There’s a hum in the air as Korah stands in front of the grand mirror. Her hands are raised, eyes closed, and Caz and I stand behind her hand in hand.
He grabs my hand when Korah begins chanting in a language I don’t understand, and the mere action, though simple, makes me feel safe.
The atmosphere becomes charged, the hairs at the nape of my neck rising, a dallop of unease swimming through me. A neon purple light appears on the center of the mirror. Korah breathes deeply, tips her chin, and the purple dot grows in size. It stretches along the wall, bright and blinding, and Korah steps backward, closing her hands to fists.
“Move toward the portal,” she instructs us. “You must go through one at a time.”
With Caz’s hand in mine, we move forward. A wind rips around the room, whipping at my hair and Caz’s. Caz looks to me, the purple glow bathing half his face.
We can do this.
I gasp when I hear his voice in my head. Oh, that precious voice. I haven’t heard it within me in days, and I’ve missed it. My lips part as I focus on him.
I can hear you.
He smiles. Must mean it’s working, eh? You ready?
I think so.
Good. His faces the portal again. I’ll go first.
He releases my hand, but my heart sinks when I feel that itch on the back of my neck again. When he takes a step closer to the portal, something thuds behind us, and the portal immediately closes.
I spin around to find Korah still there, but she’s not alone. Someone familiar stands behind her with a knife to her throat.
And that someone is Garrett.
