The bright swirling blue light of the way gate was almost blinding as Ashleigh approached it slowly.
‘Remember, you can’t step inside,’ Lily whispered.
“I know,” Ashleigh said aloud.
She took a deep breath and extended her arm. As her fingertips touched the light, she already felt a pull.
‘Hold yourself back!’ Lily called. ‘The portal is looking to do its job. It wants to pull you through and send you to Winter. Just hold tight and put your hand in a little further.’
Ashleigh adjusted her weight and stretched her arm until her entire hand slipped into the light.
A surge of energy flowed through her and then pulled back out, absorbing itself back into the portal.
Ashleigh took a step back as the blue light began to change. She looked up at the portal, the blue swirls seemed to push and pull on themselves for several seconds, and then a calm passed over them, and the light turned golden.
‘Ashleigh?’ Lily whispered.
Ashleigh furrowed her brow.
