I nearly ran back to our cell, excitement giving me a rush of energy.
Bursting through the door, I found Ellie, her mere presence soothing. “Ellie!” I blurted, my words tumbling over each other in my haste. “I’ve got it, the way out! Mirage! We can create a mirage!”
She looked up at me, her brows knitted in confusion, her soft green eyes trying to keep up with my frenzied state. “Ceara, slow down! I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
“Mirage! Our escape! It’s all right there!” I tried to explain, but my words were coming out all jumbled, and my thoughts were a whirlwind.
Ellie reached up and gently grabbed my shoulders.
Her touch had a calming effect, sending waves of warmth and security throughout my body. “Deep breath,” she instructed, her voice soft yet firm.
I took a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs and giving me a moment of clarity. “Okay,” I began, trying to organize my thoughts. “I think I’ve figured out a way to use my gift, to turn the tables on the Supervisor.”
She gave me a patient smile. “From the top, Ceara. Slowly.”
Taking another deep breath, I began:
“I’m going to create a mirage!”
Ellie frowned. “That’s no clearer. What do you mean?”
“During one of my Visions today, I saw a Titan stealing plans about something called ‘Operation Mirage.’”
“Operation Mirage? What’s that?”
“I have no idea. But it doesn’t matter. Look, instead of passively seeing the future, what if I use my imagination? I dont look at the images on the holo-monitor and instead see clear images I make in my mind?”
“But the truth serum. It will make you tell them what you see.”
“Yes,” I conceded. “But only what I choose to tell them. It has to be the truth but if I leave out certain details, they won’t know I’m secretly talking about our escape and not whatever they want me to see! I’ll narrate a story to the Supervisor, making him believe it’s about a future he wanted to know about. He’ll take actions based on my fake Vision while we escape.”
Ellie looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, you’re suggesting we play a trick on the Supervisor using your Visions as bait? It’s risky.”
“Exactly!” I exclaimed. “It’s the perfect cover. They trust my Visions. If I show them our escape, they will react. And in their reactions, we can find the cracks in their defense.”
She bit her lip, an action I had come to recognize as her thinking pose. “But Ceara, what if they figure out you’re faking?”
I nodded, understanding her concern. “There’s always that, risk, Ellie. But right now, this might be our only shot.”
Ellie sighed, brushing her fingers against my cheek.
The sensation was comforting, a promise of her unwavering trust and belief. “You really think this will work?”
“We only have one chance at this,” I said, my voice resolute. “But I believe it can work. We need to trust each other and our bond.”
She smiled, her lips soft against mine as she pulled me into a kiss.
The world faded away, leaving just the two of us, our hearts intertwined.
When she pulled back, her voice was filled with determination. “Then let’s create our mirage.”
* * *
The familiar hum of the machine grew louder as I was strapped into the chair.
The pressure against my temples was more intense this time, and the cool, antiseptic scent of the chamber made me draw a sharp breath.
The ambient noises, the hushed tones of the technicians, and the distant hum of machinery echoed around me.