Vortex

The vortex had vanished, leaving the air heavy with the scent of scorched earth and the eerie silence that follows chaos. Emily stood in the center of the desolation, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. The remnants of the battle still clung to her skin like dust, and the weight of the decision she had made moments before hung over her like a shadow. She had rejected the dark power, but its pull had been strong—too strong for comfort. Now, as the world around her slowly returned to a semblance of calm, she couldn't help but wonder if the choice would come back to haunt her.