She attacked.
Crimson-white fire struck me.
I ran through it.
Not because it couldn't hurt me.
It did.
But pain wasn't command.
She created chains.
I broke through them.
Illusions surrounded me.
Papa.
Mama.
Mary.
Kevin dead.
Kael dying.
A thousand futures.
A thousand fears.
I kept running.
The Hollow screamed.
"STOP!"
I didn't.
She became a wolf.
My wolf.
White-golden.
Perfect.
Almost.
We collided.
The mountain shook.
Claws tore through fur.
Light crashed against crimson fire.
She was as fast as I was.
As strong.
Maybe stronger.
But every attack was borrowed.
Every movement copied.
She knew what I could do.
She didn't know why I did it.
That was the difference.
She lunged for my throat.
I moved aside.
She expected me to counterattack.
I didn't.
Inst
