Ethan's heart raced as he darted down the narrow alley, backpack bouncing violently against his shoulders. The late afternoon sun barely touched the street, leaving long shadows that twisted like grasping hands. Behind him, hurried footsteps echoed — faster, heavier, closing in.
"Wait… stop!" a harsh voice hissed.
Panic surged. Ethan's stomach churned, legs screaming, lungs burning. He weaved between crates and overturned trash cans, praying the alley would bend, some secret path to safety. But it ended abruptly in a brick wall.
He skidded to a stop, chest heaving. His pursuer loomed closer, sneer curling over his lips.
"Please… someone…" Ethan's voice trembled. Then louder, desperate: "HELP!"
*******
[Twilight Grove — Lyra's Realm]
Far away, in a world of shifting twilight, Lyra stirred. Trees leaned in as if listening, rivers hummed softly, and the air shimmered with magic. She practiced elemental weaving, shaping fire into delicate birds that flew in sparks before dissolving.
A sharp tug at her chest made her freeze. A human. A boy. Calling for help.
Crossing worlds was forbidden. Dangerous. Reckless. She had been warned countless times. One misstep, and her magic could collapse, or she could vanish forever.
And yet… the pull was irresistible. Her fingers tingled. Her vision blurred. A mirror of shimmering energy appeared before her, rippling as if alive.
Her heart raced. She shouldn't go. But she had to.
********
Ethan's pursuer advanced. "Not so fast, kid."
"HELP! SOMEONE!!" Ethan's cry tore through the alley.
Across realms, Lyra felt it — fear, urgency, life clinging to the thread of that scream.
Without thinking, she stepped forward.
The mirror engulfed her in a storm of light. The hum of magic roared like thunder in her ears. And then — silence.
********
A flicker of shimmering air, like sunlight over hot asphalt. Then she appeared.
A girl. Pale, ethereal, eyes like molten silver, hair catching the last light of day like liquid shadow. She moved with impossible grace, almost floating, a soft glow enveloping her.
"Who… who are you?" Ethan stammered, backing against the wall.
The pursuer faltered, squinting, then advanced.
Lyra's gaze swept the alley, taking in danger, calculating. Sparks of fire danced along her fingers.
"Stay back," she commanded, calm but firm.
The man laughed. "Magic trick? That won't scare me."
A flick of Lyra's wrist — the alley behind him erupted in flames, not enough to burn, but enough to knock him off balance.
"Run!" she said, gaze softening briefly on Ethan. He didn't hesitate, bolting past her. The man cursed, lunging forward — and Lyra vanished in a shimmer of light.
********
Ethan skidded to a stop, panting. A girl. Magic. Fire. None of it should exist. He looked back. Empty alley. Faint smoke lingered.
Somewhere across worlds, Lyra landed in her realm, knees brushing the soft, glowing grass. Her magic thrummed, her body drained, her mind racing.
He's alive. But why did he call to me?
A whisper of unease ran through her. That call had been different — urgent, raw, familiar. One thing was certain: she would have to cross again.
******
In a shadowed corner of Ethan's world, a pair of glowing eyes watched him. Someone had noticed her crossing — and they were not pleased.