was warm, casting a soft light that filled the room.

As she gazed at the locket, it shimmered brighter than ever before, revealing intricate patterns that seemed to dance before her eyes. The golden threads that had once enveloped her began to respond, twisting and turning in harmony with the glow of the locket. One by one, the threads absorbed her turmoil, bringing a sense of calm to both her and her surroundings.

Moa stood transfixed, unable to comprehend the spectacle unfolding before her. She was astonished, not just by Lauren's raw power but also by the mysterious effect her blood had on the girl. The implications of what she had just witnessed struck her with a chilling realization: something was seriously amiss, either with Lauren or with her own bloodline.

As the room settled into an eerie stillness, Lauren felt the warmth radiating from the locket envelop her like a protective embrace. Gradually, the remnants of her anger dissipated, replaced by a profound sense of clarity. She opened her eyes, blinking against the soft light that now filled the room, and found Moa staring at her in disbelief.

"Moa?" Lauren croaked, her voice hoarse from crying. "What just happened?"

Moa hesitated, her heart racing. The gravity of the situation pressed down on her. "You… you unleashed something, Lauren. Something powerful."

As they locked eyes, Lauren could see the fear mingled with awe reflected in Moa's gaze. It was a feeling she was coming to know all too well—a realization that her existence was tangled with forces she didn't fully understand.