Chapter 10: Oh And Guess What? We’re Stuck Here
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There’s was silence as Xander tried to process Eli’s words, but before he could even think of what to say Iris snapped.
"No." Her voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness like a blade. "Fuck no! This is...this is absolutely ridiculous!"
She stood abruptly, chair scraping against the wooden floor and her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"I am not doing this. I am not going to go off fighting some ancient tyrant with stupid magic stones and a magic sword. I have a life! I have school! I have people waiting for me back home! I can’t with this bullshit!"
Xander watched her pace the small cottage like a caged animal, her movements restless and angry.
"My mom and dad are going to lose it when they realize I’m missing. Nia...my little sister, my baby sister...she’s gonna wonder why I didn’t come home! My friends, my teachers, my entire life! I...I can’t just throw it away because some mystical prophecy says we’re supposed to be here!"
Eli remained still, watching her with calm patience and Xander exhaled, standing up carefully, ignoring the soreness in his legs. "Iris—"
"We can’t risk ours life for a world we don’t even know and don’t care about." Her voice shook slightly, but her glare stayed sharp. "This is insane. This is not our fight."
Xander stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly. "I know. I get it."
Iris turned toward him, emotions twisting, equal parts rage and desperation, like she was waiting for someone to agree with her, to tell her she was right, that they could go home.
But Xander wasn’t going to lie to her.