Miracle

Pt. 45

"Hello, dear, how are you? I... I'm just calling to let you know I'm sorry... I know I've not been the perfect mother to you. I should have told you about everything sooner. Maybe then we would have had more time together, but all the time in the world wouldn't be enough for me to tell you just how much I love you. I hope one day you'll forgive me for what I put you through. I was trying to protect you. You've brought complete joy to my life... happiness to my heart. I love you, Lily. Never doubt or forget that..." Lily's mom's voice trembled, stumbling over her words, thick with barely suppressed tears. Lily's heart pounded.

She could tell her mother was crying, her voice cracking with despair.
Lily stood abruptly from her seat, a cold dread washing over her. "I've already forgiven you, Mom. Where is this all coming from so suddenly? I'm sorry I disappeared for so long, I'll explain everything," she said, running her fingers through her hair, her voice tight with worry. Her mom was acting completely out of her normal self, and it was making Lily's skin crawl.

Alex, seeing Lily's worried expression, stood too, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. Joy's voice came through the phone, strained but loving. "No, dear, there's no need to explain anything. I love you." Alex mouthed, Is everything okay? Lily shook her head, mouthing back, I don't know.

"I love you too," Lily managed to say back, her voice barely a whisper. But before another word could be exchanged, the phone was violently ripped from Joy's hands. A chillingly familiar voice, laced with cruel delight, spoke into the receiver. "Aww, so sweet. Don't you just love a sad ending?"
That was the last thing Lily heard before the line went dead.

"Mom?! Mom!!? Are you there?!?" she screamed into the phone, shaking it, as if she could force life back into the silent device. Her mind reeled, a sickening fear gripping her. Jinx, sensing the immediate shift in atmosphere, quickly paid the bill, her gaze fixed on Lily's panicked face. Alex gently but firmly led Lily outside, pulling her away from the crowded restaurant. Max, shoveling three last pieces of meat into his mouth, quickly followed behind them, his usual cheer fading.

Once they were all outside, Lily shoved her phone into her pocket, her hand still trembling, and grabbed Jinx's shoulder, her grip almost painful. "I need you to make a portal right now!" Jinx pulled Lily's hand off, backing away slightly, her eyebrows squinting in a mix of caution and confusion. "And why do I need to do that?" Lily's hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, her eyes blazing with an unholy rage.

Her mother could be dead right now, and Jinx was wasting precious seconds. "My mom is in danger! Alistair has her! I need to get there, please, Jinx!"
Jinx shook her head, turning away from the group and walking a few steps, her back to them. It was clear to her that Lily was letting her emotions get the best of her. They couldn't just rush into a situation controlled by Alistair unprepared; they would all be murdered on the spot. "Lily, would you take a minute to think? It's obvious this is a trap to get you there. You'll be walking right into it!" Jinx said, her voice firm.

Lily followed closely behind her. "I don't care! It's my mother! I have to be there! She's everything to me! She could be dead right now!" Her voice cracked, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Maybe we could compromise or something," Max said softly, trying to ease the tension between them, stepping forward cautiously. "We could go in like an hour or something? At that point, he will probably be gone, and you can check on your mom safely."

"No! It could be too late by then... Please, Jinx! This is my family, you have to understand!?" Lily pleaded, her voice raw, desperation etched on her face.
Jinx stopped walking, her back still to Lily, arms crossed. She wasn't planning on changing her mind. No, Jinx thought, I would never understand what it meant to be a family. She never had one. She was born on the hard streets of Hell, cold and utterly alone. Every day of her life, she had to fight just to survive; a normal life was never an option for her.