The blinding light that swallowed Jade and Mary left me alone in the clearing, the echo of their disappearance still ringing in my ears. Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had to find Jade. I spent the entire day searching the forest, calling out her name, using every spell I knew to track her, but it was as if she had vanished from existence.
By nightfall, exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders. I made my way back to our apartment, hoping against hope that Jade would be there waiting for me. But when I opened the door, the silence greeted me like a cold slap. She wasn't there.
I collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the walls. Where had Mary taken her? My mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. The thought of food was unbearable, so I skipped dinner and went straight to the bedroom.
