Ethan chased me down the steep, narrow pathway, relishing in the hot, summer sun. The strands of my hair clung to the nape of my neck from the humidity.

"Erika, you do know that you will have to go back eventually," he said, collapsing on the grass. "You don't belong here."

If he had told me that the first time we met, then maybe there would be a better outcome for all of us.

A fresh floral smell drifted through the meadow, reminding me of summer. It was hard to ever imagine belonging here, and now I couldn't live without the other side—I couldn't live without them.

It was hard to see anything from the blinding light of the sun up ahead as it reached midday. "I want to spend every second of every day with you."

"Believe me, I want nothing more." He lifted his chin to look at me, squinting from the light.

My legs trembled from what was to come. "I can't say goodbye, Ethan. I can't go back when I have nothing left."

The truth was, I had no friends, no father, and I couldn't leave Shadowbrook without paying the ultimate price.

"You and I both know that you don't have a choice," Ethan replied, leaning back.

The encircling darkness edged closer, demolishing sunlight from my peripheral vision. Until I could find a way to eliminate Nadine and her Igneous vampires without killing the entire vampiric race, I was tied to Akrsna.

Collapsing upon the grass, I ran my fingers through the long strands, tickling my palms. "I don't like leaving you here with her."

Ethan glanced behind at Edwina as she rocked back and forth, sitting under the oak tree. "Meh, she's harmless."

Is she?

Somehow she had enough power and dragged me through a mirror. "Even so, you don't know what she's capable of." The other side didn't feed power, but more like Edwina had magic before Alani interfered. If Ethan wasn't careful, she could disrupt the balance again.

"There was something I had meant to tell you before I," Ethan swallowed, biting on his lip, "before I died." His fingers intertwined with mine, trailing the 'E' initial on my charm bracelet.

"Don't." I leapt up in a hurry. "You can say it when you're alive—when we're alive."

Bringing me into an embrace, his warmth ignited my core and set alight the depths of my soul. "Until we see each other again," he whispered.

Coming up from behind Ethan, Dad patted my shoulder. "You have a second chance at life, Erika. I'm proud of you, kiddo. I will always love you."

As I buried my head into his chest, I mumbled, "I love you too, Dad. Always."

The oval-shaped portal cropped up in the middle of the meadow with the purple aura glimmering, a sign that it was time for me to step through. Dark mist enclosed the opening.

Without glancing back at the people I had to leave behind, I crossed the threshold and into the blackness. I will find a way to bring them back. I had to.

A/N

Word Count: 359

There is a sequel coming out next year! All the questions will be answered, but until then, what will happen to Erika?

Will she be able to cope without her dad and Ethan as they are stuck on the other side? Can she save them and bring them both back from the dead?

Have a fangtastic day!

(㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)