Bad Threads

The war room buzzed with tense energy as Jaden finished relaying the cryptic message. Faces etched with exhaustion and concern stared back at him, the weight of their new reality evident in every line and shadow.

"What do you think it means?" Marcus asked, his fingers absently warping the air around them, a nervous habit he'd developed since the anomaly incident.

Jaden ran a hand through his hair, shadows coiling restlessly around his arms. "I'm not sure. But given everything we've been through, we can't afford to ignore it."

Zoe, her energy crackling softly around her fingertips, leaned forward. "We need more information. 'They're coming' - who's they? And what's this about the source of our powers?"

"I might be able to help with that," a new voice interjected. All heads turned to see Alex floating through the doorway, his form still flickering between human and something... other.

Jaden felt a mix of relief and concern at his friend's appearance. Alex's condition had been deteriorat