Emma’s heart pounded as she stepped out from behind the tree, her voice firm despite the fear clawing at her chest. “Where are you going?” she demanded.
No response.
“I know you’re there, Skylar. And I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
Skylar hesitated before emerging into the clearing, her gaze fixed on the dark clouds gathering above them. Emma followed her stare, unease creeping in.
“It looks like there’s a storm coming,” Emma said.
Skylar nodded, gripping her bag tightly. The way she avoided Emma’s eyes sent a chill through her.
Then Emma noticed something—the bag was moving.
“Skylar,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What’s in your bag?”
Skylar snatched it up, turned away, and started towards the village. Emma hesitated, then hurried after her.
The low rumble of thunder echoed through the village as Emma arrived. She scanned the crowd—Skylar was nowhere in sight.
The clouds thickened, swallowing the last slivers of sunlight. The sea beyond the village churned violently, waves slamming against the shore. A bolt of lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating a lone figure in the distance. Skylar.
Emma took off running, her feet pounding against the damp earth as the storm unleashed its fury. Rain lashed against her skin, the wind pushing her back. Still, she pressed forward, skidding to a halt at the edge of a rocky cliff. Then she saw it.
A small ledge jutted out below. It was a terrible idea, but she had no choice. Carefully, she slid onto it, inching along as the storm howled around her. A sudden gust nearly sent her tumbling, but she steadied herself.
At last, she reached solid ground and sprinted toward the village. Debris flew past her, trees splintering under the force of the wind. And then, through the chaos, she saw Skylar.
“Skylar!” she shouted.
Skylar turned, her expression a whirlwind of emotions—shock, fear, guilt. Then, without a word, she ran.
Emma chased her through the panicked crowd until Skylar reached a sheer rock face, trapped.
“You have a lot of explaining to do,” Emma said, breathless.
Skylar sat on a moss-covered boulder, biting her lip. Then, she reached into her bag and pulled out five small vials. Emma’s stomach twisted.
“Storm vials?” she asked in disbelief. “That’s dark magic! Just five can destroy an entire city.”
She looked down. Four were empty. But the last…
Dark clouds swirled inside, slamming against the glass, desperate to break free.
Emma’s voice was barely a whisper. “Skylar, what have you done?”
Skylar buried her face in her hands. “I had no choice. They made me.”
Emma’s throat tightened. “Who?”
Skylar didn’t answer. She simply stood, lifting the last vial with a solemn look. “Get under shelter,” she murmured.
Emma took a step forward. “Skylar, don’t.”
Skylar’s eyes glistened. “I’m sorry.”
The cork popped. Darkness swallowed the world.
The end… or is it?
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