OLAMILEKAN:
I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, breath ragged and shallow. The room was cloaked in darkness, but it wasn't the comforting kind I was used to. No, this was something else—something alive.
The dream was still vivid in my mind, carved into the back of my skull like a brand.
Endless void. A suffocating blackness. The golden eyes again.
But this time, they spoke.
Not in riddles. Not in vague, cryptic warnings.
A name.
"The Harbinger is coming."
My heart thundered in my chest. I rubbed my face, trying to shake the chill that still gripped my spine. But the dread didn't leave. If anything, it lingered—sinking deeper with each breath.
As I swung my legs off the bed, the air felt... heavier. Charged. I glanced around the room and froze.
The shadows cast by the lamp on my desk seemed wrong—stretched, warped. They flickered as if responding to a wind that wasn't there. One of them even twitched when I moved.
I stood slowly, my feet brushing against the cold wooden floor. The power inside me, the light I'd barely gotten a grip on during training, pulsed erratically beneath my skin.
But it wasn't just mine anymore. I felt it. A second presence. Watching.
I turned sharply. Nothing.
I grabbed my phone, trying to distract myself, maybe find some stability in the hum of digital noise. Instead, the screen lit up with an incoming call.
NSDA Command.
My stomach dropped.
I answered. "Ola speaking."
"Your week is over. Report to Myrad Island. New mission briefing at 0800. Details upon arrival."
The line went dead.
I stared at the screen for a second, then let out a long sigh. Of course they'd cut our time short.
I threw on a hoodie over my white shirt, stepped into my sneakers, and walked down the hall. The house was quiet. Everyone asleep. I reached Joshua's door and knocked once before slipping in.
"Josh," I whispered, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up."
He groaned, his voice muffled by the pillow. "No. Five more hours."
"NSDA called. We've got a mission. Vacation's over."
He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "You're kidding. Already?"
"Wish I was. They want us back at Myrad by morning."
Joshua let out a long, defeated sigh. "Figures. Let me pack."
We packed in silence, just like old times—methodical, efficient. I glanced at the picture frame on my nightstand. A photo of the three of us: Me, Joshua, and Temi
We left a note for our parents on the kitchen counter:
"We got called back. Another mission. Didn't want to wake you guys. We'll be fine."
Love, Ola & Josh
It was short. Too short. But we didn't have time.
The taxi that took us to the port arrived just before dawn. The sky was still painted in deep purples and blues, a fading dreamscape.
We boarded the boat to Myrad Island this time, Instead of teleporting there. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were drifting back toward something bigger than any mission. That the nightmare wasn't just in my head.
Because even now, as the ocean wind swept past me, I felt it.
That presence.
Still watching.
The ride to Myrad Island was quiet. Not awkward, not tense. Just quiet.
Joshua and I sat near the edge of the ferry, watching the vast ocean stretch into nothingness. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, its golden light bleeding into the sky, but even its warmth couldn't chase away the weight hanging between us.
"You think it's gonna be like last time?" Joshua asked, his voice low.
I shook my head. "I don't know. I hope not."
He glanced at me, his eyes scanning my face like he was looking for something deeper than words. I didn't meet his gaze. I couldn't. Not when I wasn't sure who I was bringing into this mission.
When we docked at Myrad, the chill in the air returned, not from the wind, but from the towering gray structures that loomed over the island. The NSDA facility looked like a fortress more than ever. Steel, stone, reinforced magic wards humming beneath its surface.
Our footsteps echoed in the hallways as we made our way to the briefing room. Soldiers in sleek combat gear passed by us, nodding or offering clipped greetings. Most looked exhausted. A few looked scared.
We were early. Only a handful of agents were inside the briefing hall when we entered. Joshua took his seat next to me, arms crossed. I could feel his mind spinning, the same way mine was.
A few minutes later, the door at the front slid open, and Commander Frederick Robertson walked in. Impeccable as always. No one needed to call the room to attention. His presence did that all on its own.
He looked around, then his eyes locked onto us.
"Bamidele brothers. Good. Let's begin."
The lights dimmed, and a projection shimmered to life behind him. A man's face appeared. Sharp features, white dreadlocks, a wild look in his dark eyes. Something about him felt... off.
"This," Frederick began, "is Martin Kaltz. Rank: Omega-level awakened. Affinity: Mental and predictive magic. Commonly referred to as foresight."
The image changed, showing chaotic footage of Martin walking through what looked like a destroyed city square. Bodies. Fire. Screams.
"Three months ago, Martin disappeared from the registry. We believed him to be neutralized in a prior operation. We were wrong."
Joshua frowned. "Wait. Didn't Kareem go after him?"
Frederick nodded. "Yes. Kareem 'The Starborn' was deployed with a full elite squad. None returned. Kareem was last seen being overwhelmed by temporal dissonance caused by Martin's ability. His current status is unknown."
I clenched my fists. Even Kareem lost?
"Martin believes non-awakened humans are obsolete. He calls them 'echoes of a dying past.'"
Another slide flickered on—documents, symbols, locations.
"His foresight ability allows him to see 10 to 20 seconds ahead. It gives him a brutal edge in close-quarters combat. He's highly intelligent, manipulative, and charismatic. Entire villages have turned to his side."
Joshua leaned forward. "So how do we beat him if he knows what we're gonna do before we do it?"
"Disruption," Frederick said. "Foresight only works on linear patterns. If you're unpredictable, erratic, you can slip through the cracks. That's why we're sending you. Both of you operate outside standard tactical logic."
I didn't know if that was a compliment or a death sentence.
"You leave tomorrow morning. Rest. Meditate. Be ready. This mission is critical. If he reaches Delmar Port, he can shut down all trade to the Northern Continent. Millions will starve."
The briefing ended with a grim silence. No applause. No salutes. Just a sense of urgency that settled into our bones.
As Joshua and I made our way to the dorms, neither of us said much. When we finally reached our room, I threw my bag down and dropped onto the bed.
Joshua looked over at me. "You good?"
I hesitated. "You ever... feel like something's inside you? Like a shadow you can't shake?"
He went still. "Nah. You sure you're okay?"
"Don't worry about it".
"Is it related to the nightmares you've been having?" Joshua asked.
"Something like that" I said back
"It might have something to do with your magic" Joshua said while lied down.
"It's not"
He stared at me for a second longer, then nodded slowly. "If you say so."
But I knew he didn't believe me. Not entirely.
Eventually, Joshua drifted off. I stayed awake, staring at the ceiling.
My powers were flickering again.
And I didn't know if, when the moment came... I'd still be the one in control.