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Jamie said.
    “We can’t rescue Willow without your help,” said Rawlie to Lil.
    “I'm not going anywhere, except back home.” Lil crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. She wasn't taking anything else as an answer. “This isn't my fight.”
    Jamie's bottom lip jutted out, but he didn't cry. He stepped closer to Lil as if she was his last hope. “If you won't go, then please tell Rawlie to let me come with him. I can learn to fight; I've seen my sister train.”
    “You're still a child,” Rawlie said.
    “I am not!” Jamie insisted. “I can go to the Mystics. They should make the decision, not you. You're barely older than I am. I just need someone to believe in me.”
    “Out of the question. Willow would kill me if you left this house without her.”
    Jamie slumped onto the sofa. “I wouldn't be alone. You'd be with me.”
    “Let the boy come.” Lil was tired of the arguing. She just wanted to go home.
    The wind outside picked up, and Lil shuddered, though the house hadn't changed temperature. “What's that?” It sounded like a storm had blown in out of nowhere.
    “Grab your bag, Jamie. We don't have much time,” Rawlie said.
    Jamie's face lit up in excitement as he tore up the stairs to pack what he needed for the trip.
    Rawlie glanced at Lil. “You should come outside and see this . . . ” His words trailed off as he unlocked the front door. It swung right open and the screen door flew off its hinges, disappearing into the forest.
    The gale was fierce. Crimson clouds drew closer to the house. The squall stung unprotected skin and felt as if it could burn flesh. Lil held her hand up to shield her eyes, while Rawlie stood there unaffected. Lil noticed the slight tremble in his eyes; he was putting on a good show.
    Lil shouted into the deafening roar. “What's going on?” Her voice barely reached Rawlie's ears as he turned to see her speaking to him.
    “Nothing good.” He glanced back into the house, the door still open. Pictures fell from the wall as the wind assaulted the home. Jamie struggled down the stairs, gripping the banister. He slung the bag over his shoulder. His lips moved but neither Rawlie nor Lil could hear what he said. Jamie stepped out, and Rawlie struggled to pull it shut, securing the lock. “Car, now!”
    Lil wanted to hold back, and ensure that Rawlie was taking her home and not to the sanctuary, but the words were lost on her lips. She struggled to breathe and pushed against the wind's resistance with each step toward the car. It was like pushing an elephant to move a fraction of a step forward. Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead, but never reached the ground. She reached for Jamie's hand, doing her best to help him forward.
    A lifetime seemed to pass before she reached the door. She didn't bother with opening it. The top was down on the convertible. The drive would be brutal. Dirt, slicing like glass, tore at her skin. Lil helped Jamie climb into the backseat before she found her position up front. Rawlie joined them, started the car, and sped away from the forest through the large expanse of nothingness, not waiting for them to fasten their seatbelts.
    It took several minutes to breach the windstorm and pass through as though nothing had occurred. Lil turned around and could see the giant shape of a bubble encased over the home and a fraction of the forest. “What is going on?” Lil glanced at Rawlie.
    The car pulled to an abrupt halt. The seatbelt restrained Lil from going through the windshield. Rawlie saw a dark figure two feet from the vehicle. He turned the key, but the car didn’t start. “She's not real,” he said. “Everyone out. Help me put the roof up, now!” He jumped out of the convertible and Jamie followed suit. Lil climbed out, fascinated by the figure within arm's reach. Black smoke billowed up and around the dark-haired woman. She appeared almost translucent. Her hair was short and black, framed around her sharp jaw. A terrifying smile shaped her