"Oh Lyra, thank goodness I can reach you. You weren't answering your phone!"
"It got damaged after my encounter with these shadows. How are you talking to me?"
"Guess being the witch of telepathy pays off. I can communicate to anyone I want. I heard you talking and sensed you were in danger."
"That's for sure. You came at the right time."
"I wanted to tell you something, the family you see isn't real. There is a way out of this abyss."
My eyes locked onto the fake faces of my 'family' "What do you mean?"
"It's all an illusion. They want you to feel like a burden and suffer so they can claim your soul."
I pressed a hand to my chest. The ache began to ease, as if Britney's voice itself was healing me.
"If you want to escape," she continued, "you have to prove to them that you're stronger. Once you face them, you'll be free."
My breath trembled. "How are things with you?"
"Our kingdom's been corrupted by shadows too."
So, I'm not the only one fighting this darkness.
"I'll find you, I promise."
"Thank you, Lyra." Her voice softened. "You'll-"
Her voice suddenly cut out.
"Britney? Britney?"
No answer. The connection was gone.
"Such a disappointment," the fake version of my mother sneered.
Britney said I need to face them. Fine. I'll face them.
"Oh yeah? I may be a disappointment, but at least I'm not a desperate illusion trying to tear me down."
"Excuse me?"
My eyes narrowed. "You heard me."
Silence filled the air, tense and sharp.
"My real mother may be emotionless, but never once did she call me a burden. She would help me in her own quiet, loving way. You aren't my mother."
"What?"
"I'll admit it, you almost fooled me. You made me believe every cruel word, but thanks to Britney opening my eyes, I see it now. None of this is real."
The ache in my chest faded completely, and a faint light began to bloom around me. I am stronger than the darkness. Don't give in to it.
"My father has always been my biggest support," I said firmly. "He was there when I cried, when I was scared, and when I was happy. He's never turned his back on me!"
"You are such a disgrace to this world," the false image of my father spat.
I ignored him, turning to Lily and Levi.
"Lily, Levi we may argue and bump heads, but we've always loved each other. I've always been there for you both in any way I could."
"Enough with this!"
"To think I was stupid enough to believe any of your lies!" I snapped. "Aunt Linda, Uncle Jake even with the little time we shared, you both still made me smile."
A single tear fell down my cheek.
"I am not the reason for Angelina and Osvaldo's death. It was the shadows who ripped them from this world. And I'll avenge them, Amir. You don't deserve to carry that burden."
The light around me grew brighter.
"I promise myself this, from now on, I'll find my family. I'll find Britney. I'll bring everyone home, whether dead or alive. I'll end the shadows that have corrupted my kingdom. My real family loves me for who I am, not for what they want me to be."
"Lyra," the shadow hissed, "you can try all you want, but you'll never be free from this darkness."
"Yes, I will," I said, voice steady. "As long as I am the light in the dark, I'll always find my way out."
The shadow coiled around me, grasping my arms and legs that burned against my skin. "You're not taking my soul!" I roared, tearing through them, leaving the light inside me to explode.
One by one, the illusions shattered like glass against the bright light as the darkness slowly slipped away leaving only a luminescent glow.
"You may have escaped," a distant voice echoed, "but don't be too excited..."
I fell to the ground, solid, cold earth beneath me.
My kingdom.
"I'm back," I breathed. "I can't believe it worked."
I dusted myself off. "Time to fly my way to Britney."
I leapt into the air only to land right back on my feet.
"...That's weird."
I jumped again.
"Why… can't I fly?"