Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 101

**(Long Chapter ahead)**

February 17th, 2018- 11:20 PM (Location: Fayetteville)

Estrella jolted awake, her body screaming in pain.

Every muscle ached, her skin felt bruised, and her head pounded with a deep, searing throb.

The metallic tang of blood filled her senses.

With great effort, she pushed herself off the cold floor, wobbling as she stood.

Her bare feet stung as she hobbled her way up the narrow staircase, leaving faint bloody footprints behind.

Her vision blurred, but she had only one thought in mind—Aiden and Eleanor. They were supposed to be here, with her.

"Oh no, please," she whimpered, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"TEDDY, NELLIE." she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation as it echoed through the empty house.

She rushed down the stairs, taking two at a time, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

A sharp, searing pain surged through her leg, forcing her to pause. She glanced down, noticing the swelling and the unnatural twist of her ankle.

The sight made her stomach churn, but she didn't have time to care.

Clenching her teeth, she pushed through the pain, limping toward the shelves.

Her hands shook as she fumbled through them, knocking objects to the floor in her frantic search.

She needed the candles—anything to ground her magic.

Her fingers found the waxy texture, and she snatched them up, trying to light them with a simple flick of her wrist.

But the pain was too much, her magic faltering like a flame on the verge of extinction.

"Come on, come on," she whispered desperately to herself, her voice trembling as frustration and panic clawed at her insides.

With a curse, she abandoned the idea of using magic and grabbed a matchbox instead.

Her hands trembled as she struck the match, the tiny flame flickering weakly before catching the wick.

Then, her movements were frantic, searching, sobbing, as she tore through cupboards one after the other.

She couldn't hear her phone buzzing on the nearby table, as she was too far gone in her grief, her body shaking with uncontrollable sobs.

Finally, her trembling hands grasped the map.

With a hasty slam onto the counter, she fumbled for the twins' photos, her heart clenching in pain as she clutched them.

The pain in her leg and the blade wound throbbed, her movements growing clumsier.

She took out the twins' photos and grabbed the knife, its blade gleaming in the dim light.

She didn't hesitate for a moment before slicing her palm, not even wincing as the blood began to flow.

Holding her bleeding hand to the map, she channeled her magic.

Her magic surged beneath her skin, but it wavered.

She could feel the effect of the blade draining her, making her weak.

The room began to spin as weakness washed over her, her body teetering on the edge of collapse.

"No... come on... please," she begged, her voice breaking as tears mixed with sweat and blood.

Her hand shook as she pressed it to her forehead, feeling the warm, sticky blood oozing from a cut above her brow.