Mystical Realm

Chapter 6: The Figure

Zuri struggled to make sense of it all. Why did Jack insist she return to the realm, and what had changed him so much? With no easy answers, she was torn between Zion's protective stance and Jack's insistence on her returning to the realm. Unsure of whom to trust and what decision to make, she struggled to find clarity amidst the chaos. Jack stood his ground, his expression unwavering.

"I'm not here to fight, Zion. I just want to ensure Zuri's safety."

Zuri watched in shock as Zion reacted aggressively, grabbing Jack by the throat and pushing him to the ground, causing his head to hit the pavement hard. The sound of the impact echoed in the alley. Jack quickly vanished from Zion's grasp, as if he had never been there in the first place. Then, to Zuri's surprise, he materialized behind her, his voice firm,

"She has the right to decide!"

Zion's anger flared, his eyes turning a menacing black. With a swift motion, he went fast to Jack and raised his hands, which created a dome around the two of them. Zion's muscles tensed as he grabbed Jack by the throat and began lifting him with a powerful grip. Jack struggled to break free from Zion's grasp, the dome was known to cancel all magical abilities, leaving him unable to escape.

Zuri was left speechless as she observed the scene unfolding within the dome. Despite people passing by, no one seemed to notice their presence. Zuri's heart raced as she ran towards the dome, ignoring the barrier, she wrapped her arms around Zion from behind, pleading with him to stop.

"Zion, please stop. I'm scared," she implored, her voice trembling with fear and urgency.

Zion released Jack immediately, his muscles relaxing, and the dome vanished, making them visible to people once again. Jack disappeared once more. Zuri was terrified of Zion; he seemed like a completely different person. She never thought he would be capable of hurting someone. He had always been her protector, but now she was afraid of him. She released him and hurried to catch the bus, unable to meet his gaze.

On her way back, Zuri couldn't shake off the feeling of regret. How could she leave without getting more answers? Why did Jack insist on taking her back to the realm? And what exactly were they? Nothing about what had happened felt natural; it was as if they were dealing with magic.

Feeling overwhelmed by everything, Zuri went straight to her bedroom upon arriving home, feeling miserable. There, she heard a knock on her door and recognized her mother Ava's gentle voice. As Ava entered, she sat beside Zuri on the bed, asking,

"Sweetie, how are you doing?" Zuri replied without looking into her eyes,

"I am fine, Mom." Ava then responded with a tone of regret,

"I know your father and I have put too much on your shoulders. But you can always lean on us if you're facing troubles."

Zuri never allowed herself to trouble her parents, knowing their struggles, and for her, that's enough. Her head felt like it was about to explode. This time is different, it's more than she can handle herself, and she feels the need to confide in her mom. Quietly, she began,

"Mom, I want to tell you something, but I'm not sure if you'll believe me, as I don't believe it myself," Ava reassured her, saying,

"Zu, you can tell me everything." Zuri stood up, looking straight into her mom's eyes, and began,

"Mom, since I met this new guy at school, strange things have been happening to me." Ava, looking playful, responded,

"So this is about a boy, isn't it?" she looked away and said,