Chapter 117

I shook my head violently. “No! You’re not lost! I can—” “You can’t save everyone,” Wendy cut me off, her voice strong, though her body was weak. “You need to let me go, Ella. You need to focus on what really matters.” Her words twisted the knife deeper into my chest. Wendy, always selfless, always brave, was willing to give herself up to save the others. But how could I stand here and let her burn? How could I walk away? “I love you, Ella,” she whispered, her voice carrying through the flames. “Go. Please.” My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, but deep down, I knew she was right. If I stayed, if I tried to save her now, the witch would win. More lives would be lost. As much as I wanted to obey Wendy's wishes, I couldn’t just walk away. I couldn’t abandon her, not when I had the power to make a difference. My heart pounded as I made my decision, and before either Nathan or Tristan could stop me, I charged through the flames. “Ella!” Nathan’s voice shouted after me, panic flooding