19 Sienna Has An Ability..?!

Sienna was still confused whether to give it away or not. It was her life's secret. She had promised that she wouldn't give it away at all costs. But she had already told Aster and the others that she would say. Her mind was conflicted. Giving the secret away would mean that she failed herself in her duty to protect her family's integrity. If she did not tell them, she and Eren would be casted off as spies send in by the authorities. She wanted neither. The only thing she could do was shed hot tears down her cheeks remembering what happened years ago in her home.

She was still a little girl back then. She was playing with her favourite stuffed toy, in the corner of the living room. Their living room was always well lit, warm and alive, except for that day. That day, it was dark, cold and gloomy. Their heater did not work well. The light bulbs had fused giving the room a ghostly appearance. Sienna's father, Jackson Reed, was a funny, gentle and talkative man. Her father came home running that night. He was earlier than usual. When he returned from work, he was drenched in sweat. His red shirt stick to his body. Drops of sweat flowed down from his forehead and neck. Even his arms looked sweaty, which made Sienna think that he had been running for a while. Jackson came in to the house and spotted Sienna playing carelessly with her toys.

His wife, was quite amused an seeing Jackson at such hours of the day. She knew that her husband was workaholic and ceased to work only when there's an emergency. This thought alarmed her. She saw that her husband was looking for something or someone. Jackson spotted Sienna at the corner of living room. He saw the innocent smile on his daughter's face. She was in her own world of fantasies. She was chatting with her lovely dolls. This made all his anger fly away like wind. He sat squatted on the floor beside his daughter. That was when Sienna noticed him. She was happy to see her father. She suddenly, stopped her games with the dolls and turned to her father. She embraced her father. The father returned the hug. Sienna's face showed concern for something.

"What is it, sweetie?" Her father asked seeing her concerned expression.

"Did you meet grandpa? You did! I know! You didn't believe when I told you. I want to meet grandpa too." Her innocent face showed concern and sorrow.

"Yes... I did meet him. I believe you now. Don't worry. I'll take you to him."

The mother who was watching this at a distance was shocked to hear her husband's words. 'Didn't he just say that what Sienna told in the morning was true?' The thought struck her like lightning. 'That was impossible. Sienna cannot be a..... No...!!' She rushed to her husband and daughter to see what what was going on. She looked at her husband questioningly, wishing that her hunches weren't true. But, her husband nodded approvingly at her. She felt that she couldn't breathe. She felt that she was being choked to death by a rope, pulled by none other than her own daughter. Without knowing a storm struck her face. Her face darkened as if a cloud had hid all the sunlight. Then, it began to rain. The rain was so fierce that it could have flooded the room. Fresh tears trickled down her cheeks each moment.

Sienna was surprised to see the strange behaviour of her mother and jumped onto her lap and tried to wipe her tears. But, her hand was swayed away by her mother. She seemed angry at her daughter. Her eyes were red with anger. A strange rage filled with love flowed out of her temples. The mother could feel the nerve at her temples beating too fast. She couldn't control her anger anymore.

"Get away! I don't want to see you!" She pushed Sienna out of her lap. She started moaning again. Sienna was shocked to see such a behavior from her mother. She didn't understand why her mother was angry. Sienna's thought was that she had did something wrong.

Her father's face showed anxiety too. But he wasn't angry, just concerned. He cupped Sienna's face in his hands and looked at her thoroughly. Sienna was utterly confused. Her father was behaving unusually too. He was sad. But he did not cry like her mother. He was more stable. Just like how a typical man should be. He let Sienna go. He also asked her not to come into that room until she was called. Sienna went out of the dark living room and moved into her own bedroom. Her parents had a private conversation in the living room. She could hear shouts and wailings, her mother's voice. She could also hear hear father trying to console his wife. She listened. All she knew was, she said something in the morning about her grandpa being hospitalized, and then... It became true. Her hunches were true. Her father came home rushing and now! Her mother is weeping.

Never did that little girl imagine that she had a power which all the people in the world despises. It was not the brutality of the power which made them despise it, but the power was so strong that it could perhaps change the world. She could neither see the past nor the future. But something far more important than that. She could see the present. Any part of it. Only, if she wanted to. Yes, she was a person who could see the present. A person who can know what is happening in the other side of the world just by sitting here. But, such an ability was considered as a threat to the society. There was a reason for that. Such a person could look into somebody else's private life. Sienna hadn't heard of such a thing yet, still look at her. She was a gem. One in millions. No one would except that reality. Her parents knew that.

"Sienna... C'mere! " She heard her father calling from the other room.

She did not dare to disobey her father. She slowly moved to the living room. The atmosphere of the living room had changed. It was still dark, yet her parents wore pleasant faces.

"Sienna, you have a gift." Her father said in his ever so pleasing tone.

Sienna's eyes widened. Her father was being so good to her. She just looked at her parents. Her parents were smiling. She couldn't just believe it.

"But Sienna, you have to promise us something." Her mother said.

She just stared at them. She was sure that her mother had cried a lot. It was clear from her big, puffy eyes.

Sienna nodded in approval.

"Whatever we tell you today must remain a secret. Otherwise, sweetie, your life may be in danger."

Sienna nodded again.

"Sienna, you are a 'praesen' " Her mother said.

They explained to her ability and why the people despised it. They also told her not to tell this to anyone. They told her not to use her ability until it was a crisis.

That day Sienna had promised that she wouldn't tell about this to anyone. She also didn't want her parents to suffer because of her.

Until this day, she had held on to her promise. She never used her abilities before. But, when she heard that Aster was in hiding, she used her ability to find him. Eventhough, she never used her powers, her hunches and doubts were always true. Those powers were a part of her and she couldn't avoid them.

Fresh tears now formed in Sienna's eyes. She couldn't break her promise. That would be cheating herself. She felt betrayed. The traitor being herself. 'No truths can be buried forever.' Her mind said.

"I'm a 'praesen'" Sienna said with tears flowing down her cheeks. The tears burned her skin.

The others were shocked to hear her statement. Chills went down their spines. They couldn't believe it. Aster looked at Sienna's red eyes. He felt sad for her. She was in the same situation as he was. Hiding from the world for the fear of death. Doctor Schwann was the first to speak.

"Sienna, are you sure, you and Eren came here without being seen by anyone?"

Sienna understood what he wanted to know.

"Until now, nobody knows your whereabouts. Nobody. I just checked." She said with a small smile.

The doctor thought for a moment.

"You can stay if you want. I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't compel you either. It's your choice. If you chose to stay, then, we are all together. We are ready to help eachother. So if you stay, we'll help you too."

Sienna and Eren looked at eachother. They nodded once.

"We'll stay. We want to help." Eren said. For him, Sienna being a praesen did not matter. She was his friend. They made it this far for Aster. He was sure that they could go for more. That was all that mattered.

"But..." Hogman started. Doctor raised his hand to silence him. A commanding gesture. Hogman immediately fell silent.

"They are in this." He said.