The transition back through the mirror was jarring, as if they’d been ripped through a whirlwind.
Anna stumbled, her legs shaky as she emerged into the familiar surroundings of the library.
The golden glow of the lamps and the towering shelves of books felt both comforting and unsettling after the surreal silver forest.
Mia nearly collapsed beside her, clutching her satchel tightly to her chest. Ryan landed with a grunt, brushing himself off, while Logan was the last to step through, his dagger still gripped in his hand.
“We made it,” Anna breathed, her voice shaky with relief.
“Barely,” Ryan muttered, looking over his shoulder as if expecting the shadowy creatures to follow.
Logan scanned the room, his sharp gaze darting to every corner. “Something’s wrong.”
Anna frowned. “What do you mean?”
“This isn’t where we left,” Logan said, his voice low and tense.
Mia straightened, glancing around the library. The room was eerily quiet, the air thick with an unsettling stillness. Th
