Ripple Effect

ELIA 

After the conversation with the Gahrye the night before she had thought she would feel better. She usually felt more grounded when she'd made a plan, and felt like she knew what to do. But instead, she'd been haunted by some nameless, faceless terror hanging over her head for the entire time she'd stayed awake.

As if something inside her was real and aware, scared and clawing to get out.

To distract herself, she'd eaten, started to unpack her bag—realized that most of the clothes she'd brought from Anima would draw too much attention here at home, and made a mental note to ask for help with more—and abandoned that idea and decided to show Gahrye what a television was.

"Come take a look at this." She'd forced a smile. She did look forward to showing him so many new things. But this tension within her didn't want to let her enjoy anything. She rolled her shoulders as he came to join her in the sitting room.