Everything was dark.
Anne's scream had vanished into the void.
The beasts loomed.
The Chancellor stood poised, whip coiled, smile sharp.
Then—
A tremor.
From beneath the moss-soaked earth, a single root emerged.
It pulsed with golden light.
It pierced the nearest beast.
Then another.
And another.
The creatures shrieked, grabbing at the roots, distracted.
Anne fell free.
Lily collapsed to her knees.
Brittany gasped for breath.
Back at the mansion, Egry trembled.
Her hands were pressed to the floor.
Her hair glowed faintly.
She had never used her powers like this.
Never reached through the forest.
But now—
She was connected.
The roots were hers.
And they were fighting.
The Chancellor narrowed his eyes.
"What… is this?"
He stepped forward, inspecting the glowing vines.
"Who's controlling you?"
Then—
WHAM.
A punch sent him flying.
He hit the ground with a thud.
It was Brittany.
Her knuckles were bruised.
Her patience was gone.
"I've had enough of your foggy moaning and nipple theatrics," she snapped.
The Chancellor stood slowly.
His smile faded.
His eyes darkened.
"You," he said coldly, "are now my priority."
Mira, watching from the mansion's edge, exhaled.
There was a way.
She opened her necklace—a hidden communicator glowed inside.
"Anne," she said, voice steady, "Egry says there's a chance. If a genie is uncontracted, there's a delay before they're truly free. You can still reconnect."
Anne's eyes widened.
Hope flickered.
Brittany turned to Anne.
"Don't worry. We'll handle the moaning pornstar. You go hide and summon the daddy—I mean genie."
Lily looked at her, disgusted. "Seriously?"
Before Brittany could reply—
WHACK.
A punch from the Chancellor sent her sprawling.
"You," he growled, "are in a lot of trouble now."
Anne ran.
She found a hollow tree trunk—massive, ancient, pulsing with light.
She crawled inside.
Held the fake lamp.
Closed her eyes.
And whispered—
"Zahir… if you're still mine… come back."
To be continued…