Mirai

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Mom came in shortly after. I had managed to calm my breathing by then and dried away my tears. The messed up jungle that my thoughts had been in had also calmed down. Instead, I felt a fierce determination and complete certainty in what I had to do. I had to find the woman. That was all that mattered. My life literally depended on it. What was more, what felt more important, was that her life depended on it as well.

"I brought some clothes for you," Mom said in a soft voice and handed over pants and a T-shirt. I quickly got into them.

"Mom," I said, ready to tell her, and then begin my search. "I know what I have to do."

Her eyes widened and she let out a shaky breath. Some tension left her. "With... with the curse?"

"Yeah. I had a vision. I have to find the girl before the countdown reaches zero. If not, I'll... If I do, all will be fine." I had been on my way to say I would die if I didn't. But I knew Mom was worried enough as it was and I didn't want to add to her worries. She probably was aware of, or at least assumed, that would be the outcome otherwise. But it was such a different thing to verbalize it than having a vague idea of it.

"The girl? The one you've been seeing?"

"Yeah. I've seen her more clearly now. Not her face though, so I still don't know who she is."

"Tell me. I might know something." Her eyes sparkled, and she had a genuinely happy smile. She looked much lighter than she had that whole day.

"There isn't much since I only saw her from behind." I shook my head. "But she has dark hair. Darker skin. She might be African. She wore a blue dress."

Mom's happiness looked to have increased. Her smile was wide and bright. It almost looked like she was about to jump up and down from joy.

"Oh, and she had some weird mark on her shoulder," I added. "It looked like a serpent coming out of a pomegranate."

It was the shortest of things. Didn't even last a second. But I was certain I had seen right. Certain Mom's eyes had flashed in fear.

But then she sighed and shook her head. More in disappointment than any other feeling. The joy from moments ago had gone so completely I questioned if it had even been there. My mind was a bit messed up with everything happening, so it sounded plausible I had imagined it because I desperately wanted answers and solutions.

"I have no idea, sweetie. But I'll go and inform the Priestess. Maybe she'll know. You just rest in here for now. You must be exhausted considering everything."

She kissed my forehead lightly before leaving. Just like I had been happy about the other witches leaving, I was happy she left.

She knew. Mom knew something about the woman that she didn't tell me. I couldn't understand why she wouldn't just say. She had to know what was at stake. Or at least have a hunch, so why wouldn't she give me any information she had?

I didn't give myself time to consider it though. I knew what I needed to do, and that was what I needed to focus on. If I found the woman, then all else would be solved. Or at least, me and the woman would live for longer than thirty more days.

I walked over to the door leading out of the room and pressed my ear to it. Faintly, I heard voices on the other side. Had they placed people to watch over me? Would they try to stop me from leaving?

I backed away from the door to consider my options.

I could simply open it and try to run if they tried to stop me. I was fairly good at magic, so I could fight them off a little at least. Whoever they were, they probably were better than me though. Being only eighteen, it wasn't like I had that much training done. And I would have to run far before I could teleport away and to safety. The whole area which belonged to the coven was protected so you couldn't teleport within it. I would have to make it through the forest.

Richmond and Redmond. They had said to scream if I needed them. I assumed they were outside the house, but as close as possible to the room, so they would hear and be able to come to my rescue. But if I yelled for them, then I would put them in danger. So that was not an option.

The room had no windows or other doors. I wasn't sure if any of the walls led straight to the outside. If one did, I could make a hole in that wall to run out from. But there could be so many other things on the other side of the walls. Maybe the Priestess's office or our library were there. Walking into any of those rooms was about the worst thing I could do.

The only way out was through the door that potentially was guarded. It truly was my only option.

I took a deep breath. Collected myself. Thought for a moment what would be the best. Open the door carefully and hope they wouldn't try to stop me from leaving? Or blast the door open and take them by surprise?

I decided on the second option.

I summoned up my magic. Let it dance around me, ready to be used. It felt comfortable and safe to have it there. A warm protective blanket almost.

I went through a few possible spells in my head. Both ones to use on the door as well as possible spells to use after. Spells meant to protect, but also some meant to attack. Then I let my magic rush forward.