ulled away from me. She shook her ha

w did you get here? Why are yo

ren trees started to materialize around us. Still, I was more focused on keeping up with my mom. I didn't comprehend what she

r, trying to get her to look at me.

to nowhere, and her ignor

, st

d forward, and she shook her head. "All these years, I tried to keep you safe,

, wh

hurt. I've never seen her like this before. The mom I knew was a warrior - a symbol of bravery and resilien

orgotten who she was. It was hard for me to even comp

tell me, Mom. Let's just get out of here and go ba

ound us. My mom suddenly grabbed my arms, her fingers digging into my skin. The look on her face was pure terror and took

he said, looking down at the necklace.

her shoulders. I followed her

are," I said. "Please,

around us. We held onto each other to keep from fallin

ed, watching as the li

," my mom mumb

nd whipped across my face, and I felt like my feet were hoveri

's body made of black rocks and inside its body was a glowing red ball that looked as if i

searing energy pulsed through my fingertips. Before I could launch it, my mom stoppe

questioned my mom. "I

y mom pleaded. "If you do, he will fi

nd creating the same ball of light. She threw it at t

t's

down at her hand, grasping mine and feeling a sense of

irror, opening a portal. "Th

" She looked at me, confused

"Dessa, I told you you

she would let it go, but I knew that wouldn't be the case from the anger

come strong enough to stop whoever

my mom said, staring at me.

rry, Mom, I just...you didn't come back, and I was scared that whatever go

," my mom finished.

er my mom was about to sa

e, Dessa, and I'm sorry

ened her eyes, which were glowing and placed her hands on my chest. I felt a burning sensation

om

estioning eyes, and I saw tears streaming down her face. She looked as much in pain as m

my mom whispered before pus

groaned and clutched my chest. The pain of whatever my mom did was slowly s

house. "What are you doing back so quickly?" She gasped. "What did

struggling to breathe, trying

lt myself being pulled back into the mirror. I reached out my