Mystical Realm

Chapter 9: The Entrance

The red cloud unleashed a violent wind, throwing the girls against the bridge walls. Elvina lost consciousness from the impact, while Ariya's back hit so hard that she struggled to move. Zuri, however, felt a wind from behind her that kept her on her feet, allowing her to maintain her balance.

She looked around in shock feeling trapped, the wind hit her hard, but something kept her from falling. The red cloud became furious and swallowed her, its force pushing her from all sides. But something held her steady, preventing her from falling. A deep voice echoed, ordering her

"Return to where you came from, human!" Zuri was overwhelmed with fear as the cloud's voice echoed,

"All that you have worked for will be long gone!".

Images of her childhood flashed before her eyes, pictures of her hard work, determination, and the success she'd always dreamed of. She saw herself living in a grand house, with a big family, traveling the world, surrounded by loved ones. It was her dream, everything she'd ever wanted, played out like a short film.

The vision was so vivid that it felt like she could reach out and touch her ideal life. it quickly shifted, Instead of her dream life, Zuri saw a world where she was absent. Her home was empty, and her name was erased from all records. At school, she was no longer the head of the class. It was as if she'd never existed.

Her sister, Zara, was now the oldest, struggling to take care of Zane, while their father was never home. The world continued without Zuri, and the impact of her absence was heartbreaking. It was as though the life she'd built, the bonds she'd formed, and the people she loved had vanished, leaving behind a harsh reality. The red cloud's words echoed,

"Return to where you came from, human," suggesting that this could be her future if she didn't turn back.

Zuri fell to the ground, gasping for air as panic took over. The images of her life disappearing, her family struggling without her, and her absence from the world played over and over in her mind. Her breathing grew shallow and rapid as the fear tightened its grip, leaving her paralyzed.

The cloud's oppressive presence seemed to crush her, filling her with a sense of loss and despair. Emerged in darkness and struggling to breathe, Zuri was on the ground, feeling the weight of her fears.

As she was about to lose hope, a warm light began to pierce the blackness, illuminating a path. She looked down to see the source of this light, it was her necklace, glowing brightly. The family heirloom was showing her the way out. As she watched the path illuminated, a sudden image of her mother appeared, smiling warmly at her.

Zuri's panic dissipated, and she remembered why she had come to this realm. She found the strength to stand up and follow the light, feeling reassured and determined. The gentle smile of her mother gave her hope and drove her forward as she pressed on to reach the end of the path. As she was about to exit the cloud, the voice rang again,

"Leave now, leave forever! No one will remember you!"

Zuri stopped in her tracks and turned her head slightly, feeling the weight of the words. But then she glanced at the vision of her mother beside her, a calm and loving presence. With a hint of defiance, she responded,

"I'm not so sure about that."

She kept her eyes on the light ahead and walked forward, stepping out of the cloud's grasp. As the image of her mom faded away, her heart was filled with the certainty that she'd meet her again. She saw the bridge and knew what she had to do.

Without hesitation, she ran back to the girls before the cloud could swallow them entirely. She reached Elvina first, picking her up from the ground and positioning her on her back. Then, she shouted to Ariya, who was struggling to move,