Chapter Nine.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the hotel room. Harlow stirred first, her face buried in Sage's shoulder, inhaling the comforting scent of her girlfriend. She didn't want to move—didn't want to face the weight of the day ahead—but she knew they only had a little time before they needed to check out.

Sage groaned sleepily as Harlow shifted, her arms instinctively tightening around her. "Five more minutes," she mumbled against Harlow's hair.

Harlow smiled, pressing a kiss to Sage's collarbone. "You always say that."

"And I always mean it," Sage countered, eyes still closed but a smirk playing on her lips.

With a sigh, Harlow sat up, stretching her arms above her head before poking Sage's side. "Come on, lazy. We said we'd go to the mall before heading back."

Sage cracked one eye open, her gaze trailing over Harlow's form before she sighed dramatically. "Fine. But I'm getting a giant pretzel the second we get there."

Two hours later, they strolled through the bustling mall, fingers loosely intertwined. Harlow tugged Sage into a small boutique filled with flowy dresses and cute accessories, playfully holding up outfits for her to try. Sage rolled her eyes but indulged her, twirling in a long, midnight-blue dress that made Harlow's heart skip a beat.

"You should get it," Harlow murmured, trying to keep the emotion from her voice.

Sage arched a brow. "Yeah?"

Harlow nodded. "It suits you."

With a smile, Sage added the dress to their purchases, along with a few trinkets they'd picked up from different stores. The day felt normal—sweet, even. But beneath it all, an unspoken tension lingered. They both knew what was coming.

The drive back to Harlow's house was quiet, filled with soft music and stolen glances. As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Harlow felt her chest tighten. She had to tell her mom.

Steeling herself, she led Sage inside, finding her mother in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of tea. At the sight of them, her mom smiled warmly. "You're back! Did you have fun?"

Harlow hesitated, exchanging a look with Sage before she swallowed hard. "Mom, I need to tell you something."

Her mother's smile faded as she set her cup down. "What is it, sweetheart?"

Harlow exhaled slowly. "I have to go to the spirit realm tonight. At midnight."

Her mother's face paled, worry instantly clouding her features. "What? Why?"

"I don't know exactly," Harlow admitted, gripping the counter. "But I have to go. It's important."

Silence stretched between them before her mother's eyes softened with a mixture of concern and understanding. "I don't like this. But I trust you." She glanced at Sage, then back at Harlow. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

Tears pricked Harlow's eyes as her mother pulled her into a tight hug. "I really like Sage, by the way," her mother whispered, making Harlow laugh through her emotions.

After the conversation, Harlow and Sage retreated to her room, where they spent the next few hours playing video games, laughing, and pretending that nothing was looming over them.

But eventually, reality set in.

Sage sighed, glancing at the clock. "I have to go to work."

Harlow's stomach twisted. They both knew what that meant—when Sage got off, Harlow would already be gone.

Sage reached for her, cupping her face gently. "Promise me you'll come back."

Harlow blinked back tears. "I promise. As soon as I can."

Sage's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I'm scared, Harlow."

Harlow swallowed against the lump in her throat. "Me too."

Sage let out a shaky breath before surging forward, capturing Harlow's lips in a deep, desperate kiss. It was slow, filled with unspoken words, as if Sage was trying to memorize every part of her. When they finally pulled apart, Sage pressed her forehead to Harlow's.

"I'll be waiting," she whispered before reluctantly stepping away.

Harlow watched her go, her heart aching with every step she took out the door.

With two hours left, Harlow spent her time anxiously cleaning her room, trying to keep her mind occupied. But the inevitable loomed closer.

At 11:50 PM, her phone buzzed with a message from Sage.

Sage: "Hey, angel. I just got break. I miss you."

Harlow: "I miss you too."

A moment later, another text came through.

Sage: "I don't want to sound dramatic, but this really scares me. What if you don't come back?"

Harlow hesitated before typing her response carefully.

Harlow: "You're not dramatic. I'm scared too. But I will come back to you. I swear."

Another pause, and then:

Sage: "Harlow… I love you."

Harlow's breath caught in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes as she typed back.

Harlow: "I love you too."

Just as she hit send, the clock struck midnight.

A gust of wind blew through her room, the lights flickered, and a strange force pulled at her.

And then, everything went dark.