Welcome home

Stepping out of the forest felt surreal. After days of being stranded, freezing, and half-naked in the wild, the sight of the glowing purple portal was both a relief and a nightmare. Relief, because finally we could go home.

Nightmare, because I had no idea what awaited us on the other side. Judging by Rowena's smugness, it was going to be bad.

Maeve nudged me. "Ready?"

"No."

She just smirked and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the swirling vortex. With a deep breath, I stepped forward—and instantly felt that weird whooshing sensation of teleportation, like my stomach was flipping upside down and my entire body was being squeezed through a straw.

Then—

THUD.

We landed.

On something soft.

I blinked. Something smelled like home. Familiar. Warm.

Wait.

I knew this place.

I sat up so fast my vision blurred. My bed. My room.

And then I realized—

There were people here.

A lot of people.