– I can't hear the voice anymore. She's gone? – He broke the silence.

– No. The creature feeds on your pain and while it's busy, it won't do the compulsion. We're lucky you and your sister have one. The entity visited your sister often and fed on her fears. Through it, I saw your sister in a short black strapless dress.

– She disappeared in it.

– She's alive. We can find her. Let's go before you pass out. Along with the painkillers, I had to give you sleeping pills. As long as you're out, the entity can't hurt us. I expected outrage, but he just smiled understandingly:

– So you're driving my car. You know how to drive?

Like an angel in the flesh.

– Yeah. I took my purse and put my gun in it. – I don't feel like talking anymore.

I followed him, thinking about what I saw. I couldn't find any information about who had ordered me.

An hour and a half later, I stopped at the holy spring. Michael was sleeping uneasily and was delirious the whole way. Gently I shook him by the shoulder.

– Mutilate and kill, destroy the Earth! – he said without waking up. I shuddered. Was he dreaming my nightmare? I ran my hand gently over his cheek, then touched his forehead. His temperature is normal. That's good.

– Michael, wake up! – I began to shake him more vigorously.

He opened his eyes:

– Lina.

– You were talking in your sleep, do you remember the words? – I couldn't help but ask.

– No.

– What did you dream about?

– A war.

– War?

– I've been dreaming a lot these last few months. It's no accident. I'm a senior specialist at the Bureau of Climate Change. It's been clear for a long time that there's a battle for resources. Conflict, fighting, violence. But I have access to special information. Michael lowered his voice. – In a year and a half, war will come to the Coast.

Surprised:

– I chose this city for a reason. It has the best quality of life here, a place where people enjoy life. Far from migration crises, food shortages and terrorism. And in this fertile abundance…? You've got to be kidding me.

– The coast is a tidbit for which no blood will be spared, especially if it's foreign. Have you ever seen a war fought over something no one wants for nothing?

I remembered my dream. That's what it meant:

– You're right, Michael.

– Lina, promise me you won't tell anyone about this. Otherwise, I could go to jail for leaking classified information.

– I promise. But you, Michael, promise me you won't tell anyone about me. Or else–" I stopped talking for a second. – Or I'll be burned at the stake.

– Of course you will.

– Now take your shoes off. You need a bath. It'll get rid of your essence for a while.

He took off his sneakers. We got out of the car and walked to the spring.

I didn't want to see the entity. It was howling and spewing curses. So when Michael stood at the edge, I gently pushed him in without warning. As soon as he submerged, the entity disappeared.

He crossed himself and dipped his head three times. And then he called out:

– "Lina, look at this! – He began to bandage his shot hand.

I, on the contrary, moved farther away:

– And don't you dare throw me in the water!

Michael dived several times, and I drew holy water from the pipe into my hand and drank it greedily. Then I washed my face and went to the car. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since this morning.

– I made you hungry. Let's go get something to eat," Michael followed, wringing out his T-shirt as he walked.

I thought to myself, appreciating his muscular torso:

– No, we need to go to the TV tower, from there I can see the house where they're holding your sister.

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