Kaiden’s image came into focus as he ran toward me. A tad blurry at the edges, he looked like he stood behind a murky wall of water, or maybe it was the tears in my eyes blocking my own view.
“Whoa,” Kaiden breathed. I stepped closer and his eyes widened. “Sis.”
“I have missed you so much.”
Kaiden’s hand came up to the glass, and he poked it. The smoky shadows rippled outward, leaving the center clear for a moment. He looked disheveled and exhausted. “Are you okay?”
“No.” The tears caught in my throat. I had to stay strong long enough to get to him; then I could break down. “I want to come home.”
“What happened?”
I shook my head. “Too much to discuss now.” I checked behind me to make sure the room was still empty. “I don’t know how much time I have before he comes back.”
“How did you do this?” The shower curtain came into view when he opened the medicine cabinet.
“That’s an excellent question.” I ran my hands over the frame trying to figure it out.
“Is Gina okay?”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
“She disappeared right after you. I’ve been freaking the fuck out because I didn’t know how to find you two.”
My heart raced. “Kaiden—”
“I’ve researched everything I can. Asked questions everywhere I could. People on Reddit think I’m insane and need psychiatric help. Maybe I do!”
“Kaiden, listen—”
He ran a hand through his hair, and it stuck straight up. “I’m talking to my sister through a smoky mirror!”
“Kaiden, shut up!”
His mouth snapped closed and the defeat on his face nearly killed me.
“Which portal did she go through?”
“That dude took her through the blue one.”
The room spun, and I gripped the mirror to keep me upright. I didn’t know where the blue portal led, but I had to find one and get to Gina.
Kaiden’s image began to fade, and I touched my palm to the mirror in a panic. It wasn’t hard like I thought it would be, but thin and malleable like a membrane. I pressed, and it enveloped my hand, allowing me to move within. Kaiden jerked backward slightly horrified.
“Holy shit,” he whispered before grabbing my hand. “I can feel you!”
He gave me a tug, but I couldn’t feel it beyond my wrist. It was the oddest sensation.
“Can you break through whatever this is?”
“I don’t know, but I’m gonna try.” If I could get home, maybe that guy would come back for the pendant, and we could find Gina.
I pushed both hands against the mirror, and he grabbed me from the other side and tugged as I fought to break through the barrier.
“This isn’t working,” he gritted as he put all his weight behind him.
“Let go and back up. I’ve got an idea.”
He stepped to the side as I went into the bedroom to get a running start. I spoke a silent prayer and took off. When I reached the middle of the closet I jumped, turned to the side, and covered my face just in case the glass shattered. The membrane wrapped around my body and stretched taught. It was the weirdest sensation because it didn’t feel like it physically touched me, even though it did. I leaned into it and reached out my hands to claw at it. Then suddenly, it gave, and I broke through.
