“HORYAH!”

     Streams of white fire surged forward from Lin’s hands aimed at the Purple-Eyed Witch. They roared through the air, and with a smile Lin watched as they wrapped around their prey.

     Her triumph was however short-lived as white fire was consumed by purple.

     “This is certainly my magic,” said the witch, snaking her own flames around her, “But in your hands it is only a second… no, a third rate copy. Nothing more.”

     Her flames flew at Lin from an outstretched arm, twice as large and much more ferocious than any other attack she’d seen before. twice as large and many times more ferocious than any attack that had been seen before.

     Even before it left the witch’s hand, Lin knew even in her current form that she wouldn’t walk away with just a minor burn if she let that fire hit–

     And so she jumped.

     With every ounce of strength in her legs she leapt, higher than she ever thought possible as the wave of fire passed far below.

     But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, the dark fire then suddenly snaked back and up towards her.

     “This is how you use a witch’s magic.”

     Unable to maneuver in midair, Lin had no choice but to face the serpent head-on. A wall of white fire flew from her hands, roaring furiously as it clashed with purple. The difference in power was apparent, however, and in seconds her white flames were overtaken. If nothing else, they served as a buffer as the collision’s force knocked her out of harm’s way.

     Still the beast persisted. Its prey had only prevented the inevitable, and winding its way through the air it lunged with flaming fangs towards her once more.

     She couldn’t possibly make another wall in time. She was still winded from the sudden impact, and the surrounding heat was taking its toll on both her mind and body.

     But in that final second before she was consumed – that brief moment just as the dark fire began to overtake her – her eyes caught the unconscious Morgan still on the ground below.

     What had that been about not leaving her behind? If she lost now, all that bravado would have meant nothing.

     She couldn’t lose now. She wouldn’t!

     “Not yet!”

     As if responding to her will, the light that had been absent since her transformation reappeared around her, and from her dress extended an equally  bright thread. It flew to the ceiling  and, just as quickly, pulled her away from peril.

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     “Tch.” The witch glared, igniting another fireball in her hand. “Just how much of my magic do you intend to copy?”

     Another serpent flew upwards, joining its kin as they pursue the mouse scampering through their lair.

     Left and right, back and forth, zig and zag. Lin didn’t have the luxury to care whether she was commanding the threads that continually shot and retracted from her dress or the threads acting of their own volition, as with each swing and pull she found herself barely avoiding a fate similar to that of this morning’s breakfast.

     “How long can you run, little fly?” came the witch’s voice from below. It was clear that with each passing flame that they were steadily inching closer. “You only delay the inevitable with your antics.”

     As much as Lin hated to admit it, the witch had a point. She couldn’t run forever, nor did she stand a chance facing the witch directly.

     But then again, winning this fight was never the intention in the first place.

     Circling through the air, Lin swung back towards the witch now with a plan in mind. It was reckless, but if it wasn’t it wouldn’t be hers. With the two flaming serpents still behind her, she released the threads supporting her and dove. Her falling body aimed straight for the witch.

     “Do you intend to burn me with my own fire? You are indeed foolish.”

     A third egg of fire grew in her hand, and just as it formed it morphed into yet another snake that lunged to meet its brethren with Lin at their centre.

     “HORYAH!”

     Whirling, Lin threw forward the largest wall she could muster. Although this barrier was impressive both in brilliance and size, even it could not stand firm as it shattered under the three dragons’ combined force.

     The inner walls flickered eerily as the purple serpents ate at each other, their roars filling the air as the fire they bled scattered throughout the room. Eventually their light and cries faded, and at point the witch realized that something was amiss.

     She glanced back and found that Morgan, who was on the ground mere moments ago, had disappeared. Instead the girl was in the arms of the one in the white dress, who swung away as quickly as she could towards the exposed exit.

     It became clear then that the wall of white fire was not intended to defend. Rather, she had used its size to create a blind spot which she had abused to circle behind her.

     She was angry. She was furious. How did she get fooled by that foolishly foolish fool?! Gritting her teeth so hard that one would think that something would snap, fire erupted around her as she let out a scream so chilling that Lin who was now miles ahead could swear that her blood had momentarily froze.

     “YOU FOOOOOOOL!!!”

     Despite knowing that it was probably a bad idea to look back, Lin couldn’t resist but to sneak a peek at what was behind her. The threads from her dress still pulling her forward, she turned around, only to have her jaw drop into her stomach. “Oh cra-!”

     The entire hallway had disappeared, overtaken by a torrent of fire that was barreling towards her. Sweat trickled from her forehead down her neck as the immense heat crossed the shortening distance between them .  

     With Morgan still in arm, she faced forwards once more, and with all her power focused on her threads to pull them to safety. Literally flying past countless lockers and doors with danger close behind, her back screaming as it burned from the air itself. And soon before long, the exit was in sight.

     “Go, go, go, go, go, go - YES!”

     One final push, and they were outside at last! At least somewhat, as they still had yet to escape the webbed dome that covering the area.They tumbled forward and then up to the sky as Lin’s threads caught the dome’s ceiling, and with a thundering cry the wave of fire escaped the building and dissipated harmlessly below.

     Despite escaping immediate peril, Lin continued to swing. Even when they were outside the dome she kept moving, not daring to stop until she was sure she had escaped the Purple-Eyed Witch’s pursuit.