I’d already packed my winter clothes away into the spare cardboard boxes we had lying around. It would just make it faster for me to leave when they inevitably kicked me out before university began.

The room that I had once decorated had become barren. The mosaic of sketches, writing and sticky notes that I once plastered all over the walls were all now discarded, thrown away into the bin - they weren’t necessary to take along with me, after all.

My little purple plum tree that had recently sprouted in the garden this spring was now resting neatly in a medium sized pot on the floor, drooping sadly. I spent a lot of work stealing the clippings from the park to start growing it, and I certainly wasn’t going to do it again from scratch.

Seeing the change made my heart sink deeper and deeper.

My home was disappearing.

My place here in this family was no longer here.

No one in this damn house wants me.

I couldn’t bear the sight. I turned away to look outside for anything different to distract me from the ache in my chest.

Separated by the glass of the window, Angelica waved her hands in the air like an energetic four year old near the outer edge of the forest, next to the house. The leaves on the floor floated and spun like sycamore falling from the tree - she was manipulating the winds and twirling the leaves like puppet-dancers at a ball.

To the side, Mum and Dad hugged each other, cheering loudly and joyfully. They wore excited faces as they swooped in to shower Angelica with feather kisses for a job well done.

I clenched my fists.

Despite all of this, I knew there was a positive - I could finally find my own path when I leave and be free from this torment - be who I wanted to be and all that nonsense.

But why does it still hurt so much? Why do I still yearn to be by their side, when they have discarded me with such cruelty?

It was stupid.

But it was a feeling that time would certainly heal.

I taped up the boxes and pushed them to the corner of the room.

Take a breath and let it out. Calm.

I unclenched my fists and shook some of the tension out of my body.

I’d already resolved to find my own way through life - without them. I just need to do it. It was no use pining after something that would not come.

My shuffling echoed throughout the mostly vacant room, and suddenly the walls felt like they were closing in on me. My heart shook. I needed out.

I ran downstairs and flung open the door.

The cool wind ruffled my open hair and cupped my face, pulling away the angry heat and sadness that had stifled me earlier, but my heart still pounded anxiously.

I closed my eyes, taking in the amber glow of the afternoon sun and feeling it seep into my skin.

If there was anything I was going to cherish in this place, it was going to be the forest.

“What are you doing here?”

Caught off balance, I caught my heel on the edge of the step and tilted backwards, but a strong arm caught me before I could crack my head open on the wood.

“Got you.” Dad called out. He pulled me back up to my feet and held my shoulders to make sure I was steady.

“Okay, thanks.” I shrugged his arms off me gently.

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

I sighed and turned around slowly.

“I’m going to miss going through the woods. And my room.” I sighed solemnly. “After making my space my own, I have to abandon it all and make it again elsewhere.”

“Are you taking everything with you?” Dad asked, furrowing his brow.

“Nope - I’ve already put everything on my walls in the bin. Taking those with me would be a bit of a hassle, and you can use that room for whatever you want, I guess,” Sadness crept into my voice, before I spoke with a little mirth. “I am taking that tree though.”

Dad opened his mouth, before shutting it again. “I’m not even going to ask.” He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. “Why would you throw them away? Are you not coming back?”

“I don’t know, are you going to let me back in during the holidays? Or after I finish university?” I pointed at his chest.

“Of course I’d let you back in - you’re my daughter. You can visit whenever you want.” He spoke sternly.

Wrapping my hands around my body, I laughed bitterly, “You say that now, but wait until you hear what Mum has to say - I’m not stupid, I know who pushed it.” I pushed my hair out of my face to give him a sad smile.

Dad opened his mouth, closed it again. “This is something I will fight her over and-” He grumbled.

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“Don’t bother.”

His face morphed into confusion.

“You’ve already picked who you wanted, Dad. Like I said before, there’s no one in this world worth trusting.” I got into his face and bared my teeth. “Not. Even. You.”

I took a few steps back and turned away, “You can do as you please - strike Angelica dead for all I care. I’m done playing the facade of being a happy family member, or an integrated part of the mage community - no one fucking wants me here.” I spat the last part out.

“Stop being stupid! the only reason this is happening is because you’re bringing it on yourself.” Dad exclaimed, as if it was obvious.

He’ll never see the fucking truth.

I opened my mouth to retort, just as the wind tugged my hair lightly. I took a deep breath and let it out. Just leave him be, in his own little world.

“I told you, I gave up arguing with you, Dad - it’s just not worth it anymore. You can think as you like.” I stated monotonously, standing back. “If you ever wake up from this illusion, good for you.”

His mouth drew a thin line, but I didn’t care.

“But I’m done with these stupid games.”

I stuffed my hands into my pockets and strolled into the woods, ignoring Angelica’s side eye and not looking back once.

It wasn’t a lie - I really was going to miss the woods. It was my favourite place to go to relax and take a break.

I used to go outside often with Dad. We’d run through the woods from dawn to dusk during the holidays, fishing from the little streams that were littered all over the area and coming home with nothing but mud on our clothes and the huge grins on our faces. We used to be inseparable, before Angelica was old enough to come into the picture.

Once, I’d gotten separated from Dad for hours in there, and both Mum and Dad had to cast spells on spells to find me again. Eventually they found me near one of the buildings with my knees scraped and tears streaming down my face. I can still remember his grief-struck face as he hugged my trembling body and ran his hands through my hair comfortingly. We both sobbed tremendously, and ended up sleeping in each other's arms until we both assured ourselves that we were still there. I loved those times.

And now, after the addition of Angelica, we stood face to face baring our teeth like rabid dogs fighting for territory.

Our interactions in the forest turned to nil, and our arguments and screaming matches only grew.

Angelica has taken a lot from me, but no more, because I don’t have anything left to give her.

I shook my head free of these thoughts, and looked forward.

I had been walking off the path for a solid fifteen minutes and every minute was worth it.

Just up ahead was an old structure that had been there for at least seven-hundred years, from what Dad knew.

Protected by ancient magic and wards, the structure was a large concrete building at least three storeys tall, though there was only one floor inside. The outside was completely covered in wisteria and other wall shrubs, even covering some of the windows that I knew were there from the inside. Despite the changing seasons, they always stayed fresh and green, making the building appear ravaged by nature.

He always told me to stay away, but the tranquillity was something that kept me coming back.

I opened the door and entered.

The inside was definitely better kept - the halls were neat and tidy. No dust or cobwebs in sight, but the interior was starting to appear gloomy from the lack of natural light from outside - courtesy of the plants. The interior was a bit similar to a church, except for the absence of benches and a statue.

Despite the spaciousness, Mum and Dad rarely used this building - something about how the magic gave Mum and Dad an unwelcome feeling, but I had no such problems - I was still effectively immune to such magic and considered a regular person, as I had not yet awakened mine. Maybe I never would.

There were descendants of mages out there that never did unlock their magic, despite having the potential. They could live for more than a hundred years, but not use an ounce of it.

Mum was from a prestigious bloodline back before the world was split into two - from participants of a great and terrible war that shook the world tremendously. And ever since then, not once had someone like me been born into her family.

It was an incredible disappointment to her.

I sat on the floor and crossed my legs, watching the sunlight stream in through the gaps of the plants, and illuminating the many particles of dust held stationary in the air. Larger particles steadily floated to the ground, swirling with every breath I took in and out. Some of the sunlight hit my cheeks, and I basked in its gentle warmth.

Slowly, I arced my hands in the air, watching it all swirl and spin, much like how Angelica pulled at the leaves.

It wasn’t the same, but at least I wasn’t completely helpless - I’d just have to do what I can do with my own hands and feet.

I sighed, wrapping my arms around my knees and dropping my head into my lap.

I always ran to this place when I was getting chased by whoever Angelica set on me. It was the most peaceful place for me to be alone, undisturbed.

If there was anything at all that I was going to miss, it was this serenity that you can only find in this kind of wild, unknown nature, in places completely abandoned by humanity.

A little rain cloud settled over my chest, and I rubbed at it absentmindedly.

There is nothing else left for me here. Suck it up, and move on.

Determined to stop sulking, I shot up to my feet and ran my fingers over the cool slabs that made up the outer walls.

Time to concentrate on something else. Anything else but this.

The concrete had been treated and polished until it was as smooth as marble, only shadowed by a couple of scratches, chips and chunks taken out of it, as if someone took a chisel and a hammer to it.

Now that I noticed it, it appeared to be all over the place, and even higher up towards the top and even on the ceiling.

Strange - how did those ones get up there?

I traced some of the grooves - whoever made this etched these ones into the wall with one fluid, hard stroke.

Even I couldn’t have broken it with a freaking hammer.

It had to have been done using magic. Or sheer, inhuman strength.

Bored, I traced another one to feel the rough texture and I accidentally sliced my forefinger open (not again) on one of the sharp edges of concrete.

Ouch!

Blood slowly trickled down my hand, and dripped slowly onto the floor. I quickly stuck it in my mouth and sucked it up.

I did a double take, when the floor absorbed the blood.

What?

The floor beneath my feet began to glow, the lights swirling in circles, patterns that transformed into a magic circle - used for complicated spells.

Light turning into a magic circle? This must have been an old, complicated magic that no one messed around with anymore, and blood appeared to be the trigger.

I was fucked.

My feet sank into the ground, and I couldn’t lift either leg no matter how hard I tried. I shook with fear, and shrieked when my fingernails couldn’t find any purchase on the floor.

My head and eyes no longer saw any light.

Darkness.