Avery felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. After informing her family about the arduous task ahead and the necessity of gathering the rare items for the ritual, she excused herself and headed to her room. She needed a moment to herself, a brief respite from the overwhelming reality that lay before her. She sank into her bed, the familiar comfort enveloping her, and closed her eyes. Within moments, the exhaustion caught up with her, and she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
An hour later, the persistent sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand pulled her from her slumber. She groggily reached for it, blinking against the harsh light of the screen. Laura's name flashed insistently, her profile picture—a snapshot of them laughing together at the last summer festival—bringin
