She glanced at me with a mixture of sadness and determination in her eyes. "It's complicated, dear. But trust me, we'll be safer where we're going."
I nodded, still unsure of the path we were embarking on. The events of the day had unfolded so rapidly, leaving me with more questions than answers. Yet, the unwavering resolve in my mom's voice gave me a glimmer of hope.
We reached the front door, and my mom opened it, revealing a world that seemed different from the one we had known. There was an air of secrecy and urgency surrounding our departure, and I couldn't shake the feeling that our lives were about to change in ways we couldn't even imagine.
As we stepped outside, I took one last look at our old home, uncertain if we would ever return. With a heavy heart, I followed my mom, holding Dante's hand tightly, as we continue running with my mum with our each one of our hands being held by her.
We had run to a far distance from our house, the moon casting an eerie glow upon the night. My mum kept running while tightly gripping both of our hands. As I glanced at my mother's face, I could see the desperation etched across her features.
"Ouch, my legs hurt," Dante panted, halting his steps, which in turn made Mum stop as well. It wasn't surprising; we had been running tirelessly for hours, our bodies pushed to the brink of exhaustion.
I turned to my Mum, the strain evident in my voice, "Mum, can't we rest for a moment? My legs are on the verge of giving out too if we continue at your pace."
Dante and I weren't the only ones suffering. Mum's face, though etched with determination, also bore the weariness of our frantic escape.
"Dante, Trish, please, can you bear it a little longer for me? We are almost there—" Before Mum could finish her sentence, her eyes darted to something behind us, her expression shifting to one of alarm.
"I didn't expect them to catch up with us so quickly," Mum murmured, her voice laden with apprehension.
"Who are you talking about, Mum?" I asked, my confusion growing with every passing second. The night was silent, save for the distant rustling of leaves, and I strained to hear any signs of pursuit.
My Mum turned toward Dante, her gaze locked onto his eyes, and asked, "Do you trust your Mum?"
Dante's reply was swift and unwavering, his voice filled with love, "Yes, I do, Mum, and I love you very much." His smile radiated warmth in the midst of our dire circumstances.
Mum stared at Dante for a lingering moment, tears welling up in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, whispering, "Mum loves you too," as if trying to convey her feelings through the intensity of her hug.
I watched the scene with a mix of confusion and concern. The uncertainty of our situation loomed large, and I couldn't help but voice my worries, "Mum, what's going on?"
Mum broke the hug and turned to me, her hand gently ruffling my hair, as she said, "Don't worry, Trish, everything is going to be okay." Her words were comforting, but they couldn't completely dispel the unease that had settled in my chest.
After her reassurance, Mum took our hands once more and addressed Dante, "Can you keep running for Mum just a little longer? We're almost there."
We resumed our frantic dash, following Mum's lead. Dante cast me a reassuring glance, his eyes filled with determination. "Don't worry, Trish. Mum promised to protect us," he said, his words serving as a soothing balm to my anxious heart. I smiled back at him, grateful for his unwavering faith in our mother.
Mum, in the lead, clutched the mysterious stone tightly in her hand as we ran. I couldn't help but wonder about that stone's significance and the strange powers it seemed to possess. It had become a symbol of both hope and mystery in our tumultuous journey.
"Mavka, can you take care of the demons chasing us?" Mum addressed the stone, her voice tinged with urgency.
"Okay, ma," a mysterious voice emanated from the stone, confirming my suspicion that it was some form of communication device.
As we continued our escape, the minutes turned into what felt like hours. My fatigue was becoming increasingly pronounced, and I could sense Dante's exhaustion as well. He was breathing heavily, his face a mask of fatigue and discomfort.
I glanced back at Mum, my concern growing. "Mum, aren't we there yet?" I called out, my voice tinged with impatience and exhaustion.
I waited for Mum's reply, but it didn't come. I turned my head to see her, only to find her staring into the distance with an unfocused gaze. Her expression was one of deep concern, and she seemed to be lost in thought.
I tugged at her dress and pinched her gently, trying to regain her attention. "Mum!" I urged, desperate for her guidance in this perilous situation.
Startled, Mum snapped back to the present, her eyes refocusing on us. "What is it, dear?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of weariness and determination.
I pointed at Dante, my worry evident. "Mum, Dante isn't looking so good. He won't be able to run for another minute at this rate."
Mum turned her gaze toward Dante, her face contorting with concern. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, the mysterious stone in her hand began to emit a radiant light, illuminating the darkness around us.
Mum's hand tightened around the stone, and she quickly addressed it with urgency, "Were you able to defeat all the demons chasing us, Mavka?"
A voice emanated from the stone, carrying an otherworldly tone, "I did, but there is another piece of troubling news, ma. There is a powerful angel ahead of you, ma. Shinobu reported its presence to my mum."