The savior of the fantasy world

The breaking point

I approached the grand mansion, its large doors standing open as if waiting to confront me. I hadn't fully processed what had transpired earlier—the punishment from the school board after my subtle, yet unforgettable, run-in with Stefan by the car. My footsteps slowed as I neared the door, knowing what awaited me inside: another conversation I didn't want to have. The moment I crossed the threshold, I found my mother standing by the door, staring at me as I approached. She didn’t greet me with her usual warmth. Instead, her eyes held a strange intensity, making my skin prickle with unease. I knew this wasn’t just a casual chat. This was serious.

“Ellie,” she said, her voice measured, though tinged with an edge of finality. “I absolutely think you should leave your school.”

The words hit me like a slap. I blinked, trying to process what she had just said. “What do you mean?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. My heart thudded heavily in my chest, the sound of her fingers tapping impatiently on the doorframe the only thing breaking the silence. “Why would you say that?”

She didn’t hesitate, her face softening slightly but still marked by concern. “Child,” she began, stepping in front of me, her eyes scanning my face as though looking for something deeper. “It’s become dangerous.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. Dangerous? I stepped back from her, my mind racing. “Mom,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though frustration bubbled beneath the surface. “This is the fifth time we’ve moved schools. And now you’re telling me it’s dangerous? What exactly is going on here?”

I had been shuffled from school to school ever since kindergarten, a pattern that left me with a deep sense of instability. Now, finally, I had returned to WLHS, thinking I might finally get a break, that I might settle into something normal. But here she was, trying to pull me out of another school once again, with what seemed like another vague excuse. I wasn’t going to accept that.

“You’re leaving the school, and that’s final,” my mother said, her voice rising in a rare outburst.

I felt my chest tighten with anger. “What if I refuse?” I shot back, defiant. The words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let her dictate my life like this. “You can’t just decide everything for me.”

Before she could reply, Julia, who had been quietly lurking in the background, stepped into the conversation. She had a smug look on her face, as if she already knew how this would play out. “You have no say in this,” Julia chimed in, her voice almost sing-song as though she’d finally succeeded in convincing Mom to make this decision.

The anger inside me flared. How dare they? My own family, treating me like I had no voice, like my opinion didn’t matter. I glared at Julia, my eyes narrowing in disdain. “You both have no say,” I retorted, my words icy.

Mom’s eyes flashed dangerously, but I wasn’t backing down. I couldn’t. This time, I needed her to understand how much this was affecting me.

“Do you mean I’m included?” Julia asked, a sly grin crossing her face as if she had just won some kind of game.

“Yes,” my mom said sharply, her voice unwavering. “You both are moving. That’s final.”

My mind reeled. My heart was in my throat. "We’re moving?" I repeated, the words sounding absurd, even to me. I couldn’t believe it. Again. I felt a sharp twinge of panic, and my thoughts raced. Where would we go this time? How many schools would I have to leave behind?

I watched as my mother turned and walked into the house, leaving me standing there, frozen. I couldn't even gather the words to argue further. The finality in her tone left no room for protest. I was trapped.

Before I could fully process what was happening, Julia grabbed my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. Her grip was firm, almost threatening. “I’ve had it up to here with you, Ellie,” she hissed, her voice low and filled with malice. “If you don’t fix this, if you don’t undo whatever you’ve done, I swear, you won’t see the other side of me. If we end up moving because of you again, I won’t let you rest. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her words were cold, biting, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment. It was like everyone around me was constantly threatening me, as if I had no say in my own life. I stood there, staring at her with a mixture of fury and disbelief. She sneered and let go of my arm, walking back into the house without another word.

---

The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, fuming in silence. Julia wasn’t there, but my mom had barely noticed her absence. She couldn’t stop talking about the new school, the fun it would be, how it would be a “fresh start” for both of us. Her tone was bright, almost too bright, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince me.

I muttered to myself, cursing under my breath. “Why is this happening?” I didn’t understand it. Every time Dad went on a business trip, it felt like we were running from something. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were constantly being pursued, like our entire existence was one big escape. The thought made my skin crawl.

Just then, Joyce, the housekeeper, walked into the room, her face clouded with worry. I could tell she had something to say, but she didn’t look at me. She just kept her gaze down, avoiding any unnecessary confrontation.

“Did she refuse?” Mom asked casually, as though she were discussing the weather.

“Yes,” Joyce answered, her voice soft. “She threw the food in the waste bin.”

Mom didn’t react, just calmly took a sip of her coffee, her eyes never leaving the mug. She stood up, not bothering to look at Joyce, and walked upstairs, her footsteps echoing through the house. The tension was palpable, thick and suffocating.

I sat there, stunned, as the silence between us stretched on. It was only a moment before I heard shouting upstairs—Mom’s voice sharp, furious—and then the unmistakable sound of a slap. My blood ran cold.

It hadn’t gotten this bad before. Not like this. The slap echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on here. What had pushed my mother to this point?

When she returned downstairs, she acted as if nothing had happened. Her calm demeanor unnerved me more than anything else. “As I was saying,” she continued, picking up her coffee again, “the new school has...”

I was too shaken to speak. I couldn’t even focus on her words. The slap still lingered in my thoughts, gnawing at me.

“Mom,” I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, I like our school. It’s literally the best. Please, just let me stay. I promise I won’t cause trouble again. I won’t do anything to upset you.”

She didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes flicked to her coffee mug before she placed it down, her fingers lingering on the porcelain as she stared at it for a long moment. Then, she looked up at me, her expression hardening.

“Sweetheart,” she began, her tone softer now, but still filled with an unsettling seriousness. “I didn’t want you to leave because of trouble at school. I wanted you to leave because it’s not safe there. From the moment I walked in, I could feel it—the danger, the problem. I knew something was wrong. And now, it’s something we can’t ignore anymore. We’re not just running from the school. We’re running for our lives.”

Her words hit me like a punch. I froze, my heart racing. “Do you mean our lives are in danger?” I asked, barely able to breathe as the words left my mouth. This was more than just a school issue. There was something deeper—something my mother wasn’t telling me.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took another sip of her coffee, her gaze unwavering as she stared into the mug. The silence between us stretched, and I realized she wasn’t going to tell me anything. Not yet.

---

I could feel it—the urge to understand, to pry deeper into her thoughts. I had always been able to tap into her mind before, but today, something was different. As I closed my eyes and focused, I reached for the familiar pull of my power. But this time, I couldn’t grasp it. It was like a wall had been put up, blocking me from her thoughts.

How could this be? No human should be able to do this.

I tried harder, but the connection slipped further away, like sand through my fingers. Panic crept into my chest. Was my power fading?

My mom’s voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. “Get your ass off the chair and go to school,” she said, her tone commanding.

I jumped up from my seat, still reeling from everything I had just learned. I kissed her forehead quickly, the words a blur. “Bye, Mom,” I said, walking out the door, my mind a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and anger.

---

At school, the day didn’t slow down. I grabbed my notebook from my locker and was about to close it when Tyson appeared in front of me, holding a vase of flowers. “Good morning,” I greeted him, a small smile tugging at my lips.

“They’re cool flowers,” Tyson remarked, raising an eyebrow. “Are they for Stefan Brown?”

I rolled my eyes, scoffing. “In your dreams,” I said, laughing lightly.

Just then, Molly walked in, her presence lighting up the room as always. I left Tyson and made my way over to her. “Hey, girlfriend,” I greeted with a grin, but she looked at me and the flowers with a puzzled expression.

“Are you proposing to Stefan?” she asked, her frown deepening.

“Ew! That’s gross,” I said, making a face. “No, it’s for you. It’s a symbol of our friendship.” I waved my hands dramatically, showing her the movie tickets I had gotten for us. “And tadaaa! Movie night!”

She took the tickets, her eyes wide in excitement. “Wow, I love you, Ellie! You really made my day.” She jumped up and hugged me, and I laughed, hugging her back.

“You’re the best friend ever,” she said, her voice full of affection.

Tyson, still standing nearby, smiled at us. “This is so cool,” he said. “Don’t forget I made reservations for us at the entry. I’ll come see you after class.”

I nodded as I gathered my things, realizing I was late for detention. “Got to run, but I’ll see you later!” I waved as I hurried off, my mind still reeling from everything that had happened.